Site-Wide Activity

‘Diabolical’: why Australia’s teacher shortages are among the worst in the world – and who is suffering most

Regional and disadvantaged schools are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with almost two-thirds of teachers reporting high levels of stress

Mathew Burt has been principal at Broome Senior High School for less than a decade, yet he’s on…[Read more]

ATO is paying private debt collector $42m to pursue taxpayers, including welfare recipients

The tax office’s increased reliance on Recoveriescorp has coincided with a spike in complaints to the watchdog

The Australian Taxation Office has awarded the private debt collector Recoveriescorp more than $42m in contracts as part of a hard-edged c…[Read more]

United Nations calls for end to US embargo on Cuba, again

Cuba denies US allegations of mercenary activity in Ukraine and insists the embargo is a form of collective punishment.

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly called for an end to a US economic embargo on Cuba for a 33rd year, despite lobbying by Washington that included…[Read more]

US will reduce its troops on Nato’s eastern flank, Romania says

Romania’s defence ministry has said the US intends to reduce some of its troops stationed on Nato’s eastern flank.

Between 900 and 1,000 American troops will remain in Romania, Bucharest said – down from 1,700.

The ministry said the decision was expected and that the “resizing” of…[Read more]

Taiwan worries about US support wavering ahead of Trump’s meeting with Xi

Days before President Donald Trump departed for Asia where he will sit down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday for their first in-person meeting of his second term, the president refused to count out the possibility of America’s position on Taiwan get…[Read more]

Takaichi buys time and builds trust with ‘near-perfect’ Trump summit

A “near-perfect meeting.” That was how one senior Liberal Democratic Party official labeled new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
It’s hard to argue with that, supporters and rivals say. With a successful summit, Takaichi achieved mo…[Read more]

Japan to Introduce Free High School Education Next Year

The Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Komeito have reached an agreement on the framework for Japan’s new free high school tuition program, which will begin in fiscal 2026. Under the plan, tuition support for private full-time high schools will be capped at 457,000 yen, w…[Read more]

Hegseth welcomes Japan’s arms spending increase, says US-Japan alliance key to deter China

Japan has already moved up a planned deployment of its medium and long-range missiles such as Tomahawk and Japanese-made Tupe-12 anti-ship missiles.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday welcomed Japan’s determination to accelerate its ong…[Read more]

Australia’s consumer agency sues Microsoft over 365 pricing

Australia’s consumer authority accused Microsoft of “deliberately” hiding subscription information from its Australian customer base.

On Monday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued the software giant for allegedly misleading more than 2.5 million Australian users…[Read more]

Australia’s tropical forests now emit CO₂, clouding the COP30 talks

Carbon emissions from this one region may foreshadow global forest trends

Australia’s tropical forests are the world’s first to flip a worrisome switch. The forests are now putting more carbon into the atmosphere than they are taking out, researchers report in the Oct. 16 Natu…[Read more]

Indian minister accused of victim blaming after Australian cricketers’ assault

An Indian minister’s comment that two female Australian cricketers, who were “touched inappropriately” last week, should’ve informed authorities before leaving their hotel has sparked a row with many accusing him of victim blaming.

The incident occurred in Indore in…[Read more]

Trump administration plans new probe into global drug pricing, FT reports

President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing a new probe into drug pricing practices among U.S. trading partners, a move that would lay the ground for fresh tariffs, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Reuters could…[Read more]

Democrats call on ‘disengaged’ Trump to get involved to end shutdown

The top two Democratic leaders have requested a meeting with Trump after the last one went sideways. Some Republicans say it wouldn’t hurt for him to engage more but doubt he will.

As the government shutdown crosses the three-week mark, Democrats are increasingly calling on…[Read more]

Trump reiterates India will cut Russian oil after Modi call

US President Donald Trump has reiterated that India has agreed to reduce its purchase of Russian crude.

Trump said Indian PM Narendra Modi had assured him during a phone call on Tuesday that Delhi “was not going to buy much oil from Russia” as he too “wants the war end with…[Read more]

Shizuoka Studies Yamanashi’s Approach to Managing Overtourism on Mt. Fuji

The Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly’s special committee on the preservation and proper use of Mt. Fuji held its fourth meeting on October 21st, hearing from officials of Fujiyoshida City in neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture about their initiatives to curb “bullet climb…[Read more]

Japan’s new PM is preparing large economic stimulus to tackle inflation, sources say

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing an economic stimulus package that is likely to exceed last year’s $92 billion to help households tackle inflation, government sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.
The package of more than 13.9…[Read more]

Takaichi’s choice: revolution, reform or regression

Without bold action, the new prime minister will lack the momentum for enduring leadership

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stands at a crossroads. Her choices will define not only her legacy but the nation’s trajectory for the next decade and beyond.
As the country’s first female…[Read more]

Victoria’s top cop Mike Bush apologises for using police helicopter to fly to Tasmania

Victoria’s top cop has apologised for making the “wrong decision” to take a police helicopter to Tasmania to attend a work conference.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush travelled to Hobart via a Victoria Police Air Wing on Monday afternoon for the annual A…[Read more]

Australian PM defends ambassador to US after Trump run-in

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly defended his ambassador to the US after Donald Trump said he did not like the diplomat during a meeting at the White House.

On Monday, Trump was asked about Kevin Rudd, a former prime minister turned ambassador to the US, who wrote…[Read more]

China accuses Australia of covering up South China Sea airspace incursion

China and Australia have traded accusations over an incident Australia said involved a Chinese jet releasing flares.

China has accused Australia of covering up an incursion into Chinese airspace in response to Canberra’s earlier claims about an “unsafe and unp…[Read more]