KOLKATA, India — Asiatic lions, which are found only in India and numbered in hundreds, have become the latest big cats to catch Covid-19. The Nehru Zoological Park of Hyderabad, in India’s southern state Telangana, said eight lions, four of each gender, were found infected by the coronavirus. “The lions were in the lion safari enclosures,” V.V.L. Subhadra Devi, one of the curators of the Nehru Zoological Park, told Zenger News. “After we saw symptoms, we immediately sent the samples for testing the possibility of the virus in them.” Siddhanand Kukrety, a curator and director of the Nehru Zoological Park, said the lions…
Author: zenger.news
CHENNAI, India — On April 20, an Indian Twitter user criticized prime minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the deadly Covid second wave with the hashtag, #ModiResignorRepeal. The tweet was one among the 53 tweets blocked by the microblogging site on orders from the Indian government. Twitter removed these tweets on April 22 and 23, most of which were critical of the Indian government’s handling of the Covid crisis, calling out the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. Other removed tweets were related to a shortage of medicines and mass cremations, including criticism of the Kumbh Mela, a religious pilgrimage that attracted huge…
LAHORE, Pakistan — On March 20, Lateef Ullah was about to undertake long due repair work at home in Jani Khel town of Bannu division in Pakistan’s Pashtun-majority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It was a Saturday morning, and he had finally got down to fixing his bath. After completing his Masters from Peshawar University in the provincial capital last year, Lateef returned to Jani Khel’s Bandikhel village in October to do some social work in the underdeveloped tribal area bordering the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). He spends his spare time doing household chores. As Lateef was about to initiate the…
SYDNEY — Four men have faced court on multiple charges after allegedly submitting former cricket star Stuart MacGill to a kidnapping ordeal so frightening he waited almost a week to go to the police. MacGill was allegedly forced into a car at Cremorne on Sydney’s north shore at about 8 PM local time on April 14. He was then taken to a remote location at Bringelly in Sydney’s southwest, police say, where three assailants allegedly tried to extort money from the 50-year-old. About an hour later, MacGill was driven 45 minutes away to Belmore, where he was dumped. Belmore is a suburb…
SYDNEY — A big-spending budget aimed at reviving the coalition’s flagging fortunes with women is set to chart the Morrison government’s course to the next election. Sexual assault, harassment and bullying allegations catapulted gender inequality to the national stage, sparking protest marches across the country. Politics has been at the epicenter of cultural reckoning with former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins becoming the unintentional figurehead of a social movement. Higgins says she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House in 2019 and didn’t pursue the police complaint, until now, out of fear for her job. Historical rape allegations against former Christian…
SYDNEY — A Federal Court bid to overturn Health Minister Greg Hunt’s ban on citizens returning from India has been expedited to be heard on May 10. The urgent application by 73-year-old Australian Gary Newman was made on May 5 following the travel ban which came into effect on May 3. Chief Justice James Allsop on May 6 told the parties to quickly get their papers in order as he had found a judge to preside over the matter. “Sorry about Mother’s Day,” Chief Justice Allsop said. Christopher Ward SC, representing the Bangalore-based Australian, said they would be making a case…
ATHERTON, Australia — The federal government has vetoed an AUD 370 million ($286.8 million) green energy project in far north Queensland despite its potential to deliver hundreds of jobs and cheaper energy. The Kaban Wind Farm and accompanying grid augmentation were expected to generate 250 jobs in the region and deliver more affordable power to households and businesses. It was claimed the project would deliver power price savings of AUD 461 million ($357.3 million) over 30 years. The proposed energy hub, to be based 80km west of Cairns, was green-lit by the board of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility in December 2020.…
MELBOURNE, Australia — The portraits of two trailblazing female politicians are set to be unveiled at Victoria’s parliament. The portraits of Lady Millie Peacock and Pauline Toner will be unveiled in Queen’s Hall on May 6 afternoon by Legislative Assembly Speaker Colin Brooks and Legislative Council President Nazih Elasmar. Lady Peacock was elected to the Legislative Assembly in November 1933 and served in the Victorian parliament until February 1935. She was the wife of Sir Alexander Peacock, a three-time premier of Victoria, and replaced him in parliament following a by-election after his death. Lady Millie Peacock served the rest of her term…
SYDNEY — Will the budget on May 11 bring that aim to extend Australia’s remarkable economic recovery or one targeted at ensuring the coalition is returned to power at the next election? Josh Frydenberg recently scolded a senior journalist for mentioning the election in the context of the budget, calling it “cynical.” Whatever the case, announcements and leaks so far suggest the treasurer will be spending big — aged care, childcare, tax, and infrastructure being just some of the areas the budget will touch. “The budget will lay out the next phase of Australia’s economic recovery plan, to grow our economy so we can…
SYDNEY — Australia’s South-eastern state government of New South Wales will trial using vacant land and buildings as temporary crisis accommodation for people at risk of homelessness. The plan, announced as part of the state’s first housing strategy, will provide transitional housing for up to two years while longer-term housing solutions are sorted. “We’ve reached an agreement with Wollongong Council to investigate the use of vacant buildings and land in the Wollongong area to deliver a safe home for those who desperately need it,” said Melinda Pavey, Housing Minister, on May 5. The state will also call on other local governments, non-government organizations, and…