Australia appoints second woman governor-general in 123 years to represent British monarch

Australia appointed Sam Mostyn on Monday as only its second woman governor-general, a largely ceremonial role representing the British monarch who is the nation’s head of state.

It is the first such Australian appointment since the reign of King Charles I…[Read more]

Pro-Palestinian protesters breach security at Australia’s Parliament House to unfurl banners

Pro-Palestinian protesters breached security at Australia’s Parliament House to unfurl banners from the roof on Thursday as a senator quit the government over its direction on the Gaza war.

Tensions over Israel’s war against Hamas dominated Parli…[Read more]

Gas shortages to hit the east coast earlier than predicted, ACCC warns

Australians have been warned of the potential for a serious gas shortage to hit the east coast earlier than anticipated, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) saying new sources and supply are needed to avoid the shortfall.
The consumer watchdog, in i…[Read more]

Search underway for missing man after boat capsizes in Swansea

A desperate search for a missing man is under way after a boat capsize on the NSW Hunter coast yesterday evening.
Four men were thrown into waters near Channel Street in Swansea after the small boat they were travelling in overturned about 7.50pm.
Passengers on a passing boat man…[Read more]

Turkish fans make national gesture during national anthem at Euro 2024

Merih Demiral, who scored both goals for Türkiye’s national team in a 2-1 win over Austria in the last 16 of Euro 2024, has been banned by UEFA for making the national gesture.

Turkish supporters making their way to the European Championship quarterfinal against the…[Read more]

Lawyers call for harsher penalties over stray bullet incidents

Lawyers have expressed the need to impose harsher judicial penalties for incidents involving stray bullets resulting in fatalities or injuries, citing the increasing number of such cases.
Celebrations such as weddings and military send-offs sometimes witness “celebratory gunfire,” lea…[Read more]

Türkiye slams Israeli move to expand West Bank settlements

Türkiye has condemned Israel’s plans to recognize settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank legally.

“The decisions taken by Israel to ‘legalize’ some settlement outposts and to ‘approve’ new housing units in the occupied West Bank are flagrant violations of international law,” s…[Read more]

Japan’s stock records lack punch of yen’s fall

Japanese stocks hit new highs on Thursday with a whimper rather than a bang, greatly contrasting the noise around the yen’s recent fall to a 38-year low.
Analysts contacted on Friday about the rise of the 225-issue Nikkei average to an all-time record above 40,000 dispensed with celebratory remar…[Read more]

Suggestive poses and pets in election campaigning tests Tokyo’s patience

Tokyo elects a new governor this weekend, but residents say personal publicity stunts have overtaken serious campaigning to a degree never seen before, with nearly nude women in suggestive poses, pets, an AI character and a man practicing his golf swing.

It’s impossible to…[Read more]

Japan confirms China set up buoy over its southern continental shelf

The Japanese government said Friday it has confirmed China has installed a buoy in the high seas over Japan’s southern continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean, in a move that could further strain bilateral relations.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news…[Read more]

France’s frenzied finale: Will last-minute deals thwart far-right win?

The ink on the campaign posters barely had time to dry. Yet, France’s frenzied snap legislative election races are nearly over. President Macron hoped to clear the air with his shock dissolution of parliament but after the far-right’s unprecedented surge and so many unholy all…[Read more]

France’s opportunity to be a global leader on climate action at risk

France’s opportunity to be a global leader on climate action could be at risk, depending on who wins the upcoming legislative elections. The current frontrunner, the National Rally Party has historically mocked or downplayed environmental issues, while Macron’s party wants to…[Read more]

Dutch rider Groenewegen sprints to stage six win of Tour de France in Dijon

Dylan Groenewegen of the Netherlands won stage six of the Tour de France on Thursday in a mass dash for the Dijon finish line in which Belgian Jasper Philipsen was relegated for a swerve.

Overnight leader Tadej Pogacar retains the yellow jersey by 45sec from Belgian…[Read more]

German industrial output declines unexpectedly in May

German industrial production unexpectedly fell in May, adding to signs that manufacturing in Europe’s largest economy will not recover in the coming months.
Industrial production fell in May by 2.5% compared to the previous month, the federal statistics office said on Friday. Analysts polled…[Read more]

Germany gives apartment-dwellers legal right to solar power

Germany’s lower house of parliament has passed legal amendments allowing apartment owners and tenants to install solar systems on their balconies, as the country seeks to increase uptake of the energy form.
The reforms, passed late on Thursday, allow what is referred to as a “privileged…[Read more]

Germany reach quarter-finals

The German football team has reached the quarter finals of the European Championship in their own country. Under manager Julian Nagelsmann, the team beat Denmark 2:0 in Dortmund on Saturday evening. Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala were the scorers. Play was suspended in the 35th minute of the match due to a…[Read more]

Renewables cover 58 percent of Germany’s electricity consumption

Current information about Germany’s foreign policy and foreign relations.

Renewables cover 58 percent of Germany’s electricity consumption
Berlin/Stuttgart (dpa) – New half-year record for renewable electricity generation: in the first half of 2024, electricity produced from wind,…[Read more]

New law for adapting to the impacts of climate change

Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent in Germany too. A new law provides a framework for preventive measures.

For the first time, Germany has a nationwide law that provides a framework for measures to protect against the impacts of climate change. The Climate…[Read more]

For the French market, hung parliament ‘might be better outcome than to give power to far right or left

Emmanuel Macron’s centrist camp and a left-wing alliance were on Monday battling to prevent the far right from taking an absolute majority and control of the government in a historic first after the French president’s gamble on early…[Read more]

French left races to prevent far-right takeover

Despite calls for voters to form a united front against the National Rally (National Front), the far-right party came out on top when the results of the first round of voting for France’s snap legislative elections were revealed.