Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

Indonesia court finds drugmakers at fault over toxic cough syrup, awards parents

Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters An Indonesian court ordered two local companies to pay up to 60 million rupiah ($US3,850) to each family whose children died of an acute kidney injury or were seriously injured after consuming toxic cough syrup. More than 200 children in Indonesia died of the injury and about 120 more survived, some of […]

Deadly Indian pharmaceutical blast blamed on chemical solvent leak

Hyderabad/New Delhi, India Reuters An explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in southern India on Wednesday, which killed at least 17 people and injured 36, was due to a chemical solvent leak, according to an internal government report accessed by Reuters on Thursday. The blast came around noon at the privately-held Escientia Advanced Sciences in Andhra […]

A book on the “eternal significance” of singleness wins Australia Christian Book of the Year

Danielle Treweek’s book, The Meaning of Singleness, has won the Australian Christian Book of the Year. Michael Collie, director of SparkLit, presenting Danielle Treweek (left) with the award on Thursday night. PICTURE: Video screenshot. The award, which is presented by Christian literature promotion organisation SparkLit, was announced at an event in Melbourne on Thursday night. […]

Sea lions take over California beach

Monterey, California, US Reuters Hundreds of California sea lions have taken over San Carlos Beach in Monterey, California, prompting local officials to close the area to people. Caution tape has been put up but crowds are still drawn to the animal spectacle, taking photos of the sea lions as they rest and play on the […]

Belgian coalition negotiator resigns, King to consult with parties

Brussels, Belgium Reuters Belgian politician Bart De Wever, appointed by King Philippe to lead coalition talks following the country’s June election, resigned on Thursday, the palace said. “The King has accepted his resignation and will start consultations tomorrow with the chairmen of the five parties participating in the government negotiations,” the palace said in a […]

Iceland volcano erupts, spewing lava fountains

Copenhagen, Denmark Reuters A volcano in south-western Iceland erupted on Thursday, the meteorological office said, spraying red-hot lava and smoke in its sixth outbreak since December. The total length of the fissure was about 3.9 kilometres and had extended by 1.5 kilometres in about 40 minutes, the Icelandic Met Office, which is tasked with monitoring […]

Bangladesh floods maroon nearly three million people, kill two

Dhaka, Bangladesh Reuters Relentless monsoon rains and flooding have stranded nearly three million people in Bangladesh and killed two, submerging vast areas and damaging homes and infrastructure, officials from the country’s disaster management ministry said on Thursday. Reuters TV showed Bangladesh residents evacuating with their belongings by boat and other makeshift transportation as knee-deep water […]