Australia and Solomon Islands sign $190 million security deal in blow to China

Australia has signed a $190 million security deal with the Solomon Islands to boost the size and capacity of the Pacific nation’s police force.
The money will go towards training and infrastructure, which includes an officer training centre in the capital…[Read more]

Cafes, bottle shops could be exempt from government’s cash mandate

Australian businesses are getting an idea of what could be exempt from new cash protections, set to be brought in by early 2026.

Cafes, takeaways, bottle shops and hairdressers could avoid being hit by an incoming cash mandate, according to a government discussion paper f…[Read more]

Coalition senator says nuclear ‘not going to cut it’ in video

The senator has gone against the grain in an unearthed video and says the Coalition is “latching onto” nuclear “because it fixes a political issue for us”.

Nationals senator Matt Canavan says the Coalition is “latching onto” nuclear energy “because it fixes a political issue f…[Read more]

Trump opposes deal to avert gov’t shutdown

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers Wednesday to scupper a cross-party deal to avert a fast-looming U.S. government shutdown, as the White House accused him of “playing politics.”

Staring down a Friday night deadline to fund federal agencies, party leaders in Congress had agreed…[Read more]

Musk’s possible meddling in UK politics stirs concern

Concerns are growing in the U.K. as tech billionaire Elon Musk takes an increasingly close interest in Britain’s political scene, appearing to cosy up to hard-right firebrand lawmaker Nigel Farage.

With Musk named to a new position in the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump, there…[Read more]

US hopes for Gaza truce within weeks as CIA chief heads to Doha

The U.S. expressed optimism Tuesday that a Gaza cease-fire and hostage exchange deal could be finalized within weeks, citing ongoing efforts to resolve remaining disputes, according to the State Department.

Addressing reporters at the Foreign Press Center, State Department…[Read more]

Zelensky urges EU-US unity at bloc’s last summit before Trump

Donald Trump loomed large over EU leaders Thursday at their last summit before he reclaims power in the United States, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying only transatlantic unity can “save” Ukraine.

The upheaval in Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, and how to deal…[Read more]

Japan Govt Eyes Jan. 24 Start of Ordinary Diet Session; Upper House Election Likely to Be Held on July 20

The government and ruling bloc on Thursday began making adjustments to the schedule in order for the ordinary Diet session to convene on Jan. 24, 2025.

Considering the Public Offices Election Law, the start of the campaign period for the…[Read more]

Foreign visitors to Japan top 33 mil in Jan-Nov, breaking annual record

The number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 33 million from January to November, setting a new annual record, driven by a tourism boom and a weak yen, government estimates showed Wednesday.

The total stood at 33,379,900, surpassing the previous full-year high of 31.88…[Read more]

Mount Fuji access fees to be doubled as authorities address overcrowding

Climbers using the most popular trail on Mount Fuji are expected to be slugged with a doubled fee of 4,000 yen from next summer as the Yamanashi prefectural government seeks to tackle overcrowding, a source close to the matter said Thursday.

The prefectural government also…[Read more]

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Set for Weekly Decline Despite Weak Yen Tailwind

Japan’s Nikkei share average on Friday was headed for its worst week since early November despite the tailwind of a weaker yen, as weakness on Wall Street and caution ahead of major central bank policy decisions weighed.

The Nikkei rose 0.2% to 38,889.95 at the mid…[Read more]

Honda and Nissan are in merger talks

Honda and Nissan are discussing a possible merger, potentially bringing together two Japanese automaking titans that have recently fallen on hard times.

The companies said in statement that they have been in talks, but they offered no details or timeframe for when a deal – if one should develop – may be com…[Read more]

French PM Francois Bayrou hopes to have budget ready by mid-February

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Thursday he hopes to have a budget ready by mid-February and that he would consider using special constitutional powers to get it through parliament if opposition parties tried to block it.

France’s new prime minister, Francois…[Read more]

Defendants face judgement for actions that led to beheading of French teacher

Eight people accused of abetting the jihadist murder of French teacher Samuel Paty are to learn their fate after a six-week trial in a Paris court.

They include the father of a schoolgirl whose lie about Paty’s alleged discrimination against Muslims in the classroom…[Read more]

Macron vows to rebuild Mayotte after cyclone devastation

French President Emmanuel Macron was met with angry residents of Mayotte, who urged him to help with critical issues plaguing the island in Chido’s aftermath.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the overseas territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by Cyclone Chido, where he pledged…[Read more]

If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony solar is taking off

Balcony solar panels can save 30% on a typical household’s electricity bill and, with vertical surface area in cities larger than roof space, the appeal is clear

By Stephen Burgen in Barcelona

They are easy to install, and knock chunks off electricity bil…[Read more]

Germany and France are in crisis – is the next global financial crash brewing?

The eurozone’s flaws and a lack of growth in the EU have combined to malign effect. ‘More Europe’ is not the solution

Things are not quite going according to plan for Rachel Reeves. The economy has contracted for the past two months and inflation is proving hard to…[Read more]

German health system grapples with potential returns of Syrian doctors

As thousands of Syrian doctors work in Germany, the fall of Bashar Assad is raising concern over the potential consequences for the health sector if many of them were to return home.

Germany became a leading destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade, and some…[Read more]

FM Fidan rejects Trump claim of ‘Turkish takeover’ of Syria

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan rejected U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s claim of a so-called Turkish “takeover” in Syria, as he said it would disrespect the will of the Syrian people.

“We wouldn’t call it a takeover, because it would be a grave mistake to present what’s been happening…[Read more]

Türkiye urges world to keep eyes on Gaza under Israeli attacks

Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday warned the recent developments in the Middle East should “not lead the international community to ignore the genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza.”

Israeli attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure have intensified in recent days an…[Read more]