Pope Benedict has warned that a form of colonialism continues to blight Africa.

Opening a three-week synod of African bishops, he said political colonialism was over.

But he said the developed world continued to export materialism - which he called "toxic spiritual rubbish" - to the continent.

Almost 200 bishops from 53 African states have gathered to discuss how the Catholic Church can help resolve the continent's social injustices and wars.

The Pope says he will attend as many of the working sessions of the synod as possible, his other duties permitting.

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Dublin: Within Europe's political corridors Tony Blair is emerging as the clear favourite to be the EU's first President.

The post is created under the Lisbon Treaty. The President will be a full-time official chosen by Europe's leaders - to chair summits and be the international face of the European Union.

If the Irish vote "Yes" to Lisbon another key milestone will be passed in ratifying the treaty. We'll know tomorrow.

BEIJING — They said there would be blue skies, and blue skies there were, as President Hu Jintao stood erect in his limousine Thursday morning to review the troops and to view the country’s high-tech missiles and tanks at the opening of ceremonies marking China’s 60th anniversary as a republic.

Wearing a Sun Yat-sen suit in honour of the man often called the father of the Chinese republic, Hu greeted an estimated 5,000 soldiers as they stood at attention saying: “Hello, comrades. Work hard.”

KABUL: Afghan and international forces killed 22 Taliban militants in a fierce battle yesterday, as it was revealed that the deputy UN special envoy to Afghanistan would not be returning to his post after a dispute over the fraud-tainted election.

Peter Galbraith, who left Kabul last week after a row with his boss, Kai Eide, over whether to order a recount, "won't be coming back to Kabul", a UN official said. It was not clear whether the American had been sacked or would be moved to another UN post.

It was about 10 minutes to 10 on Tuesday night that mobile phones across Brighton started bleeping. They belonged to the members of the Cabinet and caused many to abandon their dinners and hunch over their Blackberrys, urgently discussing what to do next.

Britain's brashest and biggest-selling tabloid newspaper, which likes to sometimes make news rather than merely report it, was at it again. After 12 years of supporting the Labour Party, The Sun was filling its front page the next morning with the headline "Labour's lost it".

There you have it. The president of the United States and his European puppets are doing what they do best – lying through their teeth.

Alistair Darling is set to ask bankers to crack down immediately on bonuses in a key speech to Labour's conference.

The chancellor is to bring in new laws in the autumn but will say to bankers that there is no need to wait for legislation and they should act now.

Labour is using its week in Brighton to launch a fight back against the Tories, claiming it is now the "underdog".

But there was controversy on the first day as the prime minister was quizzed on his health on the BBC's Marr show.

Seven primary schools in New South Wales are offering to participate in the pilot of an ethics course

as an alternative to religion classes.

The Education Act prohibits non-scripture students being taught while others receive religious instruction.

It reflects a 19th Century deal between the New South Wales government and churches.

Scripture opt-out rates can be as high as 50 or 80 per cent.

blasted by sonic cannon

picture by Gus

A lot could be said about the recent dust storms in Sydney, in regard the weather being slightly out of whack for whatever reason.

A week ago Sydneysiders enjoyed their third series of sunny days in the low 30 degrees C (89-90 F). Then the weather cooled off. A big electric storm one night was followed the next morning (September 23rd) by a massive red dust storm that had passed over by around midday. The roll of dust, as seen on satellite pictures, was more 2000 kilometres long, as it passed through Brisbane and further north, as well as way south of Sydney.

Three days later another lesser dust storm passed over the city and by 9 o'clock it had all gone.

From the New York Times

PARIS — A bitter political trial became even more so on Thursday after President Nicolas Sarkozy, a plaintiff in the case, called those on trial “guilty parties.”

Prominent among those in the dock is Mr. Sarkozy’s political rival Dominique de Villepin, a former prime minister who is accused with four others of planning a smear campaign in 2003-4 intended to undermine Mr. Sarkozy’s presidential ambitions.

Venezuela's president has urged leaders from Africa and South America to help form a "multipolar" world to counter Western economic dominance.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has warned bankers that the party is over and they must realise the world has changed.

He made the comments in a BBC interview before leaving for the G20 summit.

He wants a limit on bonuses, and rules to allow banks to get them back if bankers make losses later.

But he said there was a limit to how much could be achieved by regulation, and bankers needed to realise that they had to change their behaviour.

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has brushed aside Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce's calls for his salary to be tripled to $1 million.

Yesterday the Government accepted a remuneration tribunal recommendation to give federal politicians a 3 per cent pay rise.

The Greens say it should be rejected because lowest paid workers are not getting an increase.

But Senator Joyce says politicians should be paid as much as business leaders.