Australia

Unrest broke out in New Caledonia over changes to the electoral law, which supporters of independence believe will weaken the influence of the local population, leading to road blocking, flight cancellations and the mobilization of 600 armed gendarmes.

Russia and China issued a joint statement in which, according to media reports, they expressed concern about the growing risks due to the deterioration of relations between the nuclear powers and promised to deepen military cooperation and expand joint exercises.

Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, demands that the National Gallery of Australia remove her unflattering portrait from an exhibition by Vincent Namathjira, considering it too ugly.

Australia's $100 million military aid package will include a batch of modern Sentinel 830R RHIB rigid-hull inflatable boats.

Ukraine joined the Combined Federal Battle Lab Network (CFBLNet) as an invited partner. This allows testing combat systems for interoperability and readiness for multinational operations, including in classified networks after accreditation.

An Australian court has overturned an order by the country's cybersecurity regulator to remove a video of an attack on an Assyrian bishop, rejecting the regulator's proposal in a legal dispute that has sparked heated conversations between Elon Musk and Australian officials.

Australia will provide Ukraine with $50 million worth of RBS 70 NG short-range air defense systems and $32. 5 million worth of drones as part of a new $100 million defense assistance package.

Japan, South Korea, and Australia are tightening regulations to limit the market power of large tech groups such as Apple and Google, creating new regulatory challenges similar to those in the EU and the US.

Unprecedented heat waves in Asia and Africa have forced governments to close schools, highlighting how climate change threatens the education of millions of children.

Germany will purchase three HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems from the United States and transfer them to the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

According to the IMF's Geeta Gopinath, the US dollar remains the dominant currency, accounting for more than 80% of trade transactions and almost 60% of foreign exchange reserves, despite rising geopolitical risks and gradual diversification into other currencies.

A 16-year-old boy was shot dead by police in Perth, Australia, after he attacked a man with a knife in the parking lot of a hardware store.

Germany summoned the russian ambassador after completing an investigation into last year's cyberattack on the SPD server. The investigation found that the hacker group APT28, supported by the Russian state, was behind the attack.

The United States plans to impose new sanctions on organizations that facilitate arms and oil trade between Russia and North Korea by the end of the month, in coordination with allies such as the EU, the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Sydney's bid to join the world's marathons has received an additional boost after it reached a record number of participants in 2024 - 24,000 runners, the largest audience for an Australian endurance marathon.

South Korea held talks on joining the second phase of the AUKUS defense pact, aimed at exchanging military technologies, with the possibility of providing its defense, scientific and technological capabilities.

Ukraine and Australia agreed to develop and sign a double taxation agreement, extend duty-free trade for Ukrainian businesses until 2026, increase trade, and Australia will participate in a peace summit in Switzerland.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal discussed strategic cooperation with Australian Minister of Defense Richard Marles, focusing on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and creating the preconditions for further success on the battlefield, with Australia providing over $655 million in support, including $540 million in military aid.

Australia has announced a new $100 million aid package to Ukraine, including $50 million for short-range air defense, $30 million for drones, and the rest for various equipment such as inflatable boats, as well as ammunition and RBS-70 man-portable air defense systems.

Australia will provide Ukraine with drones worth $32. 5 million and a large batch of RBS-70 portable air defense missile systems worth tens of millions of dollars.

Russia said that the upcoming NATO military exercises in Finland near its borders increase the risks of potential military incidents and escalation of the hybrid war against Moscow.

First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga received copies of credentials from the newly appointed ambassadors of Thailand and Australia to Ukraine and discussed with them support for Ukraine, sanctions pressure on Russia and strengthening bilateral relations.

In Australia, a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy who was under state care has died. Initially, it was reported as a suicide, but now family members doubt this, favoring the version of a tragic accident.

Ukrainian servicemen share combat experience in tactics, drone warfare and trench warfare with officers from Australia and Finland during multinational leadership training as part of the UK-led Operation INTERFLEX.

Australian police declared the knife attack on the bishop of the Assyrian Church and his followers in Sydney a terrorist act motivated by alleged religious extremism.

An unidentified man attacked people in a shopping center near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing 6 people, including a 9-month-old baby, and injuring several others before the attacker was shot dead by police.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will address the U. S. Congress to call for continued military assistance to Ukraine and emphasize the importance of a strong U.S.-Japanese partnership.

Australia is ready to recognize a Palestinian state as part of efforts to achieve peace in the region. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has proposed a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in separate countries, as the only hope to break the cycle of violence.

Biden sharply criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and Netanyahu's approach, calling it a mistake and unacceptable that volunteer aid vehicles were attacked by drones, and called for a ceasefire to ensure access to food and medicine.

A group of influential Australians is calling on the government to confiscate $9 billion in Russian assets frozen in Australia and transfer them to Ukraine for its post-war reconstruction and recovery.