67 m. ago Spruiking, fake tradies and corflute stoushes: how to understand the Australian election

Federal elections bring out a special vocabulary that has become all too familiar to Australian voters, but potentially baffling to outsidersFollow all our Australia 2025 election coverageAustralians pride themselves on their distinctive federal elections. It’s among a handful of nations that enforces compulsory voting, boasting a turnout rate of more than 90%. The preferential voting system, in theory, means no votes are wasted and choice matters. In recent years, Australians even have an emblem for their civic duty – a democracy sausage – the natural conclusion of voting on a Saturday at schools eager to raise funds.Also unique is Australian campaign vernacular, which is, year after year, keenly adopted by the media and politicians alike. From donkey voting to corflute stoushes and spruiking, here are some of the weird idioms you need to know to keep abreast of what’s been happening in the lead-up to Saturday’s federal election, which pitches incumbent Anthony Albanese’s Labor aga...

Events

69 m. ago British planes take part in air strike against Houthis in Yemen

Britain has targeted buildings used by the group to make drones to target ships, the Ministry of Defence has said

Events

98 m. ago UK is not ready for coming climate ‘disaster,’ government advisers warn

Despite increased examples of extreme weather, advisers say “we are seeing no increase in action”

Events

1 hour ago Top Trump adviser struggled to soothe investors in talks after market tumult

Stephen Miran met hedge funds and big asset managers after tariffs sparked Wall Street turmoil

Economics

1 hour ago Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on Disney+ is a devastating indictment of The Met

The story of how a Brazilian electrician lost his life to a litany of police mistakes will make you angry

Events

1 hour ago President Trump celebrates 'historic' 100 days in office after slashing aid and sweeping deportations

In just 100 days, Donald Trump has managed to consolidate his grip on power by slashing the federal government with Elon Musk, as well as send world trade into complete disarray

Politics

2 h. ago Government unveils plans to expand options for home heating grants

Air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries could be made eligible under the boiler upgrade scheme.

Politics

2 h. ago ‘Lumbering dinosaur’ HMRC becoming more expensive and less trusted, say MPs

The Commons Public Accounts Committee found the cost of collecting taxes rose by £563 million over the last parliament, while productivity fell.

Politics

2 h. ago Benny Blanco says Selena Gomez waited outside his house 30 minutes before dates

It comes after the pair released collaborative album I Said I Love You First in March.

Politics

2 h. ago More than 1,000 physician associates could enter NHS workforce each year

The medical regulator has approved 36 courses to teach physician associates and anaesthesia associates.

Politics

2 h. ago Trump softens car tariffs as he visits industrial heartland in Michigan

Executive order comes after industry voiced concerns that US trade war would raise costs

Politics

3 h. ago War over 6ft fence goes to government and prompts drastic decision

A Scottish couple claimed their 6ft wooden fence was needed to protect their privacy but they were ordered to cut it in half following a battle with government officials

Politics

4 h. ago Ryan Reynolds says he is looking forward to ‘many more’ years with Wrexham

Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the Welsh football club for £2 million in February 2021.

Events

4 h. ago UPS to cut 20,000 jobs as it prepares to halve Amazon shipments

Delivery group declines to update its outlook for the year owing to macroeconomic ‘uncertainty’

Politics

6 h. ago Trump’s assault on climate make UN talks an ‘uphill battle’, says Cop30 chair

Environmental rollbacks and tariffs makes meeting challenging, says summit president André Corrêa do LagoCrucial United Nations climate talks this year will be a “slightly uphill battle” due to economic turmoil and Donald Trump’s removal of the US from the effort to tackle global heating, the chair of the upcoming summit has admitted.Governments from around the world will gather in Belem, Brazil, in November for the Cop30 meeting, where they will be expected to announce new plans to deal with the climate crisis and slash greenhouse gas emissions. Very few countries have done so yet, however, and the world remains well off track to remain within agreed temperature limits designed to avert the worst consequences of climate breakdown. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago UN climate talks will be ‘uphill battle’ amid Trump rollbacks, says Cop30 chair

Tariffs and environmental cuts will make meeting challenging, says summit president André Corrêa do LagoCrucial United Nations climate talks this year will be a “slightly uphill battle” due to economic turmoil and Donald Trump’s removal of the US from the effort to tackle global heating, the chair of the upcoming summit has admitted.Governments from around the world will gather in Belem, Brazil, in November for the Cop30 meeting, where they will be expected to announce new plans to deal with the climate crisis and slash greenhouse gas emissions. Very few countries have done so yet, however, and the world remains well off track to remain within agreed temperature limits designed to avert the worst consequences of climate breakdown. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Farm tax is risk to UK food security, says former foreign secretary

James Cleverly spoke after farmers parked two vintage tractors in London as part of a protest by Save British Farming against tax changes.

Events

6 h. ago Cyclist smashed head open after horror fall and died as motorists ignored him

WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: A cyclist died after he fell from his bike and landed on the top of his head, suffering a cracked skull and blood loss as motorists ignored him in the road

Events

6 h. ago UK took control of British Steel before assessing costs to taxpayers, letters show

‘Ministerial direction’ raises questions over the price of saving country’s last two blast furnaces

Economics

6 h. ago UK took control of British Steel before assessing cost to taxpayers, letters show

‘Ministerial direction’ raises questions over the price of saving country’s last two blast furnaces

Economics