More than $100,000 of Lego has been seized in connection with a $27 million money-laundering operation. Two Melbourne men are facing charges over the alleged operation, with the Lego suspected to be the proceeds of crime. A 41-year-old woman was also arrested following an 18-month police investigation. Investigators searched properties in Nunawading and Glen Waverley in Melbourne’s east on Wednesday, …

A brothel in Sydney’s west has been shut down after police allegedly found customers and employees inside, not wearing face masks. A total of $12,500 in fines were issued after police were called to the Royal Asian Brothel on Euston Road in Rydalmere last night. A member of the public tipped off Crime Stoppers, claiming the business was open. Only essential …

Witnesses say at least three people have been killed in anti-Taliban protests in the city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, as the militant group moves to consolidate power across the country Two witnesses and a former police official told Reuters Taliban fighters opened fire when residents tried to raise Afghanistan’s national flag at a square in the city. Three people were …

The limousine driver at the centre of Sydney’s COVID-19 cluster won’t be charged, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says. Some of the man’s passengers included international airline crew. He had not had a COVID-19 vaccine. He tested positive for the Delta COVID-19 variant on June 16, later that night it was confirmed his wife had also been infected. Since then, more than …

Two women have pleaded guilty to charges related to their attempt to have a baby girl circumcised in Perth. The women, aged 23 and 50 at the time, faced court in March after being charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. They have pleaded guilty to conspiring in Canning Vale to commit unlawful genital mutilation. The baby girl was two weeks old …

A 24-year-old man from Sydney’s south-west has faced court after being arrested for allegedly pledging allegiance to Islamic State. Joseph Saadieh from Chester Hill was arrested on Friday following a seven-month investigation by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCCT). At Parramatta court on Saturday, he did not apply for bail but is expected to apply next Friday when he fronts court again. …

An Australian citizen tried for espionage in Beijing last week has told supporters he’s “100 per cent innocent” and still isn’t sure which country he’s accused of spying for. Yang Hengjun conveyed a message to family and supporters on Friday, a day after he was tried behind closed doors in Beijing. The 56-year-old one-time employee of China’s state security agencies …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is refusing to apologise to former Australia Post Chief Executive Christine Holgate after she accused him of “bullying” her in the wake of the Cartier watch scandal. Ms Holgate told a Senate inquiry yesterday that she believed she was forced to stand aside by the chair of the company because the Prime Minister had “instructed” it. Ms Holgate …

WARNING: Some readers may find the following content distressing Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed a government staff member’s sacking after graphic images of sex acts inside Parliament House were leaked. The images and videos of government staffers performing the lewd acts in Canberra were revealed by a whistleblower who says “now is the time to speak up”. The man, …

People northwest of Sydney have been ordered to evacuate their homes amid unrelenting heavy rain that’s causing surging rivers to break their banks. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning that extends over half of NSW. Major flooding is occurring along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region and the State Emergency Service ordered around 200 residents out on Tuesday morning. …