World News Hub

Rising inflation underlines scale of Andy Burnham’s cost of living challenge

PM’s plan to shield households from more pressure risks being overwhelmed by wider price risesUK inflation rises to 2.9%Business live – latest updatesJuly’s increase in inflation, to 2.9%, is likely to be the first of several, underlining the challenge facing Andy Burnham in shielding consumers from a fresh cost of living squeeze this autumn.Rising energy bills, as an increase in Ofgem’s quarterly...

Trump claims over 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in 2020

OpenAI pledges to slow down its model development amid cybersecurity concerns

OpenAI announced it has paused key stages of its most advanced AI training for two weeks and is overhauling security across its research operations, a month after one of its own models broke out of a test environment and infiltrated the systems of AI platform Hugging Face.

Who won and lost in Florida primaries: Key takeaways

Florida primaries reveal political shifts, reshaping key races ahead of crucial US midterm elections in November.

Spain ignores EU and prepares urgent transfer of 500 migrant girls from Ceuta to mainland

Pedro Sánchez's government is planning the urgent transfer to mainland Spain of 500 migrant girls who arrived in Ceuta, as several regions refuse to host them, while the EU backs sending these unaccompanied minors from Ceuta back to Morocco.

Spain defies EU and prepares urgent transfer of 500 migrant girls from Ceuta to mainland Spain

Pedro Sánchez's government is preparing to urgently transfer 500 migrant girls from Ceuta to mainland Spain, while some regions refuse to host them and the EU backs returning unaccompanied minors to Morocco.

Virgin Australia apologises to disability advocate removed from flight over wheelchair motor

Shane Hryhorec’s viral video showing the interaction with flight staff has already garnered 16 million viewsVirgin Australia has apologised to a disability advocate who said he was “humiliated” by his removal from a flight over his wheelchair motor.The airline called Shane Hryhorec on Wednesday afternoon to offer an apology, two days after the Adelaide-based man published a viral video showing the...

Mushroom murderer trial undermined by 'catastrophic' hotel mix-up, appeal court told

Erin Patterson's defence team appeal against her conviction for killing relatives with a beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms.

Mushroom murderer trial undermined by 'catastrophic' hotel mix-up, court told

Erin Patterson's defence team appeal against her conviction for killing relatives with a beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms.

Burnham pledges to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas – UK politics live

PM promises to mount ‘Covid-style campaign’ to get homeless people off streets in winter Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.Andy Burnham has pledged to work to “get everyone in for Christmas” as he continues to build on his policy to end rough sleeping.We see people bedded down in doorways and sat outside stations, carrying their lives in rucksacks and sleeping bags on their backs. And...

China fund managers stick with AI, chips in August despite July sell-off, survey finds

Despite July’s sharp sell-off in global semiconductor shares, driven by concerns over AI-linked profitability, artificial intelligence and chips remained China’s most preferred investment themes in August, while more investors moved to hedge tech exposure, according to a survey by BofA Global Research. The findings come from the August edition of the Asia Fund Manager Survey, for which Bank of Ame...

🔴 Ebola in DR Congo: More than 5,000 cases reported amid fears of international spread

Fresh Ukraine corruption probe adds to pressure on Zelenskyy ahead of key vote – Europe live

Investigation into unnamed lawmakers comes hours before parliament is due to to vote on successor to Mykhailo Fedorov as he calls for electionsUkraine’s anti-corruption agencies opened an investigation into unnamed lawmakers and presidential advisers just hours before a key vote in parliament, adding to pressure on president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The Nabu and Sapo agencies released no further detail...

Macau bets on financial services, fintech to drive economic diversification

Macau has unveiled a sweeping five-year strategic blueprint to break its long-standing dependence on casino revenues by pivoting towards modern financial services, digital currency adoption and deeper economic integration with mainland China. Under its third five-year plan for economic and social development, released on Tuesday, the gambling hub aims to boost the added value of non-gaming industr...

Is South China Sea warship breakdown a sign US is ‘taxing reserve capacity’?

A US guided-missile destroyer that was adrift in the South China Sea without power last month is a sign that America is taxing its reserve capacity as its operation against Iran drags on, according to an analyst. “This is an extremely unusual occurrence and a variety of equipment and process failures would have to have taken place,” said Brad Martin, a former US Navy captain who is now a senior po...

David Shrigley London exhibition will find the funny side of old masters

Dulwich Picture Gallery show to feature British artist’s work hung next to paintings by Dutch and Flemish greatsThe contemporary UK artist David Shrigley will apply his trademark arch humour and distinctive artistic practice “in dialogue” with old masters of Dutch and Flemish painting in a major new solo exhibition in London.The celebrated visual artist will explore the 17th-century paintings with...

Meta sued by US states for hooking and exploiting kids in pursuit of profit

Meta is on trial for intentionally seeking to addict children to its Facebook and Instagram platforms in pursuit of profit, a lawyer for California said on Tuesday, at the start of a trial that could rehsape some of the most popular apps in the world. 

French President Emmanuel Macron signs assisted dying legislation into law

The Constitutional Council's ruling will see France join the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, which have already legalised the practice.

France: President Emmanuel Macron signs assisted dying law

The government must now publish the implementing decrees before the right to assisted dying can actually be put into effect.

Pakistan to challenge order to move jailed Imran Khan to hospital

The Pakistani government will challenge an order to move former prime minister Imran Khan from prison to a private hospital.

Netanyahu's party puts Mamdani alongside Iran, Hezbollah leaders on billboard

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's party placed Mayor Mamdani's image on a billboard. This billboard featured Mamdani alongside leaders hostile to Israel's interests. Netanyahu is campaigning for re-election amid political challenges in Israel. He has increasingly used Mamdani's criticism as campaign messaging. The exchange occurs while Gaza ceasefire efforts remain stalled.

Defence joins search for missing bushwalker – as it happened

This blog is now closedFollow our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast‘Collapsing confidence’ in housing market, Wilson saysTim Wilson has jumped on that reporting around rent increases and says there has been a collapse in confidence since the budget which is hurting renters.We’ve had, since the budget, collapsing confidence, a lack of will to invest in housing that is going to be ...

Shares in humanoid robot firm Unitree surge 600% on Chinese stock market debut

Company’s robots have gained global fame via videos of them performing martial arts and as dancers for pop starsUnitree, the world’s biggest humanoid robot maker, has made a spectacular entry on to China’s stock market, with its shares surging by more than 600%.The Chinese company’s robots have gained global fame via viral videos of them performing martial arts, running at Olympic speeds and servi...

Meta collects three times more user data than Microsoft or Apple

New research shows Meta's apps collect an average of 25 out of 35 possible data types, more than any other tech giant.

Peta Murphy called for gambling reform three years ago. Her husband says Labor’s changes fall ‘well short’

The government’s gambling ad changes are expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday night or Thursday morning with the Coalition’s supportThe husband of late Labor MP, Peta Murphy, said the government’s gambling reform “falls well short” of what she called for in 2023, lamenting that its shortcomings were due to the “considerable lobbying power” of the wagering, sporting and media industries.Rod Glo...