Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would stand in upcoming European Parliament elections, a move apparently calculated to boost her far-right party, although she would be forced to resign immediately under EU rules.

Pescara

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced her intention to stand in the upcoming European Parliament elections. Representing her far-right party, the Brothers of Italy, Meloni's decision is seen as an effort to strengthen her party's position. However, European Union rules dictate that she must resign immediately from her role as Prime Minister if elected.

Meloni launched her candidacy with the pledge to unite Europe's conservatives, positioning herself as not only the leader of the Brothers of Italy but also as a leading figure aiming to influence the direction of European politics. This move comes as her party, known for its neo-fascist origins, secured the majority vote with 26% in Italy's 2022 general elections. Since taking office, the 47-year-old Prime Minister has attempted to moderate her party's stance by toning down anti-EU rhetoric. Nevertheless, Meloni has maintained a firm stance on issues such as immigration, establishing partnerships to manage migrant arrivals, and has openly opposed LGBTQ rights. In a 2022 speech, she made clear her views, advocating for traditional family values while rejecting the LGBT agenda and gender ideology.

The forthcoming June elections are anticipated to reflect a significant shift towards far-right ideologies across various EU member states. This movement is expected to result in the rise of anti-EU populist parties, which could potentially alter the future policy direction of the European Union.



Italian far-right PM Meloni says will stand in EU elections

Throwing her hat in the ring for June's EU elections, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney takes the head of the Brothers of Italy list. Announcing her candidacy on Sunday, she vowed to unite Europe's conservatives. I'm putting myself forward because in addition to being president of Brothers of Italy, I'm also the leader of European conservatives who want to play a decisive role in changing the course of European politics. Maloney's Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, came top in the nation's 2022 general elections with 26% of the vote. Since her rise to power, the 47-year-old has strived to soften her image by diluting anti-EU rhetoric. But she staunchly rejected values traditionally embraced by the left, including immigration, forging diplomatic partnerships aimed at controlling migrant arrivals in the country. She's also spoken out against LGBTQ rights, her priorities outlined in a raucous speech in 2022. Yes to a natural family. No to LGBT lobby. Yes to sexual identity. No to gender ideology. Yes to the culture of life. The June elections are expected to see a major pivot to the far right in many member states, with anti-EU populist parties gaining votes and seats across the EU, a shift that's likely to have significant consequences for EU-level policies.

A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report says the cargo ship Dali that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore lost power twice in the hours before it left port.

Baltimore

Report: Ship lost power twice before ramming Baltimore bridge

At least two French prison guards were shot dead and three others seriously injured after heavily armed men ambushed a prison van to free an inmate, French police said, triggering a major manhunt.

Incarville

Manhunt underway after prisoner van ambushed

The Georgian parliament has approved in the third and final reading a divisive bill that sparked weeks of mass protests, with critics seeing it as a threat to democratic freedoms and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.

Tbilisi

Georgian Parliament adopts controversial law despite protests

U.S. President Joe Biden has unveiled a bundle of steep tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports including electric vehicles, computer chips and medical products, risking an election-year standoff with Beijing in a bid to woo voters who give his economic policies low marks.

Washington

Biden sharply hikes U.S. tariffs on China chips, cars

The Treasurer has announced a $300 power bill rebate for households and a $325 rebate for small businesses, alongside measures to address inflation and support low-income households, aiming to alleviate the country's cost of living pressures.

Canberra

Federal Budget tackles cost-of-living crisis

The New South Wales State Government has announced tougher bail laws for domestic violence accused persons, including electronic monitoring. The reforms follow the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst in Forbes last month, after her accused killer breached bail.

Council of the City of Sydney

NSW announces tougher bail laws for domestic offenders

The Federal Government will announce the budget in a few hours. Cost of living is said to be the key focus, along with energy rebates for Australian households and Commonwealth rent assistance. However Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says Australian households have already shown great restraint. Inflation is also a concern.

Budget forecast ahead of announcement

Trump's former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen takes the stand as a key prosecution witness at the former president's hush money trial. His testimony links the former president to alleged falsifying of business records to cover up payments to an adult film star and a Playboy model, in the 2016 campaign.

New York

Ex- Trump fixer Michael Cohen takes stand at hush money trial

Israel's Memorial Day is typically sombre, but today angry protests over the government's handling of the war disrupted several events. The war itself is getting worse for Palestinians in Gaza as hundreds of thousands have fled the city they were already taking refuge in and still more are trapped amid intensifying fighting.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

Protests, fighting in Gaza mark Israel's Memorial Day

The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza’s last refuge accelerated as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory’s devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated opposition to a major military assault on Rafah.

Jerusalem

UN urges reopening of aid lines as exodus from Rafah continues

More than a dozen student volunteers from Albury, Victoria are stranded in Vanuatu after the country's airline went into liquidation. The group having to arrange their own charter flight back to Australia after Qantas were unresponsive.

Tanna

Air Vanuatu collapse leaves teenage volunteers stranded

Australians are feeling the financial pinch, making significant cuts to their spending habits according to a report by the Commonwealth Bank. Analysis of expenditure revealed a reduction in purchases at supermarkets, liquor stores and butchers.

Aussies slash spending, according to new survey

Thousands of people been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on Friday, with Moscow's troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago.

Kharkiv

Ukraine Invasion

Thousands evacuated from Kharkiv after surprise Russian offensive

The Federal Government says tomorrow's budget is designed to provide cost-of-living relief without worsening inflation. The Treasurer expected to deliver policies that ease the housing shortage, plus wage stagnation.

Budget won't impact inflation, Government says

Three people have walked away unhurt after a light plane made an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport. The aircraft touching down on its belly after the pilot reported the plane's landing gear failed this morning

Newcastle

Pilot makes successful 'wheels up' emergency landing

Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defense minister in an attempt to better integrate Russia's military spending into the country's overall economy, and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine.

Moscow

Putin taps economist to run defense, replacing Shoigu

Flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Afghanistan have killed at least 315 people, and there are fears the death toll could rise. Al Jazeera spoke to displaced residents in Baghlan, one of the hardest hit areas.

Baghlan

Hundreds killed in Afghanistan flash floods

As attacks on Rafah continue, the U.S. secretary of state criticises Israel’s war planning for not doing enough to protect civilians or stopping Hamas.

Rafah

Israel intensifies Rafah attacks as U.S. ups criticism

Weather has delayed the planned controlled explosion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which is necessary to free a ship that has been trapped for weeks.

Baltimore bridge demolition delayed by weather

Large plumes of smoke could be seen over Alberta and in British Columbia as out-of-control fires raged across Western Canada. The federal government warned of another "catastrophic" wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures.

Fort St. John

Canada blazes trigger evacuation orders

Israel has ordered thousands more Rafah residents to evacuate the city as it steps up attacks in Gaza. The UN says more than 150,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Monday, after Israel warned people to evacuate ahead of a major offensive.

Nowhere to go in Gaza as Israel prepares final assault

Parts of New South Wales have been hit with up to 200 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours, seeing roads giving way. Severe weather warnings remain in parts of the state, mainly the south coast. However the weather bureau is promising clearer skies this week.

Bondi Beach

Torrential rain continues throughout New South Wales

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Georgia’s capital against a proposed law many say will silence dissent. There are fears the legislation could cost Georgia its bid to join the EU.

Anger across Georgia over Kremlin-inspired laws

Our planet is experiencing its most powerful geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years, creating stunning colours in the night sky known as auroras. It's an event which experts warn could trigger power and communication blackouts.

Gothenburg

Stunning night skies across the globe amid solar storm

Switzerland has won the 2024 Eurovision song contest in an event marred by protests over Israel's participation. Thousands protesting outside the venue in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Malmö

Switzerland wins a Eurovision overshadowed by Gaza war

Rescue workers are braving torrential rain while searching for survivors after last week's devastating floods that killed 136 people in southern Brazil. Thousands have evacuated their homes but many in poor areas remain stranded.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Climate Crisis

Torrential rain hampers Brazil flood rescue efforts

Israel's closest ally and biggest arms supplier, the United States, says Israel's use of American weapons likely breached international law in Gaza. The long-awaited report by the Biden administration to Congress issues a rare criticism to Israel.

U.S. report finds possible rights violations in Gaza

The biggest geomagnetic storm in two decades resulted in dazzling lights displays across large swathes of the Northern Hemisphere over the weekend. Curtains of green, pink and purple lights could be seen in skies around the world.

Riex

Solar storm causes rare northern lights display

It’s been two years since Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp. Despite a U.S. Government backed investigation that found she was shot by an Israeli sniper, no charges have been filed.

Two years on, no justice for slain Al Jazeera journalist

Israel called for Palestinians in more areas of Gaza's southern city of Rafah to evacuate and head to what it calls an expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, in a further indication that the military is pressing ahead with its plans for a ground attack on Rafah.