Popular Australian author pleads guilty over child exploitation material

The Jasper Jones and Runt author was arrested in January during a police raid at his Perth home.

US fast-tracks new ship-killer missile to point at China

The US Army’s fast-tracked anti-ship missile could fill a key Pacific gap, but its deterrent value will hinge on production capacity, launcher survivability and China’s continued preference for coercion over invasion in Taiwan. Naval News reports the US Army is accelerating

Africa: Ethiopian Airlines Named Africa's Best Airline 2026

[Horn Diplomat] Addis Ababa -- Ethiopian Airlines said it has been named Best Airline in Africa at the 2026 APEX Passenger Choice Awards, citing strong passenger confidence and loyalty across its global network.

US prepared for visa sanctions on China over migrants issue, official says

WASHINGTON, May 5 - China is slowing its efforts to repatriate Chinese nationals who are in the U.S. illegally, a senior Trump administration official told Reuters, warning that Washington was prepared to increase travel restrictions on the country if Beijing didn't reverse

EU outlines plans for 'clear' legislation

The European Commission admits the EU needs “clear” law making. This is why it says it has presented its plan to modernize EU lawmaking. The aim is to “ensure that laws are clearer, simpler, more efficiently enforced, based on solid evidence and better aligned with the needs of

Africa: The Past and Future(s) of the Postcolonial University

[African Arguments] In Femi Kayode's thriller Lightseekers (2021) the protagonist Philip Taiwo investigates the brutal murder of three students in the fictional university town of Okriki in the Niger Delta. Woven into the plot are aspects that shape the everyday life of many

Africa: Bamako Under Siege - How Coordinated Attacks Exposed the Mali Government's Fragility - and Tested the Aes

[African Arguments] The coordinated attacks that shook Mali on 25-27 April 2026 are not an anomaly. They are the culmination of a long, deteriorating security trajectory--one that has steadily eroded state authority, exposed strategic miscalculations, and now threatens to

Africa: WHO Leads Response to Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak

[UN News] An outbreak of deadly hantavirus aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has triggered an international public health response.

Africa: French Senators Clear Path for Return of Kali'na Remains to French Guiana

[RFI] French senators are preparing to debate a law that will allow the remains of six Kali'na indigenous people brought to Paris to feature in a human zoo to be sent back to French Guiana, after more than 130 years in the vaults of a museum in Paris.

Christopher Nolan Says ‘The Odyssey’ Has the ‘Original Superheroes’ and Homer Was the ‘Marvel of Its Day’

“The Odyssey” director Christopher Nolan joined Stephen Colbert on Monday night’s episode of “The Late Show.” During his interview, he discussed working with Tom Holland and watching Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” He also likened Homer, the original author of “The

AI models rival doctors on complex medical reasoning tasks, study finds

Researchers have found that an AI model outperformed human doctors on most medical reasoning tasks, from diagnoses to patient management advice.

Africa: What's Stopping Kids From Learning Useful Skills? Short Answer - Exams

[The Conversation Africa] Across Africa and beyond, education systems are shifting to curricula designed to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

‘The Odyssey’ Trailer: Matt Damon Heads Home to Rescue Anne Hathaway From Robert Pattinson

Christopher Nolan's epic film releases in theaters on July 17.

Fuel shortages hit Indonesia’s Riau, triggering long lines at gas stations

Small roadside fuel kiosks have also been overwhelmed by surging demand.

21 people killed and dozens injured in massive explosion at fireworks plant in China

Authorities are still investigating the reasons of the explosion, with negligence being suspected as a likely cause. Officials warned that the death toll is likely to climb as search and rescue operations continue.

Korea and Taiwan: When an AI boom lifts a nation

I have had the rare privilege of conducting on-the-ground equity research in both Korea and Taiwan at different stages of my career. They are often spoken in the same breath, partly because of their regional proximity and parallel growth trajectories, and partly also because of

Deadly China plane crash was caused by fuel cut-off, says report

The Boeing 737 plane crashed into a Chinese hillside in 2022, killing all 132 people on board.

HSBC shares drop as first-quarter pre-tax profit misses estimates on higher expected credit losses

Europe's largest lender HSBC on Tuesday reported first-quarter pre-tax profit of $9.4 billion, marginally missing analysts' estimates.

Modi clinches big wins as opponents ousted in India state polls

His BJP party expanded its support base beyond its traditional strongholds in the north and west.

‘The Odyssey’ Trailer: Christopher Nolan Unveils Epic New Footage of Cyclops, Evil Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and More

Universal has released a new trailer for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” The latest glimpse into the world of Homer’s Greek epic shows Matt Damon’s Odysseus doing battle with the Cyclops, as Robert Pattinson’s villainous Antinous tries to take the throne of Ithaca. The

South Korea to probe ship fire in Strait of Hormuz, Trump blames Iranian attack

An explosion and fire broke out on the HMM Namu on Monday.

Gap co-founder Doris Fisher, who helped reshape US casual fashion, dies at 94

The iconic merchandiser is widely credited with helping revolutionise the fashion industry in the US. The company she co-founded with her husband did not disclose the cause of Fisher’s death.

Blast at fireworks factory in China's Hunan kills 21

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a speedy and thorough investigation to determine the cause of the blast.

Burned stone, child's bones, and lost jewelry hint at prehistoric mining camp high in the Pyrenees

In the past, scientists thought that prehistoric peoples only traveled briefly through high-altitude mountain areas, rather than staying to take advantage of their resources. But new evidence suggests that, starting about 5,500 years ago, a prehistoric community repeatedly

El Nino impact puts 41 Thai provinces at risk of water shortages

Areas under watch include eastern Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

South Korea to probe ship fire in Strait of Hormuz; Trump blames Iranian attack

The Panama-flagged cargo ship was empty and at anchor when the explosion and fire occurred.

Taiwan won't give in to pressure, president says on return from Eswatini

Two people killed and two in critical condition in suspected deliberate vehicle ramming in Leipzing

Two people have been confirmed dead while two others remain hospitalised and in critical condition after a man rammed a vehicle into a crowd of people in a busy shopping district in the eastern city of Leipzig.

Taraji P. Henson Criticizes Celebs Attending Jeff Bezos-Backed Met Gala: ‘So Confused. WTF Are We Doing?’

Taraji P. Henson joined Meredith Lynch in criticizing the stars who attended this year’s Met Gala, since it is sponsored by honorary co-chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Lynch posted a video on Instagram Saturday in which she warned A-listers not to wear their “ICE

Pony.ai CEO says key pieces in place for large-scale robotaxi rollout

The Chinese autonomous driving firm is upgrading its AI systems and cutting vehicle costs as it pushes towards wider deployment.

Mamdani skips Met Gala, calls attention to fashion workers

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) may have skipped the Met Gala, but he still highlighted six fashion industry workers on Monday. “The fashion industry is made possible by the thousands of workers behind the scenes — seamstresses, tailors, retail workers, delivery

Don't downplay the risk: Iran and Trump are one step away from all-out regional war

Despite his threats to destroy Iran's national infrastructure, Trump does not appear eager to return to a full scale war. Having said that, nothing has fundamentally changed for the U.S. President, who makes the ultimate decisions

Veteran Malaysian singer-actor Jalil Hamid dies at age 69

Known for his Hari Raya songs and roles in various Malaysian films, the actor-singer died in his sleep at his home.

Watch: Met Gala sees Beyoncé's return and a star-studded red carpet

Anna Wintour brought the glam, Beyoncé brought the fam, and Heidi Klum was... statuesque at this year's fundraiser.

For Israel's Circassians, food and language sustain an ancient heritage

On a sunny afternoon, Shina Shabso was busy making traditional cheese pastries for a wedding on Israel's border with Lebanon, the celebration in the Circassian village of Rehaniya a much-needed break from weeks of war. Known as "halyuj", the fried semi-circular pastries are a

Education Department launches Title XI investigation into all-women's college

The Education Department on Monday opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College, a private all-women’s school, for admitting transgender women. In a release, the Education Department wrote that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is opening an investigation into the

Blast at fireworks factory in China’s Hunan kills 21; Xi calls for probe: State media

Nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical personnel were deployed to the scene.

Explosion at China fireworks factory kills 21 people

A blast at a fireworks factory in Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, state media report.

India's Modi celebrates 'record' win in opposition-held West Bengal

This is the first-ever electoral victory in West Bengal for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

‘Super El Nino’ raises fears for Asia reeling from Middle East conflict

Strong El Nino conditions could spike energy demand, sap hydropower and damage crops.

Kanye West ‘Hurricane’ Copyright Infringement Trial: ‘Snubbed’ Musicians Ask for Half a Million Dollars

The musician now known as Ye is expected to testify

States across the wildfire-prone Western US are using AI for early detection

On a March afternoon, artificial intelligence detected something resembling smoke on a camera feed from Arizona's Coconino National Forest. Human analysts verified it wasn't a cloud or dust, then alerted the state's forest service and largest electric utility.

'Super El Nino' raises fears for Asia reeling from Middle East conflict

The warnings come with Asia buckling under the strain of an energy supply crunch and fears over shortages of fertiliser and other industrial and agricultural components which pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

British pubs closing at a rate of almost two per day in 2026

The British Beer and Pub Association says 161 pubs have closed in the first three months of this year.

‘Homebody’ Trailer: ‘It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This’ Team Debuts New Ghost Story — And Ambitious Hopes to Remake it (EXCLUSIVE)

“It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This” duo Nick Toti and Rachel Kempf, who made waves by vowing to never release their word-of-mouth hit horror film onto streaming, VOD or physical media, are back with their newest indie feature. The duo is releasing the trailer for their

Trump disputes ABC reporter's account of call after WHCA dinner

President Trump on Monday denied that he called ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl to check in on him the morning after the shooting in the vicinity of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. In a video he posted to the social platform X on April 26, Karl said

Taiwan won’t give in to pressure, President Lai says on return from Eswatini

Taiwan blamed Chinese pressure for nixing earlier plans to visit Estawini.

Taiwan president returning home after surprise Eswatini trip

TAIPEI, May 5 - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will speak at the airport later on Tuesday on his return from Eswatini, his office said, having made a surprise trip there after his government blamed Chinese pressure for nixing earlier plans.