Whittlesea council election in Melbourne overturned over ‘fraud’ votes: VCAT

A local election in one of Australia’s biggest cities has been overturned over concerns about fraudulently completed ballots.

Voters will be forced to return to the polls in Melbourne’s outer suburbs after a local election was voided over concerns about fraudul…[Read more]

Japan wants all tariffs reviewed to reach deal with U.S.: negotiator

Japan has no intention of striking a trade deal with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump unless all of its new tariffs are reviewed, top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa indicated Saturday as he returned to Japan following the second round of ministerial-level tariff…[Read more]

Japan ranks worst among G7 in 2025 world press freedom rankings

Japan trailed other members of the Group of Seven countries in the 2025 world press freedom rankings as government pressure on news outlets has become common practice, a media freedom group said Friday.

Of the 180 countries and regions surveyed, Japan moved up four places from last…[Read more]

Ishiba vows to work to revise Constitution; yet momentum low

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his desire to seek the country’s first-ever revision of the pacifist Constitution, as Japan marked the 78th anniversary of its coming into force with no clear political momentum toward such a move.

In a video message to a pro-reform…[Read more]

Germany hits back at Marco Rubio after he panned labeling of AfD as ‘extremist’

Far-right German party was labeled a ‘confirmed rightwing extremist group’ by country’s domestic intelligence service

Germany’s foreign ministry has hit back at the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, following his criticism of Germany’s decision to label the far-rig…[Read more]

Europe marks VE Day with Trump on its mind

“Celebration? What celebration? It feels more like a funeral” – the damning words of a former senior Nato figure to describe this week’s ceremonies marking Victory in Europe Day.

The top-level diplomat who spent years at the transatlantic defence alliance asked not to be named in order to speak freely,…[Read more]

Germany updates: Almost 50% of Germans back AfD ban — poll

Forty-percent of respondents to an INSA survey were in favor of banning the far-right party. Meanwhile, Germany’s incoming interior minister has vowed tighter border controls.

German Air Force receives Israeli air defense system
The chief of the German Air Force was in Israel this w…[Read more]

Türkiye Maarif Foundation hosts Africa’s largest youth science festival

High school students from across Africa convened in Abidjan this week for the continent’s largest science and technology festival, organized by the Türkiye Maarif Foundation (TMV).

The event, organized by TMV’s Côte d’Ivoire Maarif Schools, brought together participan…[Read more]

Hunger silences Gazan children crying out against Israel’s aid block

In a devastated Gaza neighborhood where rubble replaces homes and walls gape open to the sky, hungry and trembling children begged for food and medicine – supplies Israel has withheld for two months amid its 19-month campaign that Palestinians call a genocide.

With sunken eye…[Read more]

Hundreds arrested in crackdown on May Day protests in Istanbul

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Istanbul, with 50,000 police officers deployed to the city as authorities attempt to crack down on May Day protests.

Public transport was shut down to stop people reaching Taksim Square, where demonstrations have been banned since…[Read more]

French left divided over the term ‘Islamophobia’ after the murder of a Muslim in a mosque

United in condemning the murder of Aboubakar Cissé at the mosque in a small southern French village, the radical left La France Insoumise and the Socialists are split over the use of a term that reignites tensions in France.
At Place de la République in P…[Read more]

Mates in banger rally to Spain in memory of friend

Two friends will embark on a 2,000-mile journey (3,220km) from Birmingham, through Europe to Benidorm in an “old banger” in memory of their friend who passed away.

Simon Lewis, 57, from Gloucester, and Kevin Paskin, 53, from Worcester, are taking part in Benidorm Bangers charity road trip…[Read more]

Donald Trump is looming over Australia’s election

In Western Sydney, an audience of Stetson-wearing Australians are sitting in their fold-up camping chairs, swigging beers and eating a spiralled fried potato on a skewer known as a ‘chip on a stick’.

People here are enjoying bull rides, barrel racing and bucking broncos. It feels like a slice of…[Read more]

Why Australia’s opposition is vying for votes on Chinese social media

With days left to the election, Australian opposition candidates have been wooing a crucial group that turned its back on the conservative Liberal-National coalition in the last election: Chinese Australian voters.

And they are trying to reach them on platforms that their…[Read more]

Coalition pledges mortgage interest rate relief, tax cut during campaign launch

The Coalition has kicked off its 2025 federal election campaign in Sydney with several major cost-of-living measures announced.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton today already unveiled his plan to deliver a once-off $1200 tax relief and used the campaign launch to a…[Read more]

Labor reveals $1k tax write-off without receipts for every worker, five per cent house deposits during campaign launch

A re-elected Labor government will push for an automatic $1000 tax deduction for every Australian taxpayer, Anthony Albanese announced today during his official campaign launch in Perth.
After the federal government pledged to g…[Read more]

Dai-ichi Life to take 15% stake in Australian insurer

Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc will take a 15.1 percent stake in an Australian life insurer, aiming to expand its overseas reach to offset the shrinking domestic market constrained by Japan’s declining birthrate and aging population.

The Japanese life insurer said in a statement that it will…[Read more]

Innovation over tradition sending Dassai sake to the moon

If humans eventually colonize the moon, the early settlers might toast their success with a bottle of sake, realizing the dream of brewer Asahi Shuzo Co.

Yamaguchi-based Asahi Shuzo, known for its Dassai sake brand, in February took a leap forward, unveiling at an event in Tokyo a bottle…[Read more]

Emperor explores his symbolic role in trips to mourn war dead

As Emperor Naruhito travels across the country to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II this year, he is expected to explore how best to pass down memories of the conflict and work for peace in his role as a “symbol” of the country now most of its people belong to…[Read more]

Verstappen wins Japanese GP to close championship gap on Norris

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led from pole to checkered flag to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren’s Lando Norris second.

The Dutch Red Bull driver crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton…[Read more]