section
Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
3653 stories archived
Anthony Albanese will not attend Garma festival, despite vowing to attend every year as prime minister
Albanese has attended the Indigenous cultural festival every year since 2019 and committed to ‘be here and engaged with you’ each yeah he remains in office Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese won’t attend this month’s Garma festival, breaking a commitment made just 12 months ago to travel to north-east Arnhem Land each year for Australia’s largest Indigenous cultural gathering. The prime minister last year vowed to keep attending the annual celebration of Yolŋu culture so long as he was in the role. Continue reading...
Deadly H5 bird flu found in local Australian seabird for first time
Native greater crested tern – a common coastal bird – tests positive for disease after being discovered at Robe on SA’s Limestone Coast Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The first case of deadly H5 bird flu in local wildlife has been recorded in a bird found on the South Australian coast. The federal agriculture minister, Julie Collins, said on Friday that a greater crested tern – a common coastal bird – had tested positive for the disease. The dead bird was found at Robe on SA’s Limestone Coast. Continue reading...
Telstra CEO ‘deeply sorry’ for outage and admits risk of time-keeping failure was known
Vicki Brady grilled at first public appearance since returning from overseas as SA police say call to triple zero failed before death Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Telstra has admitted it knew of the dangers of a failure of its time systems and is now investigating why backup measures failed to stop this weeks outage, as its chief executive says she’s “deeply sorry” about its impacts. It came as South Australian police said an investigation was under way into whether a death during the outage can be linked to problems in calling triple zero, despite Telstra claiming it has no record of any failed call from family members. Continue reading...
Man killed by ICE agents not intended target of immigration arrest, DHS says
Agents seeking different person when they killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Mexican who had lived in US for 35 years Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man killed by federal immigration agents during a traffic stop in Houston this week, was not the intended target of the “enforcement operation”, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were reportedly seeking two people from Guatemala when they attempted to stop Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who had lived in the United States for 35 years, the New York Times reported . Continue reading...
Wildfires in southern Spain kill 12 amid soaring temperatures
Wildfire comes as Spain suffers a heatwave, with scorching temperatures triggering orange weather warnings Twelve people were reported killed in a wildfire in Almeria in southern Spain , as about 150 firefighters battled the blaze which broke out amid soaring temperatures. “The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths,” the regional government of Andalusia said in a statement. Continue reading...
Trump fires last members of election commission, inciting fears of midterm ‘chaos’
Bipartisan Election Assistance Commission maintains mail-voter registration form, among other duties Donald Trump has terminated the remaining members of the independent, federal commission that assists election administration officials nationwide just a few months before the midterm elections, multiple outlets reported Thursday. The remaining three commissioners of the four-member bipartisan commission were forced out on Thursday in different ways. The one Republican appointee resigned and the other two, Democratic appointees were notified of their terminations via email from the White House presidential personnel office. Continue reading...
‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency
Plans to build a NZ$3.5bn datacentre in Makarewa in the country’s south has drawn concern about electricity and water use, and potential noise pollution People living near the site of New Zealand’s first planned AI datacentre are calling for more transparency about the project, especially about how the centre’s huge electricity and water use and potential noise pollution could affect them. Singapore-based company Datagrid has secured approval to build a NZ$3.5bn (US$2bn) AI datacentre on a 49-hectare site in Makarewa, just north of New Zealand’s southern-most city, Invercargill. Construction is due to begin this year, with the centre becoming operational by 2028. Continue reading...
Trump’s proposed 250ft Washington arch clears key planning hurdle
NCPC gives preliminary approval to plan for skyline-altering arch despite overwhelming public opposition Donald Trump’s plans to build a skyline-altering arch in the nation’s capital won initial approval Thursday from a key federal commission, but its members put off a decision on whether a federal law that limits building heights should be applied to this project. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve preliminary site and building plans for the 250ft (76m) arch the Republican president wants to build on a traffic circle at the Virginia end of the Memorial Bridge from Washington. Continue reading...
Pianist Jayson Gillham loses discrimination case against Melbourne symphony orchestra over Gaza comments
Gillham claimed Melbourne concert in 2024 cancelled in attempt to silence him over stance on Israel attacks on Gaza A classical pianist who sued the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has lost his case after he alleged he was unlawfully discriminated against because of his views on Israeli forces killing Palestinian journalists. Justice Graeme Hill handed down his findings before the federal court on Friday, after Jayson Gillham launched legal action against the MSO almost two years ago. Continue reading...
DJ and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini reveals Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Presenter, 77, says ‘for now life goes on as normal and I continue to broadcast’ as he shares diagnosis received in 2025 The longtime radio and TV broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The 77-year-old presenter, who has been a regular on the BBC since the 1970s and has one of the most recognisable voices on British radio, shared a statement revealing the diagnosis he received in 2025. Continue reading...
Vape packaging and flavouring face restrictions under UK plans to reduce appeal to children
Ministers consider bringing e-cigarette laws in line with tobacco as data shows 20% of teenagers have tried vaping Vapes could be sold in plain packaging as part of a range of proposals to stop them being marketed to children. The UK-wide plans also include limiting device colours to white, black or grey, and keeping vapes out of sight in shops, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. Continue reading...
‘Music was my first desire’: Anthony Hopkins releases his debut single
Hollywood actor signs recording deal with Decca after decades of composing pieces inspired by his Welsh childhood Anthony Hopkins says he has achieved his “first desire” of signing a record deal, with his debut single being released on Friday. The 88-year-old Hollywood actor’s first album, Life Is a Dream, will be released next month by Decca Classics . It is a collection of pieces he has composed over six decades. Life Is a Dream will be released on 21 August Continue reading...
Wally Funk, aviation pioneer and oldest woman to go into space, dies at 87
Trailblazing pilot was denied opportunity to become Nasa astronaut but made history on Blue Origin flight in 2021 Wally Funk, a trailblazing aviation pioneer who was denied the opportunity to become a Nasa astronaut and half a century later became the oldest woman to travel into space, has died aged 87. Funk died peacefully on Wednesday evening at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Texas, city councilwoman and close friend Duff O’Dell said on Thursday. O’Dell, who described herself as Funk’s caregiver, said she was by Funk’s side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg. “It took its toll,” O’Dell told the Associated Press. Continue reading...
Eight charged with murder conspiracy over alleged White House UFC attack plot
Group accused of planning sniper and drone attack on Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting show in June Eight men were indicted on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges Thursday for their alleged roles in a thwarted drone and sniper attack on the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House in June. The indictment, returned in Ohio, charges all eight in two separate conspiracies, one to provide material support to terrorists and a second to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. Continue reading...
Risks of historic El Niño persisting through spring 2027 rising, says NWS
National Weather Service says record-breaking event with power to supercharge weather becoming more likely El Niño is strengthening and the risks of a historic event with the power to supercharge extreme weather around the world are rising, according to the latest analysis from the US National Weather Service. Models show there is now an 81% chance that a very strong El Niño “that would rank among the largest El Niño events in the historical record going back to 1950 ” will develop before the end of this year, forecasters said in an advisory released Thursday. There is almost near certainty – a 97% probability – that the conditions will persist through spring 2027. Continue reading...
Australia news live: Hanson defends UK ‘fact-finding’ trip; Qantas tops airline punctuality table
One Nation leader welcomed by far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Rupert Lowe. Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Pauline Hanson has posted an update on social media about what she calls a “fact-finding” mission to the UK to find out what has gone “so wrong” with the country. She sat down for an interview for the podcast of far-right British activist Tommy Robinson , whom she called a “brave man … who has always had the best interest of his nation at heart”. No thanks. That’s not what I want for Australia. Each day I’ll bring you a sneak peak of my visit before putting out a long format video once I’m home. Continue reading...
Police investigate £500,000 Reform donations from mother of fraudster who backed Farage
George Cottrell’s mother Fiona at the centre of criminal inquiry over potential evasion of restrictions on donations Police are investigating donations worth £500,000 made to Reform UK by the mother of a convicted fraudster and ally of Nigel Farage. The investigation concerns two donations of £250,000 made by Fiona Cottrell, whose son George has often accompanied Farage to Reform events and media appearances. The May 2024 donations are under investigation over whether they were intended to conceal a donation by an impermissible donor. Continue reading...
Burnham’s apology over Gaza marks ‘reset moment’ as Labour seeks to win back progressive voters
But it remains unclear how much of substance will change – and whether it will be enough to rebuild the party’s electoral coalition On the final day of Labour’s party conference in 2023, when the public was still reeling from the brutal Hamas attack on Israel just days before, Keir Starmer took to the airwaves for the traditional broadcast round – but gave one interview that would have particularly damaging fallout. Sitting down with LBC’s Nick Ferrari, the then opposition leader asserted Israel’s right to defend itself, a stance that was in line with the broad political consensus at the time. But then he also appeared to suggest it had “the right” to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians. Continue reading...
H.R. 139: Sunshine Protection Act of 2025
Legislation Coming Up: This bill has been added to the House's schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader. More information can be found at http://docs.house.gov/floor. Last Action: This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on January 3, 2025. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Keir Starmer may award resignation honours when he leaves No 10
Outgoing PM not ruled out drawing up honours list when he stands down in just over 10 days time, despite previously opposing it Keir Starmer has signalled he could hand out resignation honours when he leaves Downing Street, despite pledging three years ago he would not hand out gongs when he eventually stood down. The prime minister twice declined to rule out drawing up a list of honours when he stands down as prime minister in just over 10 days time, to be succeeded by Andy Burnham. Continue reading...
US lawmakers urge stricter monitoring of medically assisted suicide in hospices
Bipartisan group warns HHS that older adults and people with disabilities risk being pressured to end their lives Lawmakers urged the Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, on Thursday to establish strict hospice reporting rules to prevent discrimination and coercion in medically assisted suicide. The bipartisan group of members of Congress warned that older adults, people with disabilities, or those with disaffected caregivers face a particular risk of being pressured to end their lives. Continue reading...
OpenAI releases latest ChatGPT model after delay over White House cybersecurity concerns
Staggered release of ChatGPT 5.6 follows similar restrictions on rival firm Anthropic’s latest AI models OpenAI released its latest advanced AI model, called ChatGPT 5.6, on Thursday after earlier delaying the public rollout over US government concerns about cybersecurity. The Trump administration had requested last month that OpenAI limit the release to a small group of government-approved users. OpenAI complied with the White House’s request last month. The company stated in a blogpost that it had briefed government officials on ChatGPT 5.6’s capabilities and restricted the model to trusted partners at their behest. The product’s wider release came after additional testing by the government’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation agency, according to Axios . Continue reading...
Graham Linehan gets £25,000 compensation and an apology from Met police after arrest
Father Ted co-creator detained by armed officers at Heathrow airport last year over gender-critical posts on X The Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been paid £25,000 in compensation by the Metropolitan police and received an apology after his arrest over his gender-critical social media posts. Linehan, 57, was detained by armed officers at Heathrow airport last September after a 10-hour flight from Arizona. Continue reading...
Mexico investigates whether US lied about role in capture of drug lord
Reporting suggests FBI involved in seizure of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada García from Mexican territory in 2024 Mexico has launched an investigation into whether the US lied about its involvement in the capture and secretive transfer of a top Sinaloa cartel member in 2024, in what would be a potential violation of the country’s sovereignty. The US has long denied it played any role in the operation to detain the drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, a founder of the Sinaloa cartel, inside Mexico. Recent reporting by the local media outlet Pie de Nota , however, suggested that the FBI was involved in his capture. Continue reading...