Rejoining Erasmus should just be a first step – as the economic evidence piles up, the need for closer ties with Europe could not be clearer, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

Huge archive – set to shed fresh light on Epstein’s misdeeds – legally obliged to be released before midnight deadline Speculation surrounding the affairs of Jeffrey Epstein is expected to reach a defining moment of revelation on Friday with the much-anticipated publication of files relating to the disgraced late financier and sex trafficker. After months of delay and stalling, the Trump administration is legally obliged to publish a massive archive of documents that could shine fresh light on Epstein’s misdeeds and his connections with key public figures, including Donald Trump himself. Continue reading...

The hard right and far right are the political winners from the migration ‘crisis’, but only because centrist parties keep legitimising them, says migration and border researcher Maurice Stierl

Letter from 39 backbenchers threatens rebellion over proposal to expedite court backlog in England and Wales Keir Starmer is facing the threat of a backbench rebellion over plans to reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales, as dozens of Labour MPs signed a letter describing the move as “madness”. The justice secretary, David Lammy, announced plans earlier this month that will take thousands of trials away from the jury system, to be heard instead by judges and magistrates. Continue reading...

Remarkably, most of the men connected to the convicted sex offender have barely experienced any fallout. That says as much as the scandal itself, says Emma Brockes

Deal agreed for £570m to rejoin exchange programme in 2027, fulfilling Labour election manifesto pledge * Europe live – latest updates Young people across the UK will be able to study or gain work experience through the EU’s Erasmus scheme for the first time since Brexit, after the government announced an agreement to rejoin at a cost of £570m. The scheme officially known as Erasmus+ will be reopened to those involved in education, training, culture and sport from 2027, after discussions in London and Brussels to fulfil a Labour election manifesto pledge. Continue reading...

Andrea Egan to become Unison general secretary, succeeding Christina McAnea, who has close links to Keir Starmer * UK politics live – latest updates The UK’s largest trade union, Unison, is on a potential collision course with Labour after it ousted a general secretary with close links to Keir Starmer in favour of a leftwinger who was expelled from the party three years ago. In a result announced on Wednesday morning, Andrea Egan was elected as Unison’s general secretary, winning just under 60% of members’ votes, against Christina McAnea, who has been general secretary since 2021 and has kept the union close to Labour. Continue reading...

Conservationists appeal to public for help after rare birds disappear in suspicious circumstances One of the first white-tailed eagles to fledge in England for hundreds of years has vanished in suspicious circumstances, alongside two more “devastating” disappearances of the reintroduced raptor. Police are appealing for public help as they investigate the disappearances, which is a setback to the bird’s successful reintroduction. Their disappearance is being investigated by several police forces and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. Continue reading...

Hillary Clinton doesn’t care that young Jewish students were moved by videos and photos of the firebombing of families huddled in their tents after their homes were reduced to rubble, or the bloate…

If not, academics say, people will continue to get sick and die while schools close and hospitals are overwhelmed With flu cases rising and resident doctors on strike from Wednesday, the NHS is under considerable pressure. But experts say lessons from the Covid pandemic could help ease the situation. A trio of UK-based academics say a three-pronged approach of increasing uptake of flu vaccines, boosting support so people can stay home when unwell, and increasing ventilation and air quality would help to protect people from influenza. Continue reading...

Health secretary wrote to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, urging her to ‘take heat and ideology’ out of debate Health secretary Wes Streeting has called on the Conservatives to maintain the “cross party consensus” on gender identity services built before the last election in a letter to Kemi Badenoch. Streeting wrote to opposition leader on Friday urging her to “take the heat and the ideology” out of debate amid controversy over a puberty blocker trial for children. Continue reading...

US president finds himself shouldering same burdens of affordability crisis and the inexorable march of time

The Reform leader bit back over allegations of racial abuse and revealed his strategy: the best form of defence is dragging everyone else into the mire, says writer Samuel Earle

New business rates regime that is poised to hit pubs and hotels is latest example of hasty decision-making

Robert Milne says he fully recognises the ‘seriousness of the behaviours described in the media’ Dulwich college’s headteacher has responded to allegations of teenage racism by Nigel Farage by saying he recognised the “seriousness of the behaviours described in the media”. Robert Milne, who joined the school as its “master” this summer, said the alleged behaviour was “at odds” with the modern day school in a letter in which he said he understood why 28 former pupils had felt compelled to speak out. Continue reading...