Rohingya ‘genocide intensifying’ as war rages in Myanmar’s Rakhine: BROUK
Rights group warning comes as fighting between Myanmar's military and Arakan Army traps Rohingya in western state.
Australia politics live: Plibersek says protecting koala habitat one of the conditions for approving Rinehart-backed gas project
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The Queensland government plans to establish a new greater glider forest park as part of a $200m plan to reform the state’s timber industry.
The premier, Steven Miles, will today announce he will ban logging in between 50,000 and 60,000 hectares of high value ecosystem within the Eastern Hardwoods region in Wide Bay, north of Brisbane.
In addition, a new park to protect the greater glider will be established in the south-east Queensland bioregion.
The state government will also appoint an advisory group to develop a 30-year plan for the sector. It will include representatives from the timber industry, forestry experts, the conservation sector, First Nations peoples, the Australian Workers’ Union, construction sector and outdoor recreational groups.
Queensland’s timber industry is the backbone of the housing and building sectors.
That’s why I’m doing what matters to support timber workers and the industry to continue building our state, while also increasing our protected area estate.
The terms of reference released today map out our priorities as a government – that is, timber supply security, environmental protections, jobs and diverse employment opportunities.
UK general election live: Scottish Secretary says he placed bets on date but has ‘not breached any gambling rules’
Tory MP Alister Jack says he ‘had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called’ and is not under investigation
Let’s take a look at today’s top stories. The betting scandal, and election betting by people working in politics in general, dominate this morning’s front pages.
The Guardian leads with a fifth Conservative facing investigation by the Gambling Commission:
Continue reading...Julian Assange live news: WikiLeaks founder heads to Australia as US ambassador Caroline Kennedy declares ‘longstanding and difficult’ case closed
Hearing brings to an end a legal battle spanning more than a decade. Follow the news and watch the live stream
- Full report: Julian Assange pleads guilty at court hearing in Saipan
- From a plea deal to a 2am prison call: how Julian Assange finally gained freedom
- The Guardian view on the WikiLeaks plea deal: good for Julian Assange, not journalism
Here is a video of the moment Julian Assange arrived at court in Saipan alongside Australia’s ambassador to the US and former prime minister, Kevin Rudd:
On former US vice-president Mike Pence’s views that Julian Assange should be “prosecuted to the full extent of the law”, Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles said:
I don’t think it serves to go over Mr Assange’s actions many, many years ago, other than to observe that since then, Mr Assange has been incarcerated for many, many years.
And that’s really the point that we are making here.
Continue reading...UK needs system for recording AI misuse and malfunctions, thinktank says
Centre for Long-Term Resilience calls on next government to log incidents to mitigate risks
The UK needs a system for recording misuse and malfunctions in artificial intelligence or ministers risk being unaware of alarming incidents involving the technology, according to a report.
The next government should create a system for logging incidents involving AI in public services and should consider building a central hub for collating AI-related episodes across the UK, said the Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR), a thinktank.
Continue reading...Nigel Farage outperforms all other UK parties and candidates on TikTok
Exclusive: Videos on Reform leader’s account show more engagement and average views than any other candidate
Nigel Farage is outperforming all other parties and candidates on TikTok throughout the general election campaign, analysis shows, eclipsing politicians considered most popular among young people.
Since the election was called, videos posted to the Reform leader’s personal account had more engagement and views on average than any other candidate – as well as the main channels of other parties.
Continue reading...Warnings over lethal and contagious strain of mpox as children in DRC die
Alarm over high mortality and miscarriage rates as mutated virus spreads in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
A dangerous strain of mpox that is killing children and causing miscarriages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the most transmissible yet and could spread internationally, scientists have warned.
The virus appears to be spreading from person to person via both sexual and non-sexual contact, in places ranging from brothels to schools.
Continue reading...Federal court dismisses defamation claim by AFP officers against Shane Drumgold
Officers had sought $1.42m in damages, claiming former ACT chief prosecutor defamed them in complaint about Bruce Lehrmann prosecution
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The federal court has dismissed a defamation case brought by a group of Australian federal police officers against the former ACT top prosecutor Shane Drumgold.
On Tuesday a court registrar dismissed the case, which had sought $1.42m in damages, alleging that Drumgold defamed the officers in a written complaint about their handling of the Bruce Lehrmann prosecution.
Continue reading...Seoul’s airport runways closed by rubbish-filled balloons sent from North Korea
Several balloons were spotted in and around the airport boundaries, as one balloon landed on the tarmac near passenger terminal two
Takeoffs and landings at South Korea’s Incheon international airport have been disrupted for about three hours because of balloons launched by North Korea filled with refuse, an airport spokesperson said.
One balloon landed on the tarmac near passenger terminal two and the three runways at Incheon were temporarily shut down on Wednesday, the spokesperson said.
Continue reading...North Korea failed launch was possible hypersonic weapon: Seoul
North Korea announced plans in 2021 to develop more sophisticated weapons, including hypersonic missiles.
India exports rockets, explosives to Israel amid Gaza war, documents reveal
Documents seen by Al Jazeera and company statements suggest Israel is receiving Indian weapons as it wages war on Gaza.
EU braces for the nightmare scenario- a eurosceptic France
National Rally win may hamper bloc’s ability to get things done and pose existential question over French role
On the night her party swept to a crushing victory in European elections and France’s president triggered a political earthquake by dissolving parliament, Marine Le Pen, the longtime leader of the National Rally (RN), could not have been much clearer.
“Tonight’s message – including the dissolution – is also addressed to the leaders in Brussels,” she said. “This great victory for patriotic movements is in alignment with the direction of history … We are ready to take power if the people so wish.”
Continue reading...Make this the last inaccessible election for blind people in UK, campaigners demand
RNIB calls on all parties to commit to remove barriers that prevent people with sight loss voting on their own
Tens of thousand of people with sight loss will be denied their right to a secret ballot at next week’s general election, campaigners have warned, prompting calls to make it the last inaccessible election.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is calling on all political parties to commit to remove barriers that prevent blind people voting on their own and without help in future elections.
Continue reading...Jay Slater family fear online ‘noise’ may impede Tenerife search mission
Attempt to find British teenager now in its second week as groundless theories circulate about his disappearance
As the search for Jay Slater, the British teenager who went missing while on holiday in Tenerife, enters its second week Spanish rescuers continue to comb the rugged mountain terrain where he was last seen for clues.
Staff and volunteers from the local police, fire brigade and civil defence force have been using dogs, drones and helicopters to hunt for the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire.
Continue reading...Bus driver charged over Brisbane crash that killed 18-year-old Tia Cameron abused outside court
Insults hurled at Lindsay Selby, who has not yet entered a plea, while leaving Brisbane court after being charged over a fatal CBD bus crash
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A bus driver charged after a Brisbane CBD crash in which 18-year-old Tia Cameron died has been abused while leaving court.
Lindsay Francis Selby, 70, was also targeted by some of Cameron’s supporters outside Brisbane magistrates court on Wednesday in heated scenes.
Continue reading...Inflation rises to 4%, stoking concern interest rates could increase again
The consumer price index increased to its highest level in 2024, indicating the Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut interest rates soon
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Australia’s monthly inflation rate increased to its highest level in 2024 in the latest indication that the Reserve Bank won’t be cutting interest rates soon and might yet hike again.
Consumer prices rose 4% last month from a year earlier, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. That compared with the 3.6% pace recorded for April, and the 3.8% rate expected for May by economists.
The jump in May’s inflation was propelled in part by automotive fuel prices, which were up 9.3% from a year earlier even as they retreated 5.1% during the month itself.
Australia’s first high-speed rail link could ease house prices and widen the dating pool, UK expert says
Prof Andrew McNaughton also warns plan to build Sydney-Newcastle route is ‘doomed’ to fail unless a shorter stretch to Gosford comes first
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Ensuring Australia’s decades-long high-speed rail project maintains enough support to be built requires the public to be constantly reminded of its benefits, such as easing property prices, providing better job opportunities and even widening the dating pool, a British expert has urged.
Prof Andrew McNaughton, the chair of the UK’s Network Rail High Speed, also warns that the Albanese government’s push to build high-speed rail along Australia’s east coast, starting with a Sydney-Newcastle section, is “doomed” to fail unless planners split the first stage into an even smaller, achievable stretch to Gosford.
Continue reading...Oscar invitees: Lily Gladstone, Celine Song and Catherine O’Hara among those offered Academy membership
Da’Vine Joy Randolph and the director and cast of Anatomy of a Fall are also among the 487 new artists and executives to judge the Academy Awards
Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone, Past Lives director Celine Song, and actors Jessica Alba, Catherine O’Hara and Fiona Shaw are among the 487 artists and entertainment executives invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation announced on Tuesday.
Other invitees included Past Lives actors Greta Lee and Teo Yeo, Bottoms filmmaker Emma Seligman, New Zealand actor Rachel House – best known for her collaborations with Taika Waititi – and French director Alice Diop, whose feature debut, the legal drama Saint Omer, became an international festival darling in 2022.
Continue reading...Progressive Jamaal Bowman loses New York House Democratic primary
Congressman Bowman defeated by George Latimer, backed by pro-Israel groups in most expensive House primary ever
Jamaal Bowman, the progressive Democratic congressman whose criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza made him a target for pro-Israel lobbying groups, lost his primary race on Tuesday night.
The Democratic primary in New York’s 16th district became the most expensive House primary in history after Bowman was challenged by George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist.
Continue reading...Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 852
As the war enter its 852nd day, these are the main developments.