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Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngela Jackson, the commissioner of the Productivity Commission, said the body stands by the interim report into the GST, which found the deal with Western Australia to be a costly mistake that should be reversed.Jackson spoke to RN this morning after WA premier Roger Cook said “east coast clowns” didn’t understand the state and any changes would “rip $6bn out of the Western Australia economy”.We are aiming, of course, to inform public policy debate, which can often get heated. Our view is that a line was crossed in terms of the nature of those comments from the Western Australian premier last month.We welcome debate and we welcome criticism of our work and our report more broadly because it makes our work stronger. But to undermine and I guess attack our integrity, I think is an additional bridge too far. And I think something that more broadly we are seeing in public debate internationally.It’s important for us to indicate that that process will not be influenced by the prime minister’s comments, that we are above politics, and that’s a very important position that we hold within the public policy landscape in Australia. Continue reading...

Reba McEntire, Lily Tomlin, Dionne Warwick, Kacey Musgraves, Donald Trump and others mourn star’s deathDolly Parton dies aged 80 | Celebrity tributes | A life in picturesParton’s peerless career turned country music cliches inside outShare your tributes and memories of Dolly PartonOur picture editors have collated Dolly Parton’s life in pictures:In the UK, top radio presenter Jo Whiley introduced her BBC Radio 2 evening show by playing I Will Always Love You, Jolene and 9 to 5 in tribute to Dolly Parton after her death was announced in the 7pm news headlines. Continue reading...

Seals and sea lions often communicate by touch and share spaces with wild birds, placing them at risk of infection from H5N1 virusFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSince H5 bird flu arrived in Portland, Victoria, the situation has been “pretty grim” with many dead and suffering birds on the beach, and the dilemma of how to dispose of the carcasses, according to local resident Lynn Murrell.But since the first confirmed case in a fur seal on Sunday at Beachport, South Australia – a two-hour trip over the border – people have been worried for their local “pet seal”, known as Sammy. Continue reading...

Matt Stanton says company has ‘good pipeline’ of AI deals ahead even as it aims to cut $160m in costsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe head of Nine Entertainment sees a “world of growth in publishing” on the horizon backed by laws designed to force tech platforms into commercial deals, even as the network cuts costs across its newsrooms.Parliament passed revamped media bargaining laws last week, clearing the way for levies on global tech platforms that fail to strike deals with Australian news outlets for the use of their journalism. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed.South Carolina chooses Darline Graham as Republican nominee for US SenateSign up for the US Breaking News emailOn Truth Social, however, the president shot down assertions that the US talks with Canada collapsed in part due a proposed trade deal that would have weakened French language protections.“I would never interfere with Canadians speaking French!” he wrote. “In fact, I have never even thought of doing such a stupid thing. This lie was made up by a weak and ineffective Prime Minister in an attempt to gain political support, which he has totally lost, from the people of Quebec.” Continue reading...

Heavy rain expected in parts of Vietnam and southern ‌China, as another storm system, Typhoon Saudel, heads for Japan and TaiwanWidespread flooding triggered by Typhoon Narra has submerged homes and forced mass evacuations in southern China, as another storm system tracked towards Japan and Taiwan.Authorities in Chongzuo, in China’s Guangxi region – famous for its giant waterfalls and karst limestone mountains – on Tuesday evacuated more than 15,000 people after water ⁠levels surpassed a record high set in 2008. Continue reading...

Labor put ‘levy on all public transport fares in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria’ since January 2025, auditor general saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian government secretly increased public transport fares to raise money to help pay for the Suburban Rail Loop and other Big Build projects, the state’s auditor general has revealed.The auditor general’s report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, also questioned whether the first stage of the multibillion-dollar project – a 26km stretch of twin tunnels from Cheltenham to Box Hill dubbed SRL East – can be delivered on time or within budget. Continue reading...

Commissioner Angela Jackson also said it was ‘disappointing’ that Anthony Albanese had ruled out changes to Western Australia’s GST arrangementsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Productivity Commission has condemned attacks on its integrity as “unacceptable” after its scathing assessment of Western Australia’s sweetheart GST deal as a costly mistake sparked a fierce political backlash and name-calling.Angela Jackson, a productivity commissioner and co-author of the report, said the country’s leading independent economic advisory body welcomed criticism and comments on its work. Continue reading...

Move by state department to limit access is part of Trump’s crackdown on both lawful and undocumented immigrationAll US immigrant visa applications have been paused by the Trump administration as the state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants who they deem could end up relying on US assistance, a state department official confirmed Tuesday.The agency launched the initiative at all embassies and consulates in early August, according to the official and visa appointments had to be adjusted to accommodate “in-depth training”, according to the official. The state department has been working on updated guidance and training since early this year, “to ensure all consular officers are fully equipped to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently”, they added. Continue reading...

Democratic Senate candidate for Michigan distances himself from Twitch streamer and debates Fox News hostThe Democratic candidate for Senate in the swing state of Michigan has spent the week trying to keep his affordability message front and center as scrutiny mounts from both ends of the political spectrum.In the span of two days, Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from leftwing streamer Hasan Piker, spoke out against rightwing hate directed at the Muslim community, and debated Fox News host Jesse Watters on taxing billionaires. The clip circulating most from the Fox interview, though, focused on circumcision - specifically, El-Sayed asking Watters whether he circumcised, in a retort to Watters’ question about gender-affirming care. Continue reading...

Stanley Druckenmiller said he was ‘proud of using it’ as wider media grapples with parameters around AI useStanley Druckenmiller, a billionaire investor, said he used artificial intelligence to pen his viral Wall Street Journal op-ed in which he sharply criticized the interference of Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, in the US bond market.Many news outlets, including the Guardian, covered the editorial, highlighting Druckenmiller’s rebuke of his former mentee, Bessent. As the story circulated online, some readers questioned rhetorical choices that resembled AI-generated text. Continue reading...

Meta is on trial over claims it hooked young users on its platforms despite mental health risks.

Syria’s Democratic Forces, which led the fight against ISIL, have declared they are disbanding.

Israeli soldiers blocked Knesset member Ofer Cassif from reaching a Palestinian family home in the occupied West Bank.

Zohran Mamdani says he opposes a right-wing Hindu nationalist event scheduled for next week at Madison Square Garden.

Families displaced by war in Sudan’s El Obeid refugee camps face crippling water shortages.

Malaysian leader's comments on the island have prompted discussion about whether the country is leaning towards China.

Army gains, RSF defections and al-Burhan’s political push point to a possible shift in Sudan’s war.

New report says abuses against Rohingya and unchecked resource exploitation deepening crisis in Myanmar.

Traders awaited inflation data along with Nvidia's latest quarterly results. Both are due Wednesday.

Some Democratic lawmakers and nonproliferation advocates have criticized the pact for not including a permanent prohibition on enrichment or reprocessing.

Trump last Sunday instructed the Pentagon to cut military drills because they were "costly" and send "inappropriate and hostile" signals to North Korea.  

It's a sign of adoption of Huawei technology outside China, despite the U.S. restricting the company from working with American suppliers such as Google.

Oil fell Wednesday, as investors continue to assess the U.S. pivot toward economic sanctions rather than military strikes to add pressure on Iran.

Sen. Darline Graham on Tuesday defeated Rep. Ralph Norman, winning the GOP nomination for a South Carolina Senate seat.

Washington has launched an economic offensive against Iran and Canada — the two countries one would normally not lump together.

Mechanical Turk launched in 2005 as a way to farm out tasks that are easy for humans to complete but too challenging for computers.

Live updates: Sen. Darline Graham of South Carolina, with Trump’s backing, wins GOP nomination to run for a full term  The Washington PostTrump gets a much-needed South Carolina win and other takeaways from Tuesday’s elections  CNNGraham, and Trump, Triumph: Six Takeaways From Runoffs in South Carolina and Oklahoma  The New York TimesSouth Carolina chooses Darline Graham as Republican nominee for US Senate  The GuardianTrump endorsement boosts sister of late Lindsey Graham to historic runoff victory  Fox News

Canada Fires Back in Trade War Against Trump With Up to 50% Tariffs  The New York TimesFrom ‘Fortress North America’ to All-Out Trade War: How the U.S.-Canada Talks Collapsed  The New York TimesLutnick’s last-minute demands derailed Canada trade talks: Reports  The HillCanada announces retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products as trade war deepens  The Washington PostThe Canadian Bad Cop on the Front Lines of the U.S. Trade War  WSJ

Oklahoma election live results | Aug. 25, 2026  5newsonline.comTrump’s Pick Wins a Closely Contested Oklahoma Primary for Governor  The New York TimesTrump-backed Mazzei defeats Drummond in Oklahoma governor GOP runoff  The HillLive Results: Oklahoma's midterm primary runoff  PBSTrump-endorsed candidate clears key hurdle in red state gubernatorial race  Fox News

Musk's SpaceX to build $100bn launch facility in Louisiana  BBCSpaceX plans to build the ‘biggest launch site on Earth’ for $100 billion in Louisiana  CNNSpaceX plans to build a $100 billion spaceport in Louisiana  CNBCSpaceX in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana - LED  Louisiana Economic Development - LED (.gov)SpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data center launch timeline  Yahoo Finance

Artist known for sculptures of Mao Zedong jailed for slandering ‘heroes and martyrs’  The GuardianChinese artist is sentenced to 3 years in prison over satirical Mao artworks  NBC NewsGao Zhen: China jails artist over satirical Mao Zedong sculptures, say rights groups  BBCChinese dissident artist jailed for 3 years over Mao sculptures, family and rights group say  ReutersChina: Maximum sentence for artist Gao Zhen is an assault on artistic freedom  Amnesty International

Dolly Parton Died After Brief Battle With Cancer  The New York TimesTaylor Swift Remembers Dolly Parton’s “True Grace and Grit”: “Her Legacy Will Be Everlasting”  The Hollywood ReporterDolly Parton, Country Music Legend, Dies at 80, Just 4 Days After Saying, ‘I Still Have So Many Things I Want to Achieve’  People.comDolly Parton’s greatest songs, and the stories behind them  AP NewsThe Transcendence of Dolly Parton  The Atlantic

Instagram CEO denies company hid low use of teen safety feature in Meta trial  The GuardianInstagram Chief Says ‘No Silver Bullets’ for Teen Safety in Bellwether Trial  The New York TimesInstagram chief testifies at Meta trial, says few teens used safety feature  Al JazeeraInstagram chief Mosseri says in social media addiction trial he doesn't tell team to 'hide anything'  CNBCInstagram head Mosseri, at children's addiction trial, says few teenagers knew of safety feature  Reuters

‘We are watching every square inch of the Strait,’ Trump says as he claims all mines in the waterway have been destroyed

The Trump-backed political newcomer defeated Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s special Republican primary runoff

Oswaldo Pirela, who works as a catching coordinator, returned home to his relatives on Monday

President Trump went all in for Senator Darline Graham in a primary runoff on Tuesday. It worked, preserving his undefeated streak in Republican Senate primaries this year.

Canada said the higher levies, on items from aluminum foil to dishwashers to fish, would help protect workers, producers and manufacturers harmed by new Trump tariffs.

Known for her outsize persona, appearance and talent, she rose from rural poverty to become a top-selling singer, songwriter and entrepreneur.

The country music star kept her home state at the forefront of her music and work. “She inspired Tennesseans to be better,” one resident said.

Mamdani administration officials said they had used new data to shrink the pool of properties potentially subject to the tax and extended the deadline for homeowners to prove city residency.

Parton had recently canceled a Las Vegas residency because of health issues. A spokesman said she was admitted to a cancer center in Nashville on Friday.

The prospect that the kingdom could enrich uranium has drawn opposition from Democrats and revived concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

Everton Blair Jr. will serve until January in the seat long held by Mr. Scott, who died in April. Mr. Blair is not competing in the general election for the next full term in the deep-blue district.

China’s humanoid robots are achieving superhuman feats of athleticism. But how that translates into the real world is still an open question, experts said.

Canada said the higher levies, on items from aluminum foil to dishwashers to fish, would help protect workers, producers and manufacturers harmed by new Trump tariffs.

The BBC's entertainment correspondent Colin Patterson looks at why the singer attracted such a range of fans.

The tributes have included artists across musical genres, fans from all generations and politicians from all spectrum sharing their love for the country icon.

Canada announced new tariffs of up to 50 percent on hundreds of American goods in retaliation for U.S. tariffs that took effect last week. Starting Sept. 8, Canada will double tariffs on American steel and aluminum to 50 percent and impose tariffs on around 700 other products.