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Country imposes first total fire ban in three years amid record-breaking September heatwaveAustralia has declared the start of an El Nino weather phenomenon, with a record-breaking September heatwave gripping the south-eastern region that has prompted the country's first total fire ban in three years. The Bureau of Meteorology reported extreme conditions, particularly prolonged heat, across parts of the continent. New South Wales (NSW) experienced temperatures soaring up to 16C above the September average, with Sydney reaching 34.4C, just shy of the all-time September record. NSW had 61 bushfires, 13 of which remained uncontained owing to forecasted strong winds, resulting in catastrophic fire danger.El Nino typically leads to droughts in Australia, and the World Meteorological Organization had earlier predicted a 90% likelihood of El Nino conditions developing in the latter half of 2023. Continue reading...

Murdoch-owned titles in US, UK and Australia stopped short of saying retirement, but left readers in no doubt about their boss's immense talentRupert Murdoch's Australian newspapers hit the streets on Friday morning without the news that the media mogul was stepping down and his son Lachlan would become sole chair of News Corp as well as Fox Corp. The news was broken - after the print deadline in Australia - by one of Murdoch's US mastheads, the Wall Street Journal.In a note to staff, which was also sent to Australian staff, Murdoch did not use the word retirement. For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change," he said. But the time is right for me to take on different roles." Continue reading...

Incident allegedly happened in 2008 and comedian is understood to have laughed about it on radio showThe BBC is investigating a claim that Russell Brand exposed himself to a woman before laughing about it on his radio show.The incident allegedly happened in 2008 when the woman was working in the same building as the corporation's office in Los Angeles, BBC News reported. Continue reading...

Leading no campaign figure reportedly drops out of race for position left by Marise Payne backing Indigenous treaties

Vatican identified 67 Aboriginal boys and young men who may have been subjected to the alleged acts by Christopher Saunders, who denies the allegations and has not been charged

New airline boss issues video statement saying company needs to earn back trust of the public

Event at University of Melbourne in February will explore singer's influence on gender, mental health and urban landscapes

New laws come after weeks of protests sparked by a series of teacher suicides said to be linked to malicious complaints from parentsSouth Korea has passed a set of legal revisions aimed at improving the rights of teachers in schools, following weeks of protests sparked by a series of teacher suicides said to be linked to malicious complaints from parents.The four bills, collectively known as the teacher rights restoration bills" and passed at the national assembly on Thursday, represent a significant step towards enhancing the working conditions and protections for educators in the country. Continue reading...

Advice from prosecutors about the boy's high-profile disappearance will be provided by the end of January

Ukraine president delivers upbeat message on war progress during second White House visit since Russian invasionPresident Volodymyr Zelenskiy worked to shore up US support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington on Thursday, delivering an upbeat message on the war's progress while facing new questions about the flow of US dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces.The Ukrainian leader received a far quieter reception than the hero's welcome he was given last year from Congress, but also won generally favorable comments on the next round of US aid he says he needs to stave off defeat. Continue reading...

Lead singer of Perth synth-metal band, which placed ninth in Eurovision, set for immediate treatment'

The future of the Australian newspaper, which Rupert Murdoch launched in 1964, is less assured with Lachlan favouring Sky News Australia and Foxtel

Longstanding Murdoch critic says mogul leaves hell of a legacy', as minister suggests he will still play very big role'

Town facing twin crises after already putting in place a boil water notice following a parasite outbreakQueenstown declared a state of emergency after heavy rains caused flooding, compounding problems for New Zealand's biggest tourist town which had already put in place a boil water notice over water parasite fears.More than 100 people were evacuated on Thursday after rains caused several flooding and debris events" according to Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers. Continue reading...

The AFP's use of AI has been limited so far but the agency hopes the technology will help police identify money laundering and potential fraud

British ex-politician, a cult figure in the US, will reportedly appear alongside Love Island's Ekin-Su CulculoluFormer House of Commons speaker John Bercow is reportedly starring in the upcoming series of TV show The Traitors US, alongside Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculolu.The former MP will feature alongside reality TV stars from Big Brother, Dancing With The Stars and RuPaul's Drag Race, according to media reports. Continue reading...

Court voted against agribusiness-backed attempt to prevent communities claiming land they did not physically occupy in 1988Brazil's supreme court has blocked efforts to dramatically strip back Indigenous land rights in what activists called a historic victory for the South American country's original inhabitants.Nine of the court's 11 members voted against what rights groups had dubbed the time limit trick" - an agribusiness-backed attempt to prevent Indigenous communities claiming land they did not physically occupy in 1988. Continue reading...

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Despite improved short-term outlook, Jim Chalmers says structural pressures are intensifying rather than easing'

Studios behind Harry Potter films to undergo 400,000 sq ft expansion by 2027, in boost to struggling industryThe Warner Bros studios behind the Harry Potter film series are to undergo a major expansion, creating 4,000 jobs and providing a boost to Britain's beleaguered film and TV production industry.The development in Hertfordshire, expected to be complete in 2027, will add 400,000 sq ft (37,000 sq metres) to Warner Bros Studios Leavesden (WBSL). Continue reading...

Prime minister wants pupils to study a wider range of subjects including maths and English until they are 18The A-level system could be reformed with a new style of British baccalaureate in which children would study more subjects after the age of 16, according to reports.The proposals include English and maths becoming compulsory up until the age of 18, the Times said. Students would also be required to study a wider range of subjects in post-16 education. Continue reading...

My patience ran out,' said Christiana Figueres, who for years had advocated oil companies should be involved in policymaking talksFossil fuel companies should not be included in the Cop28 climate summit if they continue to block climate action, the UN's former climate chief told reporters on Thursday.If they are going to be there only to be obstructors, and only to put spanners into the system, they should not be there," said Christiana Figueres, who was pivotal to the delivery of the landmark Paris climate agreement in 2015. Continue reading...

Jimmy Barbecue' Cherizier issued call to arms as US looks to UN to approve Kenya-led mission to stem country's growing violenceThe most severe humanitarian crisis in the Americas has taken yet another dramatic turn after Haiti's most powerful gang boss took to the streets to call for an armed uprising to overthrow the country's unpopular prime minister.Jimmy Cherizier, a police officer turned gang lord nicknamed Barbecue", issued his call to arms on Tuesday, as reports suggested the US was preparing to ask the UN security council to approve a Kenya-led intervention designed to address the Caribbean country's escalating security crisis. Continue reading...

Officers seeking information on Jamie-Leigh Kelly, her toddler daughter and newborn son, after she left a family centre in ColindalePolice are appealing to the public to help locate a mother and her two young children who have been missing since Tuesday.Jamie-Leigh Kelly, 31, left a family assessment centre in north-west London with her three-year-old daughter and newborn baby boy against the wishes of staff. Continue reading...

Insiders say purpose of speech was to create dividing lines with Labour, with more policy announcements expected in weeks to comeDowning Street expected a backlash after Rishi Sunak announced that he was pushing back some of the government's key commitments for reaching net zero; in fact they wanted it.The purpose of the speech was to create dividing lines with Labour," said a No 10 insider. The fight is the point." What they didn't expect, was for the speech to be leaked 72 hours early and chaos to ensue. Continue reading...

Organized crime groups have around 175,000 members and authors say the best way to reduce violence is to cut membershipOrganised crime groups in Mexico have around 175,000 members - making them the fifth-biggest employer in the country, according to new research published in the journal Science.Using a decade of data on homicides, missing persons and incarcerations, as well as information about interactions between rival factions, the paper published on Thursday mathematically modeled overall cartel membership, and how levels of violence would respond to a range of policies. Continue reading...

Announcement of security threats' follows Justin Trudeau's claims India was involved in Sikh activist's killingRelations between India and Canada have further deteriorated after Delhi announced it was suspending visa services for Canadians due to security threats" faced by its embassy and consulates in Canada.BLS International, which runs the Indian visa offices in Canada, put a notice on its website stating that all visa services for Canadians were suspended until further notice, citing operational reasons". Continue reading...

Inquiry into scandal told company wanted to use Lee Castleton's case to dissuade others from pursuing claimsThe Post Office knew a post office operator would probably be bankrupted by a legal case he brought but wanted to send a warning message to others, a solicitor who worked for the company has admitted.Lee Castleton was made bankrupt by the Post Office after a two-year legal battle. His case is one of the most high-profile in the Horizon IT scandal, which has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed. For our latest reporting on the Murdochs, you can read our latest stories:

Rupert Murdoch's passing the crown to Lachlan comes as Fox News faces a difficult balancing act in the run-up to the 2024 election

In [a] polarised world, it is important our sector is clear in its opposition to censorship' says the Cilip report, published as services increasingly asked to remove booksNew guidelines designed for libraries in the UK urge staff to provide materials that illuminate" different views on controversial topics.The 52-page document, released by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip), states that a good library" should encompass controversial issues" and that material should not be rejected solely on the basis that it is considered contentious. Continue reading...

Comments by Polish PM follow Volodymyr Zelenskiy's accusation that some in Europe are in effect aiding Russia

Decision not to increase rates from 5.25% will be relief for many but some mortgage holders are already paying moreThe Bank of England kept interest rates on hold on Thursday - to the relief of many homeowners and would-be buyers.So what does this mean for your finances, and what are experts advising borrowers and others to do? Continue reading...

Clinic will shut its doors on Friday leaving more than 10% of the state's methadone users without treatment

One unauthorised pamphlet contains a link to a website containing white supremacist material

Johns accused Indigenous leaders of a grab for power' and proposed a very heavy cultural intervention' for Aboriginal children

Exclusive: Force received $100m funding more than a year ago for equipment that automatically activates cameras when officers draw Tasers or guns

Poppy Vandermark was told she could not make political statements' in the former beauty pageant turned community service award

Using videos and animations, child-friendly guide offers information on what to expect after diagnosisA new guide for children with cancer has been created to provide parents and children aged two to 12 years old with vital information about what lies ahead after diagnosis.The Oncology Guide uses videos by children who have been treated for cancer to help families cope with what can be a frightening diagnosis. Every year in the UK, more than 1,800 children are diagnosed with cancer. Continue reading...

Climate Change Committee head says we've moved backwards' after PM defends decision to delay ban on selling new petrol and diesel carsRobinson quotes from Sunak's resignation letter as chancellor, in which he said if something sounded too good to be true, it probably wasn't true. Weren't you doing that in the speech yesterday?Sunak does not accept that. He says in his speech he accepted change was needed. He just want a realistic approach". Continue reading...

Three men and two women accused of conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy'The UK's Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges against five people suspected of spying for Russia.The three men and two women, aged between 29 and 45, are accused of conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy", the CPS said. Continue reading...

Kristen Michal says clean air is human right' and breathing should not make us sick' after revelations about Europe's toxic airSpeaking in the French senate, Britain's King Charles III underscored the role of the private sector in developing solutions that allow for a transition to a more sustainable world.Together with the French president. Emmanuel Macron, the king will meet today with French and British business leaders to discuss investment in clean growth and preserving biodiversity. Continue reading...

Proposed law aims to improve representation in a parliament where women hold only a little over 13% of seatsIndia's lower house of parliament has passed a bill to reserve a third of seats for women, almost triple the current number, in a move that could transform Indian politics.More than 27 years after it was first proposed in parliament, the women's reservation bill was given almost unanimous support by MPs in the lower house, with only two voting against it. Its passage through the upper house is expected to be smooth thanks to broad political support. Continue reading...

Findings show 8% of population have extremist attitudes, while 16.5% accused Jewish people of wanting to take advantage' of Nazi past

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden says it would disproportionate to undertake further action' against former PMBoris Johnson is to avoid censure for breaking the rules on ex-ministers taking up new jobs despite the government accepting he committed a breach over his appointment as a Daily Mail columnist.Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, told the post-government appointments watchdog on Thursday that it would be disproportionate to undertake further action" other than acknowledging that there had been a breach. Continue reading...

Former soldier was in HMP Wandsworth on remand charged with terrorism offencesFormer soldier Daniel Khalife has pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to escaping custody at HMP Wandsworth where he was on remand after being charged with terrorism offences earlier this year.More details soon ...

Russia strikes at least six cities across Ukraine in biggest attack since August; Poland will no longer arm Ukraine, says prime minister Continue reading...

New laws bring state into line with other jurisdictions and scrap clinical barriers that forced some women to seek treatment outside WA

Demand comes after after a visit to detention facilities was blocked by NSW and Queensland in October 2022. Follow the day's news live