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Dolly Parton, country music legend and philanthropist, dies at 80 after brief battle with cancer
Dolly Parton, the beloved country music legend and philanthropist, died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Born in a one-room cabin in Tennessee, Parton rose from poverty to become one of the most iconic and successful artists in music history, writing over 3,000 songs, including timeless hits like Jolene, I Will Always Love You, and 9 to 5. Her career spanned seven decades, earning her 11 Grammy Awards, an Oscar, and countless other accolades. Parton was also known for her generosity, founding the Imagination Library in 1995, which has distributed millions of free books to children worldwide, and donating $1 million to COVID-19 research, which contributed to the development of the Moderna vaccine. Her husband, Carl Dean, passed away in March 2025 after nearly 60 years of marriage. Tributes poured in from global leaders, fellow artists, and fans, with US President Donald Trump ordering American flags to be lowered to half-mast in her honor. Parton’s legacy extends beyond music, as she was a trailblazer for women in entertainment, a champion of literacy, and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. Her death marks the end of an era for country music and philanthropy, leaving behind a profound impact on generations of artists and fans alike.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
- Dolly Parton died at age 80 on August 25, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer
- She was born on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in Pittman Centre, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children
- Parton achieved 25 number-one hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and sold over 100 million records worldwide
Today
Tim Curry dies aged 80 after iconic career in Rocky Horror Picture Show and other roles
Tim Curry, the British actor best known for his iconic role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film Rocky Horror Picture Show, died at age 80. Born on April 19, 1946, Curry had a prolific career spanning film, television, and theater, including notable roles as Pennywise in the 1990 TV adaptation of Stephen King’s It, Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 musical Annie, and Mr. Hector in the 1992 sequel to Home Alone. Curry also played Long John Silver in 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island and earned three Tony nominations for his Broadway work in Amadeus (1980), My Favorite Year (1993), and Spamalot (2005). He won a Daytime Emmy in 1991 for voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Pirates. Curry suffered a stroke in 2012, which left him partially paralyzed, and published his memoir Vagabond in 2025. His death was confirmed by multiple sources, with tributes from colleagues like Jonathan Lynn, Carol Burnett, and Michael McKean highlighting his talent and influence. Curry’s legacy includes defining roles in cult films and stage productions, as well as his enduring impact on pop culture.
Bathla Group's voluntary administration collapse and its impact on buyers
Bathla Group, a major Sydney property developer established in 1997, collapsed into voluntary administration on Tuesday morning, leaving hundreds of buyers in limbo. The company cited a 'perfect storm' of declining sales, rising construction costs, and the federal government’s May budget as reasons for its financial troubles. Administrators from Teneo were appointed to manage the company and its subsidiaries, including Raj & Jai Construction, which faced penalties for improper conduct. The collapse affects 2000 dwellings across Western Sydney, with buyers like Sue Mancuso and Janice Cahill reporting delays and unfinished work at developments such as Kembla Grange. The NSW Government and rival developers are now considering how to ensure project continuity, while buyers are advised to check their legal rights regarding deposits and contract termination. Bathla’s liabilities exceeded $3 billion as of June 2025, with varying figures reported by different sources, and the company’s complex corporate structure includes hundreds of related entities.
Deadly Nepal-Tibet flash floods leave hundreds missing, dozens dead, and widespread destruction
A catastrophic flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, triggered by an avalanche and a magnitude 4.4 earthquake about 100 kilometres north of Kathmandu. The disaster left at least 34 Australians and 341 foreign tourists missing, with reports of at least 98 dead in Nepal and at least 3 dead and 265 missing in Gyirong County, Tibet. The Bhotekoshi River flooded around 9 a.m., destroying villages, roads, and hydropower projects, while the Lhende Khola River flooded twice in 14 months, including a similar event in August last year that killed 9 people. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with at least 28 police officials also missing, and authorities warning of secondary disasters. The flood affected regions like Rasuwa and Nuwakot, with missing nationals including 133 from India, 47 from the US, 33 from Britain, and 24 from Canada.
Death of a 16-year-old Sydney girl linked to suspected choking during sex
Police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old girl from Sydney’s northern beaches, which occurred on Tuesday night after she was found unresponsive at a home in Elanora Heights on Sunday night at 5.45pm. Emergency services responded to a welfare concern and airlifted her to Royal North Shore Hospital in critical condition. Authorities suspect the death may be linked to a choking act during sex, with sources confirming asphyxiation as a possible cause. The case has prompted calls for national education campaigns on sexual health and consent, particularly regarding the risks of sexual strangulation. Support is available through 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). No charges have been laid, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Meta settles US teen social media addiction lawsuit with $17B payment and platform changes
Meta has agreed to pay up to $17 billion and implement sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram to settle a landmark lawsuit brought by 29 US states, which accused the company of deliberately designing addictive platforms that harmed teen mental health. The settlement, announced on August 26, 2026, includes mandatory safety features such as daily time limits, nighttime blocks, elimination of push notifications during school hours, and stronger age verification and parental controls. The trial, which began last week in Oakland, California, was set to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg testify, but the settlement cut it short. Meta denied wrongdoing and framed the agreement as a commitment to improving teen safety, though former employees and child safety experts have long criticized its past efforts as superficial. The settlement is the largest financial penalty ever imposed on a tech company in the US and marks the first time Meta has been forced to alter core platform features by default rather than relying on opt-in settings. While the financial impact is minimal compared to Meta’s $201 billion 2025 revenue, the changes could set a precedent for other social media companies like TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar safeguards.
Victorian government secretly imposed a 1% public transport fare levy to fund SRL
The Victorian government secretly introduced a 1% levy on public transport fares in January 2025, known as the rail improvement charge, to help fund the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) project. This levy, which will last until 2062, was approved in August 2021 and confirmed in December 2023 and November 2024, but was never publicly announced in fare increase communications. The levy was designed to raise $4.8 billion for SRL East, though it has only generated $6.5 million so far, far below forecasts. The SRL East project, a 26km stretch of twin tunnels from Cheltenham to Box Hill, is estimated to cost $34.5 billion, with $11.5 billion expected from value capture methods. However, the project faces significant delays and budget risks, with the federal government committing only $6 billion instead of the assumed $11.5 billion. The Auditor-General’s report revealed the levy was discussed and approved by senior ministers, including Jacinta Allan, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, and Jaclyn Symes, without public disclosure. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson condemned the levy as a secret tax, while Premier Ben Carroll, who was public transport minister when the levy was approved, has promised greater transparency. The project’s completion date of 2035 is now at risk due to cost overruns, unexpected ground conditions, and delays in procurement processes.
ICAC investigates payments to Anita Perrottet’s consulting firm and alleged illegal political donations
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating whether payments totaling $254,666 made to Anita Perrottet’s consulting firm Macquarie Consulting in late 2022 were for legitimate consulting work or disguised funds intended for her husband Charles Perrottet. The payments came from businesses owned by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, including Beckington and JPG Advisory. Anita Perrottet testified that the payments were for verbal strategic and marketing advice, but ICAC has found no evidence she performed any actual work for these companies. The inquiry also examines allegations that Charles Perrottet, along with Christian Ellis and Greenwood, received prohibited political donations from fugitive developer Jean Nassif between 2020 and 2023, with the men allegedly expecting to share $2 million. Anita Perrottet has struggled to recall key details, including why invoices were issued or altered, and whether she was ever a Liberal Party member. She will continue giving evidence on Friday, followed by her husband Charles. While Dominic Perrottet, Charles’s brother and former NSW premier, is not accused of wrongdoing, the inquiry focuses on whether funds were funneled through Macquarie Consulting to support Charles’s political activities.
Random attack on mother and son in Melbourne’s Docklands; suspect’s court appearance
A random attack outside Victoria Police headquarters in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday afternoon left a 10-year-old boy punched in the face and his 46-year-old mother stabbed seven times with scissors by Jerry Sowood, 27. The mother, who was protecting her son, suffered severe injuries including a broken leg and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital. The boy, who has a brain tumour, was visiting Melbourne for a scan scheduled for Wednesday. Good Samaritans intervened to restrain Sowood, who was charged with multiple offences including affray and conduct endangering life. He appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, refusing legal help and stating he was in a 'mental state of mind' during the attack. Sowood’s next court date is set for November. The mother remains hospitalized, while the boy continues treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The incident has sparked discussions about rising crime and mental health issues in Melbourne’s CBD.
England cricketer Brydon Carse investigated after nightclub handcuff incident
Multiple news outlets are reporting on England cricketer Brydon Carse’s investigation following a viral video showing him in handcuffs outside a Derby nightclub on August 22. Carse, a 31-year-old fast bowler and England’s leading wicket-taker during the 2017-18 Ashes, was dropped from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan starting next week at Lord’s. The incident occurred after Durham’s County Championship win, with Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts also present in the footage. Carse was detained for a few minutes but released without charge. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is investigating the matter, while Derbyshire police are probing an alleged assault linked to the arrest. This follows a series of off-field incidents involving England players, including Harry Brook’s £30,000 fine in last November for an altercation in Wellington and reports of heavy drinking during last winter’s Ashes tour in Australia. Brendon McCullum was sacked as Test coach after the tour, and Stephen Fleming, the new permanent head coach, is set to arrive next month. The ECB has removed the midnight curfew imposed after the winter’s Ashes tour, but the repeated incidents have raised concerns about player conduct and leadership.
FIFA-Uefa dispute over World Cup privatization and upcoming elections
UEFA and FIFA are resolving a dispute over FIFA’s proposed privatization of the World Cup, with UEFA poised to lift its threatened boycott after receiving assurances that no similar plan will be repeated. The upcoming Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland is the first major tournament that could have been affected, with all qualified teams confirmed to participate. Italy has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of next year’s presidential election, while France is still deciding its stance, with a decision expected at its executive committee meeting on September 10. Both sources agree that UEFA and FIFA have been in private discussions to resolve the boycott, though they differ slightly on the timing and location of UEFA’s executive meeting. Infantino faces growing opposition, including from UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, as he seeks a fourth term next year.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle return to the UK after years abroad
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to the United Kingdom with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after six years living in California. Both sources confirm the family arrived at Birmingham Airport, with plans to settle in the Cotswolds and enroll the children in a local school. The couple’s last visit to the UK as a family was in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, and they visited King Charles at his Highgrove home in July. While both articles agree on the core details, ABC provides additional context, such as Harry and Meghan stepping back from royal duties in 2020, legal troubles involving millions of pounds, and strained relations with Prince William. 7NEWS emphasizes the family’s shift to private life and King Charles’s surprise at their return, while ABC highlights recent improvements in Harry’s relationship with his father and ongoing legal and personal challenges.
16-year-old girl avoids jail for aggravated carjacking under Victoria’s new youth crime laws
A 16-year-old girl avoided jail after being convicted of aggravated carjacking in February, with a judge imposing an 18-month youth supervision order instead of a minimum three-year sentence. Both sources agree the crime involved holding a knife to a taxi driver’s throat in Dandenong, just two hours after Victoria’s new 'adult time for violent crime' laws took effect. The judge cited her tough upbringing, lack of prior convictions, and exceptional circumstances—including family abuse and residential care—as reasons for leniency. ABC provides additional details, such as the crime’s exact date (February 27, 2026), the victim’s ongoing trauma, and the girl’s co-offender receiving a 12-month good behaviour bond. The case has sparked debate over youth justice, with critics arguing the government is weak on crime while supporters highlight rehabilitation over punishment.
Dolly Parton's philanthropy and legacy in child literacy and education
Dolly Parton's philanthropic legacy, particularly her focus on child literacy and education, was highlighted in both articles. She died aged 80, leaving behind a vast charitable impact through the Imagination Library, which she founded in 1995 to combat illiteracy inspired by her father’s inability to read. The program sends free books monthly to children from birth until age five, with over 300 million books distributed worldwide. Both sources agree on the program’s success in increasing reading habits, with children in the program nine times more likely to be read to regularly. The ABC emphasizes the program’s global expansion, including Australia, and a 2025 study confirming its effectiveness, while the Guardian details additional philanthropic efforts, such as her $500 incentive for high school graduation in 1991, which reduced dropout rates in Sevier County. The Guardian also highlights her broader charitable work, including donations to pediatric cancer research, COVID-19 vaccine funding, and AIDS awareness campaigns in the 1980s and 1990s. Both articles note her 2022 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, underscoring her lifelong commitment to giving.
Yesterday
Theft of 400,000 juvenile oysters from NSW Mid North Coast oyster farms
Three news sources report the theft of 400,000 juvenile oysters worth $350,000 from Latitude 31 Oysters on the NSW Mid North Coast, with the incident occurring on Tuesday morning. The stolen oysters were contained in 320 aquaculture bags and are not yet ready for sale, requiring another four to six months of growth. Ryan Freeman, the owner of the business, has operated for six years and estimates the theft represents a third of his livestock. The industry in NSW includes 230 oyster farming businesses, which produced 70 million oysters worth $78 million in 2023-24. Police are investigating, and the Guardian notes that flooding in 2021 and 2025 has previously disrupted oyster stocks, with recovery expected to take another two years. Freeman and other farmers express frustration, suggesting the theft may be industry-related due to the scale and timing.
Australia’s national data centre energy rules and gun law reforms after national cabinet meeting
Australia’s national cabinet reached a compromise on Wednesday allowing Queensland and the Northern Territory to use gas or coal for data centres, despite federal demands for renewables. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed down from an all-renewables mandate, agreeing to flexible rules to attract investment, though legislation is expected early next year. The meeting also addressed gun laws, tightening restrictions following December’s antisemitic shooting at Bondi, including making citizenship a condition for gun licences and banning 3D printed guns. Both states argued their publicly owned energy infrastructure justified exceptions, while the federal government emphasized avoiding US-style backlash over data centre energy demands. The economic stakes are high, with data centre power use projected to triple in the next four years and potential investments exceeding more than $100 billion. Meanwhile, the federal government allocated an additional $125 million to combat bird flu, which has spread across all six states.
Victorian government cuts $2bn from Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) project scope
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll announced $1 billion in savings for the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project by cutting 'unnecessary additions' such as underground station interchanges at Glen Waverley and Box Hill, and a multi-level car park, reducing the total cost from $34.5 billion to $33.3 billion. The government aims to achieve an additional $1 billion in savings through an independent technical review, targeting a total cost of $32.3 billion. Both ABC and Guardian confirm the scrapping of these features and the absorption of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority into the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority. However, ABC provides additional details on cost discrepancies, such as the $1.7 billion total cost for interchanges but only $104 million included in the budget, and a secret 1% tax on public transport fares from January 2025 to fund the project. The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, has promised to pause and review the project if elected in November, while Carroll insists the project will proceed on time and under budget. Tunnelling for SRL East is set to begin soon, with $14.5 billion in contracts already signed and $6 billion in federal funding secured, including $3.8 billion from May’s federal budget.
Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion after Bondi terror attack
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion concluded after 60 days of public hearings, investigating the rise of antisemitism in Australia following the Bondi terror attack on December 14, 2025, which killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration. Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, who lost his son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger in the attack, was the final witness among 340 (or more than 300, per Guardian) witnesses. The commission received over 20,000 submissions and 550,000 documents, with an interim report in April highlighting warnings from Sydney’s Jewish community about a high threat of an attack at the Chanukah by the Sea festival. The commission also addressed the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel, antisemitism on university campuses, and the impact of the 2023 Hamas attacks on social cohesion. Commissioner Virginia Bell requested the final report be delivered by December 18, 2026, to avoid conflict with the anniversary of the attack.
Tasmanian council approves 288MW AI datacentre amid community opposition and federal regulatory plans
Tasmania’s George Town Council approved a 288-megawatt AI datacentre by Firmus Technologies at Long Reach, near Bell Bay, despite strong community opposition and nearly 6,000 petition signatures. The 6-1 vote came after over 300 public submissions raised concerns about energy use, AI impacts, and environmental risks, though the council ruled these were outside its planning authority. The decision follows federal plans by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to legislate a nationally consistent regulatory framework for large datacentres from early next year, which some locals argue should delay local approvals. Meanwhile, Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority issued its first-ever objection to a datacentre, opposing a 366MW project in Melbourne’s north. Firmus, which is also building a 104MW datacentre in Launceston and has plans for a 52MW site in Wesley Vale, welcomed the approval and will now proceed with design and construction, subject to conditions including noise assessments and diesel generator restrictions. Protesters, including long-term residents and young activists, vowed to appeal the decision, arguing local councils lack the expertise to assess such projects.
Edge Early Learning enters voluntary administration amid safety incidents
Edge Early Learning, a childcare provider with centres in the ACT, Queensland, and South Australia, entered voluntary administration after appointing KordaMentha as administrators. The company, which opened its first centres in Queensland in 2017 and acquired 17 centres in South Australia in 2022, now operates 24 centres in the state. Despite the administration, the company assures parents that all centres will continue operating normally. The move follows multiple safety incidents, including the closure of the Gawler East centre in July after an allergen-related incident, the Munno Para West centre’s three-month closure in April due to unsupervised children, and a serious medical incident at the Higgins centre in Canberra in July. Additionally, an incident in September last year at the Gawler West centre involved an educator accused of restraining a child. The company’s Charnwood centre in Canberra is set to close for three months from September 3, though administrators can appeal the decision.