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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to reiterate Washington's support for its ally, and the two also discussed Iran and Israeli hostages in Gaza, the State Department said.

US President Donald Trump will send 1,500 more soldiers to the border with Mexico as part of a flurry of steps to tackle immigration, his spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The ABC will defend its decision to sack casual Sydney radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf in a federal court trial. Follow today’s news liveBruce Lehrmann seeks judge-only trial for Toowoomba rape chargesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAsked about the future of the weekly pro-Palestinian protests across Australia, Malarndirri McCarthy said as long as they are respectful and peaceful, “they are part of our democratic way”.It’s interesting, isn’t it? I mean, we are a democracy. Whatever the rally or protest is, we enable that. We allow that so long as it’s peaceful and respectful.Police across every jurisdiction in the country know they have to be prepared. Rally organisers, whoever they may be, also know they need to consult to be able to have access to those streets. Come on, let’s be mindful that these rallies, so long as they are held in a respectful manner, in a peaceful manner, they are part of our democratic way.I think when I look at the polls, Karl – and I think I’ve talked to you about this over the years, you know, when we went into the 2019 election – every poll said we were going to win. The reality is, you have to work every single day right up – and the only poll that does really count, and I believe that especially after that loss, is the one on election day. Continue reading...

Judge Tanya Chutkan says Trump’s action ‘cannot whitewash the blood, feces, and terror that the mob left in its wake’House Republicans form new January 6 panel in attempt to undercut past inquiryLaken Riley Act passes US House, sending anti-immigrant bill to TrumpThe Wall Street Journal has spoken to some federal workers affected by the slew of executive orders signed by president Donald Trump at the outset of his second term as president, and reports “a sense of anxiety and confusion” among staff.One person, a product-support manager for the US navy, said “It’s leaving a lot of uncertainty that folks have never really had to feel. It seems like there is a level of distrust with how things are working.” Continue reading...

Two officers intervened in Newtown argument before they were allegedly attacked with both men taken to hospital, force saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo off-duty police officers have been assaulted in Sydney with one knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched in the head, New South Wales police allege.Police said they were called to a brawl on Enmore Road in Newtown late on Wednesday.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Andhra Pradesh is working hard to become a green hydrogen hub and to take the lead in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) development, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told NDTV at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos.

Lowden first appeared in David Ireland’s two-hander in Edinburgh last year. For its West End run, he is paired with his ‘hero’ FreemanSlow Horses star Jack Lowden is to reprise his role in The Fifth Step, a play about addiction, faith and masculinity, in a new West End production co-starring Martin Freeman.Lowden first appeared in the drama, written by David Ireland, at the Edinburgh international festival last year and drew acclaim for his performance as an alcoholic, Luka, who joins the 12-step programme. The two-hander starred Sean Gilder as Luka’s older mentor, a part that will be played by Freeman in the production at @sohoplace in London, running from 10 May until 26 July. Finn den Hertog will again direct. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer hopes his plan to ‘take the brakes off Britain’ will send a message to business to build moreCampaigners will be blocked from “excessive” legal challenges to planning decisions for major infrastructure projects including airports, railways and nuclear power stations as part of the government’s drive for economic growth.High court judges will be given the power to rule that judicial reviews on nationally significant projects that they regard as “totally without merit” – and which can currently be brought to the courts three times – will be unable to go to appeal. Continue reading...