Chaucer to be scrapped as British university 'decolonises' curriculumcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLondon: The University of Leicester will stop teaching the great English medieval poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer in favour of modules on race and sexuality, according to new proposals.Management told the English department that courses on canonical works would be dropped in favour of modules that "students expect" as part of plans now under consultation.Foundational texts such asThe Canterbury Tales and the...…Chaucer to be scrapped as British university 'decolonises' curriculumcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLondon: The University of Leicester will stop teaching the great English medieval poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer in favour of modules on race and sexuality, according to new proposals.Management told the English department that courses on canonical works would be dropped in favour of modules that "students expect" as part of plans now under consultation.Foundational texts such asThe Canterbury Tales and the...WW…

Britain to consider tighter travel restrictions similar to AustraliacloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLondon: British ministers are to discuss on Monday further tightening travel restrictions, the BBC reported on Saturday, adding that people arriving in the country could be required to quarantine in hotels.Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference on Friday that the UK may need to implement further measures to protect its borders from new variants of...…Britain to consider tighter travel restrictions similar to AustraliacloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLondon: British ministers are to discuss on Monday further tightening travel restrictions, the BBC reported on Saturday, adding that people arriving in the country could be required to quarantine in hotels.Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference on Friday that the UK may need to implement further measures to protect its borders from new variants of...WW…

New Zealand reports first community COVID case in monthscloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWellington: New Zealand has reported its first case of community transmission in more than two months, although there was no immediate evidence the coronavirus was spreading.Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield on Sunday said the case was a 56-year-old woman who recently returned from Europe.Since leaving quarantine, the woman visited about 30 locations, which were yet to be...…New Zealand reports first community COVID case in monthscloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWellington: New Zealand has reported its first case of community transmission in more than two months, although there was no immediate evidence the coronavirus was spreading.Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield on Sunday said the case was a 56-year-old woman who recently returned from Europe.Since leaving quarantine, the woman visited about 30 locations, which were yet to be...WW…

Trump debacle creates urgent need to teach our kids about democracycloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeIs it only me, or are we all feeling that the conventions and traditions around our democratic freedoms which have protected us all for so long are under threat?There seems to be unrest everywhere, while the actions of the former president of the United States in his attempts to overturn the results of free and fair elections through mob violence has sent a shudder through the world that has not been felt since the...…Trump debacle creates urgent need to teach our kids about democracycloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeIs it only me, or are we all feeling that the conventions and traditions around our democratic freedoms which have protected us all for so long are under threat?There seems to be unrest everywhere, while the actions of the former president of the United States in his attempts to overturn the results of free and fair elections through mob violence has sent a shudder through the world that has not been felt since the...WW…

World's first domestic hydrogen battery developed by Australian firmcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe world’s first commercially available line of hydrogen-powered domestic products, including a barbecue, a bicycle and most crucially a unit that creates and stores hydrogen power, has been developed by an Australian company, LAVO, working with the University of NSW.The LAVO battery, which is about the size of a large fridge, can be hooked up to an existing array of solar panels. Inside it, electrolysers use that...…World's first domestic hydrogen battery developed by Australian firmcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe world’s first commercially available line of hydrogen-powered domestic products, including a barbecue, a bicycle and most crucially a unit that creates and stores hydrogen power, has been developed by an Australian company, LAVO, working with the University of NSW.The LAVO battery, which is about the size of a large fridge, can be hooked up to an existing array of solar panels. Inside it, electrolysers use that...WW…

‘All stories should be respected’: Morrison moves to calm backlashcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizePrime Minister Scott Morrison has moved to quell the condemnation of his comments about the conditions faced by Australia’s European settlers, saying there were never meant to be a “competing” narrative with the hardship encountered by Indigenous Australians.Labor and the Greens slammed his comments on Thursday after Mr Morrison said the circumstances of settlement in 1788 had been difficult for both Indigenous and...…‘All stories should be respected’: Morrison moves to calm backlashcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizePrime Minister Scott Morrison has moved to quell the condemnation of his comments about the conditions faced by Australia’s European settlers, saying there were never meant to be a “competing” narrative with the hardship encountered by Indigenous Australians.Labor and the Greens slammed his comments on Thursday after Mr Morrison said the circumstances of settlement in 1788 had been difficult for both Indigenous and...WW…

‘It’s a reality:’ Google threatens to stop search in Australia due to media codecloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeGoogle’s threat to cut off search to Australian users and walk away from $4 billion in revenue has sparked warning the digital giants are not bluffing over laws designed to force them to pay for news.The $1.8 trillion search giant’s local managing director Melanie Silva told a Senate committee hearing on Friday that Google would shut off search in Australia if the government’s proposed media bargaining...…‘It’s a reality:’ Google threatens to stop search in Australia due to media codecloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeGoogle’s threat to cut off search to Australian users and walk away from $4 billion in revenue has sparked warning the digital giants are not bluffing over laws designed to force them to pay for news.The $1.8 trillion search giant’s local managing director Melanie Silva told a Senate committee hearing on Friday that Google would shut off search in Australia if the government’s proposed media bargaining...WW…

Tokyo Olympics to be cancelled for coronavirus: reportcloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe future of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics has been thrown into doubt after a report surfaced suggesting the Japanese government has concluded the coronavirus pandemic will force the event to be cancelled.The article, published by the Times, and reported by Reuters, comes as both Japanese Prime Minister Suga and International Olympic Committee President Bach this week strongly reaffirmed their...…Tokyo Olympics to be cancelled for coronavirus: reportcloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe future of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics has been thrown into doubt after a report surfaced suggesting the Japanese government has concluded the coronavirus pandemic will force the event to be cancelled.The article, published by the Times, and reported by Reuters, comes as both Japanese Prime Minister Suga and International Olympic Committee President Bach this week strongly reaffirmed their...WW…

FBI hunt for woman accused of stealing Pelosi's laptop to sell to RussianscloseAdvertisement Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeHarrisburg: Federal authorities are looking for a woman whose former romantic partner says she took a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the riot at the Capitol earlier this month.The FBI said in an arrest warrant, however, that 22-year-old Riley June Williams hasn't been charged with theft but only with illegally entering the Capitol and with disorderly conduct.FBI officials said a caller...…FBI hunt for woman accused of stealing Pelosi's laptop to sell to RussianscloseAdvertisement Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeHarrisburg: Federal authorities are looking for a woman whose former romantic partner says she took a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the riot at the Capitol earlier this month.The FBI said in an arrest warrant, however, that 22-year-old Riley June Williams hasn't been charged with theft but only with illegally entering the Capitol and with disorderly conduct.FBI officials said a caller...WW…

US cannot ignore the lessons of historycloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeIf something can happen once, it can happen again. This is the oft-ignored first lesson of history. The second lesson is that humans usually forget lesson number one. Watching the attempted coup unfold at the Capitol building, those two lessons kept working through my mind. Never have I felt like I was living so intensely in history. Maybe you did too.In 1923, after almost a decade of economic suffering caused by the First World War, Germany...…US cannot ignore the lessons of historycloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeIf something can happen once, it can happen again. This is the oft-ignored first lesson of history. The second lesson is that humans usually forget lesson number one. Watching the attempted coup unfold at the Capitol building, those two lessons kept working through my mind. Never have I felt like I was living so intensely in history. Maybe you did too.In 1923, after almost a decade of economic suffering caused by the First World War, Germany...WW…

No farewell parade: Trump's dawn departure to be a subdued affaircloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: White House officials are planning a short, subdued farewell ceremony for Donald Trump as he leaves Washington on Wednesday morning for the last time as President, according to a copy of the invitation seen by Bloomberg News.The event is scheduled for 8am Washington, DC, local time at Joint Base Andrews just outside the nation’s capital, where the outgoing President will make his departure aboard Air Force...…No farewell parade: Trump's dawn departure to be a subdued affaircloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: White House officials are planning a short, subdued farewell ceremony for Donald Trump as he leaves Washington on Wednesday morning for the last time as President, according to a copy of the invitation seen by Bloomberg News.The event is scheduled for 8am Washington, DC, local time at Joint Base Andrews just outside the nation’s capital, where the outgoing President will make his departure aboard Air Force...WW…

The verdict's in on Trump's trade war with ChinacloseAdvertisement Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLast Friday was the first anniversary of the signing of the "phase one" trade deal with Beijing that paused the Trump administration’s trade war with China. Twelve months on, it is obvious that, contrary to Donald Trump’s conviction, trade wars are neither good nor easy to win.Trump will end his presidency having presided over the three largest US trade deficits in history even as China recorded a record monthly trade surplus in...…The verdict's in on Trump's trade war with ChinacloseAdvertisement Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLast Friday was the first anniversary of the signing of the "phase one" trade deal with Beijing that paused the Trump administration’s trade war with China. Twelve months on, it is obvious that, contrary to Donald Trump’s conviction, trade wars are neither good nor easy to win.Trump will end his presidency having presided over the three largest US trade deficits in history even as China recorded a record monthly trade surplus in...WW…

Trump plans big farewell ceremony as Pence does all the workcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: Frustrated by the loss of his Twitter account and forced to accept that he soon must leave office, President Donald Trump has effectively stopped doing his job, delegating daily responsibilities to Vice-President Mike Pence while hunkering down with a shrinking group of acquiescent aides and contemplating additional presidential pardons.Trump had considered leaving the White House before his final day in...…Trump plans big farewell ceremony as Pence does all the workcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: Frustrated by the loss of his Twitter account and forced to accept that he soon must leave office, President Donald Trump has effectively stopped doing his job, delegating daily responsibilities to Vice-President Mike Pence while hunkering down with a shrinking group of acquiescent aides and contemplating additional presidential pardons.Trump had considered leaving the White House before his final day in...WW…

James Murdoch condemns 'profound damage' wreaked by US news mediacloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeRupert Murdoch's son James has condemned American media outlets for unleashing "profound damage" on the United States and being complicit in the events that led to the pro-Trump insurgency in Washington earlier this month.The junior Murdoch, who left his father's News Corporation last year citing disagreements over editorial content, said the storming of the Capitol was "proof positive that what we thought was...…James Murdoch condemns 'profound damage' wreaked by US news mediacloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeRupert Murdoch's son James has condemned American media outlets for unleashing "profound damage" on the United States and being complicit in the events that led to the pro-Trump insurgency in Washington earlier this month.The junior Murdoch, who left his father's News Corporation last year citing disagreements over editorial content, said the storming of the Capitol was "proof positive that what we thought was...WW…

Twenty-four Australian Open players hit with hard lockdowncloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, By Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe under-fire Australian Open has copped another body blow after two positive tests to COVID-19 were detected on a charter flight to Melbourne, drastically affecting tournament preparations for 24 players.Some of the world's best were on the same flight as the two positive cases, which included a crew member, and those two dozen players are starting hard lockdown for 14 days...…Twenty-four Australian Open players hit with hard lockdowncloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, By Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe under-fire Australian Open has copped another body blow after two positive tests to COVID-19 were detected on a charter flight to Melbourne, drastically affecting tournament preparations for 24 players.Some of the world's best were on the same flight as the two positive cases, which included a crew member, and those two dozen players are starting hard lockdown for 14 days...WW…

Google admits to removing local news content in 'experiment'closeAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeInternet search giant Google has admitted that it has been intermittently blocking some Australian news sites from search users.In recent days internet users have reported Australian news sites disappearing from Google's search function, with old content and links being displayed.The multinational technology giant said on Wednesday it had been running "experiments” on searches for newspaper websites including The Sydney...…Google admits to removing local news content in 'experiment'closeAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeInternet search giant Google has admitted that it has been intermittently blocking some Australian news sites from search users.In recent days internet users have reported Australian news sites disappearing from Google's search function, with old content and links being displayed.The multinational technology giant said on Wednesday it had been running "experiments” on searches for newspaper websites including The Sydney...WW…

Is Donald Trump the worst US president ever? Historians say socloseAdvertisementLog in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: It was not until 1948 – more than 150 years since the first US presidential election – that anyone tried to create a systematic ranking of American presidents.At the request of Life magazine, Harvard University historian Arthur M. Schlesinger polled 55 historians and asked them to rank the men who had held the presidency from first to last.Schlesinger’s survey found that historians rated Abraham Lincoln, who led...…Is Donald Trump the worst US president ever? Historians say socloseAdvertisementLog in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: It was not until 1948 – more than 150 years since the first US presidential election – that anyone tried to create a systematic ranking of American presidents.At the request of Life magazine, Harvard University historian Arthur M. Schlesinger polled 55 historians and asked them to rank the men who had held the presidency from first to last.Schlesinger’s survey found that historians rated Abraham Lincoln, who led...WW…

Three judges seek recusal on first day of largest-ever mafia trialcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLamezia Terme: One of Italy's largest-ever mafia trials kicked off on Wednesday with more than 330 suspected mobsters and their associates facing an array of charges, including extortion, drug trafficking and theft. But it hit an immediate snag., which is based in Calabria, the toe of Italy's boot, and is considered by prosecutors to be the most powerful mafia group in the country, easily eclipsing the more famous...…Three judges seek recusal on first day of largest-ever mafia trialcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLamezia Terme: One of Italy's largest-ever mafia trials kicked off on Wednesday with more than 330 suspected mobsters and their associates facing an array of charges, including extortion, drug trafficking and theft. But it hit an immediate snag., which is based in Calabria, the toe of Italy's boot, and is considered by prosecutors to be the most powerful mafia group in the country, easily eclipsing the more famous...WW…

'Threat to democracy is real': MPs call for social media code of conductcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeSocial media companies would have to sign up to an Australian code of conduct on the way they silence free speech and shut down accounts, under a federal push for greater oversight after Twitter and Facebook suspended posts by US President Donald Trump.Liberal MPs called for the voluntary code as a practical first step to introduce transparency and accountability to public debate on the online platforms, while...…'Threat to democracy is real': MPs call for social media code of conductcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeSocial media companies would have to sign up to an Australian code of conduct on the way they silence free speech and shut down accounts, under a federal push for greater oversight after Twitter and Facebook suspended posts by US President Donald Trump.Liberal MPs called for the voluntary code as a practical first step to introduce transparency and accountability to public debate on the online platforms, while...WW…

AUSTRAC claimed the Vatican wired $2.3 billion to Australia. The true figure was $9.5 millioncloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLondon: The financial crime watchdog has issued a grovelling apology after accidentally telling Parliament that the Vatican transferred $2.3 billion to Australia over seven years when the actual amount was less than $10 million.The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre's claim prompted alarm and confusion in the Holy See, where Cardinal George Pell has been caught up in an over...…AUSTRAC claimed the Vatican wired $2.3 billion to Australia. The true figure was $9.5 millioncloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeLondon: The financial crime watchdog has issued a grovelling apology after accidentally telling Parliament that the Vatican transferred $2.3 billion to Australia over seven years when the actual amount was less than $10 million.The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre's claim prompted alarm and confusion in the Holy See, where Cardinal George Pell has been caught up in an over...WW…

US House passes resolution demanding Trump's cabinet remove himcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: The US House of Representatives has voted to demand that Vice-President Mike Pence use the constitution's 25th Amendment to remove US President Donald Trump from office, a largely symbolic act leading up to a vote on Wednesday to impeach the President for a second time.The House went ahead with the non-binding resolution, which passed 223-205, even though because he didn't believe "that such a course of...…US House passes resolution demanding Trump's cabinet remove himcloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeWashington: The US House of Representatives has voted to demand that Vice-President Mike Pence use the constitution's 25th Amendment to remove US President Donald Trump from office, a largely symbolic act leading up to a vote on Wednesday to impeach the President for a second time.The House went ahead with the non-binding resolution, which passed 223-205, even though because he didn't believe "that such a course of...WW…

Scientists call for pause on AstraZeneca vaccine rolloutcloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, By Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology says the federal government should immediately pause the planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine because it may not be effective enough to generate herd immunity.Phase three clinical trials of the vaccine, which is the centrepiece of Australia's vaccination strategy, show it is only 62 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19...…Scientists call for pause on AstraZeneca vaccine rolloutcloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, By Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology says the federal government should immediately pause the planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine because it may not be effective enough to generate herd immunity.Phase three clinical trials of the vaccine, which is the centrepiece of Australia's vaccination strategy, show it is only 62 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19...WW…

McCormack doubles down on claim over US protestscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeActing Prime Minister Michael McCormack has labelled the Black Lives Matter movement a “protest over racial riots” in a new statement claiming a parallel with the storming of the United States Congress last week.One day after Amnesty International criticised him for the “deeply offensive” comparison, Mr McCormack argued that both protests should be condemned for their violence.“Any form of violence, any form of protest that ends in...…McCormack doubles down on claim over US protestscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeActing Prime Minister Michael McCormack has labelled the Black Lives Matter movement a “protest over racial riots” in a new statement claiming a parallel with the storming of the United States Congress last week.One day after Amnesty International criticised him for the “deeply offensive” comparison, Mr McCormack argued that both protests should be condemned for their violence.“Any form of violence, any form of protest that ends in...WW…

'It brings it all up again': Bali victims fear freed Bashir will radicalise otherscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizePhil Britten knew the day was coming when the alleged mastermind behind the Bali bombings would walk free.Mr Britten, who was badly burnt across 40 per cent of his body and lost seven of his Kingsley Football Club mates in the blast, now fears firebrand Islamist cleric Abu Bakar Bashir will radicalise others to follow in his footsteps. nearly two decades after the October 12, 2002, attack on a Bali...…'It brings it all up again': Bali victims fear freed Bashir will radicalise otherscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizePhil Britten knew the day was coming when the alleged mastermind behind the Bali bombings would walk free.Mr Britten, who was badly burnt across 40 per cent of his body and lost seven of his Kingsley Football Club mates in the blast, now fears firebrand Islamist cleric Abu Bakar Bashir will radicalise others to follow in his footsteps. nearly two decades after the October 12, 2002, attack on a Bali...WW…

US breaks single-day record for COVID-19 deaths on day mob storms US CapitolcloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, By Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe US registered more COVID-19 deaths in a single day than ever before – nearly 3900 – on the very day the laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic.The virus is surging in virtually every state, with California particularly hard hit. Skyrocketing deaths and infections there are threatening to force...…US breaks single-day record for COVID-19 deaths on day mob storms US CapitolcloseAdvertisementFor our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, By Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeThe US registered more COVID-19 deaths in a single day than ever before – nearly 3900 – on the very day the laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic.The virus is surging in virtually every state, with California particularly hard hit. Skyrocketing deaths and infections there are threatening to force...WW…