Australia raises proposed levy on big tech over news content deals
Australia is moving to raise the proposed levy on major digital platforms that do not strike content deals with news organisations, in a fresh step in its media bargaining policy. Under the plan, companies would face a 2.5% charge on digital advertising revenue if they fail to reach agreements with local news services. The government is expected to introduce the legislation to parliament in the coming weeks.The revised proposal increases the levy from 2.25% and narrows the base on which it would be calculated. Instead of applying to total revenue, the charge would now be limited to digital advertising revenue... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 Aug 2026 02:30 LONDON
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Tokyo Opens Higher as Nikkei Surges, Yen Slides and Gold Extends Record-Style Momentum
Executive summary: Tokyo and broader Asia-Pacific markets opened with a clear risk-on tone, led by a sharp jump in the Nikkei 225 and gains in Hong Kong and Australia. The move came alongside a weaker yen, firmer gold and silver, and strength in energy and industrial metals, while South Korea’s Kospi lagged. The session points to a market still balancing growth optimism, currency volatility and commodity inflation signals. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 03 Aug 2026 01:15 LONDON
Sri Lanka court sentences former officials to death over Easter Sunday bombings as appeal looms
A Sri Lankan court has sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Ministry secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The ruling was delivered by a three-member High Court bench in a 2-1 decision on Friday, after the state appealed a 2022 acquittal. It concerns the failure of senior officials to act on intelligence warnings before the attacks that killed hundreds and wounded more than 500.The court found the two men guilty of criminal negligence in connection with the coordinated bombings at three churches and three tourist hotels. According to the case record, an... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Aug 2026 17:04 LONDON
UK announces £8.4 billion investment in Dreadnought nuclear submarines
The United Kingdom has announced an £8.4 billion investment in the next phase of its Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine programme. The funding is intended to support the build-out of the country's nuclear deterrent and the work needed to bring the first boat, HMS Dreadnought, through sea trials. Officials said the submarine is expected to be ready to enter service with the Royal Navy in the early 2030s.According to the supplied material, BAE Systems is set to receive £5.9 billion of the package, with the rest going to the wider supply chain. The government said the investment would deliver jobs and opportunities... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 31 Jul 2026 08:08 LONDON
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H5N1 bird flu detected at Kangaroo Island seal site, prompting tour pause
H5N1 bird flu has been detected at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, raising concern for the endangered Australian sea lion population that breeds there. Authorities have temporarily paused beach tours at the site as a precaution to reduce human proximity. The detection has prompted marine experts to consider what additional steps, if any, could help protect animals vulnerable to the virus.The confirmed case was reported at Seal Bay, on the island's southern coastline, which is described as a critical breeding site for the species. Wayne Boardman of Adelaide University's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences said the virus is almost... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Jul 2026 21:00 LONDON
Australian police uniforms and badges sold on Chinese e-commerce sites raise impersonation concerns
Australian police uniforms, caps, badges and insignias have been found for sale on Chinese online retail sites, with some listings appearing close to the real items worn by officers in several states. The products identified include gear linked to Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland police, as well as Australian Border Force clothing. The findings have raised concerns about the potential for impersonation and misuse.The items were identified on three retailers on a major Chinese e-commerce platform and on one independent Chinese website. According to the material reviewed, the sellers described the goods as real police items rather than... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Jul 2026 20:02 LONDON
Parents of Australian facing possible death penalty in Syria question confession
The family of an Australian man detained in Syria has publicly questioned the case against him, saying they have seen no documents explaining the charges and have had no direct access to him. Patrick Stevenson, 20, from the Gold Coast, has been held for nearly seven months in north-western Syria after being accused of the shooting murder of another Australian, Abdullah Glen Charles Burgess. Syrian authorities say the case could carry the death penalty, while his parents say they are frustrated by the lack of progress from Australian officials.Angela Bell, Mr Stevenson's mother, said she was disappointed with her dealings... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Jul 2026 13:15 LONDON
Australia records first helium capture since 2023 as shortage persists
Australia has recorded its first helium capture since 2023 after Gold Hydrogen extracted the gas at its Ramsay 1 site on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula. The company said the testing took place just outside Port Vincent over the weekend. The development comes as the global helium market remains under pressure from a shortage that has affected supply in Australia and elsewhere.The extraction is being described as the first helium capture in Australia since the closure of the Darwin production plant in 2023, which had been the only helium producer in the Southern Hemisphere. Gold Hydrogen said the gas was recovered... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Jul 2026 09:15 LONDON
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Australia confirms fuel excise relief will end at midnight Sunday amid oil-price pressure
Australia has confirmed that its temporary fuel excise relief will end at midnight on Sunday, with motorists set to lose the discount from Monday. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the measure was never intended to be permanent, and the government said it had been introduced in April to help drivers facing price shock linked to the war in Iran. The Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge discount will also end on Monday.The original relief cut fuel excise by 32 cents a litre, or 50%, before being reduced to 16 cents from July as part of a planned taper. Treasury has warned that... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 29 Jul 2026 05:34 LONDON
Wildfire threat closes in on Bordeaux as heatwave intensifies
Authorities in southwest France are warning that a major wildfire remains a serious threat to Bordeaux as a new heatwave builds over the region. The fire has burned through 42,000 hectares since last Wednesday and destroyed 240 homes, according to the latest confirmed figures. It is now about 15 kilometres from the city's outskirts, raising concern for suburbs around Bordeaux.The renewed alert comes after a brief spell of cooler, damper weather brought some relief on Monday, but officials say conditions are likely to deteriorate again. Forecasters are warning that temperatures could reach 40C by midweek, adding to the risk in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 28 Jul 2026 14:03 LONDON
Australia Treasury warns Middle East war could worsen economic pressure
Australia's Treasury has warned that the economic risks from the continuation of the war in the Middle East are increasing. The warning comes as the federal government weighs whether to extend fuel excise relief into August. It also lands just days before the latest inflation figures are due, ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's next board meeting.Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said the government is monitoring developments closely and has not ruled out extending the discount on petrol and diesel. The current relief, worth about 16 cents per litre, is due to end on Sunday after a previous three-month cut... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 27 Jul 2026 21:05 LONDON
NSW police push back on arming Jewish security group as royal commission hears evidence
New evidence to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has sharpened the debate over whether the Jewish Community Security Group should be allowed to carry guns at public events. New South Wales police deputy commissioner David Hudson told the inquiry that protection of the community is the responsibility of police, not private groups, and warned that special security privileges for one community could be seen as favouritism. His evidence came as the commission continued hearing from witnesses about how Jewish institutions and gatherings should be protected after the Bondi terror attack.Hudson said his preferred option was a user-pays... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 27 Jul 2026 09:29 LONDON
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The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 06 Mar 2026 17:20 LONDON
