India, Pakistan militaries to talk as ceasefire holds
After days of heavy firefights, calm has returned to India and Pakistan's borders as the neighbours' military chiefs meet to discuss their next steps.
International News
Zelenskiy flags that he will meet Putin in Turkey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has agreed to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkey for direct talks.
Hamas to release US hostage, Israel says no ceasefire
Hamas is promising to release an American-Israeli hostage held in Gaza within hours, but Israel still intends to ramp up its offensive in Gaza.
Voting ends in Albania’s election amid bid to join EU
Voting has closed in Albania's parliamentary election after a boisterous campaign dominated by the country's uphill effort to join the European Union.
Kurdish PKK disbands and ends 40-year Turkey insurgency
The Kurdistan Workers Party has decided to disband and disarm as part of a peace initiative with Turkey after four decades of armed conflict.
Russia faces sanctions if truce ignored, Germany says
Germany warns Russia that "the clock is ticking" on abiding by a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine or else European countries will hit Moscow with new sanctions.
Hamas frees Israeli-American as Trump heads to Mideast
Israeli-US citizen Edan Alexander has been released by Hamas after 19 months of captivity in Gaza as the US president prepares to visit the Middle East.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy wants face-to-face talks with Putin
Volodymyr Zelenskiy insists that Ukraine-Russia talks with Vladimir Putin can only happen in person, while US President Donald Trump muses about attending them.
Trump order demands US medicine industry cuts prices
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order setting a 30-day deadline for drug makers to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the United States.
UN aviation body rules Russia downed MH17: Netherlands
Dutch and Australian officials say a council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation concluded Russia was responsible for the downing of MH17 in 2014.
Britain set to strike first deal to cut Trump tariffs
The US and the UK have struck a deal that will lower the burden of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and deliver a win for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
‘Farce’: Ukraine says Russia violating own ceasefire
Ukrainian officials say Russia has violated its own ceasefire more than 700 times while Russian authorities say Ukraine has tried to move into the Kursk region.
Fierce fighting with Israeli troops in Rafah: Hamas
Hamas says its militants and Israeli troops are engaging in "fierce fighting" in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
US, UK announce trade deal but 10 per cent duties stay
UK beef farmers will be allowed access to the US market after a deal, joining a group of select countries including Australia with such an arrangement.
White smoke billows, signalling new pope elected
White smoke has appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, signalling that the 133 Roman Catholic cardinals have elected a new pope.
Prevost, now Leo XIV, a surprise pick as first US pope
Cardinal Robert Prevost had not been seen as a frontrunner for pope and there was a brief moment of silence when his name was announced.
India and Pakistan accuse each other of attacks
India and Pakistan have exchanged more fire over their frontier in Kashmir, blaming each other for deadly violence as their worst fighting in decades continues.
‘Inferno’: Pakistan vows retaliation after India strike
Tensions between India and Pakistan are soaring after India struck "terrorist camps" in Pakistani Kashmir, which Islamabad branded an act of war.
More black smoke at conclave, so no new Catholic pope
Black smoke has again poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that no pope has been elected as cardinals gather in their conclave for a second day.
Ceasefire deal does not include Israel, Houthis say
Yemen's Houthis say a ceasefire deal between them and the US does not include sparing Israel, as nearly 50 people were killed in the bombing of a Gaza school.
Explosions rock Port Sudan, army intercepts drones
Port Sudan has been hit by days of assaults by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces damaging its main gateway for humanitarian aid.
Ukraine cities quiet as Russia-backed ceasefire begins
Cities in Ukraine have been spared Russian drone and missile attacks as a 72-hour truce kicks in, but Kyiv says Moscow continues its assaults in the east.
Crooks, culture first order of business for new top cop
A veteran cop who oversaw the police response to the Christchurch massacre has laid down his vision for combating crime as the head of an embattled state force.
Merz elected German chancellor after initial defeat
MPs have elected conservative leader Friedrich Merz as Germany's next chancellor in a second round of voting.
US to stop bombing Yemeni Houthis after deal: Trump
US President Donald Trump says Yemen's Houthi rebels have agreed to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, and US bombing will also cease.
Cardinals join mass before conclave to pick new pope
Cardinals from around the world have gathered in the Vatican for their last major mass before locking themselves away to choose the head of the Catholic Church.
US could announce some trade deals ‘this week’
US President Donald Trump's administration is negotiating with 17 major trading partners on deals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says.
Strikes kill dozens in Gaza as new Israeli push nears
An air strike has hit a school sheltering displace Palestinians in the latest bloodshed in Gaza, as Israel prepares to intensify its campaign against Hamas.
‘Act of war’: India hits targets in Pakistani territory
Tensions between India and Pakistan are soaring after India struck "terrorist camps" in Pakistani Kashmir, in an attack that Islamabad brands an act of war.
Russia and Ukraine exchange 205 prisoners of war each
Ukraine and Russia have concluded one of the largest prisoner exchanges since Moscow invaded its neighbour in 2022.
US, China to hold ice-breaker trade talks in Geneva
Two top US officials will meet with China's top trade negotiator this weekend in the first major talks since President Donald Trump sparked a trade war.