A tropical archipelago just 1,500 kilometres from Australia is readying to become the world's newest country. But as Bougainville nears independence, memories of a bloody past are coming back to the surface.

Ministers last month announced councils who perform badly at fixing pock-marked local roads would have cash withheld in a bid to drive up the numbers being filled in.

Sept personnes ont été interpellées la semaine dernière par les policiers de la brigade des stupéfiants de la police judiciaire de la DTPN 987. D’après les enquêteurs, une famille se livrait à la culture du cannabis à Huahine, et la drogue était ensuite écoulée à Tahiti.

To mark Iceland’s swimming pool culture being added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in December, the National Museum of Iceland, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, called for grant applications for cultural events in swimming pools across the country.

Migrant charity Utopia 56 claims it was illegal for gendarmers to deflate the dinghy while it was 'already in the water' and put lives in danger.

Keir Starmer has urged Brits not to follow the 'politics of anger' as he braces for disastrous results in local elections tomorrow.

Lady Joan Sarah Drummond Branson passed away at The Lister Bridge Hospital on November 24, 2025, following complications from a back injury as a result of a fall.

Dan is 24 and he's almost purple with embarrassment by the time he is sitting down in my consulting room. He can't meet my eye.

Jamie Varley, 37, collapsed to the floor and pleaded with hospital doctors to 'kill me' after being told 13-month-old Preston Davey was not going to survive.

Gaurav Gogoi's defeat in Assam's 2026 assembly elections, despite being the Congress's chief ministerial face and a legacy leader, underscores the party's shrinking footprint. The BJP secured a massive victory, winning 102 seats, while Congress managed only 19. This outcome highlights a deeper political churn, impacting legacy, identity, and strategy.

The Supreme Court refused to postpone hearings on petitions challenging the 2023 law for appointing election commissioners, deeming the matter «more important than any other matter.» The court allowed petitioners to begin arguments, emphasizing the significance of the case over other ongoing constitutional benches.

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces immense risks despite remaining technically open, with Indian vessels experiencing significant disruptions and safety concerns. Seafarers exhibit hesitation due to past incidents, impacting normal traffic flow and leading to increased operational costs for shipowners.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, went to ground in rural Wales, where he vanished from US authorities for 21 years.

The German authorities have raided the homes of suspected members of two ‘right-wing extremist’ groups in 12 regions Read Full Article at RT.com

A South African police officer has been arrested along with another suspect following a deadly ATM bombing shootout in North West province Read Full Article at RT.com

Ethiopia and the UAE have dismissed Sudan’s claims of their involvement in drone strikes on Khartoum airport as “baseless” and “fabricated” Read Full Article at RT.com

US pastors allegedly told by the government to brace the public for UFO revelations, Perry Stone claims Read Full Article at RT.com

The crisis in the aviation industry, prompted by the US-Israel attack on Iran, is set to affect other industries, Kirill Dmitriev believes Read Full Article at RT.com

[Daily Maverick] Enoch Godongwana has ordered Joburg's mayor to stop the implementation of a budget-busting wage deal and warns it could affect the national economy.

[Africa Check] Kenya fuel prices surged in mid-April 2026, reigniting fierce debate over the role of taxes and levies in petrol pricing.

[HRW] New Report Highlights Devastating Impact of Conflict and Aid Restrictions

At a time when Malawi continues to wrestle with poverty, weak public systems, and uneven development, one of its sons is quietly working to connect global policy thinking with the realities on the ground back home. Chimwemwe Salie Hara is not a household name. He does not command rallies or dominate headlines. But in policy […] The post Chimwemwe Salie Hara: A Malawian Voice Bridging Policy and People appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare and daily life has the potential to deeply impact people's health and wellbeing, bringing health benefits but also introducing new challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed healthcare by supporting clinicians in improving diagnostics, predicting health risks, and personalising treatments, particularly in fields such as radiology, oncology, cardiology, and rare diseases, as well as streamlining hospital management. It offers opportunities to make healthcare more effective, more accessible for all, with better outcomes for patients and national health systems. It also supports pharmaceutical development. Beyond clinical settings, AI chatbots and virtual assistants are widely used by citizens for health information and wellness advice, although these carry risks of misinformation and over-reliance. While AI offers benefits for vulnerable groups such as older adults, young people, and children, it also carries age-specific risks that require careful attention. For older adults, AI offers remote monitoring, assistive technologies, and companionship tools, but risks replacing rather than complementing human interaction. Young people and children using AI face serious risks including exposure to harmful content, emotional dependency, privacy violations, and reduced critical thinking. Across all age groups, excessive or poorly designed AI use is linked to anxiety, sleep disorders, sedentary behaviour, and social withdrawal. Designed to improve wellbeing and address loneliness, use of AI companions can backfire, potentially deepening isolation or even triggering mental health crises in vulnerable users. The EU AI Act and sector-specific legislation aim to govern these risks while fostering innovation. Realising AI's health benefits ultimately requires robust human oversight, strong safeguards, and digital skills, with a clear commitment to keeping human connection and care at the centre, as AI cannot replace face-to-face contact and community structures. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This study provides an evidence based assessment of the value for money of EU transport investments in the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework proposal, examining how CEF Transport, cohesion funds, the European Competitiveness Fund, InvestEU and EIB lending interact and how flexibility and performance frameworks can best support TEN T completion, decarbonisation, security and cohesion objectives. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

A crocodile was sighted in the waters off Sentosa Cove on Wednesday (May 6) evening, said Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).In a Facebook post at about 6.25pm, the agency said it was alerted to the sighting in the evening, adding that a joint search team with the National Parks Board (NParks) has been activated to search for the crocodile.As a precautionary measure, SDC said it has suspended water activities such as swimming and kayaking at Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches, following discussions with NParks.The suspension is in place until further notice.Meanwhile, SDC said it has stepped up patrols and monitoring across the island's beachfront areas. It advised members of the public to adhere strictly to safety signages and instructions on the ground.Those who encounter a crocodile should stay calm and back away slowly. They should not approach, provoke, or feed the animal.To report crocodile sightings or encounters, members of the public may contact NParks' Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.[[nid:734915]]editor@asiaone.com 

About 13,4000 accounts suspected of bot activity were suspended by the three driving schools in Singapore last year, said Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Wednesday (May 6).The schools are: Singapore Safety Driving Centre in Woodlands, ComfortDelGro Driving Centre in Ubi, and Bukit Batok Driving Centre He was responding to a parliamentary question by MP Gabriel Lam (Sembawang GRC), who asked whether the Government has data on how widespread the use of bots or third-party services is in securing driving lesson slots.Lam, a first-term MP, also asked whether a centralised or queue-based booking system will be considered to ensure fair access for learners.The issue of bots being used by learners to reserve and book lesson slots is not new. Since 2024, services for «camper» bots or booking bots have popped up on e-commerce platforms such as Carousell. Those interested in such services would be directed to a Telegram or Discord link.There, learners can pay for bot services to book free slots, or be notified when a slot becomes available for booking.

The Government will not allow Singaporeans to become «helpless passengers» as artificial intelligence (AI) propels our country into the future, Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng said in Parliament on Wednesday (May 6).He was sharing his perspective on the parliamentary motion of no «jobless growth» put forward by labour chief Ng Chee Meng on Tuesday, where the latter highlighted that Singapore's AI-driven economic growth does not equate to more or better jobs for workers.After seven hours of speeches and debates by 24 MPs, the motion tabled by Ng was unanimously passed.Highlighting the concerns that Singaporeans are feeling amid the AI transition, Dr Tan said that many may «sense that the ground is shifting beneath their feet».Not only is the world rapidly changing due to conflict in the Middle East, AI is also a source of anxiety as Singaporeans worry over what it could represent amid large tech firms announcing layoffs due to AI adoption«These are legitimate concerns, and we take it seriously,» he said. «And the change of this magnitude is indeed unsettling.»However, there are early signs for cautious optimism, he added.

Björg Magnúsdóttir, leader of the Liberal Reform Party in Reykjavík, sharply criticizes the Social Democratic Alliance in a Facebook post.

US and Iran are reportedly nearing a one-page memo to de-escalate conflict, focusing on nuclear talks and sanctions. In Tamil Nadu, TVK's Vijay claims government formation after electoral win, with Congress offering conditional support. Meanwhile, a tragic suicide of a rape victim in UP and twin blasts in Punjab, claimed by a Khalistan group, are under investigation.