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Lawyers for former judge say he has filed application with federal court disputing lawfulness of ACT Integrity Commission report

Operator of the Inverell swimming pool said police were called on children who refused to cease antisocial behaviour'

Australian National Imams Council labels proposal opportunistic' as Jewish Council of Australia says opposition pitting different communities against each other'

Election pledge part of Albanese's focus on cheaper medicines as a cost-of-living measure that will also help reduce inflation

Report from the Commons transport select committee calls for a unified complaints serviceDisabled people's access to transport has been called a national embarrassment" by MPs on a parliamentary committee, who said a new enforcement regime was needed to uphold their right to travel.A report from the Commons transport select committee highlighted the experience of people with disabilities in using British transport services, from accounts of wheelchair users left on planes to taxi drivers refusing to take a guide dog, or people being unable to navigate pavements blocked by obstructions. Continue reading...

Thinktank predicts PM will not realise ambition for 92% of patients in England to wait less than 18 weeks for planned care by 2029Keir Starmer is unlikely to fulfil his pledge to restore the maximum 18-week wait for planned hospital care before the next election, a leading thinktank has said.The prime minister has made bringing back the 18-week access standard in England, by ensuring that 92% of patients are seen within that time, one of the six milestones" he has promised to achieve by 2029. Continue reading...

World Happiness Report 2024 finds volunteering more frequent in most regions as Finland tops chart again and Costa Rica and Mexico enter top 10The world experienced a benevolence bump" of kindness during the Covid-19 pandemic that has remained, with generous acts more than 10% above pre-pandemic levels.The annual World Happiness Report found that in 2024, acts such as donating and volunteering were more frequent than in 2017-19 in all generations and almost all global regions, although they had fallen from 2023. Continue reading...

Experts say planned cuts will deliver series of painful income shocks' for manySome disabled people could lose nearly 10,000 a year in benefits by the end of the decade under Labour's controversial disability benefits reforms that will target the living standards of poor and middle income households, experts have forecast.Plans announced on Tuesday will see 1 million ill and disabled people directly lose personal independence payments (Pip) worth between 4,2oo and 6,300 each, with hundreds of thousands more losing incapacity benefits. Continue reading...

China's embassy in Canada says it is rule of law' country and those convicted of breaking laws must be held accountable'

Findings raise questions about extent and scope of Canadian authorities' use of cyberweaponsResearchers have uncovered possible links" between Ontario's provincial police force and an Israel-based military-grade spyware maker called Paragon Solutions, raising questions about the extent and scope of Canadian authorities' use of cyberweapons.The new findings were published by the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which tracks and identifies digital threats against civil society, and come three years after a parliamentary committee in Canada called for Ottawa to update the country's privacy laws in the wake of press reports that the national police force had been using spyware to hack mobile phone devices. No laws were ever passed to address the controversy. Continue reading...

National Transportation Safety Board releases preliminary report on loss of aircraft that killed all 10 onboardA commuter plane that crashed on sea ice off Alaska, killing all 10 people onboard, was half a ton overweight for the weather conditions, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report released on Wednesday.The report said the plane was too heavy for conditions that cause icing at the speed and altitude it was flying. Continue reading...

Ekrem mamolu of CHP opposition party detained alongside 100 others accused of corruption and links to terror groupsTurkish police have arrested the mayor of Istanbul, detaining the primary challenger to the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, in dawn raids that also ensnared 100 politicians, businesspeople and municipal officials accused of corruption and links to terror groups.Ekrem mamolu, the mayor, released a video statement as police gathered outside his residence in Istanbul, speaking to the camera as he put on a shirt and tie before his arrest. In a caption accompanying the video posted to social media, he wrote: This is a blow to the will of the people." Continue reading...

Labour MPs uneasy as chancellor prepares even deeper reductions that economists say will harm key servicesRachel Reeves will announce the biggest spending cuts since austerity at next week's spring statement after ruling out tax rises as a way to close her budget deficit.The chancellor will tell MPs next Wednesday that she intends to cut Whitehall budgets by billions of pounds more than previously expected in a move which could mean reductions of as much as 7% for certain departments over the next four years. Continue reading...

Crime commissioner calls for national database after Nicholas Prosper, 19, bought shotgun by forging firearms licenceGun controls are set to be tightened after a teenager who bought a shotgun by forging a firearms licence was jailed for life for murdering his family and planning a school massacre.The full details of Nicholas Prosper's failed plot to storm a morning assembly at his old school and kill 30 children in a bid to become famous for being the worst mass murderer in British history were made public this week. Continue reading...

Zelenskyy said he accepted US proposal of unconditional ceasefire on frontline in substantive' conversation with TrumpOpening the press conference, Finland's Stubb says Europe faces one of those moments of choices between two different worlds: Yalta or Helsinki; in other words, spheres of influence or equal rights and duties for all states."He stresses that Ukraine has an undeniable right to defend itself on its own and supported by its partner," a right that cannot be restricted in any way," dismissing Russian demands to halt help for Kyiv.The principles of international law and the European security order have not changed, and there is no need to start changing them.Independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. These are the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki charter. Continue reading...

Tory leader provides no evidence to support position that flies in face of expert reports and her own wordsThe Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, officially ditched net zero by 2050 as a Tory policy this week. The target was signed into law in June 2019 by her predecessor Theresa May, the then prime minister. So what arguments did Badenoch make for reversing? Continue reading...

UN calls for investigation after staff member among 20 people reportedly killed in renewed airstrikesIsraeli forces have launched a limited ground operation" to retake the Netzarim corridor, a newly widened road protected by fortified bunkers that divides Gaza and is seen as essential to controlling the devastated Palestinian territory.The move is a significant escalation of Israel's new offensive in Gaza and came less than 36 hours after a massive wave of airstrikes that killed more than 400, including 183 children and 94 women, the health ministry there said. Continue reading...

Tech companies could be fined billions if EU finds they have breached the Digital Markets Act

Harshita Brella moved to the UK last April with Pankaj Lamba, who is believed to have fled the countryA murder charge has been authorised against the husband of a woman found dead in a car boot in London.Harshita Brella, 24, was found in a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Brisbane Road, Ilford, east London, on 14 November last year. Her husband, Pankaj Lamba, 23, who is believed to have fled the country, was also charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Continue reading...

Rapper is honoured for his philanthropic work alongside the likes of John Rutter, Angela Davis and Simon Russell BealeStormzy has been awarded an honorary law doctorate from the University of Cambridge, to recognise his philanthropic work.The rapper, 31, has initiated various schemes across sport and the arts outside his chart-topping music career, such as founding his Merky Books imprint which champions Black British authors, and buying out the football team AFC Croydon Athletic with the intention of turning it into a community asset". Continue reading...

Richard Burgon says PM's failure to defend new Pip eligibility rules at PMQs shows why cruel' plans should be droppedLast night, to back up its analysis of the disability cuts, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published two charts illustrating aspects of the changes.This one shows how the 5bn cuts announced yesterday compare in scale to previous benefit cuts, listed here in order of how big they were, in current prices. Continue reading...

Jeanette Vizguerra entered US unlawfully 20 years ago and gained attention for sheltering in church in 2017

Nicholas Prosper, 19, who also plotted to carry out mass shooting at his former primary school, gets life sentenceA truly evil" 19-year-old who murdered his mother and two younger siblings as part of a failed plot to kill 30 children and become the worst mass murderer in British history has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 49 years.Nicholas Prosper admitted murdering Juliana Falcon, 48, Kyle Falcon, 16, and Giselle Falcon, 13, last month. Their murders were part of a wider plot to storm a morning assembly at his former primary school with a shotgun and cause the biggest massacre of the 21st century". Continue reading...

Doge head makes unfounded claim that Democrats use fraud in programs such as Medicare to boost voting ranksElon Musk is claiming, without evidence, that Democrats have been using fraud in entitlements like social security and Medicare to attract immigrants and boost their voting ranks - language that also echoes racist rightwing conspiracy theories.The billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX and Donald Trump's first buddy" has been trying to justify cuts to programs like social security, arguing that the fraud has cost the government up to $200bn. Continue reading...

Lawyers for jailed nurse had argued there was overwhelming' evidence undermining guilty verdictsThe chair of the public inquiry into the murder of babies by Lucy Letby has rejected calls to pause her investigation.Lady Justice Thirlwall was urged by the jailed nurse and former executives at the Countess of Chester hospital to halt the inquiry until the outcome of Letby's legal appeals. Continue reading...

Maryland's Glenn Ivey is first Democratic lawmaker to publicly demand that the Senate minority leader step downA Democratic congressman has become the first to publicly call for Chuck Schumer to step down as Senate minority leader, highlighting growing divisions within the party over how to confront and counter Donald Trump's administration.Glenn Ivey of Maryland told constituents on Tuesday that Schumer's decision to allow a Republican funding bill to pass had surrendered crucial leverage against the administration. Continue reading...

Charity's director says visit could help rebuild fighter's reputation after he was found liable for rape in civil caseAn Irish rape crisis charity has complained about Conor McGregor's meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, describing it as a sinister" move that could help launder" the mixed martial arts fighter's reputation.Rachel Morrogh, the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, has written to the US embassy in the Irish capital raising concerns about the meeting, which took place on Monday, Saint Patrick's Day. Continue reading...

Use of hi-tech search tools enables shoppers to find items they want, while trade war pushes up prices of new clothesArtificial intelligence will spur on sales of secondhand clothing, according to the boss of one of the biggest online resale sites, after global sales rose 15% last year - more than four times faster than the wider market.Pre-loved clothing items now account for $227bn (175bn) or 9% of total fashion sales, according to a report by analysts at GlobalData for online the clothing reseller ThredUp. The figure represents a big leap over the past five years and has led to resellers eating into the market share of major clothing retailers. Continue reading...

Coastguard rescues 10 people and search resumes after half-sunken dinghy spotted near isletSix people have died and 40 are missing after a boat disaster off the Italian island of Lampedusa.The wreck occurred on Tuesday afternoon. A half-sunken dinghy was spotted by Italian police patrols close to the islet of Lampione. Continue reading...

Lee Castleton was left bankrupt, and his story featured in ITV drama about scandalThe former subpostmaster Lee Castleton, one of the highest-profile victims of the Horizon IT scandal, has become the first individual to launch legal action against the Post Office and Fujitsu.Castleton, who was played by the actor Will Mellor in the hit ITV drama Alan Bates vs The Post Office, was made bankrupt by the Post Office after a two-year legal battle. Continue reading...

Gaza health officials say five killed in two strikes as Israeli evacuation order may suggest plans for ground operationsIsrael has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes in Gaza on the second day of its resumed offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory.The attacks were far less intensive than the massive strikes early on Tuesday morning, which killed more than 400 people and shattered the relative calm since a 19 January ceasefire paused the 18-month war. Continue reading...

Allen Ferguson carried his son through a wildfire to safety during Friday's extreme weather conditionsA community in Oklahoma is lamenting the death of a local wrestling coach who carried his teenaged son through a wildfire to safety and sacrificed his life in the process.Allen Ferguson, of the Oklahoma City suburb of Chandler, died a hero, and his dedication to his family and our community will never be forgotten", said a statement from local state representative Jim Shaw. Continue reading...

Lord Darzi's undeclared interests in four companies included $500,000 of shares in US-based healthcare ventureThe independent peer Lord Darzi, a senior adviser to the government on the NHS, failed to officially declare shareholdings in healthcare companies worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.Ara Darzi is an eminent surgeon and professor at Imperial College London whose report on the NHS for the government in September informed the decision announced last week by the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to abolish NHS England. Darzi also has an extensive portfolio of private interests in commercial medical companies. Continue reading...

Bank says 18 other outlets will become counter-free' and further 36 will operate reduced hoursSantander is to close a fifth of its branches in the UK as part of an overhaul of its network, putting 750 jobs at risk.The retail bank said it would shut 95 out of its 444 high street outlets, and reduce the services or hours at a further 50-plus branches, by June to better serve the changing needs of customers". Continue reading...

Kevin Rudd once lobbied the Turnbull government for a UN position using encrypted app Wickr - and the messages could not be found

In today's newsletter: what chance does a backbench rebellion have of shifting the government's plans to cut benefits?Good morning. After weeks of leaks and speculation, in parliament yesterday the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, set out the government's plan to cut the benefits bill. Her announcement covered a lot of ground, and she said that it was necessary to fix a system that is failing the very people it is supposed to help and holding the country back".When the dust settled, the consequences of that mission looked stark. In order to claw back 5bn a year by the end of the decade as the UK's growth prospects worsen, the government is removing benefits for up to 1.2m people with disabilities - and cutting incapacity benefits in favour of a smaller rise for those who are able to seek work. Taken together, the changes are the biggest cuts to welfare since George Osborne was chancellor in 2015.Ukraine | Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire, halting attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, after a phone call with Donald Trump. But the Russian leader declined to commit to a month-long full truce, leaving the chances of a quick end to hostilities looking slim.Middle East | The wave of deadly airstrikes that shattered the ceasefire in Gaza is only the beginning", Benjamin Netanyahu has warned, promising that the new offensive would continue until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. With more than 400 dead, the attack represented the single deadliest day since the first month of the war in 2023.UK news | A 19-year-old man who shot dead his mother and two younger siblings had planned to kill 30 children at a primary school, a court has heard. At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors said that Nicholas Prosper wanted to achieve lasting notoriety as a mass killer".Society | Sir Gareth Southgate has expressed his concern that callous, manipulative and toxic influencers" are taking the place of traditional father figures for isolated young men. Delivering the prestigious Richard Dimbleby Lecture on Tuesday, the former England manager warned that young men are being tricked" into believing that success is measured by money or dominance".Space | Two Nasa astronauts stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024 finally arrived back on Earth on Tuesday evening, more than nine months after they were supposed to come home. Sunita Williams and Barry Butch" Wilmore's were stranded after the spacecraft which took them up had technical issues. Continue reading...

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Investigation by ACT integrity commission finds Sofronoff's disclosure of confidential material to journalists amounted to corrupt conduct

Campbelltown hospital was due to expand beds for psychiatric patients from 66 to over 100, to deal with district's larger population

Lane reported the alleged serial abuse to another staff member only to be told you're not special', parliament hearsKeli Lane, who was convicted of killing her newborn baby daughter, was allegedly sexually assaulted every day for years by the notorious former prison guard Wayne Astill.Lane's alleged serial assaults by Astill were revealed by the Greens MP Sue Higginson who told the New South Wales parliament that Lane was a witness in a government inquiry into his abuse. Continue reading...

Counsel assisting NSW inquest says CCTV footage of Paul Thijssen in hours before attack at Sydney school not easy to watch'Lilie James was smiling and happy in the moments before Paul Thijssen used a hammer to murder his ex-girlfriend in a school gymnasium toilet, a coronial inquest examining their deaths has been told.James's body was found in the bathroom at St Andrew's Cathedral school in Sydney on 25 October 2023 after she'd been to water polo training with students.In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

International rules of combat to deter impact on noncombatants have been loosened or ignored - and other regimes may followIt is a casualty rate that would have unimaginable before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. More than 400 Palestinians have been reported killed after 10 hours of resumed Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, including, according to one early report, at least six members of one family in an attack on a car east of Khan Younis.Though it is too soon to determine how many noncombatants died in attacks that Israel says were directed at Hamas military commanders and political officials (casualty totals from Gaza's health ministry do not distinguish combatants from the uninvolved), the likelihood is that civilians will have been killed in large numbers. Continue reading...

There is one very tangible reason for the current outbreak of good spirits: Conservatives know things could be worseTheir party is flatlining in the polls, largely lacking in policies and on the verge of a heavy kicking in the local elections. And yet in Westminster, many Conservatives seem almost cheery. What exactly is going on?Critics - including some Tories - may argue this is wishful thinking and displacement activity by MPs and shadow ministers who cannot accept that Kemi Badenoch is not up to the job of leading a party in existential trouble. Continue reading...

Bill Browder says such visas a way for dodgy people ... to buy themselves legitimacy and insert themselves into countries'

The extraordinary demands of the Russian leader to weaken Ukraine would make a mockery of any peace deal

Rum'un growls like Nosferatu and sports fur made from recycled school polo shirts, track pants and backpacks

First title of series for tweens titled Game of Pets will be fantasy story to debut in 2026The Australian bestselling children's author Aaron Blabey has signed an eight-figure deal with the UK, US and Australian arms of Macmillan.The publisher announced the deal on Wednesday, contracting the actor turned writer to produce seven new titles across two new series for the tween reading market. Continue reading...

Russian leader refuses to commit to a full month-long truce after high-stakes phone call with Donald Trump

Canadian PM Mark Carney says deal on over the horizon' radar is part of effort to assert Canada's sovereignty over Arctic as US priorities shift

Aurelio Martinez was killed after plane crashed while taking off from Roatan island in CaribbeanGarifuna leaders have paid tribute to a prominent musician from their community who died in a plane crash that killed at least 13 people off the coast of Honduras.Aurelio Martinez was onboard a Lanhsa Airlines flight that crashed into the sea late on Monday while taking off from Roatan, one of the Central American country's main tourist destinations. Continue reading...