ØkonomiPolitikkSportKulturRampelysTeknologiHelseUtenriksAnnet

for 14 minutter siden

Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’ ever made

‘What have I done?’ thought Joanne Appelbee as she waited for rescue with two other children in rough seas off Western Australia Joanne Appelbee says asking her 13-year-old son Austin to swim four hours through dangerous waters to get help after her family was swept out to sea was “one of the hardest decisions” she has ever made. “I knew he was the strongest and he could do it,” she told the ABC. “I would have never went because I wouldn’t have left the kids at sea, so I had to send somebody.” Continue reading...

for 22 minutter siden

Trump adviser Stephen Miran quits White House role to stay on at Fed

Miran, set to continue as Federal Reserve governor until Jerome Powell successor is confirmed, to leave CEA post Federal Reserve governor Stephen Miran has resigned from his position as chair of the White House’s council of economic advisers, fulfilling a pledge he made to the Senate as his assignment at the central bank becomes longer-lasting. Miran had been on unpaid leave from his CEA post since Donald Trump appointed him last year to fill an unexpected vacancy on the Fed’s board of governors to a term that expired on 31 January. The arrangement drew the ire of Democratic senators, who said it would make a presidential puppet of the Fed’s newest policymaker. Continue reading...

for 37 minutter siden

Mitch McConnell admitted to hospital with ‘flu-like symptoms’

Statement says Republican senator, 83, checked himself into local hospital and that prognosis is ‘positive’ The Republican senator Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital on Monday night due to “flu-like symptoms”, his office said in a statement. “In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation last night,” the statement reads. “His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.” Continue reading...

for 1 time siden

Elon Musk calls Spanish PM a ‘tyrant’ over plan to ban under-16s from social media and curb hateful content

Pedro Sánchez says urgent action needed to protect children from ‘digital wild west’, drawing anger from owner of X Spain has proposed a ban on social media use by teenagers as attitudes hardened in Europe against the technology, drawing personal insults against the prime minister from Elon Musk. The government is preparing a series of measures including a social media ban for under-16s, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said, promising to protect children from the “digital wild west” and hold tech companies responsible for hateful and harmful content. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

Trump-led abuses amid ‘democratic recession’ put human rights in peril, HRW report says

Rights group says growing authoritarianism and abuses in US, Russia and China threaten global rules-based order The world is in a “democratic recession” with almost three-quarters of the global population now living under autocratic rulers – levels not seen since the 1980s, according to a new report. The system underpinning human rights was “in peril”, said Philippe Bolopion, executive director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), with a growing authoritarian wave becoming “the challenge of a generation”, he said. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

Lucy Letby documentary reveals first admission of ‘tiny’ doubt from doctors who accused her

Netflix film revisits evidence that led to Letby’s conviction and hears from expert who says his research was misused Shortly after Lucy Letby was sentenced to 15 whole-life terms for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016 – a conviction that made her Britain’s worst ever child serial killer – Cheshire police agreed to give “unparalleled and exclusive access” to the makers of a Netflix film about the case. The finished documentary, The Investigation Of Lucy Letby, which is released on Wednesday, must be very different from what the producers envisaged when they first began work on the project, given the subsequent unexpected turns in the story. Since the two trials, the prosecution evidence and police handling of the case have faced criticism from an unprecedentedly large number of distinguished British and international medical experts. Led by the Canadian neonatologist, Dr Shoo Lee – who says again in the feature-length Netflix documentary that his research was misused to convict the nurse – many of the experts are convinced Letby is innocent, the victim of a catastrophic miscarriage of justice. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

One in six autistic pupils in UK have not attended school at all since September

Data comes as government prepares to publish plans to overhaul Send system in England One in six autistic pupils have not been to school at all since the start of this academic year, according to a new survey which found that mental health issues were often behind high levels of school absence. Nearly half (45%) of the parents and children who responded to the UK-wide survey by the Ambitious About Autism charity said they felt “blamed” by the government for the absences. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

Women in tech and finance at higher risk from AI job losses, report says

‘Mid-career’ females also being sidelined by rigid hiring processes, says City of London Corporation Women working in tech and financial services are at greater risk of losing their jobs to increased use of AI and automation than their male peers, according to a report that found experienced females were also being sidelined as a result of “rigid hiring processes”. “Mid-career” women – with at least five years’ experience – are being overlooked for digital roles in the tech and financial and professional services sectors, where they are traditionally underrepresented, according to the report by the City of London Corporation. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

Review calls for more remote hearings to save courts system from ‘collapse’

Report to tackle courts’ backlog also recommends new criminal justice adviser to oversee courts, prisons and policing A new post of prime minister’s criminal justice adviser and the widespread use of remote hearings are among the recommendations of a government-commissioned independent review on tackling the courts’ backlog in England and Wales. The second part of Sir Brian Leveson’s review – unlike the first part, which recommended slashing jury trials – focuses on efficiencies that can be achieved without legislation. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

How will Labor’s Thriving Kids work and who is still eligible for the NDIS?

New services will move children under nine with mild developmental delays and autism off the NDIS. Here’s what you need to know Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Albanese government has unveiled the model for its new program to move children under nine years old with mild developmental delays and autism off the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Called Thriving Kids, the program will be run with the states and territories from October this year. Continue reading...

for 2 timeer siden

Ministers to crackdown on profiteering in care sector and make renewed fostering push

Josh MacAlister issues warning as government launches £88m ‘call to arms’ to recruit 10,000 new foster carers Private providers of child social care in England will be pushed out of the system if they are found to be profiteering, the children’s minister has said. Josh MacAlister, who is in charge of overhauling the care system for children, also called for a fostering equivalent of the Homes for Ukraine scheme to provide homes for tens of thousands of children. Continue reading...

for 3 timeer siden

Albanese government to sell off $3bn worth of historic defence sites amid push to free up space for new homes

Richard Marles has decided to sell more than 60 properties, including Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane The federal government will sell off $3bn in historic defence properties around the country, after a major audit of government land holdings and amid efforts to open up land for new housing development and public spaces. Historic defence sites – including Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – will be sold after the multi-year audit, with public servants relocated to modern office spaces and heritage sites – including the cabinet rooms used by John Curtin at the height of World War II in Melbourne – opened to the public. Continue reading...

for 3 timeer siden

Colombian president and Trump put aside insults for amicable White House meeting

Leaders had been trading hostile remarks for months but Gustavo Petro’s visit ended with warm words from US counterpart After months of trading insults – from “sick man” and “drug trafficking leader” on one side, to “accomplice to genocide” with a “senile brain” on the other – the first meeting between Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro ended with pleasantries, autographs and a Maga cap. The Colombian president was received by his US counterpart for a closed-door meeting at the White House, with no press access. Continue reading...

for 3 timeer siden

California officials move forward with plans to exterminate mule deer from island

Conservancy sees nonnative species as major threat to local biodiversity, while residents rally to preserve local identity California wildlife officials moved forward last week with a plan to eradicate a mule deer herd from Santa Catalina Island: extermination. The plan has long pitted locals from the island off the coast of Los Angeles against the Catalina Island Conservancy, an environmental non-profit that manages 88% of the island’s terrain. The conservancy sees mule deer, which are not native to the island, as a major threat to local biodiversity, water quality and fire resilience. Continue reading...

for 3 timeer siden

One Nation says it will ‘contest every seat’ in South Australia – but will voters tick the box when it matters?

March state election will test the growing vote for Pauline Hanson’s party, with newest recruit Cory Bernardi among the former Liberals in play Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The crowd, clad in orange One Nation T-shirts and flying Australian flags, appear certain they’re in the winners’ circle, with cries of “prime minister” sounding in the rabble. The pack greeted Pauline Hanson and her newest recruit, former Liberal turned Sky News commentator Cory Bernardi, in Adelaide on Tuesday high on news of a surge in the polls. Continue reading...

for 3 timeer siden

Collision between Greek coastguard patrol and boat carrying migrants kills 14

Search and rescue operation involving boats, helicopter and divers under way off the eastern Aegean island of Chios A collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a Greek coastguard patrol vessel off the eastern Aegean island of Chios has killed at least 14 people, the coastguard said. A search and rescue operation involving four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter and a private boat carrying divers was under way for potential missing passengers. Continue reading...

for 3 timeer siden

Jimmy Lai’s son says UK government did not do enough to help him on China visit

Sebastien Lai criticises ministers for not putting conditions on his father’s release during Beijing trip The British son of the jailed Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai has criticised the UK government for failing to place conditions on his father’s release during the prime minister’s visit to China last week. Speaking at a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Sebastien Lai said his father’s incarceration was not only a humanitarian and national security issue, but an issue “where our values are being locked up” along with him. Continue reading...

for 4 timeer siden

Three-quarters of cancer patients in England to survive by 2035 under new plans

Government to invest £2bn in NHS cancer services in England as figures show diagnosis made every 75 seconds in the UK Three in four cancer patients in England will beat cancer under government plans to raise survival rates, as figures reveal someone is now diagnosed every 75 seconds in the UK. Cancer is the country’s biggest killer, causing about one in four deaths, and survival rates lag behind several European countries, including Romania and Poland. Three-quarters of NHS hospital trusts are failing cancer patients, a Guardian analysis found last year, prompting experts to declare a “national emergency”. Continue reading...

for 4 timeer siden

New York to create team of legal observers to document ICE raids

Attorney general Tish James says observers will monitor if Trump enforcement ‘remains within bounds of the law’ New York is creating a team of legal observers that will don purple vests to monitor and record the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement officers as they seek to detain and deport migrants, the state’s attorney general said on Tuesday. The announcement follows weeks of sometimes violent tumult in Minneapolis, where Donald Trump has deployed thousands of armed, masked agents as he tries to deport more migrants than any of his predecessors. Continue reading...

for 4 timeer siden

Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s role as ambassador

Kemi Badenoch is to seek disclosures about vetting process and what was known about links to Jeffrey Epstein Keir Starmer could be forced to disclose confidential vetting documents from Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, with the Tories set to trigger a rare Commons vote to compel their release. Labour MPs have indicated they are not prepared to oppose the Conservative motion – known as a humble address – that would disclose the details of the vetting process and what if anything was known about Mandelson’s links to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading...

for 5 timeer siden

Netflix co-CEO grilled by US senators over Warner Bros Discovery merger

While most focused on competition issues, Josh Hawley accused Netflix of promoting trans content to children Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos faced tough questioning over whether the streamer is “overwhelmingly woke” or killing competition on Tuesday afternoon during a congressional hearing focused on its pending acquisition of the film and streaming assets of Warner Bros Discovery. The hearing was conducted by the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy, and consumer rights. Bruce Campbell, chief revenue and strategy officer for Warner Bros Discovery, also testified in the packed Senate hearing room. Continue reading...

for 5 timeer siden

Outrage in Mexico at Trump praise for ‘legendary’ 19th-century US invasion

The US president’s celebration of the 1847 conquest draws fury from Mexican leaders over ‘imperialist tone’ A message from Donald Trump celebrating the 19th-century US invasion of its southern neighbour – and the subsequent loss of more than half its territory – has touched a historical nerve in Mexico, with some seeing it as a veiled threat for future incursions. Reacting to the US president’s statement, which described the invasion as “a legendary victory”, Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, said during her morning news conference on Tuesday: “We must always defend our sovereignty.” Continue reading...

for 6 timeer siden

Australian politics live: fourfold surge in home battery installations after federal subsidy; O’Brien says Liberals can stand alone

More than 4.3 million households now have solar, helping to drive downward pressure on power bills. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Ted O’Brien is trying to make ‘Jimflation’ happen Having coined the term late last year, shadow treasurer and shadow assistant treasurer, Ted O’Brien is still trying to make ‘Jimflation’ happen. Cuts aren’t the priority here. Offsets are, and they’re very different things, and so the government has every right to determine what the spending priorities are, but with those rights come commensurate responsibilities, and that means finding room in the budget to pay for them. Basic principles. It [tax] needs to be lower, it needs to be fairer. The Coalition can reform this week but under certain conditions, and those conditions are overwhelmingly supported by the majority of my party room. And they are that shadow cabinet solidarity is mandatory. That shadow cabinet and the party room have primacy of over any individual party room, and the three senators do need to face ongoing suspensions. Continue reading...

for 6 timeer siden

US House passes $1.2tn funding measure, ending partial government shutdown

Appropriations measure to let Democrats negotiate with White House and GOP leaders over Trump’s deportation efforts The US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a funding measure that will end the partial government shutdown, while giving Democrats time to negotiate with the White House and Congress’s Republican leaders over restrictions on Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. The Republican-controlled chamber approved the $1.2tn appropriations measure by a 217-214 vote, with all but 21 Republicans voting in favor and all but 21 Democrats against. Trump is expected to sign it, ending the shutdown that began after midnight last Friday, which halted many operations at departments including defense, health and human services, labor and transportation. Continue reading...

for 6 timeer siden

Met to review latest claim about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein

Scotland Yard says it will review allegation that Epstein trafficked woman to UK to have sex with Andrew at Royal Lodge British police are to review fresh allegations that Jeffrey Epstein provided Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with a woman to have sex with at the Royal Lodge in 2010. The woman has claimed she spent the night at the then prince’s residence in Windsor, her US lawyer, Brad Edwards, said after the allegations surfaced over the weekend. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time, and was later given a tour of Buckingham Palace, it is further alleged. Continue reading...

for 7 timeer siden

French prosecutors ask appeal court to keep ban on Marine Le Pen running for office

Far-right leader’s appeal against block on her running for president in 2027 and a four-year sentence is in final stages French state prosecutors have asked appeal court judges to maintain a five-year election ban on the far-right leader Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of European parliament funds in a fake jobs scandal. If the judges decide to grant the request, Le Pen would probably not be able to run in France’s 2027 presidential election. Continue reading...

for 7 timeer siden

Jill Biden’s ex-husband charged with murder of his wife

Linda Stevenson found unresponsive on 28 December after police responded to domestic dispute The ex-husband of former US first lady Jill Biden has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, officials said Tuesday. William Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody on Monday and is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Linda Stevenson, according to a grand jury indictment filed in Delaware. Continue reading...

for 7 timeer siden

Life expectancy of LGB+ people a year lower than heterosexual’s, ONS finds

LGB+ men in England and Wales have 1.2 years lower life expectancy than straight men, at 59.4 years and 60.7 years respectively Life expectancy for people who identify as gay, bisexual, or another sexual orientation in England and Wales was approximately a year lower than their heterosexual counterparts, according to the first-ever analysis of its kind by the Office for National Statistics. The life expectancy for men who identified as LGB+ was 1.2 years lower than men who identified as straight, at 59.4 years and 60.7 years respectively. Continue reading...

for 7 timeer siden

Epstein called Mandelson ‘devious’ after he lobbied bank to back mining project

In 2010 then business secretary contacted Jes Staley, then at JP Morgan, about funding for £700m listing on London Stock Exchange Peter Mandelson was described as “devious” by Jeffrey Epstein after lobbying a bank to underwrite a mining project launched by their mutual friend Nat Rothschild, emails included in the latest tranche Epstein files suggest. In April 2010, the then business secretary appears to have contacted banker Jes Staley, then at JP Morgan, from his personal email account in what appears to be an attempt to secure funding for Rothschild, a longtime friend of the Labour peer. Continue reading...

for 7 timeer siden

US shoots down Iranian drone flying towards aircraft carrier, navy says

Shahed-139 drone approached USS Abraham Lincoln ‘with unclear intent’ as US warships headed towards Iran The US military says it has shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. The Iranian Shahed-139 drone was flying toward the carrier “with unclear intent” when it was shot down by a F-35 US fighter jet, US Central Command said on Tuesday. Continue reading...

for 8 timeer siden

US private investigator did ‘unlawful stuff’ for the Daily Mail, court hears

In case brought by Prince Harry and others, Daniel Portley-Hanks says he received about $1m for work for Associated Newspapers Ltd A US-based private detective bought a large house in California and had $150,000 in savings “almost entirely” from work he did for the publisher of the Daily Mail, the high court has heard. Daniel Portley-Hanks, also known as “Detective Danno”, said he received about $1m for work carried out for the Mail on Sunday, another title published by Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL). Continue reading...

for 8 timeer siden

‘Finally got him to go’: how Epstein was given an inside track on UK’s political future

Apparent tip-off by Peter Mandelson gave advance notice of instability that would ripple through global markets On a brisk Monday evening in May 2010, Gordon Brown stood on the steps of Downing Street and delivered one of the most dramatic announcements of the New Labour era: his resignation as UK prime minister. The decision came days after a nail-biting general election that left no single party with a clear run at No 10. Brown kept his decision, which followed days of political wrangling, to a tight inner circle. Nick Clegg, who would go on to serve as deputy prime minister of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, was formally told of Brown’s resignation only 10 minutes before the announcement. Continue reading...

for 8 timeer siden

‘Unlawful’ OfS ruling against University of Sussex should be quashed, court told

Judicial review begins in high court over watchdog’s freedom of speech ruling that resulted in £585,000 fine A ruling by an education watchdog that led to the University of Sussex being hit with a record £585,000 fine should be quashed as “unlawful”, “unreasonable” and “procedurally unfair”, a court has heard. In a judicial review hearing before the high court in London on Tuesday, the university claimed it had suffered “severe” consequences as a result of the landmark decision last March by England’s higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS). Continue reading...

for 8 timeer siden

Met police to launch investigation into alleged Mandelson-Epstein email leaks

Epstein files appear to show then business secretary passing market sensitive information to child sex offender • UK politics live – latest updates The Metropolitan police are to formally launch a criminal investigation into allegations that Peter Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market sensitive information to the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Documents from the Epstein files released in recent days appeared to show the then business secretary sent confidential information in a string of emails to the late financier in the aftermath of the financial crash. Continue reading...

for 8 timeer siden

‘Supermax-style units’ for most dangerous criminals to be introduced in England and Wales

David Lammy also told MPs he would draw up legislation to stop prisoners using human rights laws to challenge tougher jail conditions The most dangerous extremist prisoners in England and Wales will be held in “supermax-style units” similar to those used in US jails, David Lammy has told MPs. The deputy prime minister also said he would consider drawing up legislation to stop prisoners from using human rights laws to challenge tougher conditions in jail. Continue reading...

for 9 timeer siden

Mandelson scandal shortens odds on Starmer following him out the door

The appointment of the ex-ambassador despite his lurid past raises potentially fatal doubts about the judgment of the PM and his team In many political scandals there is an agreed full stop, a time for the circus to move on: maybe a resignation, certainly a police investigation. But for Downing Street, Peter Mandelson risks being a headache that simply won’t end. Mandelson’s future in public life is now definitively over, or as definitive as you can be for a figure who, much as with the Conservative saying about Boris Johnson, would possibly need to be buried at a crossroads with a stake through his heart before you could completely rule out another comeback. Continue reading...

for 9 timeer siden

Santander launches 98% mortgage for first-time buyers – with strict rules

High street bank breaks traditional 95% limit, but experts say take-up will be limited by exclusions on flats and new builds One of Britain’s biggest banks has launched a mortgage that lets first-time buyers borrow up to 98% of the property’s value – but experts said the “very strict” rules would exclude many people and property types. Santander said this was the first time for years that a major high street bank had gone beyond the traditional 95% borrowing limit, and some mortgage brokers called it a “bold and significant” move that would help more first-time buyers achieve their home ownership dreams. Continue reading...

for 9 timeer siden

French magistrate reportedly summons two French-Israelis over ‘complicity in genocide’

Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou said to be accused of trying to block delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza A French investigating magistrate has issued summonses to two French-Israeli nationals in relation to “complicity in genocide” over allegations they tried to block the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, French media have reported. The summonses, which reportedly mark the first time a country has considered the blocking of aid “complicity in genocide”, were issued for Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou in July, Le Monde and Agence France-Presse reported. Continue reading...

for 9 timeer siden

‘It’s sick’: Trump administration uses mascot called ‘Coalie’ to push dirtiest fossil fuel

Cartoon lump of coal with giant eyes was spotlighted by US interior secretary in X post saying: ‘Mine, Baby, Mine!’ Donald Trump’s administration has turned to an unusual weapon in its attempt to resurrect coal mining – a cartoon lump of coal, complete with giant eyes and yellow mining garb, called ‘Coalie.’ The administration’s new mascot, kitted out with a helmet, boots and gloves, was introduced in a seemingly artificial intelligence-generated picture posted online by Doug Burgum, Trump’s interior secretary. “Mine, Baby, Mine!” Burgum wrote on X, adding that Coalie will act as a “spokesperson” for Trump’s “American Energy Dominance Agenda.” Continue reading...

for 10 timeer siden

Human Rights Watch researchers resign after report on Palestinian right of return blocked

The organization claims the report, which finds Israel’s denial of the right of return is a crime against humanity, is ‘paused pending further analysis and research’ Two Human Rights Watch (HRW) employees who make up the organization’s entire Israel and Palestine team are stepping down from their positions after leadership blocked a report that deems Israel’s denial of Palestinian refugees the right of return a “crime against humanity”. In separate resignation letters obtained by Jewish Currents and the Guardian, Omar Shakir, who has headed the team for nearly the last decade, and Milena Ansari, the team’s assistant researcher, said leadership’s decision to pull the report broke from HRW’s customary approval processes and was evidence that the organization was putting fear of political backlash over a commitment to international law. Continue reading...

for 10 timeer siden

Trump suggests Republicans should ‘take over’ elections to protect the party

President claims idea to ‘nationalize’ elections in 15 states ahead of midterms is to prevent rare noncitizen voting Donald Trump suggested on a conservative podcast released on Monday that Republican state officials “take over” and “nationalize” elections in 15 states to protect the party from being voted out of office. Trump framed the issue as a means to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting. Claims that noncitizens are voting in numbers that can affect an election are a lie. But it raises concerns about potential efforts by the president to rig the November midterm elections. Continue reading...

for 10 timeer siden

Marwan Barghouti, ‘Palestine’s Mandela’, to publish book from prison

Unbroken: In Pursuit of Freedom for Palestine is a collection of writings by the Palestinian political leader, who has been held in Israeli prisons since 2002 A collection of writings by the imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti will be published in November, bringing together prison letters, interviews, personal material and documents from the last three decades of Barghouti’s political life and incarceration. As deadly attacks on Gaza continue despite a nominal ceasefire, the 66-year-old is seen by many as the best hope for a leader of any future Palestinian state. Continue reading...

for 10 timeer siden

Pennines delight as drone survey offers hope for one of UK’s rarest birds

Conservationists find dunlin chicks thriving in boggy habitat created in collaboration with landowners Deep in the Cumbrian Pennines, walkers might be lucky enough to spot small birds with spindly legs, long beaks and bodies like feathered balls hopping through the peat bogs. These are endangered dunlins – at risk in England because their favoured soggy landscapes are drained and burned for farming and grouse shooting. Continue reading...

for 11 timeer siden

Georgia Democrats call for inquiry into Gabbard’s presence at Fulton county search

Letter comes after FBI executed criminal search warrant to seize almost 700 boxes of 2020 election documentation Georgia’s Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, this morning, inquiring into the presence of Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, at the scene last week of an FBI seizure of Fulton county election records from 2020. The letter from Senator Raphael Warnock and representatives Lucy McBath and Nikema Williams asks “whether the Trump administration is investigating a legitimate foreign intelligence nexus, which would legally require immediate congressional briefing”. The group requested a briefing from the Department of Justice “concerning this activity and its related investigation by February 13, 2026”. Continue reading...

for 11 timeer siden

Peter Mandelson resigns from Lords after Epstein email leak scandal

Former minister apparently shared confidential government emails with child sex offender and financier Peter Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords after a series of scandalous emails came to light that linked him to the child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, including ones that apparently leaked confidential UK government communications. The move was announced by the speaker of the House of Lords. Continue reading...

for 11 timeer siden

Campaigners challenge Scottish policy on transgender inmates in female prisons

For Women Scotland objects to use of individual risk assessments, saying it is contrary to supreme court ruling Female prisoners are paying the price for an “Orwellian” Scottish government policy that allows some transgender inmates to be housed in female prisons, Scotland’s highest civil court has heard. The campaign group For Women Scotland is challenging guidance that says trans prisoners should be housed according to individual risk assessment, which the group argues is contrary to the supreme court’s ruling on women-only spaces. Continue reading...

for 11 timeer siden

‘I had to learn very quickly’: Reform UK leader, 19, defends council tax rise

Party accused of breaking election promise – but officials in Warwickshire say George Finch’s 3.89% rise still not enough to balance budget The 19-year-old leader of a Reform-led council has defended proposals for a 3.89% council tax rise, despite senior officers saying anything less than 5% would put the financial viability of the local authority at risk. Financial executives at Warwickshire county council said in December that the proposed increase was a “riskier financial strategy” that would threaten the medium-term sustainability of the local authority. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Police suspect mother of Today show host was abducted from Arizona home

Authorities say Savannah Guthrie’s mother was taken from her home, where signs of forced entry and blood were found A search continued Tuesday in Arizona for the missing mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, with police saying they believe the 84-year-old woman was abducted in a weekend intrusion at her home near Tucson. According to the Los Angeles Times, citing two law enforcement sources, there were signs of forced entry and blood found at the residence in the Catalina Foothills area where Nancy Guthrie was last seen at about 9.30pm Saturday. Associated Press contributed reporting Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Disney names parks and cruises boss Josh D’Amaro as next CEO

D’Amaro will take over next month from Bob Iger, who returned to lead the media company after a bungled succession Disney has unveiled Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, drawing a line under a bungled succession at the top of the global entertainment conglomerate. Bob Iger, who led the media giant for 15 years, stepped down in 2020 – only to abruptly return in 2022 when his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, was fired as the company came under pressure. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

‘We never would have bought’: Australian mortgage holders feel the pain as interest rates rise again

The RBA’s widely anticipated decision marks the end of the shortest rate-cutting cycle in the reserve’s modern history, hitting mortgagees hard Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast As the RBA lifted the official interest rate on Tuesday, one regional New South Wales couple said the dream of building a home has turned into a financial “hustle” they no longer want to maintain. After the pair, 25 and 26, settled on land in September 2022, rising rates and cost of building materials decimated their initial budget. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Australian influencer’s illegal crypto gambling ads permitted by Meta despite Acma warning of $2.4m fine

Online streamer Dinah promoted Rainbet to her 820,000 followers, despite the regulator warning ‘significant penalties’ were at stake Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Meta failed to act on nearly a dozen reports against an Australian influencer with more than 800,000 followers on Instagram promoting illegal offshore crypto-gambling, despite the regulator warning influencers they could face fines of up to $2.4m. The account of online streamer Dinah has 820,000 followers on Instagram, and has promoted Rainbet, a self-described online crypto casino, in posts on Instagram. On her profile she describes herself as “ur Chinese gf in Australia” Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Campaign group behind attack ads on Labor, Greens and teal candidates was funded by coal industry lobby

Australians for Prosperity received most of its funding last financial year from Coal Australia, according to disclosures made to the Australian Electoral Commission Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A campaign group that attacked Labor, the Greens and teal independent candidates at the last federal election was almost entirely funded by a coal industry lobby group, analysis of political disclosures reveals. Australians for Prosperity received $3.89m in total political receipts in the last financial year, according to disclosures made to the Australian Electoral Commission, of which $3.68m came from Coal Australia. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

New ‘hate speech’ rules for NSW schools could stifle classroom discussions about Gaza, teachers warn

Premier says code of conduct is ‘not an attack on freedom of speech … or concern about Palestinians and innocent civilians in Gaza’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast New “hate speech” guidelines under which school staff could be more easily sacked for comments in and outside the classroom could silence discussion of the killing in Gaza in New South Wales schools, teachers and legal experts say. The NSW government has moved to amend codes of conduct to explicitly prohibit hate speech across the state’s more than 3,000 government, independent and Catholic schools, effective immediately from Tuesday. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Human-made materials make up as much as half of UK beaches, study finds

Researchers say sediment changes due to waste dumping and coastal erosion intensified by climate breakdown As much as half of some British beaches’ coarse sediments consist of human-made materials such as brick, concrete, glass and industrial waste, a study has found. Climate breakdown, which has caused more frequent and destructive coastal storms, has led to an increase in these substances on beaches. Six sites on the Firth of Forth, an estuary on Scotland’s east coast joining the River Forth to the North Sea, were surveyed to better understand the makeup of “urban beaches”. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Starmer to give Mandelson dossier to police and leglislate to strip his peerage

Cabinet Office forwards Mandelson-Epstein emails to Met as PM says former business secretary ‘let his country down’ UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer is to hand a dossier on Peter Mandelson to the police and legislate to strip the disgraced former minister of his peerage, after reports that he leaked market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein at the height of the financial crisis. Starmer told his cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning he was “appalled” by the reported leaks and had also asked officials to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage “as quickly as possible”. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Don Lemon says federal agents were sent to arrest him though he offered to turn self in

Former CNN anchor faces charges over coverage of an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service. Don Lemon says about a dozen federal agents came to his Los Angeles hotel to arrest him overnight on 30 January, even though the former CNN anchor’s attorney had told authorities he would turn himself in to face federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service. Lemon on Monday told ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that sending the agents was a waste of resources because law enforcement wouldn’t have had to dispatch agents to follow him if he had been allowed to surrender to authorities. Continue reading...

for 12 timeer siden

Anthropic’s launch of AI legal tool hits shares in European data services firms

Stocks in Pearson, London Stock Exchange Group and Experian plunge amid fears over impact of AI European publishing and legal software companies have suffered sharp declines in their share prices after the US artificial intelligence firm Anthropic announced a tool aimed at companies’ in-house lawyers. The UK publishing group Pearson’s shares fell by 4%, while the information and analytics firm Relx plunged nearly 11% on the London stock exchange, and the Dutch software company Wolters Kluwer dropped almost 9% in Amsterdam. Continue reading...

for 13 timeer siden

Expiry of nuclear weapons pact between US and Russia risks new arms race

Ending of New Start treaty will remove mutual limits on the world’s two biggest nuclear arsenals The New Start treaty between the US and Russia will expire on Thursday, removing the last remaining mutual limits on the world’s two biggest nuclear arsenals. The milestone will be a death knell for more than five decades of arms control at a time of surging global instability, contributing to a general collapse of the rules-based international order established after the second world war. Continue reading...

for 14 timeer siden

UK privacy watchdog opens inquiry into X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes

Information Commissioner’s Office to investigate whether Elon Musk’s companies have complied with data protection law The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has opened formal investigations into X and xAI over whether Elon Musk’s companies have complied with data protection law after the chatbot Grok was used to generate sexual deepfake images without consent. More details soon … Continue reading...

for 14 timeer siden

Conservationists oppose proposal to allow fishing around Chagos Islands

Chagossian people would be allowed to fish in area now teeming with life since ban was introduced in 2010 One of the most precious marine reserves in the world, home to sharks, turtles and rare tropical fish, will be opened to some fishing for the first time in 16 years under the UK government’s deal to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Allowing non-commercial fishing in the marine protected area (MPA) is seen as an essential part of the Chagossian people’s return to the islands, as the community previously relied on fishing as their main livelihood. But some conservationists have raised the alarm, as nature has thrived in the waters of the Indian Ocean since it was protected from fishing. Continue reading...

for 14 timeer siden

Nasa delays moon rocket launch by a month after fuel leaks during test

Artemis II mission was due to begin as early as next week and astronauts have spent almost two weeks in quarantine Nasa has postponed its historic mission to send astronauts around the moon and back again, after issues arose during a critical test of its most powerful rocket yet. The US space agency had planned to launch the Artemis II mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida as early as next week, but announced overnight that it would be delayed until March, without specifying a date. Continue reading...

for 14 timeer siden

French headquarters of Elon Musk’s X raided by Paris cybercrime unit

Prosecutors summon tech billionaire and company’s ex-CEO for questioning as part of expanded investigation Prosecutors have raided the French headquarters of Elon Musk’s social media platform X and summoned the tech billionaire and the company’s former chief executive for questioning as part of an investigation into alleged cybercrime. “A search is under way by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office, the national police cyber unit and Europol,” the Paris prosecutors’ office said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding that it would no longer be publishing on the network. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Thousands without heating on icy night in Ukraine as Russia attacks before talks

Zelenskyy says Putin ‘taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorise people’, as Kyiv hits lows of -20C More than 1,000 residential buildings in Kyiv were without heating on Tuesday after a massive Russian air attack during one of the coldest nights of the winter, with temperatures in the capital falling to -20C. Overnight, the Kremlin fired 450 attack drones and more than 70 missiles across the country. The strikes caused damage in five Kyiv districts and injured at least nine people. Flames consumed an apartment on the upper floors of a Kyiv building. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Son of Norway’s crown princess denies four counts of rape as trial begins

Marius Borg Høiby, 29, pleads not guilty to most serious charges in trial that has embarrassed the royal family The son of Norway’s crown princess has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape on the first day of his trial for multiple offences, a legal saga that has embarrassed the royal family and raised questions over domestic abuse in Norway. Appearing in front of a packed courtroom at Oslo district court on Tuesday morning, Marius Borg Høiby also denied charges including abuse in close relationships and filming women’s genitals without their knowledge. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Donald Trump set to welcome Colombian president to White House for talks – US politics live

US president to meet with Gustavo Petro weeks after threatening military action in the country Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I will be bringing you all the latest news lines over the next few hours. President Donald Trump is set to welcome Colombian president Gustavo Petro to the White House on Tuesday for talks just weeks after threatening military action against the South American country and accusing the leader of pumping cocaine into the United States. Grammys host Trevor Noah has been threatened with legal action by Donald Trump for a joke during Sunday’s awards ceremony about the president’s connection to the disgraced late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A US disaster response firm submitted a plan to White House officials that would guarantee 300% profits and a seven-year monopoly over a new trucking and logistics plan for Donald Trump’s board of peace in Gaza, according to a November proposal obtained by the Guardian. The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, said that all federal agents in Minneapolis will immediately begin wearing body cameras and that the program will be expanded nationwide “as funding is available”. Iran’s top diplomat has said the government is ready for negotiations with the US as the two countries reportedly prepared to send top envoys to Istanbul for high-stakes talks on the Iranian nuclear programme later this week. Donald Trump has been accused of “corruption, plain and simple” after it was revealed that a member of the Emirati royal family was behind a $500m investment into the Trump family’s cryptocurrency company. Immediately after a US border patrol agent shot two people in Oregon last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the targets were “vicious” gang members connected to a prior shooting and alleged they had “attempted to run over” officers with their vehicle. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

New Epstein files fail to quell outrage as advocates claim documents are being withheld

Advocates call for further disclosures after Trump’s justice department released more than 3m files last week The release of about 3m Jeffrey Epstein investigative files has failed to quell outrage over justice department officials’ handling of these disclosures, with advocates claiming potentially millions of documents are still being withheld. Donald Trump’s Department of Justice was required to disclose all investigative files by 19 December under The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA). While the justice department did release some documents on that date, last week’s disclosure came nearly six weeks after this deadline. Continue reading...

for 15 timeer siden

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos stays silent as employees brace for cuts

Bezos has not publicly responded to several letters sent by Post staffers urging him to curb potential layoffs While Washington Post employees remain in the dark about an impending round of cuts that could dramatically reshape the publication, the man that many hoped could soften or stop the blow, owner Jeff Bezos, has remained silent. So far, three staff-organized letters sent by Post employees to Bezos imploring him to protect the Post’s robust coverage have gone unanswered. Continue reading...

for 16 timeer siden

Police spy tried to incite activists to firebomb shop, UK inquiry hears

Carlo Soracchi, who infiltrated anti-fascist group in early 2000s, accused of suggesting crime as he had ‘got nothing’ Three anti-fascist activists have accused an undercover police officer of attempting to incite them to firebomb a shop that was said to be a front for the far right, the spycops inquiry has heard. The accusation has been levelled against Carlo Soracchi, an officer who spent six years infiltrating anti-fascist and leftwing groups. He has denied the claim. Continue reading...

for 16 timeer siden

Newly released files shed new light on Chomsky and Epstein relationship

Latest communications undermine Chomsky’s earlier claims that he primarily had financial dealings with Epstein The close friendship that Noam Chomsky maintained with Jeffrey Epstein continued being detailed extensively among millions of investigative records pertaining to the late convicted sex offender recently released by the US justice department, including Chomsky “fantasizing about the Caribbean island”. In Friday’s tranche of the so-called Epstein files, which built upon earlier disclosures of their close social ties, there is no indication that the famed academic and linguist was referring to his friend’s private Caribbean island where children were sexually abused. But the personal familiarity between the two men in that exchange is palpable, as it is in numerous other emails between Chomsky and Epstein aimed at planning more mundane social gatherings. Continue reading...

for 16 timeer siden

EU has ‘open mind’ on UK customs union talks, says official

Valdis Dombrovskis says bloc is ‘ready to engage’ amid meetings with ministers including Rachel Reeves Business live – latest updates The European Commission would be “open-minded” to discussing closer trade ties with the UK, including a customs union, a senior EU official has said. The EU economy commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, told the BBC that the European bloc was “ready to engage with an open mind” when asked about a customs union. Continue reading...

for 17 timeer siden

Minister denounces Mandelson for interview in which he claims outrage about his Epstein links ‘disproportionate’ – UK politics live

‘It is shameful. It does shame politics,’ said health minister Karin Smyth Good morning. Keir Starmer tried to assuage public and political outrage about Lord Mandelson yesterday by saying that he would like to see him kicked out of the House of Lords for good, but that is not enough for the many people saying that the government should pass primary legislation to remove his peerage. One of them is Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, who told Radio 4 this morning a “very short bill” could be passed “today”. As Jessica Elgot and Emine Sinmaz report in our overnight story, it may turn out that Mandelson ultimately gets punished by the criminal justice system, because the police are reviewing the evidence to see if it justifies a full inquiry. Davey is also calling for a public inquiry into Mandelson. Harriet Harman, the former Labour deputy leader, has been saying Mandelson should be kicked off the privy council. I’ll quote more from what they, and others, have been saying about ‘what to do about Mandelson’ shortly. Hiding under a rock would be a disproportionate response to a handful of misguided historical emails, which I deeply regret sending. If it hadn’t been for the emails, I’d still be in Washington. Emails sent all those years ago didn’t change the relationship that I had with this monster. I feel the same about the recent download of Epstein files, none of which indicate wrongdoing or misdemeanour on my part. I am a New Labour person and always will be, wherever the party situates itself. But I think I want a sea change. I want to be more of an outsider looking in rather than the other way round. I want to contribute ideas that enable Britain to strengthen and to work for all, in every part of the country. Like, sadly, many other men I’ve seen in similar positions over the years, there is a lack of real reality and understanding about the depth of this now demonstrated in that interview. I’m not entirely sure what day that interview took place, but each hour is bringing really shocking and quite astonishing levels of email correspondence that is shocking absolutely everybody. Continue reading...

for 17 timeer siden

A hot economy? RBA’s rate hike justification is hard to swallow for Australians struggling with cost-of-living crisis

Economists and the central bank might see a roaring economy but workers and mortgage holders still feel like they’re doing it tough Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Reserve Bank thinks the economy is running too hot and needed a rate hike to slow it down. It sure doesn’t feel that way. Continue reading...

for 17 timeer siden

UK shoppers buy more fruit and yoghurt in healthy start to 2026

Britons cut back in January after record grocery spending in December, turning to own-label products Business live – latest updates Britons started 2026 by buying more healthy food such as fruit and yoghurt as they attempted to hit new year health goals, while grocery price inflation eased to the lowest level since April, research has shown. Annual grocery inflation fell back to 4% in the four weeks to 25 January from 4.7% in December, offering some relief for shoppers, according to a monthly snapshot of the grocery sector from the research company Worldpanel by Numerator. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Europe and US to pursue coordinated military action if Russia persistently violates future ceasefire, report says – Europe live

A violation of a ceasefire by Russia would result in a response in less than 24 hours, according to the plan We are restarting our live Europe coverage and will bring you the latest news around the continent throughout the day. Under a proposal discussed between Ukrainian, European and American officials, Kyiv has agreed with western allies that repeated breaches of any future ceasefire agreement from Russia would lead to a coordinated US-Europe military response, sources briefed on the discussions have told the Financial Times. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Environmentalists decry ‘crushingly disappointing’ Pfas action plan for UK

Ministers’ proposals to tackle ‘forever chemicals’ fail to match tougher stance taken in Europe, say experts Environmental campaigners have criticised a “crushingly disappointing” UK government plan to tackle “forever chemicals”, which they warn risks locking in decades of avoidable harm to people and the environment. The government said its Pfas action plan set out a “clear framework” of “coordinated action … to understand where these chemicals are coming from, how they spread and how to reduce public and environmental exposure”. Continue reading...

for 18 timeer siden

Palestine Action Group plans march against Isaac Herzog’s visit despite protest restrictions

Calls for NSW police to ‘exercise their discretion’ and facilitate a peaceful rally in Sydney on 9 February while Israeli president visits Australia Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Palestine Action Group plans to march against the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog’s, visit to Sydney next week, despite the New South Wales police commissioner extending a restriction on protests. A spokesperson for the group, Josh Lees, called for NSW police to “exercise their discretion” and facilitate a peaceful march from Town Hall to state parliament on 9 February as part of nationwide protests against Herzog’s visit. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Elon Musk merges SpaceX with xAI at $1.25tn valuation

Aerospace business and artificial intelligence firm to unite for IPO as world’s most valuable private company Business live – latest updates Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has acquired his artificial intelligence business xAI, in a $1.25tn (£910bn) merger that consolidates part of Musk’s empire as SpaceX prepares to go public later this year. The two companies announced the deal on Monday in a statement on SpaceX’s website, saying the merger would form “the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free speech platform”. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Aid cuts could cause 22m avoidable deaths by 2030, study finds

Modelling suggests 5.4m children under five among those who could die if budgets of donor countries such as UK and US continue to be slashed Aid cuts could lead to more than 22 million avoidable deaths by 2030, including 5.4 million children under five, according to the most comprehensive modelling to date. In the past two decades there have been dramatic falls in the number of young children dying from infectious diseases, driven by aid directed to the developing world, researchers wrote in the Lancet Global Health. But that progress was at risk of reversal because of abrupt budget cuts by donor countries, including the US and the UK. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Trump says he is seeking $1bn in damages in Harvard dispute

US president makes further claims of antisemitism against Ivy League school amid wider dispute with higher eduction institutions Donald Trump has announced that his administration is seeking $1bn in damages from Harvard University, the latest step in a long-running battle with the university over allegations of antisemitism. In a Truth Social post late on Monday, Trump accused the Ivy League school of being “strongly antisemitic”, adding that Harvard president Alan Garber “has done a terrible job of rectifying a very bad situation for his institution and, more importantly, America itself”. Continue reading...

for 19 timeer siden

Tuesday briefing: The ‘life-shattering’ stories of Epstein survivors

In today’s newsletter: What the newly disclosed Epstein pages really tells us – and why some survivors are frustrated with the way the narrative is being told Good morning. The mills of God may grind slowly, but the wheels of the US justice department appear to turn even more sluggishly when it comes to those connected with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Over the past few days, the release of millions of previously sealed documents relating to Epstein has reignited scrutiny of his relationships with politicians, business leaders and public figures around the world. But amid the frenzy over names and emails, there are growing concerns that the disclosure risks repeating a familiar pattern: centring powerful men, while the experiences of survivors once again slip into the background. Jeffrey Epstein | Peter Mandelson is facing a possible police investigation into his alleged leak of market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein at the height of the financial crisis; and the charity of Sarah Ferguson has announced it is closing after new revelations emerged about the former duchess’s friendship with Epstein. UK news | Dan Norris, a former Labour minister and now an independent MP, has been arrested for a second time on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, voyeurism and upskirting. Norris has denied the allegations. Doctors | Resident doctors in England have voted in favour of continuing industrial action over the next six months, the British Medical Association has announced. Gaza | The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been reopened by Israel for people on foot, as fragile diplomatic efforts inch forward. According to an Egyptian official, only 50 Palestinians will be permitted to cross in each direction on the first day of operations. Environment | A damning report has found that the EU’s renewable energy targets for 2030 are “out of reach” because of lack of progress in domestic production, refining and recycling. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

China to ban hidden car door handles on all EVs over crash safety concerns

Sleek car doors reduce vehicle drag but are prone to losing operability in the event of a crash, officials say China will soon ban concealed door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to do so after several deadly incidents triggered global scrutiny of the controversial design first popularised by Tesla. According to regulations announced on Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, cars sold in China will now be required to have a mechanical release on both the inside and outside of every door except the boot. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Australian woman who died after being caught in a Japan ski lift remembered as a ‘vibrant spirit’

Tributes for Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day recall a ‘cherished team mate’ who had an ‘infectious sense of humour’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Tributes have poured in for the Australian woman who died in a ski lift accident at a Japanese resort, describing the 22-year-old as kind, talented and possessing a “vibrant spirit”. Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day sustained critical injuries on Friday after her backpack was caught in a ski lift at Tsugaike Mountain resort in Otari, near Nagano. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Riverford sales rise 6% as UK organics market enjoys biggest boom in two decades

Sector bounces back as consumers focus on provenance and healthy eating, but is still well behind Europe Consumers searching for healthy food from trusted sources have fuelled the UK organic market’s biggest boom in two decades, according to vegetable box seller Riverford. The delivery business, which sells meat, cheese, cookbooks and recipe boxes alongside vegetables, recorded a 6% increase in sales to £117m in the year to May 2025, as the UK organic food and drink market grew by almost 9% in that year, according to new figures from the Soil Association. The strong growth, significantly outpacing the wider food market, helped the employee-owned business give a £1.1m bonus to workers. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Music and dancing signify defiance at celebratory funerals of Iran’s protesters

Euphoric scenes are a snub to theocracy’s culture of piety, say analysts, and carry message of rebellion Iranians killed in recent protests that rocked the country have been laid to rest in boisterous funerals featuring loud pop music and dancing, apparently intended to convey defiance to the ruling Islamic regime. Instead of holding sombre traditional mourning ceremonies presided over by a Shia cleric, bereaved relatives are turning the burials into exultant celebrations of the lives of their loved ones in what analysts say is an intentional snub to the culture of piety demanded by Iran’s theocracy. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Good luck Dua Leaper: scientists return frogs wiped out by fungal disease to wild

Researchers dig ‘spas’ and install ‘saunas’ in ACT wetlands to give green and golden bell frogs the best chance of survival Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Scientists have reintroduced green and golden bell frogs to the Australian Capital Territory for the first time since the species became locally extinct four decades ago. The first cohort of 25 frogs was released on Tuesday morning, a milestone for conservation of the animals, whose numbers have been devastated by the chytrid fungal disease that has wiped out 90 amphibian species in 50 years. Continue reading...

for 21 timeer siden

Melania: Amazon’s $106m documentary takes $982 per screen in Australian opening weekend

Documentary about the US first lady debuted at No 31 at Australian box office, making $32,399 from 33 screens Melania, Amazon’s $106m (US$75m) documentary about the US first lady, has bombed at the Australian box office on its opening weekend, debuting at No 31 on the charts and taking just $982 (£503, US$688) per screen. The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, was screened in 33 cinemas across Australia and made $32,399 overall. Continue reading...

for 22 timeer siden

Lake Cargelligo alleged killer Julian Ingram previously convicted for grabbing family member by throat

Broader investigation under way into police handling of allegations against 37-year-old, who has still not been found Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Warning: This article contains references to Indigenous Australians who have died Julian Ingram was convicted of grabbing a family member by the throat after she made a comment about his children four years before he allegedly murdered three people and went on the run. Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, is suspected of shooting dead his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt last month in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of Sydney. The 37-year-old was later seen leaving the town in a white single-cab Ford Ranger. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

RBA interest rates decision: Reserve Bank increases cash rate to 3.85% in blow to mortgage holders

Shortest rate-cutting cycle in the RBA’s modern history ends after unexpected jump in inflation Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Reserve Bank has hiked rates for the first time in over two years, with mortgage holders to bear the brunt of dealing with an unexpected jump in inflation through the second half of 2025. The RBA monetary policy board at the end of its two-day meeting announced the cash rate target would lift to 3.85%, from 3.6%. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

NSW goldmine faces community class action over allegations of a ‘toxic trifecta’ of pollution

Residents living near Cadia goldmine in central western NSW allege in court filings that dust containing heavy metals has contaminated the water supply Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Residents of a small regional community near Orange in New South Wales have filed an environmental class action over a “toxic trifecta” of alleged pollution caused by Cadia goldmine. The supreme court challenge against Cadia Holdings, which trades as Cadia Valley Operations and is owned by Newmont, is seeking compensation including damages for a reduction in property values and an injunction to restrain further pollution. Continue reading...

for 23 timeer siden

Mark of Cain singer comes out as trans ‘to finally live as myself’

Josie Scott, who has played in the Australian heavy metal band with her brother Kim for 40 years, writes to fans: ‘I’ve decided to embrace, rather than endure, who I am’ Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email The guitarist and vocalist in Australian heavy metal band the Mark of Cain has come out as a trans woman, writing that seeing younger trans people live freely had “helped shine a light on the possibility that maybe I can finally be me in my autumn years.” On Monday night, Josie Scott wrote a statement to fans on the band’s social media, announcing that her family know her as Josie or Jo and “given where I identify on the gender spectrum, I fit within the paradigm of being a trans woman”. Sign up for our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Trump unveils $12bn critical minerals reserve in apparent move to counter China’s dominance

Other countries are expected to join Project Vault, which US president said would ensure that US businesses are ‘never harmed by any shortage’ Donald Trump has announced the creation of a critical mineral reserve worth nearly $12bn, a stockpile that could counter China’s ability to use its dominance of the hard-to-process metals as leverage in trade talks. “Today we’re launching what will be known as Project Vault to ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage,” Trump said at the White House on Monday. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Judge blocks Trump administration’s stripping of Haitians’ protected status

Up to 350,000 Haitians legally live and work in the US due to being granted temporary protected status A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from stripping temporary protected status from up to 350,000 Haitians, a status that allows them to legally live and work in the United States amid the turmoil in their homeland. Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary stay that prevents Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary, from implementing her decision to remove the status known as TPS, which was scheduled to expire on Tuesday. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Boy swims four hours through rough seas to save mother and siblings off Western Australia

Teen swims 4km, two without a life jacket, to sound alarm which led to the discovery of his family Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A 13-year-old boy saved his mother and two younger siblings on Friday evening, swimming four kilometres in fading light and rough conditions, after they were swept out to sea in southwest Western Australia. The family were holidaying in Quindalup, 250 kilometres south of Perth, when strong winds pushed their inflatable paddle boards and kayak offshore from Geographe Bay. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Pauline Hanson failed to declare another flight from billionaire Gina Rinehart’s company

Exclusive: One Nation leader gifted the flight from company of Australia’s richest person last year, but did not declare in line with parliamentary rules Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has failed to declare another flight received from billionaire Gina Rinehart’s company, travelling on her private jet between Melbourne and Sydney last October. Guardian Australia can reveal that Senator Hanson was gifted the flight following an event at a private agricultural college in Geelong last year, which she had attended for the official opening of a new building partly funded by Rinehart. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Palantir beats Wall Street expectations amid Trump immigration crackdown

CEO Alex Karp hails ‘iconic’ financial results despite criticism over contracts with ICE and homeland security Palantir celebrated its latest financial results on Monday, as the tech company blew past Wall Street expectations and continues to prop up the Trump administration’s push to deport immigrants. Palantir has secured millions of dollars in federal contracts amid Trump’s crackdown on immigrants. The multibillion-dollar Denver-based firm creates tech focused on surveillance and analytics, to be used by the government agencies and private companies. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Sarah Ferguson charity to close after new details of friendship with Epstein

Latest release of files about disgraced financier reveals ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor told him he was ‘the brother I have always wished for’ The charity of Sarah Ferguson has announced that it is closing after new revelations emerged about the former duchess’s friendship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Sarah’s Trust, the international charity launched by the ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, will close “for the foreseeable future” after “some months” of discussion, according to a spokesperson. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

DHS’s account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: ‘A smear campaign’

Immigration officials said agent shot two ‘vicious gang members’ in Portland, but records obtained by the Guardian reveal US prosecutor contradicted claims Immediately after a US border patrol agent shot two people in Oregon last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the targets were “vicious” gang members connected to a prior shooting and alleged they had “attempted to run over” officers with their vehicle. In the weeks since, key parts of the federal government’s narrative have fallen apart. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Nationals who defied shadow cabinet would sit on backbench for six months under Coalition peace deal

Major sticking point in negotiations is the status of the three former frontbenchers who voted against Labor’s hate speech laws Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The three National senators who defied the shadow cabinet to oppose Labor’s hate speech laws would be forced to sit on the backbench for six months under Sussan Ley’s offer to the Nationals to reunite the Coalition. Ley briefed Liberal MPs on the terms of a potential peace deal with the Nationals following talks with David Littleproud on Monday night. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Harvey Willgoose’s family says ‘too many red flags’ missed before school stabbing

Caroline Willgoose, whose 15-year-old son was killed by another pupil, says murder was ‘senseless and avoidable’ The family of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at school by another pupil has said her son’s murder was “senseless and avoidable” and that a report ordered by the school showed too many “red flags” were missed. Harvey Willgoose died one year ago to the day, and his killer, Mohammed Umar Khan, is serving a minimum term of 16 years’ detention. A report commissioned by the trust that runs Harvey’s school, All Saints Catholic high school in Sheffield, has highlighted a number of missed opportunities in the run-up to the murder. The review was undertaken by a former school headteacher and inspector of schools at Learn Sheffield. Continue reading...

for 1 dag siden

Emergency pneumonia cases surge to half a million a year in England

There were 579,475 instances of emergency hospitalisation being needed in the year to March 2025, analysis finds The number of people requiring emergency care for pneumonia has risen by a quarter over two years to reach more than half a million cases, new figures show, amid warnings that preventable cases are adding pressure on overstretched A&E departments. Analysis of the most recent NHS England data from between April 2024 and March 2025 found that there were 579,475 cases of pneumonia requiring emergency hospitalisation, and this was likely to have risen further since, according to the charity Asthma + Lung UK. There were 461,995 cases between April 2022 and March 2023. Continue reading...