Melbourne

A major outage at Australia's largest telecoms company disrupted trains and emergency calls. Servers at data centres in Sydney and Melbourne were identified as the cause, though the exact reason remains unknown.

A high-profile Melbourne man faces two rape charges and one sexual assault charge in Victoria’s county court after allegedly raping a former personal assistant at his home. The accused’s barrister questioned the victim’s credibility, citing past false allegations against police, while the victim reportedly called him a rapist and punched him shortly after the alleged attack.

Karachi was ranked 170th out of 173 cities in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2026, among the least liveable cities. It scored poorly in stability, healthcare, culture and environment, and infrastructure, with only education showing a relatively higher score. Cities like Dhaka, Tripoli, and Damascus ranked below Karachi, while war-affected Tehran and Kyiv scored slightly higher.

A man scaled the 140-metre-high tower of Melbourne's Bolte Bridge, painted a giant cartoon bird, and demanded a peanut butter sandwich delivered by drone before descending, causing traffic disruption and a police standoff.

PM Albanese stated the India-Australia relationship is more important than ever. The leaders will meet in Melbourne for bilateral discussions, and PM Modi will visit Governor General Sam Mostyn AC.

A third teenager has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy found critically wounded outside a Melbourne hospital. A 14-year-old from Victoria’s Hume area was arrested and is set to appear in a children’s court.

An 11-year-old son convinced his mother to buy a Powerball Lotto ticket after a month of family misfortunes. The ticket, containing all their family numbers, won enough money for a family treat, such as ice cream.

A 15-year-old boy died after being left outside Craigieburn Community hospital in Melbourne with suspected stab wounds. Two teenagers were arrested in connection to the incident.

A Thai airline worker was caught attempting to enter Melbourne with bags containing approximately $500,000 worth of heroin, specifically over 2 pounds of the drug. The incident involved smuggling heroin into Australia.

A woman moved to Australia to join her husband but faces challenges in finding a job due to requirements for local experience. Despite having 10 years of professional experience in India, she struggles with underutilization of her skills and a structural barrier in the job market.

IRGC agents resided in Australia prior to directing attacks on Jewish targets, according to a spy chief. An Australian in Iran plotted a Sydney arson attack, and a former resident led an attack in Melbourne. Tehran is described as viewing Australia as a 'legitimate target for covertly directed violence.'

Forty mayors from global cities have joined a pact led by C40 Cities to promote sustainable development of urban data centers, addressing concerns about resource use, energy prices, and climate targets. The initiative includes cities across the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, focusing on site selection, clean energy, affordability, and community engagement.

Forty mayors from 40 cities worldwide have endorsed a pact to promote sustainable data center development through C40 Cities, focusing on resource management, energy efficiency, and climate goals. The initiative, launched during London Climate Action Week, addresses concerns about electricity and water usage, land competition, and includes cities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Police in Melbourne charged a third suspect in an arson attack on a synagogue allegedly directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The 20-year-old suspect, part of a trio who set fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 6, 2024, was arrested alongside two others. The attack caused significant damage and minor injuries, with authorities investigating a network of proxies linked to Iran.

BHP shares fell following a $2.3 billion writedown on its potash mine. The company's headquarters is located in Melbourne.

The inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke, a nutritionist who died after a freebirth, was halted due to new phone evidence. Coroner delayed findings until analysis of the evidence is complete.

A senior clinician reported a birthkeeper to police the day after wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke died following a home birth without clinical staff. Warnecke paid $6,000 to Emily Lal for a freebirth, and the clinician cited public health and safety concerns despite not being legally required to report.

The article discusses fears among first-time home buyers about potential negative equity due to falling house prices in Sydney and Melbourne. Economists note that price declines are concentrated in the top-end markets of these cities, suggesting first-time buyers with small deposits are less likely to be affected. Factors contributing to the housing market downturn include rising inflation, interest rates, and concerns over the economic impact of the Middle East conflict.

One Nation has moved a fundraising event from a Melbourne restaurant to an undisclosed location after the venue canceled due to planned protest activity. The event was to be attended by Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce, with Victorian police expressing concerns about potential protests.

Orijol Rukaj, an escaped prisoner, fled during his brother’s funeral in Melbourne after corrections staff failed to return him to prison. Police believe he remains in Melbourne six weeks after evading authorities.

Levi’s is suing Australian clothing brand Globe and its brand S-Double for allegedly copying its trademarked design of tags on pockets. The legal action follows a similar claim made 15 years ago against the same brand, founded by Shawn Stussy and owned by Melbourne-based Globe.

Julia Gillard and Anthony Albanese criticize a 'ditch the witch' campaign targeting Victorian premier Jacinta Allan, which features billboards with AI-generated images of her wearing a witch-like hat. The campaign has been active in Melbourne for about six weeks.

An Australian teacher disappeared in India's Punjab state and was allegedly murdered by his brother over a property dispute, according to police. Sunil Sharma, a Melbourne maths teacher, went missing on 22 May after traveling to Amritsar, with four people, including his brother, arrested.

Multiple teens were arrested following an alleged machete brawl at Melbourne's Flinders Street station, prompting commuters to seek shelter. The Victorian government defended its crime laws, citing their effectiveness after the incident.

A Yazidi teen is alleged to have been held by a Melbourne ISIS Bride family, with court details revealing explicit claims of her rape and forced labor. The family is accused of making chilling statements such as 'I bought you for sex and housework.'

Linda Reynolds repaid nearly $8,800 in parliamentary expenses after her partner claimed family reunion allowances to visit his son in Melbourne while en route to meet her in Canberra. Reynolds initially disputed the ruling by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority but later accepted it, citing the necessity of her partner's visits following 'high profile (and false) 2021 workplace allegations' against her.

Select Harvests Ltd. processes cashews at a facility in Melbourne, Australia, and is set to report half-year results on Feb. 25. The article includes a photograph by Carla Gottgens.

A Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll indicates Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is now Australia’s most popular political party. A house fire in Melbourne resulted in one death and a serious injury. The article notes public despair over government performance.

Australian home prices in capital cities have begun to fall, with experts predicting a potential 10% decline in values over at least a year due to high interest rates and inflation. Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra median house prices dropped in May, marking the first decline since January 2025, while auction success rates reached a new annual low.

Heshy Adelist, a Jewish cleaner in Melbourne, removes swastikas for free as Australia faces a surge in antisemitism. He has spent over 1,000 hours on this since calls increased after Oct. 7 and testified before Australia’s antisemitism commission.

Tony Abbott was elected as Liberal party president unopposed, declaring the party is 'under new management' and vowing to support Angus Taylor in leading a 'people’s revolt' against the Labor government. The election occurred at a Liberal federal council meeting in Melbourne, marking Abbott's return to active political life.

An Australian mother is appealing her conviction for poisoning relatives with toxic mushrooms. Erin Patterson appeared at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on August 25, 2025.

A waitress visiting Melbourne on a working holiday was attacked by a stranger who smashed a plate into her face while she was serving customers. An arrest has been made in connection to the incident.

A group of 12 children and seven women linked to Islamic State, held in a Syrian detention camp, have arrived in Melbourne with others expected in Sydney. They are part of 19 Australian nationals repatriated after being held in Syria since the defeat of Islamic State.

Australian activists detained by Israel after attempting to deliver aid to Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla returned home, alleging sexual assault and beatings in custody. They requested a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to address their claims.

A Melbourne psychiatrist is requiring new patients to consent to AI note-taking during sessions, with a registration form stating that those who refuse will be referred to a different service provider. The use of AI-driven note taking tools is becoming increasingly popular in the medical industry. Two in five general practitioners are now using such scribes.

A Melbourne psychiatrist is requiring new patients to consent to AI note-taking during sessions, using an AI scribe to transcribe conversations. Patients who do not agree will be referred to a different service provider. The use of AI-driven note taking tools is becoming increasingly popular in the medical industry.

A Qantas passenger was banned from future travel after allegedly biting a flight attendant on a flight from Melbourne to Dallas, forcing the plane to land in Tahiti. The incident occurred on the QF21 flight, which was diverted due to the man's disruptive behaviour. The flight was en route to Dallas when the diversion happened.

A man was rescued in a Florida plane crash and is accused of smuggling cocaine. The rescue operation was conducted by the U.S. Air Force. The incident occurred off the coast of Melbourne, Fla.

A plane crash occurred off the coast of Florida, with survivors on a raft for hours. The incident took place about 80 miles east of Melbourne, Florida, approximately 175 miles north of Miami.