Pontifical Swiss guards stand outside the St. Peter's Basilica, in St. Peter's Square, where the body of Pope Francis will lie in state at for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Staff make final preparations in St. Peter's Basilica ahead of the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. People gather in St. Peter's Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state at...

The man has been accused of carjackings, a fatal crash, and shooting a 62-year-old who stopped to help crash victims. Statue of Lady Justice is seen on Central Local Court in Sydney, Australia, on July 5, 2017. Statue of Lady Justice is seen on Central Local Court in Sydney, Australia, on July 5, 2017. AAP Image/Keri Megelus Bradley Donald Towle, 41, is facing 15 charges including dangerous driving causing death while intoxicated, after a violent 30-minute spree on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on April 21. Towle is accused of causing a...

The body of Pope Francis will be moved Wednesday morning to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public mourning for an Argentine pontiff remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace. Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, but the public viewing is largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke. The basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn....

Although the party is in government, it has had to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, meaning it may not have the support of its coalition partners. A women sign is seen on a toilet block at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia, on March 16, 2024. A women sign is seen on a toilet block at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia, on March 16, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times The conservative NZ First party has introduced a Private Members Bill which would define the meaning of “woman” in law....

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck the New South Wales Hunter Valley early on Wednesday morning, jolting awake residents across a wide swathe of eastern Australia, including parts of Sydney and Canberra. The quake hit at 2.55am local time on Wednesday near the town of Singleton, 200km north of Sydney, at a shallow depth of 10km, according to Geoscience Australia. Its preliminary magnitude was measured at 5.1 but was later revised down to 4.6. No injuries or serious property damage was reported but some 3,800 people reported feeling the tremors from...

Dutton says the Coalition will fund its defence plan by axing Labor’s recurring spending, including the stage-three tax cuts. Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at the Liberal Party Campaign Launch at the Liverpool Catholic Club in Prestons, western Sydney on day 16 of his 2025 Federal Election Campaign in the seat of Werriwa, Sunday, April 13, 2025. Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at the Liberal Party Campaign Launch at the Liverpool Catholic Club in Prestons, western Sydney on day 16 of his 2025 Federal Election Campaign in the...

IMF has cut Australia’s 2025 growth forecast to 1.6 percent, down from 2.1 percent. Shipping containers and gantry cranes are seen at the Yantian port at night in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on April 14, 2025. Shipping containers and gantry cranes are seen at the Yantian port at night in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on April 14, 2025. JADE GAOAFP via Getty Images Australia is bracing for a $13 billion (US$8.3 billion) economic hit from President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In its April 22 World...

The vice president said he believes there is much more the two nations could accomplish together. U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur, India, on April 22, 2025. U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur, India, on April 22, 2025. Manish Swarup/ AP Photo Vice President JD Vance called for stronger relations between the United States and India in the areas of defense and energy on Tuesday, as the two nations work to advance trade negotiations. Vance, on...

The prime ministers of the two countries announced that a new joint defence partnership will be drawn up, to replace one signed in 2015. UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, look at drones on a display by SYOS, during a visit to a military base training Ukrainian troops in West of England, on April 22, 2025. UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, look at drones on a display by SYOS, during a visit to...