Middle East travel warnings expanded as tensions between US and Iran increase pred 13 urami in 33 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 14 urami in 19 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 14 urami in 43 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 14 urami in 58 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 15 urami 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 15 urami in 2 minutama 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)
Jacinda Ardern living and working in Australia after move from US pred 15 urami in 42 minutami Exclusive: Former New Zealand PM ‘based out of Australia’, according to spokesperson, after rumours she was looking for houses in SydneyThe former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern is living in Australia with her family, a spokesperson has confirmed.“The family has been travelling for a few years now,” her office told the Guardian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
CPS issues new guidance on ‘honour’-based and dowry abuse pred 15 urami in 55 minutami Updated guidance from Crown Prosecution Service covers forms of spiritual and immigration abuse for first timeThe Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published new guidance for its lawyers to help tackle “honour”-based abuse, with spiritual and immigration abuse included for the first time.The guidance was updated to reflect growing concerns around evolving forms of abuse and to tackle what the CPS described as “emerging harmful practices”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
What is the national maternity and neonatal investigation and why was it launched? pred 15 urami in 55 minutami From racism to staff shortages, the interim report found a host of deep-rooted issues affecting women and babiesNHS maternity units often cover up harmful errors in childbirth, report findsCruel comments, racism and cover-ups: key findings from England’s maternity care reportOn Thursday, a damning interim report published after a national investigation into England’s maternity services found deep-rooted issues affecting women and their babies, including insensitivity from maternity staff, racism and discrimination, and chronic staff shortages. Below is an exploration of what led to the report and what happens next. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK anti-slavery watchdog calls for overhaul of adult sexual services sites pred 15 urami in 55 minutami Independent commissioner’s report finds websites can act as ‘accelerators’ of exploitation for sex workers using themThe anti-slavery watchdog has called for a complete overhaul of websites advertising sexual services after an investigation revealed they can act as “accelerators” of exploitation for sex workers using them.While working online can provide enhanced protections for some, a new report from the independent anti-slavery commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, investigated the experiences of women who said they were exploited on the adult services sites, which typically allow users to browse through images and videos of women selling sex in their local area. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
