Clear filters Clear Filters
Australia news live: Jim Chalmers says he has ‘other priorities’ than a gas tax; Anthony Albanese calls to congratulate Andy Burnham
The Guardian

Australia news live: Jim Chalmers says he has ‘other priorities’ than a gas tax; Anthony Albanese calls to congratulate Andy Burnham

Treasurer points to other reforms after Labor members call for ‘fairer return’ from natural resources. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before your regular blogger takes the reins.Jim Chalmers has claimed rightwing political parties will “prey on” voter...

Trump says nearly 200 firms have signed pledge to protect Americans from costs arising from datacenters
The Guardian

Trump says nearly 200 firms have signed pledge to protect Americans from costs arising from datacenters

‘Ratepayer Protection Pledge’ president has touted is non-binding as people continue to struggle with rising billsDonald Trump has announced that some 200 entities have signed onto his non-binding “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” expanding a voluntary commitment which claims to ensure US consumers will not bear the cost of the AI datacenter build-out.Trump delivered remarks on Thursday at the Enviro...

Southern California suburb alarmed as ‘exceptionally rare’ cancer sickens multiple children
The Guardian

Southern California suburb alarmed as ‘exceptionally rare’ cancer sickens multiple children

Residents in Ladera Ranch in Orange county voice concerns after six children diagnosed with Ewing sarcomaSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Concerns are growing in southern California over a cluster of “exceptionally rare” cancer cases that has sickened multiple children in a suburban community.Families living in the Orange county neighborhood of Ladera Ranch, home to about 26,000 p...

Kemi Badenoch ‘has to adapt’ her rhetoric to take on Andy Burnham
The Guardian

Kemi Badenoch ‘has to adapt’ her rhetoric to take on Andy Burnham

Conservative leader is becoming more confident and forging a message for her party, but faces a new opponent “So, Andy Burnham seems like a nice guy.” Those were the slightly unexpected opening words of Kemi Badenoch’s first speech since the change in prime minister. But make no mistake: she was there to bury her opponent.Even Badenoch-sceptics inside the Conservative party and farther afield agre...

Secret Service agent on Vance’s detail under investigation

Secret Service agent on Vance’s detail under investigation

The Guardian

Agent came under suspicion after allegedly providing info in MS Now report about vice-president’s helicopter tripA Secret Service agent assigned to JD Vance’s protective detail is “the subject of an administrative investigation, and potential criminal inquiry, involving allegations of compromising operational and information security”, according to the Secret Service chief of communications.The ag...

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana moved to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana moved to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital

The Guardian

Exclusive: Clinical assessments concluded Rudakubana could not be safely managed in prison, sources sayThe Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been moved to a psychiatric hospital from a prison after an assessment by psychologists, the Guardian can disclose.He was transferred to Broadmoor high security hospital from the category A prison Belmarsh earlier this week after it was concluded that he c...

Middle East crisis is ‘getting out of control’, UN chief warns, as fears mount of escalation spiral – live updates

Middle East crisis is ‘getting out of control’, UN chief warns, as fears mount of escalation spiral – live updates

The Guardian

Secretary general António Guterres tells security council the Middle East is being pushed to the ‘edge of the unimaginable’ amid latest threats from Donald TrumpTrump says he is close to decision on largest-yet attack on IranEarlier in the US day, before Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump issued this threat on hi...

Minnesota man sentenced to life for killing Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman

Minnesota man sentenced to life for killing Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman

The Guardian

Vance Boelter receives two life terms after admitting politically motivated killings and shootingsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe Minnesota man who pleaded guilty to killing a top Democratic lawmaker and her husband was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison on Thursday, a little over a year after the political attacks.Vance Boelter, 59, was sentenced to two consecu...

The Hegseth budget: defense secretary’s $1.5tn ask reveals military-industrial chaos

The Hegseth budget: defense secretary’s $1.5tn ask reveals military-industrial chaos

The Guardian

The Pentagon head proposed a 44% increase – to second world war levels – while ‘woke’ programs are guttedUS politics live – latest updatesWhen the ‘“department of government efficiency” was raging unchecked through the federal government in February 2025, the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, ordered his subordinates to find cuts of 8% a year for the next five years, theoretically trimming a tot...

Business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues in England only ‘a small move’, say critics

Business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues in England only ‘a small move’, say critics

The Guardian

Andy Burnham faces calls to be more ambitious with hospitality businesses calling for VAT cuts and help for hotels and restaurantsPubs, clubs and live music venues in England will receive a 20% discount on their business rates bills as part of a £100m aid package unveiled by Andy Burnham but the prime minister immediately faced calls to be more ambitious.Burnham said the measure, aimed at supporti...

Donald Trump says decision on ‘massive attack’ against Iran is close

Donald Trump says decision on ‘massive attack’ against Iran is close

The Guardian

President’s remarks follow Houthi strikes on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and oil prices rising past $100 a barrel againMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesDonald Trump has said he is close to deciding whether to launch “a massive attack” against Iran, on a scale larger than strikes already witnessed during the months-long conflict with Tehran.Speaking to the Axios news site, the US president ...

Trump says he is close to decision on largest-yet attack on Iran

Trump says he is close to decision on largest-yet attack on Iran

The Guardian

Escalation would follow oil passing $100 a barrel again and Houthi strikes on Saudi tankers in the Red SeaThe US president, Donald Trump, has said he is close to deciding whether to launch “a massive” attack” against Iran, on a scale larger than strikes already witnessed during the months-long conflict with Tehran.Speaking to the Axios news site Trump said: “I am considering a massive attack. Bigg...

White House says if Saudi Arabia does not join Abraham accords, nuclear deal ‘is off’ – US politics live

White House says if Saudi Arabia does not join Abraham accords, nuclear deal ‘is off’ – US politics live

The Guardian

Karoline Leavitt insisted nuclear deal is ‘contingent’ on condition revealed by Trump in a social post US House passes second war powers resolutionSign up for the Breaking News US emailBy a vote of 214-208 lawmakers in the House passed a war powers resolution to curb the Trump administration’s military action in Iran, ahead of the lower chamber’s August reccess.Four Republicans, Brian Fitzpatrick,...

Trump administration to unveil latest stage of aggressive trade policy

Trump administration to unveil latest stage of aggressive trade policy

The Guardian

US president is reportedly preparing fresh wave of sweeping tariffs as previous 10% on much of the world is due to expireDonald Trump’s administration will unveil the latest stage of his aggressive trade policy on Thursday, the White House has said, amid reports the US president is preparing a fresh wave of sweeping tariffs.Trump’s tariffs policy suffered a damaging blow in February when the US su...

White House trails announcement on tariffs amid reports of new duties

White House trails announcement on tariffs amid reports of new duties

The Guardian

Trump officials say they will announce next phase of US trade policy as 10% global tariffs are due to expire on FridayDonald Trump’s administration will unveil the latest stage of his aggressive trade policy on Thursday, the White House has said, amid reports the US president is preparing a fresh wave of sweeping tariffs.Trump’s tariffs policy suffered a damaging blow in February when the US supre...

‘Customers prefer AI chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed

‘Customers prefer AI chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed

The Guardian

CEO Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits following focus on bigger marginsThe owner of British Gas has claimed that most households would rather speak with an AI chatbot than deal with the company’s staff as it prepares to cut 1,300 jobs from its call centres.Centrica, the supplier’s FTSE 100 owner, plans to cut 800 jobs as the company carries out a “targeted ...

‘Customers prefer chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed

‘Customers prefer chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed

The Guardian

CEO Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits as it focuses on bigger marginsThe owner of British Gas has claimed that most households would rather speak with an AI chatbot than deal with the company’s staff as it prepares to cut 1,300 jobs from its call centres.Centrica, the supplier’s FTSE 100 owner, plans to cut 800 jobs as the company carries out a “targeted de...

‘Customers prefer AI chatbots to humans’ says British Gas boss as 1,300 call centre staff axed

‘Customers prefer AI chatbots to humans’ says British Gas boss as 1,300 call centre staff axed

The Guardian

Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits despite falling customer numbersThe owner of British Gas has claimed that most households would rather speak with an AI chatbot than deal with the company’s staff as it prepares to cut 1,300 jobs from its call centres.Centrica, the supplier’s FTSE 100 owner, plans to cut 800 jobs as the company carries out a “targeted deplo...

UK politics: Burnham pauses early prisoner release scheme due to start in September – as it happened

UK politics: Burnham pauses early prisoner release scheme due to start in September – as it happened

The Guardian

New PM says no prisoners will be released under the policy until there is an urgent review of schemeKemi Badenoch is speaking in central London at the moment and is expected to say that Andy Burnham is “still thinking like the mayor of Manchester”.“Going by what he’s announced so far, Andy Burnham’s ambitions for Britain are too small,” she was expected to say.My message to British businesses is q...

Mayor shot dead in Mexico months after surviving assassination attempt

Mayor shot dead in Mexico months after surviving assassination attempt

The Guardian

Valentín Lavín Romero is the 14th mayor to be murdered since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in 2024A mayor was shot dead on Wednesday in the Mexican state of Morelos after having survived a previous assassination attempt earlier this year. He is the 14th mayor to be murdered since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in October 2024.Valentín Lavín Romero, who was from the Green party, an ally of...

5.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Texas panhandle

5.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Texas panhandle

The Guardian

No injuries or deaths were reported from early-morning temblor whose epicenter was 68 miles from AmarilloSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Texas panhandle, the state’s northernmost region, on Thursday, marking the strongest quake to hit the area since 1900.The earthquake struck at around 5.21am at a depth of 3.5 miles (5.7km), according to the ...

Mission to ‘eradicate scourge of drowning’ after deaths surge across England

Mission to ‘eradicate scourge of drowning’ after deaths surge across England

The Guardian

Strategy will tackle ‘public health disaster’ that claims more lives than fire, flooding or knife crimeA national strategy to address the “public health disaster” of drowning has been launched in England – hours after two women died at an Essex beach, the latest in a surge of water-related tragedies.Among the measures being considered are: providing every child in England with water safety educati...

Trump considering ‘massive attack’ on Iran, says report – Middle East crisis live

Trump considering ‘massive attack’ on Iran, says report – Middle East crisis live

The Guardian

US president tells Axios ‘they haven’t received enough pain yet’ and he is ‘close to a decision’Earlier in the US day, before Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump issued this threat on his Truth Social platform:From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, ...

Teacher and daughter die after trying to help boy, seven, on Essex beach

Teacher and daughter die after trying to help boy, seven, on Essex beach

The Guardian

Shalina Rahman, 42, and daughter Sameeha, 15, were on holiday in West Mersea and boy is believed to be family memberThe teenage girl and woman who died in the waters off an Essex beach were trying to help a seven-year-old boy who had got into difficulties, police believe.Family members identified the pair as Shalina Rahman, a 42-year-old British-Bangladeshi teacher who is married to a Bangladeshi ...

Tropical Storm Bertha heads for Texas after Louisiana landfall

Tropical Storm Bertha heads for Texas after Louisiana landfall

The Guardian

Forecasters warn of US coastal flooding, heavy rain and dangerous surf as the storm tracks westTropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon, and is moving westward toward the Texas coast, where it is expected to reach later on Thursday, bringing rainfall, winds and rising water levels.In a Thursday morning update, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Bertha w...

Lobbying firm pressed for details about payments to journalists for favourable stories

Lobbying firm pressed for details about payments to journalists for favourable stories

The Guardian

MPs and others condemn behaviour of CT Group, which offered cash for positive coverage of clientsA political lobbying firm secretly paying journalists for articles favourable to its clients is facing calls to reveal full details of the payments, after the practice was denounced as a dangerous “attack on democracy”.MPs, senior lobbyists and transparency campaigners all condemned the behaviour of CT...

Ousted Ukrainian defence minister refuses any other role in Zelenskyy’s government – as it happened

Ousted Ukrainian defence minister refuses any other role in Zelenskyy’s government – as it happened

The Guardian

Mykhailo Fedorov says only in his former post could he ‘combat procurement corruption and complete the army’s transformation’EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has offered a bit more detail on the new package of sanctions, saying they are “the largest round in four years,” and will “hit Putin where it hurts most.”In a statement, she said:“We have agreed on the 21st sanctions package against Russi...

US-Saudi nuclear deal ‘is off’ if Saudi Arabia does not join Abraham accords, says White House – Middle East crisis live

US-Saudi nuclear deal ‘is off’ if Saudi Arabia does not join Abraham accords, says White House – Middle East crisis live

The Guardian

Nuclear deal is ‘contingent’ on kingdom joining accords, says press secretary Karoline LeavittHouthis claim strikes on two Saudi tankers as US attacks on Iran widenEarlier in the US day, before Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump issued this threat on his Truth Social platform:From this point forward, any time the...

At least two people missing in West Virginia after torrential rain causes flash floods

At least two people missing in West Virginia after torrential rain causes flash floods

The Guardian

State’s governor had declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties, and deployed 500 national guard membersPatrick Morrisey, the West Virginia governor, said at least two people were unaccounted for in Upshur county, after torrential rain caused flash floods in parts of the state.Speaking at a news conference, Morrisey said that during search-and-recovery operations state police found an overt...