Brisbane battered by ‘giant hail’ as severe thunderstorms leave thousands in Queensland with power outages
Bureau of Meteorology warns ‘damaging to destructive winds’ possible as storms track across stateTens of thousands of people are without power after severe thunderstorms brought destructive winds, giant hail and heavy rain to south-east Queensland.The Bureau of Meteorology said there were reports of hail between 6cm and 8cm falling at Tamrookum, Coombabah and Mount Tamborine. Hailstones up to 9cm in diameter also hit the Gold Coast. Continue reading...
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Spain’s attorney general quits after guilty verdict for leaking confidential information
Blow to leftist coalition government of prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who appointed Álvaro García Ortiz in 2022Spain’s chief prosecutor announced his resignation on Monday after the supreme court found him guilty last week of leaking confidential information in a case involving a leading opposition figure’s partner.The unprecedented case is a blow to the leftist coalition government of the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who appointed Álvaro García Ortiz in 2022 and has repeatedly defended his innocence. Continue reading...
Daughter of South Africa's ex-president accuses sister of Russia recruitment plot
Police are investigating allegations that Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile, lured men into fighting in Ukraine.
Ukraine working with US on ‘compromises that strengthen us’, says Zelenskyy – Europe live
US and Ukraine say they have ‘updated framework’ for peace plan after weekend talks in GenevaOver in Brussels, EU ministers are meeting for discussions on trade, including specifically with the US, with two senior US representatives – trade representative Jamieson Greer and treasury secretary Howard Lutnick - joining them for lunch.EU trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, described his talks with US counterparts as “constructive,” even as he added that “more work lies ahead.” Continue reading...
Hardcore band Speed wins inaugural $80,000 New South Wales Music prize
Sydney band, as well as Ninajirachi and rapper Barkaa, win new state government awards aiming to support local musicians against international competitionGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailAustralian hardcore band Speed has won the inaugural $80,000 New South Wales Music prize, a new award attempting to support musicians in the face of streaming algorithms that promote international names over local artists.The NSW Music prize was announced by the state government last year as part of its 10-year plan to support local music, with the goal of helping musicians “in the face of increasing competition from overseas artists via streaming platforms”.Sign up for our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...
Search is on for the German hairy snail in London
Conchologists, and citizen scientists team up to seek out endangered mollusc species along River ThamesIt is tiny, hairy and “German” – and it could be hiding underneath a piece of driftwood near you. Citizen scientists and expert conchologists are teaming up to conduct the first London-wide search for one of Britain’s most endangered molluscs.The fingernail-sized German hairy snail (Pseudotrichia rubiginosa) is found in fragmented patches of habitat mostly along the tidal Thames. Continue reading...
One in four unconcerned by sexual deepfakes created without consent, survey finds
Senior UK police officer says AI is accelerating violence against women and girls and that technology companies are complicitOne in four people think there is nothing wrong with creating and sharing sexual deepfakes, or they feel neutral about it, even when the person depicted has not consented, according to a police-commissioned survey.The findings prompted a senior police officer to warn that the use of AI is accelerating an epidemic in violence against women and girls (VAWG), and that technology companies are complicit in this abuse. Continue reading...
Mining giant BHP drops latest bid to buy rival Anglo American
FTSE 100-listed miner forces Australian company to walk away from takeover after rebuffing second approach BHP has walked away from another attempt to take over rival miner Anglo American after it was again rebuffed, failing in a last-minute effort to disrupt the planned merger with Canadian mining business Teck Resources.The Australian mining company reportedly became interested in making another offer for FTSE 100-listed Anglo last week, more than a year after abandoning a £39bn attempt to buy the business. Continue reading...
US adds Venezuelan ‘cartel’ to terror list as military threat rises
Move offers potential cover as Trump eyes expanded operations against Venezuela's Maduro.
Several killed in suicide attack on security complex in Pakistan
Security camera video shows the moment suicide bombers attacked a security complex in Pakistan.