Mandurah teenagers charged with allegedly abducting three kids, abandoning them on remote beach

Three teenagers have been arrested after allegedly abducting three boys and abandoning them in remote bushland at night near Mandurah, south of Perth.

The three boys – 11, 12, and 14-years-old – were walking to a service station in the suburb of Ers…[Read more]

Emergency services search for man missing in waters near Sleaford, south-west of Port Lincoln

Emergency services are searching for a man missing in waters near Sleaford off South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

SA Police said seven people became caught in a rip-off Mary Ellis Beach at 4:11pm on Friday.

Six children were rescued from the water…[Read more]

Live export ship MV Bahijah caught in Red Sea route limbo on its way from Australia to Middle East

A live export ship carrying thousands of sheep and cattle from Australia is in limbo after being diverted from travelling through the Red Sea due to the region’s deteriorating security situation.

The MV Bahijah left Fremantle in Western Australia…[Read more]

Japan prosecutors to build case on PM Kishida faction

Japanese prosecutors will build a case against a former accountant of a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction, previously led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in connection with a political fundraising scandal, sources close to the matter said on Thursday.

The prosecutors have been…[Read more]

Japan prosecutors build cases against LDP groups over fundraising scandal

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese prosecutors on Friday indicted several individuals from three factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, including one formerly led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, over a political fundraising scandal that has sent shockwaves through the…[Read more]

Letter from Nikkei Asia’s editor: Panasonic’s EV battery comeback plan

Hello from Tokyo. Last week, the people of Taiwan elected as their next president Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing brands as separatist. The vote focused mainly on how to deal with China, but so far both sides have shown restraint, and it…[Read more]

WA Alcoa refinery closure could wipe out $650m from economy, expert says

The closure of a major mining giant’s refinery employing the “lion’s share” of workers will cost one state’s economy about $650m per year, an economic expert has warned as the company prepares to cut worker numbers down to just 50 over a year.

US-based Alcoa Corporati…[Read more]

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles confirms Australian personnel contributed to strikes in Yemen

Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says Australian personnel had been present in “operational headquarters” but said he could not elaborate further on the precise nature of their participation.

Mr Marles said Australia’s…[Read more]

Turkish Cyprus set to open doors of its biggest mosque

The biggest mosque in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), with 62 domes and six minarets, the Dr. Suat Günsel Mosque, will open its door to worshippers on Thursday.

Representatives from many Islamic countries, especially from Türkiye and the TRNC, will attend the opening c…[Read more]

Turkish aid agency restores orphanages in NW Afghanistan

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) renovated and provided equipment support to the Bibi Halime Orphanage affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Badghis, northwestern Afghanistan.

According to the statement made by the TİKA Herat Office, the…[Read more]

Japan current account logs record surplus for second month

Japan logged its largest current account surplus for the second consecutive month in November, as the trade deficit narrowed while its service balance turned surplus due to increased inbound tourism after pandemic controls were lifted last year.

The current account data should offer…[Read more]

Japan lifts operational ban on world’s biggest nuclear plant

Japan’s nuclear power regulator on Wednesday lifted an operational ban imposed on Tokyo Electric Power’s (9501.T) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant two years ago, allowing it to work towards gaining local permission to restart.

Tepco has been eager to bring the world’s largest…[Read more]

French booze-free January falls flat with Macron government

France’s President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of caving in to the wine lobby by failing to lend his weight to an alcohol-free “Dry January”.

Fifty specialists on addiction wrote an open letter this week, lamenting the lack of government support for the post-festivity no-drinks…[Read more]

France drops renewables targets, prioritises nuclear in new energy bill

like other EU countries, aims to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.

The proposed text, which is slated to go before the cabinet early next month and then be submitted to lawmakers, reaffirms France’s commitment to nuclear power to ensure “energy sovereignty”.

The count…[Read more]