Big US technology companies have been offered a significant tax cut by Keir Starmer in return for lower tariffs from Donald Trump’s administration as the UK braces itself for a global trade war. The Guardian understands the UK government is willing to reduce the headline rate of its digital services tax (DST) in an attempt … Read more
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Welcome Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Krishani Dhanji with the main action. Our top story this morning focuses on the world of online campaigning and … Read more
A Scottish tourist who suffered severe burns in a suspected gas explosion at a building in Rome has died of his injuries. Grant Paterson, 54, was admitted to hospital on 23 March after the explosion and subsequent collapse of the block of flats where he was staying, in the Monteverde district. The explosion, which is … Read more
Adding VAT to private school fees discriminates against children with conditions such as autism whose needs cannot be adequately met by UK state schools, the high court has been told. The legal action against Labour’s policy is being taken by parents claiming that VAT on school fees is a breach of their human rights law … Read more
Firefighters have managed to make “strong progress” containing a fire burning through eastern California near the world’s oldest trees, but the blaze remains an active threat, officials said. Since igniting on Sunday afternoon, the Silver fire has scorched nearly 1,600 acres (647 hectares) in the eastern Sierra Nevada, and forced residents of about 800 homes … Read more
A Guardian journalist who has worked on high-profile investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct by men said the volume of fresh leads received after writing about Noel Clarke was the most she had ever witnessed. Lucy Osborne, who, with Sirin Kale, carried out the Guardian’s investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against the Doctor Who … Read more
An employee of Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge), who was parachuted in as a senior manager at the US Agency for International development as it was being wound up, has been accused of a history of misogyny, racism and violent outbursts. The claims against 28-year-old Jeremy Lewin were made following an investigation … Read more
Some of the bodies of 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, killed by Israeli forces and buried in a mass grave nine days ago in Gaza, were found with their hands or legs tied and had gunshot wounds to the head and chest, according to two eyewitnesses. The eyewitness accounts add to an accumulating body … Read more
Ten leading car manufacturers – plus two automotive trade bodies – have been fined more than £77m by a UK regulator after admitting breaking competition law in relation to advertising their green credentials. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation after a tipoff from Mercedes-Benz, which allowed the German marque to avoid financial … Read more
Lebanese Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi has blamed Creative Australia for the “dismantling” of his career and said the board’s decision to revoke his appointment as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative has given the green light for others to smear his reputation. In his first interview since being dumped from the prestigious art exhibition in February and … Read more