The Guardian

The treasurer will continue to lobby US officials for an Australian exemption to steel and aluminium tariffs Greens want Labor’s new Medicare plan implemented before electionThe federal Greens have welcomed the Albanese government’s plan to significantly boost bulk-billing rates, as part of an $8.5bn policy, but claimed its campaigning influenced the decision.Greens pressure works. In a wealthy country like ours everyone should be able to see a GP, psychologist, dentist or nurse with their Medicare card.It’s good Labor has adopted part of our plan to help people see the GP for free. Now let’s make it law before the election.Trade

Open letter from some of the country’s most distinguished artists ‘strongly protests’ at the removal of Sabsabi and curator Michael DagostinoGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiving artists who have represented Australia at the Venice Biennale over the past five decades – and the estates of a number of now deceased artists who have done the same – have signed an open letter to the board and chief executive of Creative Australia to reinstate sacked artist Khaled Sabsabi and his curator Michael Dagostino.Some of Australia’s most distinguished living artists, including Imants Tillers, Mike Parr, Susan Norrie,

Parents of Muo Lisa and her male cousin were doing farm work when the two-year-olds came across unexploded ordinanceA grenade believed to be more than 25 years old killed two toddlers when it blew up near their homes in rural Cambodia, officials said.The accident happened on Saturday in Siem Reap province’s Svay Leu district, where there had been heavy fighting in the 1980s and 90s between Cambodian government soldiers and rebel guerrillas from the communist Khmer Rouge. The group had been ousted from power in 1979. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/22/two-toddlers-in-cambodia-killed-by-decades-old-grenade-that-detonated Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2025-02-22

The pontiff is in hospital for a complex lung infection and has been given high flows of oxygen and blood transfusionsThe Vatican has said Pope Francis is in a critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen.Francis has been hospitalised for a week with a complex lung infection. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/22/pope-francis-now-in-a-critical-condition-after-respiratory-crisis-vatican-says Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2025-02-22 18:53:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Appearance comes after chaotic week with mass layoffs of federal workers and Trump’s ire directed at Ukraine leaderDonald Trump’s administration has shut down a national database documenting police misconduct.The Guardian’s Gloria Oladipo reports: Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/feb/22/us-live-blog-politics-donald-trump Author : Maya Yang Publish date : 2025-02-22 18:04:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

An independent standards authority says the industry must learn from recent scandals and create safer working environmentsNew guidelines will be issued this week for the UK’s creative industries after a series of scandals including reports of inappropriate behaviour by Gregg Wallace and Gino d’Acampo, and bullying allegations on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) will set new standards with the aim of stamping out bullying, harassment and discrimination, and address “power imbalances”. The guidelines call on organisations to create reporting mechanisms and ways to learn from previous scandals, as well as safe and inclusive working

Archaeologist believes his ‘find of the century’ – of Pharaoh Thutmose II – could be surpassed by ongoing excavationTo uncover the location of one long-lost pharaoh’s tomb is a career-defining moment for an archaeologist. But to find a second is the stuff of dreams.Last week British archaeologist Piers Litherland announced the find of the century – the first discovery of a rock-cut pharaoh’s tomb in Egypt since Tutankhamun’s in 1922. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/22/you-dream-about-such-things-brit-who-discovered-missing-pharaohs-tomb-may-have-unearthed-another Author : Donna Ferguson Publish date : 2025-02-22 15:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

German carmaker will review plans for site which had been forecast to secure 4,000 jobs in EV productionBMW Group has paused a £600m investment into a Mini car assembly plant on the outskirts of Oxford, amid a declining demand for electric vehicles.In 2023, the German carmaker, which has owned Mini since 2000, announced the investment to upgrade its Cowley plant for electric production of the Mini. It was supported by government-backed investment, and was forecast to secure 4,000 jobs in electric vehicle production. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/22/bmw-pauses-600m-upgrade-oxford-mini-plant-electric-vehicle-demand Author : Aneesa Ahmed Publish date : 2025-02-22 13:47:00 Copyright for

Ukraine’s lithium deposits are among biggest in Europe and the US is looking for ‘payback’ for previous military assistanceDrawing in the snow with his finger, Mykola Hrechukha sketched out how Ukraine’s new lithium mine might look. It would have a deep central shaft, with a series of side tunnels, he said. “The lithium is good everywhere. The biggest concentration is at a depth of 200-500 metres,” he said. “We should be able to extract 4,300 tonnes a day. The potential is terrific.”For now, though, there is little sign of activity. The deposit is buried under a large sloping field, used

Public concern about NHS is worrying and frightening, says leading emergency doctor after poll revealedThree in four people in the UK fear getting stuck on a trolley in a hospital corridor or an ambulance not arriving after dialling 999, prompting claims that the NHS is facing “a crisis of public trust”.Huge numbers also worry about their local A&E not having enough beds (77%) and not being able to get care at their GP surgery (70%), research also found. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/22/three-four-people-uk-fear-failed-ae-services-nhs Author : Denis Campbell Health policy editor Publish date : 2025-02-22 09:27:00 Copyright for syndicated content

Five-year-old platform intended to make drivers’ lives easier will only be supported until the end of March‘Those without smartphones unfairly penalised, say campaignersHow to navigate apps: from checking safety to recalling passwordsUK-wide parking app may be out of road after funding withdrawnIt was hailed as “the future of UK parking”, intended to remove one of the bugbears of modern life: the need to sign up to a plethora of different apps in order to park your car.But a big question mark now hangs over the future of the National Parking Platform (NPP), a government-funded scheme designed to make drivers’ lives

Moscow and Washington held their first talks on ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine on TuesdayThe Russians are looking for “visible shifts for the better in American policy”, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, according to the RIA state news agency reported on Saturday.“Today we are facing two parallel, but, of course, to some extent, politically interconnected tracks: one is Ukrainian affairs, the other is bilateral,” Ryabkov said. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/22/russia-ukraine-war-putin-trump-zelenskyy-europe-live-news-updates-latest Author : Charlie Moloney Publish date : 2025-02-22 08:25:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Hamas says six captives expected to be freed from Gaza on Saturday in swap for about 600 Palestinian prisoners and detaineesIsraelis are gathering in Tel Aviv as they wait for the anticipated release of six hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. These images have come in from Israel:The Israeli military expects Hamas to release the six Israeli hostages from two separate locations in Gaza starting from 9am local time, the Times of Israel is reporting a defence official as saying. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/22/middle-east-crisis-live-israel-hamas-new-gaza-hostage-prisoner-exchange Author : Adam Fulton Publish date : 2025-02-22 07:06:00 Copyright for syndicated content

In speech at Arc conference, podcaster argues ‘identity politics and multiculturalism … are two failed experiments’Konstantin Kisin has until this week been best known as a libertarian, pro-free speech independent podcaster, and for a viral appearance at the Oxford Union arguing that “woke culture has gone too far”.His profile has suddenly risen, however, after hosting the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, on his podcast, and arguing in an episode with Fraser Nelson, the former editor of the Spectator, that Rishi Sunak was not English owing to his “brown Hindu” background – triggering criticism on social media. Continue reading... Source link :

Adam Abeldon rules that president’s efforts to ban DEI programs likely violate first amendment of constitutionA federal judge in Maryland on Friday temporarily blocked Donald Trump from implementing bans on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at federal agencies and by businesses that contract with the federal government.US district judge Adam Abelson said the directives by Trump and an order urging the Department of Justice to investigate companies with DEI policies likely violate the first amendment of the US constitution. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/21/judge-temporarily-blocks-trumps-anti-dei-purge Author : Guardian staff and agencies Publish date : 2025-02-22 00:55:00 Copyright for syndicated content

Pete Hegseth supports cuts of up to 8% of civilian workforce as Trump bids to institute massive government cutsThe Pentagon announced plans Friday to fire 5-8% of its civilian workforce, staring next week with layoffs of 5,400 probationary workers, a Department of Defense official said in a statement.The initial civilian layoffs will be followed by a Department of Defense hiring freeze to analyze the military’s personnel needs in compliance with Donald Trump’s political goals, Darin Selnick, the acting under-secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in the statement. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/21/pentagon-layoffs-civilian-workers Author : Lois Beckett and

Weather bureau forecasts temperatures as high as 39C in Adelaide, 36C in Melbourne, 30C in Canberra and 29C in HobartGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastExtreme fire danger and total fire bans have been declared for much of South Australia and Victoria, including Melbourne, as hot and dry winds bring sweltering temperatures to the region on Saturday, and cyclones threaten to form off the Queensland and Western Australian coasts.Forecast temperatures were between six and 12C above average in many places for Saturday, with expected maximums of 39C in Adelaide, 36C in Melbourne, 30C in Canberra and

Rapper is a vocal supporter of Palestine but has received criticism over restaurant’s links to Israeli militaryStormzy has denied that he “compromised beliefs for commercial gain”, after his advertising partnership with McDonald’s was criticised over the company’s ties to Israel.In a new campaign, the rapper appears in filmed adverts and on billboards promoting the “Stormzy meal” featuring a selection of his favourite menu items. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/21/stormzy-denies-he-compromised-beliefs-with-mcdonalds-partnership Author : Ben Beaumont-Thomas Publish date : 2025-02-21 23:48:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Keith Kellogg takes different tone from Trump, who contrasted ‘very good talks’ with Putin with cooler relationship with Ukraine’s leaderThe US envoy to Ukraine, Gen Keith Kellogg, has praised Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war”, striking a dramatically different tone from Donald Trump, who has called Ukraine’s president a “dictator”.Kellogg left Kyiv on Friday after a three-day visit. Posting on social media, he said he had engaged in “extensive and positive discussions” with Zelenskyy and his “talented national security team”. “A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine,” he said.

Caleb Vitello reassigned as administration reportedly unhappy that arrests and deportations have been slower than expectedDonald Trump’s presidential administration has reassigned its top official at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) after the agency’s arrests and deportations have been slower than expected, Reuters reported, citing a senior administration official and two other sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.The official, Caleb Vitello, was in the role in an acting capacity and had been grappling with pressure to step up enforcement after other top Ice officials were reassigned days earlier. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/21/trump-ice-caleb-vitello Author : Maya Yang

Luigi Mangione faces state-level murder and terrorism charges, as well as federal countsLuigi Mangione appeared in Manhattan state court on Friday in the 4 December killing of the United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Mangione, 26, faces state-level murder and terrorism charges, as well as federal counts, for allegedly gunning down Thompson in a brazen street assassination. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/21/luigi-mangione-manhattan-court Author : Victoria Bekiempis Publish date : 2025-02-21 19:46:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Outside lawyer appointed to present arguments against prosecutors seeking to drop case against New York mayorA New York judge on Friday said he would not immediately dismiss Eric Adams’s corruption case, but ordered the Democratic New York City mayor’s trial delayed indefinitely after the justice department asked for the charges to be dismissed.In a written ruling, US district judge Dale Ho in Manhattan said he would appoint an outside lawyer, Paul Clement of the law firm Clement & Murphy PLLC, to present arguments against the federal prosecutors’ bid to dismiss, in order to help the judge make his decision. Continue

Polling shows US president is deeply unpopular with British voters but Keir Starmer is keen not to rock the boatKeir Starmer is striking a delicate balancing act on the world stage by trying to maintain a good relationship with Donald Trump while giving his full-throated support to Ukraine and pursuing closer ties with the EU.But the prime minister faces increased domestic pressures when it comes to Trump, whom he will meet in Washington DC next week. Polling consistently shows the US president is deeply unpopular with British voters, a majority of whom think ministers should now prioritise building bridges with

MP was sacked as a minister and suspended from Labour party after messages were revealedParliament’s standards watchdog has launched an investigation into Andrew Gwynne, who was sacked as a minister over offensive comments made on a WhatsApp group.The MP was also suspended from the Labour party after messages were revealed in which he said he hoped a pensioner who did not support him would die before the next set of elections. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/21/watchdog-launches-investigation-into-andrew-gwynne-over-offensive-whatsapp-messages Author : Ben Quinn Publish date : 2025-02-21 15:40:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Senate Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; mass layoffs get all-clear after judge lifts blockMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsThe defense department will delay a plan to fire civilian employees on probation as it assess whether the move complies with the law and if it affects military readiness, CNN reports.The cuts were to be made as part of Donald Trump’s effort to dramatically downsize the federal government, which is being led by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency”. Here’s more, from CNN:The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations,