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Wildlife living in the suburbs

No, she’s not pregnant, that's a joey in her pouch. Source: u/kerodean Reddit

$300 welfare cut to end soon in Melbourne

Cassandra Francisco, who lives in Melbourne’s Footscray, has been searching for employment unsuccessfully for months and is receiving jobseeker. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The Guardian. Jobseekers in locked-down Melbourne are bracing for a “devastating” $300 cut to welfare benefits that will hit only two weeks after stage four restrictions are expected to end. The federal government’s plan to taper the coronavirus supplement on 25 September is expected to reduce the incomes of about 2.3 million unemployed people, single parents and students across Australia.

Medicare levy hike needed to fix Aged Care

Australia can fix its broken aged-care system to avoid repeating the horrors of COVID-19, but we must be willing to raise the Medicare levy, reports an economic consultancy firm. The Medicare levy hike would seek to solve some of these issues by boosting staff numbers and the wages of aged-care workers, under a proposal by the Health Services Union NSW/ACT/Qld. To afford the sector’s much-needed safety and quality upgrades, funding would need to be increased by between $2 billion to $20 billion, the report states.

Clive Palmer's efforts to end Labor's rule in Queensland

Clive Palmer is ramping up efforts to eject the Labor Government at the upcoming Queensland election. After spending $84 million on anti-Labor advertising at the federal election, the mining magnate is looking to again play a spoiler role, commissioning yellow billboards telling voters to “give Labor the boot.”

Yorkshire, UK

Revellers in Manchester made the most of reopened venues, but elsewhere people were fined for hosting illegal parties. SPLASH NEWS. Eight people were fined £10,000 in Yorkshire after officers broke up several parties in Headingley and Burley.

French Lieutenant Colonel spying for Russia

Florence Parly, the armed forces minister, confirmed the detention of the unnamed lieutenant-colonel, who has family ties to Russia. MINISETE DES ARMEES/AFP. A French soldier serving with Nato has been arrested and placed under investigation on suspicion of spying for Russia.

Hong Kong activists rescued by Taiwan coastguard

One activist had been charged with rioting and another wanted for storming the city’s parliament ALAMY. A boat carrying democracy activists fleeing Hong Kong has been rescued by the Taiwan coastguard and taken to the island, which has pledged to treat refugees from the territory humanely.

Trump rally in Portland

A caravan of supporters of President Donald Trump drive in downtown Portland, Ore., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. Saturday’s rally was the third consecutive weekend that pro-Trump demonstrators converged in and around Portland, leading to clashes with counter protesters. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP). One person was shot and killed late Saturday in Portland, as a large caravan of President Donald Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed in the streets, police said.

Flu shot mandate in Boston

Hundreds of people protest a mandate from the Massachusetts Governor requiring all children to receive a flu vaccine to attend school on August 30, 2020 in Boston. JOSEPH PREZIOSO, AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

A Shi'ite Muslim holds his son

A Shi'ite Muslim holds his son before starting flagellating himself for an Ashura procession during the month of Muharram in Lahore, Pakistan.

Belarusian riot police will not be moved

A woman kneels in front of a riot police line as they block Belarusian opposition supporters rally in the center of Minsk, Belarus.

Belarusian protests continue

Belarusian opposition supporters with old Belarusian national flags rally in Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in the capital of Belarus, beginning the fourth week of daily protests demanding that the country's authoritarian president resign. The protests began after an Aug. 9 presidential election that protesters say was rigged and officials say gave President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office. AP

Germany protests against pandemic restrictions

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Berlin on Saturday to protest against pandemic restrictions after a court overturned a ban on the demonstration issued by local authorities. (Aug. 29). AP

UK tenants stop paying rent

VICTOR HUANG/GETTY IMAGES. UK. Nearly 600,000 tenants have stopped paying their rent or are paying at a reduced rate since the eviction ban was introduced.

Tesla plot by Russian hackers

YICHUAN CAO/NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES. Tesla has revealed that it was the target of a bizarre plot that involved Russian hackers trying to recruit one of the company’s employees to install a virus into its computer network.

Roman 3rd Century mosaic floor discovered

An elaborate ancient Roman mosaic floor dating to around the 3rd century A.D. has been discovered under a vineyard in the town of Negrar di Valpolicella near Verona. The trenches dug so far reveal long uninterrupted stretches of mosaic pavements with polychrome patterns of geometric shapes, guilloche, wave bands, floral vaults and the semi-circular pelta….. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/58742

Sweden riots over burning of Koran

Riots have broken out in Sweden last night as hundreds of people gather to protest the actions of far-Right activists who had earlier set fire to the Koran. The anti-Islam protests were sparked after Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line, had been denied permission to have a meeting in Malmo and was stopped at the Swedish border, according to the newspaper.

Sergei Furgal protest in Russia

The series of rallies in Khabarovsk have drawn large crowds, especially at the weekend.(Reuters: Evgenii Pereverzev/File). Residents of Khabarovsk, which is about 6,110 kilometres east of Moscow, started holding weekly rallies after the July 9 detention of Sergei Furgal, the region's popular Governor, over murder charges he denies.

Paaedophile ring busted in Perth

WA Police have arrested 18 men across Perth over an alleged sickening paedophile ring targeting young girls online. It was uncovered through months of covert surveillance from detectives attached to a task force dubbed Operation Timing Belt, which began in April. The alleged predator ring is accused of attempting to groom up to 140 teenage girls, some as young as 13, through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Molly Malone, Dublin

DOING HER BIT: Members of the public brave the bad weather while passing the Molly Malone statue on St Andrew's Street in Dublin's city centre. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins. As well as being known and sung internationally, the popular song 'Cockles and Mussels' has become a sort of unofficial anthem of Dublin city. The song's tragic heroine Molly Malone and her barrow have come to stand as one of the most familiar symbols of the capital.

Spanish Wildfire

An aircraft fights a forest fire in Almonaster la Real in Huelva, Spain. Many people had to be evacuated from their homes as several hectares have already burned. Photograph: Raul Caro/EPA

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

California, US. Fire burns in the hollow of an redwood tree in Big Basin Redwoods state park. The CZU Lightning Complex wildfire tore through the park but most of the redwoods, some as old as 2,000 years, were still standing Photograph: Marcio José Sánchez/AP

Hurricane Laura, Louisiana

Lonnie Gatte and Teri Goleman kiss after returning to their residence, a 40-foot camping trailer, to find it completely destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Sulphur, Louisiana. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Lahore, Pakistan

A Shi'ite Muslim boy beat his chest with others during a Muharram procession, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Satanic horse and donkey mutilations in France

Investigators say they still have no idea of the motive apart from guessing that they appear to involve an element of ritual, satanic or sexual acts. ALAMY. A nationwide hunt has begun to catch the culprits behind a wave of horse and donkey mutilations and killings across France, which investigators believe could be part of sadistic rituals. There have been at least 18 attacks at night on animals in the past few months. In the latest, a pony was found dead and mutilated yesterday in the village of Saint-Vallier in Burgundy. A clear description has been given of two suspects who slashed two ponies and a horse and attacked their owner with a machete at a refuge for about 100 rescued animals in the Burgundy village of Villefranche-Saint-Phal.

Elephant stress relieved with cannabis oil

Elephants at Warsaw zoo have been showing signs of stress after the death of their herd’s leader. The elephants in Warsaw zoo are receiving doses of cannabis extract in a grief counselling experiment after the death of the herd’s matriarch. Since Erna died in March, aged 35, keepers noticed that the zoo’s surviving females, Buba and Fredzia, were displaying signs of stress and anxiety. In what appears to be the first study of its kind they have been put on a course of cannabidiol (CBD), one of the non-psychedelic active ingredients found in cannabis, to soothe them.

Julian Assange's family meeting

Stella Morris, Assange’s partner and an internationally-respected human rights attorney, was allowed to meet with the WikiLeaks founder earlier this week, after authorities at London’s Belmarsh Prison eased restrictions introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time that Morris and their two young children Gabriel and Max had seen Assange since March 22.

Australian government's Income support measures have eliminated poverty

Picture: Jerad Williams. The government’s extraordinary income support measures have virtually eliminated poverty in Australia, according to new ¬research from the ANU’s Centre for Social Research — which also sets out the devastating societal impact had JobKeeper and JobSeeker not been implemented. The paper finds that without ¬intervention, COVID-19 would have thrown 2.2 million Australians into poverty, lifting the number from 1.6 million before the crisis to 3.8 million — or about 15 per cent of the population………. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-cash-spared-22-million-from-poverty/news-story/eb727e93b7f57b35fba1296918edf128

Quokka image on new coin

Western Australia's iconic quokka (pictured) will become the face of a new coin to be released next month by the Perth Mint. The announcement is part of efforts to promote tourism for Rottnest Island in the lead up to summer.

China suspends beef exports

China has suspended beef exports from another Queensland abattoir – a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he will legislate to tear up Victoria’s multimillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative agreement with Beijing and a raft of other agreements found to be against the national interest.

Jo Golding attacked by violent patient

Nurse Jo Golding has only recently returned to work after she was attacked by a patient in June.(Supplied: Jo Golding). She was viciously attacked by a patient with a criminal history at Coffs Harbour Hospital in June, leaving her with severe facial injuries. Ms Golding says patients with a criminal history should be clearly identified to nurses and other staff

So what does the Constitution say?

(Supplied: Chinese Embassy). So, what powers do both the federal and state governments have when it comes to deals with foreign governments? What does the constitution say? Only the Federal Government can enter into binding international treaties on Australia's behalf. However, under Australian law as it currently stands, states, territories, local councils, universities and even private companies and individuals are free to enter into contracts with foreign governments and their entities. And there is no general obligation for states, territories, local councils or universities to tell the Federal Government of their plans to enter into these agreements….. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-27/can-federal-government-stop-states-signing-deals-foreign-govs/12603012

Geoff Frohloff with his pumpkin

Geoff Frohloff and son Tony enter the Ekka each year with their Atlantic giant pumpkins.(ABC News: Giulio Saggin, File Photo)

Tim Tszyu beats Jeff Horn

Tim Tszyu celebrates his win over Jeff Horn in Townsville.CREDIT:GETTY

Tim with his famous dad Kostya Tszyu

John Lennon killer denied parole for 11th time

The man who shot and killed John Lennon in 1980 was denied parole for the 11th time.

Grand Sable, Mauritius

Local reports indicate nine melon-headed whales washed up showing what appears to be oil in their mouths. The carcasses have been taken for post-mortem analysis to establish if there is a connection with the oil spill from the MV Wakashio carrier Photograph: Laura Morosoli/EPA

New Zealand wants Australian terrorist sent home

New Zealand has demanded Australia take back terrorist Brenton Tarrant to serve out his life sentence so that his victims’ families are not forced to pay the “astronomical” cost of his incarceration. The costs are likely to run into the millions, with the prisoner currently costing over NZ$4,930 a day due to the extra levels of security, to keep him behind bars. “This is not a matter which the Prime Minister Ardern has raised with me,’’ Mr Morrison said this afternoon (Thursday). “It’s normal practice that criminals convicted of these offences serve their sentences in that jurisdiction, and that’s my understanding of what the arrangements are and no request has been made to Australia for that to be any different.”…………….

The Ghan, Australia

The Ghan runs between Darwin and Adelaide, with sightseeing stops at Katherine Gorge, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy over four days.

Alexei Navaly's targeted attack timeline

Alexei Navalny's condition is serious but not life-threatening, doctors in Berlin say REUTERS Timeline: Navalny targeted. April 2017: He was taken to hospital after an antiseptic green dye was splashed on his face in Moscow. It was the second time he was targeted with zelyonka ("brilliant green" in English) that year. "It looks funny but it hurts like hell," he tweeted following the attack. July 2019: He was sentenced to 30 days in prison after calling for unauthorised protests. He fell ill in jail and doctors said he had suffered an acute allergic reaction, diagnosing him with "contact dermatitis". His own doctor suggested he might have been exposed to "some toxic agent" and Mr Navalny said he thought he might have been poisoned. December 2019: Russian security forces raided the offices of his Anti-Corruption Foundation, taking laptops and other equipment. CCTV footage showed officials using power tools to get through the door. Earlier that year, his organisation was declared a "foreign agent". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53903314

Nguyen Van Chien's long hair

Nguyen Van Chien, 92, shows off his long locks.(Reuters: Yen Doung). The 92-year-old from the southern Mekong Delta region is the proud owner of five-metre-long dreadlocks, owing to his belief in a faith that prescribes leaving untouched what a person is born with.

China says its cold shoulder towards Australia is not their fault, it's ours

Wang gave vague excuses for Beijing's cold shoulder towards the Morrison Government.(ABC Supplied). ..........But when the senior diplomat took to the podium at the National Press Club yesterday, he had a message to deliver, and he did so faithfully. It's not me. It's you. It’s our fault because Australia pushed for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. "First, the Australian Government never consulted the Chinese Government in whatever way before the [inquiry] proposal came out," he said. Second, Australia's push for an inquiry must have been at the behest of the United States…………… https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-27/chinese-diplomat-wang-xining-national-press-club-address/12599854

US blacklists 24 Chinese companies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Yesterday, the US blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, its first such sanctions move against Beijing over the disputed strategic waterway. The United States accuses China of militarizing the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbors who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves

Australia's proposed new powers to stop agreements with foreign governments

REUTERS Under the new laws, Foreign Minister Marise Payne would sign off on all agreements with foreign governments. The Australian government is planning to introduce legislation which would enable it to veto agreements made by local governments and public organisations with foreign governments. The move may threaten a controversial deal Victoria state agreed with China. Under the new powers, which are subject to parliamentary approval, all states and local governments, as well as universities, must notify the federal government of their existing agreements with foreign governments. Any further negotiations they enter into will also be subject to approval by the foreign affairs minister…………………….

Boris Johnson's personal trainer

The prime minister was out running in Westminster yesterday with Harry Jameson, his new personal trainer. JEREMY SELWYN/EVENING STANDARD/EYEVINE

Afghan Flooding

A burqa-clad woman and a young child with household belongings strewn behind them after a flash flood swept through their home at Sayrah-e-Hopiyan in Charikar, Parwan province, Afghanistan. Photograph: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty

Saint Teresa's Anniversary

Nuns of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Saint Teresa, wear masks and face shields as precaution against the coronavirus as they distribute food to poor and homeless people in Kolkata, India, on Mother Teresa's 110th birth anniversary.