Articles about Government

Exclusive: finding out who owns land will become simpler under plans to make the best use of green spaces and hit net zero targetsFinding out who owns land in England is to become much simpler because a paywall will be lifted from large parts of the Land Registry, the government is to announce.A small number of landowners control the majority of land but finding out who owns what is difficult to piece together, even for government departments, owing to the way the Land Registry operates. Freeing up access will make it easier to determine ownership of key areas, such as river catchments, grouse moors and peatland. Continue reading...

Former deputy prime minister says Labour’s immigration changes are un-British and Starmer must respond to fall in party’s popularityAngela Rayner has said the very survival of the Labour party is at stake and warned Keir Starmer that he “cannot go through the motions” in the face of declining support.In a speech at campaign group Mainstream’s spring reception, the former deputy prime minister said she believed the government was “running out of time” to show it can deliver the changes that the public needs. Continue reading...

The policy reversal came after a federal court judge asked the government to explain why it had stopped negotiating with Cape York traditional ownersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has made an 11th hour backflip on a secret policy to contest every new native title claim in court, on the eve of being hauled before the federal court to explain themselves.But the Liberal National party’s position appears to still be unclear after Queensland natural resources minister, Dale Last, doubled down on contesting native title in a statement to Guardian Australia on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Afghanistan’s health ministry puts preliminary death toll at 200 as Islamabad denies targeting facility for drug addictsHeavy casualties were feared in Kabul after a hospital that treats drug users was hit by airstrikes, which Afghanistan blamed on Pakistan’s military.Pakistan dismissed the accusation, saying the strikes on Monday – which were also launched against eastern Afghanistan – did not hit any civilian sites. Continue reading...

Class action settles after retailers argued state government should pay them for economic loss resulting from pandemic lockdown Businesses affected by one of the world’s longest Covid-19 lockdowns will receive $125m from taxpayers after a state government agreed to settle the matter.A class action was brought in the supreme court on behalf of businesses affected financially by Victoria’s 2020 lockdowns. Continue reading...

• American Oversight marked Sunshine Week 2026 with three victories forcing Trump administration and local governments to preserve records over the past year. • Wins advanced government accountability through legal actions ensuring compliance with transparency laws. • Identified three major threats to openness, emphasizing ongoing risks to public access amid political developments.

Exclusive: Senior party figures conclude outsiders or existing senior staff deemed more suitable should take over from current permanent secretariesA Reform UK government would expect to dismiss the top civil servant in every government department and replace them with people seen as more likely to implement the party’s priorities, the Guardian has learned.Senior Reform figures have concluded that the current crop of permanent secretaries, the lead civil servant in each department, are not up to the necessary standard. Some would be replaced by outsiders, and others by existing officials viewed as more suitable. Continue reading...

Signal President Meredith Whittaker stated at the India Today Conclave 2026 that the conflict between the US Government and AI companies like Anthropic is far from over, asserting 'I don't actually think that showdown is decided yet.' Whittaker explained that deployment of AI models on government systems creates dependency, and crucially, US law prevents the federal government from collecting the vast amounts of user data that private companies leverage to train AI systems. She noted that the US government lacks legal authority to accumulate such datasets, stating: 'These are not technologies that the state could create. It doesn't matter how much money they have. It is not legal for the US government to collect the kind of data that the private industry can collect.' The remarks reflect ongoing regulatory and operational tensions between government agencies and commercial AI developers.

Programme which supports schemes in six African countries was previously hailed as vital protection for Britain against future pandemicsA flagship health project in Africa, which UK ministers said would play a vital role in protecting Britain from future pandemic threats, is being axed due to aid cuts, the Guardian can reveal.The Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) which supported development and training for healthcare staff in six African countries, will close at the end of the month, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. Continue reading...

The move, which lowers fees to 25%, is a breakthrough for Chinese developers Tencent and ByteDanceSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxApple announced late on Thursday it would lower the commission fees collected in its App Store in mainland China. The move follows pressure from regulators in the tech company’s second-largest market, as well as global scrutiny of its payment requirements.Fees for in-app purchases and paid transactions will be lowered to 25% from 30% starting on Sunday, Apple said in a statement on its blog for developers. Continue reading...