Writing the summary…
Where the US midterm elections will be won and lost

Original reporting
BBC News: read the full reportFollow this story
Earlier reports and follow-ups on the same developing story.
Related stories

Latin American organised crime ‘may operate in 16 European countries’
Cocaine seizures in Europe are up more than fivefold in 10 years as a host of cartels take root. A four-month Guardian investigation reveals the true scale of a continent-wide shift A four-month investigation by the Guardian has revealed that the surge in cocaine trafficking to Europe is directly linked to the expanding presence of Latin American criminal networks in Europe, where they have forged close ties with local mafia organisations. The investigation, utilising databases, police and intelligence agencies, along with interviews with judges, prosecutors and experts from eight countries, shows that cartels and factions from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and the US are active in at least 12 European countries. Between 2014 and 2024, there was a 471% rise in the quantity of cocaine seized and more local laboratories processing cocaine derivatives were dismantled. Continu

India 'cockroach' leaders detained after entering barricaded protest site
Protesters climbed over barricades in central Delhi to demand the election chief resign over revised voter lists.

Bacon, eggs and Bowie: how year 12 English students tackled ‘human strength and vulnerability’ in HSC paper
Tens of thousands of high school students across New South Wales sit the first test of their final exams Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast “How does the composer of your prescribed text offer you opportunities to examine assumptions about human strength and vulnerability?” This was the bamboozling English question tens of thousands of year 12 students sat down to answer on the first day of their final school exams. Continue reading...
Emir says Qatar has shown resilience in face of ‘exceptional events’
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani says Qatar has demonstrated its strength and cohesion.
Malaysia’s Firefly cancels flights to Singapore over haze from Indonesia
Move comes as haze from Indonesian fires makes Singapore and Kuala Lumpur the world’s most polluted cities.

Climate protester restrained after interrupting NSW parliament – as it happened
This blog is now closed Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Robert Pether has stressed his innocence and recalled his brush with death in his first comments since the Australian engineer departed Iraq after serving more than five years in jail. Pether and his Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan were detained in Baghdad in 2021 after flying in for a meeting with bank officials to resolve a dispute with his engineering firm, CME Consulting. We were innocent when we were taken on the 7th of April 2021, and we remain innocent today. I was released from prison hours away from death. My body was shutting down after months of critical illness and excruciating pain, but I remained trapped in Iraq. She is an incredible person, someone that I have so much respect for, and being able to come home was incredible. Just the emotion that it brings is, you can’t describe it. I mean