Trump threatens trade deal after Canada moves towards recognising Palestine
Canada and the US are working on negotiating a trade deal by August 1, with Trump threatening a 35% tariff on Canada.
Myanmar junta ends state of emergency as it prepares for elections
Opposition groups have vowed to snub poll that has been dismissed as ‘a fraud’ designed to legitimise military’s rule
Myanmar’s junta has ended the country’s state of emergency, stepping up preparations for a December election that is being boycotted by opposition groups and criticised by international monitors.
The military declared a state of emergency in February 2021 as it deposed the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a many-sided civil war that has claimed thousands of lives.
Continue reading...Kyiv toll rises to 16 as wave of Russian strikes defies Trump ceasefire demand
A boy and his mother are among the dead and Kyiv says it has seen the biggest number of child casualties of the war.
Exclusive: UN says Congo rebels killed scores of farmers, M23 suggests ‘smear’ – Reuters
- Exclusive: UN says Congo rebels killed scores of farmers, M23 suggests 'smear' Reuters
- Aftermath of deadly attack that left 49 Christians dead Fox News
- Pope Leo on DRC attack: I pray for persecuted Christians Vatican News
- 30 Christian Worshippers Killed During Night Vigil in Church Newsweek
- Is ISIL a growing threat in the DR Congo and East Africa? Al Jazeera
Thursday briefing: How global preparedness prevented a tsunami tragedy
In today’s newsletter: Years of preparation and global coordination ensured communities from Japan to Hawaii were not caught off guard
Good morning. Yesterday one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded hit a sparsely populated region in far east Russia.
It triggered a tsunami that started crossing the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour. What followed was a race against time – early warning systems went into alert mode as waves fanned out towards the coastlines of Japan, Hawaii and the US west coast.
Travel | The head of the UK’s air traffic control company is facing calls to resign after hundreds of flights were delayed when the system went down for about 20 minutes on Wednesday.
Israel-Gaza war | A British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for more than 15 months has accused Keir Starmer of “moral failure” after he set the UK on course to recognise a Palestinian state. Emily Damari, 29, who was released in January, said the prime minister was “not standing on the right side of history” and should be ashamed.
UK news | The co-founder of Palestine Action can bring a legal challenge to the home secretary’s decision to ban the direct action group under anti-terrorism laws, a high court judge has ruled.
Environment | Ethnic minorities and people living in the most deprived areas of England are at increased risk of dying due to excess heat, according to new research.
Technology | Five million extra online age checks a day are being carried out in the UK since the Online Safety Act introduced age-gating for pornography sites, according to new data from the Age Verification Providers Association.
Continue reading...US envoy to visit Gaza, as hospital says dozens killed seeking food
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution sites, the White House said.
Chinese researchers suggest lasers and sabotage to counter Musk’s Starlink satellites – ABC News
- Chinese researchers suggest lasers and sabotage to counter Musk’s Starlink satellites ABC News
- America Must Prepare for Chinese “Space Stalking” The National Interest
- This Was Supposed to Be the Year China Started Catching Up With SpaceX The New York Times
- China-Starlink New Castle News
- America Must Prepare for Chinese 'Space Stalking' RealClearDefense
Not Blackwater or Wagner, Americans in Gaza are 100% mercenaries – Responsible Statecraft
- Not Blackwater or Wagner, Americans in Gaza are 100% mercenaries Responsible Statecraft
- GHF whistleblower says boy killed by Israel just after he collected aid Al Jazeera
- Democratic lawmakers press for answers from US firms involved in controversial Gaza aid organization CNN
- “Designed as Death Traps”: Fmr. Green Beret Who Worked at Gaza Food Sites Reveals Rampant War Crimes Democracy Now!
- Ex-US contractor says he saw IDF commit war crimes at aid sites; GHF rejects ‘false claims’ The Times of Israel
Former Green Beret: The IDF is the GHF’s ‘client’ – Responsible Statecraft
- Former Green Beret: The IDF is the GHF’s ‘client’ Responsible Statecraft
- Democratic lawmakers press for answers from US security firms involved in controversial Gaza aid organization CNN
- GHF whistleblower says boy killed by Israel just after he collected aid Al Jazeera
- “Designed as Death Traps”: Fmr. Green Beret Who Worked at Gaza Food Sites Reveals Rampant War Crimes Democracy Now!
- Ex-US contractor who accused IDF of war crimes at aid sites 'falsified documents' to spread 'false narrative,' GHF says, sharing evidence The Times of Israel
‘A joyous day’: India celebrates return of ancient gems linked to the Buddha
Culture ministry had threatened legal action over planned auction of Piprahwa precious stones
The Indian government has secured the repatriation of ancient gem relics linked to the Buddha’s remains, two months after it halted their auction in Hong Kong.
In a post on X, the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said the return of the Piprahwa gems after 127 years was “a joyous day for our cultural heritage”.
Continue reading...Archibald prize 2025: finger-painted portrait of musician William Barton wins people’s choice award
Loribelle Spirovski’s painting of didgeridoo/yidaki player wins the $5,000 prize decided by the public, with more than 40,000 votes cast
Artist Loribelle Spirovski has won the 2025 Archibald prize people’s choice category for her portrait of didgeridoo player William Barton, painted entirely with her fingers.
Spirovski, a four-time finalist at the Archibald prize, Australia’s most prestigious portraiture award, won the $5,000 people’s choice category, picked from the Archibald prize finalists each year by the public. This year 40,842 votes were cast for the people’s choice category, the highest number of votes ever received.
Continue reading...US allies break with Trump to force diplomatic shift on Gaza
As Canada joins France and the UK with plans to recognise a Palestinian state, the US stands firmly with Israel - but does Trump have a long-term plan for Gaza's future?
Fears for South Australia’s annual cuttlefish gathering amid deadly algal bloom
Breeding event known as Cuttlefest takes place in waters off Point Lowly but this year scientists warn the effect of toxic algae could be ‘catastrophic’
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As thousands of giant cuttlefish gather in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf, scientists are investigating emergency actions amid fears the state’s toxic algal bloom could be catastrophic for the globally unique natural phenomenon.
The spectacular annual cephalopod meet-up takes place in a kaleidoscope of colour off the coast of Whyalla from late May to August, attracting thousands of tourists from Australia and overseas.
Continue reading...First Australian-made rocket crashes after 14 seconds of flight in a failed attempt to reach orbit – AP News
No, Oprah Winfrey didn’t block access to a road in Hawaii amid tsunami warning evacuations
After Wednesday’s 8.8 magnitude quake, false claims spread online that Winfrey refused to let the public use a private road in Maui – and not for the first time
Even as the threat of a tsunami swamping Hawaii had passed on Wednesday, social media posts were still circulating claims that Oprah Winfrey had refused immediate access to a private road that would allow residents a shorter evacuation route.
The warnings followed one of the century’s most powerful earthquakes, an 8.8 magnitude quake that struck off a Russian peninsula and generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a wide swath of the Pacific. Posts on X and TikTok contended Winfrey refused to open her private road, or was slow to do so during the evacuation.
Continue reading...In China’s shadow, Taiwan is building a drone army to repel an invasion
Taipei sees homegrown drones as key to its defence, but analysts say its plans do not go far enough.
Brown University strikes $50m deal to end Trump administration pressure
Trump has withheld hundreds of millions in federal funds from top universities in effort to reshape US higher education.
Canada to recognize Palestine in September, subject to reform commitments – Axios
- Canada to recognize Palestine in September, subject to reform commitments Axios
- Canada follows France and UK with plan to recognise Palestinian state BBC
- Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state, raising allies' pressure on Israel Reuters
- Canada intends to recognize Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Carney says CNN
- Canada to recognise Palestine at UN general assembly, joining France and UK in push for new state The Guardian
What Countries Recognize a Palestinian State: A Map – The New York Times
- What Countries Recognize a Palestinian State: A Map The New York Times
- In recognising Palestine, Britain and France won’t advance peace The Economist
- Can Europe Go Beyond Words and Empty Gestures in Its Emerging Recognition of Palestine? Haaretz
- Portugal makes cautious move towards recognising Palestinian state Reuters
- From Gaza to Greenland, Macron breaks with Trump on global flashpoints Fox News
Worsening Closing the Gap measures spark Indigenous calls for ‘real power shift’
Latest report delivers bad news on targets including adult imprisonment rates, children in out-of-home care, suicide and childhood development
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Without changing the approach to Closing the Gap, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will continue to “pay the price”, Indigenous organisations say.
Just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met, according to the latest data from the Productivity Commission.
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