Citing

Bank says gold reserves held in London could be traded more easily and the move will allow it to respond more rapidly in a ‘crisis situation’The Dutch central bank says it has moved 86 tonnes of its gold reserves out of the US and Canada to London, citing “increasing geopolitical unrest”.De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) said gold reserves held in London could be traded more easily than those held in New York and Ottawa. Continue reading...

Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung - leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance – were tried under under a 2020 national security lawTwo Hong Kong activists who organised annual vigils marking China’s deadly Tiananmen crackdown in 1989 were found guilty of “incitement to subversion”, in a case widely criticised as exemplifying the erosion of freedom of expression in the Chinese city.Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41 “incited other persons to organise, plan, commit or participate in acts by unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power”, a press summary handed out to reporters said. Continue reading...

• On August 20, 2026, the United States government imposed a new round of sanctions on Hezbollah. • The U.S. administration cited the group's direct links to the Iranian government as the primary justification for these measures. • These sanctions aim to disrupt the financial networks and operational capabilities of the organization by targeting its ties to state sponsorship.

President said he was ‘not happy’ with plans for large-scale joint exercises he described as ‘inappropriate and hostile’. Plus, how five obscure horses have ended up at the center of a transatlantic betting mysteryGood morning. Donald Trump has said he is scaling back joint US military drills with South Korea aimed at deterring North Korea, despite military officials from both countries warning that Kim Jong-un’s regime is learning new battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war.The president said he was “not happy” with US participation “based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong-un”. He added that the drills were costly and “send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a country that, as long as Donald J Trump has been president, has been unthreatening and respectful”. Trump added that it was too late to cancel the drills so he had ordered the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, to “substantially reduce” them.Why are there continuing concerns about USS Abraham Lincoln? Democrats have intensified their demands for answers from the Trump administration over conditions onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln amid concern over crew morale, mental health and living conditions. Ruben Gallego, a Democratic senator from Arizona, said he blamed the carrier’s prolonged deployment on the unresolved war that Donald Trump started in February with Iran as well as lackluster leadership in general from the Republican president’s administration. Continue reading...

President orders Pentagon to scale back ‘inappropriate and hostile’ exercises with South KoreaAndy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating Donald Trump’s chief of staff, the Guardian understands.The UK prime minister was in contact with an unknown individual pretending to be the senior White House aide Susie Wiles before concerns were raised about the incident. No messages of significance were sent and the suspicious activity was quickly reported to the appropriate authorities, it is understood. Continue reading...

• The Athletic has highlighted 12 exciting new Premier League signings to watch this season, including high-potential young talents. • A key focus is 19-year-old Quenda, a versatile former Sporting CP player who has officially joined Chelsea after agreeing to a deal in 2025. • Quenda's athletic profile is significant, having recorded a match-high 78 sprints during Japan's World Cup last-32 loss to Brazil according to FIFA data.

• Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has upgraded its 2026 GDP growth forecast to a range of 4.5% to 5.5%. • The revision follows a strong performance in the first half of 2026, where GDP growth reached 6.1% year-on-year. • This economic acceleration is primarily attributed to increased demand related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

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...

• Researchers have discovered that AI chatbots are citing Russian propaganda sourced from media outlets currently sanctioned by the European Union. • The findings highlight a growing trend of hybrid warfare where disinformation is strategically integrated into the training data of large language models (LLMs). • This development is significant as it demonstrates how state-sponsored propaganda can bypass traditional filters to influence AI-generated responses.

Green party leader shared picture of man wearing T-shirt with words ‘we’re only making plans for Nigel’ alongside a guillotinePolice are “conducting inquiries” into an image shared by Green party leader Zack Polanski on Instagram after Reform UK reported it for “inciting murder”.The image showed a man wearing a black T-shirt with the words “we’re only making plans for Nigel”, alongside a photograph of a guillotine. Continue reading...

• Microsoft released a record 570 security fixes during its latest "Patch Tuesday" update, attributing the high volume of discoveries to the use of AI. • Critical vulnerabilities include a Windows Server bug allowing privilege escalation to system administrator and a SharePoint flaw currently being exploited by hackers. • The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued warnings regarding the active exploitation of the SharePoint vulnerability to compromise organizations.

Broadway star, who is performing on the vessel, expresses shock after authorities ban Scarlet Lady from docking in Kuşadası A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and the Broadway performer Patti LuPone has been blocked from entering Turkey after local authorities said their behaviour didn’t “align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady set sail from Athens, Greece, on 5 July for what was billed as “an epic all-gay voyage” over 10 days run by Atlantis, a US company that puts on cruises and vacations for LGBTQ+ people. Continue reading...

• Astronomers have discovered GJ 3378b, a potentially habitable planet located approximately 25 light-years from Earth. • The planet orbits a faint red dwarf star within the constellation Camelopardalis, positioned inside the star's habitable zone. • This discovery is significant because the planet's location suggests it could potentially support liquid water and the existence of life.

Apple Macbook 13-inch prices jumps from $1,799 to $2,099 while the cost of iPads surges by 25%Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians woke up on Friday to higher prices for Macbooks and iPads after Apple hiked worldwide, blaming an AI-driven cost crunch for computer parts.The iPhone range was unaffected but experts predict Apple will raise prices for its flagship product later this year. Microsoft also lifted its Xbox prices overnight amid a wave of increases for phones and devices. Continue reading...

Hastie tells colleagues home affairs minister did not disclose the threats made against him, but he has been targeted online for his views on Ben Roberts-SmithFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie is set to receive extra security in what he believes is a response to a One Nation-fuelled campaign against him, including over his stance on the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes allegations.At a partyroom meeting on Tuesday, Hastie told colleagues that the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, had advised him that he had been identified for security measures at his home and electorate office. Continue reading...

Any official reprimand will come from regulator Ofcom, but not for at least two monthsUK politics live – latest updatesElon Musk’s X will face no action to remove a mass of posts inciting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months, despite widespread condemnation of the platform and its billionaire owner.Concern over the role social media played in spreading disturbing images and fuelling anger continued to grow on Wednesday as police and community leaders urged calm. Continue reading...

• France and Germany have agreed to abandon the joint development of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a next-generation fighter project valued at €100 billion. • The decision follows reports from Reuters and the Financial Times, signaling a significant breakdown in the strategic military cooperation between the two European powers. • Separately, Denmark’s National Audit Office revealed that F-35 fighter jet deliveries will cost $2.2 billion more than originally projected, accusing the government of attempting to conceal the price increase.

• On the 2nd, President Lee Jae Myung urged for a doubling of the pace of state administration to achieve a "global super-gap economic power" in his second year. • While the President focused on economic vision, opposition parties suggested his statements may be linked to controversies involving Daejang-dong, Seongnam FC, and North Korea. • The situation highlights growing political tension as the ruling party is expected to accelerate the push for the Special Prosecutor Act targeting the Yoon Suk Yeol Government.

Revocation of access newest attempt by Trump’s defense department to restrict reporting on military affairsJournalists may no longer enter the Pentagon’s press office, which has been designated as a classified space amid growing moves to restrict press access to the defense department.“This is the most transparent war department in history. No amount of spin from the Fake News media will change that,” Jose Valdez, the acting defense department press secretary, said in a social media post. “The Pentagon Press Office has been redesignated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility due to speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of War sharing the facility.” Continue reading...

Ron Shinnick did not mention the firing of the Cohutta police force, which was later rehired, in resignation letterThe mayor of a small town in the US state of Georgia has resigned shortly after firing his community’s entire police department, a step that the local governing council ultimately reversed – but that he nonetheless took amid a political spat pitting him and his wife against members of the force.In a 15 May resignation letter that the Guardian reviewed, Ron Shinnick avoided mentioning his attempted termination of the Cohutta police department, word of which gained international media attention. The letter instead said Shinnick had opted to vacate the mayoral post he had held since 2014 due to “health concerns” faced by family members outside Cohutta. Continue reading...

Move brings an end to a 60 day visa-free stay that was agreed with 93 countries, including the UK, US and much of EuropeThailand is drastically cutting the length of visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries in an effort to curb crime involving foreign nationals, officials said on Tuesday.Tourism is vital to the south-east Asian nation’s economy, but foreign arrivals are yet to return to their pre-Covid levels. Continue reading...

Uline, owned by billionaire Republicans Richard and Liz Uihlein, halts construction of a new facility in KenoshaUline, a business and shipping supplies company owned by billionaire Trump supporters Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, is pausing the construction of a new distribution facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin, citing economic uncertainty.The construction pause comes in a key battleground state, where Trump won in 2016 and 2024, but lost to Biden in 2020. Continue reading...

• President Trump announced on May 5 that military operations against Iran would be paused as negotiations advance toward a broader agreement, marking a significant shift in the months-long conflict initiated on February 28, 2026. • The pause follows diplomatic engagement including a high-level Israel-Lebanon meeting on April 14 and a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah announced on April 16, signaling momentum in regional peace talks. • The operational pause suggests the Trump administration believes negotiated settlement is achievable despite initial military intervention, though specific terms of the proposed Iran deal remain undisclosed.

• Congress MP Karti Chidambaram announced conditional support to TVK for government formation, emphasizing respect for the public's mandate for change. • Support is offered provided the administration remains secular and excludes communal elements or BJP-aligned parties like AIADMK. • Chidambaram defended the shift from DMK ally, noting no pre-poll alliance had majority and aiming to block BJP influence via proxies.

Davis, 32, arrested on Wednesday and charged with inciting hatred and causing fear. Arrest comes after police criticised at royal commission into antisemitismFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastProminent neo-Nazi Joel Davis has been charged with alleged hate speech following a protest by the National Socialist Network outside New South Wales parliament.About 60 members of the now-disbanded group stood in formation on Macquarie Street on 8 November last year, allegedly holding a large banner that read: “Abolish the Jewish lobby.” Continue reading...

• President Trump announced Tuesday evening that he is pausing 'Project Freedom,' the operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing 'great progress' toward a complete agreement with Iran and requests from Pakistan and other countries. • Trump stated the pause would last 'for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,' while maintaining the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect. • The move represents a significant shift in Trump's confrontational posture toward Iran after months of military escalation, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued criticizing Iran for effectively closing the strategic oil passageway.

Ed Davey attacks Reform calling it ‘Maga franchise’ and says Elon Musk funnels far-right ideas into UK via XUK politics live – latest updatesThe Liberal Democrats are pushing for a ban on MPs accepting payments from X as part of a proposed wider crackdown on what Ed Davey will call a “serious threat” to UK democracy from Donald Trump’s US and other countries.Announcing the plan on Tuesday, the Lib Dem leader renewed his attacks on Reform UK – a series of whose MPs have taken money from X – calling it “a franchise of Maga politics” rather than a British political entity. Continue reading...

• IMF lowered its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1% from 3.3% due to US-Iran conflict impacts. • The cut assumes contained conflict with 19% energy price rise, but escalation could drop growth to 2%. • 2027 outlook held at 3.2%, with effects expected to ease by mid-2026.