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Hit-and-run driver had a dozen beers before killing pedestrians, court told
A Port Augusta man drank heavily and had an argument with his wife about his drinking in the lead-up to hitting and killing a local couple, a court hears.
'It isn't fair': Councillor calls for supernatural intervention in Casey Council sacking
After a meeting of cabinet, the Victorian Government moves to sack the Melbourne council following an anti-corruption probe over developer donations to councillors.
India wants a T20 World Cup win to pave the way for a women's IPL
An Indian victory at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia may see the women's game reach new heights in global popularity.
Re-elected grain board chair admits to 'inappropriate language'
CBH chairman Wally Newman is re-elected to the board of Australia's biggest grain export company, despite admitting he was counselled over his behaviour towards women.
Mosquito-eating fish deployed on Gold Coast amid 'plague' caused by record rain
City of Gold Coast local council offers residents mosquito-eating crimson-spotted rainbow fish to help combat mosquito plague.
Death of former Love Island presenter Caroline Flack highlights problems with UK press
Caroline Flack's death sparks huge criticism of the British tabloid press, which intensely scrutinised the TV presenter's personal life and her upcoming trial over the alleged assault of her boyfriend.
Bank customers call for name checks on electronic transfers after $10m scam
Australians are losing tens of thousands of dollars a year to scams that could be stopped if banks checked account names with account numbers on electronic payments.
Kobe Bryant honoured with stirring tribute at NBA All-Star Game
Just In - 21 hours ago
A crowd of 21,000 falls silent for eight seconds before chanting "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe" as the NBA great is remembered at the league's annual All-Star Game in Chicago.
More than 60 girls at Indian school forced to strip to prove they weren't menstruating
Just In - 21 hours ago
More than 60 young women at a school in India say they were forced to strip and show their underpants to teachers in order to prove they were not on their period.
AOC chief executive says abuse redress scheme carries insolvency risks for sports
Just In - 21 hours ago
The chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee says sports are committed to supporting child abuse victims but many cannot meet the financial test required to sign up to the national redress scheme.
Qantas charter to fly stranded Australians from cruise ship to Darwin
Just In - 21 hours ago
The Federal Government will help evacuate the hundreds of Australians stranded on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan.
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah* John Gotti had Bruce Cutler. Forget Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump has William Barr; with apologies to Bruce Cutler for the comparison, of course. Barr is Trump's personal Attorney General, political operative, and real defense lawyer. In essence, the United States has no Attorney General looking out for it. Barr sees it at his job to look out only for his boss of bosses. Therefore, the United States is operating without a defense attorney. The 1980s trials of John Gotti were known for witness intimidation and bribery. Sound familiar? Of course it does. The more we hear, ev... more »
Shut it Down? The International Response to the Coronavirus
If you’ve been following the coronavirus outbreak, you’ve probably heard about the Princess Cruises ship, quarantined in Japan with thousands of passengers on board. It sounds like the veritable cruise ship from hell. Of the 1219 passengers screened for the virus, some 355 passengers tested positive for COVID-19, including some 44 Americans. The Americans were […]
Buying Elections: The Bloomberg Meme Campaign
Interfering, corrupting and altering the views of electors is apparently frowned upon. But it all depends on who that manipulating source is. The Russians might be condemned for being meddlers of minds in the US electorate, but an American billionaire who hires battalions of influencing agents to get his word […]
More Concerns About China’s Coronavirus Economic and Political Downside
How coronavirus is destabilizing China.
Investing in local storytellers is vital for the future of news
Bureau Local director, Megan Lucero, on setting the news agenda and sparking change
Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Sunday 16th February 2020 – Plus Weekly Update
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily wind power generation data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click […]
NY Times Delivers Page One Climate Lecture, Demanding Radical Change In Australia
By Clay Waters ~ The front of Sunday’s New York Times featured yet another wildfire-spread climate lecture from Australia bureau chief Damien Cave. Debate is over! A lifestyle revolution must begin immediately. This alarmism was labeled a “Reporter’s Notebook,” but Cave wasn’t reporting but pleading with his unfortunate subjects to radically reorganize their lives in […]
Do Green Buses Pass The Performance Test?
By Duggan Flanakin ~ Should Americans follow China in a massive commitment to battery-electric buses? California has mandated a carbon-free bus system by 2040 and will only buy battery or fuel cell powered buses after 2029. Other states and cities are following suit. The keys to vehicle decisions have typically been cost and performance. Cost includes […]
Trump Begins Counterattack On Sanctuary Cities
By Hans von Spakovsky and Lora Ries ~ With the recent federal lawsuits filed against California, New Jersey, and King County, Washington, the Trump administration has finally launched a fierce counterattack against the sanctuary movement. States and local jurisdictions that provide a safe haven for dangerous criminal aliens and obstruct federal immigration enforcement are on notice. Until […]
FDA sends warning letters to companies in the Netherlands and Thailand
As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or months after they are sent. Business owners have 15 days to respond to FDA warning letters. Warning letters often are not issued until a company... Continue Reading
Enforcement report shows uptick during USDA’s first-quarter
2020 has started busy for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The quarterly enforcement report for the first period shows FSIS inspection program personnel had plenty to do. Inspection program personnel performed 1,754,094 inspection procedures at USDA-inspected establishments between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019. Federal departments began the fiscal year 2020 on Oct.... Continue Reading
E. coli prompts milk recall in Australian states
Milk has been recalled across two Australian states due to potential E. coli contamination. The issue was identified as a result of company testing. It is not clear what strain of E. coli is involved but there have been no reports of illness. 7-Eleven Pty Ltd recalled its own brand 2-liter full cream milk with... Continue Reading
Donald Trump Has a H‑2B Guest Worker Problem
*David Bier* *economy, Americas* [image: Reuters] This administration may be reluctant to raise the cap because H‑2B workers are seen as low‐skilled. Employers hire H‑2B guest workers to fill seasonal or temporary jobs in nonagricultural industries. Employers face an incredibly small cap imposed by Congress of 66,000 visas—a cap which has already disappeared for 2020. While Congress has granted the authority to the Department of Homeland Security to raise the cap, it has failed to announce any increase so far. This administration may be reluctant to raise the cap because H‑2B wo... more »
A Reliable HIV Vaccine: When Will it Happen?
*Anatoli Kamali* *Health, World* [image: Reuters] We have the details. *An HIV vaccine trial that started in 2016 in South Africa was halted in February 2020. The study sponsors made the call after interim results showed that the vaccine, known as HVTN 702, did not prevent HIV. This result was disappointing, but the search for an effective HIV vaccine continues. Anatoli Kamali speaks to The Conversation Africa’s Ina Skosana about other developments in the field.* *Why do we need an HIV vaccine?* HIV remains a dangerous pandemic. The number of new infections remains high – abou... more »
Clive mired
So Clive Myrie wants the ungrateful, ignorant public re-educated about the BBC? Such sentiments, so charmingly expressed, can hardly fail to win people over, can they? And talking of charmers, here's that nice James O'Brien riding to the BBC's defence: "Get it yet?"
Quote of the Day
“To read with diligence; not to rest satisfied with a light and superficial knowledge, nor quickly to assent to things commonly spoken of” From “”Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius, Amazon Classic Edition. Referenced many times in “Call sign Chaos” about General Mattis
Department of Justice Sues Sanctuary States and Threatens State and City Officials with Criminal Charges
The Department of Justice filed civil lawsuits on sanctuary jurisdictions across the US asking judges to overturn the policies, and warning state and city officials they could face their own criminal charges for harboring illegal immigrants.
Breakdown or Breakthrough? Degrowth and the Great Transition
We have already surpassed the known limits to growth, so degrowth is our only option.
A cute Czech bank robbery in Switzerland
Chur, Switzerland Lots of events around us are full of violence, existential threats, and hatred. On Thursday, Chur, a town in Southeastern Switzerland, had the opportunity to see the advantages of criminals imported from Czechia over those from the Middle East and other regions: A Czech robbed a bank and ordered a beer (DE) Bank robber owes me six francs (DE) A 55-year-old Czech man came to the main hall of a Cantonese bank, Graubündner Kantonalbank, on the Poststrasse 2. He drew a starting pistol and shot in the air twice, carefully avoiding the people. (adsbygoogle = window.adsby... more »
Afghan President Ghani: Expect A US-Taliban Deal In The Coming Days
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani meets with U.S. special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in Kabul, Afghanistan September 2, 2019. Afghan Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS *DW: **Afghan President Ghani: US-Taliban deal to come within days* *At the Munich Security Conference, the Afghan leader refused to confirm the US-Taliban deal but said a proper announcement will be made in a week to ten days. He also said the US and Afghanistan are now on the same page.* Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told a panel at the Munich Security Conference that his government is taking... more »
February 17th – 2020 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1124
In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and … Continue reading →
Monday February 17th – Open Thread
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those … Continue reading →
Is The U.S. Facing A Bernie Sanders v Donald Trump Presidential Election?
*Anthony Zurcher, BBC:* *US election 2020: Could it be Bernie Sanders v Donald Trump?* Bernie Sanders is firmly the front-runner in the race to become the Democratic challenger to Republican President Donald Trump, fresh from a victory this week in the second state-by-state contest. His support is fervent but is his party, let alone the country, ready to embrace such an unusual candidate? Bernie Sanders likes to call his presidential campaign a revolution, but these days it feels more like a touring rock concert. The Vermont senator may seem like an unlikely front-man for bands l... more »
Drive a Holden? Here's what you need to know
Just In - 23 hours ago
General Motors has announced it will be ceasing the production and sales of Holden cars, bringing an end to an iconic Australian brand. Find out what will happen next for car owners and Holden employees.
'I didn't want to live life': Co-sleeping social media group saves outback mums' sanity
Carly was chronically sleep-deprived, felt alone and depressed, and that she was "failing" her five-month-old son — until a conversation with a midwife gave her permission to change everything.
A major tunnel will run under Christine's house but she won't get compensation
Governments across the country are compulsorily acquiring properties to make way for massive infrastructure projects. But what the government wants to acquire can make a huge difference to the outcome for those affected.
Drones and rafts used to get emergency supplies to flood-hit fire-damaged town
The remote community of Wytaliba in north-east NSW had its only access bridge destroyed by bushfire in November; now, access to a temporary bridge has been cut by flooding.
This is why one letter of the alphabet has unleashed fury inside the AFL
It seemed like a harmless suggestion: the rise in popularity of AFL women's, known as AFLW, means AFL men's might need a rebrand too. But the reaction was anything but low-key, writes Kate O'Halloran.
Plan to give plastic shredding machine to 'every single island' in Asia-Pacific wins support
More than 25 years ago, Louise Hardman made a vow to do everything she could to rid the ocean of plastic. Now, her Plastic Collective has been granted $2.49 million to extend the already extensive work she's done in the waste recycling field.
UK hit with record number of flood warnings amid Storm Dennis deluge
Just In - 23 hours ago
England, Wales and Scotland endure a weekend of wild weather and landslides, with homes flooded and lives at risk after rivers burst their banks.
National sheep flock headed for lowest point since 1904, but hope springs from rain
Australia's national sheep flock is projected to drop to its lowest level in 116 years, but it's hoped recent rain will help the industry recover in the years ahead.
Preschool closure derails mum's plan to find work
Nerissa Forster was looking forward to returning to work in 2020 as her community enters its third year in drought, but a vital service has bitten the dust preventing the mother-of-four from entering the workforce.
These are five unforgettable moments from the Fire Fight Australia concert
It was an incredible feat to pull off — 10 hours, 22 acts, and almost $10 million raised for bushfire relief. Here are some of the highlights from an unforgettable night in Sydney.
'Lots of tears, lots of hugs': Holden brand axed
Just In - 23 hours ago
About 600 Holden employees will lose their jobs after parent company General Motors announced it would axe the iconic Australian car brand by the end of the year.
Stuck In The Middle With Who? What The Support For Bernie And Michael Bloomberg Says About The Democratic Party Establishment
*-by Bob Lynch* @BobLynchpin At first glance, it wouldn’t seem like the formerly Independent Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, and the formerly Republican mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, share anything in common other than the fact that they are both currently running in the Democratic Primary to be the nominee for President of the United States of America. The candidates come to the primary from complete opposite ends of the political spectrum. Bernie is a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist and Bloomberg is a mega multi-billionaire who made his fortune selling hi... more »
Op-Ed: Dems Should Do The Sensible Thing And Nominate A Moderate Rapacious Psychopath
Editor’s note: In order to circumvent internet censorship, today’s Caitlin Johnstone essay has been replaced with an op-ed by Snooty McCentrist of the National News Conglomerate. NNC: Obey. After Bernie Sanders failed to impress in his underwhelming consecutive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, it’s […]
Is The White House About To Approve A Global, Private Spy Network That Would Circumvent Official U.S. Intelligence Agencies?
Erik Prince, a former Navy Seal and founder of private military contractor Blackwater USA, has been waiting to pitch his ideas to the US administration. Photo: AFP/Saul Loeb *The Intercept:* *Trump White House Weighing Plans for Private Spies to Counter “Deep State” Enemies* The Trump administration is considering a set of proposals developed by Blackwater founder Erik Prince and a retired CIA officer — with assistance from Oliver North, a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal — to provide CIA Director Mike Pompeo and the White House with a global, private spy network that would c... more »
Presidents' Day Disaster: Meet the 5 Worst Wartime President's in U.S. History
*Robert W. Merry* *History, * Where does Trump rank? What about Obama? An expert gives us his take. *Key Point:* What did these presidents do wrong? What bad decisions did they make? How does history judge them? No presidential decision is as politically hazardous as the war decision. That’s because voters are quicker and more ferocious in turning on their chief executives when wars go awry than when events become troublesome in other areas of governance. Woe be to the president who finds himself in a war he can’t win and can’t get out of, or finds that the price of war far out... more »
Donald Trump Has a Plan to Keep the Economy Flying High
*Shaun M. Dougherty* *Security, * [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2MVE94DMYP&share=true] President Donald Trump has proposed one of the largest increases in funding for career and technical education in recent history. Will it work? President Donald Trump has proposed one of the largest increases in funding for career and technical education in recent history. As a education policy researcher who studies the economic and employment impact of career and technical education in high school, I believe this proposal has a lot of pote... more »
Superpower Slump: Is America Technologically Stagnant?
*James Pethokoukis* *Security, Americas* [image: Flickr / Sandia Labs] Science is hard. Tech progress is hard. Progress isn’t natural. And good ideas are getting harder to find. Has America been technologically stagnant for a half century? That’s apparently one of the main arguments found in *New York Times* columnist and AEI visiting fellow Ross Douthat’s upcoming book, *The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success*. Now, I haven’t read this book. But it was just reviewed by entrepreneur and venture capitalist Peter Thiel, who quotes the following passage,... more »
The U.S. Economy Is Rigged
*Milton Ezrati* *economy, Americas* [image: Reuters] While the public cannot identify exactly how the system is rigged, it is nonetheless correct: elites in business and government collude regularity to run the American economy to their own advantages and have increasingly done so for decades. IT IS no secret that Americans have rebelled. On both the left and the right, people have made clear their disgust with business-as-usual. For the Republicans, the Tea Party rebellion began to alter the established party, and the election of Donald Trump rendered the change nearly complete.... more »
France's Muslim Predicament
*Steven Philip Kramer* *Security, Europe* [image: Reuters] The debate over Islam in France is not new. But there is good reason to think that it is at a turning point. IT IS often said that there is a Muslim problem in France. But that does not mean that French Muslims themselves are necessarily its cause, any more than that Jews were responsible for the Jewish Question in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe. The French Muslim world is large and heterogeneous and defies facile generalization. Unfortunately, facile generalizations abound. The French Muslim “problem” is freq... more »
Trump's Middle East Peace Plan: Historic or Disaster?
*Stratfor Worldview* *Politics, Middle East* [image: Reuters] A bad deal for Palestine. U.S. President Donald Trump's long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, released Jan. 28, may appear to try and appease both sides, but it will function as more of a one-state solution in disguise. The plan heavily favors Israeli demands and lacked the incorporation of Palestinian input throughout much of its drafting. As a result, it is less of a peace plan and more of a codification of the status quo, which sees Israel as the more empowered actor in now decades-long negotiations. The timi... more »
Presidents' Day Drama: George Washington Could Have Been Replaced
*James Holmes* *History, * History would have been very different. *Key Point:* Meet the man who could have taken the Revolutionary War in a very different direction. Queries the great Sheldon Cooper: “How would the Civil War have gone differently if Lincoln had been a robot sent from the future?” None can tell. Nor can we tell with any exactitude how the War of American Independence would have unfolded differently had George Washington been a robot on an errand from the future. (Assuming he wasn’t. He did have an otherworldly character to him.) But we can essay some critical ... more »