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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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New York child dies from measles in state’s first fatal case in 30 years
New York governor says case is ‘devastating reminder of what’s at stake’ when vaccine protections are eroded A child in rural northern New York has died after contracting measles, marking the state’s first death from the disease in 30 years, state officials announced on Monday. The child died in Lewis county, about 93 miles (150km) north of Syracuse, New York governor Kathy Hochul said. Continue reading...
Peacock found in couple’s Brisbane bathroom leads to creative bid to reunite bird with tattoo artist
Geoff and Delwyn Ballantyne went out for an evening coffee last week. When they returned they found Hex admiring himself in the mirror Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A peacock that seemingly fell hopelessly in love with himself in a bathroom mirror after breaking into a Brisbane house remains on the run after being evicted. Geoff and Delwyn Ballantyne left their Alexandra Hills home last week for an evening coffee and returned to find a fully grown peacock gazing adoringly at himself in their bathroom mirror. Continue reading...
UK and European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be allowed to fire back at Russians
Western officials say possible Anglo-French force would also not rely on US systems or technology such as Starlink British troops and their European allies would be allowed to fire back if attacked by Russians when potentially stationed as peacekeepers in Ukraine after a ceasefire, western officials said. The Anglo-French led stabilisation force would also not rely on US systems or technology, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, and is expected to be almost exclusively European if deployed. Continue reading...
H.R. 8205: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
Enacted — Signed by the President: Last Action: Signed by President. Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on November 3, 2026.
H.R. 1744: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
Enacted — Signed by the President: Last Action: Signed by President. Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on November 3, 2026.
Caleb Williams and new arrival Jeffery Simmons power Bears past sputtering Seahawks
Star defensive lineman has one sack, six tackles D’Andre Swift rushes for three touchdowns Seattle have lost three of their last four games Caleb Williams threw a touchdown pass on the opening drive and Jeffery Simmons delivered just what Chicago needed on defense as the Bears beat the host Seattle Seahawks 34-17 on Monday night. Williams was extremely efficient for the Bears (6-2) against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses, committing no turnovers, taking just one sack and throwing for 247 yards while completing 71% of his passes. Continue reading...
MPs granting powerful political lobbyists unfettered access to Australia’s parliament, data reveals
Labor and Coalition members sponsoring resource companies and lobby group representing online gambling giants Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor and Coalition MPs are facilitating permanent access to Parliament House for the country’s biggest resources companies and the lobby group representing online gambling giants, new data has revealed. Updated rules about access passes to parliament’s private offices require MPs who sponsor lobbyists and other private interests to be disclosed on a public register. However, Tuesday’s first release of data provided very limited detail, with a backlog of more than 1,000 applications yet to be processed. Continue reading...
Australia rushed through ‘ill-thought-out’ under-16s social media ban, Reddit argues as high court challenge begins
Reddit challenges ban on grounds it impinges implied freedom of political communications for teens The Australian government’s rush to pass the under-16s social media ban legislation in 2024 led to “ill-thought-out, over-broad legislation” that has since been narrowed after Reddit sued the government, lawyers for the social media company told the high court on Tuesday. Reddit, one of the top ten websites visited in the world, has challenged the under 16s social media ban on the grounds that it impinges the implied freedom of political communications for teens under 16. Continue reading...
RBA interest rates: Reserve Bank hikes cash rate for fifth time this year in blow to mortgage holders
Reserve Bank of Australia increases official cash rate to 4.85%, bringing it to highest level since 2008 RBA interest rates live updates: Reserve Bank cash rate decision Get our daily political email , free app or daily news podcast The Reserve Bank has hiked rates for the fifth time this year, from 4.6% to 4.85%, in an attempt to regain control of surging inflation amid an ongoing global oil shock triggered by the war in the Middle East. The RBA’s decision to hit mortgage holders again is no surprise after inflation jumped to 4.3% in the year to September and comes following tough talk from senior central bank officials over recent days and weeks. Continue reading...
‘Trying to get back into a positive mindset’: court hears voice notes Beau Lamarre-Condon sent day after alleged murders
Recordings from police officer to man he’d met on dating app include one in which Lamarre-Condon states: ‘I’m in bed … not feeling the best’ Beau Lamarre-Condon said he was trying to “get back into a positive mindset” in voice notes he sent in the days after he allegedly killed two men in a Sydney terrace. The recordings were sent to a man he had met on a dating app and played to the jury in his double murder trial on Tuesday. Continue reading...
US reportedly strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Vance voices optimism about a deal
Iranian state media reported the sound of explosions on the island in the strait of Hormuz, coming on the eve of crucial US midterms The US launched limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island late on Monday, according to reports in US media, hours after US vice-president JD Vance said he was optimistic diplomatic efforts to end the war were moving in the right direction. The strikes were reported as being “defensive”, and not thought to be a signal of a return to full hostilities, but came on the eve of crucial midterm elections in which Donald Trump’s Republican party is expected to be punished by voters for the cascading effect the war has had on the US cost of living. Continue reading...
Tennessee national guard trained guns on dying man after guard member shot him, video shows
Footage from prosecutors shows aftermath of shooting of Tyrin Johnson, 20, shot and killed by national guard in July Tennessee national guard troops in Memphis last summer trained their handguns on a man as he lay dying on a sidewalk after a guard member shot him in the back, video released Monday by county prosecutors shows. A Memphis police officer can be heard in the footage from an officer’s body camera calling for an ambulance and then asking the troops: “Hey, you guys got a medical kit or anything?” Continue reading...
US midterms 2026: what Australians need to know about one of the most consequential US polls in recent history
As results roll in Wednesday Australian time, keen election-watchers can tune in to see whether red seats flip blue – or if we’re in for a long week of vote counting Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Donald Trump has called it “most important in our lifetime” while senator Bernie Sanders says it’s the most important “in modern American history”. Barack Obama called it a “circuit-breaker” and the “last, best chance” to rein in the president. In any case, all eyes will be on the United States on Wednesday Australian time for the 2026 midterm elections. Will Americans use the day as a referendum on Donald Trump’s second term? Will Democrats see a clean sweep of Congress? Continue reading...
RBA interest rates live: Reserve Bank of Australia meeting today before cash rate decision and announcement – latest news
Reserve Bank is expected to raise interest rates to an 18-year high on Tuesday, the fifth hike this year Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese defended his government’s record in the face of a likely rate hike. The prime minister is in Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting at the request of King Charles. We work each and every day on cost of living. What I recognise as well is that by engaging in the world, we can deal with our national security interests, but also make our economy stronger. That’s why we need to engage in the world. We are currently working our way through the spending pressures, the economic forecasts, and the savings options to come up with the best, most responsible budget update that we can. There have been savings in all eight of our budget updates so far. There’ll be savings in the ninth as well. Continue reading...
Russian bombing of Ukrainian aid centre kills at least 26, Kyiv says
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy says attack on aid hub was ‘vile’ and shows Russia does not want to de-escalate Russia on Monday bombed an aid distribution centre and neighbouring shelter in southern Ukraine, killing at least 26 people, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the country’s emergency services said. Emergency services said two members of a rescue crew and four police officers were among the dead in the village of Komyshuvakha, in south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region. Five people were being treated in hospital, including two rescue workers. Continue reading...
Man and boy arrested after One Nation volunteer allegedly attacked with baseball bat in Victoria
Police confirm arrest of 37-year-old and 14-year-old boy over alleged assault outside Torquay home on Sunday night A man and boy have been arrested after a One Nation volunteer was allegedly attacked with a baseball bat outside his home on Victoria’s Surf Coast. Police on Tuesday confirmed they arrested a 37-year-old Hampton park man and a 14-year-old boy over the incident, which occurred at a Torquay home on Sunday night. Continue reading...
Investigative journalist Kate McClymont gives evidence in Alan Jones indecent assault trial
Jones, a former radio broadcaster, has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, has told a Sydney court the alleged victims of Alan Jones she interviewed received no benefit from her or the media company for telling their stories. McClymont, whose 2023 articles led to other alleged victims coming forward, is giving evidence in the lengthy trial of the former broadcaster who is facing 21 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching against five men. Continue reading...
AI-powered malware ‘highly likely’ to be used to hack UK infrastructure by 2028
National Cyber Security Centre expects attacks on critical facilities such as power stations, airports and hospitals AI-powered malicious software is “highly likely” to be used in hacking attacks against the UK’s power stations, airports and hospitals by 2028, according to the state cybersecurity body. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said AI will probably enable a ransomware attack against critical national infrastructure [CNI] between now and 2028. The UK’s definition of CNI covers a range of facilities and services across sectors including energy, transport, defence, food, health and finance. Continue reading...
Trump’s DoJ charges six more people in ‘voter fraud’ crackdown in California
Latest arrests come after DoJ unsuccessfully fought to force state election officials to set aside about 20,000 ballots The US Department of Justice (DoJ) in California has charged six more people with alleged voter fraud crimes, an escalation of the Trump administration’s campaign against the state’s election processes on the eve of the midterms. Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles and a close ally of the president , announced on Monday that his office was prosecuting six lawful permanent residents accused of unlawfully registering to vote and casting fraudulent ballots. The DoJ filed similar charges against 28 people across California last month and arranged for a dramatic on-camera arrest of one 72-year-old defendant, editing the footage into a DoJ promotional video. Sam Levine contributed reporting Continue reading...
Supreme court rules against Trump over bid to force California to set aside ballots
Justice department had ordered state to segregate and not count 20,000 ballots from people it claims are non-citizens The supreme court on Monday ruled against the Trump administration and its attempts to force California election officials to segregate and not count ballots from people that the justice department claims are non-citizens. The ruling follows several lower courts siding with California officials, who argued the federal government was seeking to interfere in state elections. California and the Trump administration have been in a legal standoff over the past few weeks following the justice department’s claim that 20,000 non-citizens were on the state’s voter rolls. The DoJ delivered a USB drive to Los Angeles and Sacramento election officials in mid-October with the names, giving only 48 hours for officials to review the list and threatening to sue if the ballots were not sequestered until those listed could verify their citizenship. Election officials refused, leading to a series of courtroom battles. Continue reading...
PM to ask countries affected by UK’s role in slavery to help shape formal apology
Andy Burnham to launch ‘structured dialogue’ on issue at Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Baruda Andy Burnham will ask countries affected by Britain’s role in slavery to help shape an expected formal apology, Downing Street has indicated, arguing that their input is indispensable in crafting a enduring message. The prime minister is en route to the Commonwealth heads of government summit (Chogm) in Antigua and Barbuda, which begins on Tuesday. No 10 said he would use the event to launch a “structured dialogue” into what form an apology might take. Continue reading...
Washington state resident dies from ‘severe illness’ after contracting bird flu
Individual, who also had underlying conditions, was hospitalized after being exposed to avian influenza A Washington state resident has died after being hospitalized with “severe illness” after contracting bird flu, local health officials said on Sunday. The individual was exposed to avian influenza, also known as bird flu, at a dairy with infected cattle in Yakima county, according to a news release . The person was subsequently hospitalized with severe illness and died on Sunday. Health officials said that the individual, whose identity had not been released, had underlying health conditions. Continue reading...
Lions’ Jack Campbell remains hospitalized after ‘scary’ neck injury but initial signs are positive
Team say they will not release further information 26-year-old will remain in hospital for time being The Detroit Lions have said the initial signs for Jack Campbell are “positive” after the linebacker was carted off the field and taken to hospital when he suffered a neck injury during Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old was treated for nine minutes on the field after making a tackle during Sunday’s game. Players from both teams were visibly distraught as Campbell received medical attention before he was taken for further treatment at a nearby facility. Continue reading...
Ex-FBI chief in Chicago sues DoJ, claiming he was pressured to investigate Trump’s foes
Douglas DePodesta says he was made ‘scapegoat’ after collapse of case against Broadview Six anti-ICE protesters The former head of the FBI in Chicago has accused the Trump administration of pressuring him to investigate the president’s political opponents and making him a “scapegoat” after a major federal case against anti-ICE protesters fell apart. Douglas DePodesta, who served as FBI special agent in charge from 2024 until July 2026, alleged in a federal lawsuit filed on Monday that the Department of Justice (DoJ) had engaged in “misconduct” and “malfeasance” in its pursuit of unjust prosecutions – and that he was wrongly blamed for the DoJ’s missteps and unlawfully forced out of his job. Continue reading...