Overcrowding in NSW hospitals ‘worst’ some doctors have seen as winter illnesses clog emergency departments

Overcrowding in NSW hospitals ‘worst’ some doctors have seen as winter illnesses clog emergency departments

State health minister Ryan Park says there have been more than 45,000 presentations to EDs over the past five days Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales health minister has encouraged people to call the health hotline instead of going to emergency departments as a spike in winter illnesses has doctors saying overcrowding is the “worst they have ever seen”. In a statement released Thursday, Ryan Park said there had been more than 45,000 presentations to EDs over the past five days. Continue reading...

Unhinged tweets and absurd self-promotion? Two can play at that game | Margaret Sullivan

Unhinged tweets and absurd self-promotion? Two can play at that game | Margaret Sullivan

Gavin Newsom’s counterpunching against Trump serves as a master class in flipping the script – and boosting his own profile Just when you thought Donald Trump was parody-proof, Gavin Newsom comes along to prove you wrong. Unhinged all-caps tweets with nonsensical punctuation? Insulting nicknames for political enemies? Self-promotional merchandise for sale? Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture Continue reading...

Expelled ambassador says allegations against Iran ‘baseless’ during Sydney airport exit

Expelled ambassador says allegations against Iran ‘baseless’ during Sydney airport exit

Ahmad Sadeghi faced media questioning at the airport before boarding a flight out of Australia Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Iran’s former ambassador to Australia – now persona non grata – has denied allegations his government was behind two antisemitic arson attacks in Australia, describing the accusations as “baseless” as he left the country. Ahmad Sadeghi faced media questioning at Sydney airport before boarding a flight out of Australia. Continue reading...

The Marles-Hegseth meeting chaos prompted jokes. But uncertainty over Australia’s US relationship is no laughing matter

The Marles-Hegseth meeting chaos prompted jokes. But uncertainty over Australia’s US relationship is no laughing matter

As the PM cast the opposition's focus on the awkward diplomatic snafu as trivial, the stakes of his wait to meet Trump could hardly be higher Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Republican congressman Jason Smith was a guest of honour at Parliament House on Thursday, watching question time from the floor of the chamber and holding talks with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese. The chair of the US congress’ powerful ways and means committee has spent recent days helping ministers decode Donald Trump and grapple with uncertain times in the Australia-US alliance. Continue reading...