World
The war on Iran is driving up fuel and fertiliser costs across Africa, threatening food security, trade officials say.
The war on Iran is driving up fuel and fertiliser costs across Africa, threatening food security, trade officials say.
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<p>Suit that cites 2025 Guardian investigation alleges ‘pattern of inaccurate pricing’ that ‘affects millions of purchases’</p><p>The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states have sued Dollar General, the nation’s largest dollar-store chain, for persistently overcharging customers at its more than 20,000 stores across the United States.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/DollarGeneral-Complaint.pdf">lawsuit</a>, filed in federal court in Nashville, cites a Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/03/customers-pay-more-rising-dollar-store-costs">investigation</a> published last December.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/26/dollar-general-ftc-lawsuit">Continue reading...</a>
<p>Last Ditch bar announced it would ‘soft close’ after it went viral following a story on its attempt to relax Covid rules</p><p>A Massachusetts lesbian bar that went viral for loosening its Covid mask policy last month announced plans to “soft close” on Monday as it seeks new ownership.</p><p>The Last Ditch bar, in the small city of Greenfield, said <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lastditchbar/p/De9mGARKf8n/">in an Instagram post</a> that it was searching for co-owners, new owners or a full sale, and that it would “soft close effective immediately”, with “only booked events” continuing while it closes this winter. It had opened just last year as a bar for “dykes, transsexuals, gender freaks, workers, and their friends”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/26/last-ditch-lesbian-bar-closing">Continue reading...</a>
<p>California counties were told by DoJ to set aside and verify ballots administration claims belong to noncitizen voters</p><p>A US appeals court on Monday ruled against Donald Trump’s justice department in a major voting dispute ahead of the midterm elections, denying a request to block California from counting mail ballots from people on a list of more than <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/15/justice-department-sues-california-midterms">20,000 registered voters</a> the federal government alleges are likely noncitizens.</p><p>The decision by the San Francisco-based ninth US circuit court of appeals marked the latest setback in Trump’s efforts to assert a greater federal role in overseeing elections in the run-up to the 3 November midterms in which his fellow Republicans are fighting to retain control of Congress.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/26/court-california-ballots">Continue reading...</a>
<p>Controversial mechanism that hit unpaid carers with huge penalties to be scrapped following Guardian investigation</p><p>The controversial rule that led to unpaid carers being punished with penalties amounting to thousands of pounds is to be abolished, the Guardian can reveal.</p><p>The chancellor, John Healey, is to announce a new digital taper system for the so-called carer’s allowance in Wednesday’s budget, effectively ending what is regarded as one of the UK benefit system’s most feared and unfair administrative practices.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/26/carers-allowance-cliff-edge-abolished-in-the-budget">Continue reading...</a>