Australia maintains 20,000 annual refugee intake after reversal
Australia’s Albanese government will keep its annual refugee intake at 20,000 after reports suggested it might be cut to 13,750. The decision matters because it preserves the higher humanitarian intake while migration, housing and border policy remain politically contentious ahead of the next federal election. Prime Minister Anthony…
The cause of Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer’s death is confirmed as accident by coroner after she vanished in Tasmania
A Tasmanian coroner has ruled that Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer died in an accident after disappearing during a solo bushwalk near Philosopher Falls in June 2023. The finding resolves a more than two-year search and rules out the involvement of another person, while highlighting safety concerns around an…
Collapsed glacier likely caused devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, scientists say
Scientists believe a glacier collapse near Nepal’s Langtang Lirung peak triggered the devastating flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border, rather than an earthquake as initially reported. At least 469 people have died, and the event underscores growing concern that melting Himalayan ice and unstable mountain terrain are increasing…
A Judge Has Blocked the Pentagon’s Attempt to Blacklist Anthropic
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to classify AI company Anthropic as a national-security “supply-chain risk”, finding that the move was unconstitutional retaliation following a dispute over military use of its models. The ruling removes the resulting federal-contracting restrictions and sanctions, although it does not…
The Unforgettable Thriller That Harlan Coben Called a “Major Influence” Is Officially Streaming
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 thriller Strangers on a Train is now streaming free on Tubi. The article highlights the film as a major influence on crime writer Harlan Coben, whose suspense stories similarly place ordinary people in dangerous situations after chance encounters. The film follows tennis player Guy, who…
The 2010 photograph that inspired Frank Ocean to make ‘Blonde’
Frank Ocean drew inspiration for his 2016 album ‘Blonde’ from a 2010 photograph of a young girl in the back of a car, taken while he was struggling with writer’s block. He imagined the girl’s claustrophobic experience beneath a seatbelt and used that feeling of release as a…
Trump administration illegally retaliated against Anthropic, judge rules
A US judge has ruled that the Pentagon illegally retaliated against AI company Anthropic by classifying it as a supply-chain risk after it restricted military uses of its technology. The decision strengthens the finding that national-security powers cannot be used to punish a company for opposing particular government…
Peter van Onselen: Albo’s desperate plan to save Labor’s seats exposed – and it’s the rest of Australia that could pay
The article argues that Anthony Albanese’s commitment to retain Western Australia’s favourable GST distribution could ultimately shift costs to other states or Commonwealth taxpayers. It focuses on remarks suggesting that future federal funding arrangements with states may be considered alongside the GST deal, a prospect criticised by NSW…
The real reason Paul Newman never read reviews of his movies: “A bit of a drag”
Paul Newman avoided reading reviews of his acting because he found them personally unhelpful and often poorly written. The article argues that his approach reflects the difficulty performers face when critics scrutinise work that feels personal, even though criticism can still be valuable for audiences and wider discussion.…
Judge pauses mail voting rules before midterm ballots are sent
A federal judge has again temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s planned restrictions on mail-in voting, following the formal release of Postal Service rules to implement the executive order. The 14-day pause comes shortly before states are due to send midterm ballots, with the judge finding they lacked sufficient…
Aussie teacher describes split-second ‘left hook’ that saved her life during great white shark attack
Australian teacher Leah Stewart has described fighting a great white shark during an attack at Coogee Beach, saying she chose to strike it with her left hand to protect her face. The attack left the 34-year-old mother of one in a coma for two weeks and resulted in…
Tragedy after hardworking dad, 35, was accused of FAKING severe asthma attack by hospital staff
Jerome White, a 35-year-old father with severe asthma, died after suffering a breathing crisis outside Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, in June 2020. A police report cited by NJ.com says hospital staff allegedly dismissed officers’ concerns, with a nurse reportedly claiming that White often attended and…
Aussie woman reveals travel insurance fine print mistake that left her with a staggering $30,000 medical bill in Bali
Australian tourist Amy Donohue says she faces medical costs of about $30,000 after being injured in a scooter accident on a remote Indonesian island near Bali, despite holding travel insurance. The case highlights how insurance cover for scooters overseas can depend on licence requirements and other policy conditions,…
Fired Stars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon, allege retaliation and First Amendment violation
Three recently dismissed Stars and Stripes staff members have sued the Pentagon, alleging that their firings were retaliatory and breached their First Amendment and statutory rights. They argue the action threatens the newspaper’s independence and its ability to inform US service members and their families, while the Pentagon…
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass orders cops to stop cracking down on illegal street vendors
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has instructed the LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors who breach city rules, and her administration is seeking to dismiss past citations it says were wrongly issued. The move is significant because it affects a large informal sector in the…
AI, athletes, and Keith Rabois: StrictlyVC is back in New York on September 10
TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event series will return to New York’s West Village on 10 September, marking its first event in the city for two years. The evening will bring together investors, founders and sports executives to discuss venture capital, artificial intelligence, community and the business of sport, alongside networking…
The 1957 song that became Gene Vincent’s farewell to the charts
Gene Vincent’s 1957 single ‘Dance to the Bop’ became his final appearance on the US charts, peaking at number 23. Although it did not match the success of his breakthrough hit ‘Be-Bop-a-Lula’, the song marked the end of a chart career that had already helped establish Vincent as…
CBS Shuts Down ‘Big Brother’ Live Feeds To Avoid Spoilers In “Unprecedented Twist”: “Go Outside, Smell The Flowers”
CBS has temporarily switched off Big Brother’s live feeds for three days to prevent viewers seeing an “unprecedented twist” before it airs. The move coincides with the programme’s 1,000th episode and is significant because the feeds are a defining feature of the franchise, allowing fans to follow events…
Maine meteorologist suffers giggle attack on live TV after prank backfires spectacularly
Maine meteorologist Patrick Osborn went viral after an uncontrollable laughing fit disrupted his live weather forecast on WABI on Sunday. The incident matters chiefly as a light-hearted live-broadcast moment that rapidly gained a large online audience, illustrating how an unplanned studio mishap can spread widely on social media.…
Dolly Parton Wasn’t Eligible for Song of the Year Grammy for ‘I Will Always Love You’ for This ‘Unforgettable’ Reason
Dolly Parton was not eligible for a Song of the Year Grammy when Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” became a huge hit in 1993, despite Parton having written the song. Houston won Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1994,…