French papers divided over PM Bayrou’s ‘shock treatment’ budget

Wednesday, July 16: French left- and right-wing papers have different evaluations of Prime Minister François Bayrou’s proposed new budget: necessary “shock treatment” or a “purge”? Next, British papers explain the unprecedented superinjunction legal order that was used to hide a…[Read more]

French PM looks to scrap two public holidays in bold bid to cut national debt

France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed cutting two public holidays as part of a 2026 budget proposal to slash overall spending while also increasing defence expenses.

Bayrou suggested axing Easter Monday and 8 May, a day that commemorates the Allied…[Read more]

France, UK, Germany to reimpose Iran sanctions in August if no progress

France’s foreign minister says sanctions lifted under a 2015 deal would return if no breakthrough on nuclear issue.

France, the United Kingdom and Germany will reinstate harsh sanctions on Iran by the end of August if no progress is made on a nuclear deal, Western d…[Read more]

Americans’ views on immigration take a massive positive swing amid Trump’s crackdown

Americans’ views on immigration took a massive positive swing this year amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown, according to new Gallup polling.

The share of Americans who thought immigration should decrease – 55% – reached a 5-year high point in 202…[Read more]

Rubio says no ‘drama or division’ in US relations with Japan

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday played down concerns about relations with key U.S. ally Japan, saying there is no “drama or division,” despite the Japanese prime minister speaking of the need for Tokyo to wean itself off U.S. dependence.
In remarks to reporters, Rubio also…[Read more]

Russia warns U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming security alliance targeting North Korea

Relations between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunitions to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.

SEOUL, South Korea — Russia’s foreign minister on Saturday warned the U.S.,…[Read more]

Blue Impulse Planes Fly over Osaka-Kansai Expo Site; Halfway Point of Event Reached

A team of Air Self-Defense Force pilots performed an aerobatic demonstration at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo in Yumeshima, Osaka, on Saturday.

The event, which lasted for about 15 minutes, was performed by Blue Impulse, the ASDF’s aerobatic demonstration team. T…[Read more]

U.S. urges clarity on Japan’s role in potential war over Taiwan, report says

The Pentagon is urging Japan to make clear the role it would play in the event of a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan, a media report said Saturday, with the U.S. Defense Department’s No. 3 official later appearing to confirm the push.
U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for…[Read more]

Indian national arrested in Japan for alleged rape of a schoolgirl

Police say suspect asked girl for hotel directions, then forced her into room and assaulted her

Police in Japan’s Shiga prefecture have arrested a 24-year-old Indian man on charges of allegedly raping a teenage high school student in Otsu City last month, according to local m…[Read more]

Taiwanese rocket fails to achieve Japan’s first foreign launch

Taiwanese private rocket company TiSpace terminated the flight of one of its rockets shortly after lift-off in northern Japan on Saturday, failing to become the first foreign company to perform a successful launch on Japanese soil.
TiSpace, through its Japanese unit jtSPACE, tried to…[Read more]

‘Three priorities’: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has outlined the key issues for discussion at the upcoming economic reform roundtable

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has outlined the agenda for the Albanese government’s upcoming economic reform roundtable, telling Sky News Australia there would be three priority areas for discussion.

Federal Treasurer Jim C…[Read more]

Position on China part of ‘private conversations’ – PM

The PM, like his ministers earlier this morning, has been resisting calls for clarity about Australia’s position on China, saying he won’t comment on “private conversations”.

It is not clear what private conversations he is referring to, or what exactly is being discussed, but what is clear…[Read more]

Albanese: ‘We support the status quo’ for Taiwan

Anthony Albanese says Australia is looking to partner with Trip.com to promote Australia as a destination for Chinese visitors, showcasing the potential for significant events like the Australian Open, the Melbourne Cup and the grand prix, but also significant times of year like New Year’s Eve a…[Read more]

Trump urges immigration agents to arrest ‘THUGS’ in violent clashes

The violent clashes in a raid on a marijuana farm in Camarillo, California, came after Trump deployed the National Guard to discourage protests in Los Angeles

President Donald Trump said in a social media post he saw video showing “THUGS” throwing rocks and bricks at Imm…[Read more]

‘Hero’ dad, twin girls and riverside campers among Texas flood victims

Young attendees and staff at summer camps are among the victims of flash floods in Texas – along with teachers, a football coach, and a “hero” father who smashed open a window to free his family amid rising water.

At least 121 people have died in the disaster, according to…[Read more]

Trade trumps geopolitics as Australia PM visits China

Australia’s leader Anthony Albanese will visit China and meet with President Xi Jinping this weekend as he seeks to strengthen ties with Canberra’s largest trading partner.

Regional security and trade will take centre stage during the prime minister’s six-day trip spanning three cities -…[Read more]

Old Sydney train station could be finished and reopened in new housing plan

One of Sydney’s most well-heeled suburbs could get a new train station, which would unlock a plan to build thousands of new homes.
Woollahra, in the city’s Eastern Suburbs has a partially completed “ghost” station which was abandoned in the 1970s.
But a reopening could a…[Read more]

Passengers delayed 21 hours after aerobridge hits Qantas plane at Sydney Airport

Passengers face a 21-hour delay after an aerobridge crashed into an plane at Sydney Airport.
The aerobridge hit the engine of a Qantas Airbus A380 this morning, the airline has confirmed.
The plane was heading to Johannesburg on QF63.

Nobody was injured, but p…[Read more]

French inflation revised higher to 0.9% as service costs rise

French consumer prices rose more than initially estimated in June, confirming a broader euro zone trend of gradually rising inflation as service costs accelerate and declines in energy price moderate.
France’s harmonized inflation rate, adjusted for comparison with other euro zone…[Read more]

French probe of Musk’s X deepens as police are called in

A French probe into Elon Musk’s social media platform X deepened on Friday, when the Paris prosecutor’s office said it had enlisted police to investigate suspected abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data extraction by the company or its executives.
The move adds to the pressure on Musk, a…[Read more]