Pope Francis: War is absurd. Let’s disarm the Earth – Vatican News – English

Posted on by
  1. Pope Francis: War is absurd. Let's disarm the Earth  Vatican News - English
  2. King Charles still hoping to see Pope Francis amid health issues  USA TODAY
  3. State Visits to the Holy See and the Republic of Italy announced  The Royal Family
  4. King Charles III plans state visit to Vatican, meeting with Pope Francis  Catholic News Agency
  5. Pope pens letter to the editor while in hospital as Buckingham Palace announces King Charles’ visit  The Hill
Posted in Uncategorized

Chinese state media celebrates Trump’s cuts to Voice of America and Radio Free Asia

Posted on by

Global Times hails US president’s order to strip back government funding to news organisations he deems ‘radical’

Chinese state media has reacted gleefully to the Trump administration’s decision to slash government funding to media organisations such as Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA).

The Global Times, a daily English-language tabloid and Chinese Communist party mouthpiece, celebrated the cuts to the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees broadcasters such as VOA and RFA.

Continue reading...

Once named world’s ugliest animal, blobfish wins New Zealand’s fish of the year

Posted on by

Made up of blobby tissue and living deep in the ocean, the distinctive species beat the longfin eel and pygmy pipehorse in the annual contest

It was once crowned the “world’s ugliest animal” and now the disgruntled-looking gelatinous blobfish has a new gong to its name: New Zealand’s fish of the year.

The winning species of blobfish, Psychrolutes marcidus, lives in the highly pressurised depths off the coasts of New Zealand and Australia and has developed a unique anatomy to exist. Blobfish do not have a swim bladder, a full skeleton, muscles or scales. Instead, their bodies are made up of blobby tissue with a lower density than water that allows them to float above the seafloor.

Continue reading...

Australia news live: Wong urges ‘all parties’ to respect Gaza ceasefire; renters need $130k income to afford average property, report shows

Posted on by

‘Palestinian civilians cannot pay the price of defeating Hamas. It has now been two weeks since humanitarian aid last entered Gaza’ says foreign minister. Follow today’s news live

Labour-hire flight attendants to get pay boost

More than 750 domestic flight attendants funnelled to Qantas by labour-hire firms will get a hefty pay boost, AAP reports, in what is being hailed as a victory for “same job, same pay” laws.

Some of these crew will no longer need three jobs to make ends meet and put a roof over the heads of their families.

These are workers who wear the same uniform, do the same work, work the same rosters but have been paid significantly less than their colleagues. They do the same job and they deserve the same pay.

A crime scene has been established and an arson chemist will attend the scene [this] morning. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire remains ongoing.

Continue reading...

Performing arts leaders issue copyright warning over UK government’s AI plans

Posted on by

In a statement, 35 signatories from dance, theatre and music industries express concern about ‘fragile ecosystem’

More than 30 performing arts leaders in the UK, including the bosses of the National Theatre, Opera North and the Royal Albert Hall, have joined the chorus of creative industry concern about the government’s plans to let artificial intelligence companies use artists’ work without permission.

In a statement they said performing arts organisations depend on a “fragile ecosystem” of freelancers who rely on copyright to sustain their livelihoods. They also urged the government to support the “moral and economic rights” of the creative community in music, dance, drama and opera.

Continue reading...

Bundestag prepares to vote on historic borrowing package in key test for Merz

Posted on by

Likely next chancellor needs two-thirds majority to back €500bn infrastructure fund and relaxation of debt rules

Germany’s likely next chancellor is to face a key vote on plans to unlock a record level of state borrowing, which he argues is necessary to boost the country’s military spending and inject growth into its ailing economy.

Ahead of the crucial Bundestag vote on Tuesday, Friedrich Merz has faced a barrage of complaints from the opposition and from within his own ranks that he is not coupling the historic levels of spending planned – as much as €1tn (£840bn) – to demands for reform.

Continue reading...

NSW psychiatrist quit when workload threatened patient safety, court hears

Posted on by

Dr Suzanna Goodison’s evidence before Industrial Relations Commission part of the push by doctors union to stem exodus of specialists from the public system

A New South Wales psychiatrist who was asked to take on the workload of two public hospitals quit because the amount of work was “untenable” and compromised patient safety, a court has heard.

Dr Suzanna Goodison appeared as a witness for the doctors union, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (Asmof), on day two of its arbitration with NSW Health in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) court in Sydney. Asmof is seeking a special levy to increase its members’ pay by 25% to stem the flow of specialist doctors leaving the public system.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Syria and Lebanon agree to halt violence following border clashes – The Washington Post

Posted on by
  1. Syria and Lebanon agree to halt violence following border clashes  The Washington Post
  2. Lebanon and Syria agree to ceasefire after 2 days of border clashes, Syrian defense ministry says  The Associated Press
  3. Syria's new regime hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over claims its fighters were executed  Fox News
  4. Lebanese army and Syrian forces clash on northeastern border  Middle East Eye
  5. Syria Strikes Lebanon After Blaming Hezbollah for Killing Troops  Bloomberg
Posted in Uncategorized

The $300 billion question: What to do with Russia’s frozen central bank money? – The Associated Press

Posted on by
  1. The $300 billion question: What to do with Russia’s frozen central bank money?  The Associated Press
  2. UK, EU to ramp up pressure on Russia and boost defence initiatives  Reuters
  3. UK and EU Advance Talks on Seizing Frozen Russian Assets  Bloomberg
  4. UK, EU to discuss confiscating Russian assets ahead of Ukraine peace talks, Bloomberg reports  Kyiv Independent
  5. Billions on ice: What to do with Russia's frozen assets?  Euronews
Posted in Uncategorized

Chinese EV maker BYD says fast-charging system could be as quick as filling up a tank

Posted on by

BYD unveils platform with charging power of 1,000 kW, which would be twice as fast as Tesla’s supercharging

The Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has unveiled a new charging system that it said could make it possible for EVs to charge as quickly as it takes to refill with petrol.

BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares gained 4.1% on Tuesday to hit a record high of 408.80 Hong Kong dollars, as investors bet that the company could strengthen its already commanding position as one of the world’s biggest electric carmakers.

Continue reading...

Jury dismissed in Toyah Cordingley trial after failing to reach unanimous verdict

Posted on by

Rajwinder Singh had pleaded not guilty to murdering the 24-year-old, who was found buried in sand in far north Queensland

A jury has been unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of a man accused of murder after a young woman was fatally stabbed on an isolated beach.

Toyah Cordingley, a 24-year-old organic food store worker, was found buried in sand at a beach outside Cairns in far north Queensland on 22 October 2018.

Continue reading...