As Australia heads to the polls, big parties brace for rise of independents

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Admin

The soft, undecided and swinging voters are at an all-time high in Australia, while support for the centre-left Labor and conservative-leaning Coalition is low

See all our Australia 2025 election coverage

More than 18 million Australians will head to the polls this Saturday to choose between the incumbent centre-left Labor party and its conservative-leaning Liberal/National Coalition challenger.

But about one in three voters will brush off the major contenders – led by the current prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton – in favour of someone else altogether, in an election marked by a cost of living crisis and the spectre of Donald Trump.

CIA releases videos coaxing Chinese officials to leak secrets to US

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Social media campaign depicts fictional scenes of officials becoming disillusioned with ruling Chinese Communist Party.

Groundbreaking musician Jill Sobule dies in house fire

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Her song I Kissed a Girl is widely considered the first openly gay-themed song to crack the Billboard Top 20.

War in Ukraine not ending ‘any time soon’, Vance says

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

The US vice-president says it is still up to Russia and Ukraine to end the "brutal" conflict.

War in Ukraine not ending ‘any time soon’, Vance says

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

The US vice-president says it is still up to Russia and Ukraine to end the "brutal" conflict.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,163

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

These are the key events on day 1,163 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Jill Sobule, I Kissed a Girl singer, dies in Minneapolis house fire aged 66

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Musician whose hits also included the satirical anthem Supermodel from the Clueless soundtrack died early on Thursday

Jill Sobule, the singer-songwriter whose hits included the satirical anthem Supermodel from the Clueless movie soundtrack and the groundbreaking single I Kissed a Girl, has died in a house fire at the age of 66.

Sobule’s body was found in a home in Woodbury, Minnesota, on Thursday. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

Missile debris falls on kindergarten in northern Israel after interception of Houthi launch – Ynetnews

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Missile debris falls on kindergarten in northern Israel after interception of Houthi launch Ynetnews
US strikes Yemen port again; Houthis launch missiles at Israel Al Jazeera
Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis launch two missiles towards Israel Reuters
Houthi missile launched from Yemen sets off sirens in Haifa and across north The Times of Israel
IDF to expand Gaza invasion, PA blames Hamas for aid looting The Jerusalem Post

China says it is ‘evaluating’ Trump administration’s outreach on tariffs

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Ministry of Commerce says 'door is open' to talks, but it is willing to 'fight to the end' otherwise.

Trump ousts Waltz as national security adviser and nominates him for UN post

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Mike Waltz had faced criticism for mistakenly adding a journalist to a chat group where sensitive military plans were discussed.

Amazon reports better-than-expected earnings despite tumult of Trump tariffs

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Admin

Company exceeds expectations for third quarter in a row as chief executive Andy Jassy admits uncertainty over tariffs

Amazon reported strong first-quarter earnings for the 2025 fiscal year on Thursday after the New York stock exchange closed – results that will be seen in the context of consumer resilience in the face of Donald Trump’s tariff wars.

Amazon reported $1.59 in earnings-per-share (EPS) and revenue of $155.67bn. Analysts had estimated that the company’s EPS would come in at $1.36 on revenue of $155bn. In particular focus: Amazon’s advertising business, which grew 19% in the first quarter of 2025, handily exceeding analyst expectations as well. The company has exceeded Wall Street’s expectations for the previous two quarters.