US Treasury Department eases sanctions to allow sale of Russian oil at sea amid rising energy prices and Middle East tensions
The United States Treasury Department announced a temporary easing of sanctions allowing the sale of Russian oil at sea, a decision that coincides with soaring energy prices following US-Israeli military actions against Iran. The new measure permits the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels prior to a designated time of 12.01 AM Eastern Time on March 12, extending through to 12.01 AM on April 11. This unprecedented move took place against a backdrop of escalating turmoil in the Middle East, as the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory have resulted in a significant... [Continue Reading]
Russell tops China practice before sprint qualifying
George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli to a Mercedes one-two in the only practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix before the sprint weekend starts to unfold. [Continue Reading]
Cambricon, China’s ‘little Nvidia’, to pay maiden dividend after profitable 2025
Cambricon Technologies, a Chinese semiconductor designer seen as a potential alternative to US giant Nvidia, will pay its maiden dividend after posting its first full-year profit since listing in 2020. Cambricon, dubbed “little Nvidia”, planned to distribute a cash dividend of 15 yuan (US$2.2) for every 10 shares held, totalling more than 632 million yuan, according to its filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Thursday. Another 20 million yuan would be allocated for share buy-backs, taking... [Continue Reading]
US temporarily allows sale of some Russian oil
The United States is temporarily allowing the sale of Russian oil that is at sea, the Treasury Department said, as energy prices soared after US-Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into war. [Continue Reading]
Gap in WA bikie laws makes it easier for paedophiles to associate
Changes in Western Australia's anti-consorting laws have had the unintended consequence of making it easier for convicted child sex offenders to associate with each other. [Continue Reading]
Philippines urges Asean to be global investment safe haven as Middle East war rages
Asean should position itself as a safe haven for investment amid worsening global volatility, the host country said as the region’s economic ministers kicked off their meeting in Manila on Friday. “Let us ensure that Asean remains a region where investment is met with certainty and where cooperation creates genuine opportunity for our people,” Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in her opening speech. Energy and financial markets worldwide have been upended with the Iran war in its... [Continue Reading]
Childcare centre fined $15,000 over death of child during nap time
The two-year-old boy, who was suffering from COVID and other illnesses, was found unresponsive during nap time at a Fraser Coast childcare centre in 2022. [Continue Reading]
China’s arms imports plummet, Hong Kong couple’s HK$50,000 Dubai exit: SCMP’s 7 highlights
We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Why have China’s arms imports plummeted 72% over the past 5 years? Beijing’s arms imports have nose-dived by nearly three-quarters over the past five years, as it has replaced overseas weapons purchases with domestic technology,... [Continue Reading]
Remains of Aboriginal man returned to Sydney after over a century in British museum, reburial held near Berowra Creek
The remains of an Aboriginal man, specifically referred to as 'Uncle', have been ceremonially returned to Country in Sydney, Australia, after being held in a British museum for over a century. The reburial took place at a secret location near Berowra Creek, marking a significant moment for the local Indigenous community who conducted the ceremony with deep cultural traditions involving clapsticks and smoke. Indigenous elders led the reburial, which was accompanied by mixed emotions as the community paid homage to a member taken from their ancestral land in the late 1890s. The return of these ancestral remains is part of... [Continue Reading]
Will tapping into emergency petrol supplies cut prices?
The country's stockpile of fuel is about to be opened but experts are warning it won't solve the problem of soaring prices or shortage fears. [Continue Reading]
Katherine floods bring back memories of town's fatal 1998 floods
When Member of the Legislative Assembly Jo Hersey stood up for a media interview about the floods in her home town Katherine last weekend, she had tears in her eyes. [Continue Reading]
Former Iranian diplomat Mohammad Pournajaf granted asylum in Australia following defection from the Iranian regime
In a significant development this week, Mohammad Pournajaf, a former senior Iranian diplomat, has been granted asylum in Australia after his defection from the Iranian regime. This news comes alongside the recent asylum approvals for six members of the Iranian women's football team, highlighting a growing trend of Iranian citizens seeking refuge abroad due to political and social upheaval. Pournajaf served as the charge d'affaires at the Iranian embassy in Canberra until at least early 2023, and the circumstances surrounding his defection reflect the broader struggles faced by many fleeing from repressive regimes. Pournajaf arrived in Australia in 2018 but... [Continue Reading]
Rent pause for flooded Aboriginal communities: ‘We’re talking about the most disadvantaged people in the Territory’
NT government says the rent freeze will be ‘applied automatically for eligible housing tenants’ as floodwaters break records in the Big Rivers regionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Northern Territory government will freeze rental payments for public housing tenants affected by historic floods spreading across the Big Rivers region.Monsoonal rainfall has inundated remote Aboriginal communities in the region over the past two weeks. The Daly River area was hit hardest on Wednesday, with Dorisvale Crossing reaching 23.93 metres by 1.30pm, the highest level ever recorded. The nearby... [Continue Reading]
Honda Scraps Plans for E.V.s While Start-Ups Forge Ahead
The Japanese company’s retreat echoes moves by other traditional carmakers as the industry divides between electric vehicle haves and have-nots. [Continue Reading]
China beats US, Japan in carbon-fibre arms race to create world’s first T1200 factory
China has become the first country to mass produce the strongest carbon fibre, which has wide applications for defence industries such as aerospace, drones and robots, state broadcaster CCTV’s military channel reported on Wednesday. The domestically developed T1200-grade fibre has a tensile strength 10 times greater than ordinary steel, yet it is less than one-tenth of a human hair in diameter, according to the state broadcaster. Mass production of the ultra-strength fibre at a projected output... [Continue Reading]
Oil stays above $100 a barrel amid Iran’s stranglehold on Strait of Hormuz
Energy markets remain on tenterhooks as the prospect of prolonged war in the Middle East grows. [Continue Reading]
Pakistan air strikes hit Kabul and Afghan border provinces, killing four
Afghan authorities said Friday that Pakistani air strikes hit Kabul and border provinces overnight, killing four people in the capital. A Pakistani security official confirmed the operation, saying it targeted the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Islamabad has stepped up strikes in Afghanistan amid rising militant attacks, a claim Kabul’s Taliban government denies. [Continue Reading]
Venezuela’s Repressive State Machinery Intact Despite Maduro Seizure
Following the seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces on January 3, independent UN human rights investigators have found that the country’s repressive government machinery remains fully intact. The International Fact-Finding Mission for Venezuela, tasked with monitoring abuses since 2014, reveals that no efforts have been made to dismantle the structures sustaining persecution. Since Maduro’s removal, the government has carried out at least 87 politically motivated detentions, demonstrating a continued crackdown on dissent. This ongoing repression impacts activists, opposition members, and civil society, perpetuating an environment of fear. The report highlights that despite a major leadership change,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Mar 2026 03:54
WFP Urgently Seeks $200M to Sustain Food Aid Amid Rising Hunger in Middle East
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced an urgent funding appeal for $200 million to continue its food assistance programs across about 10 countries in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Escalating food prices, ongoing conflicts, displacement crises, and disruptions to global supply chains are severely stretching resources, leaving millions at heightened risk of hunger. The worsening situation affects vulnerable populations already dealing with fragile economies and conflict-driven instability. Without adequate funding, there is a real risk that food aid operations will be scaled back, further exacerbating hunger and malnutrition in the region. The WFP's call for funds highlights the broader... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Mar 2026 03:51
Former Iranian diplomat was granted asylum in Australia after defecting
Mohammad Pournajaf, Tehran’s former charge d’affaires in Canberra, sought protection in 2023, government source confirmsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne of Iran’s former top diplomats in Australia has defected from the theocratic regime, with the revelations only coming to light this week after six members of the Iranian women’s football squad were granted protection.London-based news outlet Iran International, which is not tied to the Islamic Republic’s regime, reported on Friday that Mohammad Pournajaf, Tehran’s charge d’affaires in Canberra until at least 2023, had applied for asylum. Another... [Continue Reading]
Israel drops abuse charges against soldiers
The Israeli military has dropped charges against five soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee. [Continue Reading]
How long will the cold weather last?
Friday feels noticeably colder. Helen Willetts explains why there's been a change in temperature and looks at how long it may last. [Continue Reading]
In Japan, video of exhausted Takaichi sparks health fears ahead of US trip
A video showing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looking visibly exhausted after a budget committee session on Thursday went viral online, sparking concerns over her well-being ahead of a trip to the US to meet President Donald Trump. Takaichi had cold-like symptoms and was advised to rest by doctors, ultimately skipping some meetings with local Middle Eastern ambassadors on Thursday, according to local media. “Yesterday, the prime minister suspected she had a cold, so she was examined by... [Continue Reading]
Cuba to release prisoners after pope brokers deal
Cuba's government has said it would release 51 people from the island's prisons in an unexpected move. [Continue Reading]
DV attacker photographed victim in court, jailed for more than four years
A man who was found guilty of domestic violence offences and who pleaded guilty to contempt of court for photographing the victim giving evidence has been jailed for more than four years. [Continue Reading]
Trump Targets Forced Labor in Global Tariff Scheme
The Trump administration began a trade investigation Thursday into whether dozens of countries have policies to combat forced labor. [Continue Reading]
Firooza's heart-warming advice for Iranian footballers granted asylum
Having fled Afghanistan as an 18-year-old, international cricketer Firooza Amiri knows what it is like to be a sports refugee from a war-torn country. [Continue Reading]
Breaking: Australian businessman found guilty of reckless foreign interference
Australian businessman Alexander Csergo is found guilty of reckless foreign interference, after a Sydney court hears he compiled reports for two suspected Chinese spies while overseas. [Continue Reading]
Paralympians express disappointment over media coverage of winter Games
The Paralympic Winter Games are in full swing at Milano Cortina, and athletes and supporters have expressed their frustration over the lack of coverage of the event. [Continue Reading]
Ancestral remains returned to Country after a century in a British museum
After almost 130 years, the remains of an Aboriginal man have made the long journey home from Oxford University to be reburied on the Country from where he was taken at Berowra Creek in Sydney. [Continue Reading]
Thousands protest in Athens against US-Israeli attacks on Iran amid rising tensions in the region
In a significant rise of tensions in the ongoing conflict involving Iran and Israel, thousands of protesters gathered in Athens to condemn the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The demonstration, which took place outside the US Embassy, is part of a larger global movement responding to the escalating hostilities in the region. Participants voiced their opposition to what they described as unjustified military actions that exacerbate regional instability. The protests in Athens are emblematic of a broader outcry; similar demonstrations have been seen in various cities worldwide as individuals rally against perceived imperialistic policies. In their march, participants carried banners and... [Continue Reading]
From a new quiz show to a restaurant-worthy dish, we've got your weekend covered
This weekend try an unforgettable feta recipe or get lost in the hypnotic rhythms of legendary desert blues band Tinariwen's new album. [Continue Reading]
The fiscal family: adviser says China’s tax flows should resemble parental ties
The full implementation of taxation reforms pledged in China’s new five-year plan would substantially ease the fiscal strains on local governments, a leading tax policy expert said, while adding that it would not alter the central government’s dominant role in the country’s fiscal landscape. As a unitary state, China’s systematic advantage lay in strong central government finance that could coordinate fiscal resources in a unified manner and redistribute them through transfer payments, in... [Continue Reading]
Oil price profiteering will not be tolerated, says Miliband
Ed Miliband says the competition watchdog is primed to intervene if firms use the oil price shock to "rip off" customers. [Continue Reading]
Middle East crisis live: rescue effort under way after US refuelling plane with five onboard crashes in Iraq
US central command says aircraft lost in ‘friendly airspace’, adding that the crash was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in history of oil markets’How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry is saying that two drones have been intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region.More now after reports of explosions in Dubai on Friday morning: thick black smoke rose over the financial hub’s skyline after what authorities described as a fire in an industrial area of the city-state. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Daly River flood nearing worst on record, with more rain forecast
Flooding in the remote Northern Territory town of Daly River is edging closer to becoming the community's worst on record, with more rain forecast for parts of the Top End. [Continue Reading]
How are rising fuel costs and oil supply shortages affecting you or your business? Share with us
As fuel costs soar and the global economy reacts to a shortage of oil supplies, we need your help in identifying the impacts here in Australia. Whether it's the cost of your work commute or supply shortages affecting your business, share it with us. [Continue Reading]
Middle East war live: Several French soldiers wounded, one officer dead in Iraq after drone attack
A pro-Iranian group in Iraq warned Friday that French interests "in Iraq and the region" would be "under targeting fire" after the arrival of a French aircraft carrier. The statement on the Telegram page of the Ashab Alkahf group came as French President Emmanuel Macron announced the death of a French soldier and the injury of several others in Iraqi Kurdistan. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. [Continue Reading]
Trump administration allows for Russian oil sales as energy prices soar
The move is likely to be a boon to Russia as the United States tries to stem the economic fallout from its war on Iran as the price of crude has soared. [Continue Reading]
The kill line v Chinamaxxing: a window into how China and the US see each other
In China, one social media trend hangs on the idea that a life in the US is always one step from disaster, while another in the US has gen Z revelling in Chinese lifestyle hacksAcross two online worlds that are normally splintered, over the last few months there has been a mirroring of sorts. On TikTok and Instagram, young people are diving into the joys of Chinese culture – from drinking hot water to playing mahjong – all under the banner of “Chinamaxxing”. On the Chinese internet, however, the US is losing its decades-long grip on soft power, and is... [Continue Reading]
Western Australia the big GST winner again despite massive budget surpluses
WA will get an extra $6.6 billion from taxpayers in the coming financial year under its special GST deal, despite being the only state with a budget surplus. [Continue Reading]
US returns for WWII dead of Japan’s ‘hell ship’ tomb in the Philippines
They were killed by American bombs. They were held at gunpoint by Japanese guards who fired indiscriminately into the crowded holds and when the ship finally went down, many were left to drown. Eight decades later, the United States is coming back for them. Hundreds perished when the Japanese “hell ship” Oryoku Maru was sunk in Subic Bay in December 1944. Now, the Pentagon has launched a multi-year mission in waters off the Philippines to retrieve their remains. As many as 250 Americans are... [Continue Reading]
Illegal tobacco retailer's $1.5m fine 'excessive', court finds
The Emerald District Court ruled the initial fine – far beyond what prosecutors had even sought – was excessive and errors occurred in sentencing. [Continue Reading]
Qantas Airways to pay A$105 million for travel voucher refund claims from Covid-19 pandemic class action lawsuit
Qantas Airways has announced an agreement to pay A$105 million (approximately £55 million or $74 million) for claims related to its handling of travel voucher refunds during the Covid-19 pandemic. This settlement stems from a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of affected passengers whose flights were canceled between 2020 and 2022. Instead of receiving cash refunds, these travelers were issued travel credits by the airline, leading to allegations of unlawful practices. The legal action highlights the frustration of numerous passengers who sought refunds after their travel plans were disrupted due to the pandemic. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs argued that... [Continue Reading]
Cuba to release 51 political prisoners amid increasing diplomatic pressure from the United States
Cuba has confirmed its intention to release 51 political prisoners as it faces increasing diplomatic pressure from the United States. This decision appears to be a strategic move to appease Washington amid ongoing tensions. The Trump administration has enforced stringent measures against the Cuban government, including an oil blockade aimed at destabilizing the island's economy. The prisoner release is viewed as a response to these pressures and an attempt at fostering some degree of rapprochement with the U.S. government. The announcement comes during a period of heightened scrutiny over human rights practices in Cuba. The U.S. State Department has been... [Continue Reading]
Churchill's granddaughter happy with his picture being replaced on £5 note
Emma Soames rejected Nigel Farage's statement that the currency change was "wokery". [Continue Reading]
Iranian missile strikes residential area in northern Israel
Video from northern Israel captured the moment an Iranian missile impacted in a residential area early Friday morning. [Continue Reading]
Hong Kong job openings hit 6-year low in 69% of sectors amid AI’s ascent
Hong Kong’s fresh graduates are facing increasingly challenging career prospects, with 69 per cent of job sectors recording their fewest vacancies in six years, a trend experts attribute to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and a sluggish economy. Figures from the Joint Institution Job Information System, a centralised online job information platform shared by the city’s eight publicly funded universities, also showed that the number of job vacancies fell to a five-year low of 30,798 last... [Continue Reading]
Outback pregnancy-to-parenting service calls for funding
An "incredible" organisation delivering pregnancy and postnatal support in Alice Springs is calling for funding from both Northern Territory and federal governments to keep their doors open. [Continue Reading]
Thousands rally in Athens protesting US-Israeli attacks on Iran
Protesters in Athens have marched to the US Embassy to condemn the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. [Continue Reading]
