Australia news live: Victoria braces for ‘catastrophic’ fire risk; Queensland on tropical cyclone watch pred 3 urami in 3 minutami State warned to be prepared and to stay indoors as firefighters ready for action. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn interesting aspect of the heatwave is highlighted by a report in the Financial Review this morning about how record demand for power on the grid is being eased by rooftop solar.The article says that demand in the national electricity market reached its highest-ever level at around 4pm on Wednesday with the nation drawing 38.9 gigawatts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuela to release ‘important number’ of detainees pred 3 urami in 14 minutami Congressional president Jorge Rodríguez says releases are a gesture to ‘consolidate peace’Five days after the US seized its former president Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has announced that it is releasing an “important number” of detainees in what the congressional president characterised as a gesture to “consolidate peace”.It is still unclear how many people are being freed. Human rights organisations working in the country estimate that Venezuela holds between 800 and 1,000 political prisoners, most of them detained for taking part in protests after the 2024 election, widely believed to have been stolen by Maduro. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Palestine Action activist compared to suffragettes in court pred 3 urami in 15 minutami Charlotte Head, who is accused of taking part in a break-in at Israeli defence firm, is called a ‘remarkable woman’ by her barristerA Palestine Action activist accused of taking part in a break-in at an Israeli defence firm’s UK site is a “remarkable woman”, her barrister has told jurors as he likened her to the suffragettes.Charlotte Head, 29, is on trial at Woolwich crown court, south-east London, accused of being involved in a “meticulously organised” protest at the Elbit Systems factory in Filton, near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran plunged into internet blackout as protests over economy spread nationwide pred 3 urami in 20 minutami Outage piles pressure on regime as Iranian security forces reported to have killed at least 45 since protests startedIran was plunged into a complete internet blackout on Thursday night as demonstrations over economic conditions spread nationwide, increasing pressure on the country’s leadership.While it was unclear what caused the internet cut, first reported by internet freedom monitor NetBlocks, Iranian authorities have shut down the internet in response to protests in the past. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reeves’s promise of pub business rates U-turn averts Labour rebellion pred 3 urami in 28 minutami Change in England largely welcomed by industry and Labour MPs but represents another climbdownUK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesRachel Reeves has avoided another damaging rebellion against her economic policies with the promise of a U-turn on controversial tax hikes for pubs in England, after weeks of protest from her colleagues and the hospitality industry.Government sources said on Thursday the chancellor was finalising a support package for the struggling industry that would include reductions to business rates for pubs, which had been facing a 76% rise on average over the next three years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kristi Noem doubles down on claim ICE agent killed woman in self-defense pred 3 urami in 30 minutami DHS secretary’s claims have been widely disputed with video of shooting showing vehicle turning away from agentUS politics live – latest updatesKristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, has doubled down on her claim that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis was acting in self-defense and responding to an “act of domestic terrorism”.Noem also said that she was “not opposed” to sending additional federal agents to Minneapolis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two oil tankers under US sanctions sailing through Channel towards Russia pred 3 urami in 34 minutami Aria and Tia both south of Britain after US-UK seizure of Marinera, deemed to be part of Moscow’s ‘shadow fleet’Two oil tankers under US sanctions are sailing east through the Channel towards Russia, prompting speculation over whether the US and UK would be willing to seize further vessels linked to Moscow.The Aria and the Tia, which has changed its name and country of registration several times, were both travelling south of Britain a day after the Marinera oil tanker was captured in the Atlantic by the US with UK help. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
