The federal government plans to award $150 million to Burke Law Group, a small Texas firm with Trump administration ties, to represent unaccompanied migrant children in custody, raising concerns from immigrant advocates over the firm's lack of relevant experience.
Data shows Australia's 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers enabled nearly 1,500 property conversions to investments and benefited hundreds of high-income earners.
Australia's only silicon manufacturer, Simcoa, will exit the United States after the Trump administration imposed heavy new tariffs on silicon metal imported from Australia, leading to a roughly 40 per cent additional levy.
Energy minister Chris Bowen announced that the federal government will use commonwealth legislation to override state opposition and mandate that new AI datacentres run on renewable energy while banning gas-fuelled facilities.
The U.S. dropped misdemeanor charges against three people, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, citing a botched contractor installation rather than vandalism, contradicting President Trump's claim that vandals caused the harm.
Federal prosecutors dropped vandalism charges against three individuals, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, citing new evidence that the damage resulted from a botched contractor installation rather than vandals, contradicting President Trump's claims.
The federal government approved an amendment to the National Capital Plan, allowing increased housing in Canberra's Hume Circle. The National Capital Authority reduced proposed building heights after community opposition over traffic and overshadowing, though some residents remain concerned about future changes and NCA control.
The federal government approved an amendment for Hume Circle redevelopment in Canberra, allowing increased housing. The National Capital Authority (NCA) reduced building height limits due to community opposition over traffic and overshadowing, but residents remain concerned about future changes and NCA control.
Australian motorists are buying electric and hybrid vehicles at the same rate as petrol cars, with EV sales doubling in Q2 2026, as fuel prices are set to rise again with the end of the federal government's excise reduction.
A Senate committee recommends the Australian government issue a national apology to LGBTQ+ veterans and service personnel who experienced discrimination by the Australian Defence Force, alongside legislative changes to address historical injustices and modernize military discipline.
Hundreds of thousands of U.S. student loan borrowers are receiving $23 billion in debt forgiveness through a class-action settlement with the Department of Education. This relief follows claims that schools misled students and the Trump administration delayed Borrower Defense applications.
Jessica Treviño, a DACA recipient deported to Mexico, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government after it moved to terminate her legal permission due to “unauthorized travel” stemming from her own deportation. She seeks to return to her three U.S. citizen children.
Queensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal government's plans to mandate renewable power use in AI datacentres, calling them 'underdeveloped ideas' that centralize power in Canberra, as S&P Global warns of potential five-fold increase in datacentre power use by 2035.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for a "generational investment" of nearly $1.5 trillion for 2027 military spending, a 44% increase, while also seeking emergency funds for the ongoing, unpopular Iran war. This comes despite a previous order for budget cuts and questions about $75bn in unobligated funds from a prior bump.
Lower Saxony approved French Framatome's plan to manufacture Russian-designed nuclear fuel rods in Lingen, Germany, despite federal concerns over Russian involvement. The approval comes with strict conditions, including barring Rosatom/TVEL employees from the plant.
Anthony Albanese will announce expanded paid work experience in healthcare at Labor's national conference. Australia's military is training in old-school navigation for cyber-attack resilience, Penny Wong will warn China, and a national emergency siren test is scheduled. Global news includes an oil surge, France's heatwave deaths, and pressure on Zelenskyy.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed support for the ICC, urging federal authorities to execute an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits in the fall. This follows Mamdani's earlier "war criminal" remarks, sparking debate among officials and advocates.
The Australian federal government will expand its paid student placement program to 10 new fields, including physiotherapy and clinical psychology, starting July 2027. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce this at the Labor national conference, where delegates will also debate increasing taxes on gas exports, winding back fuel tax credits, and the party's position on Israel and Palestine.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city lacks independent legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called a "war criminal." Mamdani urged the federal government to join the ICC and enforce the warrant, while Netanyahu's presence in NYC is deemed unwelcome.
Australia will conduct a national test of its new AusAlert emergency system on Monday, emitting a siren from most phones. The federal government proceeds despite state concerns over landline reach and warnings from domestic violence campaigners for "safe phone" users to power off devices to avoid exposure.
Google's Debug initiative seeks US government approval to release 32 million sterilised male mosquitoes in California and Florida to combat disease-carrying females. An expert reflects on a successful Australian trial that suppressed Aedes aegypti populations, offering insights into the safety and efficacy of the approach.
Australia's housing policy has a rich history of public investment, initiated by various governments over nearly 30 years, to address housing affordability and social needs. Despite challenges and resistance, these interventions significantly boosted home ownership and eased rental pressures, influencing current tax reforms.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced a September 15, 2026, lease sale for 2,840 acres in Wayne National Forest, opening it to fracking for the first time. This move, aligning with past administration policies, faces environmental opposition and legal challenges, while the government initiates a 30-day public protest period.
Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, are charged with kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service workers at gunpoint with an AR-15 rifle and grenades for 15 hours near Mount Shasta, California. The hostages were safely released after extensive negotiations involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
