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Housebuilder Berkeley to halt buying new land and hiring staff

Group cuts costs as shares plunge while it grapples with impact of Iran war on property market Business live – latest updates One of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has said it will stop buying new land and hiring new staff, as it grapples with the impact of the Iran war on the property market. Berkeley, a London-focused housebuilder, said it would cut costs as it warned that “geopolitical volatility” and “reduced potential” for interest rate cuts could weigh on the business. Continue reading...

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Mass robotaxi malfunction halts traffic in Chinese city

Baidu has not responded to a request for comment about the outage, which affected at least 100 cars.

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DR Congo declares national holiday for after reaching World Cup for first time in 52 years

This is just the second time that DR Congo have reached the World Cup finals, sparking celebrations in Kinshasa.

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Iran war economic shocks will last 'months', say Australia's PM

Anthony Albanese used a rare TV address to tell Australians that the "months ahead may not be easy" amid the global effects of the war.

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Prominent UK pro-Palestine activists guilty of breaching protest conditions

Judge says in verdict against Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham that conditions imposed were lawful and necessary Two prominent leaders in the Palestine solidarity movement in Britain have been found guilty of breaching protest conditions. Ben Jamal, 62, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and Chris Nineham, 63, vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition, were accused of failing to comply with conditions imposed on a protest on 18 January 2025. They were subsequently charged with public order offences. Continue reading...

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Israel intensifies Lebanon attacks and hits areas not in Hezbollah's control

Attacks on Lebanon have continued, as Israel has announced its intention to control swathes of the south.

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Man remanded in custody after seven pedestrians hit by car in Derby

Sandhu Ponnachan appears in court on charges of dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm A 36-year-old man has been remanded into custody after appearing in court accused of dangerous driving after seven people were injured when a car hit pedestrians in Derby on Saturday night. Sandhu Ponnachan, from the Alvaston area of the city, appeared at Southern Derbyshire magistrates court on Wednesday having also been charged with six counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm, and one count of possession of a bladed article. Continue reading...

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First Thing: Trump launches tirade against Europe for not joining Iran war

Some European countries have blocked Israeli and US planes from moving weapons through their airspace. Plus, a rocket heads to the moon on Wednesday for the first time since 1972 Good morning. Donald Trump has launched a tirade against European countries that refused to join the Israel-US war against Iran, calling out the UK and France, as transatlantic relations continue their downward spiral and the war wreaks havoc on the global economy. What pushback has there been from Europe? France has blocked Israeli planes from flying weapons through its airspace, while Italy refused last-minute permission for US bombers to land in Sicily. Spain has already denied the US use of its bases and airspace. The UK, however, has allowed the US to use its bases for a war that its government says is illegal. For the latest updates, follow our live blog. Continue reading...

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US tech firm Oracle cuts thousands of jobs as it steps up AI spending

Company chaired by Trump ally Larry Ellison seeks to reassure investors that bet on AI infrastructure will pay off Oracle is cutting thousands of jobs as the US technology company seeks to reassure investors that its bet on AI infrastructure will pay off. The $420bn firm, headquartered in Austin, Texas, started letting employees go on Tuesday, with thousands of Oracle’s 160,000-strong workforce expected to leave. Continue reading...

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Trump to attend supreme court arguments on landmark birthright citizenship case - US politics live

Court case will weigh the constitutionality of his contentious bid to end birthright citizenship President Donald Trump will watch the US supreme court hear a landmark case today weighing the constitutionality of his contentious bid to end birthright citizenship – an extraordinary and possibly unprecedented move for the nation’s highest office. Trump signed an executive order on his return to the White House decreeing that children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become US citizens. Trump signed an executive order seeking to restrict mail-in voting across the US with a series of new requirements, including the establishment of a national voter list. The move was unprecedented and likely unconstitutional, according to experts. The Brennan Center said in response, “He has no lawful authority to write the rules that govern our elections. He tried a year ago; we sued him; we won. A year later, he has tried again. He can expect the same result.” Several states and Democratic officials criticized the order, describing it as an illegal attack that amounted to voter suppression ahead of the midterms, and said they will take legal action to stop the president, including California. Trump continued to fume over today’s ruling from a US judge that halted the construction of his $400m White House ballroom, and sharply criticized the decision during a press briefing and on social media. Pete Hegseth lifted the suspension of the crew of the military helicopters that hovered near the home of singer Kid Rock, and said there would be no investigation. Continue reading...

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UK needs ‘ambitious’ new EU ties amid Iran war, Starmer says

PM to focus on European defence and economic partnership for ‘dangerous world’ in pivot away from US UK politics live – latest updates Britain’s long-term national interest requires closer partnership with the EU, Keir Starmer has said, citing war in the Middle East and the increasingly “volatile” international situation. The prime minister indicated that the conflict had re-focused the government on “ambitious” new ties with Europe, economically and in defence, and said that how Britain emerged from the crisis “would define us for a generation”. Continue reading...

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US supreme court to weigh whether Trump can deny birthright citizenship

Trump issued executive order in January 2025 that seeks to undo birthright citizenship, overriding the constitution Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox The US supreme court will hear arguments on Wednesday over whether Trump can reverse generations of precedent and deny birthright citizenship to babies born on US soil, which would impact hundreds of thousands of children annually. On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order that sought to undo birthright citizenship, overriding the US constitution – or, as his administration has argued, interpret the constitution correctly, in defiance of supreme court precedent. Continue reading...

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Russian military plane crash kills 29 in occupied Crimea

Russian authorities say a technical malfunction caused the An-26 to crash into a cliff.

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Man charged with 10 firearms offences after Dover counter-terror police arrest

Khalid Ahmed, 24, from Ealing in west London, also charged with one count of possession of prohibited ammunition A 24-year-old man who was stopped at Dover has been charged with 10 counts of possession of a firearm. Khalid Ahmed, from Ealing in west London, who is a dual Dutch and Irish national, is to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, where he will also face one charge of possession of prohibited ammunition. Continue reading...

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American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Iraq, US officials say

State department says it is working to ensure release of freelancer ‘as soon as possible’ after abduction in Baghdad An American journalist, Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US said, as regional security deteriorates after the US-Israeli attack on Iran. Kittleson is a longtime freelancer in the region, reporting extensively from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Continue reading...

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Ex-Alex Jones employee reflects on job at Infowars: ‘It was nonsense. It was lies’

Former Infowars video editor and field producer spoke on his experience working on the show in an NPR interview Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A former video editor and field producer for Alex Jones’s Infowars has said his work for the notorious conspiracy theorist was “nonsense” and “lies”, but he kept at it for four years in his 20s because the far-right media company’s founder was a magnetic presence and it earned him good money. Josh Owens made those revealing remarks in an NPR interview published on Tuesday promoting his new memoir about once having been an employee of Jones and Infowars – a conversation that also detailed the hand he said he had in fabricating a video of an operative of the Islamic State (IS) terror group sneaking into the US from Mexico immediately after a beheading. Continue reading...

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Oil price falls and markets rally after Trump says Iran war over in ‘two to three weeks’

US president’s claim that conflict is nearing end prompts 15% drop in Brent crude and stock market climb in Asia Business live – latest updates Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied across the world on Wednesday after Donald Trump said the war in Iran would end in “two to three weeks”. Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, dropped to $99.78 a barrel, down more than 15% compared with its price on Tuesday – its lowest level in a week. Continue reading...

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UK food inflation ‘could hit 9% this year’ as Iran war drives up energy prices

Even if cargo route of strait of Hormuz reopens soon, Food and Drink Federation almost triples earlier forecast Business live – latest updates Food inflation could hit 9% in the UK this year, even if the strait of Hormuz opens within the next few weeks, figures suggest, as the war in Iran pushes up energy prices. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents 12,000 food and drink manufacturers, has predicted that prices will rise by “at least” 9% the end of 2026, almost tripling a forecast made before the conflict of 3.2%. Continue reading...

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Zelenskyy to talk with US negotiators about war with Russia after Easter ceasefire proposal – Europe live

Ukrainian president says he hopes for ‘results’ as he sits down with negotiators later today Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone manufacturers are meeting Romanian defence ministry and army officials in Bucharest this week to discuss potential joint production under a new European Union rearmament funding mechanism, the ministry said in a statement quoted by Reuters. Romania, an EU and Nato state, shares a 650-km land border with Ukraine and has had drones breach its airspace and fragments fall on its territory repeatedly since Russia began attacking Kyiv’s ports located across the Danube from Romania. Continue reading...

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Anthony Albanese addresses the nation on the Middle East crisis – read the speech in full

Prime minister says months ahead ‘may not be easy’ and urges Australians to ‘think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries’ Australian PMs have addressed the nation only a handful of times. Anthony Albanese will join their ranks Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast My fellow Australians. By nature, we’re an optimistic country. But I understand that right now it’s hard to be positive. Continue reading...

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Rachel Reeves signals that support package for household energy bills won’t kick in until autumn – UK politics live

Chancellor says the government is looking at ways they can support people based on household income Good morning. Keir Starmer is giving a press conference this morning where, according to No 10, he will discuss the Iran war, and how the government is supporting people at home. Now we are in April, the new financial year is starting, and the government is highlighting measures it has introduced that will help people with the cost of living. The Conservatives have an alternative list, and they are claiming this morning that “Keir Starmer and his chancellor have piled on extra costs leaving families almost £1,000 worse off this year”. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has been doing her own media too. She is on the Jeremy Vine show later, but she has already given an interview to BBC Breakfast in which she gave a marginally clearer idea of what she is planning to do to help people with energy bills than she did when she made a statement to MPs last week. From July to September, gas usage, especially by families and pensioners, is the lowest of any months of the year because it is the summer months … It will be really from the autumn onwards that people’s gas usage starts increasing. So at the moment we are working on a range of contingencies. And we are looking at more targeted measures. We are looking at ways we can support people based on their household income. I want to learn the lessons of the past because when Russia invaded Ukraine, the richest, the best-off third of households got more than a third of the support. That makes no sense at all. Continue reading...

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China is trying to play peacemaker in the Iran war - will it work?

It's a turnaround for Beijing, whose official response has been muted so far. Why is China stepping in now?

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Artemis II launch: crowds gather for glimpse of historic Nasa moon mission

Fully crewed rocket will head to moon from Florida – first time since 1972 that humans will have left lower Earth orbit A little more than an hour before sunset on Florida’s space coast, up to 400,000 people packed on beaches and causeways will look to the heavens on Wednesday to witness a fiery spectacle not seen in almost 54 years: a fully crewed Nasa rocket heading back to the moon. The launch of Artemis II, scheduled for 6.24pm ET if weather and any late technical gremlins grant their consent, marks the first time since the Apollo 17 mission of December 1972 that humans will have left lower Earth orbit. Continue reading...

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Australia wants to sell its social media ban to the world – but are the measures even working?

Two-thirds of teenagers are still on social media platforms included in the ban, according to the eSafety commissioner Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast When the age assurance technology trial released its final report before Australia’s under-16s social media ban came into effect last year, its first finding was: age assurance can be done privately, efficiently and effectively. Four months since the ban came into effect, we can say that was – to paraphrase Yes Minister – a courageous statement. Continue reading...

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'It's phenomenal!': Excitement in Florida ahead of Artemis launch

BBC’s Leyla Khodabakhshi speaks to locals and visitors in Florida ahead of the Artemis II mission blast off.

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Moira Deeming could stay on Liberal ticket after preselection bungle as members make ‘stitch up’ claim

Potential challengers given only 36 hours to prepare for a rerun after the winner was deemed ineligible Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Moira Deeming could secure the top spot on a Victorian Liberal ticket – if she still wants it – after potential challengers were given only 36 hours to prepare nominations for a rerun preselection ballot, in what some insiders call a “stitch up”. It came after Deeming was on Sunday ousted from the number one spot for the western metropolitan region by Dinesh Gourisetty. But by Monday night, the Victorian Liberal party executive resolved to hold a fresh preselection, after Gourisetty was deemed ineligible to stand as a candidate at the November state election due to a character reference he provided for a friend convicted of sexually assaulting a child. Continue reading...

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Empty petrol stations and volatile prices: Australia’s fuel crisis in charts

Track the latest data on fuel prices, outages and oil tanker deliveries Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Hundreds of service stations across Australia have run empty, fuel prices are elevated and oil shipments have been cancelled. Australia is battling a fuel crises as Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz continues to bite. The federal government has released fuel reserves, cut fuel excise taxes and rolled out a national fuel security plan. Continue reading...

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Energy crisis: why ‘keep calm but cut down’ may be a better message for Labour

Government keen to avoid panic as oil price surges, but perhaps households need advice on reducing consumption Labour ministers sent out in recent days to respond to the looming energy crisis sparked by the Iran war have essentially stuck to that reassuring wartime slogan: keep calm and carry on. “I think people should go about their lives as normal, knowing that the government is taking action to bring energy bills down,” James Murray, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday. Continue reading...

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Police chiefs failed to tackle racism due to lack of leadership, watchdog finds

Review finds no ‘meaningful impact’ five years after race action plan launched, amid calls for government to step in Promises by police chiefs to tackle racial bias failed owing to “a lack of clear national leadership”, an independent police report has found. The promises were made five years ago in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and led police bosses in England and Wales to launch a race action plan promising to tackle the “stigmatising and humiliating” experiences of Black people at the hands of officers. Continue reading...

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Wednesday briefing: ​How did Russia become the unexpected beneficiary of the Iran war?

In today’s newsletter: As conflict engulfs Iran, shifting ​global alliances and soaring energy prices are reshaping ​the existing power balances​ that could redefine the next stage of international security Good morning. So far, there is only one clear winner from the war in Iran: Russia. Before the US and Israel attacked Tehran in late February, Moscow was preparing deep budget cuts to education and healthcare funding to pay for its invasion of Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year. In just over a month of the fighting in Iran, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has experienced a dramatic reversal in fortunes. The global oil price has shot up from a prewar average of $72 to well over $100 per barrel, providing a financial boost of multi-billions for Moscow that shows little sign of ending. Middle East | Donald Trump has launched a tirade against European countries that refused to join his war against Iran, calling out the UK and France. Military | The UK is sending more military support to the Gulf, taking the total deployment to 1,000 troops. NHS England | Some medicines could run out in weeks or even days, NHS England head warns, after supply line shocks. UK politics | Nigel Farage to ‘steer well clear’ of UK CPAC event in July being led by the short-lived former prime minister Liz Truss. UK news | King Charles’s state visit to US to go ahead in late April despite Iran war concerns. Continue reading...

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Megan Thee Stallion taken to hospital during Moulin Rouge performance

The rapper "started feeling very ill" mid-way through the show in New York, her representative told US media.

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Asia ramps up use of dirty fuels to cover energy shortfall triggered by Iran war

South Korea will delay the shutdown of coal-fired plants, while the Philippines also plans to boost the output of its coal-burning plants Governments across Asia are ramping up their use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, as they try to cover huge energy shortfalls triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran. The move has triggered warnings from climate experts who point to coal’s devastating environmental impact, and say the energy crisis should be a wake up call for governments to invest in renewables, which can offer a more stable supply that is not exposed to price shocks. Continue reading...

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Writing on the wall: Art UK digitises thousands of murals as street artworks go mainstream

From medieval church wall paintings to Liam Gallagher’s viral X post, charity has catalogued more than 6,600 pieces Some of the UK’s smallest public murals are on bollards in Shrewsbury while one of the biggest is on a 1960s 16-storey block of flats in Gosport. Perhaps the funniest though is in Cardiff. Ahead of last summer’s Oasis concerts it was a straightforward copy of Liam Gallagher’s viral post on X declaring: “Because Cardiff is the bollox.” Continue reading...

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‘Harrowing’: Cyclone Narelle leaves graveyard of turtles, dolphins and seabirds in Western Australia

Exmouth local says devastating impact on wildlife along the coastline is ‘hard to put into words’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here As the flooding from Tropical Cyclone Narelle’s violent visit to Exmouth subsided and the winds dropped, Brinkley Davies headed to Graveyards beach. The beach, at least according to some Exmouth locals, got its name because of the tendency for turtles to get stuck on the dunes. Continue reading...

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Middle East crisis live: Trump claims war will end in ‘two or three weeks’; Rubio says US should ‘re-examine’ Nato relationship

US president says responsibility for reopening strait of Hormuz rests on countries relying on it; secretary of state says Washington must review whether Nato alliance is still serving the US well ‘Get your own oil’: Trump launches tirade against Europe for not joining Iran war Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers has unveiled a suite of Covid-era support measures for businesses struggling with soaring fuel prices, while Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese is set to address the nation in the latest sign the government is preparing for a more severe economic downturn from the war. “The war in the Middle East is having an extreme impact on the global economy. Australians and Australian small businesses are paying the price for that,” the treasurer told reporters on Wednesday. Two-thirds of Americans believe that the US should work to end its involvement in the Iran war quickly, even if that means not achieving the goals set out by the Trump administration, a Reuters/Ipsos poll has found. Asian markets rose sharply early on Wednesday after US stocks soared to their best day in almost a year on renewed hopes that the Iran war could soon end. South Korea’s Kospi surged 6.4% in early trading, while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 1.9%, while the Shanghai Composite index was trading 1.4% higher. Thousands of additional US troops are heading to the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush deployed on Tuesday and is slated to travel to the region along with three destroyers, two US officials said. The carrier strike group consists of more than 6,000 personnel. The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had identified the launch of a missile from Yemen towards Israel. It said defence systems were operating to intercept the missile. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB said areas in northern, eastern and central Tehran were under attack on Wednesday morning. The broadcaster said on Telegram that explosions were heard in the capital’s north, east and centre, reporting “attacks on Tehran” without immediately providing more details. A drone attack has sparked a large fire at Kuwait international airport, according to its state news agency, which said no casualties had been reported, while in the last few hours Saudi Arabia has said it intercepted and destroyed two drones. Bahrain also said early on Wednesday that it was working to extinguish a fire at a business facility that resulted from an Iranian attack. A tanker also came under attack off the coast of Qatar early on Wednesday, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre. Israeli strikes in southern Beirut and a nearby area have killed seven people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US said. The journalist was identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelancer, by media advocacy groups as well as Al-Monitor, one of the news outlets for which she worked. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the United Arab Emirates is preparing to help the US open the strait of Hormuz by force. Citing Arab officials, the newspaper reported the UAE is lobbying for a UN security council resolution that would authorise such action. Continue reading...

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Divorced couples in Japan can now share custody of their children

Japan was, until recently, the only G7 country to not recognise the legal concept of joint custody.

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Chancellor meets UK supermarket bosses to discuss cost of living

Rachel Reeves will address concerns about price rises and shortages with retailers as energy costs surge The bosses of the UK’s biggest supermarkets are to meet the chancellor on Wednesday as the government seeks to gauge the extent of potential price rises and shortages of household essentials amid a surge in energy, fuel and fertiliser costs. Rachel Reeves is meeting the bosses of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons as concerns rise about the potential impact on the cost of living – including higher food prices – as a result of the Middle East conflict. Continue reading...

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Petrol and diesel prices fall across Australia as Labor’s fuel excise cut takes effect

Adelaide has the biggest price decline, with unleaded down 24.9 cents and diesel down 21.3 cents Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Fuel prices have started falling immediately across Australia in the wake of the government’s fuel excise cut, unexpectedly accelerating the delivery of the Albanese government’s cost-of-living relief. Prices in capital cities paused then plummeted on Wednesday, after the prime minister announced the tax on petrol and diesel would be halved to 26.3 cents a litre. Continue reading...

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Molly the border collie rescued after a week waiting for injured owner in New Zealand’s remote backcountry

A rescue mission involving volunteer helicopter crew and public donations ended in joy after Molly was located and brought home A spot of furry black and white appears among the jagged rocks of New Zealand’s alpine backcountry. It is Molly the border collie, sitting near the foot of a waterfall where she had been separated from her owner one week earlier. Molly was rescued on Tuesday after an avalanche of donations from the public funded a volunteer team made up of former helicopter pilots and crew to mount a search in the wilderness. Continue reading...

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'My six-year-old has nosebleeds': Chiang Mai air pollution sparks health fears

Chiang Mai now ranks among the world's most polluted cities as fires engulf the surrounding countryside.

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Sydney playground at centre of asbestos mulch scandal closed again after timber found ‘bleeding black tar-like substance’

Salvaged railway timber removed for testing from Rozelle parklands, which was previously closed in 2024 when asbestos was found in garden mulch Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Parts of a Sydney children’s playground where asbestos was found in garden mulch in 2024 has been closed again, with authorities removing salvaged railway timber for testing. Areas of Rozelle parklands in Sydney’s inner west were fenced off on Monday, with a council notice advising: “Thank you for your patience while we work with the NSW government to carry out works.” Continue reading...

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Middle East crisis live: war will end in ‘two or three weeks’ claims Trump; Rubio says US will ‘reexamine’ relationship with Nato

US president reiterates that responsibility for reopening strait of Hormuz rests on the countries who rely on it ‘Get your own oil’: Trump launches tirade against Europe for not joining Iran war Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry has said it has intercepted and destroyed ten drones over the past hours, and eight missiles launched towards the Riyadh area and the country’s eastern region. Early this morning Kuwait said its air defences were responding to hostile missile and drone attacks. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Kuwait said where the drones or missiles came from. Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai. Local authorities later said response teams contained the incident with no oil leakage and that no injuries had been reported Donald Trump warned that the US would obliterate Iran’s energy plants and oil wells if it did not open the strait of Hormuz. The Israeli military said four soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Lebanon, where its forces are clashing with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Two giant Chinese container ships have sailed through the strait of Hormuz on their second attempt to leave the Gulf after turning back on Friday, ship-tracking data shows. The transit signals a diplomatic breakthrough between Beijing and Tehran as Iran widens its list of approved nations for transiting the vital route, Lloyd’s List reported. Indonesia’s foreign minister called for an emergency UN security council meeting and a thorough investigation” into a “heinous attack” after three UN peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in southern Lebanon. Blasts were heard in Tehran and power cuts hit some areas of the capital, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Israel earlier carried out missile strikes on what it called military infrastructure in Tehran and infrastructure used by Hezbollah in Beirut. Japan and Indonesia agreed to step up coordination on energy security, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday. Two Iranian missile launches targeted central Israel, Israeli media reported, with the emergency service saying it had not received reports of any injuries. Turkey reported a ballistic missile launched from Iran had entered Turkish airspace before being shot down by Nato air and missile defences. An earlier summary of key developments is here. Continue reading...

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Trump’s order to limit mail-in voting: does he have the authority?

Critics say ‘election integrity’ plan to compile national voter list is unconstitutional and will be blocked by the courts Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order seeking to restrict mail-in voting and compile a national voter list in a move that is unprecedented and likely unconstitutional. The order directs the administration to establish a federal list of confirmed citizens that can legally vote in each state, and orders the postal service to send mail-in ballots only to those on the list. During a press conference at the White House, Trump said the administration would like to require voter ID and proof of citizenship, and repeated falsehoods about mail-in voting. Continue reading...

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Democrats and voting rights advocates vow to fight Trump’s latest order: ‘massive and unconstitutional suppression effort’ – as it happened

This live blog is now closed. Sign up for the Breaking News US email Donald Trump confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla, will travel to the US for a state visit from 27 to 30 April. The president said that the trip will include a banquet dinner at the White House on 28 April. “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Continue reading...

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Stephen Lewis, Canadian politician and social activist, dies aged 88

Lewis was the father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of the progressive New Democratic party one day before his father died Stephen Lewis, the Canadian diplomat, politician and human rights advocate, who spent decades tirelessly working to focus global attention on the HIV/Aids epidemic, has died of cancer. Lewis, who served as the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the head of Ontario’s New Democratic party (NDP), was 88. Continue reading...

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US Forest Service to move headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City

Announcement part of controversial shakeup described by critics as administration attack on ‘science and scientists’ The Trump administration will move the US Forest Service headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City and shut down its regional offices, the agriculture department has announced. The announcement sets in motion a controversial reorganization for the country’s second-largest federal land management agency that Trump officials have planned since last year. The move, which the USDA touted as a “commonsense approach”, recalls the first Trump administration’s chaotic attempt to relocate the Bureau of Land Management from Washington DC to Colorado, first announced in 2019. The agency lost nearly 90% of its Washington-based staff, who declined to move – only for the BLM to return toWashington after Joe Biden took office. Continue reading...

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Chalmers says small business ‘paying the price’ for Middle East conflict as he unveils support measures

Treasurer says Iran war having ‘extreme impact on global economy’ as Albanese to address nation about fuel crisis Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Jim Chalmers has unveiled a suite of Covid-era support measures for businesses struggling with soaring fuel prices and the prime minister is set to address the nation in the latest sign the government is preparing for a more severe economic downturn from the US-Israel war on Iran. “The war in the Middle East is having an extreme impact on the global economy. Australians and Australian small businesses are paying the price for that,” the treasurer told reporters on Wednesday. Continue reading...

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US Army pilots who flew near Kid Rock's home suspended and then reinstated within hours

The crews of two military helicopters were suspended by the army, then told there would be "no investigation" by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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India begins counting more than a billion people in massive census

The two-phase exercise - the world’s most ambitious - will see three million officials count every Indian.

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‘Get your own oil’: Trump launches tirade against Europe for not joining Iran war

Many countries in Europe have called the conflict illegal, with some blocking Israeli and US planes from moving weapons through their airspace Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has launched a tirade against European countries that refused to join his war against Iran, calling out the UK and France, as transatlantic relations soured from the spiralling conflict that has wreaked havoc on the global economy. On his Truth Social website, the US president told governments worried about fuel prices to “go get your own oil” by force from the Gulf, comments that sent oil prices even higher. Continue reading...

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'Moonshots' and merch - what it's like to be on Florida's Space Coast ahead of Artemis launch

Huge crowds are gathering around the Kennedy Space Centre to see the launch of the historic moon mission.

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Judge temporarily halts construction of Trump's White House ballroom

The Republican-appointed judge ruled that Trump was a "steward" of the White House, not the owner.

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Tiger Woods to 'step away and seek treatment' after crash

The golf champion was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after clipping a truck and rolling his car in Florida on Friday.

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Hegseth says suspensions lifted for helicopter crews who hovered over Kid Rock home

Pentagon chief’s remarks come after US army said crews suspended amid investigation into incident in Tennessee Defense secretary Pete Hegseth said the crews of two US army AH-64 Apache helicopters that hovered next to the singer Kid Rock’s swimming pool while he clapped and saluted on Saturday are no longer suspended. “No punishment. No investigation,” Hegseth wrote on social media. “Carry on, patriots.” Continue reading...

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'You're no longer my sister' - rows erupt as war divides Iranian families

People in Iran describe angry scenes and tense relationships as rifts open up over the war.

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'A million things could go wrong' - why seizing Iran's uranium would be so risky for the US

Seizing the stockpile would be one of the "most complicated special operations in history", a former defence official tells the BBC.

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Almost half of primary teachers in England see pupils with eating disorders, survey finds

Poll of 10,000 teachers also finds ‘overwhelming’ exam anxiety and rising absenteeism linked to poor mental health Almost half of primary school teachers are seeing pupils with eating disorders “at least occasionally”, rising to four in five at secondary level, according to a survey by the UK’s largest education union. The findings emerged in a poll of 10,000 teachers in English state schools about pupils’ mental health, which also revealed “overwhelming” exam anxiety in secondaries and dwindling numbers of counsellors to support students. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

The Voorhees law of traffic: when overtaken slow cars seem to always catch up at a red light

UK researcher uses maths to explain seeming inevitability of phenomenon experienced by many motorists It is a situation experienced by many motorists: one driver overtakes another only to find the slower car is right behind them when they reach a red light. Now a researcher has used mathematics to reveal why the situation feels inevitable. Dr Conor Boland from Dublin City University has called his work “The Voorhees law of traffic”. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Two-thirds of UK hospitality businesses plan to cut jobs and one in seven will close, survey finds

Sector cites ‘billions of pounds in additional costs’ from new business rates and increase in minimum wage thresholds Two-thirds of hospitality businesses are planning to cut jobs as a result of “suffocating” costs imposed by government, as new business rates and higher wage bills come into force. Many pubs, restaurants and hotel companies will see their costs increase significantly from 1 April after Rachel Reeves’s changes to business rates and an increase in minimum wage thresholds announced at the chancellor’s November budget. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Anti-terrorist programme Prevent ‘outdated and inadequately prepared’, report finds

The home affairs select committee said Prevent cannot deal with the modern challenges of fighting extremism The government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded. The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions. A growing prevalence of under-18s being drawn into extremism. Neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, being over-represented among referrals to the programme. Fluid or hybrid ideological beliefs among those referred and a shift toward nihilistic violence. Influencers and creative tools such as memes, humour and coded messaging being used to spread extremist content in a way that is accessible and appealing. Generative AI being used to produce large volumes of tailored content and disinformation. An increase in hate crimes and incidents in the UK that are linked to anti-blasphemy activism, anti-Israel extremism, anti-Muslim hostility and eco-extremism. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Japan allows divorced couples to negotiate joint custody of children for first time

The new rules are the first major change to the country’s laws governing child-rearing in more than a century Divorced couples in Japan will be able to negotiate joint custody of their children from Wednesday, in the first major change to the country’s laws governing child-rearing in more than a century. Previously, Japan’s Civil Code required couples to decide which parent would take custody of their children when they divorce. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

‘Severe disinformation campaign’ fuelling trans hate speech, Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner says

Trans and gender-diverse people experience ‘significant and preventable barriers to their safety and dignity’, report finds Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The sex discrimination commissioner says there has been a concerted disinformation campaign against transgender rights since Australia’s postal survey on same-sex marriage. The Australian Human Rights Commission released a report on Tuesday – coinciding with international trans day of visibility – finding that trans and gender-diverse people experience “significant and preventable barriers to their safety, dignity and full participation in society” spanning healthcare, housing, education, employment and public life. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Want to boost the UK’s birthrate? Fix the housing crisis, research suggests

Policymakers should address financial barriers that hinder young people from starting families, says thinktank Politicians hoping to persuade young people in the UK to have more children should prioritise tackling housing affordability, according to research by the Resolution Foundation thinktank. There has been growing concern in recent years about Britain’s declining birthrate, given the long-term fiscal pressures of supporting an ageing population. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

US judge orders Trump to halt $400m White House ballroom project

US president demolished East Wing of White House last year to make way for 90,000-sq-ft project Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A US judge has halted the construction of Donald Trump’s $400m White House ballroom. The US president demolished the historic East Wing of the White House last year to make way for the project. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Asia's migrant workers debate if Gulf jobs are worth deadly risk of Iran war

Iran's strikes on Gulf states have been especially hard for migrants who have long supported these economies to lift their families back home from poverty.

for 14 timeer siden

Peacekeepers killed by roadside explosion in Lebanon, initial report finds

The deaths of the two Indonesian nationals came less than a day after another UN peacekeeper - also Indonesian - was killed in Lebanon.

for 14 timeer siden

Australia’s superb fairywren could be extinct within decades due to climate crisis, researchers say

Scientists tracked bird population in Canberra’s botanic gardens and found climate impacts starting to affect them Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A common and well-loved bird of bush and garden could go extinct within 30-40 years due to the weather impacts of climate change, researchers say. Data derived from nearly 30 years of weekly observations tracked the lives of superb fairy wrens in Canberra’s botanic gardens, noting the changing weather’s impacts on them. Continue reading...

for 14 timeer siden

Tech giant Oracle makes 'significant' job cuts

It is thought that thousands of people may have lost their jobs at Oracle, one of the world's largest tech companies.

for 15 timeer siden

US journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Baghdad

The US state department says a suspect in her abduction has ties to an Iran-backed militia group, Kataib Hezbollah.

for 15 timeer siden

King's state visit to US to go ahead in April, but no Harry meeting

Despite political tensions between the US and UK, the King will travel to Washington next month.

for 16 timeer siden

Italian Christmas meal tragedy turns into murder inquiry

Tests results suggest the two women may have been killed with ricin, according to Italian media, but police still do not have a suspect.

for 17 timeer siden

Israel says it will keep control over part of southern Lebanon after war with Hezbollah ends

Defence Minister Israel Katz also says houses in Lebanese villages near the Israeli border will be demolished.

for 18 timeer siden

UK to pay France extra £16m in stopgap deal to patrol Channel beaches

Two-month arrangement aimed at preventing small-boat crossings comes as existing deal expires The UK will pay France an extra £16.2m to keep police patrolling Channel beaches and prevent a surge in small-boat crossings after negotiators failed to agree a permanent deal before a midnight deadline. The stopgap arrangement, which will last for two months, comes after French negotiators refused to agree to UK demands for further interventions and patrols to stop asylum seekers from reaching the UK via the Channel. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Merz criticised after calling for Syrians in Germany to ‘go back’ home

The German chancellor has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government Friedrich Merz has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government after he called for the vast majority of Syrians living in Germany to “go back to their homeland”. The German chancellor, who was elected last year after promising a tough line on immigration in a bid to beat the far right, made the remarks during a visit to Berlin on Monday by the interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

‘Discriminatory’ Israeli death penalty law would be war crime, says UN rights chief

Volker Türk says bill, which applies to Palestinians convicted of terror charges but not Jewish extremists, must be repealed A new Israeli law that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks, but not Jewish extremists accused of similar crimes, would constitute a war crime if enacted, according to one of the UN’s most senior human rights officials. Speaking amid mounting international condemnation of the bill, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, described the law as “patently inconsistent with Israel’s international law obligations, including in relation to the right to life”. He added that it “raises serious concerns about due process violations, is deeply discriminatory, and must be promptly repealed”. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Tusk and Irish PM call Hungarian foreign minister’s alleged links to Russia ‘repulsive’ and ‘sinister’ – as it happened

Donald Tusk and Micheál Martin say reported phone call with Moscow on sanctions confirms Hungary ‘doing the bidding for Russia’ within EU Back to Iran and the perceived lack of support from European Nato allies, US president Donald Trump has now turned to criticising France in his latest outburst on social media. In a post on Truth Social, he said: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the “Butcher of Iran,” who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!! President DJT” Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

UK sends more troops to Gulf amid Trump jibes over British military role

John Healey says extra deployment is defensive response to ‘expanding threat’ from Iran Middle East crisis – live updates UK politics live – latest updates The UK is sending more military support to the Gulf, taking the total deployment to 1,000 troops, amid more jibes from Donald Trump about Britain’s refusal to get involved in offensive operations against Iran. Speaking from Qatar where he met UK troops, the defence secretary, John Healey, said the extra deployment was in response to an “expanding threat” from Iran. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Penguin to sue OpenAI over ChatGPT version of German children’s book

Publisher alleges AI research company’s chatbot violated its copyright over Coconut the Little Dragon series Penguin Random House has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging its chatbot ChatGPT violated copyright by mimicking and reproducing the content of a popular series of German children’s books. The lawsuit, which was filed on Friday with a Munich court against OpenAI’s Ireland-based European subsidiary, states Penguin Random House’s legal team had prompted ChatGPT to write a story in the vein of Penguin author and illustrator Ingo Siegner’s Coconut the Little Dragon series. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Israel vows to occupy swathes of southern Lebanon to expand buffer zone

Defence minister outlines plans to destroy all homes and villages in area ‘in accordance with the model in Gaza’ Middle East crisis live – latest updates Israel says it will occupy swathes of south Lebanon and destroy the homes along the border to prevent the return of about 600,000 residents, prompting concerns of long-term forced displacement. The defence minister, Israel Katz, said that when fighting with Hezbollah ended, Israel would occupy the area under the Litani River, about 19 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border, as part of its so-called buffer zone inside southern Lebanon. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

Pakistan and China propose five-part peace plan for Middle East

Foreign ministers Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi met in Beijing as Pakistan pushes for peacemaker role Middle East crisis – live updates Pakistan and China have released a joint five-part proposal for peace in the Middle East, after Pakistan’s foreign minister flew to Beijing on Tuesday to seek Chinese support for the country’s faltering efforts to negotiate an end to end the war. The one-day meeting between Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, came as Pakistan continues to push for the role of peacemaker between the United States and Iran, even as the war shows little sign of relenting. Continue reading...

for 20 timeer siden

‘God squad’ waives endangered species law to allow US drilling in Gulf of Mexico

Critics say exemption for fossil fuels exploits White House’s ‘self-made gas crisis’, and could doom the rare Rice’s whale Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A US government panel on Tuesday exempted oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a move which critics say could doom a rare whale species and harm other marine life. The Endangered Species Committee – which had not convened in more than three decades – voted to approve the request for the ESA exemption at the request of the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

‘There’s no safe place here’: Kuwaiti tanker hit by Iranian drone attack in Dubai port

Dozens of other vessels leave area after drone strike causes fire onboard tanker owned by Kuwait’s state oil company Middle East crisis – live updates How could US forcibly reopen strait of Hormuz and what are the risks? When Iran attacked a fully loaded crude oil tanker anchored at Dubai port on Monday night, damaging the vessel’s hull, hundreds of seafarers stranded on tankers anchored nearby were close enough to watch as the vessel burned. Thousands more were able to listen to radio messages sent from the tanker to port authorities, as the latest strike on a merchant vessel during the US-Israel war on Iran reignited fears for the civilian maritime workers trapped in a war zone. Continue reading...

for 22 timeer siden

Labor’s draft party platform more assertive on China and omits mandatory jail term stance

Exclusive: the 2026 document is designed to provide ‘scaffolding’ for a long-term Labor government Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Labor’s longstanding opposition to mandatory jail terms has been omitted from the first draft of its new national party platform, after the Albanese government backed minimum sentences on several occasions. An early working draft of the ALP’s updated platform also includes more assertive language on China and seeks to position Australia as an “active middle power” in an increasingly fraught and contested world. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

Wolf bites woman in shock German attack on busy Hamburg shopping street

It is believed to be the first wolf attack on a human since the animals began to reestablish themselves in Germany decades ago.

for 23 timeer siden

Iran using children in security roles in war, reports and witnesses say

An 11-year-old is reported to have been killed in an air strike while manning a checkpoint in Tehran.

for 23 timeer siden

Russian oil tanker docks in Cuba ending near-total blockade

A Russian oil tanker has docked in Cuba, providing temporary relief after months of shortages.

for 23 timeer siden

‘A place where music fills the air’: Bangkok to host Eurovision’s first Asia song contest

Spin-off launched with 10 nations, as original event remains mired in protests and boycotts over Israel’s involvement Eurovision is seeking to expand into the Asian market by hosting a version of its song contest in Bangkok this year, just as the original annual event is being buffeted by discord and boycotts on the eve of its 70th anniversary edition. The grand final of the inaugural Eurovision song contest Asia will take place in Thailand’s capital on Saturday 14 November, the Switzerland-based organisation announced on Tuesday. Broadcasters from 10 countries have confirmed their participation. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

US-based dissident artist put on trial in China over satirical Mao sculptures, says rights group

New York-based Gao Zhen was detained in 2024 during a family visit to China and then tried for ‘defaming national heroes’ The Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, known for making satirical sculptures of China’s former leader Mao Zedong, has been tried over accusations of “defaming national heroes and martyrs”, his wife and a rights group have said. Gao, 69, who was detained in 2024 during a visit to China from the US, faces a maximum three-year prison sentence, his wife, Zhao Yaliang, and Shane Yi, a researcher at the Chinese human rights defenders group, said. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

China bans storing cremated remains in empty 'bone ash apartments'

China bans 'bone ash apartments' where mourners are storing cremated remains instead of cemeteries.

for 1 dag siden

Eurovision Song Contest launches first-ever Asia edition

Broadcasters from 10 countries, including South Korea and the Philippines, will be taking part.

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China to ban storing remains of dead in ‘bone ash apartments’

Practice of using apartments to store relatives’ ashes has risen as rapid urbanisation and ageing population increases competition for cemetery plots China is introducing a law to stop people storing the ashes of their dead relatives in empty high-rise flats rather than paying steep costs for increasingly scarce cemetery plots. China’s new funeral management legislation will prohibit the use of “residential housing specifically for the purpose of storing cremated remains” and the burial of corpses or construction of tombs in “areas other than public cemeteries”. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Shock, sadness and relief in town at centre of Australia's seven-month manhunt for Dezi Freeman

Porepunkah has been in the spotlight since Dezi Freeman shot dead two police officers last year.

for 1 dag siden

Who are the Artemis II astronauts heading to the Moon?

The crew, who are accomplished pilots, engineers and scientists, reveal their hopes, fears and family sacrifices.

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How Pakistan won over Trump to become an unlikely mediator in the Iran war

Pakistan's role as intermediary in this conflict took many by surprise. But perhaps it shouldn't have.

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Sad faces all round as Bolivia’s clowns protest over decree threatening their livelihoods

Clowns in Bolivia are upset by mandate that stops schools hosting events from which they earn a living Dozens of clowns have marched through the streets of Bolivia’s capital to protest against a government decree that limits extracurricular activities in schools, threatening their livelihoods. Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the clowns gathered on Monday in front of the ministry of education in La Paz to oppose a decree published in February. The new mandate says schools must comply with 200 days of lessons each year – in effect banning them from hosting the special events where the entertainers are frequently employed. Continue reading...

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After sex abuse claims, activists and lawmakers rethink Cesar Chavez Day

California has renamed Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day after the labour-rights icon was accused of sexual abuse.

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Inside the cockpit of RAF tanker during defensive mission against Iranian drones

Defence correspondent Jonathan Beale flies onboard a Royal Air Force Voyager as it refuels jets in the Middle East.

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Long queues in Myanmar as Iran war fuel crisis deepens

Drivers are queuing for hours at petrol stations in Myanmar as the Iran war continues to send shockwaves across the globe.

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At least 70 people killed and 30 injured in Haiti gang attack

Nearly 6,000 people forced to flee, human rights group says, as it criticises ‘abandonment’ from authorities At least 70 people have been killed and 30 injured during an attack in Haiti’s breadbasket Artibonite region, significantly more than official estimates, a human rights group has said. Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, while a preliminary report from civil protection authorities suggested 17 had died and 19 were wounded. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Avi Lewis, elected to lead Canada’s New Democratic party, promises ‘NDP comeback’

Ex-TV host pledged to centre party around equity, with higher wealth taxes, green energy and tuition-free education Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Canada’s embattled New Democratic party (NDP) has elected the former broadcaster and self-proclaimed socialist Avi Lewis as its new leader, as it looks to rebuild following a devastating federal election last year that saw it lose official party status. A record number of members voted in the three-day NDP leadership convention, giving Lewis a first-ballot win that underscored widespread support. Lewis pledged to convert the “tremendous momentum” of the convention into an “NDP comeback”. Continue reading...