The Guardian

Brent crude rises by more than 2% after latest fire between US and Iran in Gulf and Houthi attacks on Saudi cities Business live – latest updates The price of oil has risen above $100 a barrel for the first time since July as the escalating conflict in the Middle East threatens further disruption to global supplies. Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, rose 2.1% to over $100 a…

White House warns trading partners against ‘imposing digital services taxes, fines, and other forms of extortion’ on US tech sector Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our new political email , free app or daily news podcast The Trump administration will confront Australia over its plan to force digital platforms to take down harmful content and let users opt out of algorit…

The former National Socialist Network is challenging ban in high court, arguing law breaches implied freedom of political communication Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our new political email , free app or daily news podcast The White Australia party is a “modern manifestation” of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi movement and would motivate hate crimes against sections of the countr…

Downing Centre court hears that the alleged victim was usually outgoing but his demeanour changed at a meeting with Jones at his apartment • Listen to the podcast Alan Jones on Trial A politician who worked with an alleged victim of Alan Jones has told a Sydney court the man looked uncharacteristically “sunken and diminished” when meeting with the broadcaster at his Circular Quay apartment. The f…

The Canning MP says the cartoon, first posted by Hanson on social media over a month ago, calls him a traitor eight times Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Liberal frontbencher and SAS veteran Andrew Hastie has called Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce “lying cowards”, after he claimed a One Nation cartoon portrayed h…

Agreement between Nigel Farage and Jordan Bardella to return migrants to France faces backlash, with critics saying it goes against France’s ‘interests and sovereignty’ Reform UK has insisted its deal with France’s far-right National Rally to return migrants back across the channel was fully approved by the party and signed off by its president, Jordan Bardella, amid a furious backlash in France.…

Green leader says ministers must stop ‘hiding the truth’ about threat to UK security from climate and nature crisis Zack Polanski will challenge Andy Burnham’s government to publish an unredacted version of an explosive report by the UK’s spy chiefs that found the collapse of overseas ecosystems would have catastrophic consequences for the UK’s national security. The Green party leader in England…

Facilities likely to employ 10,400 workers, compared with 40,000 in industry estimates, thinktank says Datacentres in the UK will create just a quarter of the jobs predicted by the tech sector, while consuming vast amounts of energy, according to new research. Environmental thinktank Verdant predicts that all the datacentres currently planned are likely to directly employ 10,400 workers – compare…

The new model will serve as the first big test for John Ternus, who took the role last week All eyes are on Apple’s annual fall announcement of new products this afternoon, where the company is expected to unveil the most significant change to the iPhone since the smartphone’s introduction in 2007. Unlike previous iterations, the new iPhone is expected to fold, opening and closing like a passport…

In today’s newsletter: Ed Miliband has announced the strongest statement on Israel’s actions ever issued by the the UK government, but will it make a meaningful difference to Palestinians? Good morning. For almost half a century, British governments have condemned illegal Israeli settlements, acknowledging they represent an obstacle to peace and threaten the prospect of a two-state solution. And …

A continent-wide crisis of confidence is creating fertile ground for far-right narratives of decline, report suggests Europeans overwhelmingly want a strong, united and independent Europe but question whether it can get there, according to a study that suggests a continent-wide crisis of confidence is creating fertile ground for far-right narratives of decline. The report , based on 5,800 intervi…

Key thinkers suggest other radical measures in Compass report such as free personal social care and abolishing Lords Andy Burnham should tackle inequality in the UK by introducing a wealth tax, universal free personal social care and bringing gas and electricity networks under public ownership, according to a report from more than a dozen influential thinkers. In the lead-up to the first budget o…

Three men are on trial over the death of brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend, US citizen Jack Carter Rhoad, in Ensenada The father of two Australian surfers killed in Mexico two years ago testified in court Tuesday that his life had been turned into hell, as the high-profile trial continued into its second day. Three men are charged in the killing of Australian brothers Jake and Ca…

Key regions of the brain linked to movement, learning and emotions were affected and may lead to cognitive problems Babies born to mothers with anaemia have smaller brains, particularly in key regions linked to movement, learning and the regulation of emotion, according to a study. Researchers said the differences, first detected at the age of one, could lead to cognitive problems when children s…

The president’s substantial holiday gifts to four White House aides were made public via financial disclosures released by the administration Donald Trump gave sizable holiday gifts to four White House aides, according to new financial disclosures released by the administration, including $45,000 to executive assistant Natalie Harp. Communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval …