Trouble for electricity vandals as Senate passes Power Sector Reform Bill

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.

A report by a US Senate Committee has raised concerns by whistleblowers about the safety approval process for new aircraft, in the wake of the deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. Senators spoke to whistleblowers at Boeing, its supplier GE, and engineers working for the Federal Aviation Administration. It found the FAA's certification process had been "eroded" and that the agency had "increasingly delegated away its authority". Our business editor Stephen Carroll tells us more.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has withdrawn his candidacy for the Senate in the country's May 2022 elections, according to the election commission. He reaches term limit as president in 2022.

Amid supermarket food rationing, a truck drivers' strike over petrol prices and rising inflation in Spain, the country's economy minister tells FRANCE 24 that it's "essential" for Madrid to be allowed to take measures to bring electricity prices down. "We're working with the Commission to have an authorisation to decouple our energy market and thus stop this price increase […] It doesn't make sense that Spanish and Portuguese citizens do not benefit from the fact that we have for instance at least 50 percent of our generation from renewables. This is very cheap and clean energy and our citizens should benefit from these low prices," Nadia Calviño explains.

The US Senate has voted 51 to 49 against proceeding with the Women's Health Protection Act. The bill sought to ensure access to abortions nationwide.

Police in the US town of Uvalde, Texas are facing questions over why it took an hour to neutralise the gunman who murdered 19 small children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. The tragedy comes amid increasing calls for greater gun control measures. Among the demands of campaigners are a ban on assault weapon sales, as well as universal background checks and so-called red flag laws. Pastor Mike McBride, director of the LIVE FREE gun violence prevention campaign with the Faith in Action network, joined us on Perspective to tell us more.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Friday.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has firmed up its plans for addressing the energy crisis as the country heads into winter. The plans still need to win the approval of Germany's state leaders.

Russian airstrikes on power plants have left many Ukrainian cities with little or no electricity. Attacks have also knocked out water supplies in several areas. Fighting rages on, with multiple front lines across the country.

Results from races for more than 400 congressional seats will come in when election polls close on Tuesday. Can't stay on top of them all? Then keep a close eye on Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The fight for a majority in the Senate has come down to three key races, with Georgia heading to a runoff.

Nigeria’s House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the Managing Director of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading over the ₦‎4 trillion debt owed by some international electricity customers since 2018.