Australia has announced a significant increase in its student visa application fee, raising it to AUD 2,000, effective July 1, 2025. This sharp hike, now making Australia the most expensive destination for student visas among major English-speaking countries, is expected to generate AUD 760 million over the next four years. The government justifies this increase as part of its efforts to manage the growing international education sector sustainably, ensuring equi

West Indies white-ball skipper Shai Hope has been recalled to the national Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia, beginning June 25 in Bridgetown. The announcement came on Tuesday as part of a 16-member squad named for the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Hope, who last played Test cricket in 2021, returns on the back of consistent performances in limited-overs formats. The

Ange Postecoglou has brought long-awaited glory to Tottenham Hotspur by guiding the club to their first major trophy in 17 years, winning the UEFA Europa League with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final held in Bilbao. The win not only ended Spurs’ trophy drought but also sparked celebrations across Australia, where Postecoglou is being hailed as a trailblazer for the next generation of Australian football coaches. Despite a lackluster domestic season that has lef

As more Australians face chronic pain, a growing number are turning to medicinal cannabis. Since regulatory changes in 2016, over 700,000 product approvals have been issued with nearly half aimed at treating non-cancer-related chronic pain. Despite the increasing popularity, both patients and clinicians are asking: how effective is medicinal cannabis for chronic pain, and what are the risks? Medicinal cannabis includes products derived from the cannabis plant, such as THC (tetrahydr

India has strongly rejected Pakistan's recent accusations of "sponsoring terrorism," following Islamabad's attempt to blame New Delhi for backing terror activities. The statement came in response to Pakistan's allegations linked to the recent Balochistan train attack, which claimed the lives of 21 passengers. However, Pakistan stopped short of directly linking India to the attack, instead shifting blame toward Afghanistan. In a firm response, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperso

Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has found himself at the center of controversy after a Muslim cleric criticized him for not observing a fast during India’s semi-final match against Australia in the Champions Trophy. The match, held during the holy month of Ramzan, saw Shami performing exceptionally well, yet his choice to not fast drew sharp reactions from religious figures.The remarks came from Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, who strongly c

As India and Australia arrived at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the much-anticipated semi-final match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, excitement among fans was at an all-time high. Cricket enthusiasts turned out in large numbers to support Team India, expressing confidence in their chances against the defending champions.One enthusiastic fan shared their optimism, saying, "We are very excited... I feel this is India's payback time to Australia. We want to support

Lahore: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has set his sights on another massive victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as his team prepares to take on world champions Australia in their final group-stage match on Friday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.Coming off a thrilling eight-run victory over England, Afghanistan eliminated the defending champions from the tournament and strengthened their semi-final hopes. A win against Australia would guarantee Afghanistan a historic place i

Sri Lanka’s cricket team pulled off a stunning 174-run win over Australia in the second and final ODI in Colombo, securing a series sweep with a 2-0 victory. Australia, chasing 282, were bowled out for a paltry 107, their lowest-ever total in Asia. The collapse was dramatic, as they lost their final seven wickets for just 28 runs.   Australia made several changes in their lineup, experimenting ahead of next week’s Champions Trophy. Despite using a variety of

Australia’s 2025 Champions Trophy campaign will face a major setback as captain Pat Cummins will miss the tournament due to an ongoing ankle injury. The injury occurred towards the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which Australia won 3-1 in January 2025. Initially included in the preliminary squad, Cummins was ruled out after failing to recover in time. Alongside him, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, dealing with a persistent hip issue, will also miss the tournament. Additionally, a

Australia’s latest Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle is set to feature a new face in the squad, with 21-year-old left-arm spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly making his Test debut. The match comes after Australia’s dominant win in the first Test, where they triumphed by an innings and 242 runs. Connolly, who has yet to claim a wicket in his first-class career, will provide an additional spin option on a dry surface expected to produce significant turn. He replaces offspinner T

In a dramatic turn of events at the Australian Open 2025, Novak Djokovic was forced to retire from his semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev, citing injury concerns. The match, which saw Zverev win the first set 7-6, ended prematurely when Djokovic walked to the net and informed his opponent of his decision to withdraw. Djokovic had been battling an injury sustained during his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz, which became more apparent as the match progressed, especially with t

An inquiry into the actions of British Special Forces (UKSF) during the Afghanistan conflict has revealed serious allegations of war crimes, including extrajudicial killings and efforts to cover up these unlawful actions. The investigation, commissioned by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2022, focuses on the Special Air Service (SAS) and their operations between 2010 and 2013. Testimonies from sever

Afghanistan has expressed its desire to enhance diplomatic relations with India, assuring that it does not pose a threat to any nation. In a statement after the first publicly acknowledged engagement between Kabul and New Delhi since the Taliban came to power, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry highlighted its intent to strengthen ties, particularly in political and economic spheres. The meeting, held in Dubai, involved Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan M

A significant high-level meeting took place in Dubai between senior Indian officials and the Afghan Taliban leadership. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India, while Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi attended on behalf of the Taliban government. The meeting, which is vital for fostering stronger bilateral relations, aimed to improve cooperation across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, development, trade, and security. One of the

On Day 5 of the 4th Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India was bowled out for 155, handing Australia a crucial victory and a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the lone fighter for India, scoring 84 runs before a controversial dismissal ended his innings, marking the second time in the match he fell short of a century. India’s downfall started when wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was caught while attempting a pull shot. Senio

Steve Smith put on an impressive display of batting during the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), scoring a remarkable 140 runs off 197 balls. This century not only cemented his love for the venue but also extended his consistent record against India, marking his 11th century in 43 innings. Smith's innings featured 13 fours and three sixes, leading Australia to a strong position at 454/7 by the end of the first session on day two. Smith's ce

In the ongoing India vs Australia 4th Test match in Melbourne, former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee following a shoulder barge incident with Australian debutant Sam Konstas. The altercation took place after the completion of the 10th over of the Australian innings when both players crossed paths on the field. As they moved across the pitch, Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders, which led to an exchange of heated words. The incident was quickly defused by

Australia is introducing new rules to compel large tech companies, including Google, Meta, and TikTok, to pay local publishers for news content. These companies, whose annual Australian revenue exceeds $250 million, will need to negotiate commercial deals with media organizations or face increased taxes. This move builds on the world-first law passed in 2021, which forced tech giants like Meta and Google to pay for news content shared on their platforms. The new rules aim to pressur

The batting form of India’s stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has been a major topic of discussion in recent months. Both have struggled with consistency, often getting out cheaply. Kohli scored a century in the first Test against Australia at Perth, but both he and Rohit failed to contribute in the second Test at Adelaide, where India suffered a heavy defeat. In the second Test, Kohli and Rohit combined for just 27 runs across four innings. Kohli was dismissed for 7 an