Franco-German MGCS tank project speeding up, Rheinmetall CEO says

The Franco-German MGCS main battle tank project, which has stalled for years, is speeding up and has political will on both sides, Rheinmetall chief executive (RHMG.DE), opens new tab Armin Papperger said on Thursday.
“This is what politicians want, but also industry,” he told…[Read more]

Alabali Radovan visits South Africa

Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan (photo) has taken off on a trip to South Africa, aiming to deepen economic and political cooperation. “South Africa is a key partner for Germany in a world in which geopolitical tectonics are shifting,” the minister said.

She is also taking part in the G20 Development…[Read more]

German-Afghan relations under scrutiny over deportations

The German government’s policy of deporting Afghan criminals to Afghanistan relies on cooperation with the Taliban government in Kabul. The Islamists are hoping this is the first step toward diplomatic recognition.

“We have succeeded in organizing another deportation flight with convicted…[Read more]

Libya is ready to work with European governments to stem the migrant flow

The UN-backed government of national unity is working to ensure the rule of law in Libya and could tackle traffickers at source, writes Walid Ellafi

The ambition of Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to join the UK-France migrant returns agreement overlooks one of the m…[Read more]

EU and US edge closer to trade deal as tariff deadline looms

US officials are ‘optimistic’ that an agreement could be imminent.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that negotiations between the European Union and the United States over a long-running trade dispute are making progress.

Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday ahead of a dinner wit…[Read more]

France’s global aid programmes at risk from ‘unprecedented’ budget cuts

Almost 190 non-governmental organisations are sounding the alarm over a “historic” €700 million in cuts to the country’s aid budget announced by the prime minister earlier this month. Coming hard on the heels of other cuts to France’s aid budget last year, the NGOs are warnin…[Read more]

Dems say voters were conned. Trump says it’s time to move on. Latest on Epstein conflict

Top congressional Democrats are continuing to pressure Trump officials to follow through on their long-promised release of the Epstein files. Meanwhile, the president said the files were “made up” by his rivals, and he resisted calls to simply release…[Read more]

US and Indonesia reach tariff deal

US President Donald Trump has settled on another tariff deal – this time with Indonesia.

Both Trump and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the tariffs faced by the southeast Asian country would be reduced from 32% to 19%.

Trump said this was in exchange for “full access” for American firms.

Prabowo…[Read more]

Could Trump’s tariff threats force Putin into Ukraine peace deal?

Russia’s approach is to ‘keep calm and carry on’ in the face of Trump’s threats over Ukraine war, experts say.

United States President Donald Trump threatened to impose “very severe tariffs” on Russia on Monday if a peace agreement to end the Ukraine war is not reached in th…[Read more]

Anthony Albanese says Powderfinger, Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly played during banquet with Chinese leaders

Anthony Albanese said he was serenaded with songs by Paul Kelly, Midnight Oil and Powderfinger during a banquet with leaders after meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The prime minister dressed casually in a polo shirt a…[Read more]

Search for missing plane underway in NSW Snowy Mountains

A search is underway for a plane missing in New South Wales.

Emergency services were notified at 4:30pm yesterday that a light aircraft was overdue arriving at Moruya Airport on the Far South Coast.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the aircraft was flying from…[Read more]

Fewer school-age children vaping in Australia since ban, study says

School-age children in Australia are vaping less, research suggests, a year after a government ban on disposable vapes came into effect.

Vaping rates among 14 to 17 year olds fell from 17.5% at the start of 2023 to 14.6% in April this year, according to the latest update from…[Read more]

US sanctions violate immunity that protects UN envoys: Albanese

UN envoy on Palestinian rights Francesca Albanese said Tuesday that U.S. sanctions against her, imposed after her criticism of Washington’s Gaza policy, violate her diplomatic immunity.

The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories made the c…[Read more]

FM Fidan to attend informal meeting on Cyprus in New York

The leaders of Turkish Cyprus and Greek Cyprus, as well as guarantor states Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom, will come together at a 5+1 format meeting hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on July 16 and 17 in New York, Turkish diplomatic sources have said.

According…[Read more]

Blazes surge across Türkiye as firefighting efforts persist

Firefighters continue to battle relentless forest fires sweeping across multiple provinces, fueled by fierce winds, scorching temperatures and parched vegetation.

In the northern province of Kocaeli’s Gebze district, a forest fire that broke out between Balçık and Cumaköy on July 15 at…[Read more]

UN says malnutrition in Gaza has doubled

Malnutrition rates among children in the Gaza Strip have doubled since Israel imposed sharp restrictions on the entry of food in March, the U.N. said on July 15. New Israeli strikes killed more than 90 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, according to health officials.

Hunger has been…[Read more]

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]