Latest News Stories
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Today
David Hockney, influential British artist, dies at 88
David Hockney, the revolutionary British artist celebrated for his contributions to 20th-century art, died at age 88 on June 12, 2026. Born in Bradford in 1937, he became renowned for his iconic swimm...
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- David Hockney died at age 88 (born July 9, 1937)
- Hockney was born in Bradford, England, and spent much of his life in Southern California
- His painting *Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)* (1972) sold for $90.3 million ($128 million) in 2018, a record for a living artist at the time
One Nation fundraiser moved in Melbourne due to protest threats
One Nation’s Melbourne fundraising event, featuring Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce, was moved from Giorgio Casa in Moonee Ponds to an undisclosed location after the venue canceled due to planned pro...
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- One Nation moved a fundraising event from Giorgio Casa, an Italian restaurant in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, to an undisclosed location due to planned protest activity
- The event was scheduled to feature One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and MP Barnaby Joyce
- Victoria Police confirmed they were not aware of any threats made towards the event, and the decision to cancel was made by the venue
SpaceX's record-breaking IPO and Elon Musk's potential trillionaire status
SpaceX's record-breaking initial public offering (IPO) on June 12, 2026, marked the largest stock market debut in history, valuing the company at $1.77 trillion after selling 555.6 million shares at $...
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- SpaceX listed on the Nasdaq exchange on June 12, 2026, with a valuation of $1.77 trillion ($2.4 trillion AUD) after selling 555.6 million shares at $135 each, raising $75 billion.
- Elon Musk is expected to become the world's first trillionaire following SpaceX's IPO, with his stake in SpaceX valued at $644 billion at the IPO price.
- SpaceX's IPO attracted orders for more than three times the amount of shares on offer, indicating strong demand from both institutional and retail investors.
F1 Monaco GP: Gasly's reinstated podium after timekeeping error
Pierre Gasly's third-place finish at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix was reinstated on June 12 after Formula 1 officials admitted a timekeeping error in calculating his pitlane speed. Initially demoted to ...
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- Pierre Gasly's third-place finish at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix was reinstated after FIA stewards rescinded two 5-second pitlane speeding penalties due to a timekeeping error.
- The FIA admitted that timekeepers had overestimated Gasly's car speed by using incorrect distance calculations in the pitlane.
- Gasly was initially demoted from third to seventh place after the penalties were applied on race day (June 9, 2026).
Death of Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha after prolonged coma and national mourning
Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and a respected diplomat, died on June 12, 2026, at age 47 after spending nearly four years in a coma due to heart prob...
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- Princess Bajrakitiyabha (nicknamed Princess Bha or Princess Pa) died on June 12, 2026, at age 47 after nearly four years in a coma
- She was hospitalized in December 2022 after collapsing due to heart problems while training dogs in Nakhon Ratchasima
- Her health deteriorated in May 2026 due to multiple infections (including stomach/intra-abdominal infections, colitis, and organ failures) and irregular heartbeat
Taliban crackdown on women's dress code protests in Herat, Afghanistan, leaves dead and detained
On June 11, 2026, a rare protest erupted in Herat, Afghanistan, after Taliban authorities arrested at least 30 women for alleged dress code violations, including a medical worker from Médecins Sans Fr...
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- At least two people were killed during a Taliban crackdown on a protest in Herat, Afghanistan, on June 11, 2026, including a boy who was shot.
- The protest occurred in Herat, western Afghanistan, and was attended by about 70 to 150 people, depending on the source, against arrests of women for alleged dress code violations.
- At least 30 women were arrested in Herat last weekend (June 7–8, 2026) for not wearing the required chador or burqa, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Victoria’s firefighters union and secretary Peter Marshall challenge anti-corruption report release
Victoria’s United Firefighters Union (UFU) and its secretary Peter Marshall are facing public scrutiny after a Victorian Court of Appeal ruled to reveal their identities as the parties behind a legal ...
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- Peter Marshall is the secretary of the United Firefighters Union (UFU) and the named individual behind the legal challenge to stop the release of the IBAC Operation Richmond report.
- The United Firefighters Union (UFU) and Peter Marshall are the two parties identified by the Victorian Court of Appeal as seeking to block the release of the IBAC report.
- The IBAC investigation (Operation Richmond) began in 2018 and examined allegations of corruption during the 2016 industrial dispute between the UFU, the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and the government of former premier Daniel Andrews.
Jai Arrow's emotional NRL farewell and MND diagnosis tribute match
Jai Arrow received a deeply emotional tribute during an NRL round 15 match at Accor Stadium on June 12, 2026, as both South Sydney Rabbitohs and Brisbane Broncos honored him following his retirement d...
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- Jai Arrow was overcome with emotion before the game at Accor Stadium on 2026-06-12, crying as he embraced his partner Berina and daughter Ayla
- South Sydney Rabbitohs wore special white jerseys with the word 'Arrow' on the back to honor Jai Arrow during the match
- Brisbane Broncos also acknowledged Jai Arrow’s name on their jerseys, which were auctioned off with proceeds going to Arrow and his family
Missing 4-year-old Gus Lamont’s case and unrelated firearms offence against his grandmother
The case of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont, who disappeared from his family’s Oak Park Station near Yunta on 27 September 2025, remains unsolved despite extensive searches. On 12 June 2026, his gran...
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- Josie Murray, 75, was fined $10,500 for possessing a gun silencer (sound moderator) at Oak Park Station, South Australia, on 12 June 2026.
- Murray was disqualified from holding or obtaining a firearms licence for five years.
- Gus Lamont, 4, disappeared from Oak Park Station near Yunta on 27 September 2025.
Rail Ninja overcharging travellers on train tickets globally
Two identical articles from THEAGE and SMH expose how Rail Ninja, a third-party booking platform, exploits travellers by charging up to three times the official price for train tickets. The author, wh...
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- Rail Ninja charges up to three times more for rail tickets than the official price by mimicking official train sites
- The author paid $115 for a Berlin to Munich train ticket via Rail Ninja, while the average one-way ticket price is $65 and the cheapest is as low as $30
- Rail Ninja’s tickets are not fake—they work, but are heavily inflated with no refunds or cancellations
Tributes and details surrounding the death of Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton
Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton, 25, died unexpectedly while on a family holiday in Thailand on June 12, 2026, two weeks after her birthday. Stapleton, a Stawell Gift finalist who finished third i...
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- Jemma Stapleton, 25, died while on a family holiday overseas.
- Stapleton finished third in the 2025 Stawell Gift.
- A GoFundMe was set up to support Stapleton’s family, raising over $100,000.
Top 10 underrated island destinations vs. tourist favorites
Two Australian news outlets, SMH and THEAGE, published identical articles on June 12, 2026, challenging common perceptions of the world’s most popular island destinations. Both list Thailand, Japan, I...
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- Thailand has 1,430 total islands, with Phuket being the most popular but Koh Lanta recommended as the best alternative
- Japan has 14,125 total islands, with Okinawa being the clichéd choice but Hokkaido recommended for food, skiing, and nature
- Italy has 450 total islands, with Sicily (including Taormina, Palermo, and Mount Etna) being the top pick over others like Sardinia or Capri
FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony and Mexico vs. South Africa match kickoff
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began with a star-studded opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, featuring performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, and Alejandro Fernández, among o...
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- The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony and first match (Mexico vs. South Africa) took place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
- The opening ceremony featured performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, and Alejandro Fernández (El Potrillo).
- The kickoff time for the Mexico vs. South Africa match was 5:00am AEST (local time in Mexico City was 12:00pm).
Trump-linked luxury resort development threatens Albania’s protected wetlands and sparks protests
Albania is facing intense protests over a proposed $1.98 billion luxury resort project led by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, which threatens the Vjosa-Narta wetlands—a protected area hosting rare spe...
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- Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner proposed a $1.98 billion luxury resort project in Albania’s Vjosa-Narta Lagoon and Sazan Island, with preliminary government approval granted on December 30, 2024.
- Sazan Island is home to over 200 migratory bird species, including rare Mediterranean monk seals (vulnerable per IUCN) and nesting sea turtles, with flamingos being a key species (Albania hosts >1% of the global flamingo population).
- Protests dubbed the 'flamingo revolution' began in May 2026 after heavy machinery and fencing appeared in the Vjosa-Narta protected area, with thousands demonstrating in Tirana.
Phil Mickelson banned from golf club over alleged inappropriate contact with employee
Phil Mickelson has been banned from The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, after a female employee accused him of nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact during an incident in th...
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- Phil Mickelson's membership was terminated at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, following allegations of 'nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact' with a female employee.
- The incident occurred before Mickelson played at The Farms in the spring of 2026, and he was confronted mid-round and asked to leave the property.
- The Farms Golf Club issued a statement confirming the investigation and termination, saying: 'Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.'
Australia loses ODI series to Bangladesh for first time in history
Australia suffered their first-ever ODI series defeat to Bangladesh, losing 2-0 in a three-match series held in Dhaka. The first ODI ended in a Bangladesh victory by 86 runs via Duckworth-Lewis-Stern ...
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- Australia lost the first ODI to Bangladesh by 86 runs via Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Dhaka on 2026-06-09
- Bangladesh scored 8-284 in their innings at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on 2026-06-09
- Australia were restricted to 9-191 from 42.2 overs due to rain/lightning on 2026-06-09
Social media use linked to increased mental health risks in teens, especially ages 12-13
Two Australian news outlets report on a decade-long study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute linking heavy social media use (≥2 hours/day) to modest increases in depressive symptoms and poor...
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- A study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute followed almost 1,200 Melbourne school students aged 9–19 from 2015–2021, finding that those who spent ≥2 hours/day on social media had a small increased risk of depressive symptoms and poorer wellbeing one year later.
- The strongest effects were observed in girls aged 12–13, with ~11 additional cases of high depressive symptoms per 100 girls using ≥2 hours/day compared to <1 hour/day.
- Boys aged 12–13 using ≥2 hours/day showed ~7 additional cases of high depressive symptoms per 100 boys compared to <1 hour/day.
NSW Police independent culture review reveals systemic bullying, harassment, discrimination
An independent review of NSW Police’s culture, led by former Victorian human rights commissioner Kristen Hilton, revealed systemic bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the force. Over 5,100...
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- The NSW Police independent culture review found 30% of over 5,100 participants reported being bullied in the past five years
- 18% of respondents said they had been verbally abused or threatened in the past five years
- 9% of respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment at NSW Police in the past five years, while 1% reported being sexually assaulted
UK Defence Secretary John Healey resigns, disrupting Richard Marles' AUKUS visit
British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on June 11, 2026, just hours before a scheduled media event with Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles in Portsmouth, disrupting Marles' AUKUS-focused visi...
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- British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on 2026-06-11, citing insufficient defence spending in a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- Healey's resignation was announced via social media just after midday (UK time) on 2026-06-11, less than three hours before a scheduled media event with Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles in Portsmouth
- The Portsmouth media event, which included a tour of a naval base critical to the AUKUS partnership, was cancelled due to Healey's resignation
Man charged with kidnapping and murder of missing Sydney woman
A 33-year-old man has been charged with the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 58-year-old Sydney woman whose body remains missing. Police confirmed the woman, last heard from on Monday, June 10, 2026...
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- A 58-year-old woman disappeared after last being heard from by family at approximately 4:50pm on Monday, June 10, 2026, when she said she was meeting a relative in Winston Hills, Sydney’s northwest
- The woman’s car was found on Dodson Street in Winston Hills at about 9:30am on Tuesday, June 11, 2026
- A 33-year-old man was arrested on Thursday, June 13, 2026, sitting in a white Toyota Hilux in bushland along Parnell Fire Trail in Tomerong, south of Nowra