The Guardian

Council says measure at Danescourt cemetery in Tettenhall is in response to increase in obesity levels in cityResidents of Wolverhampton have criticised plans for what is being called a “fat tax” on burial plots after a city cemetery imposed a premium on wider graves.Danescourt cemetery in Tettenhall will charge an extra 20% to families whose loved ones need a 6ft-wide plot, as opposed to a standard 5ft grave. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/14/wolverhampton-cemetery-extra-fee-wider-graves-fat-tax Author : Robyn Vinter Publish date : 2025-08-14 12:37:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

President says ‘we’re going to use DC as a very positive example’ as city’s leaders say ‘crime crisis’ White House has cited does not existVladimir Putin will face “very severe consequences” if he does not agree a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine at his summit with Donald Trump in Alaska, the US president said on Wednesday.Speaking after a call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders, including Britain’s Keir Starmer, Trump also suggested he would push for a second summit if his meeting with Putin goes well – this time including his Ukrainian counterpart. Continue reading... Source link :

Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah among those to boycott Bendigo Writers festival, saying she cannot appear ‘as a Palestinian’ due to speaker codeA number of authors and academics have withdrawn from this weekend’s Bendigo Writers festival over a speaker code that one says requires “complete self-censorship” over Israel’s war in Gaza.Academic and author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, First Nations poet Dr Evelyn Araluen and Wiradjuri writer and poet Jeanine Leane are among those who have withdrawn from the festival over the code. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/14/writers-festival-requires-complete-self-censorship-over-gaza-war-academic-says-as-speakers-withdraw-in-protest Author : Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter Publish date : 2025-08-14 07:29:00 Copyright for syndicated

Residents torn between excitement over high-profile visit and trepidation over what US-Russian leaders might agreeIt is set to be one of the last good summer weekends in Anchorage, Alaska – the peak of the salmon run and the middle of berry season – and residents hope that Friday’s summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin isn’t going to ruin it for them.“I’m looking forward to taking my boat out on the water at Prince William Sound – that’s my plan,” said Andy Moderow, who works at a conservation nonprofit in Anchorage. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/14/anchorage-alaska-trump-putin-summit Author : Aisha

Rod Price recounts ‘frantic’ call he received from Sarah Shaw after her detention at US border while returning from CanadaThe father of a New Zealand woman who has been held in a US immigration detention centre for three weeks with her six-year-old son is hopeful the pair will be released by the end of the week.US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detained Sarah Shaw and her youngest son after they attempted to re-enter the US from Canada on 24 July. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/14/father-of-new-zealand-woman-held-in-us-by-ice-along-with-six-year-old-son-voices-hope-for-release-ntwnfb Author : Eva Corlett in Wellington Publish date : 2025-08-14 02:21:00 Copyright for syndicated

CEO of Tech Council of Australia and Atlassian founder’s argument hinges on whether AI goes on to create something ‘new and novel’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia should adopt US-style copyright law to allow artificial intelligence to suck up all creative content or risk harming investment in the industry in Australia, according to Atlassian founder, Scott Farquhar.Farquhar, the Tech Council of Australia CEO, told ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday: “all AI usage of mining or searching or going across data is probably illegal under Australian law and I think that hurts a lot of investment

About 50% of people use the same password for more than one account. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEV drivers could soon face road user chargesOn Monday the federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, flagged the possibility electric car drivers being hit with a road tax as more people switch to battery-powered vehicles. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/14/news-live-australia-cybercrime-ev-electric-vehicle-road-tax-anthony-albanese-jim-chalmers-productivity-summit-ntwnfb Author : Nick Visser Publish date : 2025-08-13 21:22:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Commission approves limited season despite calls of cruelty over use of bows and arrows, food traps and dogsWildlife groups have condemned a decision by regulators in Florida to allow the hunting of black bears for the first time in a decade, and to permit “barbaric” practices including the use of bait traps, archery and dog packs.The unanimous vote by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Wednesday to approve a limited hunting season in December followed a presentation from staff insisting that a rising bear population and increasing encounters with humans warranted a reduction in numbers. Continue reading...

Trump says ‘we’re going to be asking for extensions’ on 30-day limit to takeover of DC police as he announces himself as the host Kennedy Center HonorsWe can expect to hear from Donald Trump at least a few times today. According to the president’s daily schedule, he’ll make an appearance at the Kennedy Center at 11am ET, and make an announcement.He’ll then head back to the White House and sign executive orders at 4pm ET. For now this will be closed press, but could very well open up.Will be speaking to European Leaders in a short while. They are great

Zelenskyy will join calls with Trump and Vance in last chance to shape US position before Alaska meetingUkraine will not cede land that could be Russian springboard for new warWe are now getting reports via agencies that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now arrived in Berlin ahead of the series of calls later today.Separately, Estonia has moved to expel a Russian diplomat over alleged “direct and active” involvement in “undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia.” Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/13/europe-leaders-ukraine-summit-zelenskyy-trump-putin-live-news-updates Author : Jakub Krupa Publish date : 2025-08-13 13:59:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the

Reality TV star Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justiceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReality TV star Matt Wright visited a pilot while he was heavily sedated in hospital after a deadly helicopter crash and asked him to manipulate flying hour records, a court has been told.Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson died in the February 2022 accident, falling to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland in the

Policing minister Diana Johnson says government wants a suspect’s nationality and ethnicity released in most casesNew police guidance on releasing suspects’ ethnicity and migration statusDisinformation could still spread around suspects arrested under new guidance for police, a minister has said, reports the PA news agency.Police forces have been told to share suspects’ ethnicity and nationality with the public after authorities were accused of covering up offences carried out by asylum seekers, and after riots following the Southport murders which were partly fuelled by social media disinformation.(Disinformation) is a bigger problem for society, I think, but in terms of particular individuals,

Labor divided on how to respond to the emerging technology as media and arts groups fear ‘rampant theft’ of intellectual propertyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAI risks entrenching racism and sexism in Australia, the human rights commissioner has warned, amid internal Labor debate about how to respond to the emerging technology.Lorraine Finlay says the pursuit of productivity gains from AI should not come at the expense of discrimination if the technology is not properly regulated. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/aug/13/ai-artificial-intelligence-racism-sexism-australia-human-rights-commissioner Author : Krishani Dhanji Publish

Australia’s biggest bank delivers bumper payout to shareholders as CBA vows to end lending to coal companies with no net zero plansFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCommonwealth Bank has posted a record cash profit while announcing it will cut off lending to coal companies without net zero emissions plans.Australia’s biggest bank recorded $10.25bn in annual cash profits for the year to June – a 4% lift on the previous year – and delivered a bumper $2.60 payout per share to shareholders. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/13/cba-record-cash-profit-commonwealth-bank-of-australia

Poll says 44% of voters for Mamdani and 25% for Cuomo as Elise Stefanik chips away at Hochul’s lead in governor raceThe closely watched New York mayoral and governor’s races appear to be forming into shapes that will bring little comfort to centrist Democrats, with elections happening in November this year in New York City and the gubernatorial vote a year later.A new Siena Institute poll released on Tuesday shows New York City’s Democratic socialist mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, leading former New York governor Andrew Cuomo by 19 percentage points – while the Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik is chipping away

Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChalmers says he is in complete agreement with PM on productivity roundtableChalmers was asked about recent suggestions by Albanese that those hoping for dramatic reform from the roundtable should lower their expectations.The point that the prime minister made last week is the same point that I have made, which is that this economic reform roundtable is not to make decisions, it’s to inform the government’s decisions. And that’s the point that we have made all along.We are aligned. We have an ambitious agenda that we’re focused on

Trump deployed national guard troops after taking control of DC police, sparking fears of similar moves elsewhereUS politics live – latest updatesAbout 850 officers and agents took part in a “massive law enforcement surge” across Washington DC on Monday night and made nearly two dozen arrests, the White House has said.The show of force came after Donald Trump announced that he was sending the national guard into the capital and putting city police under federal control, even though the violent crime rate is at a 30-year low. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/12/mayor-national-guard-washington-dc Author : David Smith in Washington Publish

Pentagon considers a quick-reaction force to deploy in US cities amid unrest, raising legal and political concernsDonald Trump could expand the use of national guard troops in US cities even further, if a plan from the Pentagon comes to fruition.The Washington Post, reporting on internal documents on Tuesday, says Pentagon officials are “evaluating plans” to create a “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force” that would deploy to crack down on cities in events of unrest or during protests. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/12/trump-national-guard-pentagon Author : Rachel Leingang Publish date : 2025-08-12 17:40:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the

Chuck Schumer called Trump’s decision to federalize the DC police and deploy national guard to the city an ‘attempted distraction’ from ‘other scandals’Later on, we’ll hear from the Trump administration for the second day in a row. The president won’t make an appearance, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a White House briefing at 1pm ET.Defense secretary Pete Hegseth says he’s proud to be part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, an archconservative network of Christian congregations.Pastor Doug Wilson, a CREC co-founder, leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, the network’s flagship location. Jovial and media-friendly, Wilson is no

Prices were 2.7% higher last month compared with a year ago, and core inflation went up at a higher pace than what was seen in JuneUS prices continued to rise in July, according to key economic data released on Tuesday, as Donald Trump’s international tariffs shakeup started to impact consumer costs.Prices were 2.7% higher last month compared with a year ago, according to the consumer price index (CPI), which measures the prices of a basket of goods and services. Though inflation dipped down in the spring, the annualized inflation rate jumped up 0.4% since April. Continue reading... Source link :

Maple, a springer spaniel, is part of a project at a Michigan university focused on risk factors affecting the bees’ healthOne dog in Michigan hasn’t been content with merely belonging to the species famously known as man’s best friend. She has strived to be bees’ best friend, too.Maple, a springer spaniel aged nine, is earning news headlines by helping Michigan State University (MSU) researchers identify bacteria that is harmful for bee colonies. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/12/michigan-dog-bacteria-honeybees Author : Ramon Antonio Vargas and agencies Publish date : 2025-08-12 10:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Medical officials report at least 34 people were killed on Monday, with more than 15 people killed waiting for aidPeople have gathered to protest the Israeli killing of six journalists in Gaza.Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said now is not the time to recognise a Palestinian state. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/12/gaza-israel-lobal-outcry-killing-of-six-journalists-al-jazeera-middle-east-latest-updates-live Author : Hayden Vernon Publish date : 2025-08-12 07:29:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Yearly spectacle, most visible in northern hemisphere, is caused by Earth passing through debris of ancient cometIt is time for stargazers to dig out the deckchairs to try to enjoy what is considered to be one of the best meteor showers of the year.The Perseids are expected to peak on the night of 12 August, although they have been active from mid-July and will continue to be visible for a further couple of weeks. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/12/stargazers-prepare-for-meteor-shower-of-the-year-as-the-perseids-peak Author : Nicola Davis Science correspondent Publish date : 2025-08-12 05:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Opposition leader says Albanese ‘out of his depth’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSeven West Media profits shrink amid declining ad revenueChannel Seven’s media company saw a $61m drop in revenue in the year to June as TV advertising slipped, with after-tax profit nearly 20 times smaller than it recorded in 2021. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/12/australia-news-live-albanese-palestine-state-israel-war-gaza-rba-interest-rates-decision-ntwnfb Author : Nick Visser and Stephanie Convery Publish date : 2025-08-12 02:24:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

EJ Antoni, longtime critic of Bureau of Labor Statistics, nominated to replace Erika McEntarfer, who Trump firedDonald Trump has announced he is nominating EJ Antoni, the chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, as the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.“Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/11/trump-ej-antoni-heritage-foundation-bls Author : Coral Murphy Marcos and Lauren Gambino Publish date : 2025-08-11 23:54:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.