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Chilling last moments of missing woman before she disappeared

Renee, 42, was last seen leaving her home in Warrenheip at Ballarat, Victoria, at 1.25pm on May 30 with her black cat named Shadow in a carrier.

France seeks way out of political 'fog' after far right defeat

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday was to start efforts to extract France from its most severe political uncertainty in decades after the left defeated the far right in elections with no group winning an absolute majority. "Emmanuel Macron wanted clarification with the dissolution, now we are in total uncertainty.

France's allies relieved by Le Pen loss but wonder what's next

By Matthias Williams and Kate Abnett LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Many of France's allies breathed a sigh of relief that the worst was averted as Marine Le Pen's far-right failed to win a snap election on Sunday but they noted that a messy coalition from a hung parliament could also pose headaches for Europe. Le Pen's National Rally (RN) had been favourite to top the polls, raising the risk of

Leftist coalition wins most seats in French elections, pollsters say

A coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly ahead of France's snap elections won the most parliamentary seats in the vote, according to polling projections on Sunday. The surprise projections just after the polls closed on Sunday evening put President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance in second place and the far right in third.

French and foreign politicians react to French election upset

PARIS (Reuters) -Following are reactions to the upset results of France's parliamentary election on Sunday. The country was on course for a hung parliament with the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coming first, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's centrists and the far-right National Rally (RN). PRIME MINISTER GABRIEL ATTAL "Tonight, the (political) extremes have no absolute majority, thanks

Three children found safe and well after being 'taken in a car'

Three missing children have been found 14 hours after Queensland Police issued an amber alert amid fears they could be at significant risk.

History's greatest watercolor artists

Watercolor is often overlooked as a medium of merit when discussing art history. And yet some of the greatest and most respected artists the world has ever known at some point applied this method of painting during their careers. And there are those whose names are in fact synonymous with this technique, in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution. So, who are the watercolor artists who continue to influence painting today? Click through for a portfolio of artists credited with establishing watercolor as an independent, mature, and respected painting medium.

What just happened in France's shock election?

Nobody expected the left to win, let alone for the far right to come in third place.

Why 'good cop, bad cop' roles for parents might end in tears

When it comes to parenting, some may decide that assigning 'good cop - bad cop' roles can help keep children in check.

French leftist leader Melenchon says left 'ready to govern'

The French left is "ready to govern", divisive hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said Sunday, after predictions showed a broad left-wing alliance could be the largest group in parliament ahead of the far right. Communist leader Fabien Roussel, who lost his seat in the first round, said the left would rise up to the task ahead.

Lithuanians unite in global anthem sing-along, from Ukraine frontline to Pacific

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - From the Ukrainian frontline to the Pacific islands of Vanuatu, hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians simultaneously sang their national anthem on Saturday in an annual demonstration of unity. The tradition, launched in 2009 to mark 1,000 years of history, unites the Central European nation of 2.9 million with its diaspora, estimated in hundreds of thousands.

Endangering the deal? Reactions to Netanyahu's 'red lines' for hostage deal pour in

The PMO issued a statement on Sunday, ahead of a critical Doha summit on the matter of the Gaza hostages and ceasefire talks to be held on Wednesday.

Outer London concerns as Tories lose MPs

There are concerns that with a Labour mayor and government, the concerns of Tory voters in outer London may be overlooked.

'A lot of hope': French left rejoices at unexpected election win

As the first projections showed the left in the lead of France's parliamentary polls, against all expectations, a large crowd of left-wing activists erupted in joy in Paris. We weren't expecting it."

Japan, Philippines sign defence pact with eyes on China

Agreement comes as Manila and Tokyo share concerns about Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region.

Indian Prime Minister Modi makes first visit to ally Russia since the start of its war on Ukraine

India’s prime minister begins a two-day visit to Russia on Monday, his first since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, a war that has complicated the relationship between the longtime allies and pushed Russia closer to India’s rival China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit will include a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, whom he last saw in Russia in 2019, in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. The two leaders also met in person in...

French voters deliver a win for the left, a blow for Le Pen and a hung parliament

By Juliette Jabkhiro, Layli Foroudi and Zhifan Liu PARIS (Reuters) -France faced potential political deadlock after elections on Sunday threw up a hung parliament, with a leftist alliance unexpectedly taking the top spot but no group winning a majority. Voters delivered a major setback for Marine Le Pen's nationalist, eurosceptic National Rally (RN), which opinion polls had predicted would win

Ride-out tribute for boy killed in hit-and-run

Hundreds of bikers take part in the ride-out to display their support for Keaton Slater's family.

Family of American hostage Omer Neutra hold rally on Independence Day weekend

Omer's parents Orna and Ronen talked about his love of sports, how his inclination toward leadership in youth group and basketball led him to defer his college admission and join the IDF.

New PM Sir Keir Starmer has first meeting with SNP's leader

Newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and SNP leader John Swinney meet for the first time since the taking office, with hopes to reset relationship with Scotland.

Disaster averted, Macron still faces trouble ahead

President Emmanuel Macron has avoided his nightmare scenario of the far right coming to power in France but still faces an unprecedented challenge steering his country and the remainder of his presidency through an uncertain future. Macron appeared in no hurry on this occasion to make a rapid and theatrical decision, with an aide briefing media that the president preferred to analyse the full results before jumping to conclusions.

Single detail in Coles photo divides Aussies on who is at fault

A concerned shopper spotted the filthy state of the shelves at the Coles in Melbourne on Sunday and claimed to watch staff 'ignoring it' for about 30 minutes.

Philippines wants to boost rice cooperation with Vietnam to ensure food security

HANOI (Reuters) - The Philippines wants to boost cooperation on rice with Vietnam to ensure its food security, Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said during a visit to Vietnam over the weekend. Laurel visited Vietnam's Mekong Delta province of An Giang, one of the key rice-producing areas of the Southeast Asian country, the province's People's Committee said in a statement on

Accused of witchcraft then murdered for land

A Kenyan coastal region has seen a spate of murders, supposedly over witchcraft but really over land.

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Macron mayhem a wake-up call for all

From having a healthy majority in the National Assembly, Mr Macron's snap election gamble has thrown it all away. His centrist Ensemble bloc is diminished, demoralised, outnumbered.

With Argentina's president skipping Mercosur, the future of the trade alliance looks doubtful

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay (AP) — The most notable thing about the Mercosur trade bloc's meetings on Sunday in Paraguay was an absence — that of Argentine President Javier Milei. With the Argentine populist skipping the summit to star at a right-wing rally in Brazil, South America's biggest trade bloc — politically divided, notoriously slow-moving and beset by backsliding — faces an uncertain future. Milei has advocated for pulling Argentina, a leader...

Elephant in room at NATO: would Trump blow it up?

Western leaders are celebrating 75 years of NATO with an elephant in the room -- will Donald Trump, who could again be the US president within months, blow the alliance up? "You did this for four years, and guess what?

Protesters spray water guns at tourists in Barcelona as thousands rally against overtourism

Tourists in Barcelona were squirted with water guns and told to "go home" by protesters on Saturday. Barcelona welcomed 15 million travelers in 2023.

France shifts to the left, but risk of policy paralysis looms

By Richard Lough PARIS (Reuters) - France faced a hung parliament and the prospect of taxing negotiations starting Monday to form a government, after a surprise left-wing surge blocked Marine Le Pen's quest to bring the far right to power. The leftist New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the dominant force in the National Assembly after Sunday's election, but with no single group securing a

‘Selfish’? South Korean woman who promotes unmarried, childless life becomes YouTube star

Seen Aromi is happy and carefree but her message has drawn backlash in South Korea, which has the world's lowest birth rate South Korea has declared its super-low birth rate a "national emergency" and poured billions into encouraging citizens to marry and reproduce, but one YouTuber has found happiness and success promoting the opposite ideal. At h...

Starmer sets his sights on Scotland

Labour are already talking about repeating their electoral success at the Holyrood elections, James Cook writes.

Israeli army used Hannibal Directive during October 7 Hamas attack: Report

The directive is a controversial policy of Israel’s military aimed at preventing the capture of its soldiers.

Missing girl, 17, is found dead in woods near busy road

A 17-year-old missing girl has been found dead in the woods near a busy road as a minor is charged with her murder.

Notable People who died in 2024

Woman stranded in Greece after quad bike crash

Courtney Boylan was seriously injured when she fell down a ravine and the bike landed on her.

Caring China celebrity couple praised for ending lab ordeal of severely injured beagle

Breed with high pain threshold is widely used in for drug testing research and assessing sharpness of knifes A celebrity couple in China who adopted an injured laboratory dog have drawn attention to the plight of animals used for research. On June 23, Chinese actress Huo Siyan posted a video on Xiaohongshu, recounting how she and her actor husband ...

Can an Israel-Hezbollah war be deescalated?

Every word and every second count; the time for a diplomatic solution is slipping away.

Sister of North Korean leader Kim calls South Korea's live-fire drills 'suicidal hysteria'

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called South Korea’s recent front-line live-fire drills “suicidal hysteria” as she threatened unspecified military steps Monday if further provoked. The warning by Kim Yo Jong came after South Korea resumed firing exercises near its tense land and sea borders with North Korea in the past two weeks. The exercises were the first of their kind since South Korea...

French PM Attal: I will hand my resignation on Monday morning

PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Sunday he will hand his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning, adding he will carry out his functions as long as required. Attal made the comments after France's left-wing New Popular Front coalition won the most seats in the second voting round of parliamentary elections, leading pollsters said on Sunday, putting

Hungary PM Orban in Beijing on 'Peace mission 3.0'

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, state media reported, in a visit the European leader has branded as a "Peace mission 3.0" after recent trips to Moscow and Kyiv. Orban was greeted at the airport by Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, according to a photo the nationalist leader posted on social media platform X. - Major investment - Xi visited Hungary in May this year, for...

Explainer-After French election no party has a majority, so what comes next?

(Reuters) -Here's what may come next after France's election on Sunday looked set to produce a hung parliament, with a leftist alliance in the lead but without a absolute majority. WHAT HAPPENED IN SUNDAY'S SECOND ROUND VOTE? The left-wing New Popular Front alliance was on track to win the biggest number of seats, according to pollsters' projected results, but it will fall short of the 289

Exclusive-South Korea's Yoon to discuss Pyongyang's 'distinct threat' to Europe at NATO

By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would discuss with NATO leaders the distinct threat North Korea poses to Europe by deepening military ties with Russia, warning that Moscow must choose between the two Koreas where its true interests lie. It "depends entirely" on Russia where it wants to take future ties with South Korea, Yoon said, adding

French people reject the far right - again

Voters have turned out in large number to produce a shock result, writes the BBC's Hugh Schofield.

France's elections end up with no clear majority. This is what could happen next

PARIS (AP) — Election results show French voters have chosen to give a broad leftist coalition the most parliamentary seats in pivotal legislative elections, keeping the far right away from power. Yet no party won an outright majority, putting France in an uncertain, unprecedented situation. President Emmanuel Macron ’s centrist alliance arrived in second position and the far right in third — still drastically increasing the number of seats it...

Moment National Rally members react to shock French exit poll

Footage shows several members of the National Rally (RN) with champagne glasses in their hands as they watch the exit poll results being announced.

Britain's new Defence Secretary promises increased support to Ukraine

Britain's new Defence Secretary John Healey meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, telling him that the UK would 'step up' their support to the country in its conflict with Russia.

Driver dies in crash after police pursuit

A 27-year-old man has died after his car crashed off the motorway and down an embankment after a police pursuit.

'I still have hope': Voters react after far-right trail in elections

'I still have hope': Voters react after far-right trail left in French elections. National rally voters felt dissapointed as the leftist alliance unexpectedly took the top spot in the legislative elections.

Monster crocodile's wild act that had wildlife rangers on edge

Heart-stopping footage captured the moment a monster crocodile put Western Australian wildlife rangers on edge as they warned visitors to be prepared to run.

Archbishop claims he felt pressured to abort his disabled daughter

Justin Welby 's daughter, Ellie, who is now aged 32, suffers from dyspraxia - a condition which affects movement and co-ordination.