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• Le secrétaire à la Défense sera interrogé par les législateurs de la commission sénatoriale des forces armées après une séance houleuse à la Chambre hier • Inscrivez-vous à l'e-mail Breaking News US Bonjour et bienvenue dans notre couverture de la politique américaine alors que Pete Hegseth entame une deuxième journée d'interrogatoires menés par les démocrates au Capitole, les sénateurs ayant leur première occasion de confronter ou de louer le chef du Pentagone pour sa gestion de la guerre en Iran. • Le secrétaire à la Défense s'est opposé aux démocrates — et à certains républicains — hier lors d'une audition de près de six heures devant la commission des forces armées de la Chambre, où il a été interrogé sur le coût de la guerre en dollars, en vies humaines et sur l'épuisement des stocks d'armes critiques.

• L'outil de suivi des perspectives de consommation montre que 85 % s'inquiètent du prix des denrées alimentaires et qu'une majorité pense que l'économie va se détériorer • Trois millions de foyers au Royaume-Uni sont contraints de sauter des repas alors que les consommateurs recourent à des mesures drastiques pour faire face à la hausse des coûts, selon un rapport de Which? publié jeudi. • Le conflit au Moyen-Orient et la flambée subséquente des prix du pétrole et des matières premières ont conduit les entreprises à se préparer à augmenter leurs prix, accentuant la pression sur les finances des ménages et affectant la confiance des consommateurs. Lire la suite...

• Les prix de l'essence ont franchi la barre des 4 $ le gallon et les tarifs aériens se sont envolés alors que le blocus du détroit d'Ormuz impacte les marchés de l'énergie en pleine guerre impliquant les États-Unis, Israël et l'Iran, érodant l'atout politique majeur de Trump. • Plus des trois quarts des électeurs inscrits — dont plus de la moitié des républicains et 82 % des indépendants — attribuent désormais à Trump la responsabilité de la crise du coût de la vie affectant le carburant, l'alimentation, le logement et la santé. • La cote de popularité de Trump pour son second mandat a chuté bien plus rapidement que celle des présidents précédents à la suite d'un shutdown du gouvernement, de tarifs douaniers et de l'attaque conjointe américano-israélienne contre l'Iran, le président de la Réserve fédérale Jerome Powell avertissant que la guerre alimente l'inflation.

• Près des deux tiers (64 %) des adultes américains s'inquiètent de pouvoir assumer les frais de santé, dont 30 % se disent très inquiets, plaçant cette préoccupation en tête devant celle liée au prix de l'essence. • L'accessibilité financière des soins de santé reste la principale préoccupation du public malgré d'autres pressions économiques. • Le sondage souligne la pression financière persistante sur les ménages dans un contexte de hausse des dépenses médicales.

• Alors que son secrétaire à la Défense témoignait devant une commission de la Chambre, Trump a publié une image de lui générée par IA avec une arme et une légende disant « NO MORE MR. NICE GUY » • Pete Hegseth a nié que la guerre États-Unis-Israël contre l'Iran soit un « bourbier » et a affirmé que les critiques de l'opération représentaient une menace plus grande pour les États-Unis que l'Iran lui-même, alors qu'il subissait des pressions pour exposer la stratégie de Washington pour le conflit. • Comparaissant devant la commission des services armés de la Chambre aux côtés du général Dan Caine, chef d'état-major interarmées, le secrétaire américain à la Défense a demandé aux législateurs d'approuver un budget de 1,5 billion de dollars de dépenses militaires – avant de qualifier certains d'entre eux de « plus grand défi » pour l'effort de guerre. Continuer la lecture...

Brown appelle la police à enquêter sur l'utilisation des fonds publics par l'ancien prince, affirmant qu'il avait demandé à un collègue de soulever la question en 2008. Gordon Brown a révélé avoir ordonné qu'Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor soit interrogé sur des « coûts inacceptables » engagés en tant qu'envoyé pour le commerce en 2008, tout en demandant à la police d'élargir son enquête à l'utilisation des fonds publics. L'ancien Premier ministre a déclaré avoir demandé à un collègue du département des affaires d'interroger Mountbatten-Windsor sur ses frais de déplacement. Lire la suite...

Un cabinet spécialisé en insolvabilité pointe du doigt la hausse des taxes, les coûts du personnel et la fragilité de la confiance des consommateurs, alors que le nombre d'entreprises concernées grimpe à 62 193.

• Les entreprises de pêche peuvent également bénéficier de subventions allant jusqu'à 70 %, dans le cadre d'un assouplissement des règles d'aide d'État pour les « secteurs les plus exposés ». • L'UE va subventionner jusqu'à 70 % du coût supplémentaire du carburant et des engrais causé par la guerre en Iran pour les agriculteurs, les entreprises de pêche et les transporteurs routiers, dans le cadre d'un ensemble de mesures d'urgence dévoilé mercredi. • Chaque entreprise peut demander jusqu'à 50 000 € d'ici la fin de l'année avec un minimum de formalités administratives, une mesure avec laquelle l'UE espère éliminer ce qu'elle considère comme une menace existentielle pour les transporteurs et les agriculteurs.

Climate group calls for urgent windfall tax on excess fossil fuel profits, as delegates tell Colombia conference their nations are sufferingThe Middle East oil and gas crunch will impose as much as a trillion dollars of additional costs on the global economy while petroleum companies rake in spectacular profits from elevated fuel prices, analysis has revealed.The uneven distribution of risk and reward comes amid rising concern that the US-Israeli attack on Iran is worsening inequality, poverty and hunger across a world that has become dangerously dependent on fossil fuels. Continue reading...

• East Bay man in Contra Costa County died after consuming toxic wild mushrooms amid statewide spike. • California recorded 35 mushroom poisoning cases from Nov. 18 to Jan. 4, far above average of under five yearly. • Surge prompts health warnings on foraging risks during wet weather conditions.

Exclusive: Report shows cost of first appointment rose $20 in one year, with steeper rises in Western Australia, South Australia and TasmaniaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPatients are increasingly going without medically necessary dermatological care, the head of the Consumers Health Forum said, as new report reveals the rising cost of the specialty in Australia.Dermatology is expensive and getting pricier, with an average first visit now costing an adult patient without concessions $230 out-of-pocket, while follow-up appointments cost almost $190, the report from health directory Cleanbill found. Continue reading...

• The Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Powell regarding the agency's building expenditures, marking a significant development in federal oversight. • The decision came amid broader discussions on Capitol Hill about federal accountability, with both Republican and Democratic representatives weighing in on the implications. • The outcome reflects shifting priorities in federal investigations and debates over Fed governance and spending practices.

Officials hope more casual attire for public servants will save electricity during Iran war as summer approachesPublic servants working for the Tokyo metropolitan government are being encouraged to swap their suits for shorts this summer to combat sweltering heat and rising energy costs caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.Inspired by the country’s Cool Biz energy-saving initiative, Tokyo officials hope the measure will cut dependence on air conditioning. Continue reading...

Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran could speed the EU’s green revolution – if panicking governments can hold their nerve on clean energy• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereA surge in demand for electric vehicles across Europe may be evidence of what George Monbiot greeted as the silver lining of the Iran war. Sales of electric cars in continental Europe rose by 51% in March.The International Energy Agency has called the disruption in the strait of Hormuz the “biggest energy crisis in history”, but it appears, on one level, to be accelerating Europe’s green revolution. Yet, even if car-owners are rushing to the EV showrooms, some European governments, facing a groundswell of anger over soaring petrol and gas prices, are at risk of sending the clean energy transition into reverse. Continue reading...

Firm had to repatriate almost 12,000 guests and staff, including from two cruise ships in Abu Dhabi and DohaThe Iran war has cost the travel company Tui €40m (£34.7m) so far, including repatriating almost 12,000 holidaymakers and staff, and forced it to cut its profit forecast for this year.Europe’s biggest holiday operator said that it had taken the hit in March owing to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, as it was forced to bring home 5,000 guests from two cruise ships anchored in ports in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Continue reading...

Farmers have been calling for higher prices for weeks, amid soaring diesel and fertiliser costs and limited supplyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes has increased home-brand milk prices by up to 20c a litre, with Woolworths set to follow as war in the Middle East starts to hit Australian grocery costs.The price rise will support the company’s bottom line against pressure from higher fuel and operating costs, while some of the revenue will be temporarily passed on to dairy farmers. Continue reading...

The trend has been accelerated by the US-Israel war on Iran, leaving households – and cafe owners – glum, surveys suggestFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor many coffee drinkers, takeaway orders are changing from a habitual purchase to an occasional treat, as elevated petrol prices and other living costs leave households feeling glum.This rapid shift in behaviour has disappointed cafe owners and surprised economists, raising an uneasy question: if takeaway coffee sales are falling, is the economy next? Continue reading...

• Oil prices dropped significantly, providing tailwinds for technology companies as lower energy costs reduce operational expenses and improve profit margins across the sector. • Constellation Research founder R 'Ray' Wang discussed the direct relationship between Big Tech performance and oil and gas pricing, highlighting how the energy market collapse supports tech stock rebounds. • The decline in energy costs removes a key headwind for capital-intensive tech operations and data centers, contributing to the broader market rally.

A Trace analysis found that revenue from fining white-collar criminals is drying up – due to presidential pardonsThis story was originally published by the Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here.Since his return to office last year, Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of white-collar criminals. He’s also forgiven their fines, penalties and restitution, to the tune of billions. Some of that revenue was supposed to go to a fund to help victims of violent crime – and the organizations that serve them are feeling the pinch. Continue reading...

Health secretary and chef Robert Irvine claim Americans could eat healthier and more cheaply if they shopped betterSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe first episode of the new Secretary Kennedy Podcast, produced by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), opens with this quote from guest Robert Irvine, who creates meal plans for the US military: “We talk about food being expensive. If you’re buying expensive food, it’s expensive. But if you’re buying food and you know what to do with it, it’s not expensive.”The episode is titled Fixing America’s Food System – Robert Irvine, and features a 45-minute conversation with the HHS secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the host of the show, and guest Irvine. Best known as a celebrity chef, Irvine has collaborated with the US military to launch Victory Fresh, a program that offers healthy grab-and-go meals on military bases, during the Biden administration. The program’s Biden-era origins are never acknowledged during the show. Continue reading...

Scheme cutting bills by up to 25% expanded to cover 10,000 firms, but they will not be paid until next yearRachel Reeves has announced an expansion of support for the most energy-intensive UK businesses, as they face soaring bills as a result of the Middle East conflict.The chancellor said the long-promised British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) would be expanded to cover 10,000 companies, up from the 7,000 originally announced. Continue reading...

Consumer spending on travel is down for the first time in five years while card spending edges up in MarchUK consumers have cut back on travel spending for the first time in five years, as they worry about the rising cost of living amid the Iran war.Overall consumer card spending increased 0.9% year on year in March, down from February’s 1%, according to data from Barclays. Continue reading...

Governments spending $2.13bn annually on low quality food in public settings, report saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReptile remains, believed to be from a crocodile, have been found dumped on the side of the road in Adelaide.A spokesperson for the state’s environment and water department confirmed in a statement that department staff had “collected the remains of a reptile at Waterloo Corner.” They said:The remains, which were dumped on the side of the road at Coleman Road, will be analysed in an effort to confirm the species and any other information.“It is not currently known how the remains came to be located at the site.A different approach can increase the use of fresh, local produce, redirect spending to Australian farmers and producers, support the people working in public food service kitchens, and generate real benefits for Australia.Better public food procurement is not about spending more, it’s about spending smarter. The evidence is clear, public support is strong, and the solutions exist. Given the threat to our food system caused by the global fuel and fertiliser crisis, now is the moment for leadership. Continue reading...

NSW government urged to investigate if transport department refused to share cost of sensors that would detect a person entering coupling areaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe potentially life-saving safety upgrades to Sydney’s light rail, which a former Transdev employee has alleged were cancelled in order to save money, would have only cost about $2.2m, according to the whistleblower.The New South Wales government has been urged to investigate whether its transport department declined to share the cost of installing sensors that would detect a person entering the coupling area between two joined trams after a fatal incident in 2023. Continue reading...

• Truckload markets are tightening faster than anticipated, with freight costs now projected to increase 16–17% year over year in 2026, according to C.H. Robinson's April freight market update. • Capacity constraints and carrier attrition are driving the acceleration in transportation costs across North America. • The tighter capacity environment signals sustained pressure on logistics expenses for shippers as supply chain challenges persist into the second quarter.

PM appears to draw comparison between Russian and US leaders and calls for plan to restore shipping through strait of HormuzKeir Starmer has said he is “fed up” with the effect that Donald Trump’s actions in the Middle East are having on the British public, while appearing to draw a comparison between the US president to Vladimir Putin.Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston on Thursday, the prime minister said: “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.” Continue reading...

Charity says it dealt with 75 incidents last year involving 100 or more animals living in one propertyThe cost of living crisis and an increase in people experiencing mental health difficulties have led to a rising number of multi-animal rescue incidents in England and Wales, an RSPCA superintendent has said.The animal charity this week had to confirm that a shocking photograph of more than 250 poodle-cross dogs found at a property in the UK was not faked with artificial intelligence. The RSPCA took in 87 of the dogs and the remainder went to the Dogs Trust, another charity. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Transdev undertook ‘coupling project’ after teen trapped between carriages in 2023. Trial restarted after second fatality, ex-employee claims, while Transdev denies ‘assessment’ ever shelvedThe company that operates Sydney’s light rail investigated safety upgrades following a fatal incident in 2023, but cancelled the project due to its cost before a second person died, a whistleblower alleges.After the first death, Transdev successfully trialled sensors that would detect a person entering the coupling area between two joined trams, according to the former employee who requested anonymity. But the project was stopped before another death in 2025, they said. Continue reading...