Latest News Stories
Scientists discover over 110 new deep-sea species in the Coral Sea during a 35-day expedition
Scientists aboard the CSIRO’s RV Investigator discovered over 110 new deep-sea species in the Coral Sea during a 35-day expedition, with expectations that the total could exceed 200. The voyage, funde...
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- Over 110 new fish and invertebrate species were discovered in the Coral Sea, with scientists expecting the total to exceed 200
- The discoveries were made during a 35-day voyage on the CSIRO’s RV Investigator, which departed Brisbane in October 2023
- The expedition explored waters between 200 meters and 3,000–3,900 meters deep in the Coral Sea Marine Park, Australia’s largest marine protected area (spanning ~1 million sq km)
Australia’s Easter weather and potential severe tropical cyclone in Coral Sea
Australia is set for a mostly calm Easter weekend with settled weather thanks to a high-pressure system moving east, though showers and thunderstorms are expected in some regions. The Bureau of Meteor...
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- A high-pressure system is currently centered south of Western Australia and will move east toward the Tasman Sea, bringing settled weather to most of the country over Easter.
- Another Severe Tropical Cyclone (named 37U) is expected to develop in the Coral Sea around mid-next week, with a potential track toward the Queensland coast.
- The Bureau of Meteorology predicts system 37U will deepen and strengthen over the weekend, with a high chance of becoming a cyclone by Sunday when it reaches the northern Coral Sea.
Queensland weather forecast and tropical cyclone risk during Easter long weekend
Queensland is preparing for a mixed Easter long weekend with mostly good weather but lingering rain risks, particularly in the far north. Both sources confirm Tropical Low 37U near the Solomon Islands...
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- Tropical Low 37U near the Solomon Islands has a 'moderate' chance of intensifying into a cyclone from Saturday, rising to 'high' by Sunday and persisting through next week (ABC, both sources).
- Far North Queensland continues to experience heavy rain, with the wet season not yet over (ABC, both sources).
- The Daintree River reached minor flood levels, peaking at 4.85 meters on Thursday (ABC, Article 1).
Death of Rohingya refugee Nurul Shah Alam abandoned by US border agents ruled homicide
The core story involves the death of Nurul Shah Alam, a 56-year-old Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, who died on 24 February 2025 after being abandoned by US Border Patrol agents in a Tim Hortons parkin...
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- Nurul Shah Alam (56), a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar, died on 24 February 2025 after being left in a Tim Hortons parking lot in Buffalo, New York, by US Border Patrol agents on 19 February 2025 at 8:18 PM
- The Erie county medical examiner ruled Shah Alam’s death a homicide on 31 March 2025, citing ‘complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration’ as the cause
- Shah Alam was visually impaired, unable to speak English, and wore only detention booties when left outside in sub-freezing temperatures (below freezing)
Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Indonesia triggers tsunami alerts across Southeast Asia and Pacific
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea near Indonesia’s Ternate on Thursday, triggering tsunami alerts across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The quake, occurring at a depth of 35k...
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- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea region, Indonesia, at 9:48 AM AEDST (local time) on Thursday, with an epicenter 127km west-northwest of Ternate, Indonesia, at a depth of 35km.
- The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially recorded the quake at magnitude 7.4 (later confirmed), with aftershocks reaching up to magnitude 5 according to the USGS and Indonesia’s BMKG.
- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for possible tsunami waves of 0.3m to 1m above tide level along some Indonesian coastlines within 1,000km of the epicenter, affecting Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Asia’s jet fuel export restrictions threaten Australia’s aviation industry due to Middle East conflict
Global jet fuel shortages are threatening Australia’s aviation industry as South Korea and China restrict or cap exports to meet domestic demand, exacerbated by the Middle East conflict and Strait of ...
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- South Korea and China are restricting or considering restricting jet fuel exports to prioritize domestic needs, risking Australia’s supply
- Australia imports roughly 25% of its jet fuel from South Korea and 33% from China, totaling about 4 billion litres annually under potential threat
- The Strait of Hormuz closure in early March disrupted crude oil supplies to Asia, forcing refineries to cut production by 2.7 million barrels per day as of April
Australian PM Albanese’s housing tax reforms and energy crisis response amid Iran war tensions
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has finalized plans to scrap investor tax breaks, including winding back the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing, as a key measure to tackle Australia’s hou...
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- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to wind back the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing to address housing affordability
- Labor aims to build 1.2 million homes but is on track to miss this target
- Albanese’s government has low fuel stocks, below global standards, with Australia exposed to over 90% of its oil and fuel imports
Western Australia invokes emergency fuel supply powers amid regional shortages
Western Australia’s government has activated emergency powers to force fuel suppliers to disclose critical supply chain information, addressing severe shortages in regional areas like agriculture and ...
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- WA Premier Roger Cook invoked emergency powers under the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act 1972 to compel fuel suppliers to disclose supply chain details
- Six major fuel suppliers were initially asked for information, but only three complied voluntarily
- The government seeks data on fuel volumes, distribution points, and frequency of distribution to allocate fuel to high-need regions like agricultural and mining areas
Man charged with murdering sex worker at Melbourne brothel faces trial
A 36-year-old man named Michael James Chalmers is facing trial in Victoria’s Supreme Court for the alleged murder of Liya Zhang, a 62-year-old sex worker, at the Rainbow Garden Brothel in Footscray on...
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- Michael James Chalmers, 36, is accused of murdering Liya Zhang (known as 'Yuko'), a 62-year-old sex worker, at the Rainbow Garden Brothel on Cowper Street, Footscray, in November 2024.
- Chalmers allegedly attacked Zhang in a bedroom on November 27, 2024, and left her motionless for 31 minutes before departing; her body was found several days later on November 29, 2024.
- Security camera footage shows Chalmers grabbing Zhang in a headlock, violently turning her around, and forcing her onto a bed, described as 'quite shocking acts of violence' by prosecutors.
Australian political polling shows Labor’s declining support amid fuel crisis and Middle East war
Australian political polls reveal Labor’s support has plummeted to its lowest since the 2023 election, with Anthony Albanese’s primary vote dropping to 31% amid rising fuel prices and public frustrati...
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- Anthony Albanese’s Labor government primary vote dropped to 31% in Newspoll (down from 36% in November 2023 and 34.6% at the May 2023 election).
- One Nation’s primary vote is at 26% in Newspoll and 29% in Redbridge, both higher than the Coalition’s 21% (Newspoll) or 17% (Redbridge).
- 72% of voters disapprove of US military action against Iran, with only 23% approving (reported in both polls).
Criticism and controversy over Trump’s proposed Miami presidential library and related political branding
Both articles cover the unveiling of Donald Trump’s proposed presidential library in Miami, a 47-50 storey structure featuring a giant golden statue of Trump and replicas of Air Force One and the Oval...
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- Donald Trump’s presidential library is proposed to be a 50-storey (Article 1) or 47-storey (Article 2) structure in Miami, Florida, with a giant golden statue of Trump in the lobby
- The land for the library was controversially gifted to Eric Trump’s foundation by Miami-Dade College in 2023, with a federal judge initially blocking the transfer due to lack of public notice, later overturned
- The site is valued at over $67 million according to Article 2, and the land was transferred to the state of Florida before being given to Eric Trump’s foundation
South Australian police raid reveals $320k stolen Lego haul and arrests
South Australian police conducted a raid on a Dudley Park home after uncovering a massive haul of allegedly stolen Lego valued at $320,000. The haul, which included popular sets like Sonic the Hedgeho...
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- Police seized $320,000 worth of allegedly stolen Lego in Adelaide, South Australia
- The haul filled 15 pallets and required two mounted police horse floats for transport
- A 34-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were arrested and charged with theft at a Dudley Park home
Lachlan Kennedy defeats Gout Gout in 200m at Maurie Plant Meet, second consecutive win
Lachlan Kennedy secured a second consecutive 200m victory over Gout Gout at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, running 20.38 seconds to Gout’s 20.43 in wet conditions. The race drew a sellout crowd o...
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- Lachlan Kennedy won the 200m at the Maurie Plant Meet with a time of 20.38 seconds, beating Gout Gout who ran 20.43 seconds
- The race took place at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium (Albert Park) under drifting rain conditions
- Kennedy also won the 100m earlier in the evening with a time of 10.03 seconds, setting a meet record
Missing woman search in Torndirrup National Park near Albany, WA
A 51-year-old Perth woman named Naomi Marie Duckett has been missing since April 2, 2025, after being last seen at The Gap Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park near Albany. Police, including Ser...
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- Naomi Marie Duckett (51) is missing and last seen at The Gap Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park near Albany at 11:45am on April 2, 2025
- She is approximately 171 cm tall with a medium build and was wearing glasses, a dark-green jumper, light-coloured pants, and black shoes
- Public access to The Gap remains closed while search operations continue, involving police, Police Air Wing, drones, and Water Police
Western Australia faces severe mouse plague threatening agriculture and homes
Western Australia is experiencing a severe mouse plague that scientists warn could devastate $1 billion worth of grain crops across regions like the Mid-West, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields-Esperance. Mous...
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- CSIRO research officer Steve Henry is warning about unprecedented mouse plague proportions in Western Australia's grain paddocks (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
- Mouse numbers in WA are reported at 200–8000 mice per hectare, with some farmers seeing 4000 burrows per hectare (ABC: 200–300, NEWSCOMAU: 8000).
- Farmers in WA’s Mid-West, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields-Esperance regions are affected by the mouse plague (NEWSCOMAU).
Westpac CEO warns of Australian recession risks amid inflation and geopolitical tensions
Westpac CEO Anthony Miller has publicly warned Australia faces a heightened risk of recession due to persistent inflation—currently at 3.7% in February 2026—and geopolitical instability, particularly ...
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- Anthony Miller, CEO of Westpac, warned in interviews with ABC’s *That’s Business* podcast that there is a 'chance of a recession' for Australia due to inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions, specifically citing Middle East conflicts.
- Australia’s inflation rose 3.7% in February 2026, down 0.1% from January, but remains above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) target band of 2–3%.
- The RBA has raised interest rates twice in 2026 (most recently to 4.10% from 3.85% in March 2026), with Westpac’s chief economist Luci Ellis forecasting three more hikes by August 2026.
Australia’s under-16 social media ban effectiveness and challenges after implementation
Australia’s under-16 social media ban, implemented in January 2024, has faced significant challenges despite government claims of success. Over two-thirds of teens remain on banned platforms like Inst...
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- Australia’s under-16 social media ban took effect in January 2024 targeting platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat
- Over 5 million accounts have been deactivated since the ban’s implementation according to the Albanese government
- The eSafety Commissioner’s February 2024 report found that 70% of teens (over two-thirds) remain on banned platforms
Man accused of alleged terrorist bomb attack at WA Invasion Day rally pleads mental health defence
A 32-year-old man named Liam Alexander Hall faces charges for allegedly throwing a homemade explosive device at an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD on January 26 2026. The device, containing ball bea...
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- Liam Alexander Hall, 32, is accused of allegedly throwing a homemade explosive device into a crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD on January 26, 2026
- The device contained a glass container filled with liquid, screws, ball bearings, and nails (described as a 'fragment bomb')
- Hall is charged with engaging in a terrorist act, intent to harm, and making/possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances
AFL player Tristan Xerri suspended for wiping blood on opponent’s face during match
Tristan Xerri, a key ruckman for North Melbourne, was suspended for three matches after pleading guilty to serious misconduct for wiping blood from his nose onto Essendon captain Andrew McGrath’s face...
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- Tristan Xerri was sent to the AFL tribunal for serious misconduct after allegedly wiping blood from his nose onto Essendon captain Andrew McGrath’s face during a match on 2025-05-17 at Docklands Stadium
- Xerri pleaded guilty to the charge at the tribunal and was suspended for three matches by chairman Jeff Gleeson KC
- The incident occurred after Xerri complained to an umpire about a bloodied nose, then physically clashed with McGrath before wiping his hand on McGrath’s face
Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of fraud in pool installation scheme
Former AFL player Nick Stevens was convicted on 13 counts of fraud after defrauding six families in Mildura, Victoria, of $170,000–$171,000 for pools they never received or had illegally installed. St...
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- Nick Stevens was found guilty on 12 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and 1 charge of using a false document in the County Court of Victoria (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
- Stevens was remanded in custody until his plea hearing on May 21, 2024 (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
- The case involved six families in Mildura, Victoria, who were defrauded of a total of $170,000–$171,000 for pools they never received or had illegally installed (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).