Latest News Stories
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Today
Julie Bishop resigns as ANU chancellor amid governance crisis
Julie Bishop resigned as chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) on May 8, 2026, seven months before her term was set to expire. Her resignation follows a period of significant turmoil ...
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- Julie Bishop resigned as ANU chancellor on May 8, 2026, seven months before her term was due to end in December 2026
- Bishop held the ANU chancellor role since 2020, making her the university’s 13th chancellor
- The ANU Council’s pro-chancellor, Dr Larry Marshall, will act as chancellor until a permanent replacement is appointed
Richard Lewer wins 2026 Archibald Prize for portrait of Iluwanti Ken
The 2026 Archibald Prize was awarded to Melbourne-based artist Richard Lewer for his life-size portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder and artist Iluwanti Ken, who is also a Wynne Prize finalist. Lewer spent...
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- Richard Lewer won the $100,000 2026 Archibald Prize for his portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder and artist Iluwanti Ken
- Lewer spent time with Ken on Country in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia, specifically at Tjala Arts in Amata
- The portrait depicts Ken life-size with a yellow ochre background representing the heat and light of the APY Lands, and flecks of paint on her arm to show her as a working artist
Global Canvas LMS cyberattack compromises student data, disrupts education systems
A global cyberattack on the Canvas learning management system, operated by Instructure, began on May 2, 2026, disrupting education for nearly 9,000 institutions worldwide, including Australian univers...
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- The Canvas learning management system, developed by Instructure, was hacked on May 2, 2026, affecting nearly 9,000 institutions worldwide, including Australian universities, TAFEs, and state schools in Queensland and Tasmania.
- Hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach, with BleepingComputer reporting their involvement in at least two sources.
- Compromised data includes names, email addresses, school locations, and messages between users, but no evidence of passwords, dates of birth, financial information, or government identifiers being accessed.
Communications Minister Anika Wells repays $10K in incorrect travel expenses amid scrutiny
Communications Minister Anika Wells repaid over $10,000 in incorrect travel expenses after an Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) audit found four breaches among nearly 250 trips since...
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- Anika Wells repaid $10,116.11 (including a 25% penalty of $2,023.22) for incorrect travel claims identified by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA).
- The IPEA audit found four mistakes in Wells’ claims over nearly 250 trips since 2022, with a combined value of $8,092.89 for the incorrect expenses.
- Wells’ travel to the UN event in New York (September 2025) to promote Australia’s social media ban was found to be within rules, with IPEA noting she had 'very limited flight options' at the time.
One Nation volunteer assaults Liberal senator over Farrer byelection clash
The core story revolves around a physical altercation on 2026-05-04 outside an Albury pre-poll booth during the Farrer byelection campaign, where a One Nation volunteer grabbed Liberal Senator James P...
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- One Nation volunteer grabbed Liberal Senator James Paterson’s phone during a confrontation outside an Albury pre-poll booth on 2026-05-04 (Wednesday).
- The confrontation involved One Nation’s Farrer byelection candidate David Farley’s past support for Labor and endorsement of independent Michelle Milthorpe.
- James Paterson filmed the interaction, claiming he started recording when it became aggressive, and accused the volunteer of assault.
Alleged child abuse material possession by self-described journalist Landon Germanotta-Mills
Landon Germanotta-Mills, a 27-year-old self-described investigative journalist, was arrested in Sydney’s Waterloo in late November 2025 after police allegedly discovered thousands of files depicting c...
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- Landon Germanotta-Mills was arrested in Waterloo, Sydney, on November 27, 2025, for alleged possession, access, and dissemination of child abuse and bestiality material.
- He faces 14 charges related to child abuse and bestiality material, including possession, access, and dissemination.
- During arrest, Germanotta-Mills allegedly told police he was an investigative journalist and claimed the material was on his devices to 'build a bigger case up'.
David Attenborough celebrates 100th birthday and his legacy in nature and TV
David Attenborough is celebrating his 100th birthday in 2026, marking a century of groundbreaking contributions to nature documentaries and television. Both the Guardian and ABC highlight his early ca...
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- David Attenborough turns 100 years old in 2026
- Attenborough produced his first TV credit, *Coelacanth*, in 1952 at age 26
- Attenborough made his first screen appearance on the BBC gameshow *Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?*
WA 2026-27 budget: cost-of-living relief, housing, health and economic outlook
Western Australia’s 2026-27 budget, delivered by Treasurer Rita Saffioti on May 8, 2026, focuses on cost-of-living relief, housing, health, and economic infrastructure amid global uncertainty. The bud...
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- WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti delivered the 2026-27 budget on May 8, 2026, with a $3.5 billion surplus for the current financial year and a projected $2.4 billion surplus for 2026-27.
- Every West Australian with a valid driver’s licence will receive a one-off $100 fuel support payment from July 1, funded by a $198 million allocation.
- The budget includes $1 billion in targeted cost-of-living relief measures, including $250 WA Student Assistance Payments for high school students and $150 for primary/kindergarten students.
China sentences ex-defence officials to death with reprieve for corruption
Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on May 8, 2026, for bribery and corruption, marking the latest high-profile purge in X...
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- Former Chinese defence ministers Wei Fenghe (72) and Li Shangfu (68) were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery by a military court on 2026-05-08
- Wei Fenghe was convicted of accepting bribes, while Li Shangfu was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes
- Both men were stripped of their political rights for life and all personal property
Fatal e-bike crash with bus in Perth's south; investigation ongoing
A 37-year-old man died after his e-bike collided with an orange bus near a roundabout at the intersection of Parmelia Avenue and Tunnicliffe Street in Parmelia on May 8, 2026, at around 3:30 PM. The r...
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- A 37-year-old man died after an e-bike collision with an orange bus near a roundabout at the intersection of Parmelia Avenue and Tunnicliffe Street, Parmelia, on May 8, 2026, at approximately 3:30 PM
- The e-bike rider was taken to Rockingham General Hospital but later died from injuries
- The bus driver, a 59-year-old woman, and all passengers were unharmed in the crash
Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele ousted in no-confidence vote; new leader to be chosen
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was ousted on 2026-05-07 after a no-confidence motion passed with 26 votes against him in the 50-seat parliament, ending his two-year tenure. The vote fo...
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- Jeremiah Manele was voted out of office as Solomon Islands prime minister on 2026-05-07 after a no-confidence motion passed 26-22 (26 MPs voted against him in a 50-seat parliament).
- Peter Shanel Agovaka, a former foreign minister who abandoned Manele’s government, is a leading candidate to replace Manele as prime minister.
- Matthew Wale, the long-term opposition leader, is also a likely candidate for the prime minister role.
Guide to airline seat selection and comfort for travelers
Both articles provide a detailed guide for travelers on selecting the best airline seats for comfort, focusing on economy, premium economy, and business class. They highlight key metrics like seat pit...
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- Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific wide-body jets have an economy-class seat pitch of at least 81cm
- Qatar Airways’ older Airbus A380s, A330s, and A340s have an economy-class seat pitch of 81-84cm
- No economy-class seat aboard an Emirates wide-body aircraft has a pitch of less than 81cm, with some A380s and Boeing 777s offering 86cm
US trade court blocks Trump's 10% global tariffs under 1974 Trade Act
A US trade court ruled 2-1 on May 7–8, 2026, that Donald Trump’s 10% universal tariffs on imports lacked legal justification under the Trade Act of 1974, siding with small business plaintiffs. The tar...
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- A US Court of International Trade ruled 2-1 against Donald Trump’s 10% universal tariffs on imports, citing lack of justification under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974
- The tariffs were imposed on February 24, 2026, and were set to expire on July 24, 2026, under a 150-day provision
- The ruling applies only to the plaintiffs (small businesses) and does not block tariffs for other importers until July 24, 2026
Nine Entertainment sound recordist dies in Bali holiday accident
Chris 'Ando' Andersen, a Brisbane-based sound recordist for Nine’s *A Current Affair*, died unexpectedly while on holiday in Bali with his family on May 7, 2026. The accident occurred on Wednesday, wi...
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- Chris 'Ando' Andersen, a Brisbane-based sound recordist for Nine’s *A Current Affair*, died in a suspected medical episode while on holiday in Bali with his family (wife Charlotte, son Otis, and parents-in-law) on Wednesday, May 7, 2026.
- Nine Entertainment confirmed Andersen’s death via an all-staff email sent by CEO Matt Stanton on Thursday, May 8, 2026, expressing condolences to his family and colleagues.
- Andersen had worked for *A Current Affair* for nearly 18 years, with Nine’s executive director of news and current affairs, Fiona Dear, describing his longevity as a testament to his talent and industry respect.
Jonas Vingegaard targets Giro d’Italia 2026 Grand Tour victory amid key absences
The 2026 Giro d’Italia begins in Bulgaria on May 8, with Jonas Vingegaard entering as the overwhelming favorite after winning the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France. The race, spanning 3,468 km and featurin...
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- Jonas Vingegaard is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2026 Giro d’Italia, having won the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France.
- The 2026 Giro d’Italia starts in Nessebar, Bulgaria, on May 8, 2026, with the race finishing in Rome on May 31, 2026.
- Tadej Pogačar, the 2024 world champion and dominant rider, is absent from the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
Yesterday
Federal funding boost for Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop project
The federal government is set to inject an additional $3.8 billion into Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), bringing total federal funding to $6 billion ahead of the May 12 budget. The project, a 90-...
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- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce an additional $3.8 billion in federal funding for Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) on May 12, 2026, bringing the Commonwealth’s total contribution to $6 billion.
- The Suburban Rail Loop’s first phase (SRL East) is a 26-kilometre underground rail line running from Cheltenham to Box Hill, with tunnelling expected to start by the end of 2026 and completion targeted for 2035.
- The total estimated cost of SRL East is $34.5 billion, with the Victorian government contributing a third directly and planning to raise another third via a levy on local development.
Death of Ted Turner, CNN founder and media mogul, aged 87
Ted Turner, the media mogul who founded CNN in 1980 and revolutionized global news with the first 24-hour cable network, died on May 7, 2026, at age 87. Born in Cincinnati in 1938, Turner transformed ...
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- Ted Turner died on May 7, 2026, aged 87
- Ted Turner founded CNN in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news network
- Turner was born on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved to Savannah, Georgia, at age nine
DC shooting near JD Vance motorcade and suspect Michael Marx charged
On May 6, 2026, Michael Marx, a 45-year-old man from Midland, Texas, was charged in connection with a shooting near JD Vance’s motorcade in Washington DC. Marx allegedly concealed a firearm near the W...
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- Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was identified as the suspect in the shooting near JD Vance’s motorcade in Washington DC on May 6, 2026.
- Marx was shot three times by Secret Service agents—hand, left arm, and upper stomach—during a confrontation near 15th Street and Independence Avenue Southwest.
- Marx allegedly fired at a Secret Service agent, striking a juvenile bystander in the leg with non-life-threatening injuries.
ISIS-linked Australian women return home facing slavery and terrorism charges
A group of Australian women linked to ISIS, including Kawsar Abbas (54), her daughters Zahra (33) and Zeinab (31), and nine children, returned to Melbourne on May 7, 2026, after over a decade in Syria...
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- Kawsar Abbas (54), mother of two ISIS brides (Zahra, 33, and Zeinab, 31), arrived in Melbourne on 2026-05-07 via Qatar Airways from Doha with nine children, some born in Syria to ISIS fighters.
- Mohammed Ahmad (Kawsar Abbas’s husband) is accused of keeping Yazidi women as slaves, including Sarab (allegedly taken at age 13) and Tayseer, with Sarab describing being held captive in his home for three days as a 'slave trial'.
- Zahra Ahmad (widow of ISIS recruiter Muhammad Zahab, who died in 2018) and Zeinab Abbas are among those facing crimes against humanity charges, including enslavement, upon arrival in Australia.
UK court convicts two men of spying for China in 'shadow policing' operation
A UK court on 2026-05-07 convicted two dual Chinese-British nationals, Chi Leung 'Peter' Wai (38) and Chung Biu Yuen (65), of spying for China under the National Security Act. Wai, a Border Force offi...
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- Chi Leung 'Peter' Wai (38) and Chung Biu Yuen (65) were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service (China) at the Old Bailey on 2026-05-07
- Wai was a UK Border Force officer at Heathrow and a City of London special constable; Yuen was a senior manager at the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO) in London
- The spying targeted Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law, who had a £100,000 bounty on his head from Chinese authorities