48 h. ago Eighty years after Victory in the Pacific Day, Ron – now 101 – remembers a slightly lonely celebration

Ron Gee Kee was a naval coder in Darwin when news came on 15 August 1945 that Japan had surrendered to the allies Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBen Chifley called it a “glorious moment”. On 15 August 1945 half a million people poured on to the streets of Sydney to celebrate the end of six years of war.News spread quickly after Emperor Hirohito announced that Japan had accepted the allies’ demand for unconditional surrender. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago High street fashion giant with 170 UK shops closes 23 stores and sack staff

Fatface is closing all 23 of its US stores as it moves its North American operations to an online-only model. The move will result in the loss of 145 jobs, the company said.

Politics

9 d. ago Bayern Munich vs Tottenham LIVE: Friendly result, latest updates and reaction after thumping Spurs loss

Harry Kane faces his former club as Joao Palhinha prepares to make his Spurs debut

Politics

9 d. ago Lynx could thrive in Northumberland with most in area supporting return, study finds

Release of 20 lynx over several years into Kielder Forest area would create population of about 50 animals Releasing just 20 lynx in Northumberland would be enough to create a healthy wild population, research has found, and most people in the area would support the practice.Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been working to see if the wild cats, which became extinct in Britain about 1,300 years ago as a result of hunting and habitat loss, could be returned to the area. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Australia selects Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for $6.5B warship deal

Australia says it has accepted a Japanese company's bid for a lucrative and hotly contested contract to build Australian naval vessels, expected to be worth 10 billion Australian dollars ($6.5 billion)

Economics

1 week ago Rewilding group to assess possible return of white storks to London

Citizen Zoo to map habitats in the capital and consult boroughs and the public about reintroduction of the birdsAn urban rewilding group is seeking the public’s views on the potential return of white storks to London as part of a project to see if the birds could make a home in the capital.White storks could once be seen flying in Britain’s skies and building their huge nests on roofs and in trees, but they disappeared centuries ago as a breeding bird as a result of hunting and habitat loss. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba clings to power after bruising defeat in parliament

Japan’s ruling alliance no longer holds majority in either house of parliament

Politics

3 w. ago Japan’s PM accepts ‘harsh’ election result after losing upper house majority

Ballot heaps pressure on Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government just as it attempts to negotiate deal to avert Trump tariffs Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s future was unclear on Monday after his coalition lost its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a rightwing populist party.While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October and who has never been popular within his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba faces uncertain future after losing upper house majority

Ballot heaps pressure on Ishiba’s minority government just as it attempts to negotiate deal to avert Trump tariffsJapanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s future was unclear on Monday after his coalition lost its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a rightwing populist party.While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October and who has never been popular within his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba vows to stay on despite losing upper house majority

Ballot heaps pressure on Ishiba’s minority government just as it attempts to negotiate deal to avert Trump tariffsJapanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s has vowed to stay on despite his coalition losing its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a rightwing populist party.While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October and who has never been popular within his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Japan's Prime Minister vows not to quit despite 'harsh result' on polls

According to media projections after elections, Ishiba's coalition was projected to have lost its majority in the upper house, a result that might push him to resign.

Politics

3 w. ago Japan’s PM accepts ‘harsh’ election result as loss of upper house predicted

Ballot heaps pressure on Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government after it lost control of lower house in October Japan’s shaky ruling coalition is likely to lose control of the upper house, exit polls showed after Sunday’s election, potentially heralding political turmoil as a tariff deadline with the US looms.While the ballot does not directly determine whether prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October. Continue reading...

Politics