Breaking: Sacked civil servant describes pressure to approve Mandelson as UK ambassador to US The former head of the Foreign Office said there was"a very, very strong expectation" that Peter Mandelson "needed to be in post and in America as quickly as possible".

"Political pressure" = Kier Starmer is on the rocks. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-21/olly-rob...

Earthquake hits off Indonesia's Timor island The epicentre was at a depth of 31 kilometres but there was no tsunami risk from the magnitude-6 quake, according to Indonesia's geophysics agency.

Another earthquake. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-21/earthqua...

How I created OpenClaw, the breakthrough AI agent | Peter Steinberger - TED Talks Daily <p>OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger takes us back to the transformative moment he let his AI agent loose on the internet, igniting one of the world's fastest-growing open-source projects. He makes a fascinating (and slightly unnerving) case that agents are a real shift, not just better versions of chatbots, and explores how they might reshape your ability to work, create and build. "The lobster is loose, and it's not going back into the tank," he says. (Followed by a brief Q&A with TED Chairman Chris Anderson)</p><p><em>Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at </em><a href="https://attend.ted.com/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>attend.ted.com/podcast</em></a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

If you've not already listened to this, you should. Peter Steinberger on inventing Open Claw podcast.app/how-i-created-openclaw-t...

It has arisen because we have made it easy to have such views accepted and respected, when they in no way deserve that acceptance or respect.

In response to ill-informed diatribe, it is time for us to say, "No, this is not acceptable. Do better."

Belief-based politics is not religious as such, but just an expression of beliefs without doing the work to gather convincing, irrefutable evidence to support that perspective.

Breaking: Tsunami warning as magnitude-7.4 earthquake hits northeast Japan Residents have been warned of a tsunami as high as 3 metres in the Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido.

Because we all need another global crisis: www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-20/magnitud...

Lenses out. *Sigh of relief* Now I can read comfortably.

Ha! #Insiders decides to repeat the work of other journalists in giving the timeline of Trump's tweets. Lack of sleep is not the issue. Trump is not, and never has been, normal.

Who gives a flying fig about whether Australia got a request to support or not, the entire war is illegal. Move on. #Insiders

On the couch with coffee for #Insiders

Coffee

It's that time. #straightupHobart

I've had an amazing day at #EdCAT2026 in Hobart. Australian of the Year, Katherine Bennell Pegg was the keynote as well as the panellist of one of my sessions, and Tracey Spicer was also an amazing keynote. I'm so grateful to have been part of the event. Thanks to all all for having me there.

Sun's up and I'm nearly finished my walk.

The Searchlight, Sandy Bay

View south before dawn at Sandy Bay

View north from Sandy Bay before dawn

Good morning from the Searchlight at Sandy Bay

70kmph+ wind gusts in Hobart tonight.

I would very much like to have someone stamp gently on my back. This shall not happen. I will have to wait till I get home, when I can use a foam roller to get the same result.

View from ferry

Mount Wellington from the Derwent

Hobart from the Derwent

This is extremely pleasant. #Derwent

Fish lunch

View across the ferry cabin

View across the Derwent from my table

On a lunch cruise on the Derwent. Taking care of myself.

I'm taking part of today off. I'm going to have a swim and do a cruise.

Breaking: Magnitude-4.5 earthquake felt across large parts of NSW The NSW Central West has been hit by a one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in the region.

Well we are all out of cyclones and bushfires so it must be time for earthquakes www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-14/orange-e...

Trump says "we can't allow another nation to extort money from us" in relation to the Strait of Hormuz.

The same person who absolutely is extorting the rest of the world through tariffs.

I mean: .....????

Breaking: Qantas cuts domestic flights and raises fares as fuel costs blow out Qantas will cut domestic flights due to higher fuel costs and the uncertainty of the Middle East war, as it flags as much as $800 million in extra fuel costs.

It begins www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-14/qantas-c...

OMG the first coffee.

In bed. Beany on. Bed socks on. Cup of tea beside me. Life goals: achieved.

Delighted to see that Tasmania is seriously asking the question as to why our politics is being driven by the AFL rather than by what the state actually needs.

There is absolutely no reason why govt supported housing should not have solar installed - as a way to reduce household costs.

Back from a nearly 10km walk, involving some steep inclines. I always feel better after that kind of exercise. I can now put my feet up on the couch and watch TV all afternoon and evening with no sense of guilt.

Wouldn't it be excellent if #Insiders recognised the SEPARATION OF POWERS between the executive and the judiciary. Politics should have no place in the execution of justice. #BRS

Thank goodness someone is talking about alternative fuels and energy programs. Good work Catherine King. Indeed resilience does mean not being reliant on these vulnerable fuel processes. #Insiders #auspol

Prices won't come down. Switch to electric. And get much more solar and batteries. #Insiders #auspol