Government threatens to shut down ‘illegal’ street charity
Queensland’s transport department has threatened to penalise residents who set up street-side charity cupboards without filling in the requisite paperwork. ⌘ Read more

The ‘concerning’ link between childhood maltreatment and suicide risk
Suicide Prevention Australia says there’s an “urgent” need for action to stop the “significant and lasting” impact of childhood trauma. ⌘ Read more

Thousands still without power, schools closed after freak storm
Thousands of residents in Western Sydney are waking up without power and some schools across NSW will be closed after a freak storm on Wednesday. ⌘ Read more

Live: ASX to rise as Wall St extends rally on growing bets of Fed rate cut
A rally on Wall Street is likely to send Australian stocks higher as revived tech strength and the growing probability of a December interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve put investors in a buying mood the day before the Thanksgiving holiday. Follow the latest updates in our live blog. ⌘ Read more

Drought down south sends potato prices soaring up north
Potato growers in Queensland’s far north are suddenly in hot demand as drought-stricken paddocks in the country’s south fail to deliver. ⌘ Read more

Concerns SA’s ‘best agricultural land’ being taken up by battery projects
One of Australia’s largest battery energy storage systems would be built on farmland in South Australia’s south-east in a proposal that the developer says will lower electricity costs. ⌘ Read more

Staggs reveals one condition to ensure he continues playing for Australia
Kotoni Staggs must decide between representing Australia or Tonga at the international level, and says there is one key factor that will tip his decision either way. ⌘ Read more

Heatwave sweeps south-east Queensland as temperatures climb into high 30s
South-east Queensland is set to swelter through the next few days, with forecast temperatures way above average and more storms on the way. ⌘ Read more

Breaking: Two National Guard members shot in Washington DC
Two National Guard soldiers have been shot near the White House. Their conditions were not immediately known, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. ⌘ Read more

Her 8yo son was killed in an e-motorbike crash. Now she wants new rules to protect kids
Kloe Weedon’s son Zeke William Hondow, a schoolboy with a sharp wit and even sharper haircuts, was farewelled at a funeral last week. ⌘ Read more

Anglican Diocese of Ballarat under financial strain from abuse payouts
An Anglican bishop says regional dioceses around Australia are facing financial pressure and potential closure due to having to pay millions of dollars to abuse victim-survivors. ⌘ Read more

Bamboo scaffolding, flames and wind. Here’s what we know about the Hong Kong fire
The blaze in Tai Po that engulfed multiple high-rise apartment blocks is still burning, and authorities say it likely began in bamboo scaffolding that encased the buildings. ⌘ Read more

Optus customers trapped in complaint ‘merry-go-round’ over network issues
Optus has been under intense scrutiny after a network outage in September left hundreds of people unable to call Triple Zero and was linked to three deaths. ⌘ Read more

The way Rockliff will be remembered inextricably tied to Hobart stadium’s future
With the vote to decide the fate of the Hobart stadium a week away, Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s political legacy is in the balance. ⌘ Read more

Military seizes control and arrests president in Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau’s military says it has seized control of the country and arrested its president following the discovery of a plan to destabilise the coup-prone west African nation. ⌘ Read more

SA woman suffered permanent brain injury after hospital failed to diagnose stroke, court hears
An Adelaide woman is suing a southern suburbs hospital for $1.5 million in damages alleging she suffered a “permanent neurological injury” when doctors failed to diagnose her with a stroke, court documents reveal. ⌘ Read more

Black Friday sales ‘pressure’ pushing some Australians into debt binge
With millions of Australians tipped to spend record amounts this Black Friday, the value of personal credit and charge-card balances accruing interest has hit its highest level since 2021. ⌘ Read more

Peace plan or ‘dead cat’? Inside Trump’s Epstein files distractions
What does a dead cat have to do with Donald Trump and the Epstein files? Everything, according to some experts. ⌘ Read more

Before his assassination, California’s first openly gay official taped his last words
Harvey Milk had been elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 — a little over a year later, he would be dead. ⌘ Read more

Think you know Aussie music? Prove it in our quiz
Celebrate Ausmusic T-Shirt Day with our Australian music trivia quiz. How well do you know your local legends? ⌘ Read more

Why a second job is a joy for Ash Riddell in the lead-up to grand final
Roos star — and grade 6 teacher — Ash Riddell has an entire school behind her ahead of this Saturday’s AFLW grand final. ⌘ Read more

Labor is celebrating the year but tough economic choices loom
The level of the prime minister’s reform appetite has been discussed and debated since roughly 9pm on election night in May, when Labor’s massive win became clear. ⌘ Read more

Judge dismisses 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump
The abandonment of the Georgia case is the latest reflection of how the US president has emerged largely unscathed from a spate of prosecutions that once threatened to imperil his political career. ⌘ Read more

Indonesia launches probe into exports of radioactive goods. Here’s what we know
Authorities in the US and Europe have recalled goods as Indonesian authorities investigate the source of radioactive contamination. ⌘ Read more

Sound of lightning recorded on Mars for the first time
Microphone recordings from NASA’s Perseverance rover have turned up more than 50 instances of lightning on the red planet over the past four years, a new study finds. ⌘ Read more

Driver pleads guilty to Liverpool FC parade car ramming charges
More than 100 people were injured at a Liverpool Football Club victory parade in May. ⌘ Read more

Israel launches new military operation in northern West Bank
Israeli security forces have launched what the military described as a counter-terrorism operation in the northern West Bank, which Palestinians said was targeting the city of Tubas. ⌘ Read more

Trump defends Ukraine envoy after leak alleging he advised Kremlin official
It comes as a senior Kremlin official confirms Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow next week as efforts to find a consensus on ending the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine pick up speed. ⌘ Read more

Massive high-rise fires kill four people in Hong Kong with others still trapped
It is not known how many people remain unaccounted-for because of the fires, which have been fuelled by bamboo scaffolding. ⌘ Read more

US National Parks to raise fees for foreign visitors to popular sites
Changes set to take effect on January 1 will include annual park passes jumping to $US250 for foreign tourists, while US residents will continue to be charged $US80, according to authorities. ⌘ Read more

Man accused of student’s murder ‘likely’ had intellectual disability, court hears
A neuropsychologist has told the Northern Territory Supreme Court a man accused of murdering an international student in Darwin “likely” had an intellectual disability that impacted his ability to exercise self-control. ⌘ Read more

Detectives carry out ‘targeted search’ for missing woman Samantha Murphy
Detectives are conducting a search in the Ballarat area as part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Victorian woman Samantha Murphy. ⌘ Read more

Stars continue winning form ahead of WBBL Melbourne derby
The Melbourne Stars will carry solid momentum into Saturday’s big WBBL local derby, easily beating top side Hobart by 37 runs. ⌘ Read more

Patients evacuated by helicopter from Thai hospital as flooding continues
Floods across nine Thai provinces have killed 33 people and affected more than 2.7 million, with more rain forecast. ⌘ Read more

Court hears sand found in car of man accused of Toyah Cordingley’s beach murder
The Supreme Court in Cairns has heard Rajwinder Singh, who is accused of the 24-year-old’s 2018 murder, first came to the attention of police because of his blue car, which they later searched. ⌘ Read more

Councillor resigns for personal reasons after ‘accidental’ strip club visit
A City of Joondalup councillor, who lodged an expense claim for a drink he bought at a strip club, resigns from the council citing “personal reasons”. ⌘ Read more

NACC chief executive apologises to parliament for inaccurate evidence
National Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive Philip Reed writes to parliament apologising for inaccuracies in evidence given during Senate estimates. ⌘ Read more

Socceroos placed in second pot for FIFA World Cup draw
The Socceroos, by pot luck, have avoided some of the sport’s strongest nations for the 2026 World Cup pool stage. ⌘ Read more

Taiwan announces $61 billion defence budget to defend itself against China
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te says the budget was introduced for the country to defend itself in the face of a rising threat from China. ⌘ Read more

‘Deluded’ parents jailed over criminal neglect of twin boys
Murray Bridge parents of young twins who suffered dozens of rib fractures and injuries have each been jailed, after previously being found guilty of criminal neglect. ⌘ Read more

The ‘ghost stores’ defrauding Australians ahead of Black Friday spend-a-thon
With Australians expected to spend billions this Black Friday, the consumer watchdog is warning of a growing number of ‘ghost stores’ targeting unsuspecting customers and posing as local businesses promising premium goods, when in reality they’re shipping fast fashion from overseas. ⌘ Read more

Wallabies unveil 2026 Tests as new coach begins with Japan matches
Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will launch his tenure against Eddie Jones’s Japan, Australia’s 14-Test schedule for 2026 shows. ⌘ Read more

Social media ban for under-16s challenged in High Court
Australia’s social media age ban is being challenged in the High Court on the grounds it restricts young teens’ implied right to freedom of political communication. ⌘ Read more

Labor accused of turning blind eye to Nauru corruption allegations
Greens senator David Shoebridge reads what he alleges to be extracts from a secret AUSTRAC report that has not been made public, in the Senate late on Tuesday. ⌘ Read more

Parents seek answers after baby dies at maternity hospital
A WA family has been devastated by the death of their newborn son at Perth’s premier maternity hospital, and are desperate for answers on how the delivery of their fourth child went so tragically wrong. ⌘ Read more

Perry Kouroumblis to stand trial over Easey Street murders
The 66-year-old accused of killing two Melbourne in 1977 will stand trial over the murders, but has had a rape charge dismissed. ⌘ Read more

Police union warns Labor ‘austerity’ drive would undermine security
An apparent request across the public service to find and suspend low priority spending would undermine security if applied to the AFP, according to its union. ⌘ Read more

Backlash prompts midnight NYE Sunshine Coast fireworks backflip
Sunshine Coast Council has caved to public pressure and will resurrect its Mooloolaba midnight fireworks display, bringing the region into line with other Queensland towns. ⌘ Read more

Man accused of severing father’s arm with samurai sword has charge dropped
Prosecutors drop an aggravated grievous bodily harm charge against a 20-year-old man earlier accused of cutting off his father’s arm with sword. ⌘ Read more

What has changed in the year since the NT’s landmark DV inquest?
A year after NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage handed down 35 recommendations from a landmark domestic violence inquest, those on the frontline say things are going backwards. ⌘ Read more