‘Dodged a bullet’: inflation eases to 3.8%, reducing chances of interest rate rise for Australia’s mortgage holders 29. July 2026 (04:45) ABS data shows inflation still too high but tracking lower than anticipatedAustralian mortgage-holders have “dodged a bullet’, with the Reserve Bank now less likely to hike rates next month after new data showed inflation unexpectedly eased to 3.8%, in the year to June, from 4%.The hotly anticipated consumer price report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics had been seen by some economists as a “make-or-break” moment ahead of the RBA’s upcoming rate decision on 11 August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Prioritising profit’: Australians regularly prescribed medicinal cannabis with very high THC levels 29. July 2026 (04:45) Exclusive: Of more than 1,000 medicinal cannabis products available, only two have been evaluated by the drug regulatorFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDoctors are commonly prescribing high-dose medicinal cannabis containing up to four times the concentration of THC tested in clinical trials, a review has found.Researchers from Monash University evaluated the available evidence for the efficacy and safety of higher THC potency medicinal cannabis products, in line with those being prescribed in Australia. THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Race against time’: Japan earthquake death toll rises as rescue teams search for missing 29. July 2026 (04:40) Military mobilises thousands of personnel after quake on southern Kyushu island that registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scaleEarthquake rocks southern Japanese island of Kyushu – in pictures At least 13 people were killed when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, injuring hundreds and knocking out power and water to tens of thousands.“There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said on Wednesday. “We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kenya investigating unexpected deaths of 15 elephants in national park 29. July 2026 (02:48) Potential toxic substance detected in several of 15 elephants found dead in Kenya’s Amboseli national parkOfficials are investigating the deaths of 15 elephants over the past month in Kenya’s Amboseli national park.The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said 10 of the elephants showed signs of partial paralysis before dying within two days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Angus Taylor insists he made no payments to conservative Liberal group amid Icac investigation 29. July 2026 (02:45) Follow updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSpecially designed Airbus completes marathon 24-hour flight before joining Qantas fleetA specially modified Airbus A350 plane touched down in France Tuesday after a record 24-hour test flight from Australia, ahead of it joining Qantas’s fleet next year, Agency France-Presse reports. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ICE agents used racial slurs during Los Angeles crackdown, court files show 29. July 2026 (02:27) Agents accused in lawsuit of using anti-immigrant slurs and denigrating undocumented MexicansICE agents deployed last summer to the Los Angeles area referred to the subjects of their immigration operations with racial slurs, according to newly released court documents.On 4 July 2025, an unidentified agent wrote in a text chain, “btw tonks everywhere selling food for the 4th festivities in long beach right now,” invoking an anti-immigrant slur, which the US Border Patrol has previously warned against. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US says it intercepted ‘surprise’ Iran missile attack on its forces in Middle East after lull in fighting 29. July 2026 (02:12) Fighting was paused after nearly two weeks of nightly strikes by the US on Iran, as both sides battled for control of the strait of HormuzIran launched multiple ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East late on Tuesday, shattering a brief pause in fighting as mediators tried to get both sides back to negotiations and toward a ceasefire, the US military said.“At 5.45pm ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on US forces based in the Middle East,” US central command (Centcom) wrote on X. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House teleprompter operator accused over Trump bets no longer in job, official says 29. July 2026 (01:42) Official declines to say whether Gabriel Perez, who allegedly bet on prediction market Kalshi, resigned or was fired A White House teleprompter operator who reportedly used inside knowledge to make bets about Donald Trump’s speeches on the online prediction market Kalshi is no longer in his post, according to a White House official.The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the personnel matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Tuesday that Gabriel Perez “no longer works in the federal government”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate confirms Trump ally Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence 29. July 2026 (01:34) At confirmation hearing, Clayton sidestepped questions about 2020 election and declined to say Trump lostSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe US Senate voted to confirm Jay Clayton as the director of national intelligence on Tuesday, giving Trump another key ally directing the nation’s intelligence apparatus.The tally, 51-47, fell along party lines, with all Republicans supporting his nomination and all Democrats opposing it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FCC bans humanoid robots from China, citing ‘unacceptable risks’ 29. July 2026 (01:24) Move comes as the Trump administration has increasingly sought to keep Chinese technology out of the USThe Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on humanoid robots from China on Tuesday, saying that the technology poses “unacceptable risks” to the country’s national security. The move comes as the Trump administration has increasingly sought to keep Chinese technology out of the US.The FCC defines the banned robots as “advanced robotic devices”, which include humanoids and animal-like quadrupeds. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
