Explore

Jump to a category

Politics

Greens seek stronger digital safety laws, including right to sue tech firms

The Greens want Australians harmed online to be able to sue technology companies and seek compensation, as Labor prepares to introduce digital duty of care laws to parliament.

“To meaningfully change the behaviour of big tech companies, the digital duty of care laws must include the right for Australians who have been harmed online to be able to take legal action and seek compensation for the damage done”
Sarah Hanson-YoungGreens communications spokesperson

Former NSW and federal MP Bruce Baird farewelled at Sydney funeral

Family, former colleagues and people he helped as an asylum seeker advocate gathered at St Andrew’s Cathedral to honour Baird, who died aged 84.

Victorian Liberals replace Croydon candidate over legal dispute

The Victorian Liberal Party has dropped Grant Hutchinson as its candidate for Croydon, citing new information about his ongoing legal dispute. Toby Wooldridge will contest the seat instead.

Greens senator backs military aid to Ukraine, challenging party leader

Sarah Hanson-Young said Australia should provide military aid to Ukraine if needed to defend its sovereignty, while Greens leader David Shoebridge opposes it.

WA education minister and universities disagree over merger plan

Western Australia’s education minister, Tony Buti, and the state’s universities are at odds over a proposed merger. The available information does not explain the plan or what happens next.

Victorian firefighters’ union threatens legal action over $644 levy

The union says it may take members to court to recover a $644 levy for legal costs. The levy is funding its ongoing dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria over a workplace agreement.

Anne Aly says she received 19 death threats in a week

Australia’s small business minister says she received 19 death threats on social media in a week after an opposition MP called for her to be “stoned in the square” in parliament.

Australian minister Anne Aly says she received 19 death threats on social media in one week.

She spoke after Liberal National MP Angie Bell said in parliament that Aly and the prime minister should be “shamed and stoned in the square.”

Bell made the remark while criticising a tax office decision to stop credit card payments for tax bills.

The Speaker made Bell withdraw the words after a government minister objected to their violent imagery.

Read full story →

Chalmers warns of a year of economic strain and rising One Nation support

Treasurer Jim Chalmers forecast continued economic strain and urged progressives not to dismiss One Nation supporters as Labor prepares to introduce a 30 per cent tax on trusts.

NSW Right faction Labor MPs discussed potential backlash over the government’s economic policies.

Albanese rejected suggestions of a midterm slump and sought to reassure Labor MPs.

Chalmers warned of a year of economic strain and urged progressives not to sneer at One Nation supporters.

Labor is due to introduce its 30 per cent tax on trusts.

Australian PM brokered pause in ATO credit card payments

Australia’s prime minister personally arranged a pause in credit card payments to the Australian Taxation Office. The source provides no details on who is covered or how long the pause will last.

Reported action
The Australian prime minister personally brokered a pause
Payments
Credit card payments to the ATO
Publication date
13 October 2026

Senate inquiry could delay Australian online safety laws

The Coalition and Greens plan to send Labor’s online safety bill to a Senate inquiry, potentially delaying new protections for social media users.

The Coalition The Greens

The bill

The Coalition calls the bill deeply flawed and says it amounts to political censorship.

The Greens support an inquiry and want a digital duty of care law that keeps people safe from harmful algorithms.

The bill’s direction

The Coalition argues the bill should be abandoned.

The Greens want stronger penalties and would allow individuals to sue platforms for online harm.

Protester linked to anti-coal group restrained in NSW parliament

A protester linked to anti-coal group Rising Tide jumped into the NSW parliament chamber during Question Time on Tuesday. MPs forcibly restrained him.

World

Emergency response for Christa Pike delayed by confusion after failed execution

911 recordings show more than half an hour passed before Tennessee prison officials confirmed a call for medical help after Christa Pike survived a lethal injection attempt.

“Per supervisors here at the DEC (Department of Emergency Communications) we have been informed it is a false call”
DispatcherDepartment of Emergency Communications dispatcher

Coroner's inquest to examine death of Toronto woman who fell from balcony

A coroner's inquest is set to begin examining the death of a Toronto woman who fell from a balcony.

Inquest opens into Toronto woman’s 2020 death during police response

A 14-day coroner’s inquest is examining how Regis Korchinski-Paquet died after falling from a Toronto apartment balcony while police were in her home in 2020.

Carney says U.S.-Russia diesel deal undermines efforts to end Ukraine war

Mark Carney told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that a new Russian diesel supply deal with the U.S. would give Russia revenue and work against efforts to end the war.

A timeline of key events in the Regis Korchinski-Paquet case

The story is about key events in the Regis Korchinski-Paquet case, but the available text does not describe those events.

Sheinbaum invokes Mexican sovereignty amid U.S. security and trade tensions

Mexico’s president criticized a U.S. ambassador’s visit to a police academy project, as she balances security co-operation with defending Mexican sovereignty and seeking tariff relief.

Duane Davis faces life sentence for Tupac Shakur murder

Duane Davis, convicted of first-degree murder for orchestrating Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing, was due to be sentenced in Las Vegas. He faces life in prison without parole and says he will appeal.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis was due to be sentenced in Las Vegas on Tuesday after being found guilty of first-degree murder in August.

The 63-year-old former gang leader faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole for his role in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur.

Prosecutors said Davis orchestrated the shooting after a casino fight in which Shakur and his entourage beat Davis’s nephew.

Shakur was shot while riding in a car with record executive Marion “Suge” Knight and died in hospital six days later.

Read full story →

Trump-Putin diesel deal draws Ukraine’s criticism as experts doubt price impact

The US temporarily eased sanctions on Russian diesel sales after Trump and Putin agreed to supply fuel. Analysts say the shipments are unlikely to bring down prices soon.

Putin rejected the idea of an energy truce, saying that stopping strikes alone would not solve high diesel prices unless sanctions on Russia were lifted.

Trump announced the diesel deal after a phone call with Putin.

Ukrainian and US delegations were reportedly meeting in Miami as talks on ending the war resumed.

The US Treasury authorization permits transactions involving Russian-origin diesel.

More Canadian snowbirds are choosing destinations outside the U.S

Canadian retirees are swapping winter stays in Florida for places including Mexico and the Caribbean, citing safety concerns, costs and the weak Canadian dollar.

U.S. winter plans
12.5 per cent of surveyed Canadian snowbird respondents
Previous-year U.S. plans
Roughly a quarter of respondents
Delutises’ home
Waterloo, Ontario
Planned Dominican Republic stay
Six weeks

Navi Pillay urges US to defend human rights amid ICC sanctions

Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay urged the United States to resume its role as a defender of human rights. She also voiced support for the International Criminal Court after the US announced sanctions against it.

Navi Pillay US government

Role of the ICC

Pillay expressed solidarity with the court’s work promoting international criminal justice.

The US has imposed sanctions targeting the ICC and says it will not allow the court to prosecute Americans.

US leadership

Pillay urged the US to return to a role as a defender of human rights and a liberator for the rest of the world.

Rubio called the ICC a “rogue court.

Man arrested after handing himself in over death of Jayda Allen Bonner

Jayda Allen Bonner, 21, was found dead in a Carlton apartment. A 31-year-old man who knew her has been arrested, and police are investigating.

Business

JP Morgan raises Apple price target to $360 despite iPhone demand concerns

JP Morgan raised its Apple price target from $340 to $360, saying reported iPhone 18 Pro production cuts may reflect normal adjustments. It expects the iPhone Duo to help offset a delayed base-model launch.

“there is nothing beyond the typical production adjustments Apple makes every year.”
JP Morgan analystsAnalysts

Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 18 Pro parts orders amid weaker demand

Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to reduce parts production for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. One account puts October order cuts at 15% to 20%.

Mike Tomlin shares a 12-year Minecraft city project

The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach has launched a YouTube channel to show a sprawling city he built in Minecraft over 12 years.

Sushi-Con 2026 draws crowds to New York expo

More than 60 companies took part in Sushi-Con 2026 in New York, where visitors sampled Japanese foods and watched a bluefin tuna-cutting show.

AI Cited in Nearly 192,000 US Job Cuts Since 2023

Nearly 192,000 US job cuts since 2023 have been attributed to AI, including 120,100 in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures based on employment data.

IMF sees US inflation rising in 2026 before easing in 2027

The IMF forecasts US inflation at 3.6% in 2026 and 2.8% in 2027, with underlying inflation not returning to its 2% target until mid-2028.

UnitedHealth raises its profit forecast again as turnaround efforts advance

UnitedHealth raised its profit forecast again as its turnaround efforts gathered pace. No forecast figure or further details were provided.

UnitedHealth has raised its profit forecast again.

The company’s turnaround efforts are gathering pace, according to the headline.

A profit forecast is an estimate of how much profit a company expects to make.

The headline gives no new forecast figure or details about the changes behind the increase.

Read full story →

Bumble reportedly in advanced talks for a $1bn takeover

Bumble shares rose almost 50% after a report that technology holding company Ithaca is in advanced talks to buy the dating app firm for around $1bn.

Whitney Wolfe Herd launched Bumble.

Bumble listed on Nasdaq and later reached a market value of more than $14bn.

A report said Bumble was in advanced takeover talks, and its shares rose almost 50%.

Ithaca could announce a deal to buy Bumble, according to the Wall Street Journal report cited by the BBC.

Warner Music sues Ray-Ban owner over alleged use of its music in ads

Warner Music Group sued Luxottica and affiliated companies, alleging they used at least 427 Warner works in social media marketing without licenses or payment.

Works cited
At least 427 Warner-controlled works
Defendants
Luxottica Group S.p.A. and five affiliated companies
Court
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Followers
36.14 million combined social media followers, according to Warner’s law firm

Starbucks denies plans to buy Chipotle

Starbucks said it is not planning to buy Chipotle, contradicting a Financial Times report that it had been working on a possible offer. Starbucks shares rose after the denial, while Chipotle shares fell.

Starbucks Financial Times report

Takeover plans

Starbucks said it was not buying Chipotle.

The Financial Times reported that Starbucks had worked on a takeover offer.

Bison plans first drilling at Nevada’s Bald Peaks gold-silver target

Bison Resources has filed a notice for seven drill pads at Bald Peaks in Nevada. It is targeting a December 2026 start, after rock-chip assay results are due by the end of October.

Science & Tech

Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio”
Kaiann DranceApple's vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

GitLab fixes maximum-severity flaw that could let attackers run server code

The flaw could let attackers run code on affected GitLab servers without logging in. GitLab urges users of self-managed systems to install patched versions.

Ledger links CryptoBilis wallet implants to confirmed crypto thefts

Ledger says all confirmed losses involve devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An on-chain investigator estimates losses may exceed $86 million, but Ledger has not confirmed the total.

Scientists call for stronger safeguards against AI hacking

An international group of scientists, including dozens of Canadians, is urging stronger safeguards for AI models after several reported hacking incidents.

Honeybee stingers keep pumping venom after detaching from the insect

Researchers at Macquarie University filmed detached honeybee stingers pumping venom into a gel that mimics skin. Their findings reveal how the stinger’s tiny valves and lancets keep the venom flowing.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

Read full story →

Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Apple unveiled the Apple Home Collection in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Availability of the lineup is scheduled to begin.

Some accessories are expected to launch.

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Affected brands
Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles
Incident identified
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Stores
Remained open
Other UK brands
Inside Story and White Stuff were unaffected

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

Sony Announces Japan-Only Midnight Black PlayStation 5

Sony will release a matte-black PS5 Digital Edition in Japan on Nov. 19 for ¥55,000. Buyers will need a separate disc drive to play physical games.

Sports

Jorge Martin avoids penalty after Indonesian GP start video sparks debate

A social media video raised questions about Jorge Martin’s start at the Indonesian Grand Prix. The rules say a jump start requires the bike to move when the red lights go out.

“The motorcycle must be stationary at the time the red lights are turned off.”
Crash.net articleMotoGP regulations

McLaren says major car-handling fix will have to wait until 2027

Team principal Andrea Stella says McLaren cannot fully address its Formula 1 car’s handling problems before making fundamental changes for its 2027 car.

Kardashian jokes with Antonelli about their viral towel mix-up in Singapore

At the Singapore Grand Prix, Kim Kardashian joked with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli about once taking his towel. Antonelli finished third, while Lewis Hamilton came sixth.

Rwanda secures 10-year Formula 1 deal for African Grand Prix

Formula 1 has confirmed a 10-year deal to bring a Grand Prix to Rwanda in the early 2030s, with a purpose-built circuit planned near Kigali.

Fourmaux expects to race in WRC next year as team plans remain unclear

Adrien Fourmaux says he expects to compete in the World Rally Championship next year, but does not know which team or car he will drive as Hyundai’s plans remain uncertain.

Antonelli can clinch his first F1 title in Austin

Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 102 points and can secure the 2026 Formula 1 title at the United States Grand Prix on October 25.

IndyCar’s new IR-28 chassis undergoes durability testing at Sebring

Alex Palou completed 43 laps in IndyCar’s new IR-28 chassis at Sebring, testing its durability and cooling. Alexander Rossi is due to take over testing on Tuesday.

IndyCar tested its new IR-28 chassis at Sebring in Florida on Monday, with reigning series champion Alex Palou driving.

The car is being developed for its planned competition debut in 2028, and Palou and Alexander Rossi are the two drivers assigned to test it.

Sebring’s rough mix of concrete and asphalt puts heavy stress on cars, helping engineers check whether the chassis can withstand demanding conditions.

Palou completed 43 laps, and the team focused in part on driver comfort and cooling; he said the new car’s integrated air ducts had improved airflow.

Read full story →

McLaren tells Norris and Piastri to put team first after Singapore crash

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap of the Singapore sprint race. McLaren boss Andrea Stella called it unacceptable and said the team would discuss how to prevent a repeat.

Norris and Piastri collided on the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race.

Norris finished eighth and Piastri retired; McLaren scored one point in the teams’ standings.

Stella spoke with both drivers and said the team’s interests must come first.

Further talks were planned, according to The Race.

Hamilton takes responsibility for costly Singapore GP strategy call

Lewis Hamilton said his decision to stay out during a Virtual Safety Car period cost him a podium in Singapore. He finished sixth and apologised to Ferrari.

Finish
Hamilton finished sixth in the Singapore Grand Prix.
Pit call
Ferrari called both drivers in during the Virtual Safety Car on Lap 39.
Tyre stint
Hamilton attempted a 44-lap stint on soft tyres.
Teammate
Charles Leclerc finished second.

Ducati denies its 2026 MotoGP bike was built around Marc Marquez

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi rejected claims the 2026 bike favours Marc Marquez, saying riders can choose different parts and setups.

Hamilton treated by FIA medical team after feeling unwell in Singapore

Lewis Hamilton was assessed by the FIA medical team after the Singapore Grand Prix and excused from media duties. He finished sixth after a tyre strategy call failed.

Entertainment

Monique Smit says she sometimes misses brother Jan amid estrangement

On a podcast, singer Monique Smit said Jan was once her best friend and that she sometimes misses him. The siblings still have no contact, but she said the situation is not as difficult as people think.

“Jan was my very best friend.”
Monique SmitSinger

Raye manually reviews ticket sign-ups after 1.8 million apply for 5,000 seats

Raye says AI bots and scalpers overwhelmed sign-ups for her Royal Albert Hall show in London. Her team is manually selecting fans for presale access, with remaining tickets due to go on general sale.

Ego Nwodim mocks Shane Gillis’s joke about women’s gym clothes

After Shane Gillis joked that women at the gym “dress like whores” on SNL, former cast member Ego Nwodim responded with a gym selfie and a pointed caption.

Bryan Cranston mourns Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, who died at 34

Cranston paid tribute to Mitte, who played his son on Breaking Bad, remembering his acting and disability advocacy. Accounts differ on whether his death was officially confirmed as suicide.

The Social Reckoning opens to $5.5 million, far below its predecessor

Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to The Social Network took in $5.5 million in its domestic opening weekend, against a reported production budget of about $30 million to $42 million.

IDFA to open with film following Myanmar resistance recruits

The 39th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam will open with “White Tiger Column,” following young recruits as they train with Myanmar’s resistance movement. The festival runs Nov. 12 to 22.

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

Actor Selma Blair faces two assault charges after an incident on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York.

The charges say she allegedly kicked a police officer taking her to hospital and later kicked a nurse in Queens.

She was arraigned in Queens on two counts of second-degree assault and has pleaded not guilty, according to one account.

A judge set bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 bond, and she was released.

Read full story →

Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Orélien says he began writing the novel in Quebec.

Orélien says he completed a first draft.

Orélien was in France for a promotional tour.

Orélien returned to Canada, interrupting the tour.

He denied that AI created any sentence in the novel and acknowledged responsibility for plagiarism.

TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory

TNA said Max Caster will no longer wrestle for the company after his entrance rap at Bound for Glory referred to attacks in Riyadh. TNA apologized and removed the segment from replays and social media.

Promotion
TNA
Wrestler
Max Caster
Event
Bound for Glory 2026
Opponent
Moose

Collin Gosselin alleges abuse by mother Kate ahead of memoir release

Collin Gosselin says his mother, Kate, physically and emotionally mistreated him as a child. His memoir, “In the Shadow of Eight,” is due out Oct. 13.

Collin Gosselin Kate Gosselin

Alleged treatment

Collin says his mother dragged him by the ear and mistreated him and his siblings.

Kate previously said reports of abuse were unfounded.

His placement in an institution

Collin says he was removed from the home and placed in an institution, with little contact with his family.

Kate said he was sent for treatment for educational and social challenges and that the decision was the best thing she could do for him.

RimWorld moves to its own engine, with faster performance and saves intact

Update 1.7 moves RimWorld from Unity to Ludeon Studios’ Waylith Engine. The studio says it runs two to four times faster, and existing saves and most mods still work.

Health

Muscle and liver cells may retain benefits of past exercise

Research suggests muscle and liver cells retain a memory of exercise after training stops. This may help people regain fitness faster when they return to exercise.

“At the cellular level, you probably weren’t.”
ResearchersExercise physiologists

France’s flu and COVID vaccination campaign starts October 13

France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins October 13 and runs through January, with priority given to people at higher risk of severe illness.

World Health Summit calls for more funding for pandemic prevention

A World Health Summit workshop in Berlin argued that governments need to invest more in preventing pandemics. The discussion came as a major Ebola outbreak continues in eastern Congo.

Drinking water helps prevent dehydration but does not directly lower blood sugar

A diabetes educator says water can help prevent dehydration from worsening high blood sugar, but it does not lower glucose or replace prescribed treatment.

Epilepsy Drug Shows Promise for Osteoarthritis in Early Tests

Yale researchers found that lacosamide reduced pain and supported cartilage repair in mouse tests and human cartilage cells. The drug still needs testing in people with osteoarthritis.

More than 20,000 people in Yakutia received remote health monitoring

Since the start of 2026, 20,051 people with chronic conditions in Yakutia have had their health monitored remotely using devices that send medical data to health workers.

Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania

A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County is the sixth person reported to have died in Pennsylvania amid the state’s largest measles outbreak in three decades.

A 39-year-old woman in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has been reported as the state’s sixth measles-related death in less than two months.

The woman was unvaccinated and had underlying medical conditions, the county coroner’s office said.

The coroner’s spokesperson said the probable cause was an acute cardiac event that may have resulted from measles complications.

Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,136 measles cases and 219 hospitalizations, with two-thirds of cases in adults.

Read full story →

Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

Researchers recruited participants in two cohorts and asked them to rate images of snack foods.

The study was reported by News-Medical and Infobae.

Italy to allocate €8 million over two years for heat plan

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said Italy will dedicate €8 million over the next two years to managing heat, as the country prepares for future environmental and health challenges.

Funding
€8 million
Duration
Next two years
Announced by
Orazio Schillaci
Event
Heatwaves and health – Summer 2026 report and future prospects

Exercise may improve mood and quality of life during menopause, study finds

A review of 12 trials involving more than 1,000 women found that aerobic exercise and activities such as yoga were linked to better mood or quality of life during menopause.

Asti healthy ageing project presented as European good practice

A health authority in Asti presented its Communit-Action project in Vilnius, where it was recognised as a European good practice for supporting healthy and active ageing.