Wild autumn weather delivers snow, dangerous swells and power cuts to eastern Australia

East coast slammed on Thursday night with wind and rain, while Friday brings freezing temperatures and marine warnings

A dangerous swell has forced the suspension of some ferries across Sydney harbour, the latest in a spate of wild weather that has brought snowfall, power outages and storms to the country’s south-east.

Surf Life Saving NSW is warning the highest waves may surge close to 15 metres during the next 24 to 48 hours, which could be the biggest in 100 years, as dangerous swells and strong winds create deadly conditions.

Continue reading...

‘The violence of racist tyranny’: African Guernica goes on display alongside Picasso masterpiece

Piece by late South African artist Dumile Feni is part of new series History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, But It Does Rhyme

On the second floor of the Reina Sofía, in the very spot where Picasso’s Guernica was first exhibited when it arrived in the Madrid museum 34 years ago, there now hangs a smaller, near-namesake of the Spanish artist’s most famous work.

While African Guernica, which was drawn by the late South African artist Dumile Feni in 1967, may lack the scale of Picasso’s masterpiece, its depth, anger and unnerving juxtaposition of man and beast, light and dark, and innocence and cruelty, are every bit as disturbing.

Continue reading...

Keep under-fives’ screen time to no more than an hour a day, UK advice says

Keir Starmer promises to help parents limit children’s online activity as government issues guidance to families

Children under five should spend no more than an hour a day on screens, new government advice says.

Screen time for children under two should be avoided except for shared activities encouraging interaction, families are advised.

Continue reading...

Nepal swears in ex-rapper as new prime minister – BBC

  1. Nepal swears in ex-rapper as new prime minister  BBC
  2. Ex-rapper Shah sworn in as Nepal prime minister after sweeping election win  NBC News
  3. Nepal’s youngest premier sworn in after releasing new rap song about unity  aljazeera.com
  4. Nepal’s New Prime Minister, Former Rapper Balendra Shah, Sworn In  The New York Times
  5. Nepal’s youngest prime minister takes the oath of office  AP News
Posted in Uncategorized

Nepal’s New Prime Minister, Former Rapper Balendra Shah, Sworn In – nytimes.com

  1. Nepal’s New Prime Minister, Former Rapper Balendra Shah, Sworn In  nytimes.com
  2. Ex-rapper Shah sworn in as Nepal prime minister after sweeping election win  Reuters
  3. Nepal’s youngest premier sworn in after releasing new rap song about unity  Al Jazeera
  4. Nepal's new PM inherits India-China-US balancing act  DW.com
  5. Nepal swears in ex-rapper as new prime minister  BBC
Posted in Uncategorized

Russia’s Oil Is Beating Global Prices, Padding the Kremlin’s War Chest – Business Insider

  1. Russia's Oil Is Beating Global Prices, Padding the Kremlin's War Chest  Business Insider
  2. The Iran conflict is a boon for Russia’s ‘war machine.’ And it’s not just about oil  CNN
  3. Putin says Russia must take care not to squander its higher oil revenues  Reuters
  4. Iran war ‘pouring’ money into Russia’s war coffers: Swedish defense chief  The Hill
  5. Opinion: In the Iran war, the unexpected winner is also the loser  The Globe and Mail
Posted in Uncategorized

Ancient bones show dogs have been woven into human life for nearly 16,000 years – The Conversation

  1. Ancient bones show dogs have been woven into human life for nearly 16,000 years  The Conversation
  2. Dogs were widely distributed across western Eurasia during the Palaeolithic  Nature
  3. Jaw bone shows dogs were pets earlier than thought  Yahoo
  4. Humans Had Dogs Before They Had Farming, Ancient DNA Confirms  The New York Times
  5. New research uncovers more of the story of man’s best friend  The Economist
Posted in Uncategorized

Beavers ‘breathe new life’ into Dorset as dams built and biodiversity returns

National Trust says one year after reintroduction they are enriching habitats and may be having kits this summer

They were released this time last year with fanfare, much hope and also, perhaps, a little trepidation.

Twelve months on, there have been ups and downs for the first beavers to be (officially) reintroduced into the wild in England since the semiaquatic mammals were hunted to extinction 400 years ago.

Continue reading...

Lawyers criticise ‘extreme’ arrest of Isaac Herzog protester after NSW police release video

The 42-year-old is the 26th person charged after February rally against Israeli president that led to violent clashes between police and protesters

Lawyers have raised concerns that New South Wales police used heavy-handed tactics when arresting an anti-Isaac Herzog protester this week, after eight tactical officers were sent to their home at 5am and “smashed the door open”.

The 42-year-old was the 26th person to be charged after the protest at Sydney town hall in February against the visiting Israeli president. The police response on the night of the protest is being investigated amid allegations of police brutality.

Continue reading...