The Green Party lost to Labour in a recent by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. Questions remain about the Green Party leader Zack Polanski’s stance on a party motion that called Zionism a form of racism.
Key Facts
The by-election took place in Holborn and St Pancras.
Labour won the election, defeating the Green Party.
The Green Party passed a motion at its conference defining Zionism as a form of racism.
The motion described Zionism as an ideology supporting a Jewish state based on ethnicity.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski’s position on this motion is unclear and has raised questions.
Chris Mason, BBC Political Editor, highlighted the remaining questions about Polanski’s stance.
The article is focused on UK politics involving the Green Party and its internal debate on this topic.
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Emerald miners in Afghanistan’s Panjshir valley are using basic tools to extract high-quality green stones that attract buyers from around the world. The mining sector employs over 15,000 people and has sold millions of dollars worth of emeralds, but lacks modern equipment and proper processing facilities.
Key Facts
Panjshir emeralds are known globally for their high quality and fetch higher prices than many other emeralds.
Nearly 3,000 carats of emeralds were sold at a recent auction, and total sales this year are estimated at $6.12 million.
Over 15,000 people work in Panjshir’s mining sector, providing vital jobs in a region with few alternatives.
The Taliban government has made deals with investors from China, Russia, and Iran to develop gemstone mining.
State revenues in Afghanistan increased by 22 percent year-on-year recently, partly due to mineral sales.
Miners use simple tools like shovels, pickaxes, and hammers and face dangerous conditions like landslides and flooding.
There is no standardized processing center to prepare stones for export, limiting the value added before sales.
Officials want to bring in modern equipment and establish better processing facilities to improve the mining industry.
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President Donald Trump said the US will not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. Both countries are in talks, and Iran is reviewing the US response to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while tensions and explosions have been reported in the region.
Key Facts
President Trump announced no US attack on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections.
The US and Iran are engaged in ongoing discussions through mediators.
Iran is reviewing the US reaction to its plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Explosions occurred in the southern Strait of Hormuz, possibly caused by sea mines.
Oil prices dropped after rising due to Middle East tensions.
Iran’s Foreign Minister said a response to the US would come in a few days.
Russian President Putin pledged support to help end the conflict involving the US and Iran.
US Vice President JD Vance called for Iran to reduce uranium enrichment as part of negotiation talks.
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A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro, brother of presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro. Eduardo was convicted of trying to influence the US government during his father Jair Bolsonaro's trial and is now required to start serving a four-year prison sentence immediately.
Key Facts
Eduardo Bolsonaro is the brother of Flavio Bolsonaro, a candidate in Brazil's presidential runoff election.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the arrest warrant weeks before the Brazil presidential runoff on October 25.
Eduardo was convicted for lobbying the US to interfere in the trial of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Eduardo Bolsonaro moved to Texas in March 2025, giving up his seat in Brazil’s National Congress and his police job.
He holds a US green card and is living in the United States.
The Supreme Court justice ordered Eduardo to begin serving his four-year sentence immediately.
Eduardo's Brazilian passport was canceled, and federal police were told to arrest him if he returns to Brazil.
Justice de Moraes also led the investigation that sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in jail for attempting a coup.
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Adidas is suing Australian clothing company White Fox in the Federal Court for using a four-stripe design that Adidas says is too similar to its famous three-stripe trademark. White Fox says their stripes are just decoration and not meant to copy Adidas’s design. The case will be heard in early 2027.
Key Facts
Adidas claims White Fox is illegally using four stripes to benefit from Adidas’s reputation.
Adidas has owned the three-stripe trademark in Australia for over 50 years.
White Fox sells fast-fashion clothes online and denies copying Adidas’s trademark.
Adidas won a similar legal case in 2013 against another company using four stripes on shoes.
White Fox plans to argue that their stripes are decorative, not a trademark.
Adidas wants a court order to stop White Fox from selling the four-stripe clothes and to get any profits made.
The case is set to be heard in early 2027 by Justice Ian Jackman.
White Fox started in Sydney in 2013 and made $542 million in revenue for the year ending in June 2025, while Adidas had $39.9 billion in 2025.
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The Conservative Party’s policy document for their conference mistakenly said that reaching net zero emissions in the UK would cost nearly £957 billion, almost double the actual estimate of about £478 billion. This error seems to have come from incorrectly adding numbers in a spreadsheet, leading to a much higher reported cost.
Key Facts
The Conservative policy document claimed net zero would cost £957 billion.
The real estimated cost from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is about £478 billion.
The error happened because a spreadsheet’s totals were counted twice.
The CCC offers to explain their numbers but said they do not recognize the Conservatives’ higher figure.
The CCC’s latest cost estimate for net zero by 2050 is about £110 billion (around £4 billion each year).
The mistake was first noticed by Carbon Brief and shared with The Guardian.
Some right-wing sources had already published the incorrect higher figure before the party’s document.
The Conservatives describe their document as a precise diagnosis of UK problems, inspired by a 1976 Tory report.
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Virgin has revealed a model of its new train for travel between London and Europe, aiming to start service in 2030. This will be the first competition for Eurostar on this route since the Channel Tunnel opened.
Key Facts
Virgin plans to run cross-Channel trains from London to Europe starting in 2030.
The company ordered 12 trains from the maker Alstom.
Virgin wants to improve passenger experience with designs inspired by its airlines, cruise ships, and hotels.
The train interiors will include lounge areas like Virgin Atlantic’s airport Clubhouses and food inspired by its cruise line menus.
Virgin’s CEO, Josh Bayliss, said they expect more people to travel by train between the UK and Europe.
Virgin will connect its train and airline networks, possibly linking passengers from France to Virgin Atlantic flights.
Virgin has an agreement to maintain its trains in London and has UK track access until at least 2040.
Italy’s Trenitalia also plans to offer high-speed cross-Channel train services with 19 new trains ordered from Hitachi.
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A Sydney trader, Charles Graham, was fired for working from Singapore without company permission but has won an unfair dismissal ruling from the Fair Work Commission. Although the commission agreed his dismissal was unfair, it did not order any compensation to be paid to him.
Key Facts
Charles Graham worked for HIFX Australia (Xe) as a currency trader.
He was dismissed in December after working remotely from Singapore without approval.
His company discovered this by tracking the IP address of his laptop.
Graham had also worked from Bali earlier, saying he was working from home due to plumbing issues.
He asked to relocate to Singapore earlier, but his request was denied.
Graham's partner became ill in Singapore, which he says prevented him from returning to Australia.
The company said he breached policies and did not provide sufficient proof of reasons for working overseas.
The Fair Work Commission ruled the dismissal was unfair but did not award compensation.
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Yemenis face rising living costs and economic troubles while war continues. Many workers have unpaid or irregular salaries, and prices for food and basic needs keep increasing. The split banking system and disrupted oil exports make moving money harder and worsen the economy.
Key Facts
Fighting continues in Yemen between the government and the Houthis.
Many workers do not get paid regularly or at all.
Prices of food, rent, healthcare, and transport are rising fast.
People in Aden often earn less than needed to cover basic food expenses.
Yemen’s economy has shrunk by about 58% per person since 2015.
Yemen has two separate banking systems, one run by the government and one by the Houthis.
Families are buying smaller amounts of food and fewer non-essential items.
Shops are offering more discounts to attract customers due to lower buying power.
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Hezbollah joined the conflict against Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of the Palestinians, which changed Lebanon's political scene. Since then, Israel’s attacks have weakened Hezbollah, including killing much of its leadership, and the group no longer holds the same power in Lebanon it once did.
Key Facts
Hezbollah decided to enter the war against Israel the day after the October 7, 2023 attack.
Israel responded with attacks that killed many Hezbollah leaders, including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah’s political power in Lebanon dropped, helping Joseph Aoun win the presidency and a new government to form with a tougher stance on the group.
Before the war, Hezbollah was the strongest military and political force in Lebanon and had influence across the Middle East.
The group had a history of supporting allies like the Assad regime in Syria and affecting Lebanese elections.
Hezbollah acted alone in starting support for Gaza without approval from the Lebanese government or local residents in the south.
Israel and Hezbollah exchanged attacks for nearly a year, with Israel conducting many strikes inside Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s prior confidence was shown by military displays and claims of advanced missile abilities.
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More than 260 business, finance, and law leaders met to discuss Jersey’s High Value Residency program, which grants special tax status to wealthy, skilled individuals who move to the island. Some defend the program for its economic benefits and charity donations, while others criticize it for low tax contributions and increasing living costs.
Key Facts
Jersey’s High Value Residency program allows wealthy, skilled people to live on the island with a special tax rate.
High value residents pay 20% tax on the first £1.25 million of worldwide income, and 1% on income above this amount.
About 260 families currently live in Jersey through this program.
Supporters say these residents contribute a lot to the local economy and to charitable causes.
Critics argue that the tax these residents pay is very low and does not benefit local young people.
Some experts warn that increasing taxes on these wealthy residents could drive them away to other places with lower taxes.
There are concerns about the program causing higher house prices and living costs on the island.
The meeting included private bankers, lawyers, tax advisors, and other professionals who work with high net worth individuals.
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More than 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since October 2023 due to the war with Israel. Many of Gaza’s historic sites, homes, markets, and public places have been turned to rubble, changing the city’s landscape and affecting everyday life.
Key Facts
Over 80% of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the war started in October 2023.
Gaza’s streets, markets, schools, hospitals, and public spaces have been heavily affected.
UNESCO confirmed damage to 164 cultural sites, including mosques, markets, churches, archaeological sites, and museums.
Important historic places damaged include the Great Omari Mosque, Qasr al-Basha, and the Church of Saint Porphyrius.
Many landmarks have been ruined or severely damaged, altering how people recognize and move around the city.
The war has destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure that supported daily life for its residents.
The photos show a comparison between Gaza before the war and three years after it began.
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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he will ask President Donald Trump to remove ICE agents from New York City after they shot a man during an arrest while his five-year-old child was in the car. The man survived and is in the hospital, and protests have occurred in response to the incident.
Key Facts
A 28-year-old man was shot by ICE agents in the Bronx during an arrest operation.
The man had a five-year-old child in the car during the shooting.
The man survived and is being treated at a local hospital.
ICE stated the man was a "criminal illegal alien" from the Dominican Republic with a criminal record.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to ask President Trump to remove ICE from the city.
Protesters gathered peacefully at the shooting scene and later near the hospital.
ICE has been involved in several controversial shootings this year.
New York bars its police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
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A British carmaker named Longbow will start making a limited-edition electric sports car called the Speedster next year in Warwickshire. The project, supported by £3 million from a government fund, will create over 200 skilled jobs and aims to produce more than 10,000 cars a year.
Key Facts
Longbow plans to produce the hand-built Speedster electric sports car at Mira Tech Park in Nuneaton.
The West Midlands mayor supported the project with £3 million from a government fund to help grow the electric vehicle industry.
Longbow says the region has the right talent and supply chain to build the car, which they say cannot be built anywhere else in the world.
The Speedster costs around £85,000 and has a waiting list of buyers worldwide.
The company aims to follow the Speedster with another model called the Roadster.
Longbow expects to create more than 200 skilled jobs with this project.
The UK region is known for building lightweight sports cars and has strong engineering and design expertise.
The production is supported by the West Midlands Supplier Readiness and Transformation fund, aiming to boost the UK’s electric vehicle manufacturing.
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A photographer warns parents who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to remove watermarks from school photos instead of paying for them. Experts say uploading children’s photos to AI tools can risk misuse, including the images being kept, sold, or used without consent.
Key Facts
Parents are using AI software to remove watermarks on school photos to avoid paying for them.
The photographer, Ian Gilbert, has noticed about 25% of parents using this method, causing profit loss for himself and the schools.
Removing watermarks using AI is considered theft by the photographer, as it bypasses paying for the photos.
AI tools often allow companies to keep, sell, or use uploaded images in other ways, which parents may not realize.
AI safety expert Dr. Simon Thorne warns it is risky to upload photos with personal information to these tools.
Uploading images that include other children can cause privacy issues since those parents might not consent.
Some photographers are working on new methods, like moving images over photos, to stop AI from copying them.
A case occurred where a parent used AI to add a missing child back into a group photo, showing the unexpected uses and risks of AI editing.
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UK water companies earned over £340 million last year by accepting industrial and commercial wastewater to treat at sewage works. Many sewage plants use treatment methods that do not remove harmful chemicals, so pollutants often go into rivers, seas, or farmland. Currently, water companies regulate this wastewater trade without independent oversight.
Key Facts
UK water companies earned more than £340 million in revenue last year from industrial and commercial wastewater.
About 608 billion litres of industrial wastewater were sent to sewage treatment works from various sites like power stations and hospitals.
Water companies issue permits called “trade-effluent consents” for businesses to send wastewater but regulate these without an independent body.
Most sewage works use treatment that removes organic material but not many industrial chemicals, such as solvents, flame retardants, and heavy metals.
Pollutants left in treated water flow into rivers, seas, and farmland via sludge used as fertilizer.
United Utilities earned the most revenue from industrial wastewater at £61.6 million, and Thames Water received the highest volume of waste at 113 billion litres.
Industrial and commercial wastewater volumes and related revenues have risen sharply across UK water companies in recent years.
Experts say the permit system is outdated and lacks full understanding of how much toxic waste enters waterworks annually.
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Two major UK health organizations, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Pharmacy, have ended sponsorship deals with Teva UK, an Israeli pharmaceutical company. These decisions followed pressure from pro-Palestine campaigners and concerns about the company’s activities, alongside Teva's recent legal fines for anti-competitive practices.
Key Facts
The Royal College of Pharmacy canceled Teva UK’s sponsorship and exhibition at its annual conference.
The Royal College of Nursing dropped Teva as a sponsor of nursing events and its union.
Both decisions came after reviews flagged Teva’s activities as not aligned with these bodies’ values.
Pro-Palestine activists influenced the move by circulating an open letter urging ethical scrutiny of partnerships related to Israel.
Teva specializes in generic drugs and has faced large fines for blocking competition and price fixing.
The European Commission fined Teva €462.6 million in 2024 for anti-competitive practices with its multiple sclerosis drug.
In 2023, Teva paid $225 million to settle US Department of Justice charges related to drug price fixing.
Campaigners want other UK medical royal colleges to also cut ties with Teva.
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A large illegal waste dump near Ashford in Kent, England, known as Hoads Wood, was cleared after 15 months and £15 million spent from taxpayer money. Criminal gangs had dumped nearly 40,000 tonnes of waste in this special woodland area in 2023, and the cleanup aimed to restore the site and prevent further illegal dumping.
Key Facts
The illegal waste dump was located in Hoads Wood, a protected natural area with rare plants and wildlife.
Around 40,000 tonnes of waste were dumped illegally over six months in 2023.
The cleanup took 15 months and cost £15 million, funded by the UK government.
Removing the waste required 2,500 truckloads to transport rubbish to a landfill site in Essex.
Other biggest illegal waste sites in England have cost £26 million in total for cleanup.
Authorities closed access to the site and created barriers to stop waste trucks from entering again.
There is concern that criminal gangs or others might return to dump waste again without quick police action.
It will take many years for the ancient woodland’s plants and animals to recover, but new open spaces and ponds might attract some wildlife eventually.
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President Donald Trump is taking steps to lower fuel prices ahead of the November midterm elections. He allowed tax-free red dye diesel, normally for off-road use, to be used on highways temporarily and pushed the G7 to release oil from reserves to increase supply. Fuel prices have risen due to conflicts in the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine war, impacting many Americans and the economy.
Key Facts
Gasoline and diesel prices have more than doubled since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in February.
Rising fuel costs are affecting transportation, farmers, and drivers across the US.
President Trump announced a waiver to allow red dye diesel (tax-free diesel for off-road use) on highways to reduce fuel costs.
Using red dye diesel on roads causes issues because the dye is hard to remove and can lead to fines as it is considered tax evasion after the waiver ends.
Conflicts in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine have limited oil supplies, causing oil prices to stay above $100 per barrel.
Higher fuel costs are a major part of inflation and are causing financial strain on households and businesses.
The G7 countries, after pressure from Trump, agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from reserves to ease supply shortages.
Some recent small drops in fuel prices may be linked to these government actions.
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Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, faced heavy criticism after the party passed a motion labeling Zionism as a form of racism. The motion supports a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel. Polanski, who did not vote on the motion because he was campaigning, has faced internal party conflict and external criticism but says he will continue as leader.
Key Facts
Zack Polanski has been Green Party leader for just over a year.
A by-election in Holborn and St Pancras was won by Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former refugee from Somalia.
The Green Party passed a motion calling Zionism racism and supporting a single Palestinian state including Israel.
Polanski did not vote on the motion because he was campaigning in the by-election.
Polanski has been criticized by party members, Jewish groups, and European Green parties for the motion.
Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader, did not back Polanski continuing as leader after the controversy.
Polanski himself is Jewish and has been banned from Israel.
He says there is ongoing genocide and displacement of Palestinians, calling it racist, but Israel denies it is genocide.
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