As the U.S. withdraws its troops from Afghanistan, it recently sent the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group for a replenishment at sea. Video shows the carrier, nicknamed “Mighty Ike” in honor of its namesake, during the replenishment on May 21 with the fast-combat support ship USNS Arctic in the Arabian Sea as it continues its mission to support the withdrawal. The footage showing the nuclear-powered carrier being restocked by helicopters was released as NATO announced on April 15 the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan beginning on May 1. On April 14, President Joseph R. Biden…
Author: zenger.news
CHENNAI, India — The Special Cell of Delhi Police, which investigates cases of terrorism and other serious crimes, landed at Twitter’s offices in India’s national capital region on May 24 but found them closed due to the pandemic. Their objective was to serve a notice to the microblogging firm and its heads for tagging a tweet by a member of the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as ‘manipulated media’. Unlike the police force in other Indian states, the Delhi Police comes under the jurisdiction of the central government, which has had tussles with Twitter for some time now. Bharatiya Janata Party…
CANBERRA, Australia — A report set to be released is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the decision to stand down former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate. A Senate committee has been looking at what led to the ministerial direction to the chair of Australia Post on Oct. 22 last year that Holgate be stood down pending an investigation into her gifting in 2018 of luxury Cartier watches worth AU$20,000 ($15,543) to four managers. The managers were being thanked for securing an AU$225 million ($174 million) investment into the government-owned business. The inquiry took evidence on whether the then…
MELBOURNE, Australia — Melbourne City Council will support the state government’s controversial proposal for a safe injecting room in the Central Business District. But several councilors have voted against the plan. A motion by Councillor Roshena Campbell to oppose the injecting room was voted down 7-4. Likewise, a separate motion on a council management report that recommended support for the room also was passed 7-4. Campbell had claimed that the proposal was “nothing short of insanity,” saying it would harm the city’s recovery from the Covid-19 lockdown, but Lord Mayor Sally Capp endorsed the room. “I acknowledge that the location of a medically supervised injecting service…
SYDNEY — Celebrity chef turned conspiracy theorist Pete Evans has again been fined for falsely promoting an array of devices and drugs as miracle cures for ailments including the coronavirus. The former Seven Network star was on May 25 hit with another AU$79,920 ($62,182) in fines for breaching advertising requirements. It comes after his company was fined more than AU$25,000 ($19,451) by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in April last year after he promoted a device called a ‘BioCharger’ on a Facebook live stream, claiming it could be used to cure the Covid-19 virus. The Administration released a statement saying “The administration issued a…
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s right-wing terrorism threat has continued to rise with almost half of domestic spy counter-terrorism investigations now dedicated to ideological extremists. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Tuesday terror threats were complex and challenging. “Our investigations in ideologically motivated violent extremism, such as racists and nationalists, are approaching 50 percent of our counter-terrorism onshore caseload,” he said. “This reflects a growing international trend as well as the organization’s decision to allocate more resources to the threat.” He said the increase was concerning and challenging but needed to be viewed in…
SYDNEY — A decision on upgrading the Royal Australian Navy‘s Collins Class submarines will be made next month, a parliamentary hearing has been informed. The decision on the life-of-type extension will be made in June, chief executive of government shipbuilder Australian Submarine Corporation Stuart Whiley said on May 25. But Finance Minister Simon Birmingham did not commit to a date for a decision on full-cycle docking for the submarines. “We’ll let you know what the decision is when we make the announcement,” Senator Birmingham said. Australian Submarine Corporation Stuart Whiley said, “There’s significant work in the local industry, no one needs to…
CANBERRA, Australia — Senior minister Jane Hume has conceded an independent and confidential complaints system is desperately needed inside the Australian Parliament House. Australian Federal Police have received 19 separate allegations of misconduct against politicians and staff in the past three months. Twelve of the matters have been deemed “sensitive” investigations. Despite the flood of complaints, Senator Hume denied parliament was unsafe for women. “Of course, it is concerning that so many have come forward,” she said on May 26. Senior minister Jane Hume said, Higgins was exceptionally brave and praised her actions for empowering women to share their stories. (Dean Lewins/AAP…
SYDNEY — Three staffers in the prime minister’s office attempted to smear the reputation of Brittany Higgins and her loved ones, according to Labor’s Katy Gallagher. The minister representing the prime minister at a Senate estimates hearing on May 25, Simon Birmingham, said he had no knowledge of an investigation into claims certain staffers backgrounded journalists against Higgins. Scott Morrison has maintained he knows nothing about any negative backgrounding by any person in his office. “I ask that you provide an answer as to whether Carswell, Leembruggen and Creevey have been interviewed by Kunkel,” Senator Gallagher said to Senator Birmingham, under…
CANBERRA, Australia — More Australians are receiving palliative treatment at home, even though they still only account for a fraction of all consultations. The annual report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released on May 26, provides a wide-ranging overview of the changing palliative care landscape. Of the 88,605 Medicare-subsidised palliative services in 2019/20, 89.5 percent were provided in the hospital or surgery settings and 10.5 percent were at home. Demand for the subsidized services fell marginally from the previous year, with a 0.9 percent decline in the hospital or surgery attendances partially offset by a 5.1 percent rise in-home…