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7551 articles · page 147 of 158 · The World front page
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion concluded its public hearings on Wednesday, with Commissioner Virginia Bell announcing she will delay the final report by four days to avoid clashing with commemorations of the Bondi terror attack. Bell resisted a public push to extend the inquiry's work, emphasising the importance of delivering timely recommendations.
· 2 sourcesSafety investigators have opened probes into two fresh runway incidents at Sydney Airport, raising renewed concerns about the safety of Australia's busiest air hub. The new events, which occurred in recent days, are being examined by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), though details of the nature or severity have not yet been publicly released. The investigations add to a growing list of recent runway incidents at the airport, prompting questions about infrastructure and operational procedures.
· 6 sourcesFormer Australian Test cricketer Will Pucovski has lodged a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria, detailing a training session incident he alleges cut short his sporting career, with the claim centering on a phrase that he “deserved physical pain”.
· 3 sourcesAs elective egg freezing becomes increasingly popular among young Australian women, experts warn that misleading advertising and conflicting information on social media are creating a landscape of misinformation, prompting Dr Devora Lieberman to separate fact from fiction in a new article published across multiple Australian news outlets.
· 3 sourcesAlaska's U.S. Senate race has taken an unusual twist as a long-shot candidate sharing the same name as incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan has secured a spot on the November ballot, potentially siphoning votes and creating confusion among voters in a state known for ranked-choice voting.
Bernadette Wilson, a conservative media personality, has secured a place on Alaska’s ranked-choice general election ballot for governor and is urging fellow Republicans to consolidate behind the party’s top finisher in hopes of defeating Democratic and independent challengers in the November contest.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has given his government an 'OK' report card as it nears two years in office, but civil society groups are expressing dissent through white-flag protests and the formation of a shadow cabinet, signalling deep dissatisfaction with the direction of his administration.
Iranian lawmakers are debating a proposed law that would criminalize virtually all contact with foreign media, marking what human rights groups describe as an attempt to sever Iranian society from the rest of the world. The move comes as a photojournalist has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, signaling a deepening crackdown on dissent and independent reporting.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing renewed scrutiny over a series of private dinners at multimillion-dollar mansions where select guests reportedly paid $10,000 each to dine with him, prompting calls from anti-corruption advocates for full transparency on who is attending and what is being discussed.
· 2 sourcesQueensland Child Safety Minister has defended the government's ongoing reforms to child protection following the alleged rape of a young girl in residential care, describing the incident as 'heinous' and reaffirming the state's commitment to addressing systemic abuse and exploitation of children in out-of-home care.
· 3 sourcesVictoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has warned that arrests are imminent for individuals who assisted 'alleged paedophile' Dezi Freeman, confirming that the original investigation that led officers to Freeman's remote hideaway in the state's High Country remains active.
· 3 sourcesAt least 27 people, including four children, were killed in a rebel attack by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan state, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, a medical group operating in conflict zones. The attack underscores the persistent violence in Sudan's civil war, now in its 16th month.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has ordered the closure of all foreign branches of Bank Melli, Iran’s largest lender, as part of an intensified American campaign to cripple Iran’s economy. The directive, announced August 26, 2026, targets a bank already buried under layers of sanctions, signaling Washington’s determination to sever Tehran’s access to international finance.
Fresh inflation data showing Australian consumer prices rose 3.5% annually in July has reignited fears that the Reserve Bank will impose a fourth interest rate hike this year, with economists describing the figures as an 'unfortunate kick in the guts' for mortgage holders. The annual headline Consumer Price Index slowed from 3.8% in June but fell well short of the 3.2% forecast, casting doubt on hopes the central bank could avoid further tightening and stay on track to hit its 2.5 per cent target.
· 5 sourcesPakistan has suspended eight officials from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad after an interim inquiry found a 'lack of fire safety protocols' contributed to a blaze that killed 14 newborn babies earlier this week, officials said Saturday. The suspended officials include hospital administrators and security personnel, according to reports. A criminal investigation has also been launched.
· 9 sourcesU.S. Capitol Police arrested a man on Tuesday after officers discovered a guillotine in the bed of an illegally parked pickup truck along East Capitol Street, near the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress. The arrest occurred on the eastern edge of the National Mall, prompting a swift law enforcement response and renewed scrutiny of security around federal landmarks.
President Trump’s endorsement proved decisive in Tuesday’s primary runoffs, as Sen. Darline Graham clinched the GOP nomination in South Carolina’s Senate race and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei secured the party’s nod for governor in Oklahoma, reinforcing the president’s continued sway within the Republican Party.
The Queensland Liberal National Party has moved to support a ban on parliamentary questions that refer to a 'high-profile man', a move that drew late-night debate on Tuesday into matters of police legal costs in a Cairns extortion case and the associated court gag order. Parliament is set to resume from early Wednesday afternoon.
· 3 sourcesCollingwood coach Craig McRae has revealed that the future of club great Scott Pendlebury remains uncertain, describing the chances of the veteran staying on as 'just 50-50', while also addressing the disappointment of missing out on Port Adelaide star Zak Butters who reportedly rejected the Magpies' advances.
· 3 sourcesMalaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reignited debate over the country’s long-standing non-aligned foreign policy after making remarks on Taiwan that analysts say could signal a tilt toward Beijing. Delivered during a recent forum, Anwar’s comments — reported by Al Jazeera on Wednesday — prompted discussion among diplomats and observers about whether Malaysia is subtly shifting its position on one of Asia’s most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints.
The U.S. military conducted lethal strikes on two suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific within a span of 24 hours this week, killing a total of six people, Southern Command announced Tuesday. The operations, described as counter-narcoterrorism actions, targeted boats traveling through established narco-trafficking routes.
Typhoon Narra has triggered widespread flooding in southern China, submerging homes and forcing the evacuation of more than 15,000 people in Chongzuo, Guangxi, where water levels surpassed a record set in 2008, as another storm system, Typhoon Saudel, tracks toward Japan and Taiwan.
Testing of more than 130 lighting products sold on online marketplaces has found that the vast majority fail to meet Australian safety standards, raising serious concerns about consumer protection in the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.
· 2 sourcesThe Queensland Land Court has ruled that the owner of Brampton Island resort is in breach of lease conditions, describing the state of the tropical island's facilities as 'dilapidated to the point of falling down'. The decision paves the way for the lease to be stripped despite the owner's plans to build new amenities.
· 2 sourcesThe Productivity Commission has declared that Western Australian Premier Roger Cook crossed a line when he labelled its commissioners 'east coast clowns' in response to a damning report that described the state's Morrison-era GST floor deal as a $23 billion mistake. Commissioner Angela Jackson has condemned the personal attacks as 'unacceptable' while also expressing disappointment that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out any changes to the arrangement.
· 3 sourcesNew court documents filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday suggest Australian actress Rebel Wilson was personally involved in commissioning websites that disparaged Amanda Ghost, a producer on Wilson's upcoming film 'The Deb,' escalating a legal dispute that has cast a shadow over the movie's release.
· 3 sourcesAustralia's inflation rate for the July quarter came in higher than expected, data released on Wednesday showed, validating the Reserve Bank's prior caution about upside risks and putting an interest rate increase back on the table for the upcoming monetary policy meeting.
The Trump administration has paused all immigrant visa applications worldwide, a State Department official confirmed Tuesday, as part of a broader crackdown on both lawful and undocumented immigration. The initiative, launched at all embassies and consulates in early August, requires consular officers to undergo new training to ensure applicants are not likely to become dependent on U.S. assistance.
In a move that has electrified the tennis world, Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz have confirmed they will team up for mixed doubles at the US Open later this month, pairing the most decorated female player of the Open era with the current world No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion.
· 4 sourcesFresh inflation data released on Wednesday has come in higher than economists anticipated, delivering a potential blow to Australian borrowers already under pressure from elevated interest rates and stoking fresh uncertainty over the Reserve Bank's next move.
· 3 sourcesFederal Labor MP Luke Gosling has stepped aside from an envoy role after facing assault and bail charges, according to reports. The move comes as pressure had been mounting on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to have the Darwin-based MP stand aside, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday.
· 3 sourcesA Coalition tobacco taskforce has recommended cutting Australia's tobacco excise by as much as 80 per cent, arguing that soaring prices have fuelled an illicit cigarette black market now run by entrenched criminal networks, posing a threat to national security.
· 3 sourcesFormer union administrator Mark Irving has defended his decision to retain the controversial ‘Youth Crew’ within the CFMEU, telling a parliamentary inquiry that young activists can serve as a “vehicle for change.” However, Irving also stated that former union figure Jade Ingham would have no future role in the organisation.
· 3 sourcesAnita Perrottet, the sister-in-law of former New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet, has told the state's corruption watchdog she has little recollection of her husband's political work and is not sure she has ever been a member of the Liberal Party.
· 3 sourcesThe commissioner of the Australian antisemitism royal commission, former High Court judge Virginia Bell, has requested an extension for the delivery of her report on the Bondi component of the inquiry, while directly addressing frustration from the Jewish community over the pace and scope of the probe. On the final day of hearings, the commission will call the father-in-law of a Bondi attack victim as its last witness.
· 3 sourcesThe Trump administration has formally submitted a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, but with a newly disclosed condition: the deal will only move forward if the kingdom joins the Abraham Accords and normalizes relations with Israel. The submission, required under the Atomic Energy Act, kicks off a 90-day congressional review period and injects a major diplomatic hurdle into an already contentious proposal.
· 2 sourcesNew figures released today show Australia’s inflation rate eased in July, but the decline was smaller than the Reserve Bank had hoped for, reigniting speculation that the central bank may be forced to deliver another interest rate rise. The monthly consumer price index indicator, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, fell to 3.8 per cent from 4.1 per cent in June, still well above the RBA’s 2–3 per cent target band.
· 3 sourcesDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced Tuesday the creation of a Smaller War Plants Commission, reviving a World War II-era concept to channel more federal contracts and assistance to small and medium-sized defense contractors, officials said.
A federal judge in Virginia has blocked the planned auction of more than 100 artefacts salvaged from the RMS Titanic shipwreck, ruling that their sale poses an “apparent threat” to the collection’s long-term preservation and public access. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, halts the auction by RMS Titanic Inc., the company holding exclusive salvage rights to the wreckage, pending further legal proceedings.
Darline Graham, a political novice appointed to the Senate just weeks ago after the sudden death of her brother Lindsey Graham, won South Carolina’s GOP primary runoff Tuesday, defeating nine-term Rep. Ralph Norman in a race that tested President Donald Trump’s ability to lift a struggling candidate.
All Blacks winger Emoni Narawa scored a crucial try to end a spirited Lions fight, securing New Zealand's victory in a tense tour match in South Africa on Wednesday. The win keeps the All Blacks unbeaten on their current tour of the country.
· 3 sourcesThe devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, which scorched 24 million hectares, killed at least 33 people and destroyed 3000 homes, did not significantly alter the opinions of climate sceptics in Australia, according to an analysis by Nick O'Malley published in Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and The Age.
· 3 sourcesThe Coalition has proposed an 80 percent cut to tobacco excise and the legalisation of vapes and nicotine pouches in an effort to combat the surge in illegal cigarette sales, a plan immediately rejected by Labor, the Australian Medical Association and public health experts as a dangerous backward step.
· 6 sourcesEverton Blair Jr. won a special election on Tuesday to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by the death of Representative David Scott in April. Blair will serve through January but is not a candidate in the general election for the next full term in Georgia's 13th Congressional District, a deep-blue seat that is expected to remain in Democratic hands.
Samuel Bateman, a polygamous sect leader already serving a 50-year federal sentence for orchestrating sex involving children, was sentenced to an additional 24 years in prison on Tuesday after being convicted on three state child abuse counts for hauling three young girls in an unventilated trailer in Arizona.
Perth is bracing for a severe storm with heavy rains expected to hit the region, prompting warnings from authorities for residents to take precautions against potential flooding and power outages.
· 3 sourcesIran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz remains fully closed to international shipping, even after reaching an agreement with Oman on alternative maritime routes, a move that deepens the crisis in one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints and threatens global energy markets.
A new United Nations report has warned that the human rights situation in Myanmar has ‘plummeted to a new low’, citing escalating abuses against the Rohingya minority and the unchecked exploitation of natural resources as key drivers of the deepening crisis.