Australia news live: attorneys general meet to reform working with children checks; leaders gather for Garma festival

• A Ukrainian strike on an Iranian cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea has occurred, signaling a dangerous escalation in global geopolitical tensions. • The event effectively merges the U.S. proxy war in Eastern Europe with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, specifically involving Iran.

Local leaders say plan will transform funding so English regions no longer rely on Whitehall handouts for projectsEngland’s regional mayors will be able to break out of the “death grip of the Treasury” by borrowing to invest in big projects under “transformational” plans to shift power out of Whitehall.For the first time, mayors will keep a share of income tax generated in their area from 2028, as well as business rates totalling tens of millions of pounds by April 2027. Continue reading...

Newcastle-born Davies wins in GlasgowFollows earlier gold in 10,000m Rose Davies has roared to a landmark track triumph at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, becoming the first woman ever to complete the 5,000m and 10,000m double.The Newcastle-born 26-year-old dropped to her knees in joy after winning the shorter distance on Friday morning (AEST) at Scotstoun Stadium after a battle royal with her Australian teammate Jessica Hull. Continue reading...

Vast majority of farm workers say raids and deportations have affected their jobs and 61% report shopping lessSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Farm workers in the US are reeling from the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, including increased raids and deportations, according to a new survey conducted by the United Farm Workers Foundation released on Thursday.The survey features responses from 2,250 farm workers, many of whom are undocumented, about their experiences with immigration enforcement that has intensified under the second Trump administration. Continue reading...

Both MPs have had the parliamentary whip restored following separate independent disciplinary processesMPs Diane Abbott and Joani Reid have been readmitted into Labour and had the parliamentary whip restored, just under two weeks into Andy Burnham’s premiership.The party confirmed that this followed separate independent disciplinary processes, although Labour said the leadership played no role in either decision. Continue reading...

Republican senators sought written limits on settlement, but president held firm despite risk to attorney general pickUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s refusal to officially end a hugely controversial agreement giving him broad tax immunity and creating a 1.8bn slush fund underscored how the US president’s own self interest takes precedence above all else in his government.For weeks, Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, has said that the slush fund portion of the agreement was dead. And for a few brief hours on Wednesday, it seemed that the president might agree to a relatively modest request from two Republican senators to put in writing that there were certain limits on an extraordinary tax immunity deal. After all, it seemed like a small price to pay in exchange for getting Blanche, a staunch Trump loyalist who previously served as his personal lawyer, confirmed permanently as the US attorney general. Continue reading...

Makers of unreleased $45m film Fortitude sue after hard drive stolen from streamer’s Los Angeles officeNetflix is being sued for $105m over the theft of a hard drive including an unreleased Nicolas Cage war movie.The streamer’s Los Angeles office was the target of a robbery involving a number of hard drives, one of which contained a copy of second world war spy thriller Fortitude. Continue reading...

Measure fails 49-50 as US launches new retaliatory attacks in Iran and lawmakers question the prolonged conflictUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Senate on Thursday rejected a largely symbolic effort to limit Donald Trump’s authority to wage war in Iran, amid rising regional tensions after the US conducted a “heavy wave” of retaliatory airstrikes.The war powers resolution failed in a 49-50 vote, marking the second time in two weeks the chamber has taken up legislation aimed at forcing Trump to end hostilities. Continue reading...

Kathryn Ruemmler was blasted by family of late Virginia Giuffre after House committee transcripts were releasedSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A former White House counsel and former general counsel of Goldman Sachs, who has faced scrutiny over her past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, told a House committee this month that some of the allegations made by one his most prominent accusers “lacked inherent credibility”, according to newly released transcripts.Kathryn Ruemmler’s name appeared thousands of times in records related to Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, that were released earlier this year by the US Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Continue reading...

Yemeni sources say Saudi Arabia is preparing sea and possible land attack to break chokehold on oil exports through Red SeaSaudi Arabia is preparing for a major military offensive against the Houthis by sea and possibly by land in central Yemen, Yemeni sources believe, in a move to break the chokehold on its oil exports through the southern Red Sea.Saudi forces have been seen withdrawing from the east of Yemen in what could be preparation for a land offensive. At the same time, Riyadh is trying to organise a naval coalition to protect shipping from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait. Continue reading...

Ohio representative is accused by his ex-wife and ex-girlfriend of abuse as he campaigns for re-electionOhio representative Max Miller is facing growing pressure to resign over a series of domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife and former girlfriend.The Republican congressman, 37, who represents Ohio’s seventh congressional district, has denied accusations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and former girlfriend Stephanie Grisham, as he campaigns for re-election. Continue reading...