Retirement Fuels Bushland Restoration: Ken and Jill revive 970ha bush; older Australians follow

Times of India - Oct 17, 2026

In their eighties, Ken and Jill Hooper have become dedicated stewards of bushland in Australia, showcasing an inspiring commitment to conservation post-retirement. Over the last twenty years, after acquiring properties in Victoria and New South Wales, they focus on enhancing biodiversity and curbing invasive species to safeguard native wildlife. Their work reflects a significant trend of older Australians contributing to community conservation, aiming to foster a legacy for future generations.

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China's economy picks up pace in Q3 as exports power uneven recovery
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China's economy picks up pace in Q3 as exports power uneven recovery

BEIJING — China's economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter as a surge in exports and strong factory activity offset persistent weakness in domestic demand, easing pressure on policymakers to roll out more forceful stimulus measures. The 4.5% growth rate, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, beat the forecast for 4.4% growth in a Reuters poll, and improved from the more-than-three-year low of 4.3% in the April-to-June period. The stronger headline growth was underpinned by a surge in exports, with China's trade surplus widening more than expected in September and keeping the country on track to surpass last year's record $1.2 trillion surplus. September activity data also showed signs of improvement. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 1.1% from a year earlier, accelerating from August's 0.4% increase and marking the fastest growth since March. Consumer spending remained subdued overall, however, highlighting the uneven nature of the recovery. Industrial output grew 5.5% in September, up from 5.2% in August and marking the strongest pace in si

Macron notes 'failures' after France unrest
Oct 19, 2026
Macron notes 'failures' after France unrest

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron, under pressure after violent protests in France, acknowledged on Monday "failures in anticipation and intelligence", but refused the resignation of his interior minister, the presidential palace said. Some opposition politicians had called for the sacking of Nunez after demonstrations over the cost of living descended into some of the worst urban violence in France in years. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, with almost 1,000 police and gendarmes injured, according to the interior ministry, as clashes between police and protesters, mass looting and fires erupted nationwide. "The interior minister submitted his resignation to the president on Sunday," the Elysee palace said in a statement. "Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time, the president refused." Macron had asked Nunez to "take all necessary steps to ensure transparency over the failures in planning and intelligence that led to the violence", the statement said. The president had also instructed him to "put in place new operational methods for sec

Putin proposes summit with Trump and Xi to discuss Ukraine deal, WSJ says
Oct 19, 2026
Putin proposes summit with Trump and Xi to discuss Ukraine deal, WSJ says

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a summit next month with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the four-year-old Ukraine conflict that would favour Moscow, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the discussions. The proposed summit comes amid warming ties between Trump and Putin especially after the US President announced a deal to buy Russian diesel and signed an order on Friday waiving key sanctions on Moscow. Citing a former Russian intelligence officer briefed on the matter, the paper said that Putin's suggestion came in an October 9 telephone call with Trump that also yielded the diesel deal between the two countries. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while the Kremlin could not be immediately reached outside regular business hours. The Russian and Chinese embassies in Washington did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The Kremlin has suggested holding the trilateral dialogue on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

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Oct 19, 2026
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Louvre blocked as France grapples with unrest
Oct 19, 2026
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Musk says will give SpaceX share to 'every kid in America'
Oct 19, 2026
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Putin approves major Russian government reshuffle following parliamentary elections
Oct 19, 2026
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Oct 19, 2026
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Oct 19, 2026
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