The Guardian

US justice department released transcripts of interview with Jeffrey Epstein associate – here’s what we have learnedThe US Department of Justice has released the transcript and audio recording of an interview conducted by Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, with the convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.The transcript is more than 300 pages long. Here’s what we know so far at a glance:Maxwell said that she “never” saw Donald Trump receive a massage. She also said that she “never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way,” adding that, whenever she saw the president, he was “a gentleman in

Interview with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche in July released by DoJ ‘in the interests of transparency’US politics – latest updatesThe US Department of Justice has released the transcript and audio recording of an interview conducted by deputy attorney general Todd Blanche with the convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.In a post on X, Blanche said the materials were being released “in the interest of transparency”, providing links to the transcript and to audio files. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/22/ghislaine-maxwell-interview-transcript-justice-department Author : Joseph Gedeon in Washington Publish date : 2025-08-22 19:29:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Ex-workers said Musk failed to honor severance plan when he fired them after acquiring social media platform in 2022Elon Musk and his social media platform, X, reached a tentative settlement on Wednesday with former Twitter employees after a years-long legal battle over severance pay. Former staff had sought $500m in a proposed class action suit against the billionaire.A court filing released on Wednesday stated that both parties had reached a settlement agreement in principle and requested that a scheduled 17 September hearing in the case be postponed while they worked to finalize a deal. The filing did not disclose any

Security minister says Labour will close asylum hotels by the end of this parliament but it needs to be done ‘in a managed and ordered way’In an interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, MSP Jeremy Balfour who has resigned from the Scottish Conservatives (see 9.13am BST), said he feels the party has “lost its way in Scotland” and “I don’t think it represents true Conservative values”.According to the PA news agency, when asked if Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay is the right person for the job and whether he should stay in the post, he

State department reviewing records of more than 55 million US visa holders for potential revocationThe FBI raided the home of Donald Trump’s former national security adviser turned critic John Bolton on Friday morning, according to reports.The federal search of Bolton’s house in the Washington DC area was as part of an investigation involving the handling of classified documents, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed source. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/aug/22/donald-trump-administration-federal-reserve-republicans-democrats-us-politics-live Author : Tom Ambrose Publish date : 2025-08-22 11:52:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

‘Famine in Gaza is entirely man-made’, UN-backed food security body saysFamine in Gaza confirmation is a “deep stain on our collective humanity,” charity saysActionAid UK have urged the international community to use diplomatic pressure to bring about a permanent ceasefire after Famine was confirmed in Gaza by a UN backed body.There is now a race against time to stop this famine from becoming any further entrenched.Every hour counts and there is no time to waste. The international community must take meaningful action and use diplomatic pressure to bring about a permanent ceasefire immediately.The Famine Review Committee (FRC) has determined that

Anti-migrant protests expected on Friday and Saturday, while councils investigate legal challenges against hotelsDozens of protests outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers are expected over the weekend across England amid mounting tensions over the issue.Figures released on Thursday showed there were more than 32,000 asylum seekers in hotels, marking a rise of 8% during Labour’s first year in office. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/22/protests-asylum-hotels-england-tensions-mount Author : Jamie Grierson Publish date : 2025-08-22 06:50:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Almost 200 endangered southern right wales have been spotted off state’s coastline this year, amid concerns about impact of algal bloomSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereScientists say a bumper season for southern right whales in South Australia is a “sign of hope” for the state amid the ongoing effects of a devastating algal bloom.Flinders University marine biologist and chief scientist of the Australian right whale research program, Dr Claire Charlton, said research teams were pleased to record early sightings of almost 200 whales off the state’s coastline, after lower numbers in recent

Jason Clare says CCTV trial to begin later this year and improved training regime rolled out in 2026Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChildcare workers will be added to a national register, after state and territories met with the commonwealth, agreeing to establish the database, new mandatory safety training, a CCTV trial, and a ban on personal mobile phones in centres.The commonwealth has announced it will put $189m towards the safety overhaul, for which the government says work will begin on immediately. The CCTV pilot trial is expected

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... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/aug/22/baby-food-firms-18-months-improve-quality-products-england Author : David Batty Publish date : 2025-08-21 23:01:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Albanese government joins 20 other countries in condemning Israeli plan to expand Jewish settlements. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia signs international statement to allow media access to GazaIt’s been a busy night for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.In light of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, we, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition, urge Israel to allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza.Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war.

The 51-year-old, who left the successful heavy metal group earlier this year, died in a collision in AtlantaBrent Hinds, the former lead guitarist of the acclaimed heavy metal group Mastodon, was killed in Atlanta overnight.Police said Hinds, 51, died late on Wednesday after his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV whose driver did not yield while making a turn. The crash occurred at about 11.35pm. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/21/brent-hinds-mastodon-dies-motorcycle-crash Author : Marina Dunbar Publish date : 2025-08-21 18:17:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

California Democrats’ aim is to offset the Republican-drawn gerrymandered Texas map that nets five new US House seats for the GOP in 2026Texas Republicans pass gerrymandered congressional mapThe government lost its bid to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex-trafficking case against Jeffrey Epstein.Richard Berman, a federal judge in New York, said the transcripts pale in comparison to the documents the government already has on Epstein and that disclosing them could harm victims.It’s kind of bizarre that we have a bunch of old, primarily white people who are out there protesting the policies that keep people safe when they’ve never

Hospitality giant responded to Guardian story about Ice’s use of Sheraton hotel to hold families prior to deportationMarriott, the hospitality giant, has not disputed recent revelations that a Louisiana hotel in its portfolio was used to detain migrant families before deportation, which contradicts a 2019 policy that it would not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice). In a new statement to the Guardian, the company suggested that its “acceptance of business” did not mean it supported the Trump administration’s immigration policies.The Guardian reported on Tuesday that a Sheraton hotel in the city of Alexandria, situated close to a major

A total of 32,059 people were being housed temporarily in UK hotels at the end of Labour’s first year in government, Home Office data showsDespite a good month for the public finances, the Treasury won’t be putting in any champagne orders, writes the Guardian’s senior economics writer, Phillip Inman.You can read his analysis, on why radical tax reform may be only way for chancellor Rachel Reeves to balance the books, at the link below:Everyone deserves dignity and security in retirement, but too many retired women have been left without enough to get by.We must make sure that these inequalities are

Elbridge Colby, US undersecretary of defence for policy, tells European allies that the bulk of responsibility will fall on Europe, say reportsIn further comments from Zelenskyy this morning, reported by Reuters, he said it was unclear what concessions regarding territory Moscow was willing to make to end the war.Trump has previously said Kyiv and Moscow will both need to cede land. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/21/us-minimal-security-guarantees-ukraine-russia-diplomacy-europe-latest-updates-news Author : Jakub Krupa Publish date : 2025-08-21 08:10:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Zali Burrows told she has had ‘plenty’ of opportunity to consider issue in case despite repeated requests to adjourn earlyBruce Lehrmann’s defamation appeal lawyer has repeatedly asked the federal court to adjourn early to give her more time to prepare but the justices refused, telling the solicitor she has had “plenty” of time.Sydney criminal solicitor Zali Burrows is representing Lehrmann who is appealing Justice Michael Lee’s April 2024 judgment, which found the former Liberal staffer was not defamed by Wilkinson and Network 10 when The Project broadcast an interview with Brittany Higgins in 2021 in which she alleged she was

Government says country will buy five Seahawk helicopters and two Airbus A321XLR aircraftNew Zealand will spend nearly NZ$3bn ($1.7bn) upgrading its ageing defence fleet, including replacing its “embarrassing” planes that have left multiple prime ministers grounded during international travel, the government has announced.The defence minister, Judith Collins, said NZ$2bn would be spent buying five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and another $700,000 to buy two Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/21/new-zealand-seahawk-helicopters-defence-spending-planes Author : Eva Corlett in Wellington and agencies Publish date : 2025-08-21 03:06:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Former US president wades into national conflict over House maps, as Texas lawmakers approve map to favor GOPBarack Obama waded into states’ efforts at rare mid-decade redistricting efforts, saying he agreed with California governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to counter the new Texas congressional map by launching an effort to redraw his own state’s map and create more Democratic-friendly districts, calling it “a responsible approach”.“I believe that governor Newsom’s approach is a responsible approach. He said this is going to be responsible. We’re not going to try to completely maximize it,” Obama said at a Tuesday fundraiser on Martha’s Vineyard in

Aemo says demand for large-scale energy generation to grow by 21% over next decade. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastButler says Thriving Kids plan will help bolster NDIS long-termHealth minister Mark Butler has said planned changes to the NDIS that will see children with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism diverted into a new program would both help kids and support the funding model behind the disability support service.Change will take some time, obviously, particularly to build a system for thriving kids that parents have confidence in, that has the right

Temperatures are expected to spike with a trio of heat, thunderstorms and fire risks compounding dangersCalifornians are bracing for the first major heatwave of the year, a multiday scorcher that could pose significant threats to public health and sharply heighten wildfire risks.After a notably cooler summer, temperatures are expected to spike across the American south-west starting on Wednesday and extending through the weekend, as severe conditions expand north along the coast into British Columbia by the end of the week. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/20/california-extreme-heat-wave Author : Gabrielle Canon Publish date : 2025-08-20 19:12:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs

French president responds to Israeli PM’s ‘erroneous’ allegations in relation to decision to recognise state of Palestine Emmanuel Macron has hit out at Benjamin Netanyahu for his “abject” and “erroneous” remarks after Israel’s prime minister claimed that antisemitism had “surged” in France after the country’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in September.In a statement released late on Tuesday, the office of the French president pushed back against Netanyahu’s claim. “The analysis suggesting that France’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine in September is behind the rise in antisemitic violence in France is erroneous, abject, and will not go

State house to hold vote on map intended to flip five Democrat-held seats; US attorney general releases latest arrest numbers The White House launched an official TikTok account on Tuesday, as Donald Trump continues to permit the Chinese-owned platform to operate in the US despite a law requiring its sale.“America we are BACK! What’s up TikTok?” read a caption on the account’s first post, a 27-second clip, on the popular video-sharing app. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/aug/20/tulsi-gabbard-security-clearance-donald-trump-administration-us-politics-latest-updates Author : Shrai Popat (now) and Tom Ambrose (earlier) Publish date : 2025-08-20 14:40:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked

Jean Pormanove featured regularly in videos in which he appeared to be assaulted or humiliated as viewers watchedFrench authorities are investigating the death of a man during a live video stream on the Kick platform, where he had regularly been shown enduring violence and humiliation.Prosecutors ordered an autopsy and opened an investigation into the death of the man, 46, in the village of Contes, north of Nice, on Monday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/20/french-government-investigating-death-of-man-during-live-stream Author : Reuters in Paris Publish date : 2025-08-20 12:07:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Security minister Dan Jarvis says government is considering options after council granted injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell hotelTrain fares in England are now expected to rise by a higher-than-expected 5.8% next year, causing concern among passenger groups.Rail ticket increases are usually calculated by adding one percentage point to July’s inflation reading on the retail prices index (RPI), which came in 0.2 points above forecasts on Wednesday at 4.8%. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/aug/20/government-housing-asylum-seekers-epping-court-injunction-uk-politics-latest-updates-news Author : Amy Sedghi Publish date : 2025-08-20 09:25:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.