Category: Top Stories

For nearly 60 days, no food, fuel, medicine or other item has entered the Gaza Strip, blocked by Israel. Aid groups are running out of food to distribute. Markets are nearly bare. Palestinian families are left struggling to feed their children. The Al-Najjar family eats peas with rice in their family tent in Muwasi, on the outskirts of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. ((AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) In the sprawling tent camp outside the southern city of Khan Younis, Mariam al-Najjar and her mother-in-law emptied four cans of peas and carrots into a pot and boiled it over ... Read more

Speculation surrounding a conclave to elect a pope is a time-honoured tradition. But for the impending conclave following the death of Pope Francis, the ranks of armchair Vatican experts have swelled thanks to Hollywood. Conclave the film, a moody 2024 political thriller, introduced many laypeople to the ancient selection process with its arcane rules and grand ceremony, albeit with a silver screen twist packed full of palace intrigue and surprise. Ralph Fiennes in the 2024 film Conclave. (Focus Features) Though it has its critics, the film treats the gravity of a papal election with respect and accurately portrays many rituals ... Read more

A “number of” people have been killed and multiple others injured after a car was driven into a crowd at a festival in Vancouver, Canada, police say. The driver drove into people at a street festival just after 8pm, Vancouver Police said on X. “The driver is in custody. We will provide more information as the investigation unfolds,” Vancouver Police, said. It happened at a Lapu Lapu Day party for the Filipino community. The city’s mayor said he was “shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident”. “Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during ... Read more

For millions of voters, the allure of a democracy sausage is not quite enough to outweigh the convenience of voting early before the rest of Australia heads to the polls on election day. Of the 18 million people on the electoral role, a record-breaking 2.395 million have cast their ballots this federal election. A record-breaking 2.395 million have cast their ballots this federal election. (Rachael Dexter) That’s 400,000 more people than this time in 2022. The millions of votes have come pouring in despite pre-polling starting a day late after Easter and a pause for Anzac Day. Yesterday, April 26, ... Read more

People line up to cast a vote at an early polling station in Brunswick, Melbourne. Early voting began on April 22, and there was a massive turnout from people not wanting to wait until May 3. The Australian Electoral Commission said around 542,000 ballots were cast on the first day of voting – an increase from 314,000 at the last election. “While the number of people who voted yesterday is higher than day 1 in 2022, pre-polling started later this election,” the AEC said. “The figures could reflect a short first week [due to the Easter long weekend and Anzac ... Read more

Russian authorities say they have detained a man described as a “Ukrainian special services agent” in connection with a car explosion that killed Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik on Friday. The suspect allegedly purchased the car that exploded in Balashikha, less than 32 kilometres east of Moscow, according to TASS citing Russia’s Federal Security Service. The suspect’s nationality is unclear; according to the FSB, he has a residence permit in Ukraine. Russian authorities say they have detained a man described as a “Ukrainian special services agent” in connection with a car explosion that killed Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik on Friday. (CNN) ... Read more

At least 14 people have been killed and 750 injured in a huge explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas in southwestern Iran, according to official Iranian media citing the country’s interior ministry. The explosion sent a huge plume of thick, grey smoke from the Shahid Rajaee part of the port complex, according to videos geolocated by CNN, with the government saying the blast was likely linked to chemicals being stored. Iran’s Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni said six people remain missing as firefighters continue to work to extinguish the blaze, despite challenges posed by high winds, Iranian media reported. ... Read more

A man is in hospital after allegedly being stabbed by a teenage girl in Melbourne’s CBD early today. The 21-year-old man was on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Queen Streets at around 5.30am when he was approached by a teenage girl, police said. The teenager, who was in a group of around 10-15 other people, then allegedly stabbed him. Three people were hurt in two separate incidents in Melbourne’s CBD. (9News) He suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. The victim and the teenage girl were not known to each other. No arrests have been made. In a ... Read more

Emergency services were called to an unoccupied property on Caroll Street in Deer Park at around 7am following reports of a fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find smoke and flames billowing from the roof of the single-storey home. The fire was under control by 8.13am. The cause of the fire remains unknown and an arson chemist is expected to attend the scene. Investigations into the cause of the fire, which police believe is suspicious, remain ongoing. Anyone with information or dashcam/CCTV footage of the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Source ... Read more

The driver allegedly behind a crash that killed an elderly man in Perth is out on bail tonight, insisting he wasn’t aware he’d collided with the victim. The 84-year-old was just metres from his home in Wembley when he was struck and left lying in the middle of the road. Michael Hadwiger’s blue Holden Cruze was found by police at a house in Craigie yesterday afternoon. The 84-year-old was just metres from his home when he was struck. (9News) Shortly after, officers smashed their way into the 44-year-old’s Glendalough flat to arrest him. Police had been searching for him and ... Read more