Good morning, Australia! Today is October 18 and here is your news briefing!
The Mencari readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.
We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.
Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.
Thanks to the unwavering support of our readers, we're able to keep the news flowing freely. If you're able, please join us in supporting Mencari.
Join over 1000 readers. Sign up here.
We'd love it if you could share the email with your friends! Just (copy the URL here.
Today's reading time is 7 minutes. - Miko Santos
Here’s what else you need to know to get going and get on with your day.
1️⃣ Thieves Execute Seven-Minute Louvre Heist, Steal Crown Jewels
French authorities are investigating an “audacious” robbery at the Louvre Museum in which four perpetrators used a truck-mounted ladder and angle grinders to steal eight pieces of Napoleonic-era jewelry from the French Crown Jewels collection. The thieves targeted high-security display cases in the Apollo Gallery, escaping with items including tiaras and necklaces worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Empress Marie-Louise. French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to recover the “priceless” artifacts, which hold significant historical value beyond their market worth.
2️⃣ Chinese Fighter Jet Fires Flares Near Australian Patrol Aircraft
Australia has lodged formal diplomatic protests with Beijing after a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet released flares dangerously close to a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea on Sunday. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles characterized the incident as “unsafe and unprofessional,” noting the flares came close enough to potentially enter the aircraft’s engines. The confrontation marks the latest in a series of increasingly assertive Chinese military encounters with Australian forces in international airspace.
3️⃣ Barnaby Joyce Signals Exit From Nationals, Considers One Nation
Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has declared his time working with the National Party in Canberra is “done,” citing an irreparable relationship with party leader David Littleproud. Joyce, who remains a Nationals member of parliament, confirmed he spoke with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and is considering his options as a “free agent.” The potential defection has raised concerns about coalition stability, though Littleproud maintains the door remains open for Joyce’s return.
4️⃣ Amazon Web Services Outage Disrupts Global Internet Platforms
Amazon’s cloud computing unit AWS experienced a significant outage Monday morning, affecting major platforms including Snapchat, Facebook, Fortnite, Venmo and Coinbase. The company identified a “root cause” in its US-EAST-1 region and implemented multiple recovery paths to restore services. AWS holds a 30 percent market share of the global cloud infrastructure market with more than four million customers, making the disruption widely felt across internet services worldwide.
5️⃣ Australian PM Meets Trump Amid Tariff, AUKUS Concerns
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to address steel and aluminum tariffs, the AUKUS submarine agreement and broader alliance issues. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull advised Albanese to adopt a “strong and sincere” approach, noting Australia’s substantial contributions to the alliance including a naval base in Western Australia and billions in submarine development funding. The meeting occurs amid renewed questions about whether the U.S. will deliver Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s.
Stay informed on Australia's evolving political landscape with our comprehensive coverage of parliamentary developments and policy analysis.
Follow us across all major podcasting platforms and social media channels for updates that matter. Your support keeps independent journalism alive!
For more in-depth coverage on these stories and other news affecting Australia and the world, subscribe to readmencari.com. Support our independent journalism by listening to our podcasts on all major platforms and considering a subscription to help us continue delivering fearless reporting free from financial and political influence.
As well as knowing you’re keeping MENCARI alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting Mencari's
Stay with readmencari.com for continuous updates on these developing stories and more from across Australia, New Zealand, and the globe. Subscribe to our newsletter for daily briefings delivered straight to your inbox!
Got a News Tip?
Contact our editor via Proton Mail encrypted, X Direct Message, LinkedIn, or email. You can securely message him on Signal by using his username, Miko Santos.
More on Mencari
Mencari—for breaking and updated news around Australia and the world.
Podwires Daily—for providing news about audio trends and podcasts.
There’s a Glitch—updated tech news and scam and fraud trends
Viewpoint 360 - An investigative report based on evidence , produced in collaboration with 360info.
Part8A Podcast features expert interviews on current political and social issues in Australia and worldwide.
