Niger junta supporters protest sanctions as region considers intervention
Niamey, Niger/Abuja, Nigeria Reuters Hundreds of supporters of Niger’s junta marched in the capital Niamey on Thursday to protest against West African sanctions, as regional defence chiefs discussed possible intervention to restore democracy. General Abdourahamane Tiani, the former head of Niger’s presidential guard, confined President Mohamed Bazoum to his residence last Wednesday and declared himself […]
Colombia, ELN rebels start six-month ceasefire
Bogota, Colombia Reuters A six-month ceasefire between Colombia’s government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group began on Thursday, representing the most solid progress to date for President Gustavo Petro’s ambitious plans to end the country’s 60-year conflict. The ceasefire, set to run until the end of January, 2024, is the product of ongoing […]
Number of hungry in Sudan rises above 20 million
Cairo, Egypt Reuters The estimated number of people facing acute food insecurity in Sudan has risen faster than expected to 20.3 million, or 42 per cent of the population, as a conflict between rival military factions deepens a humanitarian crisis, a food security body said. The worst hit areas include the capital Khartoum, the western […]
Pope gets an electrifying World Youth Day welcome and urges fighting for economic justice, climate
Lisbon, Portugal Reuters Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving young people from around the globe gave Pope Francis a raucous welcome to the World Youth Day festival in Portugal’s capital Thursday, in a sign of youthful support for the 86-year-old pontiff and his calls for inclusivity and economic justice. In a display of enthusiasm not seen since the early […]
Updated: Trump pleads not guilty of plotting to overturn election loss
Updated: 8:30am (AEST) Washington DC, US Reuters Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges he orchestrated a plot to try to overturn his 2020 election loss in what US prosecutors call an unprecedented effort by the then-President to undermine the pillars of American democracy. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen the federal […]
Typhoon Khanun kills two in Japan’s Okinawa, injures at least 62
Tokyo, Japan Reuters Typhoon Khanun pounded Japan’s south-western Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures with heavy rain and gusty winds for a second straight day on Thursday, leaving two dead and moving so slowly its damaging impact could be prolonged. Khanun, which means “jackfruit” in Thai, was heading slowly northwest in the East China Sea as of […]
Origins: 65 years of NASA – an astrophysicist reflects on the agency’s legacy
Astrophysicist STEPHEN G ALEXANDER pays tribute, in an article first published on The Conversation, to NASA’s 65 year legacy…
Ancient whale from Peru may be most massive animal ever on Earth
Washington DC, US Reuters Move over, blue whale. There is a new contender for the most massive animal in Earth’s history. Scientists on Wednesday described fossils of an early whale unearthed in Peru called ‘Perucetus colossus’ that lived about 38 to 40 million years ago during the Eocene epoch – a creature built somewhat like […]
On the Screen: Stars bring depth to ‘The Miracle Club’
DAVID ADAMS finds an experienced ensemble make ‘The Miracle Club’ an authentic experience…
Habitat at risk as Ukrainians crowd river seeking respite from war
Tylihul Estuary, Ukraine Reuters Kite surfers bounce along the gentle waves. A speedboat pulls children on an inflatable raft. Families soak up sunshine on a narrow beach. With most of Ukraine’s Black Sea Coast either occupied by Russian troops or in their line of fire, families seeking respite from life in a war zone are […]