Victorian public servants hid up to A$285m in Covid grant losses, watchdog finds
Senior Victorian public servants concealed the scale of losses from Covid-19 business support grants paid to ineligible businesses, according to a report by the state's anti-corruption watchdog. The findings relate to the former Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and were tabled in parliament on Thursday. The report says the suspected loss could be as high as A$285m, after an estimated A$257m had already been paid to about 9,000 ineligible businesses during the pandemic.The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission said the conduct was not a one-off mistake or an oversight. It found that decisions were made to withhold information about the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Oct 2026 03:59 LONDON
Sponsored
EU Council approves conclusions on democratic participation and societal resilience
The Council has approved conclusions on inclusive democratic participation and societal and community resilience, acting at the initiative of the Irish presidency. The text is framed as a follow-up to the Commission's communication on a European Democracy Shield and focuses on strengthening democratic resilience across the EU. The conclusions call for more inclusive and transparent decision-making, stronger public trust in democratic institutions, and closer cooperation at EU level to tackle citizens' disengagement. They also emphasize support for civil society engagement and cite the need to protect democracy as central to the Union. The Council urges the Commission to ensure proper... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 15 Oct 2026 00:30 LONDON
Zelensky meets Andy Burnham at Downing Street amid Ukraine support push
Volodymyr Zelensky met Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street on Wednesday as Ukraine sought to shore up support from European allies five years into Russia's war. The meeting took place at No 10 and included a military ceremonial guard for the Ukrainian president, which was described as thought to be a first for a foreign leader. Burnham used the meeting to signal continued British backing for Kyiv at a time of renewed pressure on Ukraine's energy system and wider diplomatic strain.Burnham told Zelensky that Britain would "forever stand by you" and said he was accelerating the delivery of air... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Oct 2026 22:59 LONDON
Day News Recap: Ukraine under fresh attack as Hormuz tensions rise and markets turn mixed
Russia intensified pressure on Ukraine with overnight strikes on Kyiv and other cities, killing at least one person, injuring more than 20 and damaging power infrastructure, while separate attacks left about 600,000 people without electricity and disrupted front line operations after Starlink speed restrictions hit battlefield communications. 🔗 🔗The wider war damage is also spreading beyond the capital, with the UN saying recent Russian attacks in Kyiv and Kharkiv killed and injured civilians and damaged homes, and with Ukraine’s landmine contamination growing as deminers increasingly rely on drones and artificial intelligence to clear dangerous areas. 🔗 🔗In Europe, the UK... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 14 Oct 2026 18:24 LONDON
Sponsored
Noontime News Recap: Ukraine hit by power cuts and Starlink disruption as Middle East and Congo tensions rise
Russian strikes have left about 600,000 people without power in Ukraine, while Kyiv said overnight restrictions on Starlink terminals disrupted several military missions and badly affected logistics on the front line. The outages came as Ukraine also reported that battlefield communications were hit by the speed limits on the satellite network. đź”— đź”—In a separate boost for Kyiv, the European Commission disbursed EUR 2.86 billion under the defence component of the EUR 90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The payment was announced as Ukraine continued to face pressure from Russian attacks and communications disruption. đź”—In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 14 Oct 2026 12:20 LONDON
European Commission disburses EUR 2.86 billion to Ukraine for defence needs
The European Commission has disbursed EUR 2.86 billion to Ukraine under the defence component of the EUR 90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The payment was announced as a direct funding transfer for Ukraine's defence effort. According to the source, the money is earmarked for drones, air defence systems, missiles, radars, electronic warfare systems and ammunition. No additional breakdown was provided on how the funds will be allocated across those categories. The text gives no further detail on delivery schedules, recipients, or battlefield effects. It states only that the disbursement is for Ukraine and that the listed items are intended to... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 14 Oct 2026 10:31 LONDON
Drone attack off Bulgaria sinks ship as 11 remain missing, officials say
Bulgarian authorities have reported a fresh maritime security incident in the Black Sea, saying two merchant vessels were struck off the country's coast and one later sank. The developments have intensified concern over spillover from the war in Ukraine into waters used by commercial shipping. Officials said the incident took place on Tuesday near Bulgaria's shoreline, with one ship hit east of Byala and the other sinking further north near Krapets.The presidency said the Ukrainian-owned cargo ship Chelsea 3 was hit by three aerial drones, and all 15 crew members aboard were rescued. The Bulgarian interior ministry said the second... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Oct 2026 17:29 LONDON
Iran and Saudi Arabia hold first public contact since Houthi escalation over Yemen
Iran and Saudi Arabia have held their first publicly reported contact since the Houthi escalation intensified, with both sides discussing the conflict in Yemen and efforts to reduce tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Sunday, according to the supplied material. Tehran also offered to help facilitate talks between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah.The call came after deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Riyadh's international airport over the weekend that killed 14 people and wounded hundreds, according to the supplied row.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 12 Oct 2026 16:34 LONDON
Sponsored
Slovenia referendum rejects bill expanding parliamentary inquiry powers
Slovenian voters have narrowly rejected a government bill that would have expanded the powers of parliamentary inquiry commissions, in a binding referendum that dealt a setback to Prime Minister Janez Jansa's reform agenda. With 99% of votes counted, 51% of voters opposed the proposal and 49% supported it. The result came after a campaign in which opponents accused the government of pushing an authoritarian measure.The proposal would have required people summoned before parliamentary inquiries to appear immediately, without the right to challenge the summons in court until the commission had finished its work. Critics argued that this could have forced... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 11 Oct 2026 23:30 LONDON
US, Europe and Ukraine hold Miami talks on joint plan to end war as winter nears
US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami on Friday in a renewed diplomatic push to seek a common proposal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The talks were described by US envoy Steve Witkoff as "constructive" and focused on ways to de-escalate the conflict before winter. Witkoff said the meeting brought together the E3, the European Commission, Ukraine and NATO.According to Witkoff, the discussions covered energy resilience, grain exports, security guarantees and longer-term arrangements for Ukraine's and Europe's security to prevent future conflict. He also said the parties discussed support for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and economic prosperity, including EU... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 10 Oct 2026 08:59 LONDON
Trump launches new probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook removal case
The White House has announced a new committee to examine whether Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can be removed under federal law over alleged false statements on mortgage documents. The move adds a fresh stage to an already contested effort by President Donald Trump to oust Cook from the central bank board. A hearing is scheduled for November 5, and Cook will be required to appear and answer questions.According to the notice, the three-member committee will review evidence and report to the president on whether there is sufficient cause for removal. It will include the assistant to the president for... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 09 Oct 2026 17:32 LONDON
EU and China reach deal to curb hybrid car exports to Europe
The European Union says it has reached a landmark agreement with China to reduce hybrid car exports to the bloc by more than half over four years. The deal was announced in Beijing on Friday after months of negotiations between the two sides. It is being presented as a significant step in efforts to ease pressure on European carmakers.Trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the talks had been intense since June and that the agreement could cut exports of plug-in and battery-powered hybrid cars by several million vehicles over the next four years. He said the arrangement was the first of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 09 Oct 2026 16:35 LONDON
Sponsored
India artists allege censorship as voter-roll dispute fuels anti-government protests
Artists and satirists in India are accusing the authorities of silencing dissent as online criticism is removed amid growing protests over a controversial voter-roll revision. The dispute has centred on allegations that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is disenfranchising voters, while opposition figures and critics demand scrutiny of the election commission's role. The issue has also drawn attention to the removal of satirical content from social media platforms.A stand-up comic, Brijesh Jha, posted a parody video on Instagram on September 29 after saying his name, along with those of his father and sister, had been removed from a... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 09 Oct 2026 14:30 LONDON
South Africa anti-migrant protests turn violent in Soweto and Durban
Anti-migrant protests in South Africa turned violent on Thursday in Johannesburg's Soweto township and the coastal city of Durban. Cars were torched, foreign-run businesses were forced to close and looting was reported as police moved to disperse crowds. The unrest came amid anger over a Constitutional Court asylum ruling and government efforts to deal with overcrowding at refugee and asylum offices.Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said 10 vehicles were torched in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban. Police also said three people were arrested in Durban. In Soweto, residents were seen carrying groceries out of a shop they... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 08 Oct 2026 22:32 LONDON
Taiwan prepares to restart Maanshan nuclear reactor amid rising AI power demand
Taiwan has approved a preliminary plan to restart the Maanshan nuclear power plant, marking a notable shift in the island's energy policy after years of phasing out nuclear power. The plant, in southern Taiwan, was shut down in May 2025 and is now being considered for a return to electricity generation as early as 2028. The move comes as the government weighs how to meet rising demand from the semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors.The Nuclear Safety Commission said last month that it had finished reviewing plans to restart the reactor, according to the supplied report. That review is a key... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 08 Oct 2026 19:30 LONDON
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 16 Jun 2026 20:09 LONDON
Sponsored
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age In today’s world, where information flows ceaselessly and unchecked, the stakes for migrants have never been higher. Critical thinking is not just a skill, it’s a lifeline. The ability to sift fact from fiction, especially in matters as consequential as migration, is essential for individuals, communities, and the institutions that serve them. The migration landscape is uniquely vulnerable to the hazards of mis-, dis-, and mal-information, collectively known as MDM. The consequences of inaccurate or misleading information can ripple far beyond the individual, affecting entire communities and the systems that govern... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 12 Feb 2026 09:21 LONDON
