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Filipino Journalists Continue to Face Attacks Despite ‘Improved’ Media Situation

Despite rising in RSF's latest World Press Freedom Index, the country is far from hospitable to independent or critical journalists.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Diplomat

Spain’s unprecedented power outage sparks a blackout blame game over green energy

An abrupt and widespread blackout, one of Europe's worst in living memory, affected the entire Iberian Peninsula on April 28.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: CNBC International

Chinese Mining Companies Steal The Show at Chile’s Expomin

The regional mining conference reflected the growing influence of Chinese companies, and the Chinese state, in Latin America's mining sector.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Diplomat

Holy See: Review Vatican-China Agreement

Click to expand Image The new Pope Leo XIV on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. 2025 Domenico Stinellis/AP Photo (London) – The new Pope, Leo XIV, should direct an urgent review of theVatican’s 2018 agreement with theChinese government that allows Beijing to appoint bishops for government-approved houses of worship, Human Rights Watch said today. He should also press the...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Human Rights Watch

The musician behind Milkshake Man: Go-Jo is Australia's 2025 Eurovision contestant – video

Marty Zambotto, a 29-year-old Sydney-based singer-songwriter, went viral in 2023 after he uploaded a clip to TikTok of himself performing his song Mrs Hollywood while busking around Sydney. Now he’s about to represent Australia at Eurovision in Basel, Switzerland, with his song Milkshake Man, an ode to self-confidence. Go-Jo will be the 10th musical act to represent Australia since it joined the annual European song...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Guardian Australia

Cambodia, China Prepare to Launch ‘Golden Dragon’ Military Exercises

Cambodia's military says that this year's iteration of the drills will set new standards in terms of “scope, troop participation, and the use of advanced equipment."

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Diplomat

Germany and Israel mark anniversary in shadow of war

Germany and Israel are commemorating the beginning of their postwar relationship, with the war in Gaza omnipresent.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Deutsche Welle (DW)

Cold War bomber, 21st century bill: B-52 upgrade faces fire

The B-52’s radar upgrade has exceeded cost projections, triggering a Nunn-McCurdy breach and reigniting debate over whether modernizing the Cold War era bomber is still viable. The B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP)—a key step in converting the B-52H to the B-52J—has overrun its budget by 17%, surpassing the 15% threshold that mandates congressional review, according […] The post Cold War bomber, 21st century bill:...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Asia Times

Liberal Party reclaims Goldstein – how Tim Wilson turned back the Teal tidal wave

The Liberal Party has reclaimed a seat lost to the Teals in 2022. Tim Wilson did it by adapting some of the campaign strategies used by the independents.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Tirana summit, CAP simplification and Pfizer vaccine texts ruling in focus This WEEK

The Tirana summit of the 47-strong European Political Community, CAP simplification, and the Pfizer Covid text messages transparency ruling are set to lead the agenda this week.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: EU Observer

OPINION: ‘Social justice’ education has been harming the children it needs to help, but cutting off funds to schools is not the answer

President Trump’s sweeping dictate to end what he terms “unlawful DEI practices” is meeting fierce resistance. The National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers and the ACLU all filed suit in opposition. And last month, three federal judges — two appointed by Trump — ruled against the administration. One of the justices noted that […] The post OPINION: ‘Social justice’ education has been harming...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Hechinger Report

‘Children handcuffed and shot’ – ex-UK Special Forces break silence on ‘war crimes’ by colleagues

Veterans who served with the SAS and SBS give BBC Panorama eyewitness accounts of alleged executions.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: BBC Middle East

S. Shakthidharan’s ambitious play The Wrong Gods is a profound critique of progress and modernity

New Australian play The Wrong Gods traces the triumphs and tribulations of a single mother fighting to protect her valley from the ‘new’ world.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

US: Major Companies Violate Gig Workers’ Rights

Click to expand Image 2025 Brian Stauffer for Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC) – Major digital labor platforms, also known as gig companies, operating in theUnited States misclassify gig workers as independent contractors, denying them labor rights, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.The 155-page report, “‘The Gig Trap’: Algorithmic, Wage and Labor Exploitation in Platform Work in the US” focuses on...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Human Rights Watch

Syria: New Government Restricts Aid Operations

Click to expand Image Syrian port workers move on a truck carrying goods at the port of Latakia, Syria, December 17, 2024. 2024 Leo Correa/AP Photo (Beirut) – The Syrian transitional government’s stringent application of registration and operational requirements on aid groups is hampering their ability to scale up operations, Human Rights Watch said today. While the authorities have signaled a willingness to engage...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Human Rights Watch

Defence and youth mobility deals the main prize ahead of EU-UK summit

Keir Starmer will host an EU-UK summit in London on 19 May hoping to sign off on a defence pact. In return, the EU expects to secure agreement on a youth mobility programme.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: EU Observer

Burkina Faso: Army Directs Ethnic Massacres

Click to expand Image The village of Mahouna in western Burkina Faso, March 18, 2022. 2022 Mapillary (Nairobi) – TheBurkina Faso army led and participated in the massacre of more than 130, possibly many more, ethnic Fulani civilians by pro-government militias in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region in March 2025, Human Rights Watch said today. Mass killings of civilians by government security forces, militias, and...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Human Rights Watch

Antarctica has a huge, completely hidden mountain range. New data reveals its birth over 500 million years ago

The mysterious ‘ghost mountains’ – buried beneath kilometres of Antarctic ice – have puzzled scientists for decades.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

As Trump heads to the Middle East, fixing explosive crises takes a back seat to deal-making

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: CBC News - Canada

What makes a cult leader tick? The Bearcat digs into the origins of the Family, Australia’s ‘cult of cults’

When Georgia Rose Phillips’ inner poet takes centre stage, The Bearcat rises to great heights. But the novel contains some anachronisms.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Pamela Rabe shines in this hypnotic revival of Samuel Beckett’s classic play Happy Days

This fresh take by the Sydney Theatre Company combines existential dread with dark humour – and resonates for the current age.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Comet, rocket, space junk or meteor? Here’s how to tell your fireballs apart

There are telltale clues to help you work out what just blazed overhead.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Trumpian Worldview

A conversation about the crisis of integrity with journalist Huw Watkin.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Diplomat

As Donald Trump cuts funding to Antarctica, will the US be forced off the icy continent?

Since 1958, the US has led on Antarctic diplomacy and science. Trump’s funding cuts will diminish US capacity in Antarctica as China expands its presence.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Argentina's top court finds 83 boxes of Nazi materials in its basement

Dozens of boxes of Nazi material confiscated by Argentinean authorities during the Second World War were recently rediscovered in the Supreme Court's basement, the court said on Sunday.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: CBC News - Canada

Argentina's top court finds boxes of Nazi items in basement

Argentina's Supreme Court discovered dozens of boxes filled with Nazi material dating from World War II, including photos and postcards, among its archives in its basement.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Deutsche Welle (DW)

Poland accuses Russia of arson over 2024 shopping centre fire

Donald Tusk says the massive Warsaw blaze was "for sure" ordered by the Russian special services.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: BBC Europe

Victoria’s planning reforms could help solve the housing crisis. But they are under threat

Councils have made it hard to build more townhouses and apartments in the suburbs. That’s why these planning reforms are needed.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Footy’s ‘code wars’ are back, but which is actually the No. 1 Australian sport: the NRL or AFL?

The AFL and NRL constantly claim to be the country’s premier sport – so what do the figures say in terms of profit, participation, attendance and TV audience?

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

Thai Courts Turn Spotlight on Former PM Thaksin’s Hospital Stay

A Supreme Court probe into the former leader's six-month stay at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok had added to his politico-legal woes.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Diplomat

A prisoner voting ban shows again how few checks there are on parliamentary power

By ignoring a Supreme Court ruling on prisoner voting rights, the NZ government is undermining one of the few constitutional protections against executive over-reach.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: The Conversation (Australia)

If Jacinta Nampijinpa Price becomes Liberal deputy it will be a wild ride for the party – and whoever is leader | Michelle Grattan for the Conversation

Also mooted for the role are Dan Tehan from Victoria and energy spokesperson Ted O’Brien. Either would be less fraughtAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJacinta Nampijinpa Price’s confirmation she will run for Liberal deputy has put the members of an already shell-shocked party into a new spin.Tuesday’s leadership contest, where the numbers are said to...

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: Guardian Australia

China accused of foreign interference in Solomon Islands

China's embassy in the Solomon Islands becomes embroiled in a foreign interference controversy after allegedly forcing a newly appointed minister in the Pacific island nation to quit an international group.

Published on: May 12, 2025 | Source: ABC Australia

Fight looms over proposed $15m retreat along iconic WA coastal trail

Dozens of locals and several conservation groups push back on plans to build the luxury eco-friendly retreat along the Cape to Cape trail in the state's South West.

Published on: May 11, 2025 | Source: ABC Australia

White South Africans leave for US under Trump refugee plan

White South Africans make up around 7% of the country's population. But they still own some 78% of private farmland in South Africa and have about 20 times the wealth of Black South Africans.

Published on: May 11, 2025 | Source: Deutsche Welle (DW)