World
The latest world news and analysis from JournalArta Global.
Teacher Strike at Paris Suburb High School Spreads Across France
A teachers' strike at a Paris-area high school in September grew into nationwide protests. Over 1,000 schools have been affected, riots broke out on October 17, and a strike is planned for November 5 as France heads toward its April 2027 presidential election.
Netanyahu’s Bloc Leading Israel Vote, Short of Majority
Partial results show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc ahead of former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's in Israel's general election, but short of a majority. With 85% of ballots counted, Arab-led parties could emerge as kingmakers while President Isaac Herzog prepares consultations.
France Protests Expand as Inflation and Service Strains Fuel Anger
Protests in France that began with student anger have drawn in people frustrated by fuel costs, inflation and falling real wages. The unrest is unfolding amid pressure to cut public spending, a state deficit forecast to reach 5.4 percent of GDP in 2026 and economic strains across Europe. The French government has made initial overtures to students, while the wider causes of discontent remain central to the debate.
Indonesia Students Protest Haze as Palangka Raya Offers Free Oxygen
Forest fires and haze have driven respiratory illness cases higher in Indonesia, while students demand a stronger government response. Palangka Raya is providing free oxygen through a mobile bus, and Central Kalimantan has opened an oxygen house for residents and firefighters. The health ministry reported about 350,000 fire-linked respiratory cases from August to 25 October. Indonesia and Singapore are also discussing a joint task force to address the haze.
Queensland Transfers Ashley Paul Griffith to Face 202 Charges
Ashley Paul Griffith has been transferred from Queensland to New South Wales, where police expect to charge him with 202 offences linked to alleged victims and childcare centres. He is expected to remain in custody through any criminal trial. The transfer follows a court approval and the dismissal of his appeal against a life sentence.
Europe’s Made in Europe Label Excludes Morocco and Turkey
A Franco-German agreement limits the proposed “Made in Europe” label to the EU’s 27 member states, the United Kingdom and Norway, leaving out Morocco and Turkey. France accepted a relaxation of the proposed 2035 emissions cut for new cars in return. The definition now sits at the center of debate over European industry, electric vehicles and the bloc’s ties with southern partners.
Europe Went Leading Iran Diplomacy, Then Lost Influence
Europe helped shape the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and backed a strategy of wider engagement. A 2016 European Parliament report won 456 votes, but its author argues that EU-Iran relations have since deteriorated, leaving Europe with diminished diplomatic influence and a marginal role in regional security crises.
Federal Court Fines Star Entertainment $260 Million Over Money Laundering Breaches
Australia's largest listed casino company, The Star Entertainment Group, was fined $260 million by the Federal Court for repeated anti-money laundering breaches. Justice Cameron Moore rejected both the $400 million AUSTRAC sought and the $100 million Star proposed, and the penalty is payable over 19 months.
Eurobarometer: Clear Labels Lower Doubts on New Foods
A European Commission survey of more than 26,000 people in all 27 EU member states finds Europeans wary of foods made with fermentation and cell cultivation. Price, labeling and how well informed people feel largely decide whether they would buy, the Special Eurobarometer shows.
Israel Election Turnout Hits Record as Coalition Race Tightens
Israeli turnout reached 77.7% by the close of voting, the highest level since 1999, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced rival Gadi Eisenkot. Early exit polls gave Eisenkot’s opposition bloc a narrow lead, but no side appeared to have won a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Final results and coalition talks will determine who can form the next government.
Ceasefire Extended Across Kherson Region to Enable Aid to Oleshky
A truce intended to bring food and medicine to Russian-occupied Oleshky has been extended across the wider Kherson region. Officials say shelling has stopped and no breaches have been reported. Aid deliveries and a planned evacuation are next, while thousands of residents remain without basic supplies and face dangerous routes out of the city.
Australian politics Albanese mulls duress alarms for MPs
Anthony Albanese says his government is considering duress alarms for MPs and a broader response to threats against politicians and their staff. The proposal follows an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines and renewed attention to safety at polling booths. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said election-time polling booth security is also under review.
European leaders welcome Serbia vote, back EU path
European leaders welcomed the Student List’s victory in Serbia’s parliamentary election and pledged support for reforms tied to the country’s European Union path. Preliminary results gave the student-backed list 52.54% of the vote, against 39.29% for the list led by Aleksandar Vucic, with more than 96% of polling stations processed. The result followed nearly two years of student-led protests.
Israel’s Elections Wide Open as Netanyahu Fights to Stay
Israelis are voting in a tightly contested election that could decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains prime minister. Polls differ on which bloc has the advantage, and neither is expected to secure a clear majority in the Knesset. That leaves the prospect of lengthy coalition talks, a minority government or another election as voters weigh security and leadership after years of conflict.
France Protests Highlight Strain on Public Finances and Services
Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday over underfunded schools, rising living costs and pressure on public services. The protests have also sharpened debate about the country’s public finances, with economists warning that demands for better services are colliding with France’s strained budget. A separate report from Paris described clashes and tear gas during an earlier demonstration, while most marchers there joined peacefully.
Australia politics: Haines’s first words relayed to parliament
Helen Haines’s first words after an alleged attack were relayed to parliament, as MPs paid tribute and debated the role of political language. Haines has been granted leave of absence until at least the end of the sitting year. Independent MP Zali Steggall said words and actions are linked, while Monique Ryan criticised opposition leader Angus Taylor’s remarks during the tributes.
Love rat ex-RAAF pilot denies murdering wife in Queensland
Robert John Crawford pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, whose body was found on their rural property near Toowoomba. Prosecutors allege he staged her death to look like an accident and was motivated by the financial consequences of divorce. Four women with whom Crawford had affairs are expected to testify, and the jury is due to visit the alleged crime scene.
Covert Recording Prison Meeting Played in Sydney Murder Trial
A covert recording prison meeting between Beau Lamarre-Condon and a friend was played to a Sydney court, capturing an apology and the accused man’s account of the killings. Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and aggravated break and enter. The friend, whose identity is suppressed, testified that he recorded the conversation on behalf of police during a prison visit.
Recordings Challenge Witness Account in Lamarre-Condon Trial
A friend of Beau Lamarre-Condon told a court he felt the accused was trying to change his account of an alleged confession. Recordings of their conversations have been played to the jury in the double-murder trial over the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty and argues self-defence.
Melbourne Market board quits after chair appointment
The full Melbourne Market Authority board has resigned after the Victorian government selected former Melbourne Football Club chief executive Paul Guerra as chair. Acting chair Angie Bradbury said she had applied for the role and questioned the decision. The resignations take effect October 29, while acting chief executive Keith Louie has given one month’s notice. The appointment comes as the market’s future becomes an election issue.
Passengers Mistake Sydney’s New Airport for Perth, Scramble for Rides
Some travellers arrived at Western Sydney International Airport without realising their flights used the new airport, leaving them to arrange onward transport. Julie Lundmark discovered her return flight from Melbourne landed at WSI, while another passenger said he had expected to travel to Perth. The airport began passenger operations on Sunday, with buses and a free shuttle serving the station until the rail link opens.
Labor promises $6.8b South Coast rail upgrade if re-elected
New South Wales Labor has pledged a $6.8 billion upgrade to the South Coast rail line if re-elected next year. The plan would electrify the Kiama-Bomaderry route, add tracks and passing loops, and fund early infrastructure work. Planning is expected to begin in 2027, with construction due for completion in the mid to late 2030s.
Steve Smith Says Camera Flashes Still Recall Ball-Tampering Scandal
Steve Smith says he is uneasy around cameras as Australia prepares to return to Cape Town for Test cricket. The batter has described the lasting effect of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, including the airport ordeal and press conference that followed. His comments, reported by Yahoo Sports from an interview with CODE Sports, come ahead of the team’s South Africa tour.
France Italy Belgium Facing Protest Anger as Strike Looms
Protests in France drew 410,000 people on Saturday, while a union coalition has called a general strike for Nov. 5. The unrest comes as President Emmanuel Macron’s government faces a parliamentary fight over a proposed 2027 austerity package. Reports describe parallel unrest in Italy and Belgium, but provide no further details about demonstrations in those countries.