Global Pulse

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  • Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire after Trump announcement

    Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire after Trump announcement

    Just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a surprise bilateral ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, heavy fighting erupted across the Israel-Lebanon border on Tuesday, derailing hopes for a quick end to months of escalating violence.

    The sudden resumption of hostilities came as both sides remained publicly divided over the terms of the deal Trump claimed to have brokered. Per Lebanese official sources, the draft agreement outlines that Hezbollah would halt all cross-border fire into northern Israel, while Israel would end its airstrikes on southern Beirut – a decades-long stronghold of the militant movement. The Lebanese presidency issued an official statement confirming the terms, noting that negotiators would work to expand the truce to cover all Lebanese territory, and the Lebanese embassy in Washington earlier claimed Hezbollah had accepted the U.S. proposal. However, the militant group has never issued an official confirmation of its acceptance of the deal.

    Trump doubled down on his ceasefire push in a post to his Truth Social platform, saying he “hopefully” the two sides would end their conflict “for ETERNITY!” He also claimed that no Israeli troops would enter Beirut, and that any Israeli forces en route to the capital had already been turned back, following what he called a “very productive” call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But unconfirmed reporting from Axios contradicted this public posture, revealing that Trump privately called Netanyahu “fucking crazy” in off-air remarks, accusing the Israeli leader of putting planned peace talks between the U.S. and Iran at risk. Trump also claimed he held a productive call with Hezbollah representatives through intermediaries, saying both sides had agreed to a full halt to hostilities.

    The renewed violence erupted against a backdrop of months of escalating conflict that has already pushed the region to the brink of a wider war. Following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Hezbollah opened its front against Israel on March 2, launching widespread rocket attacks. In recent weeks, Israeli forces mounted their deepest ground incursion into Lebanese territory in more than two decades, carrying out waves of heavy aerial bombardment across southern Lebanon and issuing explicit threats to strike southern Beirut’s densely populated suburbs. That threat sent thousands of local residents fleeing the area this week, with massive traffic jams clogging routes leading out of the suburbs toward central Beirut, according to on-the-ground reporting from Agence France-Presse.

    By Tuesday afternoon, multiple official sources confirmed that hostilities had resumed. The Israeli military announced its air defense systems intercepted two projectiles launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, shortly after the Lebanese National News Agency reported fresh Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple locations in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu confirmed in his call with Trump that Israel would continue to strike terrorist targets in Beirut if Hezbollah did not end its attacks on Israeli towns and civilians.

    The latest clash also comes as the fourth round of U.S.-hosted direct negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese military delegations is set to open this Wednesday, following preliminary security talks held last week. A previous truce brokered in April has been almost entirely ignored, with both sides accusing each other of daily violations that justify retaliatory strikes. The human cost of the conflict has mounted sharply: Lebanon’s health ministry reports that at least 3,433 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, while the Israeli military confirmed two additional soldier deaths in southern Lebanon this week, bringing the total Israeli military fatalities to 27 since the start of the current escalation.

    International actors have moved quickly to call for restraint. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, released a statement urging all parties to respect a cessation of hostilities. In a confidential report to the UN Security Council obtained by AFP, Guterres also recommended that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission have its mandate extended when it expires at the end of the year, warning that a withdrawal would create a dangerous security vacuum. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also issued a statement Tuesday saying nothing could justify Israeli forces maintaining their presence deep inside Lebanese territory, a reference to Israel’s seizure of the strategic Beaufort Castle (locally called Qalaat al-Chakif) over the weekend. The castle, which holds commanding views over most of southern Lebanon, was used as an Israeli military base during Israel’s 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon that ended in 2000.

    Tehran, which has long provided financial and military support to Hezbollah, has insisted that Lebanon must be included in any final peace deal between Iran and the U.S. But Iran’s state-owned Tasnim News Agency reported this week that Tehran has suspended all diplomatic talks with Washington in response to Israel’s ongoing offensive in Lebanon, raising new doubts about the prospect of a wider regional de-escalation. For ordinary residents caught in the crossfire, the cycle of hope and violence has become a familiar pattern. Hadi, a 24-year-old resident of southern Beirut, told AFP he had dared to hope for a period of stability after Trump’s announcement, but “that feeling did not last long.”

  • Watch: Explosion at fireworks factory in Malta

    Watch: Explosion at fireworks factory in Malta

    A sudden explosion has ripped through a fireworks factory located in Malta, leaving two people with physical harm, local emergency responders confirmed Thursday. The two male victims of the blast were rapidly evacuated from the accident site and transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical assessment and treatment. According to early health updates from hospital authorities, the injuries sustained by the pair are classified as minor, meaning there is no immediate threat to their lives. Emergency services have not yet released further details on what triggered the explosion, including whether any foul play was involved or if it stemmed from a workplace safety incident. Local regulators have launched a preliminary investigation into the accident to determine its root cause and assess whether any safety protocols were violated at the facility. The incident has once again drawn public attention to the importance of strict safety enforcement in the dangerous fireworks production industry, where even small lapses in procedure can lead to devastating consequences.

  • Tesla, Polestar sales hit all-time monthly high in May as Aussie buyers ditch petrol cars in record numbers

    Tesla, Polestar sales hit all-time monthly high in May as Aussie buyers ditch petrol cars in record numbers

    Australia’s electric vehicle market has passed a historic milestone, with two leading automakers posting record monthly deliveries in May 2026 as skyrocketing petrol prices push thousands of drivers to abandon fossil fuel-powered cars. New data from the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) confirms that combined deliveries from industry leader Tesla and premium Swedish brand Polestar reached 6,681 units for the month – the highest monthly total for the two brands ever recorded in the country.

    Tesla dominated the historic results, delivering 6,433 battery electric vehicles alone. This figure marks the highest single-month sales total for any brand in the EVC’s entire dataset, outstripping the automaker’s previous record of 6,017 units set in March 2024. The Tesla Model Y alone accounted for 84% of the combined Tesla-Polestar total, with 5,605 deliveries in May.

    Compared to April 2026, the two brands’ combined sales surged 358%, while they jumped 61.4% against May 2025 figures. Year-to-date sales for the two brands hit 15,866 units by the end of May, representing 52.7% growth over the same period in 2025.

    Polestar, which launched in Australia in 2021 and has delivered roughly 8,500 vehicles to local customers to date, also contributed to the record. The brand notched 14% year-to-date growth by the end of May, with its Polestar 4 crossover leading performance with 39.6% year-to-date growth over 2025. Polestar Australia Managing Director Scott Maynard noted that strong consumer inquiry remained sustained through the month, and the brand is preparing for further expansion with upcoming launches of the updated Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 models.

    Industry leaders attribute this unprecedented growth to a perfect storm of financial pressure on petrol car owners, driven by global and domestic market factors. Geopolitical tension between the U.S. and Iran has disrupted global oil markets, with a ongoing maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical oil shipping chokepoints – pushing global crude prices to near $100 a barrel, translating to pain at Australian petrol bowsers. Compounding this pressure, the Australian federal government’s temporary 26-cent per litre fuel excise cut is set to expire on June 30, with drivers bracing for an immediate sharp price jump when the full 53-cent per litre excise is reinstated.

    “Tesla’s record-breaking 6433 sales in a single month, the highest ever recorded in the Electric Vehicle Council’s dataset, shows more Australians are choosing electric,” EVC chief executive Julie Delvecchio said. “When fuel prices hurt, people look for alternatives. Electric vehicles offer exactly that, no trips to the servo, no price spikes at the pump, savings of around $3000 a year.”

    Tesla’s Australia and New Zealand Country Director Thom Drew linked the milestone to sustained consumer demand and the brand’s targeted product strategy for the local market. “This is not an isolated result. It reflects our sustained commitment to delivering world-class electric vehicles and an ownership experience that continues to raise the bar for the industry,” Drew said. “As the EV segment continues to mature and expand, Tesla remains at the forefront, not by chance, but by design.”

    Geographically, Australia’s eastern seaboard is leading the national transition to electric transport. Queensland posted the strongest year-to-date growth at 65.1%, followed closely by New South Wales at 63.3% and Victoria at 61.9%.

    Broader industry data from VFACTS confirms that EVs now hold a 16.4% share of all new car sales across Australia – meaning roughly one in every six new cars purchased in the country is now fully electric. Delvecchio noted that the record sales confirm a broader shift in consumer preference, as Australians increasingly prioritize vehicles that fit their lifestyle, perform reliably, and cut long-term motoring costs.

    “We know Australians buy cars that save them money, suit their lifestyle and perform well,” Delvecchio said. “Record EV sales suggest more Australians are finding electric vehicles tick all three boxes.”

  • Kenyan president defends US Ebola quarantine center amid protests

    Kenyan president defends US Ebola quarantine center amid protests

    NAIROBI, Kenya – A heated public and legal debate has erupted over a planned U.S.-funded Ebola quarantine facility at Kenya’s Laikipia Air Base, drawing pushback from local activists and a court suspension even as President William Ruto has publicly defended the cross-border health partnership for the first time.

    Ruto, speaking publicly on the issue for the first time on Monday evening, framed the project as a logical extension of decades of health-focused bilateral cooperation between Washington and Nairobi. He confirmed that the Laikipia site is only one of 24 Ebola preparedness facilities developed across the country under the partnership, which includes a $13 million U.S. investment in regional outbreak response. He noted that he approved the request — first made during the Trump administration — out of long-standing mutual trust between the two nations.

    The project sparked widespread public anger among Kenyans last week after U.S. officials clarified that any American Ebola patients treated under the program would not be repatriated to the United States, and would instead be held and treated exclusively at the Kenyan facility. The Law Society of Kenya and constitutional advocacy group Katiba Institute quickly filed a legal challenge to the plan, arguing that Kenya’s already overstretched, fragile public health system lacks the capacity to safely manage foreign Ebola patients.

    Kenya’s High Court acted swiftly on the challenge, first issuing an order suspending facility construction and the entry of foreign patients last Friday, before extending that blocking order this Tuesday. Despite the legal pause and widespread public protests against the project, Ruto struck a confident tone in his address, pushing back against critics by emphasizing that all 24 facilities, including the Laikipia site, would be available to treat Kenyan patients if a domestic Ebola outbreak occurs.

    “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. People should relax,” Ruto said. “Politicians should avoid reckless, unnecessary talk that doesn’t mean anything.”

    The debate over the quarantine facility comes as Kenya navigates a series of concurrent domestic crises, including recent deadly civil unrest linked to sky-high fuel prices, a tragic dormitory fire that killed 16 schoolgirls, and widespread public frustration over the cost of living. Ebola outbreaks across central Africa have raised regional preparedness concerns in recent years, turning this infrastructure project into a flashpoint over sovereignty, public health capacity, and bilateral cooperation.

  • Australian sharemarket slips as wage hike and Middle East uncertainty rattle investors

    Australian sharemarket slips as wage hike and Middle East uncertainty rattle investors

    Australia’s benchmark sharemarket delivered a rollercoaster trading session on Tuesday, closing with modest losses after a dramatic late recovery that erased most of an early 100-point drop, as conflicting geopolitical developments out of the Middle East and a larger-than-expected minimum wage hike created widespread uncertainty among investors.

    The ASX 200, Australia’s primary blue-chip index, finished the day down 20.60 points, or 0.24%, to settle at 8708.80. The broader All Ordinaries index fared slightly better, slipping just 3.80 points, or 0.04%, to close at 8966, a near-flat finish. The Australian dollar edged slightly higher, gaining 0.15% to trade at 71.75 US cents by market close.

    For market observers, the day’s wild swings were far from unusual. IG market analyst Tony Sycamore noted that Tuesday’s triple-digit intraday range marked the third such extreme shift in the past four trading sessions, and the ninth in just one month. “This is a clear sign of a market grappling for direction, primarily stuck within a stubborn 8500 to 8700 range,” Sycamore explained. The afternoon turnaround, he added, received partial support from U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks downplaying rising geopolitical tensions that flared up over the weekend.

    Geopolitical volatility stemmed from mixed signals over a potential Middle East peace deal. While Trump posted on Truth Social that ceasefire talks between Israel and Hezbollah were “progressing”, and that a deal to extend the truce and reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz could be reached within the next week, Iran pushed back against the prospect, threatening to suspend diplomatic relations and close the key shipping lane. The conflicting updates kept investors on edge through the first half of the trading day.

    Against this backdrop of macro uncertainty, the technology sector emerged as the clear outlier, driving the afternoon market recovery. The entire tech sector rallied 4.71% for the day, with standout gains from leading domestic tech names. Accounting software provider Xero climbed 7.47% to close at $87 per share, logistics tech firm WiseTech Global jumped 7.8% to settle at $42.23, and consumer safety tech company Life360 notched a 13.25% gain to reach $23.07 per share. Several other individual companies also posted strong gains on new contract wins: infrastructure firm SRG Global surged 16.56% to $3.66 after announcing $1.85 billion in new contracts spanning water, defence, energy, health and education; defence technology provider DroneShield gained 3.55% to $3.21 on a $24.9 million U.S. government contract; and medical imaging firm Pro Medicus rose an additional 10.81% to $160.08 following Monday’s announcement of a five-year contract with U.S.-based Visage Imaging.

    Offsetting these tech gains were broad declines across seven of the ASX’s 11 sectors. Healthcare stocks bore the brunt of the selling: biotech giant CSL fell 1.74% to $92.56, Sigma Healthcare dropped 1.71% to $2.87, and medical device maker ResMed slid 2.07% to $26.02.

    Retail and banking stocks also slumped after Australia’s Fair Work Commission announced a 4.75% minimum wage increase for the nation’s lowest-paid workers. The pay bump came in above current annual inflation of 4.2% and baseline national wage growth of 3.3%, stoking fears that higher labor costs will push inflation higher and force the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to implement additional interest rate hikes sooner than expected.

    Major domestic retailers felt the selloff immediately: Woolworths fell 1.85% to $34.41, Coles dropped 0.74% to $21.55, and hospitality group Endeavour Group slid 1.73% to $28.40.

    AMP economist My Bui explained that while the wage adjustment was a reasonable move to prevent low-income workers from facing negative real wage growth, its broad impact across the Australian workforce could put sustained upward pressure on inflation. As a result, AMP has updated its interest rate forecast to predict a third RBA rate hike as early as November, pushing the peak cash rate for this cycle to 4.85%. Bui added that there is even a risk the hike could come sooner, in June rather than August. Prior to Tuesday’s minimum wage announcement, AMP had projected the next rate hike would not occur until August 2026.

    Despite the overall negative close, investors found some reassurance in the market’s ability to recover from early losses, with the 100-point afternoon rebound turning what looked set to be a sharp drop into a modest decline by the closing bell.

  • Social Democrat Frederiksen set to start third term as Denmark’s prime minister

    Social Democrat Frederiksen set to start third term as Denmark’s prime minister

    After two months of intensive post-election negotiations, Danish Social Democrat leader Mette Frederiksen has finalized a four-party center-left coalition government, clearing the way for her to start a third term as Denmark’s prime minister.

    The Danish Royal House confirmed Monday that the new administration will bring together Frederiksen’s Social Democratic Party, outgoing Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s centrist Moderate Party, the Green Left (SF) and the Danish Social Liberal Party. In remarks Monday evening, Frederiksen outlined the coalition’s guiding mission, saying the government will govern “for the people of Denmark, for the generations to come and for the animals.”

    The path to this new government began when Frederiksen called an early general election in February. The snap vote was called amid a high-profile diplomatic standoff with former U.S. President Donald Trump over Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory within the Danish Kingdom, where Frederiksen’s straight-talking public response to Trump’s claims on the Arctic island was widely expected to give her party a popularity boost.

    When the final votes were counted in March, however, neither the left-leaning nor right-leaning political bloc secured a majority in Denmark’s 179-seat parliament. This outcome is not unusual for the Nordic nation’s proportional representation system, which almost always requires multi-party coalition negotiations to form a working government. Two initial attempts to form a government — one led by Frederiksen and a second bid by former Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, who aimed to build a center-right administration — fell through before the final four-party center-left deal was reached.

    The 48-year-old prime minister, who has led the EU and NATO member state since mid-2019, saw her party take 36 seats in the latest election, a drop of 12 seats from the 2022 general election. A center-left politician with conservative positions on some key policy issues, Frederiksen has built an international profile for her unwavering support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion, alongside a strict approach to migration policy.

    Amid growing pressure from right-wing parties and warnings of potential increased migration flows linked to regional tensions involving Iran, Frederiksen put forward new migration proposals this year. These include a planned “emergency brake” on new asylum claims and stricter oversight of undocumented migrants convicted of criminal activity. Her outgoing administration already introduced a policy to deport foreign nationals sentenced to at least one year in prison for serious offenses.

    While Frederiksen’s popularity dipped during her second term amid a sharp nationwide rise in the cost of living, the diplomatic standoff with Trump over Greenland ultimately gave her approval ratings a significant boost. The crisis erupted when Trump pushed for U.S. control over the large Arctic island, followed by a short-lived threat in January to impose tariffs on European nations that opposed his position. Frederiksen drew a hard line in response, warning that a U.S. takeover of Greenland would lead to the collapse of the NATO alliance.

    Despite dominating the political agenda and government resources in the first months of the year, Greenland ultimately did not emerge as a major campaign issue, as all major Danish parties share broad consensus on the territory’s status within the kingdom. After Trump backed down from his tariff threat, Denmark, the U.S. and Greenland launched technical negotiations to develop a new Arctic security partnership, and the crisis has since faded from public focus. Instead, core domestic issues — including rising living costs, pension reform and a proposed national wealth tax — became the central talking points of the election campaign.

    Full policy priorities for the new coalition will be officially unveiled Tuesday, with the full list of incoming government ministers scheduled to be announced Wednesday.

  • Albanese government allocated almost $9m to defend CFMEU administrators, hearing told

    Albanese government allocated almost $9m to defend CFMEU administrators, hearing told

    The full scale of taxpayer spending on personal security for administrators of Australia’s powerful Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has been laid bare at a Senate estimates hearing, with total expenditures reaching almost $9 million amid credible death threats linked to organized crime networks.

    The disclosure on Tuesday laid out how public funds have been earmarked to protect two successive government-appointed administrators brought in to clean up the union after it was placed into voluntary administration in late 2024 over widespread allegations of organized crime infiltration.

    Michael Crosby, a former New South Wales union official who took over the administrator role last month, has been allocated $5.3 million over the next two years in the 2026-27 federal budget to cover 24/7 protective security services, officials told the hearing. His predecessor, Mark Irving, who held the position for just 20 months, received approximately $3.8 million in cumulative budget allocations for his personal safety.

    Australian Federal Police (AFP) assessments have confirmed that death threats against Irving were not only credible, but came from actors with both the means and motive to carry out the attacks, senior officials confirmed. Most threats did not originate from rank-and-file CFMEU members, instead coming from external organized crime groups that had previously operated illegal networks within the union. As of March 31, the AFP is running three active investigations into unlawful activity across the building and construction sector, and has already secured a number of high-profile arrests linked to the probes.

    The hearing also revealed that Environment Minister Murray Watt received close personal protection for an undisclosed period of time amid the ongoing tensions. Watt declined to share further details about his security arrangements in the public forum, noting that disclosing such information posed unnecessary safety risks. ACTU Secretary Sally McManus also received targeted security provision, but government officials confirmed that those costs were not covered by public funds.

    Watt, who defended the decision to draw on taxpayer funds rather than passing costs to CFMEU members, argued that the government carried a core responsibility to protect administrators appointed under federal legislation. The government’s move to place the CFMEU into administration disrupted the illegal business models of criminal networks and corrupt actors, many of whom held ties to both rogue union officials and unethical building employers, he explained.

    Pressed on why the CFMEU or its membership do not cover the security costs, Watt pushed back against alternative funding models. He questioned whether it would be fair to pass the costs to either construction workers (as CFMEU members) or to the broader industry of building employers, pointing out that the cleanup of criminal infiltration is a public responsibility mandated by the Australian Parliament. “Given the parliament had set up this administration scheme, there was a responsibility on government to pay for the personal protection of the person who took on that role from threats being made from outside the union,” Watt said.

  • Pay workers ‘as much as possible’, Nvidia’s Huang says

    Pay workers ‘as much as possible’, Nvidia’s Huang says

    As the global tech industry gathers in Taipei for the 2026 edition of Computex, one of the world’s largest annual technology trade shows, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has sparked industry-wide discussion with comments on worker compensation, just days ahead of his planned trip to South Korea. Huang’s remarks came in response to questions about a recent high-profile labor dispute at Samsung Electronics, where a looming strike by the company’s union was only avoided after leadership struck a last-minute bonus agreement with staff.

  • Eels don’t name Mitch Moses in potential Origin blow as Bulldogs star misses training

    Eels don’t name Mitch Moses in potential Origin blow as Bulldogs star misses training

    The build-up to the second State of Origin clash and this weekend’s round of the National Rugby League has been thrown into disarray, with a wave of injury updates, unexpected selection calls and Origin selection dilemmas shaking up teams across the competition.

    The most high-profile disruption hits New South Wales Blues head coach Laurie Daley, who faces a critical selection call in his playmaker group just weeks out from Origin II on June 17. Eels star Mitchell Moses, who was in line for a recall to the Blues starting side after missing the series opener with a hamstring injury, has not been named in Parramatta’s squad for their Monday night showdown against Canterbury Bulldogs. Initial assessments had suggested the injury was minor, but the latest Parramatta injury update confirms Moses is not expected to return to competitive play until either round 15 or 16.

    This timeline rules Moses out of any chance to prove his match fitness before the Blues name their Origin II squad early next week. With Moses sidelined, 22-year-old Ethan Strange, who was thrown into the starting five-eighth role last minute after Moses’ injury two days before Origin I, is now the firm favourite to retain his spot in the side for the second clash.

    Over at the Bulldogs, captain Stephen Crichton’s absence from Tuesday’s training session sparked rumours of a fresh shoulder injury ahead of both Monday’s club clash and potential Origin selection. However, the club confirmed the rest was planned, as the side is gearing up for five days of leave following the match. Bulldogs winger and potential Origin debutant Jacob Kiraz, who also took a light session on an exercise bike instead of full training, backed up his captain’s fitness.

    “I’m sure ‘Critta’ will be sweet,” Kiraz told reporters, addressing the injury rumours. The young winger, who is currently in contention to earn his first Origin cap, said planned rest was a necessary move following a string of physically demanding matches. “It’s a long turnaround. We’ve had a couple of big games the last couple of weeks, so probably the best thing is to (rest a bit),” he explained. When asked about his own potential Origin selection, Kiraz remained focused on his club commitments: “I guess it’s always nice to hear (your name in the mix). I know it’s probably the answer none of you want to hear, but being honest, I’m just worried about the Bulldogs at the moment. The Blues had a good win and I thought (Blues rookie Tolu Koula) has been outstanding.”

    In another major selection shock, Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has dropped starting five-eighth Ezra Mam following the side’s embarrassing home defeat to the previously winless St George Illawarra Dragons. Tom Duffy will step into the starting five-eighth role for the Broncos, with Xavier Willison shifting to lock, and Grant Anderson returning from injury to fill the gap left by injured starter Pat Carrigan.

    South Sydney Rabbitohs have received a major boost ahead of their upcoming clash, with star trio Brandon Smith, David Fifita and Campbell Graham all named to return to the starting side. Their returns offset the continued absence of star fullback Latrell Mitchell, who remains sidelined with his ongoing injury issue.

    The Rabbitohs’ opponents Manly Sea Eagles have been given clearance to select Blues winger Tolu Koula, who missed recent action after suffering a head knock in the opening Origin clash. Koula’s Blues teammate Haumole Olakau’atu is also set to return to the Manly side this week.

    Other key selection updates across the league include: Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has been named in the reserves, in line for an earlier-than-expected return from injury; Newcastle Knights will field Fletcher Sharpe at five-eighth after regular starter Sandon Smith was ruled out with a calf injury; defending premiers Penrith Panthers have welcomed back their entire Origin trio – Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo – who were rested for the previous round; and Cronulla Sharks will hand a starting start to hooker Jayden Berrell after rookie Blues representative Blayke Brailey suffered a broken arm in recent action.

  • China cracks down on ‘ghost kitchens’ in food delivery apps

    China cracks down on ‘ghost kitchens’ in food delivery apps

    China has rolled out new regulatory measures targeting unlicensed “ghost kitchens” — unregulated takeaway-only operations that lack physical storefronts — following a high-profile food safety scandal that exposed widespread industry misconduct. The new rules, which entered into force on Monday, require all food delivery platforms to verify that every listed merchant matches a registered physical operating location, and mandate vendors to clearly disclose if they do not offer on-site dine-in services.

    The crackdown traces its origins back to a consumer complaint filed in Beijing last year. A local customer received a poorly made cake decorated with non-edible flowers from an online merchant, prompting an official investigation that uncovered a large-scale illegal operation. Officials discovered the cake chain listed nearly 380 store locations across major Chinese delivery platforms, but operated zero physical outlets, and used falsified business licenses to pass platform reviews. Further probes found the chain outsourced all orders to a third-party order-matching platform that awarded jobs to the lowest-bidding unvetted vendors, with more than 3.6 million cake orders processed across two matching platforms.

    A subsequent national inspection uncovered 67,000 unregistered ghost shops across seven of China’s largest food delivery platforms. State news agency Xinhua reported that these illegal operations and third-party intermediaries had formed a collusive illegal supply chain, with major delivery platforms turning a blind eye to violations to retain market share. One unnamed platform employee admitted to regulators that overly strict merchant reviews would push business to competing platforms, highlighting the cut-throat competition that has long defined China’s food delivery sector.

    The hyper-competitive market has already drawn regulatory scrutiny in recent years. A destructive price war between major platforms in 2024 prompted government warnings over the “race to the bottom” that not only compromised food safety, but also pushed delivery riders to accept extremely tight delivery deadlines for meager pay. In April 2025, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation imposed a total 3.6 billion yuan ($530 million) fine on seven leading e-commerce platforms including Taobao, JD.com, Meituan and Pinduoduo, with most penalties tied to illegal ghost kitchen operations.

    As the nationwide crackdown intensifies, regulators and industry players have rolled out new targeted measures to improve transparency. In the eastern city of Hangzhou, more than 20 registered takeaway vendors have installed live-streaming “transparent kitchen” systems that allow customers to watch food preparation in real time. In neighboring Anhui province, authorities have partnered with major platforms including Meituan, Taobao and JD.com on a new enforcement agreement that uses artificial intelligence to monitor kitchen operations, and offers financial rewards to delivery riders who report unlicensed ghost kitchens.

    This latest regulatory push marks the most comprehensive effort to date to clean up China’s $100-billion-plus food delivery sector, addressing longstanding consumer concerns over unregulated food preparation and unsafe operating practices.