📰 The Media Fact Checker

We read the news so you don't have to — key facts from 6 Australian sources, in one place.

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Stories are cross-verified across multiple Australian sources — facts only appear when reported by two or more outlets independently. Source links are on every story.
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Latest News Stories

Sorted by number of sources covering the story

Today

Death of Prof Richard Scolyer, melanoma researcher who tested experimental brain cancer treatment

ABCGuardianSBSSMHThe Age
11 articles5 hours ago

Professor Richard Scolyer, a world-leading melanoma pathologist and cancer researcher, died on June 7, 2026, at age 59 after a three-year battle with aggressive glioblastoma. Diagnosed in May 2023 wit...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Professor Richard A Scolyer AO died on June 7, 2026, aged 59 in Sydney
  • Scolyer was diagnosed with grade-four IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (brain cancer) in May 2023
  • He was the first patient to receive experimental immunotherapy treatment for his brain cancer, based on melanoma science he helped develop
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Sexist 'Ditch the Witch' billboards target Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan

ABCGuardianSBSThe Age
6 articles7 hours ago

Multiple news outlets report that a controversial 'Ditch the Witch' billboard campaign targeting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has sparked widespread condemnation from politicians, including Prime M...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • A Melbourne brothel owner, Franco Puleo, admitted funding part of the '$105,000' 'Ditch the Witch' billboard campaign targeting Jacinta Allan.
  • The billboards have been travelling around Melbourne for 'about six weeks' and feature AI-generated images of Jacinta Allan wearing a 'black pointed hat' and with 'warts on her chin'.
  • The slogan 'Ditch the Witch' was previously used against Julia Gillard in 2011, when she was prime minister, and was widely condemned at the time.
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Trump storms out of NBC interview over election fraud claims and media accusations

ABCGuardianSMHThe Age
4 articles15 hours ago

Donald Trump abruptly stormed out of an NBC Meet the Press interview on June 8, 2026, after host Kristen Welker pressed him for evidence to support his repeated claims that the 2020 U.S. election and ...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Donald Trump stormed out of NBC’s Meet the Press interview on June 8, 2026, after being pressed on election fraud claims, dropping his microphone and stepping on it.
  • The interview aired on Sunday, June 8, 2026, and was filmed on Friday, June 6, 2026, at a farm in Wisconsin.
  • Trump repeatedly claimed without evidence that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was 'rigged' and that California’s June 2026 gubernatorial and mayoral elections were 'phony' or 'rigged'.
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Melbourne teacher murdered by brother in India over property dispute

ABCGuardianThe Age
3 articles13 hours ago

Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old Melbourne maths teacher and father of two, went missing on May 22, 2026, while in Amritsar, Punjab, India, to sell two investment properties. Indian police allege his broth...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old Melbourne maths teacher, went missing on May 22, 2026, in Amritsar, Punjab, India
  • Sunil Sharma was allegedly murdered by his brother, Satish Sharma, over a property dispute
  • Satish Sharma allegedly drugged Sunil Sharma with sleeping pills and struck him with a baseball bat, killing him
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Alan Jones faces reduced sexual misconduct charges ahead of August trial

ABCGuardian
2 articles1 hours ago

Alan Jones, the 85-year-old former radio broadcaster, will face trial in August on 26 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching, though prosecutors recently dropped one charge linked to a 2013 i...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Prosecutors dropped one charge of indecent assault against Alan Jones, reducing the number of complainants from nine to eight
  • The dropped charge relates to an incident in 2013 in Tamworth, NSW, where Jones allegedly grabbed a complainant’s bottom
  • Jones faces a four-month trial in August in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on 26 charges (25 indecent assaults, 1 sexual touching)
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Kimi Antonelli wins Monaco GP, extends championship lead in chaotic race

ABCGuardian
6 articles3 hours ago

Kimi Antonelli dominated the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, winning from pole position and becoming the youngest driver in history to triumph on the streets of Monte Carlo. His victory, secured after a chaot...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix from pole position, becoming the youngest winner in the race's history at age 19.
  • Antonelli secured pole position with a lap time of 1:12.051, edging out Max Verstappen by 0.043 seconds.
  • Oscar Piastri started the race in 7th place after qualifying struggles, finishing 4th in the race.
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Rare black-headed gull sighting in Geraldton, Australia, sparks birdwatching frenzy

ABCGuardian
2 articles5 hours ago

A black-headed gull, a species typically found migrating between Europe and Asia, was spotted in Geraldton, Western Australia, thousands of kilometres off its usual path. The bird, believed to have be...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • A black-headed gull was spotted in Geraldton, Western Australia, thousands of kilometres off its usual migratory path (Europe to Asia).
  • The bird was first reported on June 4 (last Tuesday) after a severe storm front battered south-west Western Australia.
  • The last recorded sighting of a black-headed gull in Australia was in Broome in 1991, over 35 years ago.
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King’s Birthday Honours 2026: Full list of recipients announced

SMHThe Age
2 articles5 hours ago

The King’s Birthday Honours 2026 were officially announced on June 8, 2026, with both the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) and The Age (THEAGE) publishing the full list of recipients. No additional details...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • The King’s Birthday Honours 2026 list was published on June 8, 2026
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Christian Eriksen collapses during Denmark-Ukraine friendly; medical updates and context

ABCGuardian
4 articles5 hours ago

Christian Eriksen, Denmark’s 34-year-old midfielder, collapsed on June 7, 2026, during a friendly against Ukraine at Odense Stadium after clutching his chest in the 65th minute. The incident triggered...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s 2026-06-07 friendly against Ukraine at Odense Stadium, clutching his chest in the 65th minute.
  • Eriksen was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) after his 2021 cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 against Finland.
  • Denmark’s team doctor, Morten Boesen, stated Eriksen was ‘briefly unconscious but regained consciousness very quickly’ and walked off the pitch himself.
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Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes southern Philippines with tsunami warnings

ABCGuardian
2 articles6 hours ago

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines near General Santos City on Mindanao island at 7:37am local time on June 8, 2026, triggering tsunami warnings and causing significant damage....

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 13km southwest of General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippines at 7:37am local time on June 8, 2026
  • The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported the earthquake's depth as 10km
  • Tsunami waves up to 3 metres were possible on some coasts of the Philippines, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
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Queensland Maroons recall Reece Walsh for State of Origin Game 2

ABCGuardian
3 articles11 hours ago

Queensland coach Billy Slater has recalled Reece Walsh to the Maroons squad for State of Origin Game 2 after omitting him from the series opener, where Queensland lost 22-20 despite leading 20-0. Wals...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Reece Walsh was recalled to the Queensland Maroons squad for State of Origin Game 2 (2026) after missing Game 1 and the past four Maroons teams.
  • Queensland coach Billy Slater named Walsh as the 18th man (20th player) in the Maroons squad for Game 2, with his role (bench or halves) to be decided during camp.
  • Walsh was omitted from Game 1 in Sydney (2026) due to form issues, with Kalyn Ponga selected at fullback instead.
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Nelly Korda wins 2026 US Women's Open with dramatic final putt

ABCGuardian
2 articles13 hours ago

Nelly Korda secured her first US Women’s Open title and fourth major career victory in 2026, defeating Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by one shot at Riviera Country Club. Her dramatic win was sealed by a...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Nelly Korda won the 2026 US Women’s Open with a final score of 8-under-par (276), finishing one shot ahead of Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez.
  • Korda’s victory was secured by a perilous final putt on the 18th hole, where her second putt caught the edge and curled around the cup before dropping.
  • The tournament was held at Riviera Country Club, marking the first Women’s Open ever at this 100-year-old course.
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Ultra-processed foods linked to higher dementia risk in new Harvard study

SMHThe Age
2 articles14 hours ago

A new study from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that consuming ultra-processed foods—such as crisps, biscuits, ready meals, and processed meats—is associated with a 58% h...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Harvard University study found a diet high in ultra-processed foods (e.g., crisps, biscuits, ready meals, fizzy drinks, breakfast cereals, cured meats) raised dementia risk by 58%.
  • The same study found those eating the most junk food had a 46% higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia.
  • Processed meats (e.g., bacon, hot dogs, sliced ham) were identified as the biggest contributors to dementia risk in the study.
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Xi Jinping's historic visit to North Korea amid shifting regional alliances and nuclear tensions

ABCGuardian
2 articles15 hours ago

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making his first state visit to North Korea in nearly seven years, arriving from June 5 to June 6, 2026, to revitalize ties with Kim Jong Un amid growing regional tensi...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea from Monday to Tuesday (local time) for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip there since June 2019.
  • North Korea unveiled a new uranium enrichment plant on June 4, 2026, which Kim Jong Un described as part of plans to expand the country's nuclear arsenal 'at an exponential rate'.
  • Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un met in Beijing in September 2025 and pledged mutual support and enhanced cooperation, with Kim attending a Chinese military parade alongside Putin.
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Yesterday

Anthropic calls for global AI development freeze amid safety concerns

ABCGuardianSMHThe Age
4 articles19 hours ago

Anthropic, the world’s most valuable AI company, called for a global freeze on advanced AI development on June 5, 2026, warning that humanity risks losing control of the technology as it approaches 'r...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Anthropic, the company behind Claude chatbot, called for a global freeze on the development of the most powerful AI systems on June 5, 2026.
  • Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei, who left OpenAI over safety concerns, stated there is a 25% chance that 'things go really, really badly' with AI.
  • Anthropic's Mythos AI model was withheld from public release due to fears it could be used for devastating cyberattacks, and was released in a staggered rollout to fix security flaws.
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Mass shooting at Toledo festival injures 12; manhunt ongoing

ABCGuardianSBS
4 articles23 hours ago

A mass shooting at the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio, on June 7, 2026, injured at least 12 people, with two in critical condition, as police searched for two suspected shooters. The festival, ...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • A shooting occurred at the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio, on June 7, 2026, at approximately 5:30 PM local time
  • At least 12 people were wounded in the shooting, with two in critical condition
  • Police are searching for at least two shooters, who were reportedly 'probably shooting at each other'
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New York Knicks lead NBA Finals 2-0 over Spurs after two close games, Wembanyama struggles with late mistakes

ABCGuardian
6 articles17 hours ago

The New York Knicks have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals after winning two closely contested games against the San Antonio Spurs. Game 1, held on June 4 at AT&T Stadium, saw the Kni...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • The New York Knicks won Game 1 of the NBA Finals 105-95 over the San Antonio Spurs on June 4, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in San Antonio.
  • The Knicks won Game 2 of the NBA Finals 105-104 on June 6, 2026, taking a 2-0 series lead.
  • Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks in Game 2 but committed a costly late turnover and missed a potential game-winning shot.
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Alexander Zverev wins first French Open title in 2026

ABCGuardian
2 articles19 hours ago

Alexander Zverev secured his first Grand Slam title by defeating Flavio Cobolli in a grueling five-set French Open final on June 7, 2026, ending a long drought of major defeats. The match, lasting ove...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Alexander Zverev defeated Flavio Cobolli in the 2026 French Open final with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1
  • The match lasted 4 hours and 16 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier
  • Zverev is the first German man to win a major since Boris Becker in 1996 (Australian Open)
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US visa denials for Iranian World Cup delegation spark diplomatic row

GuardianSBS
3 articles23 hours ago

The Iranian FIFA World Cup squad faced visa delays from the US, with players granted entry days before the tournament but support staff, including key officials like executive director Mehdi Kharati a...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Iranian FIFA World Cup squad players were granted US visas days before the tournament (around June 5, 2026).
  • Iranian support staff (including executive director Mehdi Kharati, secretary general Hedayat Mombini, and media director Mohsen Motamedkia) were denied US visas.
  • The Iranian team relocated their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa issues and diplomatic tensions.
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Simone Biles reveals serious health scare and near-death experience in June 2026

ABCGuardian
2 articlesYesterday

Simone Biles shocked fans on June 7, 2026, by revealing on Instagram Stories that she nearly died earlier that week, describing it as the scariest experience of her life. She shared photos of medical ...

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

  • Simone Biles posted on Instagram Stories on June 7, 2026, stating she almost died earlier that week, calling it 'one of, if not the scariest experience of my life'
  • Biles included photos of medical bracelets on her wrists in her Instagram post
  • She mentioned her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, was in Indianapolis for practices when the incident occurred
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