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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Benedictine golf team secured a commendable third-place finish at the Class AAAA state championship, which took place at the Savannah Golf Club on Tuesday.
Entering the final day of competition, Benedictine faced significant challenges, trailing by 23 strokes and holding the fourth position behind the first-day frontrunner, Cartersville.
Competing in their hometown, known as the Hostess City, may have added an extra layer of pressure for the Cadets.
“There’s always that expectation,” admitted Bear Dollander, a junior on the Benedictine golf team. “People were saying we were expected to win. That certainly adds pressure. Being labeled as the favorite can be tough. It definitely increases the pressure on us.”
Dollander continued, “We started preparing two weeks ahead, and everyone kept saying, ‘We have to win state, we have to win state.’ That pressure showed in the first nine holes. On the first day, you could see we were all a bit shaky, rattled, and nervous. The first tee was extremely quiet, and we were very anxious going in. The expectation to win is always tough to handle.”
Cartersville finished 14 shots over par, while Benedicinte was 34 strokes over par, two strokes worse than second-place finisher North Oconee.
On the individual side, Brodie Brumlow from Cartersville took home the top prize. Dollander finished fourth at +3. Benedictine’s Jack Weeks shot seven shots over par.
Background: News footage of the road in Eau Claire, Wis., where Ann Seidl was killed (WQOW). Inset (left): Addison Bowell (Dunn County Sheriff”s Office). Inset (right): Ann Seidl (Hulke Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services).
An 18-year-old from Wisconsin, who confessed to fatally hitting a marathon runner with her vehicle while intoxicated, is set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to her final criminal charge.
Addison Bowell entered a guilty plea on May 14 to a charge of hit-and-run resulting in death. This comes after she had previously admitted to three other charges related to the death of Ann Seidl, 54. According to earlier reports by Law&Crime, Seidl was jogging at 7:15 a.m. on March 29, 2025, when she was struck by Bowell’s car. At that time, Bowell was just 17 years old. The incident occurred near Bowell’s residence, and it was her mother who discovered Seidl unresponsive near their mailbox.
Upon finding Seidl, Bowell’s mother immediately called 911 and later informed authorities that her daughter had returned home intoxicated approximately an hour prior to the incident.
As detailed in a criminal complaint accessed by WQOW, an ABC affiliate, Bowell’s mother disclosed to police her daughter’s ongoing struggles with substance abuse. When confronted by officers, Bowell expressed reluctance to engage with the situation, stating she had “like 16 underages and couldn’t get another one.” She admitted to consuming a significant amount of alcohol before driving that morning, claiming ignorance and indifference about what she had hit.
Further investigation into Bowell’s phone revealed that she recorded videos of the damage to her car following the collision with Seidl. When a friend inquired about what she had struck, Bowell responded that she collided with another vehicle “so hard.”
Bowell was arrested and brought to the Dunn County Jail, where she asked if anyone had died. When she was told that Seidl had, Bowell said, “[W]ho walks on the road at 3 in the morning?… like… bro.” She also asked, “[S]o, am I going to get out or not?”
Bowell pleaded guilty in January to three counts of homicide. After entering a plea on the fourth and final count of hit-and-run involving death, she now faces sentencing. Her sentencing hearing was scheduled for Oct. 8.
OG Anunoby’s hamstring injury sidelined him for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, but his return proved crucial when the Knicks needed it most.
Throughout the initial rounds, Anunoby had been the Knicks’ standout player, yet after a 13-day absence, he found it difficult to regain his usual agility and intensity during Tuesday night’s series opener.
Despite the setback, Anunoby rejoined the action when the Knicks were down 93-71 with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Battling through the challenges, he played a pivotal role in overtime, adding nine points, three rebounds, and a steal to secure a 115-104 victory over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
OG Anunoby drives on James Harden during the Knicks’ 115-104 comeback overtime win in Game 1 on May 19, 2026 at the Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
“It was all about perseverance,” Anunoby remarked. “Our mental toughness showed. We knew we could make a comeback. We just had to keep playing until the end.”
While the Knicks’ sweep of the 76ers gave Anunoby some time to heal, Cleveland’s extended series against the Pistons added to his recovery period, yet it also left him a bit rusty.
The sellout crowd welcomed back Anunoby with a deafening roar during the team’s introductions, understanding the importance of the team’s top defender to their title hopes — just two years removed from an Anunoby hamstring injury essentially flipping the outcome of their second-round loss to the Pacers — but the excitement quickly evaporated.
Anunoby missed the game’s first shot. His next attempt was off, as was his next 3-pointer, which went long for an airball.
He appeared shaky, his steps somewhat measured, just two weeks removed from a stretch in which he dominated both ends of the floor with explosiveness and decisiveness.
One drive ended with an awkward Euro step and a traveling call. Another possession ended with him fumbling a pass in the lane, as the Cavs turned an 11-point deficit into a 50-48 halftime lead.
Anunoby went to the break with two points, one rebound, one turnover and a team-worst minus-12 rating.Entering Tuesday, Anunoby was averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a team-best 1.9 steals in the playoffs, while shooting 61.9 percent from the field (a team-high 53.8 percent on 3-pointers).
“[There was] a little rust, but that was expected,” Anunoby said. “I knew that. As the game went on, the rust wore off.”
Anunoby remained largely invisible in the third quarter, but the game changed when Mike Brown asked him to return with less than eight minutes left and the outcome seemingly decided.
Anunoby missed an open 3-pointer with the Knicks trailing by six with 1:41 left in regulation, but the 6-foot-7 forward then delivered the game’s biggest assist. He took a pass from Jalen Brunson at the top of the key, then swung it to Landry Shamet in the corner for the game-tying 3-pointer with 44.3 seconds remaining.
Anunoby, who finished with 13 points (shooting 2-for-9 from the field, including 1-for-6 from 3), five rebounds, two assists, one steal and a plus-15 rating in 34 minutes, hit seven free throws in overtime, plus a drive to put the Knicks up six with 2:56 remaining, sparking chants of “O-G” from the thousands who knew what his return could mean.
“I felt good,” Anunoby said. “Just continue to play hard, shoot shots and be aggressive. … I don’t think it was hesitancy [early]. Just as the game went on I felt more and more like myself.”
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — In Southern California, over 17,000 residents faced evacuation orders on Tuesday due to a wildfire threatening suburban neighborhoods.
The Sandy Fire, driven by strong winds, ignited on Monday in the hills near Simi Valley, approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
By Tuesday morning, the blaze had spread across more than two square miles (about five square kilometers) of parched vegetation and claimed at least one home, as reported by the Ventura County Fire Department.
Initially, the fire was propelled by gusts exceeding 30 mph (48 kph), but overnight, firefighters benefited from a decrease in wind strength, according to department spokesperson Andrew Dowd.
“Thanks to the improved weather conditions, we’ve made significant headway in containing the fire,” Dowd noted. Crews aimed to capitalize on this progress before the winds picked up again, he added.
The fire was 5% contained. The cause is under investigation.
Evacuation orders and warnings were still in place for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people that was shrouded in smoke as aircraft made water drops.
Meanwhile, firefighters were battling a 23-square-mile (59-square-kilometer) blaze on Santa Rosa Island, off the Southern California coast. The fire destroyed a cabin and an equipment shed and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees.
There was no containment as of Tuesday morning.
Santa Rosa, a popular destination for camping and hiking, is home to island foxes, spotted skunks and elephant seals.
Natalie Maines, lead singer of the legendary country group The Chicks, recently launched a fierce criticism of President Donald Trump.
In a foul-mouthed tirade posted to Instagram on Monday, the 51-year-old country singer called Trump, 79, a ‘fugly slut’ and warned that ‘our democracy is disappearing right before our eyes.’
Maines, who experienced the impact of ‘cancel culture’ long before it became a widespread term, voiced her opinion 23 years after her controversial statement on stage. Back then, she expressed shame over former President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003, which sparked significant backlash.
As a result of her political remarks, The Chicks, including bandmates Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, faced widespread bans from numerous country music radio stations and endured a barrage of death threats.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives of the Trump administration for their response.
Maines began her critique with an official portrait of Trump, featuring him gazing sternly at the camera with a raised eyebrow against the backdrop of the American flag.
Natalie Maines of the country music icons The Chicks issued a blistering, foul-mouthed rant about President Donald Trump on Instagram on Monday, in which she called him a ‘fugly slut’; pictured with Emily Robinson (L) of The Chicks in 2023 in Cardiff, Wales
Maines included this official portrait of President Donald Trump as she claimed that ‘This fugly slut is using your gas money to pay the insurrectionists’
‘Our democracy is disappearing right before our eyes,’ Maines began her caption.
‘This fugly slut is using your gas money to pay the insurrectionists,’ she continued, seemingly alluding both to Trump’s war in Iran, which has caused a massive hike in gas prices, and to a controversial deal he struck with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to create a nearly $1.8 billion fund that Democrats and ethics experts have fiercely criticized.
‘But don’t worry about it. I’m sure posting selfies will fix everything,’ Maines continued.
The Ready To Run singer also alleged that her ‘last post that called [Trump] a fugly slut got removed. We’ll see how long this one lasts.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to The Chicks for comment.
Maines concluded by urging her followers to share her post to ‘help the message live,’ and she referenced Representative Jamie Raskin’s claim to Axios in February that his search for ‘Trump’ in a database of unredacted files relating to Jeffrey Epstein garnered over one million search results.
Raskin later clarified that he had searched for the terms ‘Trump,’ ‘Donald’ and ‘Don,’ and he said that not every search result necessarily referenced Trump.
Maines added hashtags for ‘democracy,’ ‘freespeech’ and ‘fugly slut.’
The singer’s fury appears to have been over a lawsuit against the Treasury and IRS in the Southern District of Florida in response to the leak of their tax returns, filed by Trump his sons Don Jr. and Eric and the Trump Organization
‘Our democracy is disappearing right before our eyes,’ Maines wrote. The Chicks were banned from thousands of country stations and sent a bevy of death threats after she criticized George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq in London in 2003; seen in 2023 at Glastonbury
Maines subsequently issued an apology for her remarks about Bush, but in 2006 she rescinded it. ‘I don’t feel that way anymore,’ she said in an interview with Time. ‘I don’t feel he is owed any respect whatsoever’; Bush is. pictured on May 1, 2003
Maines included photos of insurrectionist rioters entering the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021
She seemingly alluding both to Trump’s war in Iran, which has caused a massive hike in gas prices, and to a controversial deal he struck with the IRS to create a $1.8b ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ to issue formal apologies and provide monetary relief to claimants; rioters are picutred in the Capitol on January 6, 2021
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Her fury appears to have been sparked by news that the president, his sons Don Jr. and Eric and the Trump Organization had filed a lawsuit against the Treasury and IRS in the Southern District of Florida in response to the leak of their tax returns.
In exchange for dropping the lawsuit, the IRS agreed to create a $1.776 billion ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund,’ which will be able to issue formal apologies and provide monetary relief to claimants.
The fund will be governed by a five-member commission appointed by the Attorney General, who was appointed by Trump. Trump will also have the power to remove any member from the commission.
While Trump is technically barred from directly receiving payments from the fund, entities associated with him are not explicitly prohibited from filing additional claims.
The settlement drew immediate fury from Democrats, among them Senate Finance Committee member Ron Wyden, who said the move represented a brazen new level of corruption.
‘Even by his standards, the move he’s trying to get away with now is a stunning act of corruption,’ said Wyden.
‘What Trump wants is a $1.7 billion slush fund for right-wing political violence and subversion, and if he follows through, it will be the most brazen theft and abuse of taxpayer dollars by any president in American history.’
Maines’ criticism of the current president comes more than two decades after she attacked George W. Bush for the start of the second Iraq War.
Maines alleged in her comment that a previous post calling Trump a ‘fugly slut’ had been taken down; pictured with Emily Robison (L) and Martie Maguire of The Chicks in 2024 in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention
The Dixie Chicks later shortened their name to just The Chicks in June 2020, following years of criticism over the connections ‘Dixie’ has to the history of slavery in the US; Maines is pictured in
‘Just so you know, we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas,’ she said on stage at a concert in London.
Her comments and the backlash to them from fans and corporate country radio stations led to a rapid commercial decline for The Chicks.
They also faced pushback from other country artists who were publicly supportive of Bush and the Iraq War, among whom Toby Keith was one of the most vocal.
Maines subsequently issued an apology for her remarks, but in 2006 she rescinded it.
‘I don’t feel that way anymore,’ she said in an interview with Time. ‘I don’t feel he is owed any respect whatsoever.’
The Dixie Chicks later shortened their name to just The Chicks in June 2020, following years of criticism over the connections ‘Dixie’ has to the history of slavery in the US.
The Chicks also cited protests brought on by the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement as inspirations to change their name.
The group claimed they had wanted to change ‘that stupid name’ for years after they settled on it while they were still in their teens.
In a heartfelt revelation back in 2022, Steve Burton, well-known for his role on “General Hospital,” announced a significant change in his personal life. After 23 years of marriage, he and his wife, Sheree Gustin, decided to part ways. Burton took to Instagram to clarify the situation, stating, “Sheree and I are separated.” In a surprising turn, he also disclosed, “She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine.” This announcement set off a tumultuous period marked by a heated custody and visitation battle over their daughter, Brooklyn, despite an initial agreement for joint custody during their divorce proceedings. The couple officially finalized their divorce in 2023, each embarking on new paths.
By Lea B
Moving forward from the end of his first marriage, Burton gradually reconstructed both his personal and professional life. His return to “General Hospital” in 2024 marked a significant comeback after his 2021 dismissal for not adhering to the show’s vaccination mandate due to personal beliefs. During this period of transition, Burton found love again with Michelle Lundstrom, who is recognized by many from her appearance on Netflix’s “Barbecue Showdown.” In an interview with People, Burton expressed his feelings, saying, “Honestly, I’ve never felt so loved and cared for in my entire life.” Having been friends for some time despite living in different states, Burton described their connection as “undeniable and electric,” adding that Lundstrom is “a breath of fresh air.”
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Their romance flourished quickly, leading to an engagement just eight months after they began dating in 2024. The couple exchanged vows in a picturesque ceremony at Laguna Beach, California, surrounded by their children from previous relationships. Reflecting on the momentous day, Burton shared, “This day isn’t just about a ceremony. It’s the beginning of forever with the love of my life. I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, growing together each day in faith and love.”
During the contentious custody battle with Gustin, it emerged that Burton had relocated from California to Tennessee. The move was driven by the escalating cost of living and his demanding work schedule. As reported by TMZ in May 2026, Burton’s decision to spend more time in Tennessee was spurred by a profound realization of the importance of slowing down. At the time, he was actively portraying Jason Morgan on “General Hospital” and struggled with the frequent cross-country travel. This decision became a contentious issue between him and Gustin, especially after she enrolled their daughter in a summer program in California without informing Burton. In a text exchange, Burton accused, “This is manipulation. You signed an order.” Gustin defended her decision, arguing, “No it’s not. I told you she wanted to do jr guards. You are the one who decided to move. Her life is here.”
The pair began dating in 2024 and got engaged after just eight months. They tied the knot in a ceremony in Laguna Beach, California, with all of Burton’s and Lundstrom’s children present (Lundstrom also has kids from a previous relationship). “This day isn’t just about a ceremony. It’s the beginning of forever with the love of my life,” Burton gushed. “I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, growing together each day in faith and love.”
Burton and his ex-wife continue to face off in court
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
During their custody battle, it was revealed that Steve Burton had relocated from California to Tennessee, amid rising living costs and an exhausting work schedule. According to an exclusive May 2026 report from TMZ, Burton, who had been shuttling back and forth between the two states, decided he wanted to spend more time in Tennessee after “recently [receiving] a sobering reminder of the need to slow down.” At the time, he was actively playing Jason Morgan on “General Hospital” and was finding it hard to keep up with the weekly commute. The move became a point of contention for Burton and his ex-wife after Sheree Gustin reportedly enrolled their daughter Brooklyn in a summer program in California without Burton’s knowledge. “This is manipulation,” Burton wrote in a text message to his ex-wife (via TMZ). “You signed an order.” But Gustin refused to back down. “No it’s not. I told you she wanted to do jr guards,” she responded. “You are the one who decided to move. Her life is here.”
As of this writing, the two have yet to reach an agreement regarding custody of Brooklyn. However, in May 2025, it was reported that Michelle Lundstrom, who was living in Tennessee at the time, had agreed to move to the West Coast with Burton so he could remain closer to his children. Over the years, Burton has been vocal about settling down and raising his kids in Nashville, Tennessee, after falling in love with the city. “My perception changed. The best thing, really, to happen to me, hard as it was, is that I left … California,” he told Soap Opera Digest in 2017. “I have a normal life, going to high school football games, doing that stuff with my kids … and it just gives you a whole different perspective on what we do for a living in Hollywood,” he added.
Federal immigration authorities have expressed strong criticism of California’s sanctuary policies following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant accused of seriously injuring a 4-year-old boy in a hit-and-run incident.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Aman Kumar, an Indian citizen residing in the U.S. without legal permission, on May 13. Prior to this, he had been released from local law enforcement custody.
The Fresno Sheriff’s Department reported that Kumar was initially apprehended last month for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident. He faces charges of felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury.
Authorities stated that Kumar was behind the wheel of a vehicle that hit the young boy in Fresno, California, as reported by KSEE.
Federal officials confirmed that ICE agents took into custody an undocumented immigrant implicated in a California hit-and-run accident, which left a 4-year-old boy injured. (Frederic Brown/Getty Images)
The child had been playing on a swing set in a nearby backyard before leaving through a gate and entering the roadway, authorities said.
Investigators said several vehicles stopped after seeing the child in the street, but Kumar allegedly drove around the stopped traffic using the bike lane before hitting the boy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the child was hospitalized in critical but stable condition and is expected to survive.
Aman Kumar was arrested by ICE after authorities accused him of causing a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a 4-year-old boy in Fresno, California.(Department of Homeland Security)
DHS criticized California’s sanctuary policies after Kumar was later released from jail.
“This monster who almost killed a 4-year-old boy has been charged with a felony hit-and-run,” DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.
“Sanctuary politicians in California released this criminal illegal alien from jail back onto the streets,” she continued. “Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement, this criminal illegal alien was arrested outside a criminal court.”
The Department of Homeland Security called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to change the state’s sanctuary policies.(REUTERS/Fred Greaves)
According to DHS, Kumar illegally entered the United States in 2023 and was later released under the Biden administration.
The department also pointed to a letter ICE Director Todd Lyons sent in February to California Attorney General Rob Bonta urging the state to honor ICE detainers involving more than 33,000 undocumented immigrants in custody across California.
“DHS is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and his fellow California sanctuary politicians to stop putting American lives at risk by releasing criminals into our communities to commit more crimes and hurt more innocent people,” Bis said.
DHS said California’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 4,561 undocumented immigrants with criminal charges or convictions since Jan. 20.
The department said those individuals were accused of crimes including homicide, assault, burglary, drug offenses, weapons offenses and sexual offenses.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
Omoyele Sowore, a prominent human rights advocate and erstwhile presidential contender, has taken issue with singer Adekunle Gold following allegations that a social media user was jailed for making false statements about the artist and his family.
In a widely circulated interview, Sowore expressed disapproval over Adekunle Gold and his wife, fellow musician Simi, opting for legal measures that led to a young man’s imprisonment for over two years due to comments made on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“That’s not how to handle false stories”
He emphasized that public figures should adopt a more lenient approach to addressing false rumors, suggesting that resorting to law enforcement to silence critics or online commentators is unwarranted.
“How dare Adekunle Gold, after acquiring some wealth and fame, imprison someone for two years over statements everyone knows aren’t true? Just yesterday, I received calls claiming my wife and children had died in the U.S. I simply contacted them to verify their well-being and moved on,” Sowore remarked.
He further drew parallels to past occurrences involving notable individuals, citing instances like the false death reports about members of former US President Donald Trump’s family and a religious leader in Kaduna who was erroneously declared deceased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nigerians love oppression too much”
According to Sowore, the situation reflects a growing culture of oppression among influential Nigerians.
“How can you sit down with police and prosecutors to jail someone for two and a half years because of three lines on Twitter? Nigerians complain about oppression until they get small power, then they become worse,” he added.
The controversy comes amid increasing debates in Nigeria over cybercrime laws, online speech, and the arrest of social media users for controversial posts.
Watch the video below….
“How dare Adekunle Gold go and send somebody to jail for two years for writing something we all know that it’s not true. Someone posted my wife and children have d!3d and I didn’t even reply to it.”
There are concerns over an Australian-funded program to help counter extremism in the Philippines.
The Australian government has said the program is subject to strong risk management, safeguarding and financial oversight measures.
Australia’s financial support to the Philippines aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism is under the spotlight. Concerns have emerged that this funding might inadvertently support a contentious practice known as “red-tagging,” which targets journalists, activists, and advocates for human rights.
David Shoebridge, the Greens’ spokesperson on defense, highlighted significant worries within the Filipino Australian community. They fear that the federal funding for the initiative, titled ‘Strengthening Philippine Justice Responses to Violent Extremism’ (PJRVEP), might be misused to back this controversial practice.
Red-tagging is a tactic employed by authorities in the Philippines to suppress dissent. It involves publicly labeling perceived opponents as connected to the communist insurgency, particularly the New People’s Army (NPA). This label often leads to harassment, abductions, torture, and even extrajudicial killings.
The NPA is considered a major terrorist threat in the Philippines, alongside factions linked to the Islamic State group. Their objective is to overthrow the current government, establish a communist state, and remove U.S. influence from the country.
Greens senator David Shoebridge has raised questions about how funding from Australia is being used in the Philippines’ counterterrorism operations. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) asserts that it enforces rigorous risk management, safeguarding, and financial oversight for the PJRVEP initiative in the Philippines.
Shoebridge raised the $10.5 million program, established in 2021 under the Morrison government, at a Senate estimates hearing in February.
It came amid heightened concerns over counter-terrorism measures being used to “red tag” people, with Shoebridge referencing the cases of Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and human rights activist Marielle Domequil, who were both given lengthy sentences in January for allegedly financing terrorism. Both have vehemently denied the allegations.
Press freedom and human rights groups say the case is part of a broader pattern of red-tagging and the use of anti-terror laws against critics.
In 2024, the Philippines Supreme Court found that red-tagging, vilification, labelling, and guilt by association threaten a person’s right to life, liberty, or security.
Shoebridge asked DFAT officials at Senate estimates whether any of Australia’s funding had gone towards red tagging or in the case of Cumpio and Domequil, “the false tagging of journalists as terrorists”.
Officials took the question on notice and recently responded, saying Australia’s embassy in the Philippines’ capital, Manila, had raised the case of the convicted pair with “relevant” authorities there.
DFAT said the PJRVEP is subject to strong risk management, safeguarding and financial oversight measures, though did not explicitly rule out whether the funding could be used for red tagging.
“The PJRVEP supports interagency coordination, institutional relationships, jail management mechanisms for violent extremist offenders, and technical assistance and capacity building activities on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing,” the department said in its reply.
SBS News received the same response to further queries about the use of funding and accountability measures in place to ensure it targeted extremism and countered terrorism.
Shoebridge told SBS News there is an expectation funding to the PJRVEP is “laser focused” on countering terrorism and identifying potential terrorism financing.
He said “every dollar” diverted from the program’s core purpose to a campaign targeting unionists or religious leaders was money taken away from efforts to keep people safe.
The Philippine embassy in Canberra said the government “continues to protect the rights and welfare of its citizens and uphold due process and the rule of law”.
Red tagging is used against people or organisations perceived to be critical of the government, said Kebart Licayan, a PhD student at the Australian National University with expertise in violent extremism in the Philippines.
He said that under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who left office in 2022, this was an explicit and open practice, often declared at press conferences or through ads.
Jayson Lamchek, lecturer at Western Sydney University with a PhD in counter-terrorism and human rights in the Philippines, said the label of terrorist differs in the Philippines.
“It involves individuals or organisations linked to the New People’s Army … having them tagged as communist and therefore a terrorist,” he said.
It made those red-tagged the targets of harassment, threats or in some cases, extrajudicial killings, leading human rights organisations to call on the Philippine government to end the practice.
In 2020, the Philippine government passed controversial anti-terror laws, later revealing that Australian security agencies gave “technical assistance” over three years in their drafting.
Critics argue that the legislation gives security agencies too much power to detain people without an arrest warrant.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) deputy Asia director Bryony Lau said under the new laws, individuals or organisations previously subject to red tagging are now subject to a judicial process, seeing their assets frozen or facing terrorism financing charges.
She said HRW has observed an increase in the use of these powers and the terrorism financing act since the Philippines was placed on the grey list by the Financial Action Task Force in 2021, which found it was not taking adequate measures to address terrorism financing and money laundering.
“So to be removed from that list, the Philippines had to undertake a series of reforms, and one of those included actually prosecuting cases of terrorism financing. Because up until that point, the government was not actually prosecuting terrorism financing,” Lau said, noting it was taken off the list in 2025.
Alongside funding towards counter terrorism, Australia is assisting in judicial training around handling terrorism charges and the rollout of relevant training, according to the DFAT website.
Lau said the government has provided extensive assistance to the Philippines due to concerns about serious terrorism challenges, listing linkages between the island of Mindanao and the self-proclaimed Islamic State group as an example.
The Philippine government has rejected characterisations of Mindanao as being a “training hotspot” for the group.
She urged the Albanese government to continue to apply pressure to ensure the Philippines is compliant with FATF, including recommendation 8, which specifically requires participants to ensure terrorism financing measures don’t target legitimate non-profit organisations.
“The question really is, how are the (laws) actually being applied and are there adequate safeguards in place?” she said.
Shoebridge said his office has received repeated concerns that the “Philippines is using this program, in the guise of anti-terrorism work to target their political opponents,” including journalists and religious workers.
The senator said his office would continue to press DFAT to ensure that Australian funding wasn’t being used for such purposes.
In a thrilling turn of events, a Voodoo King played a pivotal role in the Knicks’ dramatic comeback victory on Tuesday night. His spiritual intervention aimed to soothe anxious fans who feared Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s notorious “Curse of the Mambino” might descend upon Madison Square Garden.
Michael Washington, known by his mystical moniker Tata Tilk, is 46 years old and performed a crucial Palo Mayombe ritual just an hour before the Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 was set to begin. This timely spellcasting took place right outside the famed arena.
“I command thee for no more spells from Mayor Mamdani on any team or anyone that interfere with their success. I’m here to protect the Knicks from his benevolent respect,” Washington intoned with determination, as the Knicks staged an incredible win over the Cleveland Cavaliers inside.
Washington’s presence was requested at MSG after the mayor hinted earlier in the day that he might attend the game.
“It is an incredible run. I am, like every New Yorker, just continuing to hope. Maybe I will be there, we’ll see, but I’m definitely watching,” Mamdani said at an unrelated press conference.
The mayor’s remarks created paranoia amongst fans after the lefty mayor’s hug with Mr. and Mrs. Met was blamed for the team’s brutal losing streak, dubbed the “Curse of the Mambino.”
The “Voodoo King” brought a cauldron full of “secret” spiritual items — including human and animal bones and meteorites — for his witchcraft.
He told The Post that Mamdani has proven he has “magical abilities” to curse New York sports teams and should stay far away from the Knicks.
“He’s basically showing the magic abilities that he has through cursing an entire team, in other words, multiple people, like multiple counterparts, like all at once,” he explained.
“It was a spell to basically not have Mamdani curse the Knicks, because we were nervous about him coming tonight, and he might possibly curse the Knicks, so I did the match for it,” Washington added of his ritual. “He wouldn’t be able to curse the Knicks, so no Mambino curses here.”
And the witchcraft might’ve just worked.
The Knicks staged an improbable 115-104 overtime win over the Cavaliers — overcoming a harrowing 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.
The team’s stunning comeback is the largest in a Conference Finals game since 1997, according to the NBA.
Since 1997, the only larger fourth-quarter comeback to win any playoff game is the Clippers’ 24-point rally against the Grizzlies in Game 1 of the 2012 First Round.
Kareem “Reemo Meerak” Tyson, 46, thanked the Voodoo King for staving off any of the socialists’ sorcery before the epic win.
“Listen, Mamdani, listen, you’ve been doing an amazing job, respectful, respectful. You cannot ruin our flow. You see what you did with the other orange and blue, and that’s not cool. Okay, that’s not cool. It’s gonna lose you brownies for us,” Tyson, a social media personality from Harlem, said.
“I feel amazing. Thank God. Thank you [Voodoo King] for what you’ve been doing so far for protection.”
A group of friends, Nick Ellard, James Questel, and Aidan Jordan, also gathered outside the arena to watch the game — and made their feelings about the Mamdani curse crystal clear.
“I’d love him to stay as far away from the team as possible,” said Jordan, a 20-year-old college student from Long Island.
“Don’t hug anybody. Tell him to pay for some waters for everybody,” Elleard, 20, added.
