Australia gave millions of workers the legal right to «disconnect» on Monday, allowing them to ignore unreasonable out-of-hours contact from employers, to the distress of big industry. People can now «refuse to monitor, read, or respond to» their employers' attempts to contact them outside work hours -- unless that refusal is deemed «unreasonable». The law is similar to legislation in some European and Latin American countries. Unions welcomed the legislation, saying it gave workers a way to reclaim a level of work-life balance. «Today is a historic day for working people,» said Michele O'Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. «The union movement has won the legal right for Australians to spend quality time with their loved ones without the stress of being forced to constantly answer unreasonable work calls and emails,» she said. «Australian unions have reclaimed the right to knock off after work.» But the reforms got a cool welcome from Australian industry. «The 'right to disconnect' laws are rushed, poorly thought out and deeply confusing,» the Australian Industry Group said in a statement. «At the very least, employers and employees will now be uncertain about whether they can take or make a call out of hours to offer an extra shift,» said the country's peak industry group. The law, enacted in February, came into force for medium-sized and large companies as of Monday. Smaller companies with fewer than 15 employees will be covered from August 26, 2025. «We encourage workplace participants to educate themselves on the right to disconnect and take a commonsense approach to applying it within their workplace,» said the head of Australia's workplace relations regulator, Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth. Under the law, workers may be ordered by a tribunal to stop unreasonably refusing out-of-hours contact, and employers likewise may be ordered to stop unreasonably requiring employees to respond, it said. The question of what is reasonable will «depend on the circumstances», the Fair Work Ombudsman said in a statement. Deciding factors may include the reason for the contact, the nature of the employee's role, and their compensation for working extra hours or being available, it said. France introduced the right to disconnect in 2017, hoping to tackle the «always on» culture facilitated by smartphones and other digital devices. © Agence France-Presse

Emissions-belching nations were challenged to stump up for climate-related damage as a key Pacific islands summit opened on Monday, with low-lying Tuvalu declaring: «If you pollute, you should pay.» The Pacific Islands Forum got underway in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, with leaders hoping to draw global attention to the region's worsening climate plight. «We really need to ensure that we continue to push for action from countries that are the most polluting,» Tuvalu Climate Minister Maina Talia told AFP on the sidelines of the summit. «Polluter pays should be on the table.» Pacific leaders will mount a renewed push later this week for a homegrown climate adaptation fund, an idea that largely hinges on financial contributions from foreign nations. They will also push to speed the transition away from oil, gas and other highly polluting fuel sources. «We cannot address climate change without addressing the root cause, which is the fossil fuel industry,» Talia said. «It's disaster after disaster, and we are losing the capacity to rebuild, to withstand another cyclone or another flood.» That is awkward terrain for forum member Australia, a coal-mining superpower belatedly trying to burnish its green credentials. Australia wants to co-host the COP31 climate conference alongside its Pacific neighbours in 2026. But first, it must convince the bloc it is serious about slashing emissions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is making a rare appearance at the summit, in a trip designed to highlight the Pacific's myriad climate threats. «The decisions world leaders take in the coming years will determine the fate, first of Pacific Islanders, and then everyone else,» Guterres said. «If we save the Pacific, we save the world.» - Security split - Foreign dignitaries were briefly sent scuttling for cover when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Tonga's coast early Monday. But no major damage or injuries were reported, and no tsunami warning was issued. The summit had earlier kicked off with melodic Tongan choir singers and dancing schoolchildren in traditional dress. Beneath the bonhomie, however, rare fissures have been forming in the 18-member bloc, with Pacific nations torn over China's security ambitions in the region. «We gather at a pivotal time in our region's history,» said forum secretary Baron Waqa, a former president of Nauru. «We are at the centre of global geopolitical interest.» China's interest, specifically, was evident long before Waqa's opening speech. Large «China Aid» signs were installed outside the newly built conference venue, a $25 million gift from Beijing. The United States, meanwhile, has dispatched senior diplomat Kurt Campbell to lead its forum delegation. Campbell has been one of the key figures behind a US-led push to keep China's Pacific ambitions in check. «We need to remain vigilant on issues of regional security,» warned Waqa, who has taken a dim view of the escalating Beijing-Washington rivalry in the past. - New Caledonia crisis - The other pressing security challenge facing Pacific leaders is the unresolved crisis in French territory New Caledonia, which reared its head on opening day. «We must reach consensus on our vision for a region of peace and security,» said Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni. «We must honour the vision of our forefathers regarding self determination, including in New Caledonia.» Much of New Caledonia's ethnically Melanesian Kanak population fears that recent voting reforms put forward by Paris could crush their dreams of independence. It is a cause that resonates widely in the Pacific bloc, which is stacked with former colonies now fiercely proud of their hard-won sovereignty. The fractious topic of deep-sea mining does not sit on any official agenda, but will likely be a topic of heated debate behind closed doors. Forum host Tonga sits at the vanguard of nations eager to open up the emerging industry, joined by fellow forum members Nauru and the Cook Islands. But others such as Samoa, Palau and Fiji see it as an environmental catastrophe in the making, giving their full-throated backing to an international moratorium. © Agence France-Presse

According to the AFP, the initial period of detention for questioning can last up to 96 hours

A Reuters source told TASS earlier that the agency’s safety adviser was killed, but did not provide his name

«Rumble will not stand for this behavior and will use every legal means available to fight for freedom of expression,» Chris Pavlovski said

Apty Alaudinov noted that the enemy has been stopped and is being destroyed every day in the Kursk area

The strikes were delivered by anti-tank missiles against reconnoitered enemy targets, according to Defense Ministry

The Sept. 10 debate with ABC is the only one both campaigns have agreed to with one of the major networks.

MOGADISHU, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Several communities in Somalia are at imminent risk of flooding as river levels continue to rise in central parts of the country, a UN agency warned in a flood advisory issued Saturday.

Somalia has introduced a national digital identification aimed at enhancing its banking services across the country.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's economy depends heavily on remittances from its diaspora, with funds sent from abroad accounting for an estimated 30% to 50% of the country's GDP, one of the highest ratios in the world. These remittances, totalling around $2 billion annually, are crucial for covering essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education for countless Somali families.

There were no injuries reported after a home on Montcalm Street in the Greater Sudbury community of Azilda sustained heavy damage in a fire.

A joint investigation between the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) led to the arrest of four immigrants from Mexico who were working in Saskatchewan illegally.

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa and the University of Ottawa were among dozens of organizations who held their own Pride celebrations after choosing to withdraw from events organized by Capital Pride on Sunday.

The Oceania Paralympic Committee has announced the arrival of teams from Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Kiribati, and the Solomon Islands at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Village yesterday.

Lady Louise Windsor , daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie and granddaughter to Queen Elizabeth II , has 'fallen in love' with army cadets, a source has said.

The casting budget on the flagship show was cut in the wake of the Strictly bullying scandal, according to Corporation sources.

Javid Ahmed, an elite special forces lieutenant, is working in takeaways in Birmingham, serving chips and delivering pizza, waiting on tables and trying to make ends meet with temporary jobs.

ans have urged the pair to regroup since their explosive split in 2009 which was sparked by a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris.

It is said that figures show their company, Boa Boa, are £15,203 in the red after the first year of trading.

The main runway at Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, St James, has been temporarily closed because of «minor damage». 

SINGAPORE – Just a day earlier, Vera Tan had one regret after clinching a bronze in the women’s optional taijiquan at the World Taijiquan Championships at OCBC Arena – she wished she had smiled more during her routine. On Aug 25, the 26-year-old was beaming brightly as she stood on top of the podium after winning gold in the optional taijijian. She topped the 16-strong field with her score of 9.700, just pipping compatriot Zeanne Law (9.696) and Brunei’s Basma Lachkar (9.686). She told The Straits Times: “I tried to smile more today! I was actually more nervous today. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t feel I was in my best form during my warm-up. However, I’m glad I managed to shut off the nerves and perform as I usually do in training. “I was 16 when I won the women’s optional taijiquan gold (in the first edition of the championships) but they didn’t have this many competitors then. So, I’m happy to win gold again after a long time.” Tan has enjoyed a renaissance of late as she ended her World Wushu Championships medal drought in 2023 with a taijijian bronze.

A woman was amused and impressed by her Tada driver selling his wife's handmade jewellery in his car. Stomp contributor Christina even bought a bracelet after booking the ride with him on Aug 20. She recounted: «On the way back home, I came across this driver helping his wife selling jewellery inside his car. »It is a unique experience because I always book a ride home and the PHV (private-hire vehicle) driver usually has stickers on the back like 'no smoking, eating or drinking' but this driver had something else.« A sign hung on the back of the front passenger seat read: »Hi, do support my wife's Shopee if you love handmade jewellery.« It also listed the prices of the items for sale in the car. »And this made me laugh also. It says, 'Wife: Any questions, can ask my driver cum salesman',« said the Stomp contributor. »I thought I would share this since I find the husband very supportive of his wife by helping her display all this, I know most guys have big egos and wouldn’t display all this girl stuff."

SINGAPORE — More than two in five people in Singapore believe they will never be able to achieve financial freedom based on their current trajectory, a poll has found. Of the 3,000 people polled, 29 per cent said they will be able to achieve financial freedom, 27 per cent said they have already attained it, while 44 per cent said they will never be able to do so. The top three reasons they cite for not being able to be financially free are: insufficient income, unforeseen personal or health circumstances, and job insecurity. The findings were part of composite insurer Singlife's second financial freedom index. The index findings were gathered through an online survey of 3,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 18 to 65 from April to June in 2024. In 2024, respondents scored 58 out of 100 in the index. This is slightly down from the score of 60 in 2023. Those polled said they are most stressed about inflation, not having enough savings for retirement, and having to pay for medical expenses. 

Barack Obama once said, 'Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.' These words resonate deeply today, especially as various regions around the world experience revolutions and moments of enlightenment led by the youth. Young people worldwide are increasingly questioning the roles their leaders play in shaping their future, driving an agenda that requires accountability and progress.

Entre le 17 aout à l'ère du Comité pour la transition et la restauration des institutions(CTRI) et les préparatifs du 30 août en passant par le communiqué numéro 064, Guy Riger Ekazama, ancien maire de la Commune de Makokou, répond aux questions de Gabonews. Le 17 août 2024 à l'ère du CTRI sur toute l'étendue du territoire nationale. Vous êtes ancien premier magistrat de la ville de Makokou, comment avez-vous apprécié le déroulement de cette manifestation chez vous ? Avant toute (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Get the latest news from the 2024 campaign trail in the contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Some believe the St Petersburg-born tycoon has paid for his naivety, others want his homeland to intervene Read Full Article at RT.com