https://auns.com.au Breaking news, sport, politics, world and weather from across Australia. en-au editorial@auns.com.au (AUNS Editorial) https://auns.com.au/static/publisher-logo.png https://auns.com.au Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:45:00 GMT https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-t-rex-gus-record-sothebys-auction An anonymous phone bidder paid US$50.1 million for the 67-million-year-old fossil, an auction record for a dinosaur, and palaeontologists want it in a museum. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-t-rex-gus-record-sothebys-auction Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-el-nino-firms-bom-dry-spring-outlook BOM's latest update puts the key Pacific index at nearly double the El Niño threshold, and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole is likely to join it. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Tom Birch) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-el-nino-firms-bom-dry-spring-outlook Weather https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-petrol-excise-ends-august-oil-holds-high Petrol is at $1.68 a litre, Brent settled at US$84.73, and the 16 cent excise discount ends on August 2. A call on extending it is due within weeks. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-petrol-excise-ends-august-oil-holds-high Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-falconio-25-years-unseen-photos NT Police marked 25 years since Peter Falconio's murder with unseen images and a renewed $500,000 reward to locate his remains. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-falconio-25-years-unseen-photos National https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-trump-drops-hormuz-fee-blockade-takes-effect The 20 per cent cargo fee lasted 26 hours. A US naval blockade of Iranian ports began at 6am AEST as Brent settled at US$84.73 after a one-month high. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-trump-drops-hormuz-fee-blockade-takes-effect World https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-albanese-office-of-ai-national-framework A new Office of AI will sit inside the PM's own department, co-ordinating a single national framework Albanese calls a world first. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-albanese-office-of-ai-national-framework Politics https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-spain-beat-france-world-cup-final An Oyarzabal penalty and a Pedro Porro strike put Spain past France 2-0 in Arlington and into Sunday's World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-spain-beat-france-world-cup-final Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-world-cup-semi-finals-preview France meet Spain in Arlington on Wednesday morning AEST before England face defending champions Argentina, with the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 03:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-world-cup-semi-finals-preview Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-sam-neill-dies-78 The Jurassic Park and My Brilliant Career actor died in Sydney surrounded by family, less than three months after announcing he was cancer-free. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-sam-neill-dies-78 Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-sa-dating-app-ban-sex-offenders South Australia plans nation-first laws banning sex offenders from dating apps, with 10-year minimum bans and up to five years jail for breaches. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-sa-dating-app-ban-sex-offenders Politics https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-oil-tops-us83-bowser-next Brent crude jumped 9.5 per cent to US$83.25 after Washington demanded a 20 per cent charge on Hormuz cargoes. Petrol was already up 16 cents in nine days. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-oil-tops-us83-bowser-next Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-digital-arrival-cards-rollout A $56.1 million digital declaration is replacing the orange arrival card, starting at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-digital-arrival-cards-rollout National https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-uae-tankers-hit-us-strikes-third-night Two Emirati tankers were hit by Iranian cruise missiles in Omani waters, killing a crew member, as US strikes on Iran entered a third consecutive night. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-uae-tankers-hit-us-strikes-third-night World https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-alpine-wind-warning-cancelled The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled its Snowy Mountains damaging wind warning at 4.40am Tuesday. Minor flood warnings remain on north east rivers as the front clears the south east. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Tom Birch) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-alpine-wind-warning-cancelled Weather https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-music-industry-ai-labelling-standard The global recorded music industry has agreed a voluntary standard marking tracks as AI-Generated or AI-Assisted, and ARIA has welcomed it. The test case is already on Australian radio, where a rework of Madonna's Like A Prayer with no credited vocalist sits at number two. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-music-industry-ai-labelling-standard Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-alpine-blizzards-abnormal-tides The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of damaging winds and possible blizzards across the NSW and Victorian alps and much of Tasmania, where a 139 km/h gust was recorded before dawn. Coastal hazard warnings are current for Monday evening's high tide in Hobart and eastern Victoria. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Tom Birch) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-alpine-blizzards-abnormal-tides Weather https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-hormuz-closure-export-forecast The Commonwealth's forecast of record $416 billion resources and energy exports assumed the Strait of Hormuz reopened in late June. Nine days after it was published, Iran declared the strait closed. Australian gas producers gain from the shock. Motorists and airlines pay for it. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-hormuz-closure-export-forecast Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-iran-declares-hormuz-closed-us-disputes Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice and disabled a second ship. Within hours Washington said commercial vessels are still transiting, and the US Navy-led body that routes merchant traffic kept its southern corridor open. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 01:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-iran-declares-hormuz-closed-us-disputes World https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-antisemitism-royal-commission-universities The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion opens a week of hearings into Australian universities on the same day new racism rules take effect. Education Minister Jason Clare says he will legislate to let the regulator fine universities without going to court. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-antisemitism-royal-commission-universities Politics https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-h5-bird-flu-native-seabird-robe A greater crested tern found dead at Robe in South Australia is the first native Australian seabird confirmed with H5 bird flu. Every previous case was a migratory bird from the sub-Antarctic. There are now 13 confirmed detections nationally and none in poultry. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-h5-bird-flu-native-seabird-robe National https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-afl-round-18-butters-cameron-injuries Zak Butters will have ankle surgery within days after scans confirmed a high grade syndesmosis injury, and Jeremy Cameron spent Saturday night in a Sydney hospital with a suspected broken collarbone. Fremantle stayed clear on top and Max Gawn equalled Jim Stynes' Melbourne games record. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-afl-round-18-butters-cameron-injuries Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-snowy-mountains-warning-eases-coastal-tide The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled its Snowy Mountains severe weather warning at 5.59am on Sunday, but coastal hazard warnings for Victoria and Tasmania remain current and have been extended to cover Monday evening's high tide as well as tonight's. Victoria's own alpine wind warning is still running after gusts topped forecast values overnight, including a 119 km/h gust at Mount Hotham. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Tom Birch) https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-snowy-mountains-warning-eases-coastal-tide Weather https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-muse-cracks-aria-top-five Muse's "The Wow! Signal" entered the ARIA albums chart at number two this week, behind Olivia Rodrigo's "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love," which held number one for a third straight week on the chart dated 6 July 2026. Muse's tenth studio album has also topped the UK chart and reached number one in several other countries since its 26 June release. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-muse-cracks-aria-top-five Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-strait-of-hormuz-oman-talks-continue Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met his Omani counterpart in Muscat as both governments agreed to keep talking about safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, even as new data show shipping through the strait still near a standstill and Tehran and Washington divided over what their existing agreement actually requires. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-strait-of-hormuz-oman-talks-continue World https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-crows-thrash-suns-round-18 Adelaide beat Gold Coast 19.14 (128) to 7.7 (49) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, a 79-point win that stretched the Suns' losing streak to seven games. Coach Damien Hardwick said afterwards that Gold Coast's finals chances for 2026 are all but over. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-crows-thrash-suns-round-18 Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-fdc-consolidated-asx-debut FDC Consolidated Holdings shares closed at $3.48 on Friday, up 16 per cent on the $3.00 offer price, three days after the construction and fitout company's ASX debut, the biggest Australian float of 2026 so far. The $400 million IPO valued FDC at $969 million on listing day, when the stock touched $3.50 in early trade before closing 12.3 per cent higher at $3.37. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-fdc-consolidated-asx-debut Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-coastal-flood-warnings-victoria-tasmania The Bureau of Meteorology has issued coastal hazard warnings for abnormally high tides from Phillip Island to Hicks Point and around Hobart, with sea water flooding possible on Sunday evening. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Tom Birch) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-coastal-flood-warnings-victoria-tasmania Weather https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-mso-cleared-gillham-federal-court The Federal Court dismissed every claim Jayson Gillham brought against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The case turned on a protection gap between employed and contracted artists. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-mso-cleared-gillham-federal-court Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-us-iran-talks-truce-over Donald Trump says Iran asked to keep talking and the US agreed, while insisting the ceasefire is finished. Australia has an aircraft in the Gulf, a shut embassy in Tehran and no seat at the table. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 03:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-us-iran-talks-truce-over World https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-spain-beat-belgium-france-semi-final Mikel Merino struck in the 88th minute to send Spain past Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles. They meet France in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday morning AEST. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-spain-beat-belgium-france-semi-final Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-telstra-triple-zero-acma-investigation Telstra ran 639 welfare checks on people who could not reach Triple Zero during this week's outage. The regulator is now investigating the company that both broke the network and operates the emergency line. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-telstra-triple-zero-acma-investigation National https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-westpac-two-hikes-before-2027-cuts Westpac has pulled its first rate cut forward to August 2027. The catch is what comes first: two more hikes, and about $229 a month added to an average mortgage. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-westpac-two-hikes-before-2027-cuts Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-derryn-hinch-dies-82 Derryn Hinch, who went to prison rather than pay a fine for naming a killer's criminal history, and who turned that record into a Senate seat, has died aged 82. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-derryn-hinch-dies-82 National https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-nextdc-senior-debt-upsize NEXTDC has signed $2.3 billion in new senior debt, taking total facilities to $8.7 billion to fund its AI-driven data centre build-out. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:10:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-nextdc-senior-debt-upsize Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-australia-india-uranium-export-deal Australia and India signed an arrangement opening long-term uranium exports, plus a defence declaration and university campuses, at the Melbourne summit. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:20:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-australia-india-uranium-export-deal Politics https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-khamenei-buried-us-iran-strikes-hormuz Iran buried Ali Khamenei in Mashhad as US forces struck about 90 more targets and Iran fired on bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, with Hormuz tanker traffic near a standstill. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-khamenei-buried-us-iran-strikes-hormuz World https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-dementia-leading-cause-death-aihw Dementia has overtaken heart disease as Australia's leading cause of death, the AIHW reports, as national health spending reaches $270.5 billion. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:40:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-dementia-leading-cause-death-aihw National https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-fremantle-bury-sydney-round-18 Fremantle kicked 9.5 in the final quarter to beat Sydney by 38 points in front of 55,966 at Optus Stadium, recovering from a goalless first half to go two games clear on top. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:20:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-fremantle-bury-sydney-round-18 Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-southeast-frost-fog-weekend-change Melbourne woke to a fog road alert and Canberra spent six hours below zero on Thursday, but the Bureau of Meteorology says the week-long freeze breaks this weekend with rain and alpine snow. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Tom Birch) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-southeast-frost-fog-weekend-change Weather https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-mua-28-hour-week-dp-world-automation The Maritime Union of Australia wants a 28-hour week on full pay for wharfies affected by DP World's rollout of remote cranes, driverless vehicles and AI rostering across four terminals. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-mua-28-hour-week-dp-world-automation Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-modi-melbourne-leaders-summit Narendra Modi meets Anthony Albanese in Melbourne for the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit, with uranium on the agenda and more than 20,000 registered for a Marvel Stadium reception. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-modi-melbourne-leaders-summit Politics https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-bieber-world-cup-final-half-time-show Justin Bieber will join Madonna, Shakira and BTS for the first half-time show at a men's World Cup final, an 11-minute set at MetLife Stadium on July 19. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-bieber-world-cup-final-half-time-show Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-telstra-outage-triple-zero-trains A software defect took down Telstra's mobile network for most of Wednesday, blocking 333 triple-zero calls and suspending Victoria's regional trains. The regulator is investigating. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:10:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-telstra-outage-triple-zero-trains National https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-nsw-win-origin-iii-decider New South Wales beat Queensland 30-12 in the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium to take the 2026 series 2-1, with Nathan Cleary claiming the Wally Lewis Medal. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:40:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-nsw-win-origin-iii-decider Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-us-strikes-iran-hormuz US forces struck more than 80 targets inside Iran after three tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran answered with drones and missiles at bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:50:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-us-strikes-iran-hormuz World https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-australian-box-office-record-toy-story-5 Australian cinemas cleared $100 million for a third straight month in June, the first such run on record, while Pixar's Toy Story 5 held the national number one for a third weekend. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Zoe Mercer) https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-australian-box-office-record-toy-story-5 Entertainment https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-origin-iii-decider-suncorp Queensland and New South Wales meet at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night with the State of Origin series locked at 1-1 and the shield going to the winner of a single game. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Dani Kowalski) https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-origin-iii-decider-suncorp Sport https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-wisetech-white-steps-down-chair WiseTech Global co-founder Richard White stepped down as executive chair on Tuesday, handing the role to independent director Raelene Murphy. Shares in the logistics software company rose as much as 10.6 per cent. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-wisetech-white-steps-down-chair Business https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-nato-ankara-summit-spending-ukraine NATO's 32 leaders met in Ankara on Monday and Tuesday for a summit dominated by US pressure to enforce a 5 per cent defence-spending target and by Ukraine's push for more air-defence weapons. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Priya Nair) https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-nato-ankara-summit-spending-ukraine World https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-roy-morgan-poll-one-nation-labor One Nation's poll surge has receded for a second week, with Roy Morgan's latest federal survey putting the party's primary vote at 22.5 per cent while Labor held a two-party lead of 55 to 45. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Claire Ashford) https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-roy-morgan-poll-one-nation-labor Politics