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Home loan applications down by 15% since budget, CBA says – as it happened

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastShadow treasurer says tobacco plans would bring in extra billions and stop people buying from the ‘black market’Tim Wilson, the shadow treasurer, said the tobacco proposal would bring in an extra $2bn a year as it would stop people “buying products from the black market”.We’ve been looking at this policy for a long t...

Iran Red Crescent urges ICC probe into deadly US strike on wedding party

Outrage grows over US strike that killed four people and wounded 67 at a wedding party in Kuhestak.

Churchillian moment? Macron in Britain amid scramble to boost European defence

What can an Eleventh Century comic strip about the Norman Conquest of England tell us about the spectre of seachange in 2026 Europe? France’s president on hand for the hottest ticket in London, the first-ever cross-Channel visit of the Bayeux Tapestry… which... for the record... is not a tapestry but a delicate scroll of embroidered cloth that chronicles a radical turning point in our continent’s ...

Jackie Chan urged China to stop buying pangolin scales in Kung Fu Pangolin campaign

Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

Uber has stopped its operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect – citing "a thorough review of our business" as its reason for shutting down in the former.

Florida man dodged $300,000 scam after wife tracked him on Find My iPhone and police officer stopped the wire

In Pinellas County, a resident dodged a cunning warrant scam that sought thousands of dollars. Fraudsters pretended to be law enforcement officials, delivering counterfeit arrest warrants via email. The victim was coerced into wiring money to evade arrest, but thanks to his wife's phone monitoring, authorities intervened. Residents are encouraged to verify any official demands through legitimate s...

2,800+ wolves killed, $10M spent, yet 15 caribou herds remain at risk: Is British Columbia targeting wrong?

British Columbia's ongoing wolf cull initiative aims to support the restoration of caribou populations. Experts contend that habitat destruction, rather than wolf predation, is the primary issue affecting these animals. The provincial government is considering prolonging this contentious ten-year wolf cull for an additional five years, drawing backlash for failing to address habitat degradation. S...

Chinese central bank chief’s remarks at G20

People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng rejected criticism of China over global trade imbalances at the G20 finance meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. Below is the statement released by the Chinese central bank summarising the speech.

Pakistan’s Punjab allows ‘secret’ terrorism trials: Why it’s controversial

A single unnamed official can order anonymous judges, prosecutors and witnesses in terrorism cases, with no time limit.

A Wyoming ranch was bought for conservation, but cattle stayed to protect it

A Wyoming ranch proved cattle grazing can protect ecosystems. Conservationists bought Red Canyon Ranch and kept cattle grazing to test coexistence. Managed grazing mimics historical patterns, supporting grasslands and diverse plant communities. This approach informs conservation strategies across the American West today. The ranch serves as a model for balancing agriculture and biodiversity goals.

'Smart javelin' brings sensors and real-time data analysis to athletics

TDK will debut its new sensor-powered Smart Javelin at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

"Smart javelin" brings sensors and real-time data analysis to athletics

TDK will debut its new sensor-powered Smart Javelin at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

Sanchez tells Spain's congress his government 'has nothing to hide' over Ceuta crisis response

Sánchez pledged to publish all documents on the Ceuta crisis, while defending the swift action of officers and pointing to a surge in social media messaging influencing the mass crossing.

Sanchez tells Spain's congress his government 'has nothing to hide' over Cueta crisis response

Sánchez pledged to publish all documents on the Ceuta crisis, while defending the swift action of officers and pointing to a surge in social media messaging influencing the mass crossing.

Spain's Sánchez: officers 'chose to defend human life' during Ceuta migrant surge

The prime minister explains how he is handling the migration crisis amid opposition criticism and mounting tension over the situation in the autonomous city.

Sánchez addresses Spanish parliament over Ceuta crisis

The prime minister explains how he is handling the migration crisis amid opposition criticism and mounting tension over the situation in the autonomous city.

China rejects G20 trade-imbalance claims, says no need to devalue yuan

China has fired back at critics of its trade imbalances at a Group of 20 gathering, with the central bank firmly denying that Beijing deliberately pursues trade surpluses, while also vowing that it would not weaponise the yuan to boost exports. In the face of concerns over export reliance, People’s Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng said the country remained committed to expanding domestic deman...

Mike Tyson kept pigeons as a bullied Brooklyn boy; decades later, he still has hundreds

Cassandra Wilson, the celebrated Grammy Award-winning jazz singer, dies aged 70

Cassandra Wilson, known for her deep, moody and genre-bending contralto, was one of the most influential American jazz vocalists of the last 40 years. She redefined the boundaries of contemporary blues, jazz and folk.

Nepal Army cable helps Nuwakot flood survivors cross river

Flood survivors in Nuwakot cross the swollen Trishuli River on a temporary cable as soldiers and residents help pull them to safety.

New musical to give intimate portrait of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller’s marriage

Misfits Together, by Bastille’s Dan Smith and To Kill a King’s Ralph Pelleymounter, is set amid the 1950s’ ‘red scare’It was lampooned as the union of the “hourglass” and the “egghead” – the marriage, in the summer of 1956, between Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe and Pulitzer-winning playwright Arthur Miller. Now, a new stage musical is to give a nuanced and intimate portrait of that famous rel...

Bette Midler began restoring a neglected New York park in 1995; 200,000 trees planted since

Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project has revitalized neglected city parks. The organization has planted over 200,000 trees and removed millions of pounds of rubbish. NYRP also installed an artificial oyster reef to protect against rising sea levels. Their work now reaches over 1.6 million New Yorkers with improved green spaces. Recent efforts include restoring American chestnut trees in...

Fish Removal Reshapes River: Experiment slashed trout, lifted native chub; impact still unclear

Scientists removed invasive fish from the Colorado River to help native species. This four-year experiment significantly altered the river's fish population composition. Rainbow trout numbers dropped dramatically, while native fish showed some signs of recovery. However, other environmental factors complicated the assessment of the program's success. Ongoing efforts continue to protect the Gra...

China’s support for Iran shows its limits as US ramps up pressure on Tehran

Beijing's support for Tehran is balanced against other relationships in the region, analysts say.

Macron, Burnham hold talks on migrants, EU after viewing Bayeux Tapestry in London

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham held their first talks on Thursday after meeting a day earlier at the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum. Topping the agenda were several issues, including migrant boats crossing the Channel, British-EU relations and the Ukraine war.