far left

A new poll projects France's 2027 presidential election could come down to a run-off between far-right leader Marine Le Pen's camp and hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, sidelining President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc. Commentators see the projection as a sign of deepening polarisation in French politics, with the mainstream centre at risk of being squeezed out of the second round entirely.

Dairy farmers in Idaho are voicing concern that President Trump's immigration enforcement campaign, which has so far largely left agricultural workplaces alone, could soon extend to farms. Dairy work depends heavily on immigrant labor, and producers say a shift in enforcement would threaten their operations and milk production.

France's far right has achieved a historic victory in elections to the French Senate, a result with no precedent in the chamber's history. The win marks a significant breakthrough for the nationalist right in an institution long dominated by mainstream conservative and centre-left groups, and is being closely watched for what it signals about the party's growing national strength.

Marine Le Pen is polling as the frontrunner for France's 2027 presidential election, according to trending reports. Early surveys suggest the far-right Rassemblement National leader holds a lead over potential rivals, months ahead of the vote. Commentators are debating whether she can convert poll numbers into victory after previous near-misses, and how rivals on the mainstream right and left might unite to block her.

France is holding its Senate elections today, with 178 of the 348 seats in the upper house being renewed. The grand electors, drawn from local elected officials, are casting their votes, with the far-right RN in a position of strength in several areas. The left says it expects little from the vote, since indirect elections by local officials limit its chances.

A far-left party has won the election in Berlin, campaigning on a pledge to nationalise the city's housing stock. The result signals strong voter support for radical measures against the German capital's housing shortage and rising rents, and is expected to trigger debate over property expropriation both in Germany and across Europe.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has dissolved parliament and called a snap election for November 29, 2026, nearly a year ahead of the vote originally scheduled for 2027. The move follows a major government defeat in parliament on October 2, when right-wing opposition parties rallied against Sánchez's minority government. The collapse ends months of political instability for the Socialist-led coalition.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon publicly celebrated the election of his son-in-law Gabriel Amard to the French Senate, claiming that in every department La France Insoumise scores far higher than its number of grand electors would suggest. He called the result an "auspicious sign for 2027", while also noting that the RN has tripled its presence, fueling debate on the left's and far-right's momentum.

Manchester United's Football News coverage focuses on chief executive Omar Berrada and the number of staff who followed him from Manchester City, dubbed 'breadcrumbs'. Berrada left City to join United in 2024 as part of the Ineos-led football overhaul, and reports highlight how several former City employees have since taken up key roles at Old Trafford.

Donald Trump says his re-election campaign, despite raising record funds, was forced to spend heavily to counter what he calls Fake News coverage of his administration's handling of the coronavirus, citing his early China travel ban. He insists his campaign has far more money left than at the same point in 2016 and defends his team's performance on the pandemic as doing a great job.

Spanish outlet La Razón reports that far-left groups are trying to organise a new mobilisation reminiscent of the 15-M movement, using the strike ('huelga') as a rallying point. The story is gaining traction in Spain, where strike calls and protest organising regularly draw wide public and political attention, with commentators debating whether such a movement can regain the scale of 2011.

Way Out West, the music festival held in Gothenburg, has paused sales of tickets. The announcement, reported by Swedish media, gives no public explanation in the initial notice, and festival-goers are left waiting to learn whether more tickets will be released or whether the move signals a problem with the event. Details on timing and reasons remain limited so far.

A survey circulating ahead of Brazil's 2026 presidential election gives Lula a commanding lead over Jair Bolsonaro among respondents in France, with 8,769 mentions or votes for Lula against 1,858 for Bolsonaro. The figures suggest strong support for the incumbent among the Brazilian diaspora in France, where the left-leaning expatriate community has historically favoured Workers' Party candidates.

A legislative district in Seattle is the scene of an intraparty clash among Democrats over the direction of progressive politics. Rather than a contest against Republicans, the battle pits more moderate Democrats against the party's left wing, reflecting broader tensions within the party about how far to push progressive policies. KUOW reports the contest has become a proxy for the national fight over the future of the Democratic coalition.

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament has jointly organised a Trade Union Forum with the European Trade Union Confederation. The gathering brings together centre-left MEPs and union representatives to discuss workers' rights and labour priorities in EU policy. Little detail has been released so far about the agenda or outcomes of the event.

Attention is on the AfD's growing standing in Hamburg, with local radio coverage noting that political extremes are gaining support across the city. The discussion comes as the far-right party registers rising poll numbers regionally, prompting debate about shifting voter alignments in a traditionally left-leaning city-state. Commenters are weighing what this means for Hamburg's established parties ahead of future elections.

The hosts of Good Morning America were quizzed on the New York Times' list of the 100 best TV shows of the century so far, giving their reactions and guesses on air. The exchange has drawn attention as viewers debate which series made the ranking and which were left out.

Attention is turning to whether a Bernie Sanders-style progressive can win one of California's most Republican-leaning congressional districts. The race tests whether left-wing economic populism can resonate with conservative-leaning voters in a state dominated by Democrats elsewhere. Observers see the contest as a measure of how far progressive messaging can stretch beyond its traditional base, and whether working-class appeals on issues like healthcare and wages can cut through partisan loyalties in red territory.

New York Yankees player Luis García Jr. hit a home run that, according to Statcast-style distance data, would have gone out in 27 of the 30 MLB ballparks. The claim highlights how far the ball traveled and how hitter-friendly or restrictive different stadiums are, a common talking point among baseball fans comparing home run distances across parks.

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu faced visible walkouts as delegates left the room during their speeches at the United Nations General Assembly. The exits underscore continuing international anger over the war in Gaza and Washington's support for Israel. Commentators are weighing how far the protests reflect the isolation of both leaders on the world stage.

Brazilians are heading to the polls in an election being framed as pivotal for the country and the wider region. The vote pits the leftwing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, in a contest between left and far-right visions that commentators say will shape Latin America's political direction.

The blog "This Needs Fixin'", which examines systemic problems in society and proposes remedies, is circulating randomly selected older pieces from its archive. Posts highlighted include a 2020 essay on how a democracy would go to war, a piece on what to do when "the autocrat is correct," and a 2026 entry criticizing the site Wonkette as an example of an authoritarian left. So far the shares have drawn only a handful of likes and little discussion.