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Abbott warns Australia is unprepared for possible Taiwan conflict
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned Australia is “sleepwalking” into disaster by failing to prepare for a potential military conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan. He responded to fellow ex-PM Kevin Rudd’s assessment that there is roughly a one-in-three chance China could attempt military action on Taiwan by 2028, potentially triggering…
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I wasn’t going to let others die, says Indian pilot who opened cockpit door during attack
Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar says he pushed himself to reopen the cockpit door while injured during an attack by his co-pilot, determined to prevent other people on board from dying. Passengers and crew then helped overpower the attacker, allowing the aircraft to land safely. The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged more than 17,000…
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Labour dominates benefits rise; Kaba inquest reopening rejected; Green leader faces scrutiny
Labour constituencies receive 72% of benefits increase. Police reject Kaba inquest reopening; Green Party leader’s ancestry claim questioned.
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South Korea threatens Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has threatened unspecified “further action” against Ukraine unless it publicly apologises for disclosing that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to Seoul. The core dispute is over whether confidentiality was mutually agreed: Kyiv denies any such accord, whilst Seoul insists Ukraine specifically requested secrecy to protect…
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Airliner plunges after attack; pilot praised; Trump signals pardons
An attacker stabbed a co-pilot on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, causing it to plunge 17,000 feet before passengers subdued him and the pilot restored control. Separately, Donald Trump signalled he could pardon allies if Republicans lose Congress.
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Nikon microscopy prize winner faces scrutiny over AI-coloured cilia footage
Dr Ning Xu of Tsinghua University won the top prize at Nikon’s “Small World in Motion” microscopy competition with a video of cilia in a child with a rare genetic disease, but faced intense backlash when scientists questioned its authenticity. The controversy highlights a fundamental tension in modern science: the distinction between using AI to…
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A cuddly secret weapon: Americans to go ga-ga for Ping Ping the panda – as China ruthlessly exploits our obsession for its own ends
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, two giant pandas from China, have arrived at Atlanta Zoo on a diplomatic loan following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with US President Donald Trump. Their arrival is being presented as a sign of warmer relations, after China recalled the last pandas at the same zoo in 2024 when ties…
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Samsung unveils open-ear Galaxy Buds On, with South Korea launch set for October
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-on earbuds, in South Korea, joining a trend popularised by competitors like Bose, Huawei and Shokz. The clip-on design appeals to users who dislike in-ear earbuds, as it leaves the ear canal open and avoids the uncomfortable sensation of insertion. To address the sound leakage problem…
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Scottish man released on bail after nearly nine years in Indian prison
Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish man detained in India since 2017 without conviction, has been released from prison on bail after nearly nine years. His release is a significant step for him and his family, but he remains on trial in several cases that could carry the death penalty, so the legal and diplomatic campaign…