NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WORLD NEWS/ EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MUBARAK STEPS DOWN: After 30 years in power, Hosni Mubarak has stepped down  as president of Egypt. In an announcement on state TV, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said Mubarak had handed power to the military. It came as thousands massed in Cairo and other Egyptian cities for an 18th day of protest to demand Mubarak's resignation. Protesters responded by cheering, setting off fireworkds, waving flags, embracing and sounding car horns. "The people have brought down the regime," they chanted. Suleiman said Mubarak had handed power to the high command of the armed forces. "In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, citizens, during these very difficult circumstances Egypt is going through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the office of president of the republic and has charged the high council of the armed forces to administer the affairs of the country," he said. "May God help everybody." Mubarak has already left Cairo and is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he has a residence. Reacting to news of the resignation, opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said: "This is the greatest day of my life. You cannot comprehend the amount of joy and happiness of every Egyptian at the restoration of our humanity and our freedom". According to medis reports, the news caught many of the protesters off guards, since it was only last night, when Mubarak addressed the nation once again refused to step down. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators broke into chants and song as Cairo swelled with jubilation and wonder. Many of those in the square were born under Mubarak's reign, and what unfolded was a moment of transforming history in which a popular revolt toppled an icon of Arab power. It is unclear what lay beyond the celebration and political maneuverings. The military was expected to make an announcement in coming hours on what exactly its role would be after taking power in a democratic country. In an address from the White House, President Obama said the "people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard and Egypt will never be the same".

WORLD/ ARCANE ANTI-GAY AUSSIE LAW UNDER FIRE: Australian Attorney-General John Hatzistergos has come under fire after he announced that he backs a NSW law that allows private schools to expel gay students simply for being gay. A senior Anglican bishop calls it "appalling" and a gay and lesbian rights group condemned it as "deeply offensive". A relic of the Wran era when homosexuality was still a crime, the law exempts private schools from any obligation to enrol or deal fairly with students who are homosexual. An expulsion requires neither disruption, harassment nor even the flaunting of sexuality. Being homosexual is enough. Through a spokesman, Hatzistergos described the 30-year-old law as necessary "to maintain a sometimes delicate balance between protecting individuals from unlawful discrimination while allowing people to practice their own beliefs". However, poltical support for the law is minimal and calls for it to be scrapped have dramatically risen in the last 24 hours. Yet, as always, there are supporters. The chief executive of Christian Schools Australia said the 130-plus low-fee schools in his association saw no reason to ditch the law. Many of the schools regard unrepentant gay students as "disruptive to the religious teaching of the school", he explained.

US/ NOAA ON ALERT FOR AILING WHALE: NOAA scientists in Hawaii now think that the ailing humpback whale that was photographed off of Kauai earlier this week may be suffering from scoliosis. “We have not seen it for 4 days. It was moving very slowly. There is a good chance we won't see it again and large predators have done nature’s work, or the whale may reappear or perish at some other time,” said the Marine Mammal Response Coordinator. Scoliosis is a rare disorder but scientists say they have seen it in other mammals like dolphins. It can be congenital or it can be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. NOAA has asked all Hawaiians to be alert for the whale. Both NOAA and the US Coast Guard will respond to the whale, if it is seen again. They stand by ready to offer any comfort measures that they can.