Tennessee to execute a woman for first time in 200 years after governor denies clemency

Lawyers for Christa Pike, 50, convicted of killing classmate in Knoxville in 1995, ask supreme court to grant stay

Christa Pike was 18 when she killed a classmate in a jealous rage and became one of the youngest women to be sent to death row. Now 50, she is scheduled to be put to death on Wednesday in what would be Tennessee’s first execution of a woman in 200 years.

Pike and her boyfriend were convicted in the 1995 killing of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, their classmate at Knoxville Job Corps. Prosecutors said Pike feared Slemmer was a romantic rival and lured her to a secluded area where she and her boyfriend tortured and killed Slemmer.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/28/tennessee-woman-execution-christa-pike

Investigation of alleged gang-rape at Cornell University fraternity house reopened

Outrage over treatment of alleged offenders, members of Chi Phi fraternity, has grown since lawsuit was made public

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Prosecutors in New York said on Monday that they have reopened an investigation into the alleged gang-rape of a student at Cornell University after an outcry over “leniency” shown to seven fraternity members named as the perpetrators.

According to lawyers for the student, who filed a civil lawsuit against the university and her alleged attackers earlier in September, only two members of the Chi Phi fraternity were expelled after the October 2024 incident, in which she said she was drugged and repeatedly raped over the course of seven hours.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/28/cornell-fraternity-investigation-alleged-gang-rape

French PM warns against escalation of school protests after 164 arrested

Students are protesting over issues such as overcrowded classes, but the prime minister has condemned reports of violence.

Samuel Alito steps aside in a major climate case amid scrutiny over oil stock holdings

Decision from conservative justice comes before court hears case on whether fossil-fuel firms deceived US public

Supreme court justice Samuel Alito recused himself Monday from a major climate-change case after facing calls to step aside due to stock holdings in oil companies.

A letter posted in the case did not specify a reason, but the conservative justice has previously recused himself from other cases involving companies where he holds stock.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/28/samuel-alito-supreme-court-oil-climate-case

Failure to protect free speech could cost Labour votes at next election, says Liberty

Polling for rights group shows issue is concern for voters and many feel recent policies have had negative effect

Free speech will be a big concern for voters at the next general election, with the government’s current approach on the issue perceived by many to be bad for Britain, polling suggests.

Three in five people said a political party’s position on free speech would affect how they voted at a general election. The human rights organisation Liberty, which commissioned the polling from More in Common, claimed the results showed that Labour’s failure to protect free speech could cost it votes.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/28/protect-free-speech-labour-liberty-poll

Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says #wanitaxigo

Serbia’s Longtime President Aleksandar Vucic Resigns Post #wanitaxigo