Australia

575 articles · page 12 of 12

Australia

Alex Jones's Sandy Hook defamation payout slashed from $50 million to $1.5 million by Texas appeals court

A Texas appeals court has drastically reduced the defamation damages that Infowars founder Alex Jones must pay to the family of a Sandy Hook shooting victim, cutting a $50 million award to just $1.5 million. The ruling, issued Friday by the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals, cited a state law capping punitive damages, but Jones still owes more than $1 billion in other cases arising from his conspiracy theories that the 2012 massacre was a hoax.

23 Aug·3 min·3 sources
Australia

FDA approves fourth blood test for Alzheimer's in two years as England school food failings emerge

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new blood test for Alzheimer's disease, while a separate report reveals widespread failures in school food standards in England. Roche's Elecsys Phospho-Tau test became the fourth such blood test approved in less than two years, offering earlier diagnosis hope. Meanwhile, a report by Bite Back, a charity founded by chef Jamie Oliver, found 75 percent of English secondary schools are breaching healthy food rules, serving chips, burgers, and hash browns too often, as well as sweets and crisps at breakfast.

23 Aug·2 min·5 sources
Australia

Barr rejects pause on ACT data centres, says local rules already exceed national standards

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has dismissed calls for a moratorium on new data centre developments in Canberra, arguing that the territory's existing planning and environmental standards already meet or exceed proposed national regulations. His comments come as data centres continue to proliferate in the region, drawing both economic investment and criticism over their energy consumption and environmental impact.

23 Aug·3 min·2 sources
Australia

‘Choose Me or the Pig’: Animal Activist Pam Ahern’s Unconventional Life Choice

Pam Ahern, now 64, has spent decades rescuing farm animals, but a defining moment came when her partner presented an ultimatum: him or the pig. She chose the pig. In a new interview with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Ahern describes how she rejected societal expectations to marry and have children, instead devoting her life to animal welfare and founding the Edgar’s Mission sanctuary in Victoria.

23 Aug·3 min·3 sources
Australia

Catherine McClements on Ageing and Intimacy: New Role Forces Actor to Confront Her Own Biases

Veteran Australian actor Catherine McClements has revealed that her role in the upcoming series *Dalliance* forced her to examine her own unconscious age biases, particularly around sexuality and intimacy in later life. The six-part drama, which premieres later this year, follows a group of people over 60 navigating romance and desire, challenging stereotypes about ageing and relationships.

23 Aug·2 min·3 sources
Australia

Jeff Kennett, at 78, offers blunt critique of political class and mortality

Victoria’s 43rd premier, Jeff Kennett, has broken his characteristic silence on contemporary politics, offering unfiltered opinions on Julia Gillard, Daniel Andrews, and the broader state of political leadership. Now 78, Kennett made clear he is not interested in nostalgia but, true to form, has firm ideas on why the political class is failing, according to a wide-ranging interview published across three major Australian newspapers.

23 Aug·2 min·3 sources
Australia

Queensland voluntary assisted dying review overdue, former minister weighs in

A mandated review of Queensland's voluntary assisted dying laws, which came into effect in 2023, was triggered in January but has yet to be publicly initiated, prompting former health minister Yvette D'Ath to outline possible reasons for the delay. The laws, which allow eligible terminally ill Queenslanders to access life-ending medication, include a statutory review mechanism that is now overdue.

23 Aug·3 min·3 sources
Australia

Pendlebury’s Finals Blow, Blues’ Fairytale Run Continues as Hollands Future Addressed

The AFL finals landscape has shifted dramatically: Collingwood icon Scott Pendlebury’s playing days are in jeopardy after a serious injury, while Carlton have surged into premiership contention with a comeback victory over minor premiers Fremantle. In a day of high drama, Blues CEO Graham Wright also offered a promising update on young talent Elijah Hollands, underscoring the club’s growing optimism.

22 Aug·3 min·6 sources