ABC AU
Australia, NZ back friendship to endure 'volatile world'
Australia and New Zealand have reaffirmed their close bilateral ties as both nations navigate an increasingly unstable global environment. Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Christopher Luxon used their annual leadership talks to address shared concerns over economic turbulence and geopolitical uncertainty. The meeting signals that trans-Tasman solidarity remains a cornerstone of both countries' foreign policy strategies in challenging times.
Read article →ABC AU
Residents say public housing works have blocked them from their own yards
Excavation works for a Homes Tasmania development in Burnie have caused neighbouring land to shift, with residents reporting their properties are literally sliding downhill. The slippage has cut off access to sections of their own yards, leaving homeowners unable to use parts of the land they own. The incident raises serious questions about site management and the obligations developers have to protect adjoining properties during construction.
Read article →ABC AU
Even kids want gambling ads banned, so why won't the government do it?
Australia's gambling ad crackdown falls well short of what the public — including children — is actually demanding, leaving the industry largely unscathed. Surveys show broad community support for a comprehensive ban, yet the government's proposed measures stop at half-measures that critics say protect betting companies more than vulnerable consumers. The gap between public sentiment and policy action raises pointed questions about whose interests are really being served in Canberra.
Read article →Guardian AU
Australian snow season begins amid El Niño fears
Australia's snow season has kicked off with 20 to 40 centimetres of snowfall across the Victorian and New South Wales alps, offering an encouraging start despite uneven coverage across resort areas. The promising opening comes as the industry braces for potential disruption from El Niño conditions, which historically bring warmer, drier winters to the region. Resorts remain cautiously optimistic, though operators are also contending with cost-of-living pressures that may dampen visitor numbers.
Read article →ABC AU
White House to accelerate development of AI for 'war fighting'
The Trump administration has announced plans to fast-track AI development for national security and combat applications, signaling a sharp pivot toward militarizing the technology. The move comes as major AI developers are raising alarms about humanity's diminishing control over increasingly autonomous systems. The tension between accelerating deployment and managing existential risk puts Washington at the center of one of the most consequential debates in modern warfare.
Read article →Get this delivered every morning
Join thousands of readers who get the world's most important stories, curated daily.
Start reading free →