Hitting

Victorian corruption watchdog alleges weapon was used to hit man’s head, with another officer accused of kneeing him in same incident last yearTwo Victorian police officers have been charged with assault after allegedly using a Taser and knee to repeatedly strike a man in the head during an arrest last year.In a statement, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission said it had charged the two officers after an investigation into the force used during an arrest of an Indigenous man in Melbourne’s east last August. Continue reading...

The EU is using a currency redesign as an opportunity to be less neutral and try some finely balanced identity-buildingIs Europe best represented by the bold intellect of Marie Curie, the sprawling imagination of Miguel de Cervantes and the intense musical genius of Ludwig van Beethoven? Or by a migrating stork and a bee-eater, swooping across borderless plains and enjoying freedom of movement across European countries?The quest to settle this issue has engaged a surprising number of people across the continent, after more than 6 million people voted in a survey within just a week of its launch to determine whether the newly redesigned euro bank notes should depict either cultural figures or birds and waterways. Continue reading...

• Asia is currently bearing the heaviest impact of the U.S. Federal Reserve's hawkish monetary policy shift, leading to intensified financial fallout across the region. • The current volatility mirrors previous crises, such as the late 1990s currency collapses in Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand, and the 2013 "taper tantrum" that destabilized several emerging markets. • Indonesia is specifically highlighted as being back in the crosshairs of economic instability due to the rising strength of the U.S. dollar.

• President Trump is threatening more intense attacks against Iran, with advisors reportedly suggesting targets such as food and water stores to trigger a humanitarian crisis. • Global markets are reacting to the escalating tension, with oil prices rising to over $100 a barrel, signaling potential instability for the global economy. • In diplomatic shifts, Trump is renegotiating a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, now requiring the inclusion of the Abraham Accords.

• Menlo Ventures saw a massive return on its $1 billion investment in Anthropic, which has grown to a valuation of approximately $14 billion. • Despite this success, analysts suggest that identifying the next breakout AI startup will become increasingly difficult as the market matures. • This trend highlights a shifting landscape for venture capital, where the era of easy, exponential gains from early AI bets may be ending.

• IBM warned that corporate technology budgets are rapidly shifting away from software and toward data-center infrastructure to support AI. • Due to this reallocation, the company forecast second-quarter revenue that falls below Wall Street estimates. • This trend highlights a broader struggle for software stocks as enterprises prioritize hardware and infrastructure for AI implementation.

• Apple TV is experiencing a strong year for streaming television, driven by a steady string of new hits and returning favorites. • Key titles contributing to this momentum include the series Silo, Widow’s Bay, Cape Fear, and Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. • This growth signifies the service is hitting its stride in a competitive streaming market by diversifying its content library.

• A survey of 1,200 investors conducted by Seoul Economic Daily reveals a strong shift toward equities, with 70% of respondents planning to increase their stock investment weighting. • Optimism is high among a segment of investors, as 25% expect the KOSPI index to reach 10,000 this year, while property investment is now a secondary preference for 39%. • Market participants identified macroeconomic instability, specifically U.S. interest rate hikes and conflicts in the Middle East, as the primary risks to financial stability.

Ministers accused of being more hesitant to respond as Reform has risen in polls, due to fear of ‘saying wrong thing’During the May local elections in England, a canvasser was out in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham campaigning for her party. At one doorstep, the occupant asked if she was Muslim. When she said yes, he told her she should be hanged.It is one of dozens of stories that Akeela Ahmed, head of the British Muslim Trust (BMT), the government’s official partner for monitoring anti-Muslim hatred, has heard in recent weeks. Continue reading...

Bank details at risk as criminals use AI to create fake sites and emails offering pre-release beta test versionLike millions of gamers around the world, you have been waiting years for Grand Theft Auto VI to be released. Now you have the opportunity to play the much-anticipated game before everyone else.An email has arrived inviting you to play a pre-release “beta” version of the game so that you can alert the makers to any bugs before its official release later this year. Continue reading...

Former health secretary described as ‘hysterical’ about the issue by Peter Mandelson in messages disclosed this weekUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has said he felt he was “hitting up against a brick wall” when he tried to raise concerns about Gaza in government, after private messages from Peter Mandelson were disclosed where he was accused of being “hysterical” about the issue.Among a huge release of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US, WhatsApp messages showed Mandelson being highly critical of Streeting to Pat McFadden, another cabinet minister. Continue reading...

Education secretary asks UK watchdog to look into nursery practices, including non-refundable depositsBridget Phillipson, the education secretary, is ordering a competition review of hidden childcare charges amid concerns parents are being hit with extra charges, despite the government’s flagship expansion of funded childcare hours.Phillipson has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) asking it to examine practices including non-refundable deposits, compulsory add-ons and restrictions attached to government-funded childcare places. Continue reading...

Profits jump to £122m at ticketing retailer but it expects flat or declining revenues over the coming year Business live – latest updatesTrainline has said the US standoff with Iran is hitting its revenues, with rail ticket sales to foreign visitors to Europe affected.The UK-based ticketing retailer said it expected revenues to stay flat or decline over the coming year, citing “the effects of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on inbound air traffic into Europe”. Continue reading...

Oil-driven inflation is big challenge to world economy, lifting inflation and depressing growth, says bank’s chairBusiness live – latest updatesHSBC bosses have said the Iran war is already hitting global economic confidence, as a string of business leaders warned over the impact of the conflict.Georges Elhedery, the Lebanon-born chief executive of the bank, told Bloomberg Television at a HSBC conference in Hong Kong: “We’re saddened and concerned with what’s happening in the Middle East, and we’re concerned not just with what’s happening but also with how long this will take. Continue reading...

Teen who allegedly targeted Jewish community members thrived on notoriety and was invested in social media reaction to her alleged offending, police sayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 13-year-old charged with a string of offences including allegedly swerving a stolen car towards members of the Jewish community looked up the punishment for running someone over after hitting a cyclist, a court has heard.The 13-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared on Monday in a Victorian children’s court seeking bail. Continue reading...

Tropical cyclone expected to make landfall in far north Queensland within hours. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Luca Ittimani with the main action.There’s plenty of news about but the main action this morning is in far north Queensland, where a huge and fierce storm is about to make landfall. Continue reading...