World

Global temperatures to reach 1.7°C increase by May

Global heating caused by the burning of fossil fuels, and the El Niño climatic event, will push global temperatures to about 1.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by May. According to the Guardian, the warning comes from former National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist James Hansen. Hansen says there needs to be purposeful actions to affect the planet’s energy balance.

10 January, 2024

World

Gabriel Attal appointed as France’s new Prime Minister

Gabriel Attal has been named France's next prime minister, as Emmanuel Macron aims to revive his presidency with a new government. He will now have the task of leading the French government into important European Parliament elections in June. Attal replaces Élisabeth Borne, who resigned after 20 months in office. He will also be the first openly gay occupant of Hôtel Matignon. He has a civil partnership with another Macron […]

9 January, 2024

World

South Korea bans dog meat trade

South Korea has passed a new law, that aims to end the slaughter and selling of dogs for their meat by 2027. The BBC reports that under the law, raising or slaughtering dogs for consumption will be banned, as will distributing or selling dog meat. Those butchering dogs could face up to three years in prison, while those who raise dogs for meat or sell dog meat could serve a […]

9 January, 2024

World

U.S. launches moon landing space rocket

A US space rocket has launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to make the first American Moon landing in more than half a century. Nasa has teamed up with private companies to study the Moon's surface ahead of human missions in the coming years. Nick Harper reports from Washington.

9 January, 2024

World

Norway to approve controversial deep sea mining activity

Norway is expected to become the first country in the world to approve the controversial practice of deep-sea mining. Supporters say it's needed to find precious metals and minerals, but environmental scientists have warned it could be devastating for marine life. According to the BBC, Norway's proposal will open up 280,000 sq km of its national waters for companies to apply to mine these sources - an area bigger than […]

9 January, 2024

Opinion Pieces

Indonesia is one of the world’s largest democracies, but it’s weaponising defamation laws to smother dissent

Tim Mann, The University of Melbourne Two former coordinators of one of Indonesia’s most prominent human rights organisations have escaped conviction in a defamation case brought by a powerful government minister. While their astonishing acquittal is welcome, the case marked a bleak new low for freedom of expression in one of the world’s largest democracies. Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, who had coordinated the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims […]

9 January, 2024

World

US Congressional leaders strike deal to avert government shutdown

U.S. congressional leaders have struck a deal that could help avert a government shutdown later this month. The deal is worth roughly 1.6 trillion dollars but must still gain support from lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. U.S. correspondent William Denselow reports.

9 January, 2024

World

US National Rifle Association trial begins in New York

A corruption trial against the US National Rifle Association in the United States begins on Monday. New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses the gun rights group and its leaders of widespread civil corruption - the defendants have denied wrongdoing. The trial is expected to last around six weeks. Sally Patterson reports from New York. ENG CORRUPTION AT NATIONAL RIFLE

9 January, 2024

Opinion Pieces

Australia is still reckoning with a shameful legacy: the resettlement of suspected war criminals after WWII

By Jayne Persian, University of Southern Queensland In the Canadian parliament last year, an outcry erupted after 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian Yaroslav Hunka was presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a hero of the second world war. It turned out Hunka had fought against the Allies as a voluntary member of the Nazi German Waffen-SS Galizien division. The incident was deeply embarrassing for Canada; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was forced to […]

9 January, 2024