Stories from Australia

Following a hearing in February, the individual dismissed his lawyers due to dissatisfaction with how the case was managed. The man, identified as Tarant, was sentenced in 2020 to life without parole for murder, attempted murder, and terrorism charges.

New Zealand basketball player Sean Robarty has signed with the Canberra Capitals for the upcoming WNBL season. The 25-year-old, 180-centimetre tall international previously made her league debut with the Adelaide Lightning last season.

G8 informed investors yesterday that the company will suspend operations at approximately 40 underperforming centers. The company is considering long-term options including lease surrender, divestment, or other alternatives.

One Nation leader Pauline Hansen revealed that mining magnate Gina Reinhart donated a luxury four-seater aeroplane to the party. The aircraft is valued at approximately $1. The Centre for Public Integrity described the donation as a negative sign for democracy.

The National Crisis Management Committee was not convened following a probable terrorism attack, according to government protocol. The 2025 terrorism plan introduced by the federal government contained no new funding.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is facing scrutiny regarding the redirection of resources away from counter-terrorism toward countering foreign espionage and interference since 2020.

The New South Wales Police faced harsh scrutiny regarding their response to an ASIO assessment of a probable attack. The federal government stated it will implement all 14 recommendations from the interim report next week.

Australia currently has no mandatory requirements for clothing brands to disclose the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in garments. While California and New York have already implemented bans on PFAS in clothing, the Australian market has not followed suit.

Ambulance service head Dominic Morgan reported that a heatwave led to over 33 hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses starting January 11. These temperatures represent the highest local records since 1901.

Meteorologists state that global temperatures are likely to remain at high levels throughout 2026 due to a general upward trend in global temperatures.