U.S. President Trump Postpones G-7 Summit After Merkel Refuses To Attend
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he will postpone until September the Group of Seven (G-7) summit after Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to attend.
Australia
Coronavirus may have been a ‘cell-culture experiment’ gone wrong
The coronavirus that has become a world-wide pandemic may have been created in a “cell-culture experiment” in a laboratory, according to prominent scientists who have conducted ground-breaking research into the origins of the virus.
Naikon, Group Tied to China’s Military, Deploys Debilitating New Cyberattack Tool
On the morning of Jan. 3, an email was sent from the Indonesian Embassy in Australia to a member of the premier of Western Australia’s staff who worked on health and ecological issues. Attached was a Word document that aroused no immediate suspicions, since the intended recipient knew the supposed sender.
Coronavirus origins in lab not ruled out by scientific studies
A scientific study recommended by White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci pointing to the origin of coronavirus pandemic as a jump from animals to humans also concludes it cannot be ruled out that the virus may have escaped from a laboratory.
Powerful Cyclone Harold tears through South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu
Cyclone Harold tore through the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu for the second day on Tuesday. Buildings collapsed and communications were cut off in some parts of the island. As of Tuesday afternoon, no casualties had been reported.
1.5 Million Israelis Using Voluntary Coronavirus Monitoring App
Around 1.5 million Israelis have downloaded a mobile app in the past week that alerts users who have crossed paths with a coronavirus patient, according to the Health Ministry, helping to improve tracking of the pandemic.
Drought slashes Australian crop output to record low
Australia’s hottest and driest year on record has slashed crop production, with summer output expected to fall to the lowest levels on record, according to official projections released Tuesday.
EU chief rejects Johnson’s idea of loose UK trade deal
The European Union will only offer Britain unique access to its vast single market if the U.K. agrees to stick to the bloc’s standards, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday, dismissing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s idea of brokering a loose trade deal with the EU.
Heavy rain in Australia extinguishes major wildfire, causes flash flooding
After weeks of devastating wildfires, Australia’s east coast is now experiencing major flash flooding caused by downpours across the region.
Coronavirus contagion ‘getting stronger’ in China
The coranavirus has killed 80 people so far in China, where Wuhan, the city at the center of the outbreak, and 16 surrounding cities have been put under quarantine conditions to prevent its spread.
Brushfires in Australia could become “mega blaze”
Australian brushfires have burned over 12 million acres in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, encompassing an area twice as big as Maryland, as officials over the weekend suggested the inferno may metastasize into a ‘mega blaze.’
Wildfires destroy hundreds of homes, cause thousands to flee in Australia in one week
Wildfires sweeping through Australia have caused thousands to flee and burned 381 homes to the ground in the last week, with officials not expecting the fires to let up until significant rainfalls come in a few months.
“Apocalypse” descends on southeast Australia as wildfires forces thousands to flee
Scenes reminiscent of the “apocalypse” settled over southeastern Australia Tuesday, as brushfires had forced thousands to flee to beaches and burned down whole towns.
Historic First: All Monotheistic Faiths Sign Document Dedicated to Value of Life
At an historic meeting held Monday (Oct. 28 2019) at Vatican City, representatives of the Chief Rabbinate, along with the heads of the major faiths, signed a historic and preliminary document calling on doctors around the world not to assist in killing people even if they terminal patients.
Trump Rids Major U.S. Container Port of Chinese Communist Control
Under a long-term deal sealed by the Obama administration, a Chinese Communist company was set to control the second-busiest container port in the United States. In an unreported Trump administration victory, the Communists are out after a drawn-out national security review forced a unit of China-based COSCO Shipping Holdings Co. (Orient Overseas Container Line—OOCL) to sell the cherished container terminal business, which handles among the largest freight of imports into the U.S.
Confirmed: PM Told Trump Australia Would Assist Probe Into Origins of Russia Probe
The Australian government confirmed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Scott Morrison in a phone conversation with President Trump reaffirmed Australia’s willingness to “help shed further light on” investigations into the origins of the Mueller investigation into Russian election meddling.
Trump sought Australia’s help investigating Russia probe origins
US President Donald Trump recently asked the Australian prime minister and other foreign leaders to help Attorney General William Barr with an investigation into the origins of the Russia probe that shadowed his administration for more than two years, the Justice Department said Monday.
Abortion decriminalised in Sydney after Australian lawmakers overturn 119-year-old law
Legislators in Australia’s most populous state voted on Thursday to decriminalize abortion after a fractious debate that threatened to divide the conservative government of New South Wales.
Pastor escapes Eritrean prison camp to tell of hardships facing believers
An escapee of Eritrea’s prison camps and pastor recently spoke with persecution relief agency Barnabas Fund about the horrible conditions facing imprisoned believers there.
NATO chief says alliance must prepare ‘to address the rise of China’
China’s efforts to establish economic and even military influence far beyond its borders are pushing NATO to develop new plays for the Indo-Pacific, the security bloc’s civilian chief says.