Absence

‘Backward’ photo panned for display of patriarchy, signaling that ‘women’s voices don’t matter in shaping global order’By the time Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the bilateral had featured all the expected pomp and pageantry: a meticulously choreographed display of Chinese soldiers, children waving American and Chinese flags, and rows of senior officials and the US’s top business executives.Conspicuously absent at the table, however, were women from either delegation – a stark visual that quickly drew criticism from observers who saw it as an unmistakable display of patriarchal power. Continue reading...

King Arthur is said to have transformed into a chough when he died, its red feet and beak representing his bloody endDecades after disappearing from the jagged cliffs around Tintagel Castle on the coast of north Cornwall, a bird with legendary connections to the area has returned.The custodian of Tintagel, English Heritage, and local ornithologists have declared that choughs – charismatic corvids with red beaks and feet – are back. Continue reading...

• Cubs reliever Hunter Harvey suffered a stress reaction in his triceps, revealed by MRI, delaying his return from inflammation by at least another month. • Manager Craig Counsell shared the update yesterday, impacting the team's bullpen depth. • Harvey's injury complicates Chicago's pitching strategy amid the season.

US president says his country does not ‘need or desire’ the help of Nato, Japan, Australia or South Korea. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will take the reins.After a day of grim headlines yesterday, with economists forecasting recession for Australia, Jim Chalmers has come out fighting, telling 7.30 last night “that’s not something that we’re anticipating or forecasting or expecting”. Read more in a moment. Continue reading...

White House seems to have failed to anticipate that Tehran would fight back by trying to impose costs on the westMiddle East crisis – live updatesIf there was a moment when the absence of a US strategy on Iran was exposed, then this was it. Donald Trump demanded on Saturday that the UK, China, France, Japan and others participate in a naval escort for oil tankers through the strait of Hormuz.Despite launching the attack on Iran, with Israel, the White House does not seem to have fully anticipated what was likely to follow. Iran had few good military options for fighting back, but attacking US bases, US allies and merchant shipping in the Gulf was the most obvious response – to try to impose costs on the west. Continue reading...

• Hawai'i earned its first NCAA tournament appearance in 10 years, securing a No. 13 seed and defeating Cal in the first round to record its first tournament victory in a decade. • The Rainbow Warriors' return marks a significant achievement for the program, which had been absent from March Madness since 2016. • This tournament run represents renewed competitiveness for Hawai'i basketball and provides momentum heading into subsequent rounds.