Australia news live: Jim Chalmers promises more tax reform in budget as war threatens to send inflation past 5%

• US military conducted attacks today on Iranian missile installations near the Strait of Hormuz to neutralize threats to transiting ships. • The strikes target sites from which Iran could launch attacks on commercial and military vessels in the critical waterway. • The operation escalates US involvement in the Iran conflict, aiming to secure global oil shipping routes amid heightened tensions.

• Israel conducted an overnight airstrike in Tehran, killing Iran's intelligence minister amid escalating US-Israel operations against Iran since February 28. • Iran's Ministry of Health reports at least 1,444 killed and nearly 19,000 injured in ongoing US-Israeli attacks, with a Red Crescent worker assisting victims. • Senior Israeli officials warned US diplomats that Iranian protesters against their government would 'get slaughtered,' despite Israel's promotion of anti-regime demonstrations.

Corporation welcomes three-year settlement as it continues to push for government to take on all of service’s costsThe BBC World Service will be given increased government funding as part of a three-year deal after ministers concluded it was needed to counter the rise of global disinformation.The Guardian understands that Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, has agreed an additional £11m a year for the next three years on the government’s grant to the service. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Republican congresswoman started negotiations with Saudi Arabia without informing the White HouseSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxWhite House officials have grown increasingly frustrated with Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace, accusing her of complicating efforts to evacuate Americans stranded in the Middle East by attempting to conduct her own rescue missions, according to people familiar with the matter.The irritation with Mace has been building for days after she traveled to the region to try and transport US citizens across international borders and engaged with foreign governments without informing the state department, which has been coordinating evacuation flights. Continue reading...

Sergey Brin gives $25m on top of $20m he’s already given to Super Pac trying to blocking state’s proposed 5% wealth taxA Google founder has more than doubled his financial contribution to the fight against a proposed wealth tax in California. New filings with the state show that former Alphabet president Sergey Brin donated $25m to a Super Pac dedicated to blocking the tax on top of $20m he had already given.Brin is not alone among Google’s top brass in upping his financial stake in the campaign against the ballot proposal. The company’s former CEO Eric Schmidt donated $1.02m, adding to a previous $2m contribution. Continue reading...

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, arrested after counter-terrorism investigationTwo men have been charged with spying for Iran over alleged surveillance of the Jewish community in London, police said.Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual British-Iranian national, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national, have been charged with engaging in contact that is likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 9 July 2025 and 15 August 2025, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. Continue reading...

Research shows average front garden size has declined by 46% in areas where older low-density homes have been replaced by larger, modern housesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney’s increasingly supersized driveways are shrinking suburban front yards as residential redevelopment accelerates, a research paper has found.The research, which details the loss of private tree space due to knock down-rebuilds, lays bare the gaps in the planning system for minimum private green space standards. Continue reading...

There is growing confidence that the 20 people diagnosed with the illness have not infected anyone outside the areaHealth officials increasingly believe they have contained the fatal outbreak of meningitis in Kent, with no cases emerging that are not linked to the original cluster of 20.In another boost to efforts to contain the infection, the bug that caused it has been identified as a known strain of meningitis B, the Guardian understands. Continue reading...

PM will consider exempting large numbers from proposed changes, which would leave people waiting 10 years for settled statusKeir Starmer is hoping to soften the impact of his government’s changes to the immigration system after a backlash from Labour MPs and a dramatic intervention from his former deputy Angela Rayner.The prime minister is considering exempting large numbers of people from the proposed changes, which would make it harder to achieve settled status in the UK, as he attempts to keep his restive party onboard. Continue reading...

Glasses use verbal cues and floating text to assist wearers and are expected to be available in early 2027AI software that can be embedded into smart glasses has won a £1m prize for technology to help people with dementia.Built into chunky, black-rimmed frames that have a camera, microphone and speakers, the tech – known as CrossSense – guides wearers through everyday life by means of a chatty assistant called Wispy. Continue reading...

Former Sinn Féin leader, who is being sued for symbolic damages, also denies any prior knowledge of the attackGerry Adams has told the high court he was stunned by the 1996 Docklands bombing as he denied being at the nerve centre of the IRA’s operations.The former Sinn Féin leader also denied having any prior knowledge of the bombing of the commercial district of east London, which shattered a 17-month old ceasefire. Continue reading...