A top-secret spy mission, a decades-old scandal – and the Austin Powers-esque saga to lift the lid

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Rex Patrick’s latest transparency fight is over what he calls ‘most open secret in the history of Australian spying’ – maybe even the world

A campaign to uncover any documents relating to whether Australian spies bugged Timor-Leste to gain the upper hand in sensitive oil and gas negotiations will be a little less secret after a critical win by the former senator Rex Patrick.

The politician turned transparency advocate is trying to finally lift the lid on the top-secret mission in 2004 that became a public scandal years later after an ex-spy and a former attorney general attempted to mount a case in The Hague.

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World trekker Karl Bushby’s final push home to Hull – BBC

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  1. World trekker Karl Bushby's final push home to Hull  BBC
  2. After 28 Years Walking the Globe, Karl Bushby Is Almost Home  The New York Times
  3. In 28 years of walking, Karl Bushby has overcome jungle, desert and red tape. Now he's nearly home  AP News
  4. Hull adventurer Karl Bushby's homecoming plans revealed  BBC
  5. Karl Bushby announces theatre tour - with a date confirmed at Hull City Hall  Hull Live
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Are the latest party promotions a sign of a new political trend in China? – South China Morning Post

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  1. Are the latest party promotions a sign of a new political trend in China?  South China Morning Post
  2. China Confirms Expulsion of 33 Officials, as Xi’s Purge Deepens  The New York Times
  3. It can be lonely at the top. And that’s just how China’s leader likes it  CNN
  4. Key takeaways from this week's political meeting in Beijing  NPR
  5. China’s Xi Demands More Loyalty as Purges Trim Party Elite  WSJ
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Retired Michigan teacher released from Russian prison believed he would never be freed

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Stephen Hubbard said that only when he was being taken from Moscow to St Petersburg did he believe he was ‘going somewhere’

In his first comments since recently being released from a Russian prison, a retired Michigan teacher said he only believed he would be freed when he got new clothes.

Stephen Hubbard, 74, remarked on Friday that he had heard many times previously that he would be released – but never really trusted what he was told, adopting a philosophy of “seeing is believing” and “actions speak louder than words”.

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Trans bus driver fired for wearing skimpy dress and dubbing route the ‘Lolita Line’ — but now they’re suing – New York Post

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  1. Trans bus driver fired for wearing skimpy dress and dubbing route the ‘Lolita Line’ — but now they’re suing  New York Post
  2. Transgender 'Lolita Line' Bus Driver Files Human Rights Complaint After Dismissal Over Schoolgirl Outfit  International Business Times UK
  3. Transgender Bus Driver Files Discrimination Complaint After Being Fired for Wearing Pink Schoolgirl Uniform; Calling Vehicle the 'Lolita Line'  Fashion Times UK
  4. Mini-skirt-wearing trans driver named school bus ‘the Lolita Line’  The Telegraph
  5. 'Lolita Line' school bus driver is not a victim of anti-trans discrimination  National Post
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Democratic lawmakers demand ICE data on detainee miscarriages

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Demand comes after Guardian investigation found ICE failed to record data on miscarriages suffered by immigrants in its custody between October 2025 and June 2026

US lawmakers are urgently demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disclose how many pregnant immigrants have experienced miscarriages, stillbirths and pregnancy-related hospitalizations while in the its custody, after the agency admitted it lost count last year.

US representatives sent the request following a recent Guardian investigation revealing that the Trump administration is detaining a record number of pregnant women and teens, and at the same has lost track of how many suffered miscarriages.

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Consensus looks elusive at G20 talks after European objections to Russia cancel group photo – AP News

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  1. Consensus looks elusive at G20 talks after European objections to Russia cancel group photo  AP News
  2. Distaste for Lavrov Forces U.S. to Cancel G20 Photo Session in Atlanta  The New York Times
  3. Anand says she called out Russian counterpart invited by U.S. to G20 ministerial  Toronto Star
  4. US scraps G20 photo after European diplomats object to being pictured with Russia's Lavrov  Yahoo
  5. G20 photo scrapped amid tensions over Russian foreign minister’s presence  CNN
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Europe Is Now Seriously Rethinking Its Oil Refinery Phase Down – Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com

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  1. Europe Is Now Seriously Rethinking Its Oil Refinery Phase Down  Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com
  2. Europe needs more oil refineries to weather energy shocks, EU warns  Euronews.com
  3. Six Governments Just Admitted You Can’t Substitute Crude for Diesel  Energy News Beat
  4. Brussels softens energy stance  eKathimerini.com
  5. Jørgensen: Winter to be difficult for EU citizens, economy  Balkan Green Energy News
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China Scoops Up Data That Could Aid Its Forces in Waters Around Taiwan – WSJ

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  1. China Scoops Up Data That Could Aid Its Forces in Waters Around Taiwan  WSJ
  2. Taiwan flags 'obvious' threat from 50 Chinese vessels in wide sweep of waters  Reuters
  3. Warship activity signals Beijing ambitions: analysts  Taipei Times
  4. China & Taiwan Update, October 27, 2026  Institute for the Study of War
  5. Six Chinese Aircraft and Seven Ships Detected Around Taiwan; Five Aircraft Enter ADIZ  Мілітарний
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U.S. approves $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine – NBC News

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  1. U.S. approves $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine  NBC News
  2. US approves potential $2.1 billion sale of scarce Patriot missiles to Ukraine | CNN Politics  CNN
  3. Ukraine’s Zelenskyy praises US over $2.1bn Patriot missile deal but warns it could take years  The Guardian
  4. NATO Military Chief Sees No Delays to Patriot Deliveries to Kyiv  Bloomberg.com
  5. Zelensky presses U.S. for more urgent shipments of Patriot missiles for Ukraine  The Washington Post
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