Australia’s wine industry grapples with oversupply issues amidst Chinese tariffs and pandemic disruptions

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The wine sector in Australia is confronting a significant and persistent oversupply issue that experts believe will take years to fix.  The challenges are multifaceted, with Chinese tariffs, heightened production, and export hindrances during the COVID-19 pandemic among the contributing factors. Australian wine exports registered a decline of 10% in value, reaching A$1.87 billion, and … Read more

Russia arrests US citizen on espionage charges: report

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An American citizen of Russian origin has been arrested in Russia upon accusations of espionage, according to local reports.  The Lefortovo Court of Moscow had authorized the arrest of Gene Spector, but it wasn’t clear if he had been taken into custody.  Russian news agencies said Spector had previously been convicted in a bribery case … Read more

Canadian woman who attempted to assassinate Trump sentenced to 22 years behind bars

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A Canadian woman who mailed a threatening letter containing a poisonous substance to former President Donald Trump while he was serving in the White House was sentenced to over two decades in prison on Thursday. Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, a 56-year-old dual citizen of Canada and France, was sentenced to 262 months, nearly 22 years, … Read more

Biden quietly auctions off border wall parts to stunt Republican effort to restart construction: report

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The Biden administration reportedly has been selling off millions of dollars’ worth of border wall materials in a race against Republicans who are vying to pass legislation to finish its construction.  Steel “square structural tubes” photographed in a storage lot in Arizona were listed for sale on GovPlanet, an online auction marketplace run by publicly … Read more

Canada’s British Columbia declares state of emergency as thousands are forced to evacuate Kelowna

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British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as massive wildfires tore through the western Canadian province, forcing residents to flee their homes and seek shelter. The province was declared to be under a state of emergency due to hundreds of wildfires Saturday, with the emergency management minister saying 15,000 people had been told to … Read more

DeSantis meets with Kemp amid Trump case, impeachment calls against Fani Willis

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with the governor of Georgia this week for a brief, private conversation.  DeSantis, a candidate for the Republicans’ 2024 presidential ticket, met with Governor Brian Kemp at a hotel in Buckhead, Georgia, on Friday. The Florida governor was in the area for an appearance alongside other presidential candidates on radio … Read more

California GOP proposal would distance state party from national messaging on abortion, same-sex marriage

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Republicans in California, a state that has increasingly become known for espousing left-wing ideals, are seeking to nix certain anti-abortion and same-sex marriage positions from the state party’s platform in an apparent move to resonate with more voters. Adopted by a party committee in late July, the California GOP proposal that would distance itself from … Read more

‘Cold-blooded’ nurse Lucy Letby found guilty of murdering 7 babies at hospital neonatal unit

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MANCHESTER, England — The nurse who led “a campaign of violence” and enjoyed “playing God” has been found guilty of murdering seven babies at a hospital, making her the U. K.’s most prolific child serial killer. Lucy Letby, 33, was also convicted of trying to kill six other babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal … Read more