News: Kevin Rudd resigns

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigns

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has just resigned after weeks of intense leadership speculation in the Federal Australian Labor Party. He resigned from Washington and said he would ‘never be part of a stealth attack‘ on a sitting Prime Minister and described the current leadership saga as ‘nothing more than a soap opera’.

“The good people of Queensland deserve some space over the coming month as they make up their mind over the future of Queensland,” he said. “The truth is, I also feel very uncomfortable doing this from Washington and not in Australia but I don’t feel as if I have a choice given the responsibilities I have before me over the days ahead in London. These are important challenges for the world where a responsible Australian voice needs to be heard.

“Under no circumstances do I want Australia’s international reputation brought into disrepute due to this ongoing saga … my duties as foreign minister will be discharged here in Washington tomorrow. I will make a full statement to the Australian people on my future before parliament resumes next Monday.

“I do believe if the ALP is to have the best future for our nature then it must change its culture. Australia must be governed by the people. Not by the factions. There is no way – no way – that I will ever be part of a stealth attack by a sitting PM who was elected by the people.”

Amazon retreats on sale of whale meat

The Japanese branch of the multi-national Amazon website has removed whale meat items from sale after an international backlash. The site, wholly owned by its Seattle parent company, had offered 147 different types of whale products including some from endangered species and some from the controversial Japanese whaling ‘research’ missions which perform an annual whale hunt. In a report called Amazon.com’s Unpalatable Profits, launched with Humane Society International, investigators bought eight whale products from Amazon Japan in 2011, including canned whale meat, whale jerky, whale bacon and whale stew.

Defence Force designs body to protect serving women

The Australian Defence Force has announced a dedicated body that would be given the task of protecting and encouraging the careers and safety of serving women in the forces. ADF chief General David Hurley said the board would provide independent advice on gender equity issues for personnel. “If we want to ensure our members have the best opportunity for a rewarding and enduring career, we must also consider more flexible working arrangements and support mechanisms,” he said. “Improvements in these areas will improve recruitment and participation rates, not just for our women but for all ADF members.” Defence is in the process of implementing the new Federal Government policy that removes restrictions on women serving in all combat roles including special forces and clearance diving. General Hurley said next month a team of female combat commanders from Canada would arrive in Australia to help advise on the practical implementation of the directive.

Former money boss arrested on alleged prostitution links

The former head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, is being investigated over alleged links to a prostitution ring and fraud. Kahn was recently charged with the sexual assault of a hotel maid in New York but those charges were eventually overturned. On the latest matter, the Guardian writes:

“He is being interrogated over several libertine soirées, or orgies, he took part in at a luxury hotel and restaurant in Paris and in Washington while IMF chief.

The parties, at which Strauss-Kahn – or DSK as he is known – has admitted having sex with various women, were allegedly organised by high-level police and business contacts from Lille with whom he had links. Strauss-Kahn has always insisted he never paid any prostitutes (paying prostitutes for sex is not illegal in France). The police inquiry hinges on whether Strauss-Kahn knew the women being invited to the parties were prostitutes and if he was aware they were being paid for by a major French construction company, as alleged.” Kahn’s wife, Anne Sinclair, is the French editor of the Huffington Post and has stood by him through the tumult of the last year.

Kath and Kim movie coming soon

And just because everyone’s talking about it: Kath and Kim have a movie. The foxy royalty of Australian television are releasing a feature film in September called Kath and Kimderella. “I have been up to pussy’s bow working out what to wear for the Oscars next year, do I go ritzy or tizzy, indie,” Kath said. “I was made for the wide screen and like Avatar I will be working blue,” Kim said. Kath & Kimderella brings back the mother-and-daughter duo from Fountain Lakes, played by Jane Turner and Gina Riley, together with their original cast including Glenn Robbins, Peter Rowsthorn and Magda Szubanski, who recently came out as gay.

Everything you know about dieting is wrong…

US scientists have re-written some of the rules that apply to dieting, saying many have been going about it the wrong way. That might explain the dramatic increase in world obesity rates over the past 30 years. Fairfax reported:

“Current standards advise people that cutting calories by a certain amount will result in a slow and steady weight loss over time.

But that advice fails to account for how the body changes as it slims down, burning less energy and acquiring a slower metabolism, researchers told an American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Vancouver.

The result is a plateau effect that ends up discouraging dieters and sending them back into harmful patterns of overeating.”

The new model recommends setting both short and long term weight loss goals, factoring in realistic amounts of exercise, which seems to be a more accurate formula for healthy weight loss.

New Zealand marks one year since devastating quake

The people of Christchurch will long remember February 22. Today marks one year since a shallow, 6.3 magnitude quake shook the city and brought the city centre down. 185 people were killed, 115 people from one building (the CTV building) alone. A special cemetery for the victims was opened yesterday. Anglican Bishop Rev. Victoria Matthews told the gathering during a solemn 15-minute service that the memorial plinth would “point us to the future” and “comfort us in our sorrows.”

‘Know their wishes’ during DonateLife week

A fresh campaign raising awareness about organ donation rates among Australians started this week. Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King said it was time to break down some donation barriers while releasing new research into donation attitudes. “Young adults aged 18-29 years are still experiencing barriers to discussing and deciding about organ and tissue donation,” Ms King said during a visit to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital. “These barriers include misplaced concerns that doctors won’t work as hard to save their lives.

“The majority of 18-29 year olds (84%) cite the chance to save a life as the key motivation to decide about becoming an organ and tissue donor, and 79% indicated that their religious or cultural beliefs would not be a barrier to deciding about organ and tissue donation. Alarmingly, 40% of 18-29 year olds are concerned that their family would not want them to become an organ and tissue donor. DonateLife Week provides an opportunity for young adults, and for all Australians, to sit down and talk openly about their wishes regarding organ and tissue donation. Every family needs to ask and know each other’s donation wishes because donation will not proceed without the family’s confirmation of the deceased’s wishes.” Here’s one video from the campaign: