- Trump targets Spain with tariffs in BRICS blunder EURACTIV
- Trump mistakes Spain for a member of the BRICS bloc and repeats the threat of massive tariffs The Associated Press
- Trump Starts Presidency by Failing Basic Geography Question Yahoo! Voices
- Donald Trump Feels The Heat From A Rising BRICS+, Threatens 100% Tariff NDTV
- Trump flunks Foreign Relations 101 by calling Spain a BRICS nation MSNBC
Ten Palestinians killed as Israeli forces launch major operation in Jenin
Israel's prime minister says the "extensive" operation aims to "defeat terrorism" in the West Bank city.
Micheál Martin to be installed as taoiseach for second time
The Irish parliament is set to return after Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael set up a coalition government.
Cat becomes accidental frequent flyer after being left on a plane by mistake
Mittens made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia after she was not spotted in cargo hold
A Maine Coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when her cage was overlooked in a plane cargo hold and she made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia.
Mittens, eight, was booked for one-way travel with her family from Christchurch, New Zealand to their new home in Melbourne, Australia on 13 January. Her owner, Margo Neas, said on Wednesday that she waited for Mittens to be unloaded from the plane’s freight area, but three hours passed with no sign of the cat.
Continue reading...Nepal increases permit fee for Mount Everest climbers by 36%
Cost of scaling world’s tallest peak rises for first time in nearly a decade to $15,000
Nepal will increase the permit fees for climbing Mount Everest by 36%, making the world’s tallest peak more expensive for mountaineers for the first time in nearly a decade, officials have said.
Income from permit fees and other spending by foreign climbers is a key source of revenue and employment for the poor country, which is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains.
Continue reading...ABC executive who sacked Antoinette Lattouf departs broadcaster
Exclusive: Chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor’s role was substantially downgraded by Kim Williams
The ABC’s chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, will leave the ABC after his role was substantially downgraded by the new ABC chair, Kim Williams.
Oliver-Taylor’s tenure was marred by the fallout from his decision to sack the casual Sydney radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf.
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Continue reading...‘Drinking PFAS’: water providers call for broad ban on ‘forever chemicals’ amid proliferation fears
Fifty-one sites in NSW have significant PFAS contamination requiring continued monitoring and remediation, EPA tells Senate inquiry
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Experts and water providers have called for a broad ban on so-called “forever chemicals” at a Senate inquiry into PFAS, warning of environmental harm and increasingly costly removal.
The Water Services Association of Australia’s executive director, Adam Lovell, said a ban should be imposed on PFAS in non-essential consumer products. “We need to reduce now, as much as possible, how much PFAS is in the environment.
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Continue reading...Threat of more Sydney train chaos lingers despite government’s pay deal hopes
Prospect of further public transport disruption remains despite unions’ commitment to halt work bans
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Hopes of an end to industrial action that has thrown Sydney’s train system into chaos may be dashed as the NSW government faces the prospect of pay negotiations with unions breaking down.
The Minns government had been optimistic that negotiations could deter further train disruptions, after six combined rail unions on Wednesday morning committed to halt work bans that have wrought havoc across Sydney’s transport network in recent months.
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Continue reading...Australian independent publishing stalwart Text acquired by global giant Penguin Random House
Local publishing house says it will ‘retain creative control’ and no redundancies are planned for Melbourne office
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The world’s largest general book publisher has acquired one of Australia’s leading independent publishers, the Text Publishing Company.
Penguin Random House announced the acquisition on Wednesday, with the chief executive of its Australian operations, Julie Burland, saying the move consolidated the publishing house’s longstanding relationship, where its Australian arm distributes and sells all of Text’s titles in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
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Continue reading...Hundreds of same-sex couples wed as Thailand’s landmark marriage bill takes effect – CNN
- Hundreds of same-sex couples wed as Thailand’s landmark marriage bill takes effect CNN
- Thailand Starts Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage The New York Times
- Joy in Thailand as same-sex couples can finally marry – video The Guardian
- Celebration and a mass wedding in Thailand as same-sex marriage law takes effect NBC News
- First same-sex marriages in Thailand set it apart from much of Asia The Washington Post
Sydney man arrested over Newtown synagogue fire
Adam Edward Moule is ninth person charged under Strike Force Pearl investigation into spate of antisemitic attacks across Sydney
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The arrest of a man who allegedly attempted to set a synagogue on fire in Sydney’s inner west this month is a “big breakthrough”, the New South Wales premier has said, as investigations continue into a spate of antisemitic vandalism in the city.
Adam Edward Moule, 33, had his case briefly mentioned at Downing Centre local court on Wednesday and was scheduled to appear again on Thursday before the same court.
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Continue reading...Lloyd’s Register apologises for its role in trafficking enslaved people from Africa
The maritime group, founded in 1760 by merchants and underwriters, issued the apology after commissioning research into its links to slavery
Lloyd’s Register, the maritime and industrial group owned by one of Britain’s biggest charities, has apologised for its role in the trafficking of enslaved African people but has been criticised for not going far enough.
Founded in 1760 as the Society for the Registry of Shipping by merchants and underwriters who met at Edward Lloyd’s coffee house in Lombard Street in London, the company provided classification for ships.
Continue reading...Southern rebels loom large as Syria’s new rulers try to form a national army – The Associated Press
Israeli military chief to resign as tensions rise between Netanyahu, army brass – The Washington Post
- Israeli military chief to resign as tensions rise between Netanyahu, army brass The Washington Post
- Israeli military chief of staff resigns over failure to prevent October 7 attack CNN
- Who in Israel has resigned over the Oct. 7 security breakdown, and who hasn’t? The Associated Press
- Despite Operational Successes in Gaza, the Next IDF Chief Will Inherit an Army in Crisis Haaretz
- Who will be IDF's new chief? Israel Katz to begin selection process Sunday The Jerusalem Post
South Korea to remove concrete embankment blamed for exacerbating deadly plane crash – Reuters
Gazans return home . . . to nothing – Financial Times
- Gazans return home . . . to nothing Financial Times
- One Family in Gaza Returned Home. But Home Was Gone. The New York Times
- To secure Gaza ceasefire, dealmakers overcame enemies' deep distrust Yahoo! Voices
- Palestinians confront a landscape of destruction in Gaza’s ‘ghost towns’ The Associated Press
- Here’s what we know about the three hostages set to be released CNN
Xi and Putin hold video call after Trump’s inauguration
The two leaders pledged to bring China-Russia relations to "greater heights".
Trump’s ambassador nominee questions U.S. funding of ‘antisemitic’ U.N. – The Washington Post
- Trump’s ambassador nominee questions U.S. funding of ‘antisemitic’ U.N. The Washington Post
- Elise Stefanik Pledges to Back Trump’s Vision of a ‘Reformed’ U.N. The New York Times
- Trump’s UN ambassador pick says Israel has ‘biblical right’ to West Bank Al Jazeera English
- Stefanik looks back to fiery exchanges with college leaders in Senate confirmation hearing: 'watershed moment' Fox News
- Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador is Elise Stefanik. Here's what to know NPR
Trump announces $500bn ‘Stargate’ venture to build up AI infrastructure
US president says venture will be the largest AI infrastructure project in history 'by far'.
Colombians flee to Venezuela as clashes between rebel groups escalate in coca-rich border region – ABC News
- Colombians flee to Venezuela as clashes between rebel groups escalate in coca-rich border region ABC News
- Colombia scrambles to cope as refugees flee deadly battles between rebel groups The Guardian
- Colombia - Security Council, 9843rd meeting Welcome to the United Nations
- Colombia reissues rebel arrest warrants, displacement rises to 32,000 amid fighting Reuters Canada
- At Least 80 Dead in Colombia Amid a New Surge of Violence The New York Times