Power bills to fall by up to 10% from July as renewables and batteries soar across Australia pred 1 dnevom, 10 urami in 44 minutami Australia now a top-three global player in batteries, and renewable energy met nearly half of the nation’s power in 2025Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEnergy bills for households and small businesses will fall by up to 10% from July across parts of the eastern states, as a new industry survey shows record levels of renewables and batteries in the power grid.Households in New South Wales and south-east Queensland on standing electricity plans – known as the “default market offer” – can expect prices to fall between 3.4% and 10.7% compared to last year, according to the Australian Energy Regulator’s final offer for 2026-27. Some could save up to $155 per year. While, South Australian households on a flat rate could expect an increase of 1.4%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel escalates strikes in Lebanon as Netanyahu vows to ‘crush’ Hezbollah pred 1 dnevom, 10 urami in 59 minutami Hezbollah and Israel launch attacks amid increasingly imperilled ceasefire and stalling talks between US and IranMiddle East crisis: live updatesThe Israeli army has intensified strikes in southern Lebanon, as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to escalate its offensive in an effort to “crush” Hezbollah in a further erosion of an already fragmented ceasefire.In turn, Hezbollah said it staged several attacks on Monday on three barracks and a military post in northern Israel “in response to the violation of the ceasefire” by Israel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 59 minutami Campaigners, teenagers, legislators and experts give their opinions on the government’s social media consultation Change is coming for social media platforms. The UK government’s consultation on improving online safety for children will result in some form of action being taken against big tech. Even before the deadline for submissions has passed, ministers have pledged to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s or restrictions on “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling.There is overwhelming pressure from safety campaigners and MPs for a further crackdown on social media platforms, despite the introduction of the Online Safety Act, which requires tech firms to shield children from harmful content. The deadline for contributions is Tuesday night and the government has promised to act swiftly. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nurseries in England charging extra fees to cover funding gap, campaigners say pred 1 dnevom, 13 urami in 30 minutami Head of Early Years Alliance says additional charges paid by parents represent ‘cross-subsidy’Parents of nursery children in England are being charged extra fees to cover for government underfunding of free childcare hours, with some paying thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes and nappies, campaigners have said.The comments came as the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, asked the competition watchdog to investigate hidden extra charges that parents have encountered when trying to access government-funded childcare. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Like tobacco’: Wes Streeting calls for partial social media ban for under-16s pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 2 minutama Exclusive: Former health secretary’s intervention comes as government closes consultation on age limits for platformsSocial media companies should be treated like the tobacco industry, Wes Streeting has argued, as he called for a ban on under-16s accessing certain platforms.Speaking publicly about the prospect of a ban for the first time since he left government, the former health secretary said one was needed because large technology companies were trying to dodge regulations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer urged to intervene in ‘rigged’ Indian prosecution of British human rights activist pred 1 dnevom, 15 urami in 7 minutami Senior lawyers call on prime minister to request Indian prosecutors drop charges that would breach double jeopardy ruleFour senior lawyers, including the former attorney general Dominic Grieve, have written to Keir Starmer urging him to request that Indian prosecutors drop charges against the British national Jagtar Singh Johal on the basis that continued prosecution would be in manifest breach of the double jeopardy rule which prevents someone being tried twice for the same offence.Johal has been held in an Indian jail for eight years, and in March last year was acquitted of the terrorist charges laid against him in a court in Punjab. The court found the prosecutors had “miserably failed” to present any reliable evidence, despite having had seven years to do so. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mature cheese-roller beaten by young, YouTubing upstart pred 1 dnevom, 15 urami in 46 minutami Tom Kopke from Germany out-tumbles local hero Chris Anderson on a meltingly hot day in Gloucestershire It was billed as the great cheese-off: a helter-skelter, bone-jarring downhill race between the all-time champ and a young upstart.After the hype and hyperbole, youth won out as the 24-year-old German YouTuber Tom Kopke beat the 38-year-old local hero Chris Anderson at the annual cheese-rolling event in the English West Country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘If Iran gets a bomb it will be Bibi’s’: Trump’s deal outline sparks alarm in Israel pred 1 dnevom, 16 urami in 10 minutami Netanyahu’s joint war with the US began with talk of regime change in Tehran but may leave him with few strategic gainsMiddle East live – latest updatesWhen Donald Trump launched a pre-emptive war on Iran with Israel in February, many in the country hailed the campaign as the crowning triumph of Benjamin Netanyahu’s political and diplomatic career.Three months on the regime is still in power in Tehran, Trump is chasing a deal that will reopen the strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, and the reported terms have provoked alarm, dismay and anger in Israel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rachel Reeves tells ministers to ‘buy British’ in four key industries pred 1 dnevom, 16 urami in 17 minutami Exclusive: Chancellor pushes for procurement of ships, steel, energy and AI to prioritise Britishness as well as costRachel Reeves has instructed cabinet colleagues to award government contracts in four critical industries directly to British companies, making clear her irritation that ministers have been sending too much government business abroad.In a letter seen by the Guardian, the chancellor tells every cabinet minister in charge of a spending department to “buy British” wherever possible, adding that she is disappointed they are not already doing so. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three arrested after 30-year-old woman shot dead in Sheffield city centre pred 1 dnevom, 16 urami in 25 minutami Police launch murder investigation after incident in early hours of bank holiday Monday outside One Four One barA 30-year-old woman has died after being shot outside a bar in a busy area in Sheffield city centre.South Yorkshire police have launched a murder investigation after the incident in the early hours of this morning outside the One Four One bar on West Street. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
