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- Bermuda’s ban on same-sex marriage is allowed, UK judges rule
- US urged China not to supply arms to Russia at ‘intense’ Rome meeting
- ‘Nothing was stolen’: New Zealanders carry on borrowing from closed, unstaffed library
- Hong Kong demands UK-based rights group shut down website
- Tokyo schools cut controversial rules governing hairstyles and underwear
- China shuts down city of 17.5m people in bid to halt Covid outbreak
- New Zealand halves public transport fares as petrol prices soar amid Russia-Ukraine war
- Australia v West Indies: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – live!
- Australia news updates live: federal court overturns climate duty of care ruling; 10 Covid deaths reported
- NSW school returns to remote learning as spiralling Covid cases hit classrooms
- ‘Bitch on a witch-hunt’ slur: Annastacia Palaszczuk tells public servants to stop brawling
- Coalition to allow some projects, including mining, to bypass federal environmental approvals
- Former senior RSPCA officers launch campaign to repair ‘broken’ animal welfare system
- ‘They’re lying to you’: Russian TV employee interrupts news broadcast
- Four arrested after protest at Oleg Deripaska’s London mansion
- Grisly urban warfare looms unless west beefs up Ukraine arms supply
- Labour calls UK’s homes for Ukraine plan a ‘DIY asylum scheme’
- Fox News journalist injured outside Kyiv, network says
- Russia keeps up pounding of Ukrainian cities amid ‘nightmare’ for civilians
- Roman Abramovich spotted at Israeli airport following UK sanctions
- Johnson faces uphill task to convince Saudis and UAE to boost oil production
- Boris Johnson plans Saudi Arabia visit to seek oil supply increase
- White House faces oil standoff with Saudi Arabia and UAE as prices soar
- Iran claims responsibility for missile strike near US consulate in Iraq
- Narendra Modi walks diplomacy tightrope with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine
- Criminal barristers vote for industrial action over legal aid funding
- Half of UK low-paid workers given less than a week’s notice of shifts
- UK’s Covid travel restrictions to be dropped despite rise in cases
- Scientists call for immediate rollout of Covid jab for UK primary school children
- Two convicted in first murder plot case involving EncroChat messaging system
- Yorkshire’s lost ‘Atlantis’ nearly found, says Hull professor
- Uproar as Mississippi signs bill to limit discussions of race in school lessons
- White House warns of ‘significant consequences’ if China aids Russia – as it happened
- CIA black site detainee served as training prop to teach interrogators torture techniques
- Volodymyr Zelenskiy expected to urge jet transfer in address to US Congress
- Ginni Thomas, wife of Clarence Thomas, attended rally preceding Capitol attack
- US astronaut’s return hangs in the balance as tensions with Russia escalate
| Bermuda’s ban on same-sex marriage is allowed, UK judges rule Posted: 14 Mar 2022 09:25 AM PDT JCPC overturns decision by lower court that ban was unconstitutional, in setback for LGBTQ rights British judges have ruled that Bermuda's ban on same-sex marriage is permitted under its constitution, in a setback for gay rights in the British overseas territory. The UK's judicial committee of the privy council (JCPC) – the ultimate court of appeal for Bermuda and dozens of other British overseas territories, dependencies and Commonwealth states – on Monday overturned a decision by Bermuda's highest court, which ruled the ban to be unconstitutional. Continue reading... |
| US urged China not to supply arms to Russia at ‘intense’ Rome meeting Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:31 PM PDT China had denounced reports that Moscow asked for military equipment as 'malicious disinformation' The United States has held "intense" high-level talks with China in an effort to try to dissuade Beijing from supplying arms to Russia, at a meeting in Rome which the White House sees as critically important not just for the war in Ukraine but also for the future of the global balance of power. Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, met his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, for all-day talks in the Italian capital on Monday amid reports that Russia has asked China for weapons to bolster its faltering invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading... |
| ‘Nothing was stolen’: New Zealanders carry on borrowing from closed, unstaffed library Posted: 14 Mar 2022 11:00 AM PDT Door security error meant one of country's largest city libraries was left open for hours, allowing hundreds to browse shelves As New Zealand celebrated a national holiday, one of the country's largest city libraries was closed, with staff and security given the day off. But an error with the automated door programming meant Tūranga's doors opened to the public as usual – and the unstaffed and unsecured library was happily used by the public, who browsed and checked out books for hours before someone realised the mistake. As well as its books, the library is home to a wide variety of artworks and sculpture – but staff say nothing was stolen, and there were no serious incidents to report. Continue reading... |
| Hong Kong demands UK-based rights group shut down website Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:56 AM PDT 'We will not be silenced,' says CEO after government accuses Hong Kong Watch of endangering China's national security A UK-based rights group has pledged not to remain silent after Hong Kong's government demanded it shut its website and accused it of endangering China's national security. While China heavily restricts the internet on the mainland, Hong Kong does not generally censor the web, allowing residents to access sites and content that might be critical of Beijing. Continue reading... |
| Tokyo schools cut controversial rules governing hairstyles and underwear Posted: 13 Mar 2022 11:02 PM PDT Public high schools and other educational institutions will drop five regulations, including one requiring students to have black hair Controversial rules on hairstyles and underwear are to be scrapped at high schools run by the Tokyo metropolitan government, after pressure from students. Almost 200 public high schools and other educational institutions will drop five regulations, including one requiring students to have black hair, from April, the Mainichi Shimbun said, citing official sources. Continue reading... |
| China shuts down city of 17.5m people in bid to halt Covid outbreak Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:31 PM PDT Authorities adopt a zero tolerance policy in Shenzhen, imposing a lockdown and testing every resident three times China's government has locked down Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million people, as it tries to contain its worst ever Covid-19 outbreak across multiple provinces, with case numbers tripling from Saturday to Sunday. A government notice on Sunday said all residential communities were now under "closed management", meaning they would be locked down. Every resident would undergo three rounds of testing, for which they were allowed to leave their homes, and all buses and subways were suspended. Continue reading... |
| New Zealand halves public transport fares as petrol prices soar amid Russia-Ukraine war Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:07 PM PDT Fare cut among measures Jacinda Ardern's party has introduced to ease cost-of-living pressures New Zealand is halving public transport fares to ease the pain of sharply rising petrol costs, as fuel oil prices soar following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced that the country would cut fares by 50% amid a suite of other changes to try to ease sharp increases in the cost of living. The government is also cutting petrol excise duties and road user charges by 25c a litre – changes that will come in at midnight on Monday. Continue reading... |
| Australia v West Indies: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – live! Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:20 PM PDT
Schutt has the new nut. Dottin and Matthews ae up top for West Indies with the bat. This could be good. Plaaaaay! The players stroll out for the anthems, Australia in bright yellow and Windies in deep maroon. We'll be underway in a couple of minutes. Where's you moolah for this one? Australia to do their thing once more or West Indies to provide a bit of an upset? Let me know! Continue reading... |
| Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:19 PM PDT Environment minister found to have no duty of care to children over climate change harm; one person dead in Newtown boarding house fire; NSW records 10,689 Covid cases and six deaths; Victoria records 7,460 new cases and four deaths. Follow the day's news live
The government has decided to withdraw a women's network logo that was widely mocked online for its phallic shape. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet issued a statement today saying the logo had been removed from its website "pending consultation with staff": The women's network logo retained a 'W' icon which staff had been using for a number of years. The rebrand was completed internally, using existing resources, and designs were consulted on widely. No external providers were engaged for this work. Continue reading... |
| NSW school returns to remote learning as spiralling Covid cases hit classrooms Posted: 14 Mar 2022 04:33 PM PDT 'There should have been a steady graduated lifting of the risk mitigation strategies', says teachers union chief At least one school in New South Wales has had to return to some days of remote learning amid surging Covid cases in students and staff. The school is one of many struggling to deal with spiralling cases among young people, with educators admitting learning is suffering. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading... |
| ‘Bitch on a witch-hunt’ slur: Annastacia Palaszczuk tells public servants to stop brawling Posted: 14 Mar 2022 02:13 PM PDT 'Get back to work and get on with it,' Queensland premier tells Nikola Stepanov and Robert Setter Queensland's premier has told two senior public servants to sort out their issues and get back to work after accusations one used a sexist slur against the other four years ago. The Integrity Commission boss, Dr Nikola Stepanov, became upset when she told a parliamentary committee on Monday that the Public Service Commission chief executive, Robert Setter, allegedly said she was a "bitch on a witch-hunt" during a 2018 phone call. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading... |
| Coalition to allow some projects, including mining, to bypass federal environmental approvals Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:34 PM PDT Conservationists warn using workaround to speed up decisions will lead to worse outcomes The Morrison government has announced it will remove the need for developments in some areas to receive project-specific approval under national environment laws, in a step conservationists fear will further weaken nature protection. Guardian Australia revealed last month that the government was considering using a little-used section of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to allow some developments to be given the green light as part of a regional plan without consideration of the impact of the project itself. Continue reading... |
| Former senior RSPCA officers launch campaign to repair ‘broken’ animal welfare system Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:00 PM PDT Experts launch Australian Alliance for Animals to push for independent national animal welfare commission
Two RSPCA animal welfare experts have left the organisation to campaign for a national independent animal welfare commission, saying the current regulatory structure is "broken". Dr Bidda Jones stepped down as chief scientific officer at RSPCA Australia in late 2021, after 25 years. Dr Jed Goodfellow stepped down as a senior policy officer in October. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading... |
| ‘They’re lying to you’: Russian TV employee interrupts news broadcast Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:49 PM PDT Marina Ovsyannikova ran on to the set of the Channel One transmission shouting: 'Stop the war. No to war' An employee on Russia's state Channel One television has interrupted the channel's main news programme with an extraordinary protest against Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor at Channel One, burst on to the set of the live broadcast of the nightly news on Monday evening, shouting: "Stop the war. No to war." Continue reading... |
| Four arrested after protest at Oleg Deripaska’s London mansion Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:35 PM PDT Group earlier said they had made peace with arrest after claiming property for Ukrainian refugees The four protesters who occupied the home of a Russian oligarch in London's Belgravia have ended their demonstration and have been arrested by police. The squatters, who said they were opposed to Vladimir Putin and Russia's invasion of Ukraine and wanted to open the mansion up for Ukrainian refugees, got into the property owned by Oleg Deripaska around 1am on Monday morning. Continue reading... |
| Grisly urban warfare looms unless west beefs up Ukraine arms supply Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:35 PM PDT Analysis: Front line will move into heart of cities unless Ukraine gets more weapons that can target Russian artillery Burning apartment blocks across Mariupol; shattered buildings in Kharkiv. Film and photographs circulating on Monday show the brutal consequences of Russia's onslaught in eastern Ukraine, the result of a succession of air, missile and above all artillery strikes that frequently fall on civilian targets. Russian forces are still struggling to capture more of Ukraine's cities – but while the defending forces are stocked with shoulder-mounted anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, they do not appear to have a counter to the indiscriminate artillery shelling from which civilians are desperate to escape. Continue reading... |
| Labour calls UK’s homes for Ukraine plan a ‘DIY asylum scheme’ Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:57 PM PDT Criticism follows announcement that UK householders will have to name refugees they wish to sponsor Michael Gove's plan to permit UK householders to shelter Ukrainians seeking to escape the Russian war machine has been compared to a "DIY asylum scheme" after it was announced that people would have to name the refugees they wish to sponsor. The communities secretary was criticised after setting out details of the homes for Ukraine scheme in the Commons on Monday, after complaints about the government's slow response to the worst humanitarian disaster in Europe for decades. Continue reading... |
| Fox News journalist injured outside Kyiv, network says Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:44 PM PDT Foreign affairs correspondent, Benjamin Hall, injured 'while newsgathering' and is hospitalized, says network A Fox News journalist has been injured outside Kyiv, the network reported on Monday. In a statement sent to its employees on Monday afternoon, Fox News said that its foreign affairs correspondent, Benjamin Hall, "was injured while newsgathering outside of Kyiv in Ukraine. We have a minimal level of details right now, but Ben is hospitalized and our teams on the ground are working to gather additional information as the situation quickly unfolds." Continue reading... |
| Russia keeps up pounding of Ukrainian cities amid ‘nightmare’ for civilians Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:21 PM PDT Red Cross chief says 'history is watching' as UN confirms almost 3 million people have fled country Russian forces have kept up their relentless bombardment of Ukraine's major cities as the number of people fleeing the country neared 3 million, with the Red Cross describing conditions for those left behind as "nothing short of a nightmare". As Russian airstrikes and artillery fire continued to pound residential areas across the country, Ukrainian prosecutors said 90 children had now died in the conflict. The UN said it had confirmed 636 civilian deaths, but the real toll would be much higher. Continue reading... |
| Roman Abramovich spotted at Israeli airport following UK sanctions Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:05 PM PDT Photograph shows Chelsea FC owner in VIP lounge shortly before jet linked to him took off for Istanbul Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea FC who was subjected to sanctions by the UK government last week, has been spotted at a VIP lounge at an airport in Israel. One of seven Russians who had their assets frozen last Thursday in an attempt to ratchet up the pressure on Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich was seen in Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport on Monday shortly before a jet linked to him took off for Istanbul. Continue reading... |
| Johnson faces uphill task to convince Saudis and UAE to boost oil production Posted: 14 Mar 2022 10:11 AM PDT Analysis: PM will try and succeed where Biden failed but is unlikely to get a sympathetic hearing
Boris Johnson is facing criticism both domestically and in the Gulf as he tries to persuade Gulf states to boost oil production. He is expected to visit Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates as western powers seek extra oil supplies to loosen the west's dependence on Russian energy and slow the massive price rises caused by sanctions due to the war in Ukraine. Continue reading... |
| Boris Johnson plans Saudi Arabia visit to seek oil supply increase Posted: 14 Mar 2022 08:16 AM PDT MPs voice deep concerns over trip after mass execution by regime and its continuing role in Yemen war Boris Johnson is facing scrutiny over a planned trip to Saudi Arabia to push for an increase in oil output amid an outcry over the regime's biggest ever mass execution and growing fears the prime minister may try to limit media scrutiny of the visit. Downing Street would not confirm Johnson's likely trip to Riyadh, but sources have said he wants to appeal to the Gulf state to increase its oil output to replace supplies from Russia. Continue reading... |
| White House faces oil standoff with Saudi Arabia and UAE as prices soar Posted: 13 Mar 2022 12:48 PM PDT Analysis: Disputes with Biden administration mean Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are likely to drive hard bargain Joe Biden's hardline stance on Russia has won him widespread plaudits, but with the most serious oil shock in decades now a reality, the US president's attempt to cushion the blowback continues to meet resistance from the two allies he needs most. Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed, are yet to agree to a phone call with the west's most powerful man – a scenario all but unthinkable during previous administrations. Continue reading... |
| Iran claims responsibility for missile strike near US consulate in Iraq Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:11 AM PDT Revolutionary Guards say target in Erbil was Israeli 'strategic centre' following attack in Syria Iran has claimed responsibility for a missile barrage that struck early on Sunday near a sprawling US consulate complex in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two of its Revolutionary Guards. No injuries were reported in the attack, which marked a significant escalation between the US and Iran. Hostility between the countries has often played out in Iraq, whose government is allied with both countries. Continue reading... |
| Narendra Modi walks diplomacy tightrope with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine Posted: 09 Mar 2022 09:00 PM PST Analysis: Indian PM is reliant on Putin's nation for arms and is conscious of shifting relations between Russia and its foe, China As the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, picked up the phone to Vladimir Putin this week – the latest in several phone calls between the two leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine – he put forward a suggestion. Modi's push, according to an Indian government statement, was that Putin should have a "direct conversation" with the Ukrainian prime minister, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in order to "greatly assist ongoing peace efforts". Continue reading... |
| Criminal barristers vote for industrial action over legal aid funding Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:04 PM PDT Ballot to refuse return cases in England and Wales from 11 April follows independent review's recommendation of 15% increase Criminal barristers in England and Wales have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action beginning next month in protest over levels of legal aid funding. A ballot by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) saw 94% of votes in favour of refusing to accept returns – where a barrister steps in to represent a defendant whose original barrister is unable to attend court – from 11 April. Continue reading... |
| Half of UK low-paid workers given less than a week’s notice of shifts Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:01 PM PDT Campaigners say workers face 'insecurity premium' due to added costs of childcare and travel when shifts are changed at short notice Half of low-paid workers in the UK are given less than a week's notice of their shifts, according to a study highlighting an "insecurity premium" for employees paid close to the minimum wage. The Living Wage Foundation said 50% of people earning less than £9.90 an hour around the UK or £11.05 in London were told details of their work schedules with less than seven days before they were due to begin. Continue reading... |
| UK’s Covid travel restrictions to be dropped despite rise in cases Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:55 PM PDT Remaining rules including mandatory passenger locator forms and tests for unvaccinated arrivals will end on Friday All remaining Covid travel restrictions are to be dropped across the UK from later this week, despite a concerning rise in cases and hospitalisations. Ministers approved the scrapping of passenger locator forms and the requirement for all unvaccinated arrivals to get tested, with the changes to come into force from 4am on Friday. Continue reading... |
| Scientists call for immediate rollout of Covid jab for UK primary school children Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:10 PM PDT Call from JCVI comes as data shows 2- to 11-year-olds currently have the highest rate of infection Scientists are calling for the immediate rollout of Covid vaccines to primary-aged children, as new data suggests that even a single dose of the Pfizer jab helps to prevent older children against infection, and shortens the duration and severity of symptoms if they do get infected. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, 2- to 11-year-olds have the highest rate of infections of any UK age group, with 4.2% testing positive during the week ending 5 March. Secondary-aged children (up to Year 11) have the lowest rate of infections, with 2.4% testing positive. Continue reading... |
| Two convicted in first murder plot case involving EncroChat messaging system Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:07 PM PDT Paul Fontaine and Frankie Sinclair convicted of plotting revenge shooting using encrypted messaging system Two men who planned a revenge shooting have been convicted at the Old Bailey in the first murder plot case involving the use of the encrypted messaging system EncroChat. Paul Fontaine, 36, from Hackney in London, and Frankie Sinclair, 34, from Cardiff, were found guilty of plotting a murder using the system, which was described in court by prosecuting counsel Kevin Dent QC as "an Amazon for organised criminals" in that it allowed them to purchase guns, drugs and counterfeit money clandestinely. Continue reading... |
| Yorkshire’s lost ‘Atlantis’ nearly found, says Hull professor Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:03 PM PDT Is it hoped discovery of medieval trading town Ravenser Odd can teach people about perils of climate crisis Hopes are high that a fabled medieval town known as "Yorkshire's Atlantis" is about to be located and will begin giving up secrets held for more than 650 years. Ravenser Odd was a prosperous port town built on sandbanks at the mouth of the Humber estuary before it was abandoned and later destroyed and submerged by a calamitous storm in 1362. Continue reading... |
| Uproar as Mississippi signs bill to limit discussions of race in school lessons Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:00 PM PDT Bill signed by Republican governor sparks opposition from Black lawmakers who say it will quash debate on racism's harmful effects Mississippi's governor signed a bill Monday to limit how race can be discussed in classrooms, marking the latest move in a Republican-driven battle over "critical race theory", an academic framework that examines how racism has shaped US public policy and institutions. The Mississippi bill has sparked opposition from Black lawmakers, who have said its passage could squelch honest discussion about the harmful effects of racism. Continue reading... |
| White House warns of ‘significant consequences’ if China aids Russia – as it happened Posted: 14 Mar 2022 02:10 PM PDT
The process to approve Joe Biden's nominees for Federal Reserve board - including the Federal Reserve chair - have all been stalled over one particular nominee: Sarah Bloom Raskin, wife of Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of Congress. Last month, Republicans refused to attend the meeting to move the nomination process forward. They wanted senator Sherrod Brown, chair of the banking committee reviewing the nominations, to separate Raskin from the other four nominees, but Brown refused - a move the White House supported. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said if Republicans disagreed with the nomination, they should vote that way, but that it was irresponsible to not show up and do their jobs. Continue reading... |
| CIA black site detainee served as training prop to teach interrogators torture techniques Posted: 14 Mar 2022 11:58 AM PDT Newly declassified documents reveal Ammar al-Baluchi was repeatedly slammed against a wall while naked until all trainees received 'certification' A detainee at a secret CIA detention site in Afghanistan was used as a living prop to teach trainee interrogators, who lined up to take turns at knocking his head against a plywood wall, leaving him with brain damage, according to a US government report. The details of the torture of Ammar al-Baluchi are in a 2008 report by the CIA's inspector general, newly declassified as part of a court filing by his lawyers aimed at getting him an independent medical examination. Continue reading... |
| Volodymyr Zelenskiy expected to urge jet transfer in address to US Congress Posted: 14 Mar 2022 11:03 AM PDT Leaders prepare to welcome Ukraine president before Wednesday speech amid divisions over question of planes Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, will address Congress on Wednesday in what could prove his most powerful plea yet for the west to take a tougher line against Vladimir Putin. Zelenskiy is expected to use the virtual address to urge members of the House of Representatives and Senate to intensify pressure on Joe Biden to allow the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland. Continue reading... |
| Ginni Thomas, wife of Clarence Thomas, attended rally preceding Capitol attack Posted: 14 Mar 2022 10:48 AM PDT Conservative activist who runs a political lobbying firm, says she briefly attended rally but left before Trump addressed crowd Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, wife of the supreme court justice Clarence Thomas, has admitted attending a rally which preceded the January 6 attack on the US Capitol but denied helping to plan it. In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Thomas, a conservative activist who runs a political lobbying firm, said she briefly attended the rally near the White House on 6 January 2021 but left before Donald Trump addressed the crowd. Continue reading... |
| US astronaut’s return hangs in the balance as tensions with Russia escalate Posted: 14 Mar 2022 10:43 AM PDT Mark Vande Hei, who is set to break the US single spaceflight record, will be riding a Russian capsule back to Earth The US astronaut Mark Vande Hei has made it through nearly a year in space, but now faces what could be his trickiest assignment: riding a Russian capsule back to Earth in the midst of deepening tension between the two countries. Nasa insists Vande Hei's homecoming at the end of the month remains unchanged, even as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in canceled launches, broken contracts and an escalating war of words from the leader of the Russian Space Agency. Continue reading... |
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