Tim Walz accuses Trump of withholding $259m in Medicaid funds ‘to punish blue states’ – as it happened pred 18 urami in 58 minutami This blog has closed. Read more hereSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA newly revealed diplomatic cable calls on US diplomats to work against attempts by foreign nations to regulate how US tech companies handle their citizens’ data, as “data sovereignty initiatives” gather steam in Europe over security concerns.More from Reuters:President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered U.S. diplomats to lobby against attempts to regulate U.S. tech companies’ handling of foreigners’ data, saying in an internal diplomatic cable seen by Reuters that such efforts could interfere with artificial intelligence-related services.Experts say the move signals the Trump administration is reverting to a more confrontational approach as some foreign countries seek limits around how Silicon Valley firms process and store their citizens’ personal information - initiatives often described as “data sovereignty” or “data localization.“ Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Will Andrew bring down the monarchy? – podcast pred 19 urami in 2 minutama As MPs vote to release the documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy, Helen Pidd speaks to Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, about the former prince’s antics in the role and whether this scandal will be the monarchy’s lastThis week MPs backed a call to release documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. Andrew was released under investigation last week after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office relating to that role. He has previously denied any wrongdoing over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.Pressure is now mounting on King Charles as to why he did not do more and act sooner. Plus, can the future king, Prince William, reform the monarchy and return its image to its glory days? Helen Pidd speaks to author Andrew Lownie Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East travel warnings expanded as tensions between US and Iran increase pred 19 urami in 39 minutami Australia advises dependants of officials in Israel and Lebanon to leave amid vast US military buildup in the regionMore countries have told citizens to leave Iran and the surrounding region as airlines scale back flights amid mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran.As a day of critical talks over Iran’s nuclear programme was set to begin, and as a vast US military buildup continued in the Middle East, the Trump administration warned of drastic consequences if Iranian negotiators failed to make significant concessions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Grace Tame suggests Anthony Albanese labelling her ‘difficult’ is ‘misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply’ pred 20 urami in 25 minutami PM clarifies comment but says he disagrees with some language the Australian of the Year has usedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has claimed he meant to describe Australian of the Year Grace Tame’s “difficult life” when he labelled her “difficult”, as he sought to clarify his remarks following strong backlash.Tame, an outspoken advocate for sexual abuse survivors, reshared a social media post to her Instagram story on Thursday morning, saying “‘Difficult’ is the misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply. History tends to call her ‘courageous’.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Qantas unveils major changes to frequent flyer program and a bumper $1.46bn profit pred 20 urami in 49 minutami Airline to allow members to roll over status credits, which unlock lounge access, priority boarding and baggage allowancesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQantas is overhauling its frequent flyer program to entice members to climb its vaunted membership tiers, in changes designed to prevent customers from switching to rival schemes.The reforms, described by the airline as the “biggest changes to status in program history”, have been unveiled during a hugely profitable period for Qantas, with revenue rising across its domestic, international and loyalty scheme businesses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man charged with murder of Chris Baghsarian in Sydney likely ‘no mastermind’, lawyer says pred 21 urami in 4 minutami Daniel Stevens and Gerard Andrews denied bail after being charged with alleged murder and kidnapping of 85-year-oldFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo men charged with the kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian have not applied for bail with a lawyer acting for one of the men stating it appeared his client was “no mastermind”.Daniel Stevens, 24 and Gerard Andrews, 29, were charged on Wednesday evening with murder and taking or detaining in company with intent to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm, police said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Christina Applegate reveals she is largely confined to bed due to multiple sclerosis pred 21 urami in 5 minutami Actor, who was diagnosed with MS in 2021, says taking her 15-year-old daughter to school has become her ‘favourite thing to do’Christina Applegate has revealed that she is now largely confined to her bed, five years after she was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis.In an interview with People magazine before the release of her memoir, the 54-year-old actor said she spends a lot of her days in bed due to the pain that comes with movement.The Guardian will run an extract from Christina Applegate’s memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, on 28 February Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Blaring sirens on smartphones to warn Australians of major disasters under emergency alerts overhaul pred 21 urami in 7 minutami Alerts to be sent for bushfires, floods, biosecurity threats and other events which put lives at riskFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians will soon receive intrusive alerts on their smartphones to warn of impending emergencies as governments overhaul warning systems for natural disasters and other serious events.The $132m AusAlert system will be rolled out through a series of trials from June, replacing state-based text messaging systems which often struggle because of demand in major emergencies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
