Australia’s FM Julie Bishop discuses ISIS, asylum seekers with Iranian FM

Foreign minister Julie Bishop meets President Hassan Rouhani for first high level talks between Australia and Iran in 12 years TEHRAN (Iran) — Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has met with Iran’s foreign... Read more »

Australia arrests teenagers over alleged Melbourne terror plot

Hundreds of Australian police on Saturday arrested five teens planning an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack next week at an event to mark the centenary of the landings at Gallipoli during World War... Read more »
The Maglev (magnetic levitation) train speeds during a test run on the experimental track in Tsuru, 100km west of Tokyo, on May 11, 2010. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took a test ride on Japan's super-fast magnetic train, a contender for President Barack Obama's multi-billion-dollar national railway project. Japan is up against China, France, Germany and other bidders as it seeks to sell its "Shinkansen" bullet and magnetic trains for the 13-billion-USD US high-speed national rail grid. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images)

Japan’s Maglev Train sets new speed record at 590 kph

A magnetic levitation (maglev) train in Japan has broken the world speed record by hitting 366mph. The Central Japan Railway Company said the seven-car train completed a test run on an experimental... Read more »

Dubai imposes record fine of $8.4 million on Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank must pay the largest ever fine levied by the regulator of Dubai’s financial free zone for what the watchdog described as “serious contraventions” by the German lender’s wealth management business... Read more »

Virgin Australia offers free food across all domestic flights

Virgin Australia will now offer free food and checked baggage to passengers on flights across the Australian domestic network. The roll out of free food and checked baggage on all domestic flights... Read more »

Australia and India explore ways to facilitate flow of uranium

NEW DELHI (India) — Australia and India are set to explore ways for early conclusion of the Administrative Arrangements on civil nuclear cooperation to facilitate the flow of uranium amid Australian assurances... Read more »

Korean Asiana Airplane skids off runway, smashes antenna at Japan runway

TOKYO, (Japan) – A South Korean Asiana Airways plane smashed into a communications antenna as it came in to land at a Japanese airport, footage showed today, injuring 27 people in an... Read more »

China, Japan, South Korea agree to boost Tourism ties

The three countries launch ‘Visit East Asia Campaign’ as they seek to enhance visitor goal of 30 million by 2020 East Asian nations, China, Japan and South Korea, have decided to briefly... Read more »

Australia to cut benefits for parents who refuse child vaccinations

SYDNEY (Australia) — Parents who refuse to vaccinate their children can lose up to $11,000 of welfare benefits a year under a new government policy, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on... Read more »

US, Cuba leaders hold first face-to-face talks in over fifty years

PANAMA CITY (AP) — President Barack Obama declared his refusal Saturday to refight the Cold War battles while Cuban President Raul Castro rallied to his defense, absolving Obama of fault for the... Read more »

Apple in talks with musicians for exclusive streaming deals

Apple Inc has approached more than a dozen musicians, including British band Florence and the Machine, in an effort to sign exclusive deals for some of their music to be streamed on... Read more »

NASA names asteroid after Pakistan’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala

The youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and girls’ education campaigner in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai, now has an asteroid named after her, the Malala Fund announced through its blog on Wednesday. Dr. Amy Mainzer,... Read more »

Ebola still international emergency despite drop in cases: UN

The World Health Organization says the year-long Ebola outbreak in West Africa still qualifies as an international emergency even though the number of cases has plummeted. Last August, the U.N. health agency... Read more »

First international flight arrives in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan airport

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) — The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) started on Thursday evening operation of international flights to and from King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jazan. The airport received the... Read more »

Illegal downloads of Game of Thrones soar before new season

Game of Thrones is already the most pirated show on television but illegal downloads have jumped by 45% in the three months ahead of season five premiering. Research by rights management and... Read more »

Iran, Turkey to double trade volume, scrap US dollar

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Tehran and Ankara have decided to double the volume of bilateral trade while phasing out the US dollar as the dominant currency for their transactions. The... Read more »

Richie Benaud, Australian cricket legend & commentator dies at 84

SYDNEY (Australia) — Former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84. Benaud died overnight at a Sydney hospice, surrounded by his wife, Daphne, and... Read more »

Australia’s Meg Lanning named Wisden’s leading Woman Cricketer

Australian batter Meg Lanning has been named Wisden’s inaugural Leading Woman Cricketer in the World. Lanning earned the accolade based on her standout performances during 2014, in which she was named the... Read more »

Australia’s most expensive apartment sold for record $25m

The penthouse in the Melbourne high-rise, Australia 108 has sold for $25 million MELBOURNE (Australia) — Southbank’s planned Australia 108 is set to become Melbourne’s tallest building when construction finishes in 2019,... Read more »

Australia launches ‘crystal meth’ clampdown

Australia has announced a new task force to combat rising use of crystal meth in the country CANBERRA, (Australia) – The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday that his government... Read more »
Sri Lanka's Sangakkara reacts after being dismissed during the fifth and final one-day international cricket match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

Sangakkara earns Wisden’s leading Cricketer of the Year for second time

Sri Lankan veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara has been declared as the leading cricketer of the year in the 2015 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Sangakkara joined India’s Virender Sehwag as the only two players... Read more »

Kenyan families mourn 147 slain by terrorists in Garissa attack

NAIROBI, (Kenya) — Veronica Syokau loved to swim. Mary Muchiri Shee was a keen model. Mark Dennis Mutuma enjoyed basketball and endlessly pulled pranks on friends. As Kenyans struggled to recover from... Read more »

World Health Day 2015: Tips to improve Food Safety

On April 7, people across the globe will celebrate World Health Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) is choosing to focus on food safety for this year’s celebration, releasing the slogan: “From... Read more »

‘Furious 7’ breaks records with $384 million global opening

Action movie Furious 7 has taken $384 million (£257 million) at the global box office in its opening weekend. Almost half of that figure – $190 million (£127 million) – was made... Read more »