Monday, April 27

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Flights cancelled to and from Indonesia’s Bali due to volcanic ash
World News

Flights cancelled to and from Indonesia’s Bali due to volcanic ash

The eruption of Mt Lewotobi Laki Laki as seen from the Eputobi rest area in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara on 9 November, 2024. Photo: AFP / National Disaster Mitigation Agency Several international airlines cancelled flights to and from Indonesia's resort island of Bali on Wednesday, after further eruptions of a volcano that has spewed ash clouds as high as 10km (32,808 feet) and forced thousands to evacuate. Jetstar and Qantas said they had stopped flights to Bali on Wednesday for safety reasons because of volcanic ash, while plane tracking website Flightradar24 showed flights to the island by AirAsia and Virgin were also cancelled. Singapore Airlines said it had cancelled a flight on Wednesday from Bali to Singapore due to the eruption. Bali is Indonesia's top tourist hotspot and is...
Trump’s appointment of Pete Hegseth an ‘effing nightmare’, one commanders says
World News

Trump’s appointment of Pete Hegseth an ‘effing nightmare’, one commanders says

By Jim Sciutto, CNN Pete Hegseth (file photo) has been announced as Donald Trump's selection for secretary of defence. Photo: Brett CARLSEN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP Analysis - Within minutes of President-elect Donald Trump's announcement of Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth as his selection for secretary of defence, current and former senior military commanders began messaging and calling me with their reactions. "Ridiculous," said one. "An effing (euphemism inserted) nightmare," said another. To be clear, these were not partisans, but senior commanders who have served under both Presidents Trump and Joe Biden. Their critiques, as they continued, were not personal. None had anything negative to say about Hegseth. Their central concern is that they see Trump, with ...
Donald Trump picks Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
World News

Donald Trump picks Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general

Matt Gaetz. Photo: DREW ANGERER / AFP By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general. "Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponisation of our Justice System," Trump wrote Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform. "Matt will end Weaponised Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organisations and restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department." Gaetz said in a post on X that it would "be an honour to serve" in the role. The congressman remains under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for sexual misconduct, with the bipartisan committee saying in a rare statement in June that some of the allegati...
Dave Coulier, Full House star, has cancer
World News

Dave Coulier, Full House star, has cancer

Full House star Dave Coulier, here in 2017, has cancer. Photo: Kathryn Page/Getty Images via CNN Newsource By Lisa Respers France, CNN Dave Coulier, an actor and comedian who found fame as Uncle Joey on Full House, has revealed he has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer. Coulier shared the news Wednesday during an interview on Today. He told the show's co-anchor Hoda Kotb that he was diagnosed five weeks ago. "In that time I've had three surgeries, I've had chemo, I've lost a little bit of hair," he said, patting his head. "I kind of look like a baby bird now, but it has been a rollercoaster ride, for sure." Coulier said he has "B cell lymphoma," which he described as "aggressive." "The onset of this growing lymphoma in my groin area was very quick so I said...
Education, occupation and wealth can influence dementia risk in people: Study
Health

Education, occupation and wealth can influence dementia risk in people: Study

Not just genes, a new study has found that socio-economic factors such as education, occupation and wealth can also impact the likelihood of developing cognitive impairment or dementia in later life and whether a person is likely to recover.  By estimating the time spent in each cognitive state and the likelihood of transitions to neuro-cognitive disorders such as cognitive impairment and dementia, the researchers from University College London (UCL) were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of how socioeconomic factors impact the progression of a person’s disorder, as well as the duration spent within each cognitive state over time. Lead author Aswathikutty Gireesh from UCL Epidemiology and Health Care said that it is possible that education and intellectually demanding jobs provi...
Man accused of murdering Australian mum Samantha Murphy pleads not guilty
World News

Man accused of murdering Australian mum Samantha Murphy pleads not guilty

By Laura Mayers, ABC News Samantha Murphy. Photo: Victoria Police / Supplied A 23-year-old man accused of the high-profile murder of Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Patrick Orren Stephenson appeared from custody via video link at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday. Stephenson elected to fast-track the case in order to go to Supreme Court for trial. The Ballarat man was arrested in March after 51-year-old Murphy left her home for a jog on 4 February and was never seen again. Police have continued search efforts to find her remains, including in the Enfield State Park in September. Patrick Orren Stephenson appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday. Photo: ABC News / Paul Tyquin Murphy's husband, Mick Murphy, was in the courtro...
‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ mix to be released for hit’s 40th anniversary
World News

‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ mix to be released for hit’s 40th anniversary

Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora will be part of a new mix of charity song 'Do They Know It's Christmas'. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/AFP An "ultimate mix" of Do They Know It's Christmas is set for release later this month to celebrate 40 years since the festive charity hit's recording. Rockers Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and producer Trevor Horn said the latest version will feature vocals from Sting, Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora and the late George Michael and Sinead O'Connor among other major music names. The song was originally recorded by the Band Aid supergroup of music stars assembled by Geldof and Ure in 1984 to raise money to fight famine in Ethiopia. Two other versions followed for its 20th and 30th anniversaries in 2004 and 2014, featuring other groups of singers and ...
Donald Trump aide Dan Scavino appears to send warning to Kevin Rudd over social media posts
World News

Donald Trump aide Dan Scavino appears to send warning to Kevin Rudd over social media posts

By Riley Stuart, ABC Kevin Rudd's social media posts were deleted last week, but some people have not forgotten them. Photo: AFP / Alex Wong In short: Dan Scavino, a close aide of Donald Trump's, has posted what appears to be an ominous message to Kevin Rudd on X. Scavino posted a GIF of sand trickling through an hourglass next to a message from Australia's ambassador to the US on Tuesday - something that usually signifies when someone's "time's up". What's next? What role Mr Scavino may have in the next White House is yet to be announced by Trump. A key Donald Trump aide appears to have sent the clearest message yet about what the incoming White House administration may think of Australia's ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd. In an ominous post to his 2 million followers on X, Dan Sca...
Concerns about Mexico’s trade policies toward China ‘legitimate’: Freeland – National
Politics

Concerns about Mexico’s trade policies toward China ‘legitimate’: Freeland – National

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Wednesday she shares what she called “legitimate” concerns about Mexico’s trade policies regarding China, and that North American countries should be aligned on Chinese vehicle tariffs. Freeland, who chairs the newly revived cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations, wouldn’t say if she agrees with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s call this week to cut Mexico out of free trade talks over the issue, but said she has “some sympathy” with his concerns, which have also been raised by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.“I have been hearing for some time from people close to the incoming Trump administration, but also from other American business leaders and indeed from members of the outgoing Biden administration, some concerns that Mexico is not acting t...
GPs are fighting ‘pseudo beauty wellness’ companies for IV fluids amid worldwide shortage, forced to ration care
World News

GPs are fighting ‘pseudo beauty wellness’ companies for IV fluids amid worldwide shortage, forced to ration care

By Stephanie Dalzell and Alison Branley, ABC The shortage is impacting people in the public system and those who individually source IV fluids. Photo: 123rf In short: The RACGP says doctors are having to compete against wellness clinics for access to crucial IV fluids. Australia is grappling with a global shortfall of IV fluids like saline and sodium lactate solution. What's next? Health authorities say they are continuing to manage the shortage and supply of IV fluids as a priority. Doctors are fighting against "pseudo medical wellness" companies for access to IV fluids amid a worldwide shortage, as sourcing the essential medicine continues to prove a challenge. A fixture on the arms of social media influencers and celebrities, IV vitamin therapy promises anti-ageing benefits, super...