Federal Election 2025: Labor-Greens control of Senate sets up ‘most progressive parliament ever’ according to Adam Bandt
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he won’t get “carried away” as a left-wing bloc is forecast to establish control in both houses in “the most progressive” parliament in history. The 48th Parliament of Australia has been touted as the … Read More
Supreme Court’s conservatives lean toward allowing country’s first religious public charter school
Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general says the proposal to launch a Catholic virtual charter school violates the Constitution’s First Amendment. WASHINGTON — Conservative members of the Supreme Court on Wednesday leaned toward allowing Oklahoma to approve the first-ever religious public charter … Read More
US wants to start tariff talks with China, state media says
BEIJING/WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) – The United States has approached China seeking talks over President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state media said on Thursday, potentially signalling Beijing’s openness to negotiations. “The U.S. has … Read More
Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – May 2, 2025
Greetings friends, Big news this week includes the Canadian election. Mark Carney will remain Prime Minister as the liberal party retains power, albeit with a minority government. Carney, formerly central bank chair for both Canada and the UK, benefited from … Read More
World Health Organization makes U-turn on weight loss jabs
The decision is a significant shift in the WHO’s approach to drugs like Wegovy In a landmark decision, the World Health Organization (WHO) is poised to officially endorse the use of weight-loss drugs for treating obesity in adults, marking a … Read More
China Quietly Exempts Key US Goods From Tariffs: Report
Chinese officials are quietly drawing up a “whitelist” of critical U.S. goods that importers rely on to exempt them from Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs, Reuters reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Why It Matters The news adds to a … Read More
Arson suspect arrested as authorities probe whether massive fires were started on purpose
Police apprehend East Jerusalem man with lighter, cotton wool, flammable materials; right-wing officials urge West Bank lockdown amid Palestinian social media calls to start blazes An arson suspect was arrested Wednesday, as authorities were probing whether major brush fires west … Read More
Canadian dollar gains on Trump saying Carney wants to make a deal
Loonie strengthened against greenback to trade as high as $1.3777 per U.S. dollar United States President Donald Trump said newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to visit the White House within the next week. “I think we’re going to have a great … Read More
Ukraine, Trump administration sign deal for joint investment fund
KYIV/WASHINGTON – Ukraine and the U.S. said on Wednesday they signed an agreement on a joint fund to invest in Ukraine’s reconstruction, and a draft of the deal said it would give Washington preferential access to new Ukrainian natural resources deals. The two countries signed the accord in Washington after months of sometimes fraught … Read More
A tale of two Syrias: free-market opening sows resentment of new rulers
IDLIB/DAMASCUS, Syria, April 29 (Reuters) – The toppling of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad has been great for Mohammad al-Badawi. His sales have doubled as beverages he imports cheaply from Turkey into the former-rebel stronghold of Idlib can now be sold … Read More
Javier Milei Declassifies over 1,850 Files on Nazi Leaders in Argentina
The government of Argentine President Javier Milei on Monday declassified over 1,850 official documents detailing the arrival of Nazi German officials to Argentina and their actions in the South American nation following World War II. The files, which can be … Read More
India’s Modi gives army freedom to act as tensions rise with Pakistan after deadly terror attack
Tensions are escalating between the nuclear-armed powers India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is giving the armed forces near complete freedom of action to respond following a deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region on April 22 … Read More
Canada’s Liberals Retain Power With Minority Gov’t While Conservatives Notch Big Gains In Key Election
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will remain in office as his Liberal Party won a minority government in Monday’s federal election. Carney took over as Canada’s leader in March when he replaced deeply unpopular former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who had … Read More
Putin declares 72-hour truce in May – as Ukraine ‘ready to support lasting and full ceasefire’
The truce is due to be from the start of Thursday 8 May (10pm on 7 May UK time) until the end of Saturday 10 May (10pm on 10 May UK time). Vladimir Putin has declared there will be a … Read More
India, Pakistan swap fire for third day after Kashmir attack
A deadly attack on mostly Indian tourists in Pahalgam in contested Kashmir has sparked rising tensions in the region. Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire for a third night, and India has held naval drills Troops from India and Pakistan … Read More