US commander warns Congress of 'increasingly aggressive' China
The US's Indo-Pacific commander praises work to upgrade Australia's AUKUS base, but says he needs more naval firepower in the region as China rapidly expands its military.

The US's Indo-Pacific commander praises work to upgrade Australia's AUKUS base, but says he needs more naval firepower in the region as China rapidly expands its military.

Alcoa's proposed $8.1 billion acquisition of South32's alumina operations could open up Western Australia's jarrah forests to bauxite mining, environmentalists claim. The deal would consolidate WA's bauxite supply chain under Alcoa, potentially granting access to new ore deposits.

Delivery drivers, including DoorDash and Uber Eats workers, are falling victim to sophisticated phishing scams. Scammers impersonate support staff, tricking drivers into revealing personal details to steal earnings from their app wallets. The Transport Workers Union reports significant financial losses and calls for better platform security.

China's nuclear-capable missile test landed near the exclusive economic zones of Nauru and Tuvalu, prompting criticism from Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand. Taiwan's Joseph Wu called it a "provocation that destabilizes the Indo Pacific."

China test-fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean on the same day Australia signed a defence agreement with Fiji. Defence Minister Pat Conroy stated the test is destabilizing but won't deter other Pacific nations from joining the "Ocean of Peace Alliance".

A man with multiple domestic violence convictions, including attempted sexual assault, has been granted a Working With Children Check (WWCC) by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to become a church minister. The tribunal cited the passage of time and lack of risk to children as reasons for overturning the automatic denial.

Donald Trump admitted lobbying FIFA over a red card ban, Australia faces extreme heatwave risks for young people's mental health, and scientists captured bee facial expressions. Meanwhile, wildfires rage in Europe, and a footballer died after a clash in Melbourne.