News in brief
Australia’s second-largest telecommunications provider, Optus, is facing mounting criticism after its CEO confirmed that emergency triple zero calls were unavailable for nearly 14 hours during a nationwide outage on Thursday. The disruption coincided with the deaths of three people, including an......
China has urged Papua New Guinea (PNG) to reconsider a potential defence agreement with Australia, warning that such a deal should not limit the Pacific nation’s ability to cooperate with other countries. The Chinese embassy in Port Moresby stated on Thursday that while it respected PNG’s......
The Australian government has unveiled a new climate target for 2035 that seeks to balance political and social expectations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 62% to 70% compared with 2005 levels, describing it as both ambitious and realistic. The......
The Australian government has announced a $1.1bn grants program to accelerate the domestic production of low-carbon liquid fuels, aiming to cut emissions from some of the most polluting sectors of the economy. The initiative, unveiled by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen,......
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), held last week in Honiara, Solomon Islands, brought together leaders from 18 nations and territories at a moment of heightened geopolitical tensions and urgent climate challenges. The agenda was dominated by China’s influence in the region, debates over climate......
Fears of violent clashes during rallies across Australian cities on Saturday did not materialize, as attendance was far lower than expected. Police, particularly in Victoria, had prepared for possible conflicts following violent incidents in Melbourne last August between anti-immigration and anti-fascism......
Australia has acknowledged a significant rise in Islamophobia since the onset of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the increasing attacks on Australians based on their religious beliefs, asserting that such acts undermine the country’s core principles. Speaking......
Australia is gripped by a dramatic two-week manhunt for Desmond Freeman, a 56-year-old fugitive suspected of killing two police officers and injuring a third during a raid on his home in Porepunkah, Victoria, on August 26. The incident occurred when officers attempting to execute a search warrant were......
Australia would need as much as $530 billion in capital investment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% by 2035, according to new modelling commissioned by the Business Council of Australia. The analysis, carried out by consultancy firm McKinsey, examined three possible scenarios for......
Belgium has announced that it will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York this September. The declaration was made by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who emphasized that Brussels is joining other countries such as France,......
The wife of a fugitive accused of killing two police officers in Porepunkah has publicly urged her husband to surrender, expressing “deep sorrow” for the tragic loss. Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, fled into the bush on Tuesday following a deadly confrontation at a property approximately......
The Australian government has released the results of a long-awaited trial on age assurance technologies, designed to enforce the upcoming ban on social media use by children under 16. The report concluded that while several technologies showed promise, errors remain inevitable, particularly for users......
The U.S. diplomatic mission in Rabat has entered a new phase with the temporary appointment of Benjamin Ziff as Chargé d’Affaires. Ziff, who arrived in Morocco on August 28, 2025, will lead the embassy until the official arrival of the next ambassador, Richard Duke Buchan III. The U.S.......
