CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The national news agency Australian Associated Press said Tuesday it will close in late June, its 85 years in business vanquished by a decline in subscribers and free distribution of news content on digital platforms.

“The saddest day: AAP closes after 85 years of excellence in journalism. The AAP family will be sorely missed,” AAP Editor-in-Chief Tony Gillies said in a tweet.

Sydney-based AAP was started in 1935 by newspaper publisher Keith Murdoch, father of News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch. It is owned by Australian news organizations News Corp. Australia, Nine Entertainment Co., Seven West Media and Australian Community Media.

more:

https://apnews.com/c9d2809aaa0e8fa47c629723444d7b51

An inquiry into the Grenfell fire disaster which killed 72 people in 2017 was halted within minutes of resuming on Monday after angry outbursts from members of the public who called for it to be abandoned.

Some of those protesting at the hearing were heard to shout, “it’s a disgrace,” and “what’s the point.”

The outbursts came after the Attorney General Suella Braermann agreed to requests from the companies that had refurbished the residential tower block that any evidence they give at the inquiry would not be used against them in criminal proceedings. The hearing resumed after security removed the protesters, one of whom asked: “What's the point if [the witness statements] can't be used in a court of law?”

more:

https://www.rt.com/uk/482116-grenfell-inquiry-suspended-outbursts-public/