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- Russia issues list of demands it says must be met to lower tensions in Europe
- Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers call Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend as a witness
- Hong Kong ‘patriots’ election casts doubt over democracy as city enters new era
- More than 130 people rescued after becoming stranded in the Channel
- Eric Clapton wins legal case against woman selling bootleg live CD for £8.45
- Defense rests after Kim Potter describes ‘chaotic’ traffic stop that killed Wright
- Couple charged over death of two-year-old boy in gas explosion
- Brexit: EU and UK at odds over Northern Ireland renegotiation
- German rightwinger chosen as CDU leader by members
- Efforts to save Iran nuclear deal ‘reaching the end of the road’
- South Africa says vaccines and natural immunity are limiting latest Covid wave
- Vaccine rollout data by country shows who has vaccinated faster – and why – exposing the global Covid-19 divide
- T-cells in Pfizer Covid jab recipients stay robust against severe illness
- Why a UK Omicron wave is dangerous – even if we see mostly mild cases
- ‘He’s in real trouble now’: Tory MPs are viewing Boris Johnson as the problem
- ‘A wave of joy’: babies born from world’s first HIV positive sperm bank
- How can I get over a breakup that I brought upon myself? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri
- Northern Ireland: what are EU and UK proposing and will deal be done?
- Images of India: from courtesans and colonial rule to a child’s-eye view – in pictures
- Rod Stewart and his son plead guilty to battery in 2019 Florida altercation case
- Javier Bardem: ‘When I won the Oscar, I felt great, but it didn’t make any sense’
- Seattle socialist Kshama Sawant keeps city council seat after recall election
- Bolsonaro threatens to identify officials who approved Covid jabs for children
- Australia live news updates: NSW Covid cases surge to new record amid Omicron outbreak; Victoria records seven deaths; Tasmania bans jumping castles from schools after tragedy
- ‘Nothing will help’: Tunisians trapped in poverty lose hope
- Kenyan nomads’ age-old way of life falls victim to worst drought in memory – in pictures
- ‘All I can think about is the children’s future’: drought devastates Kenya
- Culture in a bowl: Haiti’s joumou soup awarded protected status by Unesco
- bell hooks’ writing told Black women and girls to trust themselves | Deborah Douglas
- No 10 parties raise questions about whether PM will follow Covid science
- Japanese firefighters battle deadly blaze at Osaka clinic – video
- One-month old baby rescued after Typhoon Rai hits Philippines – video
- How has North Korea's Kim Jong-un held on to power so long? – video
- Missile tests, horse rides and executions: Kim Jong-un’s leadership in pictures
- On the Ukraine frontline: 'Only the dead aren't afraid' – video
- Omicron R number estimated to be between 3 and 5, says UK health adviser – video
- MPs question Chris Whitty on impact of Omicron variant – watch live
| Russia issues list of demands it says must be met to lower tensions in Europe Posted: 17 Dec 2021 06:16 AM PST Contentious security guarantees Moscow is seeking include a ban on Ukraine from entering Nato Russia has put forward a highly contentious list of security guarantees it says it wants the west to agree to in order to lower tensions in Europe and defuse the crisis over Ukraine, including many elements that have already been ruled out. The demands include a ban on Ukraine entering Nato and a limit to the deployment of troops and weapons to Nato's eastern flank, in effect returning Nato forces to where they were stationed in 1997, before an eastward expansion. Continue reading... |
| Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers call Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend as a witness Posted: 17 Dec 2021 01:21 PM PST Maxwell's defense team rested their case on Friday, with closing arguments set to begin on Monday
Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers called one of Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriends as a defense witness on Friday in the British socialite's Manhattan federal court sex-trafficking trial. Maxwell's defense team also rested their case on Friday afternoon and she declined to testify. Her trial will enter a new stage Monday when the prosecution and defense will present their closing arguments. Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 802 9999. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Continue reading... |
| Hong Kong ‘patriots’ election casts doubt over democracy as city enters new era Posted: 17 Dec 2021 01:00 PM PST Critics describe Sunday's vote as 'illegitimate' as Beijing tightens its crackdown on dissent and pro-democracy movement is wiped out Days before Hong Kong's legislative council election, 15 months after it was supposed to be held, former legislator Ted Hui is on the phone from Adelaide railing against the government. In the southern Australian city he is far from the Hong Kong warrants for his arrest and instead in a place where, unlike many of his former colleagues, he can speak freely. "For the Hong Kong people there are not many choices now but to accept illegitimate elections. The parliament is going to be a rubber stamp for Beijing and this election carries no democratic element at all." Continue reading... |
| More than 130 people rescued after becoming stranded in the Channel Posted: 17 Dec 2021 03:21 PM PST Makeshift vessels got into trouble attempting to make crossing from France to the UK More than 130 people have been rescued after their makeshift vessels became stranded in the Channel as they tried to reach Britain from France, French authorities said. Two navy vessels and two lifeboats brought the 138 refugees back to shore after authorities were informed on Thursday that "many boats trying to cross the Channel were in trouble". Continue reading... |
| Eric Clapton wins legal case against woman selling bootleg live CD for £8.45 Posted: 17 Dec 2021 08:45 AM PST Rock star wins case against German woman who says her late husband bought the disc at a popular department store in the 80s Eric Clapton has won a legal case against a 55-year-old German woman selling a bootleg live CD for €9.95 (£8.45), Deutsche Welle reports. The woman, known as Gabriele P, claimed she was unaware that she was committing copyright infringement by listing the CD titled Eric Clapton – Live USA, which contains recordings of performances from the 1980s, on eBay. She told the court that the listing was removed after one day. Continue reading... |
| Defense rests after Kim Potter describes ‘chaotic’ traffic stop that killed Wright Posted: 17 Dec 2021 01:12 PM PST The police officer who said she mistook her gun for Taser is charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting Daunte Wright The defense has rested in the trial of a Minnesota police officer charged in the fatal shooting of Black motorist Daunte Wright. Kim Potter, 49, is charged with manslaughter in Wright's death during a traffic stop on 11 April in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center. Continue reading... |
| Couple charged over death of two-year-old boy in gas explosion Posted: 17 Dec 2021 12:08 PM PST Sharon and Darren Greenham charged with manslaughter of George Arthur Hinds after blast caused by severed gas pipe A couple has been charged over the death of a two-year-old boy in a gas explosion. Sharon Greenham, 51, and Darren Greenham, 44, are accused of the manslaughter of George Arthur Hinds. Continue reading... |
| Brexit: EU and UK at odds over Northern Ireland renegotiation Posted: 17 Dec 2021 10:00 AM PST Brussels remains mistrustful of British government, which objects to ECJ being final arbiter of EU law An uneasy Christmas truce has been called over the post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland, even as the EU said it would not negotiate over a key British demand in the rancorous talks. Maroš Šefčovič, the EU Brexit commissioner, said there was "momentum" behind discussions after a major British U-turn, but refused to offer quid pro quo concessions. Continue reading... |
| German rightwinger chosen as CDU leader by members Posted: 17 Dec 2021 06:40 AM PST Non-binding vote comes as the conservative party looks for new direction after end of Merkel era Members of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have elected stalwart rightwinger Friedrich Merz as their designated new leader, as the conservative party seeks a new direction in opposition following the departure of Angela Merkel. Merz, who has twice come second to centrist candidates in previous leadership races, won a surprise majority in the ballot, beating Merkel's former chief of staff Helge Braun and foreign policy specialist Norbert Röttgen with 62% of the vote, thus eliminating the need for a run-off vote. Continue reading... |
| Efforts to save Iran nuclear deal ‘reaching the end of the road’ Posted: 17 Dec 2021 08:46 AM PST European negotiators issue warning as talks adjourned to allow Iranian envoy to return for consultation Attempts to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are "rapidly reaching the end of the road", European negotiators have warned, as talks in Vienna adjourned to allow the Iranian negotiator to return home for consultation – a pause described by the Europeans as disappointing. "We hope that Iran is in a position to resume the talks quickly, and to engage constructively so that talks can move at a faster pace," France, Germany and the UK said. "As we have said, there are weeks not months before the deal's core non-proliferation benefits are lost. We are rapidly reaching the end of the road for this negotiation. Continue reading... |
| South Africa says vaccines and natural immunity are limiting latest Covid wave Posted: 17 Dec 2021 08:05 AM PST Global experts fear countries with older and more vulnerable populations may have different experience of Omicron variant Vaccines and high levels of prior exposure to coronavirus in South Africa appear to be protecting against the more severe symptoms seen in the previous three waves of the pandemic, according to the country's health minister. The suggestion that previous exposure to another variant of coronavirus – or vaccination – might provide protection from the Omicron variant echoes analysis by South African experts earlier this week that suggested prior exposure or vaccination gave a degree of protection from serious disease. Continue reading... |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2021 11:00 AM PST Outside of a country's wealth, there are a number of factors that have been associated with slower and faster Covid-19 vaccine rollouts Continue reading... |
| T-cells in Pfizer Covid jab recipients stay robust against severe illness Posted: 17 Dec 2021 08:50 AM PST Research in South Africa raises hopes that similar responses may be present with other vaccines South African researchers examining how the body's immune system responds to the Omicron variant have identified that T-cells in people who have had the Pfizer vaccine continue to be robust in potentially protecting against severe illness despite Omicron's ability to evade other defences. The research raises hopes that similar responses may be present with other vaccines and within unvaccinated individuals who have been infected with coronavirus. Continue reading... |
| Why a UK Omicron wave is dangerous – even if we see mostly mild cases Posted: 17 Dec 2021 04:19 AM PST Analysis: If the spread continues at this rate, a small proportion of Covid hospitalisations is a serious matter With the booster programme at full tilt across the UK, immunity against Covid is rising – so it is perhaps not surprising that the concern shown by experts over the steep rise in Omicron infections has left some bemused. For while the new variant is believed to dodge Covid vaccines to some degree, it is thought the jabs still offer good protection against severe disease – particularly after a booster. And greater levels of immunity mean a lower ratio of hospitalisations to cases – something we have seen before in the UK, where about 22% of cases in those aged 65 and older ended up in hospital in early 2021, when Alpha was dominant but few had received a vaccine, compared with about 6% after the vaccine rollout was well under way. Continue reading... |
| ‘He’s in real trouble now’: Tory MPs are viewing Boris Johnson as the problem Posted: 17 Dec 2021 09:02 AM PST Analysis: It's not Downing Street, it's him, says a minister, amid fears the PM's strengths have become weaknesses Asked on Friday whether he took personal responsibility for the disastrous North Shropshire byelection result, Boris Johnson suggested the problem was that everyone else was talking about the wrong issues. "My job as prime minister is to get the focus on to the things that matter for all of us," he said. Yet after weeks of self-inflicted crises and the drip, drip of stories about lockdown-busting parties at the heart of Downing Street, many of his MPs believe it is Johnson himself who is the real problem – and some are warning he is now on borrowed time. Continue reading... |
| ‘A wave of joy’: babies born from world’s first HIV positive sperm bank Posted: 17 Dec 2021 10:00 AM PST Sperm Positive launched in New Zealand in 2019 in an effort to reduce the stigma faced by HIV-positive people Olivia and Amy are sitting outside in the shade, trying to escape from New Zealand's early-summer humidity. Amy, 10 months old, burbles happily in the background as her mother talks. She is healthy, happy, and oblivious to her status as a world first: one of a handful of babies born from the first sperm bank for HIV-positive donors. The bank, Sperm Positive, launched in New Zealand in 2019, in an effort to reduce the stigma faced by HIV-positive people – and raise awareness that with treatment, the virus was undetectable and untransmissible. It grabbed international headlines when it was launched, but has been more than a publicity gimmick. Two years on, the bank is bearing fruit. Continue reading... |
| How can I get over a breakup that I brought upon myself? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri Posted: 17 Dec 2021 07:30 AM PST You need to talk about your feelings of guilt and insecurity so you can start to forgive yourself I'm 26 years old, and have been having a really hard time in the past few months due to a breakup I brought upon myself. Last year I started a long-distance relationship with a girl. I loved her, but felt I was constantly struggling with my emotions and honesty due to my insecurity. This caused me to be needy, desperate and always seeking some sort of validation from her, and we had a few breaks because of this. Continue reading... |
| Northern Ireland: what are EU and UK proposing and will deal be done? Posted: 17 Dec 2021 10:00 AM PST EU law on medicines may be rewritten and UK has climbed down over ECJ. Here's what we know The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020 and all EU rules fell away at the start of 2021. Soon after, a row broke out over the Northern Ireland protocol, the tortuously negotiated agreement to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, by keeping Northern Ireland in the EU single market and customs union. Continue reading... |
| Images of India: from courtesans and colonial rule to a child’s-eye view – in pictures Posted: 17 Dec 2021 11:00 AM PST Since its invention in the 1840s, photography has played an integral part in Indian art history. Although it is often said that India is the most photographed country in the world, the history of its representation is more complicated, and more political, than initially meets the eye. Visions of India: From the Colonial to the Contemporary is the first major survey of Indian photography in Australia and will be on show at the Monash Gallery of Art in Melbourne until 20 March 2022 Continue reading... |
| Rod Stewart and his son plead guilty to battery in 2019 Florida altercation case Posted: 17 Dec 2021 12:31 PM PST The singer entered the plea to 'avoid the inconvenience' of a high profile court trial. Neither will do jail time or pay any fines British rock icon Rod Stewart and his son have pleaded guilty to battery in an assault case stemming from a New Year's Eve 2019 altercation with a security guard at an exclusive Florida hotel. Court records released on Friday show that the singer and his son, Sean Stewart, 41, entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of simple battery. Continue reading... |
| Javier Bardem: ‘When I won the Oscar, I felt great, but it didn’t make any sense’ Posted: 17 Dec 2021 03:00 AM PST Famed for portraying bad guys in Skyfall and No Country for Old Men, the Spaniard opens up about his marriage to Penélope Cruz, his formidable mum, and his hopes for his kids The bad news is that, at the last minute, my interview with Javier Bardem is changed from being a face-to-face encounter to one conducted by the less risky means of video chat (damn you, Omicron!) But the good news is this means I get to snoop around Bardem's home in Madrid, where he Zooms me from, and which he shares with his wife, the actor Penélope Cruz, and their two children, Leonardo, 10, and Luna, eight. OK, I don't actually see the whole house, but he does give me a panoramic view of his study while his kids shout and play outside. "You can see my little bookcase here," Bardem says, picking up his laptop and giving me the grand tour. "And my map of the world. It's very chaotic." Continue reading... |
| Seattle socialist Kshama Sawant keeps city council seat after recall election Posted: 17 Dec 2021 06:21 PM PST The result, in her favor by 310 votes, clarifies how much of a polarizing figure she has remained in her district Seattle socialist Kshama Sawant has narrowly avoided being ousted from her seat on the city council, following a widely watched recall election. By Friday afternoon, just over 41,000 ballots had been counted, with the no recall vote leading by 310. Though a recount request is possible, it is considered unlikely. Continue reading... |
| Bolsonaro threatens to identify officials who approved Covid jabs for children Posted: 17 Dec 2021 02:46 AM PST Brazilian president plans to reveal identities despite health officers receiving death threats The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has asked for the names of health officials who approved Covid vaccines for children, saying he planned to make their identities public despite previous death threats. In late October, Brazil's health regulator, Anvisa, released a statement saying five of its directors had received death threats over the possible approval of vaccinations for children of five-11. The agency granted such approval for the Pfizer shot on Thursday. Continue reading... |
| Posted: 17 Dec 2021 06:26 PM PST NSW's 2,482 new Covid cases the worst total of any Australian state or territory since pandemic began; Queensland records 31 new cases
The chainsaws outside my window have now been replaced by leaf blowers. Who authorised this?! Ahead of the prime minister's appearance in Tasmania today, I highly recommend reading Katharine Murphy's latest analysis of Morrison's strategy so far in the lead-up to next year's election: When he's not trialling new made-for-TV grabs (a new "shake and bake" analogy, which I think was invoked first in relation to emissions reduction, and now has morphed into something broadly economy adjacent, or "jabs and jobs" which was Friday's innovation), the prime minister has taken to listing things. Morrison's current list includes saving lives during the pandemic. Shoring up the health system "with more than $33bn from the federal government in additional investment". Saving livelihoods with "the single largest economic rescue package in our history". Presiding over economic recovery after the waves of the pandemic – "more than 350,000 jobs created in a five-week period after the lockdowns were lifted, and through the crisis, we have maintained that AAA credit rating". Continue reading... |
| ‘Nothing will help’: Tunisians trapped in poverty lose hope Posted: 17 Dec 2021 05:05 AM PST Eleven years after the start of the Arab spring, those trying to survive rising prices, unemployment and a pandemic feel little has changed For a decade, Tunisia's revolution has been remembered on 14 January, the day autocratic ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia and the political elite declared the revolution complete. From today, by President Kais Saied's decree, the event will be marked on 17 December, the day street trader Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest at state corruption and the faltering economy. The self-immolation became a catalyst for Tunisia's uprising and the wider Arab spring. Continue reading... |
| Kenyan nomads’ age-old way of life falls victim to worst drought in memory – in pictures Posted: 17 Dec 2021 02:15 AM PST As the climate crisis causes drastic food and water shortages in the north-east, pastoralists and their livestock are being pushed to the brink Photographs by Ed Ram for Getty Continue reading... |
| ‘All I can think about is the children’s future’: drought devastates Kenya Posted: 16 Dec 2021 10:30 PM PST Nomads' herds are dying along with rare wildlife as the longest dry spell in memory edges pastoralists ever nearer starvation Dahabley smells of rotting flesh. Bodies of starved cows lie in various stages of decomposition, after being dragged to the outskirts of the village in Wajir county, north-east Kenya. They are added to on a near-daily basis and fester in the heat amid multiplying flies. North-east Kenya is well used to spells of drought, but it is experiencing the worst in living memory. As the region's short rainy season, which starts in October, draws to an end, parts of Wajir have only seen small showers and other areas have had no rain at all for more than a year. Continue reading... |
| Culture in a bowl: Haiti’s joumou soup awarded protected status by Unesco Posted: 16 Dec 2021 10:00 PM PST The dish, originally cooked by slaves for their owners, has come to symbolise hope and dignity in the troubled Caribbean country Haiti's joumou soup, a symbol of hope and dignity for the world's first black-led republic, has been awarded protected status by Unesco. The soup, made from turban squash and originally cooked by enslaved African people for their owners in Haiti, was on Thursday added to Unesco's prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage. It is Haiti's first inclusion on the list, and the country's Unesco ambassador, Dominique Dupuy, cried as the announcement was made. The decision is expected to be officially endorsed by Unesco's general assembly next year. Continue reading... |
| bell hooks’ writing told Black women and girls to trust themselves | Deborah Douglas Posted: 17 Dec 2021 06:02 AM PST The feminist writer created a vocabulary that helped us to learn, grow, and forgive – and above all to understand Having just the right words to explain what's happening keeps you from feeling, well, crazy. When the world learned of the passing of bell hooks, the renowned feminist, public intellectual, author, and professor on Wednesday, at her home in Berea, Kentucky, it was the value and accessibility of her words that resonated with Black women, whose understanding of themselves and their own work was transformed by hooks. Continue reading... |
| No 10 parties raise questions about whether PM will follow Covid science Posted: 16 Dec 2021 08:02 AM PST Analysis: After a steady stream of reports, how likely is it that Boris Johnson will take advice about imposing tougher restrictions? • Boris Johnson joined No 10 party during May 2020 lockdown, say sources Cast your minds back to 15 May 2020. Matt Hancock, the then health secretary before he quit for breaking restrictions by having an affair, was giving a press conference where he said people should be "staying at home as much as is possible". Social interaction was strictly limited to outdoors and one person at a time. It was the week when people were told they could meet one parent outside, in a socially distanced way, but not both of them together. Continue reading... |
| Japanese firefighters battle deadly blaze at Osaka clinic – video Posted: 17 Dec 2021 05:10 AM PST Twenty-seven people are feared dead after a fire swept through a mental health clinic in the Japanese city of Osaka, the local fire department said. The blaze is being treated as suspected arson, the Kyodo news agency said, quoting police sources saying that a man who appeared to be in his 60s had been seen carrying a paper bag leaking an unidentified liquid Continue reading... |
| One-month old baby rescued after Typhoon Rai hits Philippines – video Posted: 16 Dec 2021 09:04 PM PST A month-old baby has been rescued from flood waters in the Philippines after southeastern parts of the country were hit by Typhoon Rai. Nearly 100,000 people have been evacuated after the typhoon registered sustained winds of 195km/h while gusts up to 270km/h were recorded. Continue reading... |
| How has North Korea's Kim Jong-un held on to power so long? – video Posted: 16 Dec 2021 04:38 PM PST Kim Jong-un emerged onto the world stage as a virtual unknown in 2011, a young man thrust into power at the head of North Korea – a nuclear-armed state – after his father's unexpected death. In the decade since, he has ruthlessly purged alleged political opponents, extended his country's nuclear capabilities, and tightened his grip on power as North Korea's supreme leader. From diplomatic summits with Donald Trump to executing members of his own family and failing to stave off famine in his own country, Guardian correspondent Justin McCurry charts the highs and lows of Kim's first 10 years in office. Continue reading... |
| Missile tests, horse rides and executions: Kim Jong-un’s leadership in pictures Posted: 16 Dec 2021 04:29 PM PST Kim Jong-un has defied the expectations of many, to mark 10 years in power following the death in 2011 of his father, Kim Jong-il. In that time, he has presided over famines, executions and nuclear tensions, while finding the time to inspect a fish pickling station and go horse riding Continue reading... |
| On the Ukraine frontline: 'Only the dead aren't afraid' – video Posted: 16 Dec 2021 06:42 AM PST With tensions escalating along the border with Russia, Luke Harding visits troops in Ukraine's Donbas region to gauge the mood ahead of a possible invasion. The war here has continued since 2014, when pro-Russian separatists seized Ukrainian cities. But in recent weeks large numbers of Russian troops have gathered on Ukraine's border, while talks between Vladimir Putin and US president, Joe Biden, have not provided the diplomatic solution many had hoped for Continue reading... |
| Omicron R number estimated to be between 3 and 5, says UK health adviser – video Posted: 16 Dec 2021 05:12 AM PST Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, told a select committee on Thursday that for Omicron the R value was between 3 and 5 in the UK and that the variant was spreading rapidly – doubling in size every two days. Hopkins said data on the severity of Omicron would not be known for another fortnight. At least 250 patients would need to be admitted to hospital before there could be a statistical analysis of the disease, she said Continue reading... |
| MPs question Chris Whitty on impact of Omicron variant – watch live Posted: 16 Dec 2021 02:37 AM PST The chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, faces a select committee hearing where he will answer questions about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the day after new infections in the UK reached a record 78,610 laboratory-confirmed cases Continue reading... |
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