IPC says famine is entirely man-made' and immediate response is needed or avoidable deaths will soar

This blog is now closed.Coalition says if Labor tries to raise taxes after roundtable it would be major breach of faith' with Australian peopleJames Paterson, the shadow minister for finance, says if the government moves to increase taxes it would be a major breach of faith with the Australian people". Paterson spoke to RN Breakfast after the conclusion of yesterday's roundtable, where Chalmers said there was a longer-term process to consider major reform on the matter.No Australian voted for higher taxes at the election, and so it seems that Jim Chalmers isn't on the same page as the prime minister because he was unwilling to repeat that commitment at his press conference yesterday. And he is leaving open the door to higher taxes, and particularly on people's retirement savings, on family trusts, on a whole range of other things.When those questions were raised during the election campaign, Jim Chalmers and the Labor party said that was a Liberal Party scare campaign. So, if they go ahead and try and increase taxes, that'll be a major breach of faith with the Australian people. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: After Israeli officials announced a stepped-up military operation in the city, Palestinians and the world wait to see what happens nextGood morning. Israel claims to have launched the first stages of a sweeping military operation to conquer Gaza City - the administrative heart of the strip - warning that a million people could be forced from their homes, sparking a wave of fear among residents.In the past few nights Palestinians have described relentless bombardments, with thousands already scrambling to escape, while others are too starved or frail to evacuate.UK news | Protesters at the next mass demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action will withhold their details from officers to force en-masse processing at police stations in an effort to make it practically impossible" to arrest everyone.Ukraine | Moscow threw Donald Trump's Ukraine peace initiative into disarray on Thursday, insisting it must have a veto over any postwar support for the country as its forces carried out a large-scale overnight missile barrage.Immigration | Refugee support organisations have been forced to install safe rooms in their premises, relocate to less visible sites and in some cases close their offices in response to the threat of far-right violence, the Guardian can reveal.US news | A federal judge in Miami late on Thursday ordered the closure of the Trump administration's notorious Alligator Alcatraz" immigration jail within 60 days and ruled that no more detainees were to be brought to the facility while it was being wound down.Health | Baby food manufacturers have been given 18 months to improve the quality of their products in England amid mounting concerns that leading brands are nutritionally poor. Continue reading...

Minister's announcement has created further uncertainty', advocates say and they are collectively disappointed' by the lack of engagement

Defend Our Juries says trick of using street bail' will not work if participants insist on being taken to a police stationProtesters at the next mass demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action will withhold their details from officers to force en-masse processing at police stations in an effort to make it practically impossible" to arrest everyone.On Friday, Defend Our Juries, the pressure group behind the protests, will open sign-ups for its next demonstration to be held in London on 6 September. The group said it would only go ahead if 1,000 people agreed to take part, making it the largest protest opposing the proscription of Palestine Action since it was banned in June. More than 2,500 people have already expressed interest in taking part. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Lib Dem leader says giving Tesla a foothold in Britain's energy market could be national security riskElon Musk's company, Tesla, should have its application to supply energy to UK homes blocked on national security grounds, Ed Davey has told ministers.The Liberal Democrat leader argued that giving the electric car manufacturer a foothold in the British energy market would be a gravely concerning move considering Elon Musk's repeated interference in UK politics". Continue reading...

Lese-majesty case against Thaksin Shinawatra is dismissed, but his daughter Paetongtarn will hear next week if she will be removed as prime minsterA criminal court in Thailand has dismissed a case accusing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of defaming the monarchy, the first of three court cases that could decide the fate of one of the country's prominent political families.Thaksin was accused of insulting the monarchy during an interview with South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo in 2015. Continue reading...

Rap trio will face intense scrutiny from French authorities when they play Rock en Seine festival on SundayThe Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap are ploughing ahead with their European tour despite a ban on entering Hungary, the cancellation of a string of concerts in Austria and Germany, and the intense scrutiny of authorities in France.The Irish-language group will this Sunday play in front an expected 40,000 spectators at the Rock en Seine festival west of Paris, one of France's biggest live music events of the year, just days after one of their members appeared at a London court on a terrorism charge. Continue reading...

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners letter to health regulator cites growing number' of complaints

What began in 1945 as a way to promote reading has turned into a highlight of the school year, with children dressing up in outfits inspired by their favourite books

Government issues voluntary guidance calling for less sugar and salt amid concerns over nutritional valueBaby food manufacturers have been given 18 months to improve the quality of their products in England, amid mounting concerns that leading brands are nutritionally poor.The new voluntary guidance from the government calls for a reduction in sugar and salt levels in food for infants and toddlers. Continue reading...

Zaher Zaarour, 26, to appear in court after death of 41-year-old Shazad Khan in north-west LondonA man has been charged with murder after an ice-cream seller died in London, police said.Shazad Khan, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene after officers responded to reports of an altercation in Monks Park, Wembley, at 6.10pm on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Netanyahu is latest to approve' plan that has had daily announcements and that Israel knows will have serious consequencesHas Israel begun its expanded offensive in Gaza City, or is it hype?After several weeks of threats of a new large-scale offensive, strongly opposed by most of the international community, Israeli officials have made announcements daily saying the plan to occupy Gaza City has been approved"; it has been approved by the Israel Defense Forces, by the security cabinet, by the defence minister. Continue reading...

Met Office says thundery showers possible next week along with very large waves' off Western Isles in ScotlandThe last days of August in the UK could be hit by heavy wind, rain and very large waves" if the tail end of Hurricane Erin lashes the country, the Met Office has warned.Forecasters are tracking the potential impact of Erin, which is now a category 2 storm moving eastwards across the North Atlantic, but say any effect on the UK would not happen until at least the middle of next week. Continue reading...

UK Lawyers for Israel accused of sending vexatious and legally baseless' letters to silence support for PalestineAn organisation of pro-Israel lawyers in the UK is under investigation after a complaint that it threatened people with legal action to suppress support for Palestine.UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has been accused of sending eight letters to individuals and organisations between January 2022 and May 2025 that demonstrate a seeming pattern of vexatious and legally baseless correspondence aimed at silencing and intimidating Palestine solidarity efforts", according to the complainants. Continue reading...

Cranes hoisted statues from depths of submerged site that authorities say may be extension of ancient city of CanopusEgypt has unveiled parts of a sunken city submerged beneath waters off the coast of Alexandria, including buildings, artefacts and an ancient dock that date back more than 2,000 years.Egyptian authorities said the site, located in the waters of Abu Qir bay, may be an extension of the ancient city of Canopus, a prominent centre during the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years, and the Roman empire, which governed for about 600 years. Continue reading...

Eisenhuttenstadt offered spacious central flats rent-free for two weeks in effort to attract valuable professionalsAn innovative contest by a city in formerly communist east Germany to curb depopulation by offering a fortnight of free housing has stunned local officials with its success.The competition drew more than 1,700 applications from around the world to try living in Eisenhuttenstadt, a Soviet-style planned city on the Polish border, near Berlin, which was built around a steel plant in the aftermath of the second world war. Continue reading...

Government expected to step in to take control of Speciality Steel UK plants in South Yorkshire to try to protect 1,450 jobsThe UK's third-largest steelworks has collapsed into administration, ending the control of metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta over his main Liberty Steel operations in South Yorkshire, which employs 1,450 people.The high court in London said on Thursday that Speciality Steel UK (SSUK), which has plants in Rotherham and Stocksbridge, would be put into administration. Continue reading...

Governments scramble to establish national register of workers after allegations of abuse of children in early education, but states and territories yet to agree on personal device ban

Despite premier David Crisafulli's wish for his party to maintain a moderate outlook, members have presented a number of divisive social issues for debate this weekend

Boy, 17, had intended to set fire to Islamic centre in Greenock, Inverclyde, after befriending imamA teenager who listed Hitler, Mussolini and the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik as his inspirations and who planned a terrorist attack on a mosque has been sentenced to 10 years in custody.The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, had intended to set fire to an Islamic centre in Greenock, Inverclyde, after befriending the imam and mapping out the building's interior on his phone. Continue reading...

Speaking to Sky News, Israel's prime minister ratchets up diplomatic row by saying Albanese has shown weakness' in the face of Hamas terrorist monsters'

Aimee Betro, 45, was found guilty of conspiracy to murder earlier this month after a two-week trialAn American hitwoman" who attempted to murder a business owner before going on the run in Armenia has been jailed for 30 years at Birmingham crown court.Earlier this month, Aimee Betro, 45, from Wisconsin was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and an offence relating to the importation of ammunition into the UK, after a three-week trial. Continue reading...

Lucy Connolly served 10 months of her sentence after calling for followers on X to set fire to hotelsLucy Connolly, who was jailed in the aftermath of last summer's riots for an expletive-ridden social media post calling for followers to set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers, has been released from prison.The former childminder who is married to the Conservative councillor Raymond Connolly, left HMP Peterborough on Thursday morning in a taxi, after serving 10 months of her sentence. Continue reading...

When an influencer mocked the makeup of Turkish German women, the ensuing debate reopened old woundsIt all began when Meri, a TikTok influencer from Turkey, mocked the makeup of Turkish women living in Germany. They were, she claimed, instantly recognisable by their bronzer, thick blush, false eyelashes and plumped lips. And the look favoured by the diaspora, she added, waspishly, had nothing to do with how real Turkish women look".Reaction from the diaspora was swift and stinging. You're just jealous because we live in Germany," one said. If we stop coming (to Turkey from Germany), your economy will collapse." Soon a full-blown social media feud had erupted, with insults and mutual mockery flowing. And, although it started with makeup, the row has gone far deeper, exposing old and bitter rifts over gender, class, politics, nationalism and economic power. Continue reading...

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Weather and flood warnings stretch from Sydney's south to the state's north-west, as elevated river levels, full dams and more rainfall pose risks to communities

Lemi Limbu, who was convicted of murdering her daughter, has severe intellectual disabilities and absolutely should not be in prison', say campaignersPressure is mounting on the Tanzanian government to release a woman with severe intellectual disabilities who has been in prison awaiting execution for 13 years.Lemi Limbu, who is now in her early 30s, was convicted of the murder of her daughter in 2015. A survivor of brutal and repeated sexual and domestic violence, she has the developmental age of a child. Continue reading...

Brazil's former president is accused of allegedly plotting a military coup, but he denies the chargesBrazilian police have claimed in court documents that they have found a document on the mobile phone of former president Jair Bolsonaro suggesting he had planned to flee to Argentina ahead of his judgment for allegedly plotting a military coup.The far-right populist is facing a jail term of over 40 years when Brazil's supreme court convenes next month to decide whether he is guilty of conspiring to overturn the result of the 2022 presidential election, which Bolsonaro lost to his leftwing opponent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Continue reading...

Police say woman in her 30s receiving appropriate care and support' after workers made confronting discovery on Monday

People with disease that has spread have been found to live twice as long when given treatment hailed as hopeful'More than 1,000 patients living with bladder cancer in England will be eligible for a treatment which can double survival rates from the disease.In England, 18,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year, and only about 10% of people with stage 4 bladder cancer will survive five years or more after they are diagnosed. Continue reading...

Move follows months of pressure from MPs, academics and campaigners, with dozens of other students still strandedNine students in Gaza with full scholarships to study at British universities have been told the UK government is working to facilitate their evacuation.The students - who have all been awarded Chevening scholarships, funded by the Foreign Office in recognition of their potential as future leaders - welcomed the development on Wednesday, but dozens more Palestinians in Gaza with university places are still awaiting news. Continue reading...

Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile also part of Narendra Modi's defence strategy against PakistanIndia has said it successfully test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile that, when operational, should be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of China.The Agni-5 missile was successfully launched in India's eastern Odisha state on Wednesday, and authorities said it validated all operational and technical parameters". Continue reading...

Construction would be flagrant breach of international law' and undermine two-state solution, foreign secretary saysIsrael has announced it is expanding its military operations in Gaza City, as the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, condemned its approval of a huge new illegal settlement in the West Bank as a flagrant breach of international law."The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Effie Defrin said the IDF had begun the second phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots in Gaza, which it launched in May. Continue reading...

Court in Thuringia rejected woman's request to enter concentration camp memorial while wearing the scarfA German court has ruled that a Nazi concentration camp memorial has the right to refuse entry to those wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh scarf.The higher administrative court in the eastern state of Thuringia on Wednesday rejected a request from a woman to be allowed entry to the Buchenwald concentration camp memorial while wearing a keffiyeh. Continue reading...

Depletion of social housing stock spurs calls for councils to have first refusal to buy ex-council homes entering marketEngland will sell off more than eight times as many council homes in 2025-26 as were constructed the previous year, research has found.Right to buy is depleting council housing stock more quickly than public housing can be replaced, forcing people to spend more money on private market rents and obtain less secure tenancies, a report from the thinktank Common Wealth finds. Continue reading...

James Harding says it is recklessly complacent' to assume Trump-style attacks on media could never happen in UKThe BBC must be given complete political independence in case Nigel Farage enters government, its former director of news has said.James Harding, now the editor-in-chief of the Observer, pointed to Donald Trump's attempts to defund publicly backed US media and said it would be recklessly complacent" to believe something similar could not happen in Britain. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closedAn object which fell and exploded in a cornfield in eastern Poland may have been a component of an old propeller engine, the Polish army said on Wednesday, adding that there had been no violation of Poland's airspace from Ukraine or Belarus. Police had earlier announced that an unidentified object had fallen in a field in the village of Osiny in eastern Poland's Lublin province, which borders Ukraine....after conducting preliminary analyses of radar system records, no violation of Polish airspace was recorded last night from either Ukraine or Belarus," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on X. Continue reading...

Jury continues to deliberate further charges against Chris Brain, who led Nine O'Clock Service movement in Sheffield between 1986 and 1995A former vicar who led an evangelical movement between 1986 and 1995 has been found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women.Chris Brain, 68, appeared at Inner London crown court accused of sexual offences against 13 women who were members of the Nine O'Clock Service (NOS), an influential Sheffield-based Christian worship group that was likened to a cult. Continue reading...

Chancellor and prime minister are latest in a long line of politicians who have tried to squeeze more out of UK propertyRachel Reeves is in favour of radical tax reform - or at least she was in 2018. We need a radical overhaul of the tax system because our current system of wealth taxation isn't working," she argued in her pamphlet The Everyday Economy.Seven years later, in her second year as chancellor, Reeves appears to be returning to some of the themes in that pamphlet, especially as it relates to the UK's convoluted and unpopular system of taxing property. Continue reading...

Dr Stephen Parnis says public comments based on my views and conscience' in resignation email that has prompted letter writing campaign in his support

Experts say stamp duties and income taxes have a much higher burden than more efficient policies, such as GST

Review after review has made recommendations to government that have never been implemented. It's time to take childcare safety out of the too-hard basket and commit to real reform

Louisa Compton accuses Netflix of being TV tourists' and benefitting from talent developed over many years'A senior Channel 4 figure has accused Netflix of acting like TV tourists" with the internationally acclaimed show Adolescence.Louisa Compton, the head of news and current affairs at the broadcaster, said Channel 4 was the proud parents" of the runaway hit. She said rather than nurture British TV talent, Netflix had benefited from talent developed over many years by Channel 4 and other public service broadcasters. Continue reading...

Prosecution makes closing arguments in media mogul's national security trial, which has lasted more than 140 daysProsecutors in Jimmy Lai's marathon national security trial have wrapped up their closing arguments in Hong Kong, telling the court that the elderly media mogul and activist had unwavering intent" to solicit foreign sanctions.Lai has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiring to commit foreign collusion under the Beijing-designed national security law, and another charge under the colonial-era sedition laws of conspiring to publish seditious materials. Prosecutors say Lai used his media outlet and foreign political connections to lobby for governments to impose sanctions and other punitive measures against Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. Continue reading...

Concern among passengers as index reading that dictates regulated ticket prices comes in higher than forecast

Leadership spill comes day after Dean Winter bid to form government via no-confidence motion in parliament fell flat

Victoria's deputy information commissioner finds university did not give adequate notice or justification for how location data would be used

Final of 70th edition of competition to be held on 16 May at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria's largest indoor arenaVienna has been chosen to host the Eurovision song contest 2026, the world's biggest live televised music event, Austria's public broadcaster announced, with the final set for 16 May.Austria's JJ won this year's competition, held in Basel in Switzerland, with his song Wasted Love, which blends techno beats with operatic vocals - making his home country the 2026 host. Continue reading...

State to accept all 22 recommendations as federal government releases names of 30 childcare centres subject to compliance action