A high court decision on native title has the potential to be as significant as the Mabo case and influence even the land beneath Parliament House, experts say. The court dismissed a commonwealth appeal on Wednesday over whether it may be liable for up to $700m in compensation for bauxite mining at Gove in north-east … Read more
The UK economy contracted by 0.1% in January, dealing a blow to Rachel Reeves before the spring statement later this month. In a surprise to City economists, who expected 0.1% growth in January, the Office for National Statistics data showed the services sector failed to offset a decline in the industrial sector and maintain growth … Read more
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide will bake this weekend as temperatures across the south-east are forecast to climb into the low 40s. On Saturday, Adelaide could reach a high of 39C and Melbourne 36C, the Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said. That warm weather would move north-east into New South Wales on Sunday, when … Read more
The leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats has called on the prime minister to publicly support Canada and oppose the “shocking attacks” on Canadian sovereignty, as the Trump administration further escalates its global trade war against longstanding allies. Ed Davey, who leads the third largest political party in the UK, has called on Keir Starmer … Read more
In the topsy-turvy world in which Keir Starmer and his aides operate, the US putting the onus on Russia to agree to a truce with Ukraine marked a significant victory. The proposed 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is the culmination of two weeks of high-wire negotiations involving Ukraine, the US, UK, France and Germany. … Read more
It was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ever. The Loess plateau, an area spanning more than 245,000 sq miles (640,000 sq km) across three provinces and parts of four others, supports about 100 million people. By the end of the 20th century, however, this land, once fertile and productive, was considered the most … Read more
This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Heather Boushey, an economist and former adviser to Joe Biden, about what Donald Trump’s long game is with his trade war, and how voters will view his handling of the economy should there be a ‘Trumpcession’ Send your questions and feedback to [email protected] Help support the Guardian by going … Read more
Captured by John Constable in one of his most celebrated paintings, the black poplar tree was once as common as oak and beech in Britain. Now the rarest and most threatened native species in the country, the National Trust is creating a living gene bank of the black poplar to ensure Constable’s The Hay Wain … Read more
Taiwan’s new president has formally labelled China a “foreign hostile force” and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases. The new measures announced on Thursday include a controversial proposal to restore a military court system in Taiwan, which was under martial law until the late … Read more
The Trump administration has been accused of “blatant foreign interference” in Australia’s universities after researchers who receive US funding were asked to confirm they aligned with American interests, including only recognising two genders. The questionnaire, sent to university researchers over the past fortnight, seeks a response within 48 hours to more than 30 questions to … Read more