NEWS

The weakening of Hezbollah in last year's war with Israel allowed Lebanon's long deadlocked parliament to reach consensus around a president who has the confidence of the international community.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said Donald Trump's return to the White House would open "a new chapter" and reiterated a call for Western allies to send troops to help "force Russia to peace".

Battles between Turkish-backed groups, supported by air strikes, and Kurdish-led forces killed 37 people on Thursday in Syria's northern Manbij region, a war monitor said.

Several dozen Ukrainian soldiers have deserted while training in France, a French army official told AFP on Monday.

Open AI CEO Sam Altman denied on Tuesday allegations from his sister Annie Altman, who has filed a complaint accusing him of childhood sexual abuse.

Fighters in southern Syria who helped topple President Bashar al-Assad are reluctant to disarm and disband as ordered by the country's new rulers, their spokesman told AFP. An Islamist-led offensive ripped through Syria from the north and into Damascus on December 8, bringing to a sudden end five decades of rule by the Assad clan.

The ad, which was released ahead of Australia Day, delivered a significant message wrapped in humor.

A Chinese-owned cargo ship suspected of damaging a subsea telecoms cable off Taiwan has stopped transmitting its location on the high seas, Taiwan's coast guard said Tuesday.

Priced at an unbeatable AU$8, the decor pieces are an ideal place to unwind in the backyard or campgrounds, and they are especially gaining traction among younger generations.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to announce his resignation this week as he faces mounting dissent within his Liberal Party, newspaper The Globe and Mail reported Sunday.

Russia said Monday its forces had captured the "important logistics hub" of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine in what would be a key advance after months of steady gains in the area.

Israel said Monday that Hamas had not yet provided the status of 34 hostages the group declared it was ready to release in the first phase of a potential exchange deal.

China said on Friday it would take "all necessary measures" in response to the United States announcing it was considering restrictions on commercial Chinese drones for national security reasons.

Nearly 2.6 million customers are paying the same or more than the default offers set by regulators.

Beginning on Jan. 1, Australians will have to pay more for their passports, which the Coalition has criticized as a "backdoor tax grab.

A powerful blast ripped through an explosives plant in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday killing 12 people and injuring five others, officials said.

Whether you're grabbing final gifts or making sure your home is prepared for the festivities, here's what you need to know about store hours and what's open during Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year's.

According to Andrew Podger, a professor of public policy at ANU, Australia needed to shift its focus towards creating a system that helps older Australians turn their accumulated super savings into reliable incomes, ensuring they can maintain their living standards and manage the financial challenges of old age.

The scammer, who claimed to be from Indeed, smooth-talked Amana Peters into investing an odd AU$50 in a cryptocurrency account to start completing tasks and earning money.

In his first post-election news conference, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to "straighten out" the "corrupt" US press.

"The government is determined to tackle the skills shortage, especially in the construction sector," Immigration Minister Tony Burke stated. "This is an important step to attract qualified workers to help build more homes."

Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Macau's "world-recognised success" as he arrived in the city on Wednesday, kickstarting a three-day trip as the casino hub prepares to celebrate 25 years of Beijing rule.

Famed Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones said Wednesday he is "certainly not guilty" of alleged historical sex crimes, after his first court appearance.

The settlement, announced by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) on Tuesday, concluded a four-year legal battle against Meta, two years after the company reached a US$725 million settlement in the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed his army's accelerating advance in Ukraine and praised 2024 as a "landmark" year in the course of Moscow's military offensive on its Western-backed neighbour.

The five remaining members of the Australian "Bali Nine" drug ring flew home Sunday after 19 years in jail in Indonesia, ending a saga that had frayed relations between the two countries.

Moldova's parliament approved Friday a 60-day state of emergency as an expected cut of Russian gas to the power station that supplies a majority of its electricity could trigger blackouts.

Australia will spend US$385 million to establish a team from Papua New Guinea in its rugby league competition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday, a move designed to help ward off China.

Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes on Thursday killed at least 33 people, including 12 guards securing aid trucks in southern parts of the Palestinian territory.