Iraq: Iraqis voted in their first national election since Isis upended the political and social order in the country, casting ballots that will help determine how Iraq's next government leans in a region increasingly marked by fierce global rivalries. Nearly 7000 candidates, representing conservative, Islamist, liberal, secular, communist and military political streams, are vying for 329 seats in Iraq's Parliament. The poll was devoid of the usual terrorist violence that has marred previous Iraqi elections, and there were few reports of irregularities. But calls to boycott the contest over a lack of substantive policy debate appeared to resonate with voters, and turnout was low. Iraq's election commission said that only 44 per cent of the 22 million eligible voters participated - a steep decline from 62 per cent in both 2014 and 2010.
Malaysia: New Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad appointed an ethnic Chinese as finance minister, the first ethnic minority to hold the powerful post in 44 years. In addition to naming Lim Guan Eng, Mahathir also named former Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as home affairs minister and Mohamad Sabu as defence minister. The three are leaders of the four parties in Mahathir's alliance, which scored a stunning election victory last week by ousting the coalition that had ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957. Mahathir also said a special five-member council would be set up to advise the government on economic and financial matters. Mahathir also said he had instructed the immigration department to blacklist scandal-ridden former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife from leaving the country. Mahathir said there was sufficient evidence for an investigation into Najib, in reference to a massive corruption scandal.
The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island unleashed havoc when the earth split open, lava spewed hundreds of feet into the air and molten rock swallowed streets in a residential neighborhood https://t.co/iNJwX4kk97
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 12, 2018
Environment: A new lava fissure has opened up on Hawaii's Big Island in the vicinity of a geothermal energy plant. The US Geological Survey said minor lava spatter erupted from the new fissure, which brings the total number of fissures to 16. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the fissure opened 1.5km northeast of the last fissure and east of the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. No significant lava flow has been reported so far. Plant workers last week removed pentane stored at the site as a precaution.
Portugal: Pre-competition favourite Netta Barzilai won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest for Israel with her song Toy. Barzilai beat out competition from 42 other countries' performers to claim the music extravaganza's annual crown at the Grand Final in Lisbon, Portugal. There was a strong field of contestants at this year's event, and the Israeli entry topped close competition from Cyprus, Austria, Sweden and Germany.
Barzilai racked up 529 points, compared with 436 for runner-up Cyprus and 342 for third-place Austria.
