A new poll shows the Coalition party’s main vote dropped to its lowest level ever, with 22% support. Most Australians want fewer immigrants and support strict immigration measures, such as forcing people who overstay visas to leave the country.
Key Facts
The Coalition’s primary vote fell 4 points to 22%, matching its lowest level in the poll.
Labor’s primary vote rose from 26% to 29% in the same period.
55% of Australians want to reduce the number of immigrants coming into the country.
46% of people see immigration as a positive factor, while 39% see it as negative.
Strong support exists for tough immigration actions like deporting visa overstayers (70%) and tighter checks on asylum claims (68%).
There is 62% support for stopping most international students from bringing family members.
Many people want immigration cuts focused on refugees and family migration.
Even with enough housing and services, 70% would still want fewer immigrants.
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The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Sydney finished its public hearings for Operation Rosny after 10 weeks. The inquiry looked at claims of illegal or undeclared political donations linked to branch stacking by a conservative group called the Reformers within the New South Wales Liberal Party.
Key Facts
ICAC’s Operation Rosny investigated if the Reformers, a group of young conservative Christians, used illegal donations to influence party politics in New South Wales.
The Reformers aimed to recruit 5,000 Christian conservatives to control the NSW Liberal Party division and push conservative policies.
Allegations included $2 million in donations from developer Jean Nassif to support branch stacking and political maneuvers against certain politicians.
Some accused stated payments were for legitimate lobbying or consulting, not donations.
The inquiry ended without major resignations or dramatic outcomes.
Jean Nassif appeared via video from Beirut, strongly denying corruption allegations and claiming fear for his safety.
ICAC’s chair stressed that success is not measured by resignations but by clear rulings on what counts as political donations.
ICAC will release a detailed report clarifying donation laws and aims for public transparency.
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The Australian Greens party is choosing new leaders after Larissa Waters stepped down due to health issues. The new leadership will face pressure to block any new coal and gas projects approved by the Labor government before the next election.
Key Facts
Larissa Waters resigned as Greens leader because of worsening chronic kidney disease.
New Greens leadership may be elected soon, possibly during a two-day meeting in Sydney.
Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi are among those running for leadership positions.
Adam Bandt, former Greens leader, urges the party to stop Labor from approving new fossil fuel projects "by whatever means."
Key issues include approval of Woodside’s gas project near Scott Reef and gas fracking in the Beetaloo basin.
Party elder Bob Brown says the next leader must effectively challenge both the Labor government and the far-right One Nation party.
The Greens' voter support has mostly stayed steady around 12-15% in recent years.
Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather called for grassroots members to have a say in electing the new leader.
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President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Washington to discuss the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI). Both leaders agreed to start talks about managing AI’s risks, but competition between the U.S. and China in AI development continues.
Key Facts
AI is seen as a shared risk by the U.S. and China, with some experts warning it could cause major harm to humanity.
Some AI researchers, including one from Anthropic, resigned or expressed concerns about AI safety.
The U.S. and China view AI as important for economic and military strength, which makes deep cooperation difficult.
CEOs of major AI companies such as OpenAI, Nvidia, and Meta attended a White House dinner during the summit.
Chinese President Xi said AI should be under human control and benefit people’s well-being.
The U.S. and China agreed to open a dialogue channel focusing on AI risks and benefits.
AI leaders emphasize the importance of balancing safety with competitive pressures.
OpenAI and other companies have slowed some AI development to avoid reckless risks despite competition concerns.
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A political decision to block funding for certain research projects could affect scientific work related to East Palestine. This could stop important studies from continuing in that area.
Key Facts
Some research projects related to East Palestine may lose funding.
This funding is provided through NIH grants, which support health research.
A political veto means the President or government chooses to block spending on these projects.
Blocking the funds could stop scientific studies that help the community.
East Palestine is the area directly affected by this decision.
The veto impacts how researchers carry out their work and share findings.
Government decisions on research funding can influence local communities and public health.
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Soho House is investigating after out-of-date food was labelled incorrectly in one of its kitchens. A former employee claimed they were fired after raising concerns about the issue, and a local council is also looking into a food safety complaint.
Key Facts
Soho House, a private members’ club, found out about out-of-date food being mislabelled in its Shoreditch kitchen.
A former employee posted a video on TikTok saying they were fired after complaining about this practice.
Soho House says the employee was fired for reasons not related to the complaint and apologized for the mistake.
The local Hackney council opened an investigation into food safety at the Shoreditch location.
Selling food past its “use-by” date is illegal, but selling food past its “best before” date is allowed if safe.
Soho House says it usually has high food hygiene scores, including a recent top rating.
The company is working with an independent expert to investigate and fix the issue.
Soho House has many clubs worldwide and has faced criticism about its exclusivity and finances recently.
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A 2024 CDC report shows many U.S. high school students experience sadness or hopelessness. Experts say supporting children's mental health not only involves schools and clinics but also strong family support at home.
Key Facts
Nearly 40% of U.S. high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless in the past year.
Mental health improves when students feel connected at school and have adults at home who meet their basic needs.
Many parents feel very stressed, with 48% saying they are overwhelmed most days.
Parents need practical ways to help their children’s emotional health without adding more pressure.
Schools play a role by creating supportive environments and teaching social and emotional skills.
Children spend much of their time outside school, so reinforcing these skills at home is important.
Research from Harvard’s EASEL Lab shows simple activities, like breathing exercises, can help children manage emotions.
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Senator Mike Lee blocked a proposal by Senator Jeff Merkley that aimed to stop President Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center. The proposal needed unanimous agreement but was stopped after Lee objected, despite support from Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Key Facts
Senator Mike Lee (Republican from Utah) blocked a bill on Monday night.
The bill was introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (Democrat from Oregon).
The bill intended to stop President Trump from tearing down the Kennedy Center.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (Republican from Alaska) supported the bill.
The bill was brought up using unanimous consent, which means it could pass without a vote if no one objected.
Mike Lee’s objection prevented the bill from moving forward without a floor vote.
The Kennedy Center is a building that honors U.S. presidents and important cultural activities.
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French high school students and public workers protested against planned government budget cuts just before the draft 2027 budget was set to be announced. The protests included school blockades and strikes, with clashes between protesters and police in several cities.
Key Facts
Over 330 high schools in France were blockaded by students protesting overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages.
On Tuesday, 40 people were arrested and 10 students and staff were injured during protests.
Teachers in some schools formed protective lines around students to shield them from police.
Protests included setting bins on fire, vandalizing bus shelters and billboards, and throwing objects at police.
Police used tear gas in response to protests in cities like Lille, Nantes, Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lyon.
About 11% of teachers and school staff joined strikes; fewer civil servants and hospital workers participated due to lost wages.
Professional firefighters also joined protests, citing dangerous resource shortages highlighted by recent wildfires.
The CGT union leader demanded the government withdraw planned budget cuts aimed at saving 2 billion euros in state employee pay and 54 billion euros in overall spending.
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A study by Northeastern University and Consumer Reports tested 21 connected cars from 19 brands to find out what data they share and with whom. The research showed that many cars send data to advertisers, trackers, and big tech companies, and using a car’s app can increase this data sharing.
Key Facts
Researchers tested 21 connected cars from 19 different brands.
All cars connected to their own company’s servers, and some shared data with many other companies.
Tesla’s Model 3 contacted the most advertising, tracking, and app-related domains.
Google’s domains were frequently contacted due to the use of Android Automotive OS.
Media streaming and mapping companies are common recipients of car data.
When using a car’s infotainment system, the car contacted more third-party domains than when idle or driving.
Some electric vehicles stopped data transmission when cellular signals were blocked, but others switched to Wi-Fi.
Testing 30 connected car apps showed users might be exposed to more than 20 new advertising or tracking companies.
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Jeremy Clarkson suggested that British TV broadcasters like BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4, and Channel 5 should merge into one platform called “Britflix” to survive competition from streaming services and social media. He said many TV producers and crew members are losing jobs, and bigger, better programs could help the industry.
Key Facts
Jeremy Clarkson is a TV presenter who recently finished filming Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime.
He said many crew members from his show are unsure of their future jobs.
Clarkson proposed merging all major British broadcasters into one platform named “Britflix.”
He thinks this would lead to bigger and better TV programs.
Clarkson believes BBC News should be funded separately by a licence fee.
Channel 4’s boss said moving Channel 4 shows to BBC’s iPlayer might be possible.
The UK TV industry faces challenges from global streaming services and social media content creators.
Recent mergers include Sky buying ITV’s broadcasting and streaming arm for £1.6 billion.
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Special counsel Jack Smith gave an opening statement to the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump. Smith said that President Trump was involved in serious crimes against the country.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a special counsel appointed to investigate President Trump.
Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee.
The testimony focused on Smith’s investigations into President Trump’s actions.
Smith stated that President Trump engaged in serious crimes that affect the nation.
The statement was made during a formal hearing covered by CBS News.
This hearing is part of ongoing legal and political scrutiny of President Trump.
The investigation aims to examine alleged wrongdoing by the President.
The hearing is an important step in Congress’s oversight role.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered to add 15,500 new military personnel to the Russian army, increasing its size as the conflict with Ukraine continues without major changes on the battlefield. This is the fourth increase in troop numbers this year, totaling nearly 48,000 new soldiers since March.
Key Facts
Putin signed a decree setting the total authorized Russian armed forces at 2,441,630 units, including 1,550,500 military personnel.
This is the fourth time in 2024 that Putin has expanded the military’s size.
Russia’s military advances in Ukraine have slowed after over four years of fighting.
Both Russia and Ukraine have increased the use of drones and long-range strikes.
Ukraine accuses Russia of preparing another wider military mobilisation, which Russia denies.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy claims thousands of North Korean soldiers have joined Russia’s forces.
Russian losses are reported by Ukraine to be very high in 2026, though these numbers can’t be independently confirmed.
Experts say the new troop increase is more of a technical adjustment and will not change the conflict’s direction.
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Hurricane Polo is moving across Mexico and is expected to bring heavy rain and flood risks to parts of the southwestern United States, including Arizona and New Mexico. The storm will weaken as it moves northeast but may still cause flash flooding in multiple states through the week.
Key Facts
Hurricane Polo is traveling northwest across Mexico's Baja California Sur at about 10 mph.
The storm will cross the Gulf of California and make landfall in Sonora, Mexico, before reaching the U.S. Southwest near El Paso by Wednesday.
Polo’s winds will weaken to around 35 mph when it approaches El Paso.
Flash flood watches are in effect from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa, risking flooding for over 14 million people.
Some areas may experience rain rates up to two inches per hour, with parts of Texas expected to see more than seven inches of rain.
Polo was once a very strong hurricane, reaching winds up to 180 mph, making it one of the strongest storms recorded in the Eastern Pacific.
The storm rapidly intensified by increasing wind speeds from 45 mph to 150 mph within 24 hours.
A strong El Niño and warm ocean conditions have contributed to more active hurricane activity in the Pacific this year.
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US journalist Evan Gershkovich talked to the BBC about his 16 months in Russian detention. He was arrested in March 2023 on charges of spying, which he and his employer deny, and was freed in 2024 as part of a prisoner swap.
Key Facts
Evan Gershkovich is a US journalist working for the Wall Street Journal.
He was detained by Russian agents in March 2023 at a restaurant.
Russian authorities accused him of espionage, and he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Gershkovich and his employer say the spying charges are not true.
He spoke publicly about his experience in his first UK interview on the BBC’s Today programme.
He was released in 2024 during a high-profile exchange of prisoners between the US and Russia.
After Gershkovich’s arrest, President Joe Biden said bringing him home was a top priority.
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French police detained General Benoît Puga for questioning as part of an investigation into possible bribery linked to France’s highest award, the Legion of Honour. Authorities are looking into claims that Puga may have accepted benefits like expensive dinners, holidays, and money in exchange for helping nominees receive the honour.
Key Facts
General Benoît Puga was the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour from 2016 to 2023, responsible for overseeing award nominations.
The Legion of Honour is France’s highest national decoration, recognizing outstanding service or contributions.
The investigation focuses on possible bribes, such as meals, holidays, and cash, linked to awarding honours.
Former senator Jean-Pierre Bansard, who died in 2024, is a key figure suspected of using his fortune to get people close to him honoured.
Bansard allegedly had a close relationship with Puga and gave him gifts and business opportunities involving Puga’s family.
Police have searched the homes of Puga, Bansard, and others connected to the probe.
Puga denies any wrongdoing.
The investigation includes accusations of corruption, influence peddling, and conflicts of interest related to honours granted between 2016 and 2023.
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President Donald Trump launched a new website called America.gov that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help Americans find federal government information and services. The site offers a chatbot to answer questions and aims to combine many government resources into one easy-to-use platform.
Key Facts
America.gov is a free website with no ads that uses AI to provide answers from official government sources.
Users do not need to log in to access the site.
The website was introduced at an event in Washington, D.C., with President Trump and tech leaders present, including Elon Musk.
President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to link their online services with America.gov.
The platform will eventually allow users to complete tasks like renewing passports and signing up for Medicare.
Login.gov will be integrated into America.gov to manage user sign-ins securely.
Services used by over 100,000 people annually must connect to America.gov, but tax filing and some security-related services are excluded.
The website is described as a “front door” to federal information that simplifies access to government programs and benefits.
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Brazil is preparing for a major election where more than 158 million people will vote for president, members of Congress, and governors. In Rio de Janeiro, politicians are especially focused on winning votes from people living in favelas, which are large, low-income neighborhoods.
Key Facts
Over 158 million voters in Brazil will vote in the upcoming election.
Voters will choose the president, Congress members, and governors.
Rio de Janeiro’s local candidates are focusing on favela residents to gain support.
Rocinha is Brazil’s largest favela and a key area for campaigning.
Favelas are densely populated neighborhoods with many low-income residents.
The election will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2026.
This election has both national and local political importance.
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A severely disabled 1-year-old child was euthanized in the Netherlands under new rules allowing euthanasia for children aged 1 to 12 with unbearable suffering and no hope of improvement. The decision was carefully reviewed, with some doctors initially disagreeing, but ultimately it met legal requirements and was approved by the government committee.
Key Facts
The child was born very prematurely at 26 weeks and had serious brain damage, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and vision problems.
Doctors estimated the child’s developmental age to be around 6 weeks at nearly 2 years old.
New Dutch rules introduced in 2024 allow euthanasia for seriously ill children under 12 who suffer without hope of relief and have no reasonable treatment alternatives.
Some doctors disagreed at first, believing the child was not continuously suffering unbearably and that treatments could still be tried.
Further treatments caused harmful side effects and were stopped. Another doctor later confirmed the child’s suffering was clear and unbearable.
The euthanasia doctor acted according to the law and was publicly open about the emotional difficulty of the case.
The Netherlands was the first country to legalize euthanasia in 2002 and already allowed children aged 12 and older to request it under strict rules.
Doctors who unlawfully perform euthanasia in the Netherlands can face up to 12 years in prison and fines.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, described a plan to collect and share health data across government agencies and private groups. This data would be analyzed using artificial intelligence (AI) to study links between vaccines, environmental exposures, and health outcomes.
Key Facts
Kennedy wants medical and lifestyle data, like doctor visits and exercise, to be shared with government and researchers.
The goal is to use AI to find connections between vaccines, food, chemicals, and chronic diseases.
Data would come from agencies including the FDA, CDC, and Medicare/Medicaid programs.
Portable health records apps are helping patients access their own data and allow sharing with officials.
Medicaid includes data on millions of people, including children, useful for long-term health studies.
State health data is often incomplete and not standardized, making it hard to use effectively.
AI can process health studies much faster than before, helping find patterns in millions of records.
Kennedy met with OpenAI's Sam Altman, noting that HHS uses AI widely for data analysis.
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