A top-secret spy mission, a decades-old scandal – and the Austin Powers-esque saga to lift the lid
Rex Patrick’s latest transparency fight is over what he calls ‘most open secret in the history of Australian spying’ – maybe even the world
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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.
Continue reading...World trekker Karl Bushby’s final push home to Hull – BBC
- World trekker Karl Bushby's final push home to Hull BBC
- After 28 Years Walking the Globe, Karl Bushby Is Almost Home The New York Times
- In 28 years of walking, Karl Bushby has overcome jungle, desert and red tape. Now he's nearly home AP News
- Hull adventurer Karl Bushby's homecoming plans revealed BBC
- Karl Bushby announces theatre tour - with a date confirmed at Hull City Hall Hull Live
Gen Z protests reach Germany as over 160,000 expected at Halloween rallies – Reuters
- Gen Z protests reach Germany as over 160,000 expected at Halloween rallies Reuters
- Germany and France brace for protests on Halloween weekend Al Jazeera
- Germans to join Europe's youth protest wave Yahoo
- Berlin Prepares for Gen Z Protests The Berliner
- Massive Gen Z protests set to sweep cities across Germany DW.com
Are the latest party promotions a sign of a new political trend in China? – South China Morning Post
- Are the latest party promotions a sign of a new political trend in China? South China Morning Post
- China Confirms Expulsion of 33 Officials, as Xi’s Purge Deepens The New York Times
- It can be lonely at the top. And that’s just how China’s leader likes it CNN
- Key takeaways from this week's political meeting in Beijing NPR
- China’s Xi Demands More Loyalty as Purges Trim Party Elite WSJ
Fans voice support on final night of Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ tour
Al Jazeera spoke to fans attending Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ concert after he was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour.
He questioned Thailand’s monarchy dressed as Harry Potter. Now he’s in jail for 34 years
Thailand has prosecuted 294 people since 2020 under its lèse majesté law, with sentences going up to 50 years.
Polish police deployed to top court after head judge suspended
Judge's suspension is part of a long dispute over politicisation of the Constitutional Tribunal under former government.
Retired Michigan teacher released from Russian prison believed he would never be freed
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”.
Continue reading...How has the ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky been unfolding?
Ukraine correspondent Dan Johnson explains the temporary ceasefire in the devastated town of Oleshky.
Trans bus driver fired for wearing skimpy dress and dubbing route the ‘Lolita Line’ — but now they’re suing – New York Post
- Trans bus driver fired for wearing skimpy dress and dubbing route the ‘Lolita Line’ — but now they’re suing New York Post
- Transgender 'Lolita Line' Bus Driver Files Human Rights Complaint After Dismissal Over Schoolgirl Outfit International Business Times UK
- Transgender Bus Driver Files Discrimination Complaint After Being Fired for Wearing Pink Schoolgirl Uniform; Calling Vehicle the 'Lolita Line' Fashion Times UK
- Mini-skirt-wearing trans driver named school bus ‘the Lolita Line’ The Telegraph
- 'Lolita Line' school bus driver is not a victim of anti-trans discrimination National Post
Why AI could threaten much of the world’s digital infrastructure
Volunteer-led PHP, which powers most websites, is increasingly under threat from cyberattacks using AI capabilities.
Democratic lawmakers demand ICE data on detainee miscarriages
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.
Continue reading...US judge orders ethics inquiry into Trump lawyers over golf course case
Judge Ana Reyes calls on US government lawyers to explain contradictory statements about the East Potomac Golf Links.
G20 ‘family photo’ cancelled after protests over presence of Russian minister
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confronted his Russian counterpart at the meeting and accused his government of killing innocent civilians in Ukraine.
Consensus looks elusive at G20 talks after European objections to Russia cancel group photo – AP News
- Consensus looks elusive at G20 talks after European objections to Russia cancel group photo AP News
- Distaste for Lavrov Forces U.S. to Cancel G20 Photo Session in Atlanta The New York Times
- Anand says she called out Russian counterpart invited by U.S. to G20 ministerial Toronto Star
- US scraps G20 photo after European diplomats object to being pictured with Russia's Lavrov Yahoo
- G20 photo scrapped amid tensions over Russian foreign minister’s presence CNN
Europe Is Now Seriously Rethinking Its Oil Refinery Phase Down – Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com
- Europe Is Now Seriously Rethinking Its Oil Refinery Phase Down Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com
- Europe needs more oil refineries to weather energy shocks, EU warns Euronews.com
- Six Governments Just Admitted You Can’t Substitute Crude for Diesel Energy News Beat
- Brussels softens energy stance eKathimerini.com
- Jørgensen: Winter to be difficult for EU citizens, economy Balkan Green Energy News
China Scoops Up Data That Could Aid Its Forces in Waters Around Taiwan – WSJ
- China Scoops Up Data That Could Aid Its Forces in Waters Around Taiwan WSJ
- Taiwan flags 'obvious' threat from 50 Chinese vessels in wide sweep of waters Reuters
- Warship activity signals Beijing ambitions: analysts Taipei Times
- China & Taiwan Update, October 27, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- Six Chinese Aircraft and Seven Ships Detected Around Taiwan; Five Aircraft Enter ADIZ Мілітарний
U.S. approves $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine – NBC News
- U.S. approves $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine NBC News
- US approves potential $2.1 billion sale of scarce Patriot missiles to Ukraine | CNN Politics CNN
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy praises US over $2.1bn Patriot missile deal but warns it could take years The Guardian
- NATO Military Chief Sees No Delays to Patriot Deliveries to Kyiv Bloomberg.com
- Zelensky presses U.S. for more urgent shipments of Patriot missiles for Ukraine The Washington Post
Crypto giant Binance attempting to recover $6.3bn stolen in hack linked to North Korea
The cyber-attack, which the company describes as complex, is believed to be the largest ever of its kind.