The Guardian

Acclaimed Brisbane-born writer was known for his work exploring his own childhood, great myths and colonial Australia David Malouf, the acclaimed Australian author of books including Ransom, An Imaginary Life and the Booker prize-nominated Remembering Babylon, has died aged 92. Malouf died on Wednesday, his publisher, Penguin Random House Australia, said in a statement on Thursday. Continue readi…

At least 17 people hurt after incident involving two local services north of Denmark’s capital Two local trains have collided head-on in Denmark, injuring at least 17 people, four of whom are in a critical condition, according to emergency services. The public broadcaster DR showed images of two yellow and grey trains, both with damage to the front, facing each other in a wooded area. Continue re…

The campaign is part of government initiative to boost financial risk taking, amid fears UK growth is being stymied Nils Pratley: the ‘Savvy Squirrel looks a hit too tame’ City firms are pinning their hopes on a government-endorsed advertising blitz fronted by a finance “savvy” CGI squirrel to encourage cautious British savers to shift out of cash and start investing. The long-awaited retail inve…

Retailer WH Smith joins supermarket in warning on effects of Middle East conflict Sainsbury’s has warned that profits could fall this year as the conflict in the Middle East squeezes customers’ budgets and pushes up business costs. The supermarket group said the conflict “will impact both our customers and our business” and it was unclear how large the effect would be. Continue reading...

Minister tells Guardian Australia despite substantial changes to disability scheme, it will remain one of best support services ‘anywhere in the world’ Listen to the podcast: Disability minister Mark Butler on the ‘necessary’ cuts to an NDIS ‘under pressure’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Mark Butler has defended…

More than 70% have cut down in past year on teaching assistants, who play key role in helping children with Send Two-fifths of school leaders in England have been forced to cut back on support for children with special educational needs due to a financial crisis “more than a decade in the making”, according to a poll. Seven out of 10 (71%) leaders say they have cut down on teaching assistants (TA…

Melbourne man stabbed twice in chest, with remains found in field near his campervan in 2021. Family argue police prematurely assumed he killed himself Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales coroner has recommended the mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay be investigated by the homicide …

But Iran war likely to blow hole in Rachel Reeves’s carefully crafted fiscal ‘headroom’ in coming months Business live – latest updates The UK government came in below its annual borrowing target by £700m, official figures show – but the Iran war is likely to blow a hole in Rachel Reeves’s carefully calculated fiscal “headroom” over the coming months. The government borrowed a net total of £132bn…

All signs point to a record-low performance for Labour in May in what will be a moment of high jeopardy for Keir Starmer Labour is on track for its worst local election performance, data analysed by the Guardian shows, in a blow that will pile further pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership. Barring a drastic change in fortunes, Labour’s vote-share could fall to historic lows across elections for c…

In today’s newsletter: As political tensions rise abroad and economic pressures mount at home, ​D​onald Trump faces a shifting landscape that is testing the loyalty of his ​M​aga supporters Good morning. Starting a war of choice that is rapidly spiralling out of control, poll ratings at a second-term low, and a cost of living crisis intensifying for millions. Any conventional US president would b…

Six candidates clashed over homelessness and cost of living crisis in first debate since Eric Swalwell’s exit – with a clear frontrunner still yet to emerge Six candidates vying to become the next governor of California sparred on Wednesday in the first debate since the already topsy-turvy race was plunged into upheaval by the sudden collapse of former congressman Eric Swalwell’s campaign after s…

One pilot ordered to repay some of the $600,000 of damage caused by collision in 2021 South Korea’s air force has apologised for a 2021 mid-air collision involving two fighter jets, a day after auditors said pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident. “We sincerely apologise to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred…

There are now 3,110 billionaires but analysis shows ‘deep structural acceleration’ in wealth creation around world The number of billionaires in the world could reach nearly 4,000 by 2031, figures suggest, as the super-rich accumulate wealth at an accelerating rate. There are now 3,110 billionaires globally, according to analysis by the estate agent Knight Frank. This is forecast to rise by 25% o…

Annalouise Spence allegedly used credit card to make ‘unauthorised purchases of luxury and personal items, including clothing, artwork and jewellery’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson has been charged with dozens of counts of fraud after she a…

Government aims to move TV and radio funding under state control, which critics say undermines independence Journalists at the Czech Republic’s public broadcasters have said they are prepared to go on strike unless the government of the billionaire prime minister, Andrej ​Babiš, backs down on its plan to scrap licence fees and move funding under state control. In what the journalists see as a thr…