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May 18, 2026 - World

NSW transport minister says contracts signed for 24-metre, battery electric ferry to be trialled for 12 months from 2028Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSpluttering journeys across Sydney Harbour may soon give way to quieter trips with the New South Wales government to trial an electric ferry from 2028 before the fleet is expanded.The government said on Monday that contracts had been signed for the new 24-metre, battery electric ferry to be trialled for 12 months from 2028 – two years later than originally planned. It is hoped it will operate on a new Sydney fish market route when it enters passenger service in 2029. Continue reading...

May 18, 2026 - World

The US supreme court demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act when it ruled in Louisiana v Callais in April that states can’t consider race in redistricting. Southern states from Tennessee to Alabama have rushed to erase majority Black districts, sparking chaos for the midterm elections. Kai Wright talks with Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and former Georgia house minority leader, about the fallout from the decision and why she thinks the way forward is still through engaging more voters to participate in democracy: ‘They have fractured communities and said we’re going to scatter these seeds. Our job is to grow.’ Continue reading...

May 18, 2026 - World

China’s deep relationship with Russia remains a continuing cause for concern in the west, particularly since Moscow launched its invasion of UkraineXi Jinping and Vladimir Putin exchanged “congratulatory letters” on Sunday ahead of the Russian president’s visit to Beijing this week, four days since Donald Trump left China after a high-stakes summit.Xi, China’s leader, said bilateral cooperation between Russia and China had “continuously deepened and solidified”, with this year marking the 30th anniversary of the two countries’ strategic partnership, according to Chinese state media. Continue reading...

May 18, 2026 - World

Four crew members are safe after incident involving aircraft during weekend air show at military base in western IdahoFour crew members are safe after two navy jets collided and crashed to the ground on Sunday at an air show at Mountain Home air force base in western Idaho, officials said.The collision involved two US navy EA-18G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 in Whidbey Island, Washington, said Cmdr Amelia Umayam, a spokesperson for Naval Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet. Continue reading...

May 18, 2026 - World

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake has struck south China's Guangxi region, killing two people and toppling buildings