Latest News Stories
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Today
Delta Goodrem qualifies Australia for Eurovision 2026 grand final with record-breaking performance
Delta Goodrem secured Australia’s place in the Eurovision 2026 grand final after a visually stunning performance of 'Eclipse' in Vienna’s second semi-final on May 15. Her stage show, featuring a gold ...
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- Delta Goodrem performed 'Eclipse' in the Eurovision 2026 second semi-final in Vienna, Austria, on May 15, 2026 (AEST), and qualified for the grand final.
- Goodrem’s performance featured a gold gown with 7,000 Swarovski crystals and a stage lift (Versa Ribbon Lift) that raised her above a piano during the climax.
- Australia’s odds to win Eurovision rose from 5th to 2nd place after her performance, with Finland remaining the favorite at 38%.
Transgender woman wins discrimination appeal against female-only app
A transgender woman named Roxanne Tickle won a landmark discrimination appeal against the Giggle for Girls app and its founder Sall Grover after a Federal Court ruled she faced direct discrimination o...
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- Roxanne Tickle was awarded $20,000 in damages after the Federal Court upheld her discrimination case against Giggle for Girls app and CEO Sall Grover
- The original 2024 ruling awarded Tickle $10,000 in damages, which was doubled on appeal
- Tickle was excluded from the Giggle for Girls app in 2021 after a manual review of her selfie, despite AI initially approving her access
Australia bans neo-Nazi group under hate laws, legal challenges and online activity persist
Australia's government banned the neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network (NSN), also known as White Australia, under hate laws introduced after the Bondi terror attack on December 14, 2025. The lis...
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- The National Socialist Network (NSN), also known as White Australia and the European Australian Movement, was listed as a prohibited hate group in Australia at midnight on May 15, 2026, making it illegal to support, fund, train, recruit, join, or direct the group, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the listing, stating the group had previously changed names to evade the law and continued organizing despite claiming to disband.
- The listing was based on ASIO advice that the group was engaged in behavior increasing risks of violence and advocating hate crimes, with the threshold met in April 2026.
Harvey Weinstein's third New York rape trial ends in mistrial after jury deadlock
Harvey Weinstein’s third New York rape trial concluded in a mistrial on May 15, 2026, after a jury deadlocked 3-9 in favor of acquittal on charges he raped actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel on...
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- Harvey Weinstein's third Manhattan sex crimes trial ended in a mistrial on May 15, 2026, after the jury deadlocked on whether to convict him of raping actress Jessica Mann.
- The alleged rape occurred on March 18, 2013, at the DoubleTree hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
- Jessica Mann, now 40, testified for five days during the four-week trial, recounting how Weinstein allegedly pinned her wrists above her head during the attack.
Fatal bus rollover on Queensland's Bruce Highway injures dozens, kills one
A fatal bus rollover on Queensland's Bruce Highway at Gumlu on May 14, 2026, killed one 26-year-old Argentinian tourist and injured dozens, with three in life-threatening conditions. The crash involve...
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- A bus rollover occurred on Queensland's Bruce Highway at Gumlu, between Townsville and Bowen, on 2026-05-14 around 4pm local time.
- The crash involved a bus carrying 28 passengers and a driver, with a total of 29 people on board.
- One person (a 26-year-old Argentinian tourist) died at the scene, and three people were in life-threatening or critical condition.
Plymouth Brethren Christian Church orders global pet purge, sparking fears of animal cruelty
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has ordered its 50,000 global members to purge pets from their homes, citing a dog attack on a relative of leader Bruce Hales as justification. The directive, is...
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- The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church issued a directive on May 2, 2026, at closed meetings in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and elsewhere, ordering members to purge pets from their homes.
- The directive followed a dog attack on a four-year-old relative of Brethren leader Bruce Hales in May 2026, which required stitches on the boy’s face.
- The church’s directive explicitly states that 'disposing of dogs' is not enough, and includes birds, mice, and cats, with members required to confess to the sect’s 'assembly' after disposal.
Jonas Vingegaard wins Stage 7 of Giro d'Italia 2026 on Blockhaus climb
Jonas Vingegaard dominated Stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia 2026, winning by 13 seconds on the grueling Blockhaus climb after a solo attack with 5.5 km remaining. The 244–245 km stage, the longest with th...
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- Jonas Vingegaard won Stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia 2026 by 13 seconds over Felix Gall
- Stage 7 was 244–245 km long, the longest stage with this much climbing in a grand tour since 2000
- Jai Hindley finished third on Stage 7, 1:02 behind Vingegaard
Australia's first diphtheria death in nearly a decade and ongoing outbreak in 2026
Australia is experiencing its first diphtheria death in nearly a decade, with the fatal case occurring in the Northern Territory in May 2026. The NT declared an outbreak in March 2026, marking the fir...
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- A person died from diphtheria in Australia for the first time since 2018, with the death occurring in the Northern Territory (NT) in May 2026.
- The NT declared a diphtheria outbreak in March 2026, the first since the 1990s, with over 100 cases reported (126 cases per ABC, 100+ cases per NEWSCOMAU).
- The deceased was living in a remote part of the NT and died within the past few weeks before May 15, 2026.
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended amid ongoing strikes and diplomatic talks
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by 45 days after US-mediated talks in Washington, despite ongoing military strikes. Both sources confirm that Israel targeted Tyre on May 15, wounding civil...
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- Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire declared on April 16 by 45 days, set to expire on May 19, 2026.
- The US State Department described talks held in Washington from May 13–15, 2026, as 'highly productive' and 'productive'.
- Israel carried out new strikes on Lebanon’s southern city of Tyre on May 15, 2026, wounding at least 37 people, including six hospital personnel, nine women, and four children, per Lebanon’s health ministry.
Texas lottery boss charged over $95m Australian gambling syndicate win
A former Texas Lottery Commission executive, Gary Grief, was charged in May 2026 with abuse of official capacity after an investigation into a $95 million jackpot won by Australian gamblers who purcha...
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- Gary Grief, former executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission (2023), was criminally charged with abuse of official capacity (first-degree felony) involving over $300,000
- Australian gamblers bought nearly 26 million lottery tickets in a 72-hour period to win a $US95 million jackpot (paid as $US57 million lump sum)
- The operation involved four separate retailers and crews working round the clock, with machines delivered last-minute with the Texas Lottery Commission’s approval
Yesterday
Coalition proposes welfare cuts for non-citizens, sparking backlash
The Coalition’s opposition leader, Angus Taylor, announced a policy to restrict access to 17 welfare programs, including the NDIS, Jobseeker, and Family Tax Benefit, to Australian citizens only, exclu...
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- Angus Taylor announced a Coalition policy to restrict 17 welfare programs (including NDIS, Jobseeker, Youth Allowance, and Family Tax Benefit) to Australian citizens only, excluding permanent residents.
- The policy would apply to permanent residents, who currently pay taxes and contribute to Australia’s economy, but would be barred from accessing welfare services under the Coalition’s plan.
- Angus Taylor delivered his budget reply speech on May 14, 2026, outlining the welfare and migration policies.
Coalition's tax, migration and housing policies in response to 2026 federal budget
The Coalition’s response to Labor’s 2026 federal budget, led by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, centers on three major policy areas: tax reform, migration cuts, and housing. Taylor announced a plan to...
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- Angus Taylor announced a plan to index the bottom two tax brackets to inflation starting in 2028-29, costing $22.5 billion over four years (later revised to $35.3 billion by ABC using PBO's SMART model).
- Taylor proposed tying net overseas migration (NOM) to housing completions, with a ratio of one migrant per new home built, aiming for a cap below 200,000 in early years.
- The Coalition pledged to repeal Labor’s proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT) discounts, which would restrict negative gearing for new properties and reduce the CGT discount from 50% to 30% (with inflation adjustments).
Pauline Hanson and Angus Taylor clash over budget policies and migration in 2026 Australian federal budget reply speeches
The articles cover the 2026 Australian federal budget reply speeches, where Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor clashed over policies. Hanson’s speech was cut off mid-senten...
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- Pauline Hanson’s budget reply speech was cut off mid-sentence after exhausting her allocated speaking time in the Senate on 2026-05-14 (Thursday evening).
- Angus Taylor proposed the Coalition’s budget reply speech, which included plans to cap net overseas migration at housing completion levels and ban non-citizens (including permanent residents) from the NDIS.
- Pauline Hanson accused the Coalition of borrowing One Nation policies, stating the budget reply was 'replete with One Nation policies'.
Sam Kerr's departure from Chelsea FC after six-and-a-half years
Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea Football Club at the end of the 2025/26 season after six-and-a-half years, marking the conclusion of a trophy-laden career where she scored 115 goals and won five Women’s S...
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- Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea Football Club at the end of the 2025/26 season when her contract expires
- Kerr has scored 115 goals for Chelsea in all competitions during her six-and-a-half-year tenure
- She has won five Women's Super League titles, three FA Cups, and three League Cups with Chelsea
Five Italian divers die in Maldives cave diving accident
Five Italian divers, including a mother and daughter from the University of Genoa, died in a scuba diving accident in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, after exploring underwater caves at around 50 meters depth....
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- Five Italian divers died in a scuba diving accident in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, on May 15, 2026 (local time).
- The victims were Monica Montefalcone (55, associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa), her daughter Giorgia Sommacal (20, biomedical engineering student), Muriel Oddenino (research assistant at DISTAV), Federico Gualtieri (recent marine ecology graduate), and Gianluca Benedetti (dive operator).
- The divers were exploring underwater caves at a depth of around 50 meters when the accident occurred.
Victorian teachers' pay deal and strike resolution
The Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) has endorsed a pay deal with the state government, offering teachers up to 32.4% pay rises over four years, with the highest increases for ...
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- The Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) endorsed a pay deal offering teachers up to 32.4% pay rise over four years, with the highest increase (32.4%) for entry-level teachers and sliding to 28.3% for senior roles.
- The deal includes an increase in student-free days from five to eight per year (three additional days).
- The AEU previously rejected the state government's initial offer of a 17% pay rise, and teachers had demanded a 35% increase over three years.
Victorian Liberal Party mistakenly declares member dead; member considers joining One Nation
John Ternel, a former Victorian Liberal Party member, became the center of controversy after the party mistakenly sent a mass email declaring him deceased following his resignation. The email, sent on...
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- John Ternel resigned from the Victorian Liberal Party after twice applying for preselection (Bruce federal seat in 2025 and Narre Warren North state seat in 2026) and not being selected.
- The Victorian Liberal Party sent a mass email on 2026-05-14 with the subject line 'Deceased Member,' falsely stating John Ternel had died and was no longer a member of the Narre Warren / Endeavour Hills Branch.
- The email included the text: 'We have been informed that Mr John Ternel has sadly passed away and is no longer a member of the Narre Warren / Endeavour Hills Branch, Narre Warren North SEC, Bruce FEC. Our deepest condolences go out to John's family.'
Xi Jinping references Thucydides Trap in meeting with Donald Trump, warning of US-China tensions
On May 15, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the Thucydides Trap—a historical concept describing conflicts between rising and established powers—during a meeting with US President Donald Trum...
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- Xi Jinping referenced the 'Thucydides Trap' during his meeting with Donald Trump on May 15, 2026, in Beijing, asking if the US and China could 'transcend' it.
- The Thucydides Trap refers to the historical dynamic where a rising power (like China) challenges an established power (like the US), often leading to conflict, as described in Thucydides' account of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC).
- Xi Jinping warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to 'clashes and even conflicts,' putting the entire US-China relationship in 'great jeopardy.'
Inquest into tasering death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland with dementia in aged care
The inquest into the death of Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old woman with dementia who was tasered by former NSW Police officer Kristian White in May 2023, is examining systemic failures in dementia care ...
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- Clare Nowland, 95, was tasered by former NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White on May 17, 2023, at Yallambee Lodge aged care facility in Cooma
- Nowland died one week later in Cooma Hospital from a brain bleed caused by injuries from the taser deployment
- White was found guilty of manslaughter in a NSW Supreme Court jury trial in November 2024 and sentenced to a two-year community correction order with 425 hours of community service
Solomon Islands elects Matthew Wale as new prime minister amid geopolitical shifts
Solomon Islands elected opposition leader Matthew Wale as prime minister on May 15, 2026, following a no-confidence vote that ousted incumbent Jeremiah Manele. Wale defeated Peter Shanel Agovaka 26-22...
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- Matthew Wale was elected prime minister of Solomon Islands on 2026-05-15 with 26 votes to 22 against Peter Shanel Agovaka in a parliamentary ballot.
- Jeremiah Manele was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote last week (2026-05-08) before Wale’s election.
- Wale visited Beijing in 2025 as opposition leader and praised China’s economic development while supporting the one-China principle, according to a CCP readout.