Convicted rapist quits Australian parliament after losing legal bid to stay
An Australian politician and convicted rapist has resigned from parliament moments before he was to be kicked out, after losing a legal challenge to remain, BBC reported.
Gareth Ward, 44, was last month found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, aged 18 and 24, between 2013 and 2015, and is now in custody pending sentencing.
Earlier this week, Ward launched a legal bid to stop the New South Wales (NSW) parliament from expelling him, but it was dismissed on Thursday after the court rejected arguments that the move was an "affront" to democracy, according to BBC.
India’s Modi, Brazil’s Lula speak amid Trump tariff blitz
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva have spoken by phone, their offices said, discussing a broad range of topics that included tariffs imposed by the United States on goods from both countries, Aljazeera reported.
Lula confirmed a state visit to India in early 2026 during the call on Thursday, which occurred a day after the Brazilian leader told the news agency Reuters that he would initiate a conversation among the BRICS group of countries on tackling US President Donald Trump’s levies, which are the highest on Brazil and India.
The group of major emerging economies also includes China, Russia and South Africa, according to Aljazeera.
Ex-Superman actor says he's becoming an ICE agent
Former Superman actor Dean Cain has announced he will soon be sworn in as an ICE agent, joining the agency’s efforts to expand its workforce. Cain, who is already a sworn law enforcement officer, praised the recruitment campaign aimed at doubling ICE’s personnel to support President Trump’s push for increased deportations, BBC reported.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Cain’s honorary appointment, highlighting his encouragement for Americans to join ICE and help protect communities. ICE is actively recruiting, offering bonuses of up to $50,000 and removing age limits to attract more candidates amid rising immigration enforcement.
Currently, ICE employs about 20,000 officers and staff nationwide. The agency recently received a significant budget increase, making it the highest funded federal law enforcement body, as it steps up deportations despite protests and criticism, according to BBC.
Six dead in Kenya medical small plane crash, official says
Six people died when a medical charity’s plane crashed in Nairobi on Thursday. The Amref Flying Doctors’ Cessna, heading to Somalia, went down shortly after takeoff, killing four on board and two people on the ground. Two others were seriously injured, BBC reported.
The plane lost contact with air traffic control minutes after departure. Authorities are investigating the cause, with emergency teams working at the scene.
In a separate accident near Naivasha, a train collided with a bus carrying Kenya Pipeline Company staff, killing at least four. Injured passengers have been hospitalized, according to BBC.


