Issue

People told to prepare for waves of up to three metres in parts of the Philippines, with smaller waves possible in Indonesia and MalaysiaA magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook part of the southern Philippines early on Monday, sparking tsunami warnings on some regional coasts, collapsing some houses and killing at least one person.“Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues,” Master Sergeant Robert Dagon of the General Santos City police told Agence France-Presse. Continue reading...

HMS Prince of Wales expected to sail ‘in the coming days’ according to British government spokespersonA technical issue has been detected on the UK navy’s flagship as it was docked in Norway, after the warship worked with Nato and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), the government has said.Earlier this month, the HMS Prince of Wales – one of Britain’s two flagship aircraft carriers built for £6.4bn – set sail for Nordic waters from Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, to provide security in the Atlantic and High North regions. Continue reading...

• Scientists have released a formal "first-contact blueprint" to establish a standardized protocol for humanity's response upon receiving a message from an intelligent alien civilization. • The plan mandates that any discovery be shared with the United Nations and a global network of astronomy, space exploration, and communications organizations. • To ensure transparency and accuracy, the framework requires the public release of all underlying evidence so the global scientific community can independently verify the data.

Nauran government says its citizens are ‘friendly’ after MP spoke of serious threats allegedly made against former Australian detaineesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Nauruan government has issued a rare statement insisting it is a “friendly” and “welcoming” country after a whistleblower alleged “serious threats of physical violence” were made against a group of non-citizens removed there by the Albanese government.The unexpected defence, sent shortly after midday Thursday, was mounted hours after independent MP Andrew Wilkie used his three-minute constituency statement to read claims from an anonymous whistleblower familiar with the arrangements of the secretive $2.5bn deal between Australia and Nauru. Continue reading...

• The European Union's €20 billion ($23.3 billion) investment plan to establish five massive AI data centers is currently floundering due to funding issues and significant delays. • In Germany, major entities including Deutsche Telekom and the Schwarz Group (owner of Lidl) have expressed interest in leading consortium bids to develop one of the planned gigafactories. • This initiative is critical for the EU to reduce its reliance on non-European AI infrastructure and enhance its sovereign computing capabilities.

• The European Union's €20 billion ($23.3 billion) investment plan to establish five massive AI data centers is currently floundering. • The initiative, which aimed to create "gigafactories" to accelerate private sector investment in AI infrastructure, is facing significant delays and funding complications. • These setbacks are alienating potential partners, threatening the EU's goal of scaling its domestic AI capabilities to compete globally.

• The European Union's €20 billion ($23.3 billion) initiative to establish five massive AI data centers is currently stalling due to funding disputes and timeline delays. • Internal friction and financial uncertainty have reportedly alienated several potential partners, hindering the project's momentum. • The initiative is critical for the EU's goal of achieving technological sovereignty and reducing reliance on non-European AI infrastructure.

Reggio Emilia prefect stops gig after ‘concerns’ from local Jewish community over rapper’s previous antisemitic remarksA Kanye West concert in Italy has been cancelled over “public order and safety issues”.The 48-year-old rapper, who changed his name to Ye in 2021, was due to perform at the Pulse of Gaia festival at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on 18 July, but the city’s prefect, Salvatore Angieri, stopped the gigs after “concerns” from the local Jewish community over previous antisemitic remarks by West. Continue reading...

Office for Product Safety and Standards advises stopping use of Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Slide Pro bases immediatelyA baby car seat product that poses a risk of injuries to children because of a malfunctioning safety indicator has been recalled by its manufacturer.Maxi-Cosi is recalling all of its FamilyFix Slide Pro bases from buyers, information on the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website shows. Continue reading...

US president, who turns 80 next month, frequently casts himself as fit but recent photos have added to questions about his healthSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump, who turns 80 next month, will undergo his routine annual physical on Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, after a year of public attention on apparently minor health issues.The US president frequently casts himself as more energetic and fitter than Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessor who left office last year at age 82 after facing questions about his fitness for the job. Continue reading...

Bureau of Meteorology says thunderstorms could bring widespread rainfalls and flash flooding while there are ‘signs of El Niño development’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSevere thunderstorms could bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding to eastern and south-eastern Australia in coming days, according to the weather bureau.On Tuesday afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said a low-pressure system over South Australia combined with moisture being pushed down the eastern seaboard from the tropics, would bring widespread rainfalls. Continue reading...

Nearly a third of vice-chancellors would cut hardship support if necessary over next three years, according to pollVice-chancellors have said they may need to cut hardship support for impoverished students and reduce outreach activities aimed at disadvantaged groups if the dire funding struggles at universities continue.The anonymous poll of leaders by Universities UK (UUK) revealed the extent of the budgetary quagmire facing higher education, with more than two-thirds prepared to cut staff jobs by compulsory redundancy if difficulties continue over the next three years, while nearly 90% said they were looking at hiring freezes or voluntary redundancies. Continue reading...

Labour MP writes to chair amid concerns building societies are overusing quick votes and failing to add members to boardsNationwide is under pressure to address “emerging governance issues” across the building society sector, amid concerns bosses are bundling voting options and failing to allocate board seats for members.The Stockport Labour MP Navendu Mishra has sent a formal letter to the chair of Nationwide, Kevin Parry, outlining growing unease over the way executives, including at Nationwide, have been engaging with members who ultimately own their building societies. A letter raising similar concerns was sent to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in recent weeks. Continue reading...

• LTM has issued an offer to acquire Randstad’s Technology and Consulting Services business across Australia, France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. • The proposed acquisition targets a business segment representing over USD 500 million (€469M) in annual revenue. • This strategic move aims to scale LTM's AI services and domain-driven solutions, specifically expanding its footprint in the Automotive, Utilities, BFS, and Aerospace & Defence sectors.

Temperatures expected to reach as high as 33C in southern England or Midlands on MondayAmber heat health alerts have been issued for the bank holiday weekend as record-breaking May temperatures as high as 33C (91F) are expected in parts of the UK.The alerts – which indicate a possible risk to life as well as potential damage to properties, significant travel delays and power cuts – were announced for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the east of England, London and the south-east, and will be in effect from 2pm on Friday until 5pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

HHS advisory says high screen time among youths can be linked to poor sleep and weakened in-person relationshipsHealth officials in the Trump administration have issued an advisory about children and adolescents’ excessive screen time, warning that negative impacts on sleep and mental functioning have “become a public health concern”.The advisory from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes that the amount of screen time reaches an average of four or more hours per day by the time a child becomes a teenager and can be linked to poor sleep, decreased functioning in school, less physical activity and weakened in-person relationships. Continue reading...

Tax office apologises as ombudsman delivers stinging criticism, saying ‘ATO won’t learn unless people highlight the mistakes’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian Taxation Office fined a 97-year-old Brisbane woman $1,650 because she had not “prioritised her tax obligations”, despite the recent death of her husband who managed their financial affairs.The decision was only overturned after her accountant posted details of the incident on LinkedIn – catching the attention of industry associations and the tax ombudsman, who issued a stinging rebuke direct to the ATO. Continue reading...

Rising cost of living such as high gas prices also a concern in election that will have record number of votersVoters in the Bahamas head to the polls on Tuesday in a hotly contested general election featuring high-profile candidates such as the former basketball champion Rick Fox.Voters in the Caribbean archipelago are divided over concerns about immigration, especially from neighbouring Haiti, and the rising cost of living, with significant spikes in gas prices caused by war in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Leaders cannot ignore support for reparations resolution this November, says St Vincent and Grenadines ex-PMWhat are reparations for slavery and colonialism – and will the UK pay?It is “inconceivable” that reparatory justice from Britain for the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans will not be “front and centre” of the next Commonwealth leaders meeting, the former prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines has said.Ralph Gonsalves was in Jamaica to discuss the next steps of the “alive and growing” movement to advocate for reparations for hundreds of years of chattel slavery. Continue reading...

• US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's response to a US peace proposal as 'totally unacceptable' on Monday, escalating tensions amid ongoing Middle East conflict. • Tehran warned of new attacks in retaliation, as reported by Asia News Network, heightening fears of prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. • The rejection triggered market volatility across Asia, with investors seeking safe-haven assets amid potential impacts on regional energy security.

International Airlines Group expects to spend £1.7bn more on fuel than planned since US-Israeli attack on IranBusiness news – live updatesThe parent company of British Airways has issued a profit warning and said it expects to spend about €2bn (£1.72bn) more on fuel than planned this year due to the Iran war.International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, said it has hedged 70% of its expected fuel use for this year with costs expected to be about €9bn, up from previous forecasts of €7.1bn. Continue reading...

• Southeast Asian leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plan to release a draft declaration on Friday at their annual summit in Cebu, Philippines, upholding international law, sovereignty, and freedom of navigation amid Middle East tensions. • The statement, seen by The Associated Press on Thursday, serves as a veiled rebuke to the United States, Israel, and Iran over the regional war impacting Southeast Asia's energy security, food supply, and migrant workers. • Host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized focusing on protecting over one million Southeast Asian workers and seafarers in the Middle East during the gathering of 10 national leaders plus Myanmar's representative.

Chair Tim Martin says pub chain could miss expectations, in latest sign UK hospitality sector buckling under higher billsBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of JD Wetherspoon has said the pub chain could miss profit expectations because of rising costs, in the latest sign the UK hospitality industry is buckling under the pressure of higher energy, food, labour and tax bills.The company’s chair, Tim Martin, told investors on Wednesday: “As many hospitality operators, including Wetherspoon, have reported, there have been substantial increases in costs.” Continue reading...

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gave Singapore a mixed review on Wednesday, praising its stability but warning of vulnerabilities as a global financial hub. • Singapore's wealth and political stability attract illicit actors seeking to launder funds, prompting FATF to urge stronger oversight measures. • The assessment impacts Singapore's reputation in international finance, potentially affecting banking regulations and cross-border transactions.

The 80-year-old singer will not be performing rescheduled dates in September but assured fans she is receiving treatment and ‘improving every day’Dolly Parton has canceled her Las Vegas residency over ongoing health issues.The 80-year-old singer had originally been scheduled to perform six shows at Caesar’s Palace last December but moved the dates to September 2026. She has now announced on social media that she won’t be able to perform as planned. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Sperm re-transplant offers hope that boys left infertile by chemotherapy could have biological children one dayIn a groundbreaking fertility trial, a man whose testicular tissue was frozen before he underwent chemotherapy as a child to be re-transplanted 16 years later has been able to produce sperm.It is the first time a transplant of cryopreserved prepubertal testicular tissue has been demonstrated to restore sperm production in an adult patient. The 27-year-old man had the sample frozen when he was 10, before undergoing potent chemotherapy as part of treatment for sickle cell disease. Continue reading...

• Oracle released a new customer security advisory on April 30, 2026, preempting threats to AI models. • The advisory highlights a cybersecurity harbinger, urging updated security postures for AI deployments. • It signals proactive measures against novel vulnerabilities targeting generative AI systems.

Mojtaba Khamenei says Tehran will eliminate ‘enemy’s abuses of the waterway’ and guard its nuclear and missile programmesUS politics live – latest updatesIran’s supreme leader has broken his recent silence with a defiant statement hailing Iran’s control over shipping in the strait of Hormuz and vowing to guard the country’s nuclear and missile programmes.“Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the strait of Hormuz,” Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement read by a state television anchor. Continue reading...