‘Enormously exciting’ fossils found in NSW opal field suggest Australia had ‘age of monotremes’

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Discovery of ‘echidnapus’ and two more species show the furry egg-layers predated marsupials

Some time about 100m years ago in what is now an Australian opal field, a weird, furry, egg-laying, rabbit-sized mammal was gliding through a waterhole across a massive polar floodplain.

This mammal – Opalius splendens but which scientists have thankfully blessed with the nickname “echidnapus” – was among the ancient descendants of one of the planet’s most unique orders of animals, the monotremes.

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‘Enormously exciting’ fossils found in NSW opal field suggest Australia had ‘age of monotremes’

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Discovery of ‘echidnapus’ and two more species show the furry egg-layers predated marsupials

Some time about 100m years ago in what is now an Australian opal field, a weird, furry, egg-laying, rabbit-sized mammal was gliding through a waterhole across a massive polar floodplain.

This mammal – Opalius splendens but which scientists have thankfully blessed with the nickname “echidnapus” – was among the ancient descendants of one of the planet’s most unique orders of animals, the monotremes.

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Public housing regularly being offered to people on NSW waitlist who have died

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Exclusive: Data reveals that 77 people died before being offered public housing between April 2019 and March this year

At least one person has died every month before finally being offered public housing in New South Wales, new data has revealed.

Data provided to Guardian Australia after a freedom of information request shows that between April 2019 and March this year, 77 people who had already died were offered housing. This included 12 people in 2020 and 2021, 17 in 2022 and 11 in 2023.

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Public housing regularly being offered to people on NSW waitlist who have died

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Exclusive: Data reveals that 77 people died before being offered public housing between April 2019 and March this year

At least one person has died every month before finally being offered public housing in New South Wales, new data has revealed.

Data provided to Guardian Australia after a freedom of information request shows that between April 2019 and March this year, 77 people who had already died were offered housing. This included 12 people in 2020 and 2021, 17 in 2022 and 11 in 2023.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

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Peter Dutton wrong to claim Australia was consulted on ICC pursuit of Israeli leaders, government says

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Not ICC practice to consult all states before making application for arrest warrants, Dfat says

The Australian government has flatly rejected Peter Dutton’s claim that it was consulted by the international criminal court regarding the pursuit of Israeli leaders over their conduct of the war in Gaza.

The opposition leader has repeatedly urged the government to publicly condemn what Dutton has called the ICC prosecutor’s “terrible decision” to apply for arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

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We tested landscaping supplies on sale in Sydney stores for asbestos – it came back positive

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Exclusive: Independent testing of recycled soil fill for sale finds two of four samples would not meet legislated thresholds, and one contained asbestos

Asbestos has been found in recycled soil fill for sale in New South Wales landscape and garden stores, more than a decade after investigators first raised concerns about contamination.

Guardian Australia bought four products at Sydney landscape supply shops and had samples analysed by accredited private laboratories.

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We tested landscaping supplies on sale in Sydney stores for asbestos – it came back positive

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Exclusive: Independent testing of recycled soil fill for sale finds two of four samples would not meet legislated thresholds, and one contained asbestos

Asbestos has been found in recycled soil fill for sale in New South Wales landscape and garden stores, more than a decade after investigators first raised concerns about contamination.

Guardian Australia bought four products at Sydney landscape supply shops and had samples analysed by accredited private laboratories.

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Rockets fired at Tel Aviv as Israel’s war in Gaza rages: Live updates – CNN

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  1. Rockets fired at Tel Aviv as Israel's war in Gaza rages: Live updates  CNN
  2. Hamas launches rocket barrage into Israel from Rafah, sounding alarms in Tel Aviv  Fox News
  3. Israel’s war on Gaza live news: Hamas armed wing fires rockets on Tel Aviv | Israel-Palestine conflict News  Al Jazeera English
  4. Rockets intercepted over Tel Aviv as people race for shelter – video  The Guardian
  5. Rockets fired at central Israel for 1st time in 4 months; barrage launched from Rafah  The Times of Israel
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Nicki Minaj says sorry to fans as Manchester gig cancelled after arrest

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US rapper detained in Amsterdam on suspicion of ‘possessing soft drugs’ before being fined by Dutch police

Nicki Minaj has offered her “deepest and most sincere apologies” after her Manchester concert was cancelled at the last minute after she was arrested in Amsterdam.

The US rapper was detained for hours at Schiphol airport on suspicion of “possessing soft drugs” before being fined by Dutch police and allowed to continue her journey.

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Five dead after powerful storms tear through rural Texan community

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Storms began on Saturday night as tornado overturned vehicles and shut down an interstate north of Dallas

A Texas sheriff has said at least five people died after powerful storms tore through a rural community, obliterating homes and leaving thousands of people without power.

The Cooke County sheriff, Ray Sappington, told the Associated Press the victims included three family members who were found in one home near Valley View, a rural community near the border with Oklahoma.

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Five dead after powerful storms tear through rural Texan community

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Storms began on Saturday night as tornado overturned vehicles and shut down an interstate north of Dallas

A Texas sheriff has said at least five people died after powerful storms tore through a rural community, obliterating homes and leaving thousands of people without power.

The Cooke County sheriff, Ray Sappington, told the Associated Press the victims included three family members who were found in one home near Valley View, a rural community near the border with Oklahoma.

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‘Indigestion in mind’ : Passengers of turbulence-hit SIA flight inflicted psychological scars, experts say – The Times of India

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  1. 'Indigestion in mind' : Passengers of turbulence-hit SIA flight inflicted psychological scars, experts say  The Times of India
  2. What Turbulence Did to Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321  The New York Times
  3. British Man, 21, Recalls Trying to Save 73-Year-Old Who Died on Turbulent Singapore Airlines Flight  PEOPLE
  4. Aircraft that was in severe turbulence incident returns to Singapore  Reuters.com
  5. Singapore Airlines bans meal service during turbulence after emergency  Business Insider
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President of UN’s top court has long history of anti-Israel bias: ‘Conflict of interest’ – Fox News

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  1. President of UN's top court has long history of anti-Israel bias: 'Conflict of interest'  Fox News
  2. U.S. silent as global condemnation of Israel's Rafah offensive grows  The Washington Post
  3. Israel Prepares for 'Diplomatic War of Attrition' Following ICJ Ruling on Gaza - Israel News  Haaretz
  4. Top U.N. Court Decision Adds to Israel's Growing Isolation  The New York Times
  5. What’s happened in Gaza since ICJ ordered Israel stop Rafah assault?  Al Jazeera English
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Top ICC prosecutor says claim he is equating Israel to Hamas is ‘nonsense’ – The Times of Israel

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  1. Top ICC prosecutor says claim he is equating Israel to Hamas is ‘nonsense’  The Times of Israel
  2. Fight over sanctions on international court splinters Democrats  The Hill
  3. Exclusive interview: ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants against Sinwar and Netanyahu for war crimes over October 7 and Gaza  CNN
  4. Israeli Judiciary's Incompetence Contributed to Crisis at The Hague, International Law Experts Say - Israel News  Haaretz
  5. ICC going after Israel is ‘totally political’: Jared Moskowitz  Fox News
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Idaho drag performer awarded $1.1m in defamation case against far-right blogger

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A blogger falsely claimed Eric Posey exposed himself to a crowd, including children

A jury has awarded more than $1.1m to an Idaho drag performer who accused a far-right blogger of defaming him when she falsely claimed that he exposed himself to a crowd, including children, during a Pride event in June 2022.

The Kootenai county district court jury unanimously found that Summer Bushnell defamed Eric Posey, a resident of Post Falls, Idaho, when she posted a doctored video of his performance that included a blurred spot that she claimed covered his “fully exposed genitals”, the Coeur D’Alene Press reported.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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Idaho drag performer awarded $1.1m in defamation case against far-right blogger

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A blogger falsely claimed Eric Posey exposed himself to a crowd, including children

A jury has awarded more than $1.1m to an Idaho drag performer who accused a far-right blogger of defaming him when she falsely claimed that he exposed himself to a crowd, including children, during a Pride event in June 2022.

The Kootenai county district court jury unanimously found that Summer Bushnell defamed Eric Posey, a resident of Post Falls, Idaho, when she posted a doctored video of his performance that included a blurred spot that she claimed covered his “fully exposed genitals”, the Coeur D’Alene Press reported.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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