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• 어제 House armed services committee에서의 험악한 세션 이후, Defense secretary는 Senate armed services committee 의원들로부터 추가 질의를 받을 예정입니다. Breaking News US 이메일 뉴스레터를 신청하세요. • Pete Hegseth가 Capitol Hill에서 Democrats로부터 이틀째 질의를 받는 가운데, senators는 Pentagon 수장이 Iran war를 처리하는 방식에 대해 대면하거나 평가할 첫 번째 기회를 갖게 되었습니다. • Defense secretary는 어제 약 6시간 동안 진행된 House armed services committee 청문회에서 Democrats 및 일부 Republicans와 설전을 벌였으며, 이 전쟁의 dollars 및 lives 측면에서의 비용과 중요한 weapons 비축량의 감소에 대한 질문에 직면했습니다.

소비자 인사이트 추적 조사에 따르면 85%가 식료품 가격을 우려하고 있으며 대다수는 경제 상황이 악화될 것으로 예상하고 있습니다. 목요일에 발표된 Which? 보고서에 따르면, 소비자들이 치솟는 물가에 대처하기 위해 극단적인 조치를 취함에 따라 영국 내 300만 가구가 끼니를 거를 수밖에 없는 상황에 처해 있습니다. 중동 지역의 갈등과 그로 인한 유가 및 원자재 가격 급등으로 기업들이 가격 인상을 준비하고 있으며, 이는 가계 재정에 더 큰 압박을 가하고 소비자 신뢰도에 타격을 주고 있습니다. 계속 읽기...

• US-Israel과 Iran 간의 전쟁 중에 Strait of Hormuz 봉쇄가 에너지 시장에 영향을 미치면서 가솔린 가격이 갤런당 $4를 돌파하고 항공 요금이 폭등했으며, 이는 Trump의 주요 정치적 이점을 약화시키고 있습니다. • 공화당원의 절반 이상과 무당층의 82%를 포함하여 등록 유권자의 4분의 3 이상이 현재 연료, 식료품, 주거 및 의료비에 영향을 미치는 생활비 위기의 책임을 Trump에게 돌리고 있습니다. • 정부 셧다운, 관세, 그리고 US-Israel의 Iran 합동 공격 이후 Trump의 집권 2기 지지율은 이전 대통령들보다 훨씬 빠르게 하락했으며, Federal Reserve 의장 Jerome Powell은 전쟁이 인플레이션을 부추기고 있다고 경고했습니다.

• 미국 성인의 거의 3분의 2(64%)가 의료비 부담을 걱정하고 있으며, 이 중 30%는 매우 우려하고 있어 가솔린 가격보다 더 큰 부담으로 나타났습니다. • 다른 경제적 압박에도 불구하고 의료비 부담 능력은 여전히 대중의 주요 고민거리로 남아 있습니다. • 이번 설문조사는 의료비 상승으로 인해 가계가 겪고 있는 지속적인 재정적 어려움을 강조합니다.

• 국방부 장관이 하원 위원회에서 증언하는 동안, 트럼프는 무기를 든 자신의 AI 생성 이미지와 함께 '더 이상 착한 사람은 없다(NO MORE MR. NICE GUY)'라는 캡션을 게시했습니다. • 피트 헤그세스 국방장관은 미국-이스라엘의 이란 전쟁이 '수렁'이라는 주장을 부인했으며, 작전의 비판자들이 이란 자체보다 미국에 더 큰 위협이 된다고 주장했습니다. 이는 그가 갈등에 대한 워싱턴의 전략을 제시해야 한다는 압박을 받는 상황에서 나온 발언입니다. • 합동참모본부 의장 댄 케인 장군과 함께 하원 군사위원회에 출석한 국방장관은 의원들에게 1조 5천억 달러의 군사비 지출 예산 승인을 요청했으며, 이후 일부 의원들을 전쟁 노력의 '가장 큰 걸림돌'이라고 묘사했습니다.

• 브라운 전 총리는 2008년 동료를 통해 이 문제를 제기했었다고 밝히며, 경찰이 전 왕자의 공적 자금 사용 내역까지 수사 범위를 확대할 것을 촉구했습니다. • 고든 브라운은 2008년 당시 앤드루 마운트배튼-윈저가 무역 특사로서 '용납할 수 없는 비용'을 발생시킨 것에 대해 질문하도록 지시했다고 공개했습니다. • 전 총리는 기업부 소속 동료에게 마운트배튼-윈저의 출장비에 대해 추궁하라고 요청했다고 말했습니다.

파산 전문 기업은 위기 기업 수가 62,193개로 증가한 원인으로 세금 인상, 인건비 상승 및 소비자 신뢰 저하를 꼽았습니다. • 파산 관재인들에 따르면, 영국 기업들이 '잇따른 세금 인상'과 중동 분쟁의 영향으로 고군분투함에 따라 지난 1년간 '심각한 재무적 위기'에 처한 기업 수가 3분의 1 이상 증가했습니다. • 구조조정 전문 회사인 Begbies Traynor의 연구에 따르면, 특히 환대 및 레저 업종 기업들이 불안정한 소비자 신뢰, 세금 인상, 인건비 상승으로 인해 매우 어려운 상황에 처해 있습니다.

• 어업 회사 또한 '가장 노출된 부문'에 대한 국가 보조금 규칙 완화로 최대 70%의 보조금을 지원받을 수 있습니다. • EU는 수요일에 발표한 긴급 조치 패키지의 일환으로, 이란 전쟁으로 인해 발생한 농민, 어업 기업 및 도로 운송업체의 연료 및 비료 추가 비용의 최대 70%를 보조할 예정입니다. • 개별 기업은 지금부터 올해 말까지 최소한의 서류 작업만으로 각각 최대 50,000유로를 청구할 수 있으며, EU는 이 조치가 운송업자와 농민들이 직면한 실존적 위협을 제거하기를 기대하고 있습니다.

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...