US corporate lobbyists mounted ‘blitz’ to dilute landmark EU deforestation law, report finds 17. October 2026 (13:00) Environmental watchdog Mighty Earth reveals two-year effort to postpone and weaken EU Deforestation RegulationUS corporate lobbyists launched a two-year “blitz” to postpone and weaken the world’s most progressive legislation to protect forests, according to a new investigation by the environmental watchdog Mighty Earth.Major US firms and trade associations, including Cargill, Bunge, Mondelēz and the US Soybean Export Council, as well as numerous other US firms and organizations, sought to influence the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in more than 350 meetings, the advocacy group found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We are in hiding’: Briton with severe health issues fears deportation from Sweden 17. October 2026 (13:00) Mark Smith, who is married to a Swedish woman, says he was told three times he needed to do nothing in order to remain after BrexitA seriously ill British man living in Sweden has been forced into hiding amid fears he will be deported as a result of what he says is a government Brexit residency error.Mark Smith, 60, who has had heart attacks, strokes, severe headaches and chronically high blood pressure that has been difficult to treat, was told on the phone he should leave Sweden by 17 October as he was an “alien” without permission to stay. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Key player in false Talarico rumor has history of online posts invoking Nazi Germany 17. October 2026 (13:00) Ryan Amacher, who played role in bid to damage campaign, has also made antisemitic and racist posts on social mediaAn influencer who played a key role in hoax claims that James Talarico was in a mental health facility has a long history of social media posts that favorably invoke Nazi Germany, express antisemitism and anti-Black racism, criticize miscegenation and call for “remigration” of refugees.On X, the Lake Oswego, Oregon, resident Ryan Amacher, known online as Rhein Amacher, has described Muslims as “sub-human”, claimed that Black Africans are “monkeys” with low IQ, characterized immigrants as “vermin” and expressed support for the far right, including Germany’s AfD and the UK’s Tommy Robinson. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Insults, odd obsessions and rambling thoughts: a week in Trump rallies 17. October 2026 (13:00) President has hit red states to drum up Republican support – and his increasingly strange performances are on full display Montana, Tennessee, Alaska. In the run-up to an election, a Republican president typically wouldn’t be campaigning in these traditionally red states.These aren’t normal times, however, and Donald Trump, an unpopular president leading an unpopular party, has held rallies in those states in the last week, seeking to drum up support. But a series of eccentric performances from the president means his behavior has been the focus, rather than any of the candidates he is backing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two people killed in light aircraft crash near Loch Lomond 17. October 2026 (12:52) Police Scotland says boy, 16, and 80-year-old man died in incident north-east of village of Drymen in StirlingA 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man have been killed in a light aircraft crash near Loch Lomond in Scotland.Emergency services were called to reports of an incident north-east of the village of Drymen, Stirling, at about 4.45pm on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The tragedy of Jim Chalmers: He had all the makings of the next Paul Keating. What he's lacked is the courage to follow him: PVO
Big in Japan: Hull 17-year-old is tipped to make it to the very top as a sumo wrestler - and he hopes 5am starts, 5,000 calories a day and doing the washing-up will get him there