French government falls: What’s next for Macron, Le Pen, France?

French legislators from both sides of the political spectrum voted to remove Barnier from power.

After less than four months in power, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government has lost a no-confidence vote in parliament over a social security budget dispute.

On Wed…[Read more]

France’s Macron pledges to stay in office until end of term

The French president says he will appoint a new prime minister in ‘coming days’ after lawmakers toppled the government in a no-confidence vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will stay on “until the end” of his five-year term, until May 2027, after a no-confidence vote in p…[Read more]

Japan’s Q3 capex accelerates, firms case for more rate hikes

Japanese corporate spending on plant and equipment accelerated in the third quarter, signalling solid domestic demand was underpinning the country’s fragile economic recovery and strengthening the case for further interest rate hikes.
Capital spending surged 8.1% year-on-year in the…[Read more]

Japan’s factory activity falls at fastest pace in 8 months, PMI shows

Japan’s factory activity shrank at the fastest pace in eight months in November as soft demand prompted firms to trim production, a private-sector survey showed on Monday.
The final au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) slipped to 49.0 in November,…[Read more]

Japan to offer ¥5 billion to four countries in latest OSA military aid tranche

Japan is more than doubling the budget for its military aid program, with the Foreign Ministry earmarking ¥5 billion ($33 million) for this fiscal year, compared with ¥2 billion a year earlier, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen the security and deterrence capabilities of li…[Read more]

Ishiba questioned on political reform, social issues and the economy

In parliamentary questioning Monday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was grilled over issues ranging from the Liberal Democratic Party’s approach to political reform and his stance on social issues to the content of a supplementary budget.
Ishiba reiterated his skepticism about a…[Read more]

75,000 people barely surviving as Israel blocks N. Gaza aid: UN

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday accused Israel of blocking all efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged northern Gaza.

In a statement, UNRWA said it attempted 91 times to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit…[Read more]

Turkish prosecutors brief UN committee on activist Eygi’s killing

U.N. Commission of Inquiry delegation has arrived in Ankara to review the investigation into the killing of Turkish-U.S. activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi and to collect evidence on alleged violations of humanitarian law and human rights in Palestine, Turkish authorities said Th…[Read more]

No global peace without Gaza cease-fire: Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said there would be no regional or global peace without ensuring peace in Gaza.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Erdoğan highlighted the importance of reaching a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been carrying ou…[Read more]

Turkey shocks the U.S.: Drops F-16 fighters deal, goes local

Turkey has shocked its NATO partner, the United States, by refusing to purchase packages to modernize the Turkish Air Force’s existing F-16s. Instead, Ankara plans to carry out the modernization with its own resources, developed locally in recent years.

“We gave up on this 79. This is…[Read more]

Turkey prices are expected to decline 30 percent this year

The head of a state poultry group is encouraging consumers to stock up on turkey before the avian influenza outbreak impacts the supply chain.

Bill Mattos with the California Poultry Federation says retail turkey prices should be much higher because of reduced supplies this year, but…[Read more]

More than 30 Australian laws changed overnight

Dozens of new laws will come into force after a late-night scramble by the government to tick off most of its to-do list in a single night.

There are a few things that didn’t survive the rush — election donations, a gambling ad ban, and a national environmental protection agency were the big p…[Read more]

Former Aboriginal Commission chairman jailed for six years over $1 million theft

An Indigenous leader who stole almost $1 million from Aboriginal organisations has been thrown behind bars for more than six years.
Three separate juries convicted Geoff Clark, 72, on 25 charges of theft, obtaining financial advantage by deception, perjury and…[Read more]

‘Doomed to fail’, ‘really good’ and ‘crazy’: How the world has reacted to Australia’s social media ban for kids

The passing of world-first legislation banning children under the age of 16 from social media has earned Australia headlines around the globe, but international experts have almost unanimously rubbished the effectiveness of the new…[Read more]

‘Narco sub’ bound for Australia seized in massive international operation

Six so-called “narco subs” stuffed with cocaine have been captured in a Colombian-led international anti-drug operation, say authorities in the Latin American nation, as part of a huge global bust.
The mission, involving 62 countries, seized more than 1,400 metric tonnes of…[Read more]

Australia approves social media ban on under-16s

Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media, after its parliament approved the world’s strictest laws.

The ban, which will not take effect for at least 12 months, could see tech companies fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they don’t comply.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese…[Read more]

Stowaway caught on flight from New York to Paris

A stowaway flew from New York to Paris without a ticket earlier this week, but was discovered towards the end of the flight.

The woman flew on a Delta Airlines flight from New York’s JFK International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport without a boarding pass on Tuesday, and was taken i…[Read more]

Paris’s Gothic jewel Notre-Dame to reopen five years after fire

The world gets a first look inside a resplendent new Notre-Dame on Friday, as France’s President Emmanuel Macron conducts a televised tour to mark the cathedral’s imminent re-opening.

Five-and-a-half years after the devastating fire of 2019, Paris’s Gothic jewel has been rescued,…[Read more]

France declines to say whether it would arrest Putin under ICC warrant

France, which is under pressure over its stance on an international arrest warrant issued for Israel’s prime minister, declined on Thursday to say whether it would be prepared to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin under a similar warrant.
The International Criminal Court…[Read more]

Chad ends defence cooperation agreement with France

Chad’s government said on Thursday it has ended its defence cooperation pact with France, a move that could see French troops leave the Central African country.
In a statement, Chad’s foreign ministry said the country, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants in the region,…[Read more]