Top World News
Renowned Dutch tulip garden makes space for selfie generation to bloom
Keukenhof, near Amsterdam, increasingly catering to growing demand for social media contentNestled among tulip fields not far from Amsterdam, the world-famous Keukenhof garden has opened for the spring, welcoming camera-wielding visitors to its increasingly selfie-friendly grounds.On a sunny day, the paths, park benches and cafes are crowded with tourists taking photos and selfies with one of the Netherlands’ most iconic products – the tulip. Continue reading...
Hungary to pull out of ICC as Netanyahu visits Budapest
Israeli PM meets Viktor Orbán despite international arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in GazaHungary has said it will begin the process of withdrawing from the international criminal court, hours after the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu – the subject of an ICC arrest warrant – arrived in the country for an official visit.“Hungary will withdraw from the ICC,” Gergely Gulyás, prime minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, said. “The government will initiate the withdrawal procedure on Thursday in accordance with the constitutional and international legal framework.” Continue reading...
Royal Mail takeover deal by Czech billionaire to be finalised this month
Daniel Křetínský clears final regulatory hurdles for £3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail parent companyBusiness live – latest updatesThe £3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail’s parent company will be completed this month, nearly a year after it was first agreed, as the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský cleared the final regulatory hurdles standing in the way.International Distribution Services (IDS), the owner of the 508-year-old Royal Mail, said on Thursday the deal “may become or be declared unconditional” by 30 April, after a delay due to issues in Romania. Continue reading...
Asian countries riven by war and disaster face some of steepest Trump tariffs
Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos hit with rates over 40% as experts say the real target is ChinaBusiness live – latest updatesDeveloping nations in south-east Asia, including wartorn and earthquake-hit Myanmar, and several African nations are among the trading partners facing the highest tariffs set by Donald Trump.Upending decades of US trade policy and threatening to unleash a global trade war, the US president announced a raft of tariffs on Wednesday that he said were designed to stop the US economy from being “cheated”. Continue reading...
Tiny town swamped as flood waters the size of NSW inundate western Queensland
Entire population of Thargomindah forced to flee homes as levee breaks and record water levels of 1974 flood eclipsedElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastAt first, the levee bank held firm as the flood waters came.Locals had tirelessly constructed the dirt wall, building on areas where the last major flood had approached the south-west Queensland town.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...
Global stock markets fall and dollar dives as Trump tariffs push investors to safe assets
Asian and European markets plummet after falls on Wall street, with Nasdaq down 3.3% and US dollar at six-month lowBusiness live – latest updatesGlobal stocks have fallen sharply and the US dollar hit a six-month low after Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs against America’s global trade partners in a move that is expected to upend supply chains and cause economic turmoil.European markets opened lower on Thursday after a sharp selloff across Asia and US futures signalled similar falls when Wall Street opens. Continue reading...
Abbie Chatfield cleared of wrongdoing by AEC after interviewing Anthony Albanese on her podcast
AEC review finds content did not require authorisation statement after Liberal senators raised concernsElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignPolls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverageAnywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guideListen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: GinaGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian Electoral Commission has cleared host Abbie Chatfield of any wrongdoing after she interviewed Anthony Albanese on her podcast, finding her content “does not require an authorisation statement”.Liberal senators questioned whether some of Chatfield’s social media content should have been classed as electoral material – which would require an official authorisation statement.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...
Rubio arrives for NATO talks as allies wait to learn of U.S. plans for a likely drawdown in Europe
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration's new envoy to NATO arrived Thursday in Brussels, where the alliance's top diplomats are hoping they'll shed light on U.S. security plans in Europe.
C of E vicars call for ’urgent and decisive action’ on increasing their pensions
Lead signatory of letter to Church Times says it is ‘moral and Christian imperative’ to ensure dignified retirementChurch of England vicars are demanding an increase in pensions amid claims that many face an impoverished old age, with some forced to rely on food banks or move in with adult children.Almost 2,000 C of E clergy have joined an action group on Facebook in the past few weeks and 700 signed a letter to the Church Times calling for “urgent and decisive action”. Continue reading...
Thursday briefing: What Israel’s new move to seize ‘large areas’ of Gaza means for the conflict
In today’s newsletter: Israel’s offensive has resulted in thousands of casualties and severe restrictions on aid, and signals a potential long-term territorial and political shiftGood morning. On Tuesday, Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, announced a major expansion of attacks on Gaza and the “capture of large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel”.The announcement followed a night of airstrikes on Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, which officials said had killed at least 21 people, including a pregnant woman. The intensification of Israel’s offensive comes after more than two weeks of airstrikes and ground operations that have, according to Gaza’s health ministry, killed more than 900 people. Unicef has said that at least 322 of those killed since the renewed attacks have been children.UK economy | Donald Trump has hit the UK with tariffs of 10% on exports to the US as he ignited a global trade war. Other tariffs include 20% on the EU and 34% on China. Downing Street had been expecting 20% but Keir Starmer’s conciliation towards the Trump administration appeared to have paid off.Immigration | An investigation has been launched after a racist message was reportedly “blasted out” on portable radios used by Home Office contractors at an asylum processing centre. The deeply offensive broadcast – “fuck off you [N-word]s, go back to where you came from” – was reportedly heard at the Manston processing site for small boat arrivals in Kent.Health | Doctors have reported a rise in the number of patients with Victorian diseases such as scabies, as the Royal College of Physicians urged the government to do more to fight poverty.UK news | A third former South Yorkshire police officer has been arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. The ex-constable, aged in his 50s, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in the town in 2004.Education | The fate of boys “is a defining issue of our time”, according to the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, as she calls for more men to become teachers to combat “toxic” behaviours. Continue reading...
Netanyahu visits Hungary as Orbán vows to defy ICC arrest warrant
Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would ‘have no effect’Benjamin Netanyahu has begun a four-day official visit to Hungary, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would “guarantee” the ICC’s ruling would “have no effect in Hungary”. Continue reading...
Lithuanians bid farewell to 4 US soldiers who died during training exercise
A procession carrying the coffins of four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania will proceed past the capital’s cathedral square Thursday
Apr 3, 2025