Sunrise

A 35-year-old man is expected to face charges following a rampage in Newtown, Sydney's inner west, that forced children into lockdown at holiday care facilities and caused damage to homes and cars. The incident ended when the man fell through a pergola between two homes and was apprehended by police. He is currently recovering in hospital while police finalise charges. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Australia's illicit tobacco market is driving a surge in smoking, with nicotine consumption 40% higher in 2025 than in 2017. The black market trade, linked to organised crime, is forecast to cost the federal budget more than $8 billion in lost revenue. Housing Minister Claire O'Neill argues the issue requires better border protection and enforcement rather than reducing tobacco excise, while Shado...

Rideshare company Uber is introducing cash payment options for rides across Australia, responding to data showing cash still accounts for 15% of payments in the country. The Reserve Bank of Australia's Consumer Payments Survey reveals about half of Australians continue using cash during a typical week, with younger generations particularly using it as a budgeting tool. While digital payments remai...

Donald Trump has abandoned plans to impose a toll on the Strait of Hormuz, opting instead for new trade and investment agreements with Gulf states. The waterway remains open to all traffic except Iran as the US blockade resumes. Ongoing strikes between the US and Iran continue to escalate as diplomatic efforts stall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arthur's Seat on the Mornington Peninsula features a sky safari gondola system with 34 safari-style gondolas, each weighing 750 kilos and carrying up to eight passengers. The gondola ride reaches Tower 9, which sits 21 metres in the air, offering 360-degree views of Port Phillip Bay, Western Port Bay, and Melbourne. The gondolas feature removable windows for an open-air safari experience. See omny...

Queensland is on alert for its potentially first case of bird flu after a sick seabird was rescued from Anusa Beach by twin animal rescuers Bridget and Paula Powers. The bird is currently being tested, with results expected within two weeks, and if confirmed would bring Australia's national toll to 14 cases. The Powers sisters are caring for the bird in a makeshift quarantine facility on the Sunsh...

Queensland is on alert for its potentially first case of bird flu after a sick seabird was rescued from Anusa Beach by twin animal rescuers Bridget and Paula Powers. The bird is currently being tested, with results expected within two weeks, and if confirmed would bring Australia's national toll to 14 cases. The Powers sisters are caring for the bird in a makeshift quarantine facility on the Sunsh...

Melbourne coffee company St. Ali is sending four baristas to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to serve coffee to over 250 Australian athletes throughout the competition. The initiative aims to provide Australian competitors with a taste of home and their preferred coffee orders during the Games. St. Ali CEO Lachlan Ward explains the logistics of transporting their coffee expertise internationally...

An 80-year-old Perth grandfather lost $300,000 and his home to a romance scam after meeting someone on Facebook who requested money over three years. Romance scams are increasing in Australia, with technology like AI making them more sophisticated, including the ability to fake video calls. Private investigators report clients losing up to $90,000, often taking out personal loans or second mortgag...

Queensland has introduced a major crackdown on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters following 17 fatalities since the beginning of 2025. Police have seized over 100 dangerous devices and issued more than 420 fines for offences including not wearing helmets and drink riding since new laws took effect in July. From the end of August, children aged 12 to 17 will require parental supervision or a licence to...

Sam Neill, the acclaimed actor known for Jurassic Park, My Brilliant Career and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, has passed away at age 78. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2023 and announced he was cancer-free in April, with reports indicating pneumonia played a role in his death. Tributes from colleagues including Steven Spielberg highlight Neill's reputation as a gentleman and decent h...

A Resolve political monitor poll reveals 61% of Australians support falling house prices, with majorities across all age, political and income groups including property investors, renters and homeowners. The poll also shows modest support for budget changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, though 42% remain undecided on these tax policies. Debate centres on whether public confusion stems...

A restaurant in the United States has implemented a strict policy charging parents for damage caused by their children, including fines of $470 for a broken credit card machine, over $150 for graffiti on a tabletop, and $10 for a broken teacup. The policy requires children to remain seated and holds parents financially liable for all property damage. Panel discussion reveals divided opinions on wh...

The International Monetary Fund has downgraded Australia's economic growth forecast for the second time this year, predicting growth of 1.9% for 2026 with subdued conditions continuing into 2027. High interest rates, cost of living pressures, slowing housing investment, productivity issues, and Middle East energy price shocks are contributing to the economic cooling. Despite the slowdown, Australi...

Sam Neill, the acclaimed actor known for Jurassic Park, The Dish and Dead Calm, has passed away at age 78. New Zealand actor Marlon Williams, who played Neill's son in the Australian series The Twelve, reflects on working with the Hollywood star during the final stages of his career. Williams describes Neill as someone who remained open to the world, constantly learning and engaging deeply with pe...

Wheelchair Rugby League is a highly physical and inclusive sport where athletes compete in specialised wheelchairs costing between $16,000 to $40,000 each. The Australian Wheelaroos, led by head coach Brett Clark, are preparing for the Rugby League World Cup to be hosted in Wollongong, featuring men's, women's and wheelchair competitions. The sport is designed to be inclusive for able-bodied and d...

Some Italian towns are selling ancient, run-down homes for one euro to attract new residents and revitalise communities. The scheme, which began in Sicily in 2008, requires buyers to renovate properties within a set timeframe, with renovation costs ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of euros. Similar programmes are now being trialled in Japan, Ireland, and Croatia, though visa re...

A weight loss pill containing the same active ingredient as Ozempic is expected to receive approval in Australia as early as Christmas this year. The oral medication eliminates the need for injections and is anticipated to cost approximately $5.80 per day, similar to UK pricing. With two out of three adult Australians classified as obese or overweight, medical experts predict significant uptake of...

Australian property auction clearance rates have risen above 50% this week, marking the highest point in seven weeks following the federal budget's impact on the market. However, fewer homes are being sold at auction compared to the same period last year, with an 8% drop in total volume driven primarily by Sydney's downturn. The top end of the property market is experiencing more rapid price deter...

New South Wales emergency departments are experiencing 400 presentations of influenza-like illnesses weekly, with cases surging by 40% in recent weeks. Health authorities are urging Australian parents to vaccinate their children before the return to school, particularly those at highest risk including children under five, people over 65, and those with chronic health conditions. A nasal vaccine op...

Escalating military strikes between the US and Iran have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, with over 140 US targets struck in Iran and Tehran attacking multiple US positions across the Gulf. The closure of all three shipping corridors through the strait threatens approximately 20 per cent of the world's energy supply, depleting fuel reserves and raising concerns about su...

One Nation's support has dropped three points in the latest Resolve Strategic poll, with party leader Pauline Hanson falling eight points in preferred Prime Minister rankings. The decline follows controversial statements on multiculturalism, abortion and parental leave, with pollsters identifying migrants and women as the two biggest groups where support was lost. The debate centres on Hanson's ca...

Passenger declaration cards at Australian airports are transitioning to a digital system nationwide following successful trials with Qantas. Travellers can now complete the forms through airline apps before boarding, receiving a QR code to present upon landing. The digital system aims to eliminate the rush to find pens and information at the end of flights, while airport assistance will remain ava...

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are experiencing record growth in Australia, with the ASX adding 72 new ETFs over the past financial year, bringing the total to over 450 funds worth approximately $350 billion. Nearly one in five Gen Z investors are now invested in ETFs, with particular interest in funds focused on global themes including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics and space tec...

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke states the Australian government will not assist 13 suspected ISIS fighters detained in Iraq who may soon be released from prison and attempt to return to Australia. Burke explains the legal limitations of exclusion orders for citizens, noting they are temporary measures with a high threshold to meet. He emphasises that 45 men who fought with ISIS had already retur...