France outlaws street harassment

French lawmakers have voted to outlaw street harassers, with on the spot fines of up to $1180 Australian dollars for aggressive cat-callers.

The legislation aims to address sexual violence after a man attacked a young woman when she responded to his inappropriate remarks outside of a Paris cafe.

Minister for Gender Equality Marlene Schiappa said that previously street harassment had not been punished, but the new legislation will punish future offenders appropriately.

Sweden’s highest peak melts; researchers blame climate change

A glacier on Sweden's Kebnekaise mountain is no longer the country's highest point following record high Arctic melt.

Researches have been measuring the peak since 1880, and have found it melting by one meter every year for the past two decades. Since July 2nd it has lost four meters of snow.

Stockholm University researchers have attributed climate change to the weather event and are amongst many expressing concern of high temperatures, some of which have triggered wildfires across the country.

Australian firefighters deployed as California bushfires Intensify

Almost 200 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand will head to the US today to be deployed in California and its neighbouring states, Oregon and Washington, as bushfires intensify.

The team includes fire management specialists and helicopter pilots.

Dangerously low percentages of fire containment caused the US authorities to search for Australian assistance because of our familiarity with bushfires.

Australian journalist returns home after Israeli detention

Australian journalist, Chris Graham, has arrived home after being detained by Israeli authorities for being part of the latest attempt to break the Gaza blockade.

Mr Graham boarded the Al-Awda, a fishing boat leading the “freedom flotilla”, in Italy about a week earlier to report on the activists’ journey and the plight of Palestinians trapped in Gaza.

He said the event created an amazing, compelling story.