A Filipino activist holds a slogan opposing the recent declaration of martial law in Mindanao by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Picture: Aaron Favila/AP Photo.

Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and his wife Nicola announced they would donate $400 million of their fortune to a range of charitable causes on May 22.

It’s the biggest single philanthropic donation in Australian history by living people, and was announced in Canberra by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a function exceed by actor Russell Crowe.

The money would go toward a number of causes: cancer research, childhood and higher education, ending modern slavery, supporting indigenous Australians and helping underprivileged communities and individuals.

Philanthropy Australia CEO Sarah Davies told Pro Bono News the gift was incredibly exciting, both because it might inspire others and how the money would be used.

“There is a freedom to philanthropic dollars that other dollars don’t have,” she said.

“When Andrew and Nicola talk about risk capital — that to me is the most powerful thing about the philanthropic dollar because it leverages all the freedom and power in that dollar to a far greater extent than if it was a government dollar or even a corporate dollar.

“So how they are using it, through social innovation, through that risk capital, through the ability to drive and test initiatives, well that, to me is the ultimate sweet spot for philanthropy.”

While the Forrests’ gift is the largest-ever by living Australians, businessman Paul Ramsay left most of his $3.4 billion estate to charity when he died to 2014.

Government Buildings Set Alight by Anti-Government Protesters in Brazil

Brazil’s capital of Brasilia was rocked by riots on Wednesday, May 24 by demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Michel Temer.

Protesters set fire to the scandal-hit Agriculture Ministry, stormed other government ministries and launched powerful fireworks at police.

Temer deployed federal troops to restore order but rescinded it after an outcry. Deploying the army is a sensitive issue in Brazil, which was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985.

Protesters are angry about a secretly recorded audiotape in which Temer seemed to condone paying hush money to the jailed speaker of the house, who led last year’s impeachment process against former president Dilma Rousseff.

The leftist Rousseff called it a “coup” led by the centre-right Temer and his allies.

Demonstrators also want an end to austerity measures that have centred around cuts to the pension system.

Martial Law Declared in Philippines After Clashes With Islamist Groups

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law on the southern island of Mindanao on Wednesday, May 24 after jihadists attacked the city of Marawi.

Islamists with the Maute militant group seized several government buildings and burned others, including a hospital and a school in the city of 200,000. The fighters also forced their way into a

Catholic Church and took a priest hostage, along with several worshippers and church workers.

At least 11 soldiers, two policemen and 31 insurgents were killed in the fighting, according to Philippine news website Rappler.

The Maute group, which declared loyalty to the Islamic State (IS) last year, appeared to launch the assault in a response to a failed attempt by the security forces to capture Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the IS-affiliate Abu Sayyaf, in Marawi on Tuesday.

The links between IS and Maute are unclear.

“You can call them [affiliates] when one of the recognised ISIS website or an ISIS leader himself comes out and says that they are claiming them as on of their groups. I have not yet seen that in any open sources,” former National Security Council senior consultant Ashley Acedillo told ANC.

“It’s really important for now that we distinguish Maute as not yet an ISIS affiliate, but rather someone who is ascribing themselves to the ISIS,” he said.

Last month government troops captured the Maute’s jungle camp and killed several insurgents there.

Human Rights Watch said the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf are a threat but warned that martial law could open the door to even more human rights abuses. Thousands of people have already been killed without trial in the Philippines as part of Duterte’s war on drugs.

Duterte said he may extend martial law throughout the entire nation.