14 h. ago Government breaks silence on snap General Election after 680k Brits demand one

After amassing more than 680k signatories in just one week, the Government has finally responded to the ever-growing call for a snap General Election to be held this year

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20 h. ago Nicola Sturgeon hints she could debate JK Rowling over trans rights controversy

The former Scottish first minister said she did not know if the Harry Potter author would be willing to take part in a debate with her.

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3 d. ago Marles insists Australia ‘not supplying weapons to Israel’ but critics argue ‘parts of weapons are weapons’

Acting prime minister decries ‘misinformation’ regarding arms exports while Greens claim ‘hollow talking points aren’t washing with the public’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government won’t follow Germany and introduce new export restrictions to pressure Israel, with the defence minister, Richard Marles, insisting no weapons are being sent from Australia to aid the killing in Gaza.Marles, the acting prime minister, said on Sunday that Australia was not exporting any weapons for use by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a claim rejected by human rights campaigners and the Greens. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago ‘Transnational repression’: Australia condemns Hong Kong’s attempts to silence exiled dissidents

G7 nations’ joint statement says arrest warrants and bounties for pro-democracy campaigners are undermining human rights and state sovereigntyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has signed a joint statement issued on behalf of G7 nations condemning Hong Kong for seeking to “silence, intimidate, harass, harm or coerce” pro-democracy campaigners living abroad.The statement, which was also made on behalf of New Zealand, Sweden and the Netherlands, has described the issuing of arrest warrants and bounties for exiled dissidents as acts of “transnational repression” that undermine human rights and state sovereignty. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago GMB paused for huge government breaking news announcement just minutes into ITV show

Good Morning Britain viewers were issued with the sudden update as Kate Garraway quickly passed over to a reporter outside Downing Street.

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3 w. ago Tasmanian election: Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff declares victory as Labor loses ground after forcing early poll

Support grows for incumbent government in election triggered by no-confidence voteGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTasmania faces a period of political talks after a snap election delivered another hung parliament and more seats to the Liberals than Labor.The Liberal premier, Jeremy Rockliff, declared victory on Saturday night after his party secured 14 seats to Labor’s nine, both short of the 18 required for a majority. Continue reading...

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4 w. ago Teenage vaping has ‘turned a corner’ in Australia, says Mark Butler, as data shows falling rates

Report finds vaping rate among children aged 14-17 years has declined, with some describing embarrassment about being a ‘vaper’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government believes dangerous vaping rates among younger Australians may have turned a corner after years of rapid growth, with new research showing take-up could have peaked among teenagers and high school-age children.Data released by the health minister, Mark Butler, on Wednesday showed that vaping rates fell from 17.5% at the start of 2023 to 14.6% in April this year among children aged 14-17 years.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

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