Australia news live: nearly 500 structures destroyed in Victoria bushfires; NSW teen charged over US mass shooting hoax calls
Twelve major bushfires active across Victoria, many of which are expected to burn for days or weeks. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew role a ‘continuation of Rudd’s public service’, PM saysAlbanese said the decision to step down was “entirely” Rudd’s, but said the ambassador’s next role will only continue his work to advance the public interest.Kevin Rudd has a work ethic unlike anyone I’ve ever met. … He sees this as a continuation of his public service, not just to Australia but to the global community.I have seen first-hand how hard he works, not just in the last few years but throughout his public life. He’s always brought an extraordinary level of energy and discipline to public service.He applied his relentless effort, his experience, intellect and determination to advance Australia’s interests in Washington, and Kevin Rudd has served the nation well. Continue reading...
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Minnesota and Illinois sue Trump administration over immigration crackdown – live
Minnesota asks court to declare surge in federal agents in region unconstitutional and unlawful, while Illinois says ICE agents used ‘dangerous tactics’Minnesota sues Trump administration to end surge of ICE agents in stateIn response to the news overnight that Donald Trump’s justice department has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, the Senate banking committee’s top Democrat – Elizabeth Warren – has warned that her colleagues should not move forward with the president’s nominee for the role when Powell’s term expires at in May of this year.Warren accused the president of wanting to “install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank”.Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair. Continue reading...
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
Even accepting the Trump administration’s claim that there is an armed conflict with suspected drug runners, the laws of war bar “perfidy.”
Greenland says it cannot accept US takeover ‘under any circumstances’
Self-governing island stresses it is member of Nato, which is looking at improving Arctic defences, through DenmarkGreenland’s government has said it “cannot under any circumstances accept” Donald Trump’s desire to take control of Greenland, as Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, said the organisation was working on ways to bolster Arctic security.At the start of a critical week for the vast Arctic island, a largely self-governing part of Denmark, the US president restated his interest in the strategically located, mineral-rich territory, saying the US would take it “one way or the other”. Continue reading...
Coal power generation falls in China and India for first time since 1970s
‘Historic’ moment in biggest coal-consuming countries could bring decline in global emissions, analysis says Coal power generation fell in China and India for the first time since the 1970s last year, in a “historic” moment that could bring a decline in global emissions, according to analysis.The simultaneous fall in coal-powered electricity in the world’s biggest coal-consuming countries had not happened since 1973, according to analysts at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, and was driven by a record roll-out of clean energy projects. Continue reading...
Wildlife targets will be missed in England and Northern Ireland, watchdog says
Seven out of 10 targets have little likelihood of being met by 2030, Office for Environmental Protection saysThe government will not meet its targets to save wildlife in England and Northern Ireland and is failing on almost all environmental measures, the Office for Environmental Protection watchdog has said.In a damning report, the OEP has found that seven of the 10 targets set in the Environment Act 2021 have little likelihood of being met by 2030, which is the deadline set in law. Continue reading...
Bushfire threat eases across Victoria as number of structures destroyed nears 500
No emergency warnings in place for first time since Thursday – though 12 major blazes are still activeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe bushfire threat in Victoria has eased, with no emergency warnings in place for the first time in almost a week, as the number of structures lost nears 500.The State Control Centre (SCC) on Tuesday morning confirmed that while there were 12 major bushfires active across Victoria, many of which are expected to burn for days or weeks, there were no emergency warnings in place for the first time since Thursday. Continue reading...
Thousands of nurses go on strike in New York City
Nurses were joined by elected leaders, including the city’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, as contract negotiations failed.
Peter Mandelson apologises for Epstein association in sudden U-turn
Former ambassador to US had earlier declined to give apology for keeping in touch with sex offender after his conviction Peter Mandelson has issued an apology for his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – after declining to do so in an interview broadcast on Sunday.The Labour peer, who was sacked as US ambassador when details of his support for Epstein emerged in September, gave an interview to the BBC in which he suggested that as a gay man he knew nothing of the disgraced financier’s sex life. Continue reading...
Trump says any country doing business with Iran will face 25 percent tariff
The US president has threatened Iran with military strikes amid widespread antigovernment protests there.