World
Europe
Snotty-nosed hippos test positive for coronavirus in Belgium
The infection has raised fresh questions about how COVID-19 has spread between humans and animals during the global pandemic.
- by Jennifer Hassan
Latest
Why would Putin want to invade Ukraine?
“One of the colossal problems pushing us into conflict is that Russian identity does not exist without Ukrainian identity,” said Ilya Ponomarev, a former member of Russia’s Parliament.
- by Anton Troianovski
‘We will win’: Violence flares at French far-right candidate’s campaign rally
Eric Zemmour has drawn comparisons in France to former US President Donald Trump because of his rabble-rousing populism.
- by Sylvie Corbet
Exclusive
Crime
‘Dead man walking’: Italy’s top mafia hunter warns of Australian crime links
As anti-mafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri readies for Italy’s biggest crime trial in decades, he says the ’Ndrangheta are “very present” in Australia.
- by Carrie-Anne Greenbank
‘It absolutely wakes you up’: Headbanger Prince William reveals he is secret fan of AC/DC
Prince William has spoken about his favourite songs, sharing stories about his mother, his children and his personal routines.
- by Hannah Furness
Vaccine makers have plans to make Omicron-specific booster, says Fauci
COVID-19 vaccine makers have contingency plans to deal with the Omicron variant that include a combination vaccine against the original version and the variant as well as a variant-specific booster dose, a top US health official said on Friday.
- by Reuters
Pestering women in the street to be outlawed in England
Police and prosecutors would have to show the behaviour caused “harassment, distress or alarm” with an intent to “humiliate or degrade” a victim.
- by Charles Hymas
Hundreds of scientists bunker down, Omicron findings expected within days
Some 450 researchers around the world have begun work to isolate the highly mutated variant from patient specimens hoping to guide vaccine decisions.
- by Jason Gale
Bedding down at Ikea: Snow storm traps Danish shoppers
Ever felt tempted to drift off to sleep in a bed shop?
Updated
World politics
‘Surreal’: Angela Merkel shows her punk side in official send-off
One of Merkel’s song choices for a military ceremony, which raised some eyebrows, was You Forgot the Colour Film, released in 1974 by East German-born punk singer Nina Hagen.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Biden steps up fight against Omicron as variant marches across globe
With authorities around the world scrambling to contain Omicron, Biden on Friday (AEDT) warned in no uncertain terms that infections will rise this winter.
- by Jeff Mason