Truck and train collide in Japan, killing one, injuring at least 34 (Update)
One person died and at least 34 were injured on Thursday when a truck and an express train with 500 people aboard collided in Japan’s...
Oceania
Five killed in New Zealand as bus with Chinese tourists rolls over
WELLINGTON, Sept 4 (Reuters) – A bus carrying 27 people, mostly Chinese tourists, rolled over on a highway in New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday,...
Australian writer held for 7 months in China faces espionage charge
A Chinese-born Australian writer held in China since January has been formally arrested on suspicion of espionage, the Australian and Chinese governments said on Tuesday, amid growing...
Ex-Vatican treasurer Pell loses appeal against sex abuse convictions, returns to prison
By Sonali Paul Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell lost an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two 13-year-old choir boys and will remain...
Australian police investigate report man armed with knife in downtown Sydney
Australian police are investigating unconfirmed reports of an armed man in downtown Sydney, a police spokeswoman said on Tuesday, and witnesses reported seeing an injured...
In New Zealand, young Māori women lead the battle for indigenous rights
Five years ago, law graduate Pania Newton and her cousins got together around a kitchen table and agreed to do everything in their power to...
British pair arrested after £76m meth raid in New Zealand
Two British men have been arrested in New Zealand after police found a huge stash of methamphetamine potentially worth tens of millions of pounds in...
Freed Australian denies North Korean spy charges
The Australian student released last week after being detained inNorth Korea said on Tuesday Pyongyang’s accusation that he was a spy was “pretty obviously” false, but that...
Gunmen massacre 18, including children, in Papua New Guinea attack
SYDNEY, July 10 (Reuters) – Gunmen have massacred as many as 18 people including women and children in a remote village in Papua New Guinea,...
Australian student released from North Korea says he’s ‘very good’
An Australian student who was detained in North Korea was freed and safely left the country on Thursday, after Swedish officials helped broker his release. Alek...
Australian counter-terror police say they foiled Sydney attack plot
SYDNEY, July 2 (Reuters) – Australian counter-terror police said they arrested three men in raids across Sydney on Tuesday, foiling a plot inspired by militant...
Euthanasia law takes effect in Australia’s Victoria state
Voluntary euthanasia became legal in the Australian state of Victoria on Wednesday, with the government saying it had extensive safeguards to prevent the process being...
Two dead after light planes collide mid-air in New Zealand
Two light aircraft collided mid-air on their final approach at a regional aerodrome in New Zealand on Sunday killing both pilots, police said. Four parachutists...
Australian police raids on national broadcaster, News Corp prompt outcry
SYDNEY, June 5 (Reuters) – Police raided the offices of Australia’s national broadcaster on Wednesday over allegations it had published classified material, the second raid...
#KuToo no more! Japanese women take stand against high heels
TOKYO, June 4 (Reuters) – A social media campaign against dress codes and expectations that women wear high heels at work has gone viral in Japan,...
Japan court says forced sterilisations unconstitutional, but refuses compensation
The forced sterilisation of two women decades ago as teenagers was unconstitutional, a Japanese court said on Tuesday, but rejected their demands for compensation, in...
Two killed, 15 schoolgirls injured in Japan stabbing
By Chang-Ran Kim and Kaori Kaneko TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) – A schoolgirl and an adult man were killed and 15 other young girls injured...
Australia PM struggles to meet tax relief election pledge, cenbank urges stimulus
By Colin Packham SYDNEY, May 21 (Reuters) – Australia’s re-elected coalition said on Tuesday it would struggle to deliver tax breaks for tens of millions...
‘Quiet Australians’ are the latest to upset election forecasters
The group responsible for Australia‘s top opinion poll and an industry body for market research will review their methods to uncover how pollsters came to wrongly...
Emperor Naruhito ascends throne in Japan with “sense of solemnity”
By Elaine Lies and Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO, May 1 (Reuters) – Japanese Emperor Naruhito formally took up his post on Wednesday a day after the...