Blog

New Zealand and Ireland have proposed a scientific panel be set up to examine the effects of a nuclear war. Photo: 123RF New Zealand and Ireland have proposed a scientific panel be set up to examine the effects of a nuclear war. In a statement delivered to the United Nations, Ireland's permanent representative Fergal Mythen said the last UN-mandated study was done in 1989. He said since then, scientific progress has advanced markedly - including climate and data modelling. Mythen said the 21 experts on the panel would focus on the physical effects and consequences to society of a nuclear war. He believed the study would also aid nuclear disarmament and arms control. The comments were posted on the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. In a statement, the UN said the...

By Jarrett Renshaw and Gram Slattery for Reuters Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures as he speaks at a campaign rally at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP Democrats are readying a rapid-fire response to flood social media and the airwaves with calls for calm and patience with vote-counting should Donald Trump try to prematurely claim election victory, as he did in 2020, Harris campaign and party officials told Reuters. The Republican candidate told reporters this week that he hoped to be able to declare victory on Election Day, although election experts have cautioned that it could take several days for the final result to be known, especially if there are demands for vote recounts in some key areas. T...

LA rapper and artist Chali 2na Photo: Jorge Sevilla Rapper Chali 2na sits in his backyard in Los Angeles, smoking a joint and finishing a painting he has been working on for some time. He uses spray cans on the 2.4-metre wide, 1.2-metre tall canvas - a medium he has used to bring his vibrant creations to life since he was a kid. Born in 1971, just before the birth of hip hop, Chali 2na has witnessed its evolution firsthand. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Jurassic 5, the alternative hip hop collective that saw his bass-baritone voice rise to fame. The group's first single, 'Unified Rebelution', released in 1994, launched Chali 2na, Akil, Soup, Marc 7, DJ Nu-Mark, and turntablist Cut Chemist. This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. The group's 2000 al...

New Yorker Mark Longo said he rescued the animal after seeing its mother killed by a car. Photo: Screenshot / Instagram peanut_the_squirrel12 A squirrel named Peanut who was propelled to the heights of internet celebrity has been euthanised, New York authorities said on Friday, biting a government staffer on the way out. With 537,000 followers on Instagram, the domesticated black squirrel had fans around the world who delighted in his exploits, such as nibbling on waffles and doffing tiny costumes. New Yorker Mark Longo said he rescued the animal after seeing its mother killed by a car, going on to bottle feed the baby squirrel before attempting to release him into the wild. However, the animal lost part of its tail and returned to Longo, living with him for seven years and starring in ...

The Lincoln's withdrawal will create an aircraft carrier gap until another is cycled into the Middle East. Photo: AFP/Will Tyndall By Phil Stewart, Reuters The United States said on Friday it will deploy B-52 bombers, fighter jets, refuelling aircraft and Navy destroyers to the Middle East, in a readjustment of military assets as the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group prepares to leave the region. The Pentagon said in a statement that deployments would take place in the coming months and demonstrated the flexibility of the US military movements around the world. "Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Maj...

By Andy Sullivan and Susan Heavey for Reuters Donald Trump has criticised Cheney as a warmonger. Photo: AFP / Getty Images Arizona's top prosecutor, a Democrat, says her office is investigating whether Donald Trump violated state law for suggesting a prominent critic should face gunfire in combat. Trump has drawn outrage for comments he made about former lawmaker Liz Cheney at a campaign event in the battleground state of Arizona on Thursday (US time). His campaign said the former president was criticising Cheney as a warmonger, but critics condemned the remarks as evidence he would target his enemies if he wins next week's election against Democrat Kamala Harris. "She's a radical war hawk," Trump said of Cheney. "Let's put her with a rifle standing there, with nine barrels shooting ...