Oil slick from bombed Iranian ship threatens protected wetland 07. April 2026 (17:02) Shahid Bagheri leaking fuel towards Hara mangrove forest, home to migrating birds and endangered turtlesMiddle East crisis – live updatesAn oil slick from a stricken Iranian ship threatens to contaminate one of the Middle East’s most important wetlands, satellite image analysis suggests, making it one of a number of spills posing a risk to the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Gulf.The Shahid Bagheri, a drone carrier, began leaking heavy fuel oil in Iranian territorial waters near the strait of Hormuz after it was hit by a US warplane in the first few days of the US-Israel attack on Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Student claiming RMIT is ‘complicit in genocide’ in social media post faces misconduct action 07. April 2026 (17:00) Student accused of sharing a video of the university’s defence and aerospace research centre with the RMIT Students for Palestine Instagram accountFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn RMIT University student faces potential suspension over a video accusing the institution of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza, because of its defence and aerospace research centre’s ties to weapons companies.RMIT has argued the video, recorded in a corridor of the centre, publicly identifies its location which is not published online, thereby risking the safety of its facility, staff and students. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Max Chandler-Mather says Greens can use ‘progressive populism’ to win voters deserting major parties for One Nation 07. April 2026 (17:00) The new head of the Greens Institute will organise thousands of volunteers for a major survey of economic and social life around AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMax Chandler-Mather says the Greens can use “progressive economic populism” to win over Australians deserting the major parties for One Nation as the firebrand former MP accused the political class of thumbing its nose at the concerns of everyday voters.Chandler-Mather has been named the new executive director of the party’s internal thinktank, The Greens Institute, charged with closing capacity gaps exposed at the federal election. One of the Greens’ highest profile losses at the 2025 poll, Chandler-Mather and the former leader Adam Bandt were both defeated by Labor candidates in shock results. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ben Roberts-Smith is back in court, now as a defendant. His case reminds us that there are laws even amid war 07. April 2026 (17:00) The former soldier’s previous defamation trial presents the rare situation of there being hours of evidence of his alleged crimes already on the public record For almost every day of his marathon defamation trial, Ben Roberts-Smith VC, sat in the same spot in the federal court. A chair by the window, bathed in sunshine, from where he could glare at witnesses giving evidence.He sits now in a very different position. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor’s plan to restrict gambling ads set to reduce wagering by just 0.8%, government analysis shows 07. April 2026 (17:00) Report by the prime minister’s office says a total ban would have a ‘higher net benefit’ but would hit sporting codes very hardFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe government’s plans to restrict gambling advertising will reduce Australia’s annual gambling expenditure by $62.7m a year – or just 0.8% – according to a government report which said a full ad ban would have had “a higher net benefit” but a large burden on media and sporting codes.The report from the Anthony Albanese’s office of impact analysis (OIA) also revealed podcasts, app stores and even the NRL and AFL websites will be subject to Labor’s gambling reforms, which ban online wagering ads unless those platforms build an opt-out feature for adults. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British Medical Association accused of hypocrisy as its own staff strike over pay 07. April 2026 (16:36) Union rejected 4.9% pay rise for resident doctors, who are on six-day strike, but offered its own staff 2.75%The British Medical Association has been accused of the “height of hypocrisy” for offering its own staff below-inflation pay rises while demanding a 26% increase for resident doctors.Tens of thousands of medics walked out of the NHS in England on Tuesday, the 15th time they have staged industrial action since March 2023 in their campaign for “full pay restoration”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Artemis II crew describe ‘overwhelming’ emotions after soaring past the moon 07. April 2026 (16:23) Nasa astronauts begin journey home having collected eagerly awaited images of impact craters and ridgesNasa’s Artemis II astronauts have described the powerful emotion felt when soaring over the moon as they photographed impact craters, cracks and ridges and began their long journey home.Among the eagerly awaited images captured by the crew, who worked in pairs at the Orion capsule windows, are those of the Earth rising from behind the moon, a solar eclipse and parts of the 590-mile (950km) wide Orientale impact basin that have never been observed with the naked eye. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
