Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers celebrated three years in power on Wednesday with a military parade paying homage to their homemade bombs used in war, fighter aircraft and goose-stepping security forces. The Taliban’s armed forces towed Soviet-era tanks and artillery pieces through the former US air base in Bagram, where Chinese and Iranian diplomats were among hundreds … Read more
Climate change may have played a part in the latest massive wildfire just outside Athens, but some critics blame inadequate equipment and lack of planning for what has become an annual crisis. The wildfire, which started on Sunday in Varnavas, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the capital, had by Tuesday killed one woman, caused widespread … Read more
Australia’s corporate watchdog Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is suing the country’s main stock exchange, ASX, alleging that it misled the public about the upgrade of the post-trading clearing house platform, known as CHESS. In 2015, the ASX planned to digitalize the trading system by switching to a blockchain-based clearing and settlement platform. ASX … Read more
Equities marched higher Wednesday after hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month were boosted by data showing US wholesale prices rose less than forecast last month. However, Tokyo went into retreat after news that the Japanese prime minister would not seek re-election as his party’s leader next month, bringing an end to … Read more
While France basks in the glow of the dazzling Paris Olympics, French football is trying to shake off a hangover from its own disastrous summer as the first Ligue 1 season of the post-Kylian Mbappe era begins this weekend. A year after the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar, Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain too, signing … Read more
Greek emergency services fought back Tuesday against a massive wildfire that scorched the Athens suburbs, killing a woman, causing widespread damage and sending thousands of people fleeing from their homes. A fire department spokesperson told AFP that “pockets of flame” were being dealt with but there were no longer “areas of particular concern”. Hundreds of … Read more
Ukraine said Tuesday that its troops had advanced further into Russia’s Kursk region and now control 74 settlements after launching a surprise cross-border incursion a week ago. Ukrainian forces entered Russia’s Kursk region last Tuesday and have taken dozens of settlements in the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War … Read more
In a bid to rein in the soaring costs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) minister, Bill Shorten, has warned states that the government will “rip the Band-Aid off” to enforce reforms that will lead to “less-intensive” foundational support. In a National Press Club address Tuesday, Shorten expressed willingness to work with states and territories … Read more
The Australian government will introduce legislations that will grant the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) “express power” to investigate former agency heads for alleged breaches of the APS Code of Conduct, with retrospective effect. To ensure accountability of former senior public service leaders following the Royal Commission inquiry into the Robodebt Scheme, the federal government … Read more
AFP Australian recruitment website SEEK has reported a 20% drop in job advertisements, which has resulted in a 13% decline in its annual earnings — a reduction that intensified competition among jobseekers, as there were fewer roles available. The recruitment company’s stock price fell 8.5%, causing a loss of AU$600 million, as SEEK’s CEO, Ian … Read more
