Turks dealt President Tayyip Erdogan and his party their biggest electoral blow in a nationwide local vote that reasserted the opposition as a political force and reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president's chief rival.

İstanbul

In recent local elections across Turkey, the opposition party achieved a significant victory, marking a substantial setback for President Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling party. This electoral outcome highlighted the reemergence of the opposition as a significant political entity and further established Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as President Erdogan's primary adversary.

The results of the local elections underscore not just a shift in political dynamics within Turkey but also signal a renewed vigor within the opposition parties. This resurgence poses challenges to President Erdogan's long-standing dominance in Turkish politics and potentially reshapes the political landscape in the country.



Turkey's opposition party wins pivotal local elections

It's seen as a major setback for Turkey's president. The ruling AK Party of Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to regain control of major cities and suffered losses elsewhere in local elections on Sunday. The stunning defeat comes less than a year after he secured the presidency for a third term. Erdogan's now promising to introspect after calling the results a turning point. We will open-heartedly analyse the results within our party and make our self-criticism boldly. However, we will not disrespect our nation's decision in any way. We will avoid being stubborn, acting against the national will and questioning the judgement of our nation. Turkey's president had invested heavily in his party's efforts to retake Istanbul, which he once led. However, despite his best efforts, the city's incumbent mayor was re-elected. Ikram Imamoglu of the opposition CHP now increasingly seen as a challenger to Erdogan. Turkey will be a different Turkey. You have given the opportunity to take the first step towards a Turkey where democracy, freedom, equality, rationality, science, love and solidarity thrive. Turkey's local elections were viewed as a referendum on Turkey's president and the ruling party. But confidence in Erdogan's government has been waning over its handling of the economy and its failure to tackle rampant inflation. The outcome will undoubtedly re-energise Turkey's opposition as it seeks to draw Recep Tayyip Erdogan's grip on power to a close.

The death toll continues to rise in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul, in the wake of torrential rains and floods. At least 138 people have died and thousands lack water and electricity as floodwaters inundate entire towns.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

‘Desperate’ rescues under way as Brazil floods kill hundreds

The grief-stricken parents of murdered Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson have spoken for the first time since the pair were killed in Mexico. In an emotional statement on a San Diego beach, Debra and Martin Robinson confirmed they had identified their sons bodies, and are now planning to bring them home.

San Diego

Parents of Australian brothers open up on heartbreak

A 39-year-old woman has been stabbed in the carpark of the Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria, Sydney's inner-south. Witnesses say the woman ran into the gym bleeding from her face. Police say it is a suspected domestic violence incident.

Alexandria

Manhunt underway after woman stabbed in Sydney gym carpark

As Israeli tanks roll through the southern Gaza city of Rafah after rejecting Hamas's ceasefire offer, the country's leaders are facing increasing pressure from both inside and out to reach a deal to stop the fighting.

Rafah

Israel-Gaza War

Israel rejects Hamas truce offer, takes control of Rafah crossing

Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, outlining the salacious details of her alleged sexual encounter with the former U.S. president and the payments she says she received for her silence.

New York

Stormy Daniels delivers explosive testimony in Trump hush money trial

Millions of people have cast their ballots in India’s third of a seven-phase general election. It took place in eleven states and union territories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a third term, cast his vote in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat

Millions vote in third phase of India's national elections

Ukraine says it thwarted a Russian plot to assassinate senior Ukrainian political and military figures, including President Volodymyr Zelensky. Two Ukrainian security officials were arrested for their links to Russia's Federal Security Service, which had aimed to carry out high-profile killings ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine says it foiled Russian attempt to assassinate Zelenskyy

A spokesperson for the Chinese Communist Party has deflected blame for an altercation between a Chinese military jet and an Australian Seahawk Helicopter in waters off South Korea, claiming the helicopter was flying 'too close' to Chinese territorial waters.

Beijing

China blames Australia for mid-air military incident

President Vladimir Putin was sworn in for a new six-year term on Tuesday (May 7) at a Kremlin ceremony, boycotted by the U.S. and other Western countries, at which he said he was potentially open to nuclear talks with the West.

Moscow

Putin starts new six-year term with challenge to West

The Israeli military said it had taken operational control of the Palestinian side of Gaza's southern Rafah Crossing, which borders Egypt, and that special forces were scanning the area.

Israel claims control of Rafah crossing

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine, the defence ministry said Monday.

Putin orders nuclear drills near Ukraine

Australian and Chinese relations are strained following an incident involving military forces from both countries. During a routine operation in the Yellow Sea, within international waters, an Australian helicopter faced an aggressive manoeuver by a Chinese military jet.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australia hits out at China over helicopter incident

Interest rates will remain unchanged after the Reserve Bank of Australia decided to keep the cash rate at 4.35%, a figure that has held steady since November. It comes amidst the ongoing struggle with rising costs of living pressures.

RBA keeps interest rates on hold

Israel has launched new airstrikes in Rafah, warning 100,000 people there to flee to a designated safe area ahead of an expected ground operation. The strikes came after Hamas agreed to a mediated ceasefire proposal but Israel did not.

Hamas accepts mediated ceasefire deal; Israel doesn't

The bodies of Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson have been formally identified after their grieving family arrived in Mexico. Authorities have arrested four people in connection with the alleged murders.

Baja California

Grieving family arrives in Mexico to identify brothers' remains

The Defence Minister has condemned the conduct of a Chinese fighter jet, which launched flares near an Australian Seahawk helicopter. The incident occurred over international waters in the Yellow Sea off the coast of South Korea.

Seoul

Chinese fighter jet detonates flares near Australian helicopter

Israel's military has carried out airstrikes in Rafah, residents said, hours after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate parts of the southern Gaza city where more than a million people uprooted by the war have been sheltering.

Jerusalem

Israel strikes Rafah after evacuation order, residents say

Chinese President Xi Jinping awoke in Paris on Monday on his first visit to the region in five years, with trade and Russia's war with Ukraine on the agenda in talks with France's Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

Paris

China's Xi Jinping pays state visit to France

Israel has ordered civilians in Rafah to move towards Khan Younis, in the clearest sign yet that a military operation is imminent. A ceasefire in Gaza looks as distant as ever with Hamas refusing to lay down arms unless there is a complete cessation of the war. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would go it alone if necessary, even in the face of criticism from its Western allies.

Israeli army orders Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah

The bodies Australian brothers, Jake and Callum Robinson have been identified by authorities in Baja California, Mexico. It comes as their grieving parents arrive in the country.

Brothers identified as victims of Mexico robbery

Qantas has been ordered to compensate passengers following revelations that it sold tickets on thousands of flights that had already been cancelled. The airline has agreed to pay a $100 million fine and $20 million in compensation to affected passengers.

Mascot

Qantas ordered to pay compensation over 'ghost flight' scandal

A former detective is facing allegations of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman whose case he was initially assigned to investigate. Accused of exploiting his authority, Glenn Coleman, 55, has been charged with 10 offences,

Penrith

Police officer accused of assaulting rape victim

The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78, local authorities said, with more than 115,000 people displaced.

Climate Crisis

Death toll rises in record-breaking Brazil floods

China's President Xi Jinping has arrived in France for a rare visit with President Emmanuel Macron. They are set to discuss trade, amid growing tension between Europe and China over an imbalance between China's exports and European imports.

China's Xi Jinping visits Europe amid global tensions

While several pro-Palestinian campus protests in the U.S. were dismantled over the weekend, others became more disruptive and interrupted at least one graduation ceremony.

Chicago

Protests disrupt graduation ceremonies at U.S. universities

Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled that out.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Gaza truce hopes fade as Israel, Hamas trade blame

The Israeli cabinet has voted to unanimously shut down Al Jazeera's operations in the country. That's according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement on X. 
It is not clear when this decision will take effect.

Israel announces ban of Al Jazeera channel, website

Australian police said they have shot dead a boy after he stabbed a man in Western Australia's capital Perth, in an attack authorities said indicated terrorism.

Perth

Australian police shoot boy dead after stabbing

Sadiq Khan has been elected mayor of London, winning a historic third term after a dramatic contest. Khan was declared the winner over the Conservative candidate, Susan Hall with 43.8% of the vote.

London

Sadiq Khan elected London mayor for third term

Floods have killed at least 58 people in southern Brazil. Nearly 70,000 have been forced from their homes. Tens of thousands of people have been left without drinking water or electricity. It's the worst flooding the region has seen in more than 80 years.