- France welcomes new prime minister with ‘block everything’ protests The Washington Post
- France arrests hundreds as 'Block Everything' protests erupt across country Fox News
- ‘Block Everything’ Protest Rocks France: What to Know The Wall Street Journal
- What Travelers Need to Know About the Upcoming Strike in France The New York Times
- ‘My first barricade’: French protests unite teachers, gilets jaunes and students The Guardian
Politicians in at least 51 countries used anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric during elections, NGO finds
Rights group also finds rise in openly gay, bisexual and transgender people running for office in 36 countries
Politicians in at least 51 countries used homophobic or transphobic rhetoric during elections last year, from depicting LGBTQ+ identity as a foreign threat to condemning “gender ideology”, according to a new study of 60 countries and the EU.
However, there were also gains for LGBTQ+ representation in some countries. Openly gay, bisexual and transgender people ran for office in at least 36 countries, including for the first time in Botswana, Namibia and Romania – albeit unsuccessfully – according to the report by Outright International. The number of LGBTQ+ elected officials doubled to at least 233 in Brazil.
Continue reading...Bad Bunny says he left US out of world tour due to fear of Ice raids at concerts
Puerto Rican rapper says he and his team were ‘very concerned’ that Ice agents might target his performances
Bad Bunny says he excluded the US from his forthcoming world tour due to fears that, as a prominent Latino musician, his fans would be subjected to immigration raids.
In an interview with i-D magazine on Wednesday, the three-time Grammy-winning musician was asked whether he was skipping the US “out of concern about the [mass deportations of] Latinos”.
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Continue reading...Brisbane teen faces court on terrorism charges after violent extremist material and chemicals allegedly seized
Max Belter, 18, had a document linked to ‘proscribed terrorist organisations’ on his electronic devices, police allege
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A teenager charged with terrorism offences has wept in court after violent extremist material and chemicals for explosives were allegedly found during a police raid.
Max Belter, 18, appeared in a green prison jumper in Brisbane magistrates court on Thursday after a joint terrorism taskforce searched his property at The Gap in Brisbane’s north.
Continue reading...‘Despicable’: Republicans and Democrats condemn violence after Charlie Kirk killing
US lawmakers, in bipartisan rebuke, say violence has no place in America as Trump orders flags lowered
The killing of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college on Wednesday afternoon prompted outrage from Democrats and Republicans over the latest act of political violence in the United States, with Donald Trump lamenting the loss of a key ally.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” the US president posted on his Truth Social platform.
Continue reading...Wild weather brings flash floods in Sydney and at least two tornados reported in regional NSW
Light rail passengers rescued in Randwick on Wednesday night as severe weather warnings remain in place across NSW
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Two tornadoes, record-breaking rain and large hail have hit New South Wales in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, as supercell thunderstorms and a band of rain sweep the state.
Heavy downpours triggered a surge in calls for assistance.
Collaroy (Long Reef golf glub): 108mm
Sydney Botanic Gardens: 116mm
Rose Bay (Royal Sydney golf club): 110mm
Randwick (Randwick St): 145.8mm
Marrickville golf club: 81mm
Peakhurst golf club: 113mm
Cronulla South bowling club: 147mm
Campbelltown: 99mm
Camden airport: 77.8mm
Continue reading...Massive gas tanker explosion in Mexico City kills 3 people and injures 70 others – ABC News
- Massive gas tanker explosion in Mexico City kills 3 people and injures 70 others ABC News
- Tanker truck explodes on Mexican highway, killing 3 and injuring 70 Reuters
- Three killed, dozens injured in gas explosion in Mexico City DW
- Mexico City Gas Explosion Kills 3 and Injures at Least 70 The New York Times
- Massive gas tanker explosion in Mexico City injures at least 57 people, some seriously NBC News
ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell resigns amid crisis of confidence in leadership
Resignation follows tumultuous period marked by redundancies, proposed course closures and allegations of a toxic work culture
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The vice-chancellor of the Australian National University has tendered her resignation after a tumultuous two years at the institution, marked by redundancies, proposed course closures, and allegations of a toxic work culture.
Chancellor Julie Bishop confirmed Prof Genevieve Bell had resigned on Thursday morning. Multiple sources said Bell advised the council of her decision on Wednesday evening, with Provost Rebekah Brown to be interim vice-chancellor until a replacement is found.
Continue reading...Flash floods in Indonesia leave at least 15 people dead and 10 missing
Torrential rains cause flooding and landslides in East Nusa Tenggara province and on the tourist island of Bali
Rescuers have recovered the bodies of 15 people who have died in flash flooding in two Indonesian provinces, while authorities said 10 others were missing.
Torrential rains beginning on Monday caused flooding and landslides in East Nusa Tenggara province and on the island of Bali.
Continue reading...Victorian Liberals director resigns after messages mocking the party’s women’s council revealed
Stuart Smith resigned on Thursday morning and apologised for WhatsApp messages contained in the Liberal party headquarters staff group chat
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The director of the Victorian Liberals, Stuart Smith, has resigned after leaked messages were published in which he ridiculed the party’s women’s council and upper house MP Bev McArthur.
Smith resigned on Thursday morning and apologised for the WhatsApp messages, contained in the Liberal party headquarters staff group chat, which were published by the Australian on Wednesday night.
Continue reading...Fatal dam collapse: ‘How do you restart from nothing?’
Survivors of the flood tell the BBC they are still in need of government support.
Charlie Kirk: Conservative influencer who rallied a youth movement
Kirk, an influential Trump ally who at age 18 set up Turning Point USA, died in a shooting while speaking at a Utah campus event.
How Syria’s dictatorship used a global child welfare charity to ‘disappear’ children
The Assad regime used an international charity to hide children of detainees from their families.
More than half of UK births now involve medical intervention, audit finds
Caesareans drive rise in assisted deliveries as experts warn of complex pregnancies linked to age, obesity and other conditions
More than half of women having a baby in Britain now do so with the help of medical intervention, an audit of NHS maternity care has revealed.
Of the 592,594 births that took place in 2023, 50.6% involved either a caesarean section or the use of instruments such as forceps or a ventouse suction cup.
Continue reading...Global press freedom suffers sharpest fall in 50 years, report finds
The International IDEA’s survey of democratic markers finds US is offering ‘encouragement’ to populist leaders
Press freedom around the world has suffered its sharpest fall in 50 years as global democracy weakens dramatically, a landmark report has found.
According to the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), democracy has declined in 94 countries over the last five years and only a third have made progress.
Continue reading...Mystery of dancing spiders’ DNA could explain how they develop into new species
There are many more species of peacock spider than other animals, scientists think they may know why.
Tunisia investigates Sumud Flotilla alleged drone strike – The Jerusalem Post
- Tunisia investigates Sumud Flotilla alleged drone strike The Jerusalem Post
- Footage shows second claimed attack on Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla BBC
- An activist flotilla on a mission to Gaza says it was attacked again in Tunisia AP News
- Flotilla for Gaza reports second drone attack on boat at Tunisian port Reuters
- Map: Israel has attacked, intercepted all Gaza-bound flotillas since 2010 Al Jazeera
Poland intercepts Russian drones returning from attacking Ukraine
Poland has intercepted Russian drones that were flying over its airspace after completing a mission in western Ukraine.
US drugmaker Merck scraps £1bn London research centre and cuts 125 science jobs
New blow to UK’s key life science sector as industry body says country is losing ground on investment and research
The US drugmaker Merck has scrapped a £1bn London research centre and is laying off 125 scientists in the capital this year, in a big blow to the UK’s important life science sector.
Keir Starmer’s government has described life sciences as “one of the crown jewels of the UK economy” and the previous Conservative government had vowed to turn the country into a “global science and technology superpower” by 2030.
Continue reading...Students flee as Charlie Kirk shot in front of crowd of hundreds
Video from the campus in Utah shows how the event turned to chaos after a single shot rang out.