Gavin Butler

In North America's most populous city, the taps could run dry within weeks. Water reservoirs in Mexico City hit historic lows this month amid ongoing drought conditions and one of the most extreme heat waves the country has ever faced. The Cutzamala water system — one of the world’s largest networks of dams, canals and pipes that supplies more than a quarter of the city’s water — is at 30 per cent of its normal capacity, an 8 per cent drop compared to the same t…

On Wednesday night, Albanese posted a tweet saying he had spoken with Zelenskyy and conveyed Australia’s "admiration for the courage, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people to defend their sovereignty and the international rule of law." "We will continue our support for the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes." — Anthony Albanese. Albanese and Zelenskyy spoke about an upcoming peace summit where nations will discuss Russia’s invasion o…

Shortages of key medicines are affecting some of Australia's most vulnerable patients, a peak medical body says, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders and those in palliative care.

Ansar Allah, the Yemeni armed group responsible for attacking ships, taking hostages and killing civilians in the Red Sea, has been officially listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced on Thursday that the group, otherwise known as the Houthis , would be recognised as terrorists following advice from national security agencies that said they were directly or indirectly engaged in preparing, planning or assisting in terrorist attacks…

A new report from the CSIRO has found it could cost as much as $17 billion and take more than 15 years to build a single nuclear power plant in Australia — and electricity from nuclear power could be at least 50 per cent more expensive than solar and wind. The annual GenCost report, which compares nuclear power with other energy sources for the first time, undermines the federal Opposition’s claims that nuclear can provide cheap electricity to Australians. "It’s the first ti…

A subvariant that quickly became the leading COVID-19 strain in the United States was recently detected in Australia.

The Australian government will ramp up gas projects to meet surging demand and support a transition to net zero by 2050. It also revealed that extractions will likely continue beyond that date. In announcing Australia’s Future Gas Strategy, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said "gas will remain an important source of energy through to 2050 and beyond", highlighting the need for continued exploration, investment and development in the sector to "…

The Australian government will soon provide financial support for students undertaking mandatory unpaid university placements, as part of a wider strategy to ease cost of living pressures. The changes were announced on Sunday as part of the 2024 budget, alongside a HECS overhaul that promises to wipe out some $3 billion of student debt . Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the reform, in line with recommendations by the Universities Accord , aims to give fairer conditions to affected students…

The federal government has announced changes that will give more flexibility to people who provide care for a person with disability or severe medical condition, allowing them more freedom to determine their time spent working and studying while retaining their Carer Payment. The Carer Payment is an income support payment, paid at the same rate as the age pension, that aims to counterbalance the barriers carers face when it comes to working engagements. Currently, people receiving the payment ar…

Ukraine has restricted consular services for men of fighting age in a renewed bid to boost its military might — a move that has angered and worried some Ukrainians in Australia. A decision, made on 23 April, meant male citizens aged 18 to 60 who live abroad could not apply for consular assistance, according to the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia and New Zealand. That means they could not access essential services including passport renewals. The move came just one week after Ukrainian pr…