Demonstrations being held in Italy against ‘repressive’ security bill

Posted on by

Bill by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government comes down hard on climate activists and migrants

Demonstrations are being held across Italy on Wednesday evening in protest against a new security bill described as “repressive” and “dangerous for the country’s democracy”.

The 24 laws contained in the bill, which passed its first hurdle in the lower house of parliament last week and now needs approval in the senate, is the latest attempt by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to get tough on law and order. It comes down especially hard on climate activists and migrants.

Continue reading...

Three men charged in Germany over Michael Schumacher blackmail plot

Posted on by

Chief suspect threatened to release private photos and demanded €15m from F1 star’s family, prosecutors say

German prosecutors are bringing charges against three men arrested this year over an alleged blackmail plot targeting the family of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher.

They said the chief suspect, a 53-year-old man from the western city of Wuppertal, had threatened to release private photos and videos and demanded €15m (£12.5m) from Schumacher’s family.

Continue reading...

Taliban to be taken to international court over gender discrimination

Posted on by

Afghanistan would have six months to provide response before ICJ would hold hearing

The Taliban are to be taken to the international court of justice for gender discrimination by Canada, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands in a groundbreaking move.

The move announced at the UN general assembly is the first time the ICJ, based in The Hague, has been used by one country to take another to court over gender discrimination.

Continue reading...

Zelenskyy slams ‘colonial’ peace proposal to war with Russia in UN speech – POLITICO

Posted on by
  1. Zelenskyy slams ‘colonial’ peace proposal to war with Russia in UN speech  POLITICO
  2. Russia planning attacks on Ukrainian nuclear power plants, Zelensky warns  CNN
  3. U.N. General Assembly 2024 Live: Zelensky Addresses World Leaders  The New York Times
  4. Zelenskiy takes aim at China, Brazil push for peace in Ukraine  Reuters
  5. IAEA chief addresses growing nuclear risks in Ukraine and Iran  PBS NewsHour
Posted in Uncategorized

Austrian election offers far right a springboard back to power – POLITICO Europe

Posted on by
  1. Austrian election offers far right a springboard back to power  POLITICO Europe
  2. Austria elections: could the far-right FPÖ take power and what are its plans?  The Guardian
  3. Kickl's coded rhetoric is reminiscent of Nazi-led Austria - opinion  The Jerusalem Post
  4. Austria sees tight election race, with far-right polling ahead but short of majority  The Times of Israel
  5. Austria Votes—Will the Cordon Sanitaire Hold?  German Marshall Fund
Posted in Uncategorized

Several Labor MPs ‘open’ to reforms to negative gearing to address housing crisis

Posted on by

Some politicians welcome a fresh and bold response to address affordability, while others wary of resurrecting a debate lost at the 2019 election

Some Labor MPs say the government shouldn’t be afraid of considering reforms to negative gearing, with several caucus members saying they were “open” to fresh and bolder responses to the housing crisis.

But others are wary of reopening a debate lost at the 2019 election, calling for caution amid concerns of an election scare campaign.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Contraceptive pill available over the counter for more women in NSW after ‘huge success’ of trial

Posted on by

No requirement to go to GP for new prescription for pill, as long as it has been taken for at least two years

More women in New South Wales will have easier access to the oral contraceptive pill as a trial designed to reduce pressure on the state’s healthcare system becomes permanent.

Under the changes, from Saturday women will be able to get a resupply of their pill from a certified pharmacist without needing to go back to the doctor for a new prescription – as long as they have been taking the medication for two years.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

NSW public housing official allegedly told woman she would get a home faster if she had sex with him

Posted on by

Exclusive: Woman says she was ‘desperate’ to find a home for her and her child and was ‘preyed’ on by the staffer

Police are investigating a Homes New South Wales employee, who is alleged to have propositioned a woman on the waitlist for public housing, claiming that if she had sex with him he would arrange for her and her child to get into a home faster.

The woman, who is a survivor of domestic violence and had fled in order to escape her ex-partner, said the man sent her explicit text messages from his work phone and picked her up to take her for sexual encounters in his work car.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

U.N. General Assembly 2024 Live: Zelensky to Address World Leaders – The New York Times

Posted on by
  1. U.N. General Assembly 2024 Live: Zelensky to Address World Leaders  The New York Times
  2. Ukraine urges world leaders not to seek ‘an out’ from Russia’s war instead of true peace  The Hill
  3. WATCH LIVE: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addresses United Nations  Fox News
  4. Ukraine's Zelenskiy tells UN Russia must be forced into peace  Reuters
  5. Zelensky Appeals for More Pressure on Russia in U.N. Speech  The Wall Street Journal
Posted in Uncategorized