Latest News Stories
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Today
Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV over Iran war and AI Jesus post sparks backlash
Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV are engaged in a public feud centered on the Iran war and Trump’s controversial social media posts. On April 13, 2026, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a ...
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- Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure healing a patient on Truth Social on April 13, 2026, which he later deleted.
- Trump claimed the image was meant to depict him as a doctor, not a messianic figure, and said it was related to the Red Cross.
- Pope Leo XIV criticized Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization, calling it 'truly unacceptable' and urging negotiations.
Gout Gout sets new 200m record, faster than Bolt at 18
Gout Gout, an 18-year-old Australian sprinter, stunned the athletics world by running 19.67 seconds in the 200m at the 2026 Australian Championships in Sydney, breaking his own national record and bec...
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- Gout Gout ran 19.67 seconds in the 200m at the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney, breaking his own Australian record of 20.02 seconds.
- Gout Gout is 18 years old and this is his first legal sub-20-second 200m time (previous 19.84s in 2025 had an illegal tailwind).
- Gout Gout’s 19.67s is faster than Usain Bolt’s 19.93s at age 18 (2004) and is a new under-20 world record (excluding unratified Erriyon Knighton’s 19.49s in 2022).
Angus Taylor’s hardline immigration policy speech targeting migrants and Gaza refugees
Angus Taylor, the Liberal-National Opposition Leader, is set to deliver a hardline immigration policy speech on April 16, 2026, targeting migrants and refugees, particularly those from Gaza. He claims...
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- Angus Taylor will deliver a major policy speech at the Menzies Research Centre on Tuesday morning (2026-04-16) outlining tougher immigration policies
- Taylor claims approximately 1300 Gazans arrived in Australia after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and argues they ‘present a clear risk to our country’
- Taylor proposes making compliance with the Australian Values Statement a binding visa condition, allowing visa cancellations for non-compliance
13-year-old girl denied bail after alleged hate crimes, car attacks, and premeditated offenses
A 13-year-old girl was denied bail in a Victorian children’s court after allegedly committing 109 offences, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft, and motor vehicle theft. On Ma...
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- A 13-year-old girl appeared in Victorian children’s court on 2026-04-10 seeking bail for 109 charges, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft, motor vehicle theft, and burglary
- On 2026-03-30, the girl allegedly drove a stolen car in Brighton (Melbourne’s south-east), attempted to hit a cyclist with the passenger door, then allegedly drove into a 45-year-old man, knocking him to the ground
- Within three minutes of the March 30 incident, the girl allegedly Googled ‘how long the sentence is for running someone over’
Harry and Meghan’s first visit to Australia in eight years as private citizens, not official royals
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrived in Melbourne on April 14, 2026, for their first visit to Australia in eight years, traveling on a commercial Qantas flight under heavy securit...
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- Harry and Meghan arrived in Melbourne on April 14, 2026, via a commercial Qantas flight at 6:00 AM local time
- Their itinerary includes visits to Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra over four days (April 14–18, 2026)
- They are using their titles, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, despite no longer being working royals
UK inquiry finds systemic failures allowed Southport child murders by Axel Rudakubana
A UK public inquiry into the July 29, 2024, Southport attack found that the murders of three young girls—Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice da Silva Aguiar (9)—by 17-year-old Axel Rudak...
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- Axel Rudakubana, 17 at the time, killed Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice da Silva Aguiar (9) in Southport, England, on July 29, 2024, during a Taylor Swift-themed dance event.
- Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the murders and wounding 10 others (8 children, 2 adults).
- The inquiry, led by retired judge Sir Adrian Fulford, found the attack 'could and should have been prevented' due to systemic failures by police, social services, and educators.
Roblox introduces age-restricted accounts amid Australian child safety concerns and social media bans
Roblox is introducing age-restricted accounts in June 2026—Roblox Kids for ages 5–8 and Roblox Select for ages 9–15—following Australian government pressure over child grooming risks and graphic conte...
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- Roblox will launch two age-restricted accounts in June 2026: Roblox Kids (ages 5–8) and Roblox Select (ages 9–15)
- The Australian government put Roblox on notice in February 2026 over child grooming reports, prompting safety changes
- Roblox Kids will have chat disabled by default and only allow 'minimal' or 'mild' maturity-rated games, with an electric blue background
Yesterday
Australia boosts military drone spending amid global conflicts
Australia’s federal government is allocating billions to expand its military drone and autonomous systems fleet, driven by lessons from the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts. Defence Minister Richard ...
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- Australia plans to spend between $12bn and $15bn on uncrewed and autonomous defence capabilities over the next decade, including $2bn–$5bn in new or redirected funding.
- Defence Minister Richard Marles will release the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program on Thursday, April 14, 2026.
- The Ghost Bat (stealth fighter drone) and Ghost Shark (stealth submarine) are key Australian-designed autonomous systems, with the Ghost Bat already tested and attracting foreign interest (e.g., Germany).
US imposes naval blockade on Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz after failed peace talks
The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 12–13, 2026. The blockade, announced by President Do...
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- US President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz effective April 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM US Eastern Time (midnight April 14 AEST).
- The blockade applies to all vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, but not to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to/from non-Iranian ports.
- The US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, ended without agreement on April 12-13, 2026, after over 20 hours of negotiations.
Death of Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle at age 92
Legendary Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle died on April 12, 2026, at age 92 after being hospitalized in Mumbai for exhaustion and a chest infection. Her last rites were held the following day at...
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- Asha Bhosle died aged 92 on April 12, 2026, after being admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai with 'extreme exhaustion' and chest infection
- Her last rites were held on April 13, 2026, at Shivaji Park in Mumbai
- Asha Bhosle recorded over 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages over a seven-decade career
Three Victorian Labor ministers resign ahead of state election
Three senior Victorian Labor ministers—Finance Minister Danny Pearson, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, and Skills and TAFE Minister Gayle Tierney—resigned on April 13, 2026, seven months before the ...
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- Finance Minister Danny Pearson, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, and Skills and TAFE Minister Gayle Tierney resigned on April 13, 2026, seven months before the November 2026 state election.
- The three ministers will resign their ministries immediately and serve as backbench MPs until the election.
- Mary-Anne Thomas, leader of Labor in the lower house, cited spending time with family and her 91-year-old mother as reasons for her resignation.
World Aquatics lifts restrictions on Russian/Belarusian athletes, sparking controversy
World Aquatics became the first major Olympic sport to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes on April 13, 2026, allowing them to compete under their national flag and anthem at events l...
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- World Aquatics announced on April 13, 2026, that Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete under their national flag and anthem without restrictions, reversing the neutral status imposed since 2022.
- The decision applies to swimming, diving, and water polo events under World Aquatics’ jurisdiction, including world championships.
- Ukrainian water polo players boycotted a World Cup match against a Russian team (competing as 'Neutral Athletes B') on April 13, 2026, in Malta, resulting in a 5-0 default win for Russia.
Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress and drops CA governor race amid sexual assault allegations
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic U.S. Representative and frontrunner in California’s gubernatorial race, suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress on April 13, 2026, following multiple sexual assau...
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- Eric Swalwell suspended his California governor campaign on April 13, 2026, amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations
- A former Swalwell staffer alleged he sexually assaulted her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle (April 11, 2026) and CNN
- Three other women accused Swalwell of sending unsolicited nude photographs or explicit messages, per CNN and the Guardian
JD Vance faces foreign policy failures in Hungary and Iran negotiations
JD Vance endured a disastrous week in early April 2026, marked by two high-profile foreign policy failures. First, he traveled to Hungary to endorse Viktor Orbán’s re-election campaign, only to see Or...
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- JD Vance traveled to Hungary on April 6, 2026, to support Viktor Orbán’s campaign before his electoral defeat.
- Viktor Orbán lost Hungary’s election in a landslide, with Péter Magyar’s Tisza party winning 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament.
- Vance held 21-hour Iran negotiations in Islamabad (April 10–11, 2026) with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, resulting in no agreement.
Australia’s opposition proposes strict visa vetting, including social media checks and values tests
Australia’s opposition leader Angus Taylor is set to unveil a hardline immigration policy on April 13, 2026, requiring all visa applicants—including tourists—to submit their social media accounts for ...
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- Angus Taylor will unveil the Coalition’s immigration policy on April 13, 2026, at the Menzies Institute, including mandatory social media vetting for all visa applicants (tourists, migrants, asylum seekers).
- The policy would require visa applicants to submit their social media accounts for screening, similar to a rule implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump in December 2017.
- A new ‘Enhanced Screening Coordination Centre’ would be established within Home Affairs to integrate intelligence from ASIO, federal police, and Border Force to identify ‘terrorist sympathisers and security risks’ before visa approval.
Booking.com data breach and phishing scams affecting Australian customers
Booking.com has alerted customers that a data breach may have exposed personal information, including names, emails, phone numbers, and booking details, accessed by unauthorized parties. Both sources ...
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- Booking.com issued a warning to customers about a data breach where names, email addresses, phone numbers, and booking details may have been accessed by unauthorized third parties.
- Customers were advised not to share credit card details via email, phone, text, or WhatsApp due to the breach.
- Booking.com sent emails to affected customers with new reservation PIN numbers to enhance security.
Activist pressure targets Kyle Sandilands on Australian Idol; Ben Roberts-Smith series announced
Activist group Mad F---ing Witches (MFW) is escalating pressure on Seven Network to remove Kyle Sandilands as a judge on *Australian Idol* for 2027, using advertiser boycotts similar to tactics that f...
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- Mad F---ing Witches (MFW) is lobbying Seven Network advertisers to drop Australian Idol over Kyle Sandilands' continued role as a judge, aiming to remove him for 2027.
- Kyle Sandilands is suing ARN (Southern Cross Austereo) in the Federal Court for $85 million over his terminated KIIS breakfast show contract.
- Sandilands has been on *Australian Idol* for nine seasons: five on Network Ten and four on Seven Network.
Harry and Meghan’s 2026 Australia tour criticized as profit-driven amid financial struggles
Harry and Meghan’s 2026 Australia tour has sparked criticism as a cash-grab amid their financial struggles, despite their 2018 visit being widely popular. Both outlets highlight their plummeting publi...
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- Harry and Meghan visited Australia in 2018 for a seven-day tour covering Sydney, Melbourne, Dubbo, and Kʼgari (formerly Fraser Island)
- Meghan’s unfavorability in Britain reached 66% in January 2026, per YouGov, making her the second-most disliked royal after Prince Harry (60% unfavorability)
- Harry and Meghan purchased a $US14.65 million ($21 million AUD) 16-bedroom Montecito house in 2024, putting down a $US5 million deposit and taking a $US10 million mortgage
A 25-year-old woman drowns at Ellery Creek Big Hole near Alice Springs, NT
A 25-year-old woman drowned at Ellery Creek Big Hole, a popular swimming spot near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, on April 12, 2026, around 12:50 PM. Witnesses performed CPR before paramedics arri...
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- A 25-year-old woman drowned at Ellery Creek Big Hole near Alice Springs on April 12, 2026, around 12:50 PM local time
- CPR was performed on the woman by witnesses before St John Ambulance/paramedics took over resuscitation efforts, but she could not be revived
- The area was closed to the public while police investigated the incident
Sabrina Carpenter headlines Coachella 2026 with a high-budget spectacle; festival highlights
Coachella 2026’s opening night was dominated by Sabrina Carpenter’s highly anticipated headline set, fulfilling her 2024 promise to return as a headliner. Both the Guardian and ABC described her produ...
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- Sabrina Carpenter headlined Coachella 2026 on opening night (April 11–13, 2026) after teasing it in her 2024 set with the line 'Coachella, see you back here when I headline.'
- Carpenter’s set featured a Hollywood-themed production called 'SABRINAWOOD' with elaborate set design, costume changes, and pre-filmed interludes (including cameos by Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, and Samuel L. Jackson).
- The set included tracks from Carpenter’s albums *Short n’ Sweet* and *Man’s Best Friend*, with a 90-minute runtime and a closing moment where she emerged from a vintage car elevated on a fountain.