What is ‘whole of nation’ foreign policy and what does it mean for Australians?

A key phrase in foreign affairs at the moment is taking a “whole of nation” approach. It has been cropping up in government documents such as the Defence Strategic Review and International Development Policy.

But what exactly does it mean?

A new report to be launche…[Read more]

2024 is a huge year for the Olympics – and it’s not just about the Paris games

2024 is a leap year, and in the world of international sport it means something very exciting: it’s an Olympic year. For Australians, there is growing excitement about the 2032 games to be held in Brisbane. And between those four-yearly stints, there is also the winte…[Read more]

Australia’s shot-hole borer beetle invasion has begun, but we don’t need to chop down every tree under attack

A new pest attacking Perth’s trees threatens to spread across Australia, damaging crops and native forests as well as our urban forest. To control its spread, the Western Australian government is chopping down hundreds of estab…[Read more]

Earth’s early evolution: fresh insights from rocks formed 3.5 billion years ago

Our Earth is around 4.5 billion years old. Way back in its earliest years, vast oceans dominated. There were frequent volcanic eruptions and, because there was no free oxygen in the atmosphere, there was no ozone layer. It was a dynamic and evolving p…[Read more]

Man’s 18-year sentence upheld for 2017 Japan highway road rage deaths

A Japanese high court upheld Monday a sentence of 18 years in prison for a man convicted of a 2017 road rage incident that killed a couple and injured their two children and caused an outcry that led to tougher punishment of dangerous driving.

The Tokyo High Court rejected the…[Read more]

Nikkei ends at all-time high for 2nd day in a row

The Nikkei stock index closed at an all-time high Monday for the second consecutive trading day, as buying momentum was supported by expectations for robust corporate performance.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 135.03 points, or 0.35 percent, from Thursday at 39,233.71. The broader…[Read more]

Noto earthquake hypothermia deaths spark public awareness drive

Exposure to extreme cold temperatures caught many elderly people unawares in the wake of the Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day, and their experiences have led medical experts to warn against the dangers of developing hypothermia — even inside the…[Read more]

Japan Moon lander survives lunar night

Japan’s Moon lander has survived the harsh lunar night, the sunless and freezing equivalent to two Earth weeks.

“Last night, a command was sent to #SLIM and a response received,” national space agency Jaxa said on X.

The craft was put into sleep mode after an awkward landing in January left its solar…[Read more]

Tunisian imam expelled from France vows to appeal decision

Mahjoub Mahjoubi, from the town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze in the south of France, denounced his removal as “arbitrary”.

The cleric’s decision came a day he was expelled from France for “radicalism” and “unacceptable remarks”, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a statement posted…[Read more]

France blames Russia’s FSB for anti-Semitic Star of David graffiti campaign

French prosecutors reported in November that 60 such stars had been found in the capital and surrounding suburbs weeks into the war between Israel and Hamas, with the graffiti being interpreted as a threat to Jews.

A Moldovan couple was arrested in the case and their a…[Read more]

Eiffel Tower reopens after six-day strike over monument’s maintenance

The operator of the 330-meter (1,083-foot) tower said in a statement it reached an agreement with unions representing the workers after promising to allocate an “ambitious 380 million euro (about $412 million) investment by 2031” for renovation work. This week, it also launc…[Read more]

Türkiye rallies Muslim world against Israel’s cruelty: Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday that Türkiye was working to mobilize the Muslim world for steps to be taken to stop Israel’s aggression in Gaza.

Erdoğan was speaking in the western city of Balıkesir on Friday, for an election rally for his Justice and Developme…[Read more]

At least 40 people killed in central Gaza as Israel touts post-war plan

Israel’s military has killed at least 40 Palestinians in attacks on central Gaza ahead of a new round of international talks to broker a truce and as Tel Aviv has outlined a plan for the enclave after the war ends.

The “heinous massacre” committed by Israeli forces in Deir…[Read more]

Israel’s war on Gaza: Are boycotts hurting US brands?

McDonald’s has missed sales targets partly due to boycotts against its products in some parts of the world over its perceived support for Israel, the company says.

The war on Gaza “meaningfully impacted” performance in the last quarter of 2023 in some regions, company officials said on Mond…[Read more]

Turkey rescuers battle to save workers trapped in landslide-hit gold mine

Turkey is under pressure to shut down a gold mine buried by a massive landslide, as hundreds of rescuers battle to save at least nine trapped workers.

The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects said on Wednesday that the government should close the Copler…[Read more]

Earth’s early evolution: fresh insights from rocks formed 3.5 billion years ago

Our Earth is around 4.5 billion years old. Way back in its earliest years, vast oceans dominated. There were frequent volcanic eruptions and, because there was no free oxygen in the atmosphere, there was no ozone layer. It was a dynamic and evolving p…[Read more]

Mascot Towers apartment owners in Sydney close to securing millions in payout from NSW government and banks

Apartment owners who bought into the uninhabitable Mascot Towers in Sydney are on the brink of securing a multi-million-dollar payout from the New South Wales government, almost five years after their ordeal began.

Residents of the…[Read more]

Outgoing ATO boss says getting rid of work-related tax deductions would be a ‘big step’

New Zealand banned work-related expense deductions while also implementing tax cuts, and if Australia did the same that could simplify the tax system, according to outgoing tax commissioner Chris Jordan.

But Mr Jordan noted that “Australians love their…[Read more]

France launches anti-corruption push ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics

Andy Spalding, an academic and author who studies corruption in sporting “mega-events” such as the Olympics or the football World Cup, believes French authorities are showing they are serious about delivering a clean Games.

Three preliminary investigations are into possible…[Read more]

How France became the target of Azerbaijan’s smear campaign

Azerbaijan’s February 7 presidential election, which handed President Ilham Aliyev an unsurprising and unopposed victory with 92% of the vote and a fifth term in office, provided the backdrop for the latest illustration of deteriorating Franco-Azerbaijani relations.

For the first time i…[Read more]