5 h. ago Australia rebuffs calls to commit to joining hypothetical US

Anthony Albanese says he doesn’t support unilateral action in Taiwan amid reports Washington seeking guarantees about how Canberra would respond in event of Indo-Pacific conflictFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia will refuse any US request to join a “hypothetical” conflict with China over Taiwan and won’t make any advance commitment, the defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, has said, amid reports Washington is seeking such promises in discussions over the Aukus submarines.The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also pushed back on such a request, alluding to America’s own position of so-called “strategic ambiguity” on whether the US would militarily respond in a conflict over Taiwan. He said Australia wanted to see “peace and security” in the region.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago The ultimate Blair Rich Project: Former PM and his wife install £500,000 James Bond

The former Prime Minister, who declared himself a socialist during his political career, is splashing out on a floor that drops and rises at the touch of a button.

Economics

20 h. ago Voices: Keir Starmer has achieved the first half of his impossible mission

The small boats deal with France was a negotiating triumph – but if it doesn’t work, the prime minister is doomed, says John Rentoul

Events

23 h. ago How Angela Rayner has become the most influential figure in Starmer’s government – for now

The Independent's Political Editor David Maddox says that despite the clash with Unite, the deputy prime minister’s influence is unmatched since the welfare rebellion

Politics

26 h. ago Unite boss accuses Angela Rayner of ‘totally and utterly abhorrent’ behaviour as clash with Labour escalates

The general secretary of Unite has launched fresh attacks on deputy prime minister Angela Rayner

Politics

30 h. ago Young people don’t feel part of the EU – and they’re right | Francesco Grillo

Its remote, top-down structures need a fresh, citizen-led approach fit for the digital age. Let’s start by extending Erasmus to school-goersThe former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi produced his much-awaited prescription for how to reboot Europe’s economy last year. The Draghi report was rightly applauded as a rude awakening for a European Union that is far too complacent about its own obsolescence. Draghi concluded that an €800bn-a-year public spending boost would be needed to end years of stagnation. If Europe did not catch up with its rivals, he warned, it would face a “slow and agonising” decline.And yet, one ingredient was missing from Draghi’s recipe. In his nearly 400-page roadmap for rescuing the EU, the word “democracy” is mentioned only three times (once in the bibliography). By contrast, “integration” is used 96 times and “defence” 391 times. It’s true that Draghi’s report was explicitly devoted to the future of European competitiveness (and not more widely to the Eu...

Politics

40 h. ago Rayner ’will not be pushed around’ by Unite after union votes to suspend her

Deputy PM targeted for role in Birmingham bin strikes but sources say she resigned her membership months agoAngela Rayner has made clear she will not be “pushed around” by the Unite trade union after it voted to suspend her membership and rethink its ties with the party.The deputy prime minister was targeted for censure by the union over her role in the Birmingham bin strike, although party sources said Rayner resigned her membership of Unite some months ago. Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Labour goes to war with Unite: Union accused of 'silly stunts' after suspending Angela Rayner for failing to back striking bin workers 'causing misery' in Birmingham

The party accused Unite of engaging in 'silly stunts' after its annual conference voted to suspend the membership of the Deputy Prime Minister, who said the walk-out was causing 'misery' and should end.

Events

41 h. ago The Guardian view on Starmer and Macron’s channel crossings deal: safe routes hold the key to future progress | Editorial

The government has hailed its ‘one in, one out’ migrant returns deal as a breakthrough. But awkward questions over its implementation remainTo use a football analogy that he might appreciate, the first year of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has been a game of two halves. Domestically, grievous strategic mistakes have been made. On the foreign stage, however, an approach that Sir Keir likes to style as “quiet, serious diplomacy” has yielded some tangible results.For the most part, this week’s state visit by Emmanuel Macron further showcased the benefits of leaving behind the blowhard politics of the post-Brexit years. Sir Keir and the French president used the occasion to pledge greater cooperation on security and strengthened their joint commitment to safeguarding Ukraine’s future as a sovereign independent state. But the biggest take-away from Mr Macron’s trip launched the prime minister straight back into toxic domestic terrain.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this a...

Politics

43 h. ago Labour in clash with unions as Unite suspends Rayner’s membership and says party is not on side of workers

General secretary Sharon Graham said the deputy prime minister ‘has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute’ over Birmingham’s bin strike

Economics

43 h. ago The special envoy’s plan is the latest push to weaponise antisemitism, as a relentless campaign pays off | Louise Adler

The omissions are as important as the inclusions in Jillian Segal’s plan, which is guilty of overreachGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne must acknowledge the remarkably effective Jewish community organisations in Australia behind the latest antisemitism report. Collectively, with their News Ltd megaphone, they have successfully badgered the government of the day, cowed the ABC, intimidated vice-chancellors and threatened to defund arts organisations.With the ability to garner prime ministerial dinners, a battalion of lobbyists has gained access to editors, duchessed willingly seduced journalists keen to enjoy junkets and corralled more than 500 captains of industry to subscribe to full-page ads against antisemitism and thereby blurring political argument with prejudice and bias. It is no surprise that this relentless propaganda effort has paid off. Continue reading...

Events

43 h. ago The special envoy’s plan is the latest push to weaponise antisemitism in Australia, as a relentless campaign pays off | Louise Adler

The omissions are as important as the inclusions in Jillian Segal’s plan, which is guilty of overreachGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne must acknowledge the remarkably effective Jewish community organisations in Australia behind the latest antisemitism report. Collectively, with their News Ltd megaphone, they have successfully badgered the government of the day, cowed the ABC, intimidated vice-chancellors and threatened to defund arts organisations.With the ability to garner prime ministerial dinners, a battalion of lobbyists has gained access to editors, duchessed willingly seduced journalists keen to enjoy junkets and corralled more than 500 captains of industry to subscribe to full-page ads against antisemitism and thereby blurring political argument with prejudice and bias. It is no surprise that this relentless propaganda effort has paid off. Continue reading...

Events

44 h. ago Bangladesh caretaker government overturns use of ‘sir’ to address female officials

Protocol was ‘clearly odd’ relic of regime of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, administration says in revision of directivesBangladesh’s caretaker government has overturned a longstanding protocol requiring female officials to be addressed as “sir”, calling it an “odd” relic of the regime of the ousted leader, Sheikh Hasina.The interim administration, headed by the Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus, took office last year after the former prime minister was overthrown by a student-led uprising, forcing her to flee to neighbouring India. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Former Tory MP appears in court alongside 14 others accused of betting on the date of the 2024 election

Former Conservative MP Craig Williams, 40, allegedly placed a £100 bet on the date the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would hold the general election.

Politics

46 h. ago Unite suspends Angela Rayner’s membership as it says Labour is not on the side of workers

General secretary Sharon Graham said the deputy prime minister ‘has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute’ over Birmingham’s bin strike

Economics

47 h. ago Unite votes to suspend Angela Rayner membership over Birmingham bin strikes

Union, to which deputy PM may not belong, also votes to reconsider ties with Labour if council forces through redundanciesUK politics live – latest updatesUnite has voted to suspend the membership of the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, and reconsider its ties with Labour over their approach to the Birmingham bin workers’ strike.Labour’s biggest union donor passed the motion at its policy conference on Friday, despite party sources saying Rayner had resigned her membership of Unite months ago. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago UK’s largest union suspends Angela Rayner’s membership as it says Labour is not on the side of workers

General secretary Sharon Graham said the deputy prime minister ‘has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute’ over Birmingham’s bin strike

Economics

47 h. ago Angela Rayner SUSPENDED from Unite union after emergency motion over bin strike row

Unite has also voted to 're-examine its relationship' with Labour after suspending the Deputy Prime Minister

Events

47 h. ago People with UK links to get priority under France migration deal, says Cooper – UK politics live

Home secretary says ‘genuine refugees’ or those targeted by smuggling gangs could also benefit under scheme which is expected to bring around 50 or so migrants a week from FranceBritain expects EU to approve migration deal, says CooperOne of the joys, or perils, of being prime minister is that every summer you get invited to Scotland for a sleepover with the royal family. They tend to view these trips with mixed feelings. The king is seen as a great host, as was his mother, but some PMs grumble that Balmoral is freezing cold, and stuffy, and the rituals of a Scottish country home can feel a bit odd if you are not used to that sort of thing.Donald Trump hasn’t been made a king yet, but obviously he would like to be one and he too has invited the PM to Scotland this summer. According to Reuters, Trump will be visiting Scotland later this month, reportedly to check up on his golf courses, and he has invited Starmer to join him. “Starmer has accepted,” Reuters says. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Ukraine rejects accusation by Hungarian leader Orbán over the fatal beating of a dual citizen

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukrainian authorities of beating a Hungarian-Ukrainian dual citizen to death after his military conscription

Politics