Labor’s nature laws risk collapse with deal yet to be struck on eve of parliament’s final sitting day pred 2 urama in 23 minutami Greens expected to sign on to 11th-hour compromise after Labor offers new concessionsAnthony Albanese is yet to land a deal to rewrite federal nature laws ahead of parliament’s final sitting day of the year, leaving the long-promised reforms at risk of collapse for the second time in 12 months.But political, industry and environment movement sources expect the Greens will eventually accept an 11th-hour compromise after Labor offered new concessions to secure the minor party’s support. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taiwan plans extra $40bn in defence spending to counter China’s ‘intensifying’ threats pred 3 urami in 22 minutami President Lai Ching-te declared there was ‘no room for compromise on national security’ in face of escalating harassment and espionageBeijing’s threats to Taiwan are “intensifying” and its preparations to invade are speeding up, Taiwan’s government has said while announcing a $40bn special defence budget and a swathe of measures to counter Chinese attacks.The Taiwan president, Lai Ching-te, said there was “no room for compromise on national security”, and he was committed to boosting Taiwan’s defences in conjunction with US support. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Unavoidably unfair’: the secret courts system hearing part of Palestine Action case pred 3 urami in 52 minutami The CMP system means Huda Ammori will not be allowed to know what allegations were made against herAt some point in the challenge to the ban on Palestine Action beginning on Wednesday, the co-founder of the direct action group will be asked to leave courtroom five at the Royal Courts of Justice, as will her legal team and most others present. Then the case will continue without them.When Huda Ammori returns to the room, the special advocate – a security-cleared barrister – who represented her interests in her absence will not be allowed to tell her or her legal team what evidence was presented against Palestine Action. If Ammori asks what allegations were made directly against her, the special advocate must not tell her, even though that means she will have no chance to rebut them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Roman amphitheatre older than Colosseum gets accessible facelift for Winter Paralympics pred 3 urami in 52 minutami Verona venue to host Milano-Cortina opening ceremonyCritics see changes to 2,000-year-old arena as blasphemyA 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre is to be made fully accessible to people with disabilities before the Winter Paralympic Games in Milano‑Cortina, as organisers prioritise legacy with 100 days to go.The conversion of the Arena di Verona, which will host the Paralympics opening ceremony, includes the addition of a lift and toilets to a structure older than the Colosseum. Described by the Milano-Cortina 2026 chief executive, Andrea Varnier, as “the symbol of our Paralympic Games”, he admits the conversion has also been considered as an act of “blasphemy” by some traditionalists. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Plastic nurdles found at 84% of UK sites of special scientific interest pred 4 urami in 52 minutami Environmental charity Fidra says 168 of 195 SSSIs it surveyed are contaminated with tiny pelletsPlastic nurdles have been found in 84% of important nature sites surveyed in the UK.Nurdles are tiny pellets that the plastics industry uses to make larger products. They were found in 168 of 195 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), so named because of the rare wildlife they harbour. They are given extra protections in an effort to protect them from pollution. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘No topic is too difficult’: children’s series on life in communist East Germany wins an Emmy pred 4 urami in 52 minutami In Fritzi’s Footsteps tells story of a girl growing up in Leipzig who witnesses the fall of the Berlin WallThe creators of a children’s television series about life in communist East Germany have said they hope it will awaken interest in the region’s history, after it was awarded an International Emmy.Auf Fritzis Spuren (In Fritzi’s Footsteps) tells the story of a 12-year-old girl living in the eastern city of Leipzig and how she experiences life in the east and the events that lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
All-male lineup take top slots at ABC Sydney after Chris Bath’s shock departure pred 6 urami in 10 minutami Director of audio concedes ‘there is always more to do’ on diversity as station staff express dismay at dearth of female presentersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesSign up for Guardian Australia’s free weekly media newsletter hereABC radio’s chief, Ben Latimer, says “there is always more to do” on diversity after Chris Bath was replaced with a male presenter on ABC Sydney, leaving the station with an all-male lineup from Breakfast through to Drive in 2026.Bath, who announced her resignation after only one year on Monday, will be replaced by Thomas Oriti in the key Drive slot, which was vacated by the veteran broadcaster Richard Glover after 26 years.Sign up to get Guardian Australia’s weekly media diary as a free newsletter Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Virginia Giuffre died in Australia without a valid will – now the legal battles can resume pred 6 urami in 35 minutami WA court appoints administrator to oversee estate after Jeffrey Epstein victim’s lawyer and housekeeper contest Giuffre’s sons being granted authorityAn interim administrator has been appointed to oversee the estate of Virginia Giuffre after she died without a valid will, meaning multiple lawsuits that had been on hold can now resume.Giuffre, 41, died on a small Western Australian farm, 80km north of Perth, in April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minnesotans gear up to fight Trump ending Somalis’ temporary protected status pred 7 urami in 20 minutami Though president’s order is legally questionable, advocates worry community could be targeted for immigration raidsIn the days since the president said he would be ending a legal immigration status program for Somalis in Minnesota, local elected officials and community members said they will fight back.On Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote that he would be “terminating, effective immediately” temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota. Trump wrote that Minnesota was a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity”. “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!” he wrote. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US triples national park fee for non-residents, amid ‘new’ fee for Americans pred 8 urami in 21 minutami Interior department, which has defunded conservation organizations, claims fee hike is for conservationThe interior department announced today new “America-first” entrance fees for national parks, commemorative annual passes featuring Donald Trump and “resident-only patriotic fee-free days for 2026” including Trump’s birthday.Starting next year, entrance fees for international visitors will more than triple. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
