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Iran Calls US Seizure Of Cargo Ship Near Hormuz "Piracy, Ceasefire Violation"
It was the first interception since the US blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran's joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation
Australia news live: NSW Greens accuse Minns of ‘extraordinary attack’ on judiciary over anti-protest law; Sydney man dies after glass panes fall on him
Meanwhile treasurer warns of ‘big risks’ to inflation and growth as global oil price jumps again. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTreasurer says capital gains changes and other tax reform still under considerationSticking with the budget, Chalmers said the government hasn’t made any decisions on capital gains tax reform.We haven’t taken any decisions on those policies, whether the specific ones you mentioned [or others].There’s more work to do on our options for tax reform in this budget.The savings package won’t be exactly the same as what we would have been contemplating over the summer, but it will be a substantial savings package.When we came to office the NDIS was out of control and it had strayed a long way from its original intended purpose.It was growing around 22% when we got to office. Continue reading...
Monday briefing: How is it possible the prime minister didn’t know about Mandelson’s vetting failure?
In today’s newsletter: As questions mount over transparency and accountability in the ambassadorial appointment process, the political fallout continues to spread across Keir Starmer’s government Good morning. Today the prime minister will face parliament in the wake of the Guardian’s exclusive revelation that during the process of appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, the former New Labour “prince of darkness” failed UK security vetting – something Keir Starmer says he was not told about.On Friday, Starmer said he was “absolutely furious” and described the situation as “totally unacceptable”. But the episode has once again raised questions about his political judgment, with opposition parties – and some of his own MPs – calling for his resignation.Iran | Tehran is not planning to take part in new talks with the US in Islamabad, Iranian state media reported, as its military accused America of violating a fragile ceasefire by attacking a cargo ship.US news | At least eight children were killed and two adults wounded in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana. Police said the suspect, who died after a police pursuit, killed seven of his own children and wounded their mother, as well as killing another child.UK politics | Keir Starmer will deliver a high-stakes statement to MPs on Monday setting out how Peter Mandelson was able to take up his role as UK ambassador without the Foreign Office revealing it had overruled the decision to fail his vetting.Protest | Seven people from an activist group calling for higher taxes on the super-rich have been arrested by police on suspicion of conspiracy to steal after a plot to steal from high-end stores was uncovered.Crime | A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians in central London in the early hours of yesterday morning. A woman in her 30s was in hospital in a critical condition and a man in his 50s suffered life-changing injuries. Continue reading...
Middle East crisis live: ceasefire under pressure and talks in doubt as Iran threatens to ‘retaliate’ to US seizure of ship
Donald Trump said on Sunday that US marines had taken custody of a vessel that tried to get past the American blockade on Iranian portsTehran has ‘no plans to participate’ in new talks, state media reports, as it accuses US of violating ceasefireThe US has just released some more footage of the encounter with the Iranian flagged vessel, the M/V Touska.In a post on X, US Central Command said US Marines had departed the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli by helicopter and rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel. Continue reading...
The Strokes use Coachella set to denounce US foreign intervention
Band shows montage of leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has been proven or suspected to have been part ofUS band the Strokes have used their Coachella set to make a stark political statement against America’s history of foreign intervention and war in other countries, including Iran and Palestine.At the end of their set at the second weekend of the California music festival, the band performed their 2016 song Oblivius in front of giant LED screens that showed a montage of world leaders whose death or ousting the CIA has either been a proven or suspected party in, as lead singer Julian Casablancas sang the lyrics: “What side you standing on?” Continue reading...
Daily Mail’s ‘aggressive’ reporting on Prince Harry and Meghan ‘irreparably damaged’ press briefings
Newspaper broke embargo on confidential briefing note about the royal couple’s movements five days before they arrived in Melbourne for their Australia visitThe Daily Mail’s “aggressive” approach to reporting on Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australian visit has “irreparably damaged” the Sussexes’ ability to brief press ahead of trips, Guardian Australia has been told.The Daily Mail broke the embargo by publishing the royal couple’s movements five days before they landed in Melbourne, despite that information being strictly non-publishable until they arrived. Continue reading...
IDF map shows its advance into southern Lebanon – as it happened
This blog is now closed.UN secretary-general António Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of a French peacekeeper and the wounding of three others in an attack in southern Lebanon, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement to the Associated Press.The UN peacekeeping force came under attack with small-arms fire on Saturday morning, with two of the injured hurt seriously, France’s president and the force known as UNIFIL said. Continue reading...
Fire destroys 1,000 ‘stilt’ homes in Malaysia’s Sabah, displacing thousands
Blaze struck a ‘water village’ that is home to some of Malaysia’s poorest residentsA huge fire destroyed about 1,000 makeshift homes, many of them built on stilts over water, and displaced thousands of people in a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Sunday, authorities said.The blaze broke out early on Sunday morning in a “water village” in Sandakan district in Sabah’s northeast, where some of Malaysia’s poorest residents, including indigenous and stateless communities, live in closely packed, wooden stilt houses. Continue reading...
Kanye West’s European tour in doubt as more concerts cancelled in Poland and Switzerland
FC Basel and Polish stadium stop US rapper’s upcoming shows, after similar cancellations in France and UK over antisemitic commentsKanye West’s upcoming concerts in Poland and Switzerland have been cancelled, as a growing number of European countries have stopped or postponed the US rapper’s performances amid a furore over his past antisemitic comments.Swiss football club FC Basel, which is responsible for concerts and events that take place at its St Jakob-Park ground, told Reuters on Saturday that after reviewing a request for West to perform there in June, it decided against it. Continue reading...
Iranian official says US 'maximalist' demands stall face-to-face talks
Iran is not ready for new face-to-face talks with the U.S., according to a senior Iranian official
Exit poll suggests the center-left coalition of former president Rumen Radev will win Bulgaria election
Exit poll suggests the center-left coalition of former president Rumen Radev will win Bulgaria election
Colombian President Petro vows a lawsuit after Ecuador's Noboa alleges ties to gang boss 'Fito'
Colombian President Gustavo Petro says he will sue Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa
