Australia news live: Darwin added to cyclone watch area as Fina turns towards Northern Territory coast
Meanwhile, NSW Liberals edge towards leadership spill. Follow today’s news liveTurkey to host Cop31 climate conference after Australia drops push to hold it in AdelaideGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGovernment reaffirms that best Cop outcome is one that elevates Pacific voicesPat Conroy, the minister for defence industry, said Australia is still seeking to host the UN climate summit in Adelaide next year, but is being frank with the Australian people that any one country can block a successful bid.We’re continuing to negotiate the best possible outcome for progress on climate action and to draw attention to what’s occurring in the Pacific. And so we are still negotiating. We’re still seeking to win the rights to host the Cop in conjunction with the Pacific. But we’re also being frank with the Australian people that the UN framework convention has consensus rules, which means that any one country can block a successful bid.We’re still seeking to host that Cop, but we’ve been very clear. That our focus is on getting a positive outcome for climate action and highlighting what is going on in the Pacific.We’ve said that we would not veto Turkey if they choose them. They haven’t been chosen yet, but we would not veto it. Continue reading...
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Samoa PM suspends country’s only daily newspaper from press briefings amid dispute over coverage
Prime minister has accused the Samoa Observer of inaccurate reporting during his eight-week medical stay in New ZealandSamoa’s only daily newspaper has been banned from attending press conferences with the Samoan prime minister, in a move that critics say threatens the democratic integrity of the Pacific nation.Relations between La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt and the Samoa Observer have deteriorated in recent weeks, with the prime minister accusing the newspaper of inaccurate reporting during his eight-week medical stay in New Zealand. Continue reading...
Northern Ireland Must Change How Its Schools Teach Religion, Court Says
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom said Northern Ireland’s public schools must include the study of faiths other than Christianity.
Meta sets date to remove Australians under 16 from Instagram, Facebook
'Soon, you'll no longer be able to use Facebook', Meta said in messages it sent to young people ahead of the ban.
Trump signs bill ordering justice department to release Epstein files
The bill gives the US Justice Department 30 days to release all the files in a searchable format.
Rabih Alameddine wins National book award for fiction with darkly comic epic spanning six decades
True to his irreverent style, author of The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) thanks his psychiatrist, his gastrointestinal doctors and his drug dealersRabih Alameddine has won the National book award for fiction for The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), a darkly comic saga spanning six decades in the life of a Lebanese family.The novel, which traverses a sprawling history of Lebanon including its civil war and economic collapse, is told through the eyes of its titular protagonist: a gay 63-year-old philosophy teacher confronting his past and his relationship with his mother and his homeland. Continue reading...
Trump signs bill to compel release of more Epstein documents
President attacks Democrats in post on Truth Social after US lawmakers swiftly move bill through CongressDonald Trump signed a bill Wednesday directing the justice department to release files from the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, surrendering in the face of joint pressure from Democratic opponents and the president’s conservative base.The signature marked a sharp reversal for Trump, who had the authority as president to release the documents himself, but chose not to. Continue reading...
Larry Summers to relinquish Harvard teaching role amid Epstein investigation
Decision comes after ex-treasury secretary said he would step back from public commitments over links to EpsteinLarry Summers, the former president of Harvard University, will stop teaching at the school while it investigates his connection to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, a spokesman for Summers said on Wednesday.Emails recently released by the US House oversight committee reignited questions about Summers’ relationship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex-trafficking minors. Many of the messages indicated a friendship that lasted well into 2019. Contact only ceased shortly before Epstein was arrested in July of that same year. Continue reading...
UK accuses Russian spy ship of pointing lasers at pilots watching vessel
Defence Secretary John Healey condemns the Yantar's actions as 'deeply dangerous' and says Britain is poised to react.
US military officials in Ukraine for talks on ending war
It comes amid reports the US and Russia have prepared a 28-point peace plan, allegedly containing major concessions for Ukraine.