Sunday, March 8

World News

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...
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...
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...
Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson to remain in detention in Greenland amid extradition push from Japan
World News

Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson to remain in detention in Greenland amid extradition push from Japan

By ABC North Asia correspondent James Oaten in Tokyo Paul Watson (left) arrives for a court hearing in Nuuk, Greenland, on 2 October, 2024. Photo: AFP Paul Watson (left) arrives for a court hearing in Nuuk, Greenland, on 2 October, 2024. A Greenland court has extended the detention of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson for a fifth time. He has been in prison since July, amid a push by Japan to extradite him on charges dating back more than a decade. Lawyers for Watson have launched an appeal against the detention extension. A court has ordered anti-whaling activist and environmentalist Paul Watson to remain in detention in Greenland, as authorities consider a request from Japan to extradite him on charges dating back more than a decade. The court in Greenland's capital Nuuk order...
Police investigating former Neighbours star Damien Richardson over Nazi salute performed at event
World News

Police investigating former Neighbours star Damien Richardson over Nazi salute performed at event

By David Estcourt and Mike Lorigan, ABC Damien Richardson in a scene from Neighbours. Photo: www.imdb.com In short: Actor Damien Richardson has been filmed doing a Nazi salute during a speech at an event. The gesture received cheers from some in the crowd, which included members of a neo-Nazi group. What's next? Police are investigating the vision of Mr Richardson making the salute. Warning: Distressing content. Actor Damien Richardson is being investigated by Victoria Police after being filmed performing the Nazi salute at a September event in Melbourne, where far-right activists were present. Known for his roles in Neighbours, Blue Heelers and McLeod's Daughters, Mr Richardson performed the gesture while addressing a gathering of the National Workers Alliance (NWA). The group stand...
US election: Republicans win full control of Congress
World News

US election: Republicans win full control of Congress

By David Morgan and Bo Erickson, Reuters The US Capitol in Washington, DC, United States. Photo: AFP/Aashish Kiphayet US Senate Republicans elected John Thune to lead the chamber next year, opting for a well-regarded insider and shrugging off a public pressure campaign by supporters of Donald Trump to pick a loyalist to the president-elect. The South Dakota senator's victory is a sign the Senate could retain some degree of independence from Trump next year, when Republicans will control the White House and both chambers of Congress (The US House of Represenatives and the Senate). Republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate and were projected on Thursday (NZT) to retain a thin majority in the House of Representatives. At a news conference, Thune said he would aim to...
Trump rolls out his most MAGA picks for new White House term
World News

Trump rolls out his most MAGA picks for new White House term

By Stephen Collinson, CNN (From top L), SpaceX, Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, US entrepreneur and former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump senior advisor Susie Wiles, Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan, House Republican Conference Chair Representative Elise Stefanik, Representative John Ratcliffe, US Representative Mike Waltz, US Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Lee Zeldin, Political advisor Stephen Miller, South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem. Photo: AFP Analysis - It was a night of MAGA shock and awe that even Donald Trump's most devoted fans might not have dreamed possible. But the president-elect's blizzard of Cabinet and staff picks on Wednesday, each one more unorthodox than the last,...