Australia News

Organised crime syndicates are using encrypted digital platforms to recruit vulnerable teenagers with intellectual disabilities, low IQ and no criminal history, “conning” them to commit serious crimes, according to a child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist. Those crimes include fire-bombings, home invasions and kidnappings that have been occurring across Melbourne. Dr Adam Deacon told 7.30 that…

A court has ruled the suspension of a mayor in Melbourne’s north last year by the state government was invalid.  Aidon McLindon was stood down as mayor of Whittlesea for six months in April 2025 after he was accused of intimidating behaviour and poor conduct, which he has always denied. The then-local government minister Nick…

Palestinians are trapped between Israeli forces, settlers and Hamas, a UN probe has found. Civilians across war-ravaged Gaza and the occupied West Bank are being “systematically and deliberately” subjected to severe rights violations, the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry said. It said that civilians in the territory were also being “violently repressed and controlled…

Rescuers are combing through collapsed buildings in the southern Philippines after a powerful earthquake devastated coastal communities. At least 37 people have been killed and searches are underway for four people officially listed as missing. The Philippines Office of Civil Defence said collapsed and damaged buildings needed to be checked for possible survivors or people…

Sienna Toohey has qualified for the Commonwealth Games, making her difficult journey away from home worth it.  The 17-year-old backed up her win at April’s Australian Open by beating Ella Ramsay to the wall in the 100m breaststroke on the second night of the Australian Swimming Trials in Sydney. Toohey won in 1:05.97, the third…

An opening date for passengers at Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has been confirmed. After 15 years of planning, seven years of construction and a year of testing, passengers will first get the chance to fly from the airport on October 25. Jetstar will operate the airport’s first commercial passenger flight with an Airbus A320…

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a “brutal” knife attack in Belfast. Police declared a critical incident after a man in his 40s was attacked in the Kinnaird Avenue area of the city at around 10.30pm, local time, on Monday night.  The victim was taken to hospital with wounds to…

Israel has struck the southern Lebanese city of Tyre killing at least eight people and injuring more than 30, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Lebanon’s health ministry described it as one of the deadliest Israeli bombing raids on Tyre since the war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah erupted on March 2. The…