New data reveals that extras cover is one of the most underused components of private health insurance in Australia, with many policyholders paying significantly more in premiums than they claim back. Private health insurance premiums are rising 4.1% from April 1st and have increased 17.5% over the past five years, with singles paying over $3,000 annually and families exceeding $6,000. Financial expert Matt Bowen from ING advises Australians to reassess their coverage levels, check for unnecessa...
Feb 18, 2026•2 min
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is testifying in a Los Angeles court as part of a landmark trial examining whether social media platforms are deliberately designed to be addictive and cause harm to young people. The case has been brought by a 20-year-old woman who claims early exposure to YouTube and Instagram contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts. The trial's outcome could impact approximately 1,500 similar pending cases against social media companies. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...
Feb 18, 2026•2 min
Two men escaped from New South Wales mental health facilities within 24 hours of each other before allegedly committing fatal attacks. Luke Peter Francis, 31, broke out of Cumberland Hospital Mental Health Ward using a stolen staff access card and allegedly killed two people in a vehicle incident in Camden. Stefano Leotola, 25, escaped from a health transfer vehicle the day before and allegedly stabbed two people and killed another in Maryland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
Feb 18, 2026•43 sec
Two men escaped from New South Wales mental health facilities within 24 hours of each other and allegedly killed multiple people. Luke Peter Francis, 31, broke out of Cumberland Hospital's mental health ward using a stolen staff access card before allegedly stealing a car and killing two people in Camden during a police pursuit. Stefano Leotola, 25, escaped from a health transfer vehicle the day before and allegedly stabbed two people and killed another in Maryland. See omnystudio.com/listener f...
Feb 18, 2026•5 min
A two-storey warehouse on Mollison Street in Abbotsford caught fire at approximately 3:00am, requiring 34 firefighters at the height of the blaze. The building was locked when emergency services arrived, and while the fire is now under control, the cause remains unknown. Police have stated they will not be investigating as the incident is not believed to be suspicious, though fire investigators will examine the scene. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listen...
Feb 18, 2026•5 min
The Australian government has issued a temporary exclusion order banning one of 11 Australian ISIS brides from returning to the country due to national security concerns. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Australian passports have been provided to the group of 11 women and 23 children currently in the al-Raj camp in northeast Syria, with DNA testing organised prior to documentation being issued. Ten ISIS brides and 23 children will be permitted to return to Australia, though the go...
Feb 18, 2026•1 min
A 17-year-old boy allegedly stole a black Mercedes from a shopping centre in Worongary on the Gold Coast, with the owner's sausage dog Bailey inside. Police tracked the stolen vehicle from the sky and ground for seven hours as it travelled to Logan and back to the Gold Coast, before deploying tyre spikes in Palm Beach where the teenager eventually surrendered on the Gold Coast Highway. Bailey was found by a good Samaritan in Nerang and reunited with his owners after being taken to a vet. See omn...
Feb 18, 2026•2 min
Eleven-year-old Valentine Mayerson has raised over $40,000 by creating and selling beaded bee bracelets to help the family of Matilda Brett Finn, the 10-year-old tragically killed in the 2024 Bondi terror attack. The bracelets, featuring a bee to honour Matilda's middle name, have become a global symbol of peace and remembrance, with nearly 3,000 sold across Australia, Europe, the US and Canada. Valentine aims to raise enough funds to send Matilda's family, including her younger sister Summer, t...
Feb 17, 2026•6 min
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Feb 17, 2026•6 min
The Queenscliff Football Club in Victoria has created a viral video recreating the iconic 2010 Puma advertisement featuring Savage Garden's 'Truly Madly Deeply', amassing over 3,000 views on Instagram. The senior coach Heath Jamison came up with the idea to boost the small town club's profile and attract new members, with the team filming their rendition in one take after training. The club, located in a town of only 1,500 people on the Bellarine Peninsula, is now selling memberships for $55 and...
Feb 17, 2026•6 min
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Feb 17, 2026•6 min
Eleven-year-old Valentine Mayerson has raised over $40,000 by creating and selling beaded bee bracelets to help the family of Matilda Brett Finn, the 10-year-old tragically killed in the 2024 Bondi terror attack. The bracelets, featuring a bee to honour Matilda's middle name, have become a global symbol of peace and remembrance, with nearly 3,000 sold across Australia, Europe, the US and Canada. Valentine aims to raise enough funds to send Matilda's family, including her younger sister Summer, t...
Feb 17, 2026•6 min
Eleven-year-old Valentine Mayerson has raised over $40,000 by creating and selling beaded bee bracelets to help the family of Matilda Brett Finn, the 10-year-old tragically killed in the 2024 Bondi terror attack. The bracelets, featuring a bee to honour Matilda's middle name, have become a global symbol of peace and remembrance, with nearly 3,000 sold across Australia, Europe, the US and Canada. Valentine aims to raise enough funds to send Matilda's family, including her younger sister Summer, t...
Feb 17, 2026•6 min
Eleven-year-old Valentine Mayerson has raised over $40,000 by creating and selling beaded bee bracelets to help the family of Matilda Brett Finn, the 10-year-old tragically killed in the 2024 Bondi terror attack. The bracelets, featuring a bee to honour Matilda's middle name, have become a global symbol of peace and remembrance, with nearly 3,000 sold across Australia, Europe, the US and Canada. Valentine aims to raise enough funds to send Matilda's family, including her younger sister Summer, t...
Feb 17, 2026•6 min
Josh and Jess from Adventure Intel Australia have been travelling and living off-grid across Australia for years after deciding not to return home following an initial trip. The couple showcases off-road driving techniques at the Victorian Caravan Camping Super Show, demonstrating vehicle capabilities on steep terrain with a three-tonne load. Their favourite destinations include the Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
Feb 17, 2026•3 min
23-year-old Gold Coast golfer Elvis Smylie won on debut at the LIV Golf season opening event in Saudi Arabia and helped secure a team title with the all-Australian Ripper GC squad in Adelaide. The rising star is now climbing towards the world's top 50 rankings as he pursues qualification for the Masters tournament in the US. Smylie credits fellow Australian golfer Cam Smith, a British Open champion, as a significant mentor in his decision to join LIV Golf. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Feb 17, 2026•3 min
Australian ISIS brides and their children are expected to return to Australia within hours or days, sparking political debate over border entry. Opposition leader Angus Taylor is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to block their return, while Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke examines whether temporary exclusion orders can be legally applied. International law expert Professor Donald Rothwell explains that Australian citizens with valid passports have a legal right to enter the country, t...
Feb 17, 2026•4 min
Australian ISIS brides and their children are expected to return to Australia within hours or days, sparking political debate over border entry. Opposition leader Angus Taylor is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to block their return, while Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke examines whether temporary exclusion orders can be legally applied. International law expert Professor Donald Rothwell explains that Australian citizens with valid passports have a legal right to enter the country, t...
Feb 17, 2026•4 min
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Feb 17, 2026•2 min
A man who allegedly escaped from a mental health facility during transfer between hospitals in Sydney remained at large for 10 days before allegedly committing a fatal stabbing attack in Maryland. The incident resulted in the death of a 38-year-old man and injuries to two others in what police describe as a random attack. The accused is now in custody and facing murder charges, with questions being raised about patient transport procedures and public safety warnings. See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Feb 17, 2026•4 min
The Australian Prime Minister states he will not assist 11 families, including 34 ISIS brides and children, to return from Syria to Australia, declaring they must face consequences for their decisions. International law experts warn the government cannot legally prevent Australian citizens from re-entering the country, while the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is legally required to issue passports to Australian citizens. The opposition demands temporary exclusion orders be imposed, whil...
Feb 17, 2026•8 min
Reverend Jesse Jackson, legendary civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, has died at age 84. Born in 1941, Jackson was a protégé of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and was by his side when King was assassinated in Memphis. Throughout his decades-long career, the Baptist preacher became a powerful voice for justice and equality, ran for president in 1984 and 1988, fought against apartheid in South Africa, and witnessed Barack Obama's historic election as America's first Black president...
Feb 17, 2026•3 min
A leaked coalition immigration document proposes temporarily banning migrants from regions including Gaza and Somalia, removing 100,000 visa overstayers, and restricting visas from areas deemed terrorist hotspots. The proposal, prepared under former leader Susan Ley, has exposed deep divisions within the party, with shadow immigration minister Paul Scar stating he never supported the policy. Professor Alan Gamlin from the Australian National University Migration Hub suggests the policy contains ...
Feb 16, 2026•2 min
Former NRL player Matt Utai, 44, was shot twice outside a home in Greenacre, Western Sydney, once in the leg and once in the chest. Police believe Utai was not the intended target but was caught in crossfire, with his son Isaiah Utai being well known to police after his house was shot multiple times in December. Utai, who played 170 NRL games for the Bulldogs and West Tigers and represented New Zealand, was taken to St George Hospital in a conscious state under police escort. See omnystudio.com/...
Feb 16, 2026•2 min
A shark deterrent ankle device uses electrical signals to repel predatory sharks within a two to two-and-a-half metre range. Independent testing by the University of Western Australia showed the technology has a 60% success rate in turning sharks away when they approach. The device works on pelagic sharks including great whites, bull sharks, tigers and makos by creating discomfort in their electrical sensory system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener...
Feb 16, 2026•3 min
The U.S. Attorney General has released files related to Jeffrey Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, revealing over 300 high-profile names including Barack Obama, Kurt Cobain, Prince Harry, and Robert De Niro. The release has sparked controversy over redacted names and allegedly incomplete files, with calls for further investigation and criminal prosecutions. Former Obama administration adviser Peter Loge clarifies that inclusion in the files doesn't necessarily imply wrongdoing, as...
Feb 16, 2026•3 min
The AFL's 2026 Premiership season begins in 16 days, with Channel Seven's coverage featuring an expanded commentary team including returning expert Hamish McLaughlin and new addition Shane Crawford, a Brownlow medallist and Hawthorn premiership player. A documentary honouring retired legendary commentator Dennis Cometti is also announced for later in the year. The opening match will see Sydney Swans face Carlton Blues at the SCG, featuring several players who have switched between the two clubs....
Feb 16, 2026•3 min
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Feb 16, 2026•2 min
Legendary actor Robert Duvall has died at age 95, leaving behind a storied career spanning more than 80 projects, seven Academy Award nominations and one win. Known for his quiet intensity and commanding presence in films including The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and Gone in 60 Seconds, Duvall was classically trained and shared early New York apartment living with Dustin Hoffman. His wife announced his passing, remembering him as both a filmmaker and family man who brought gravitas to every role r...
Feb 16, 2026•3 min
Australians express support for budget cuts to foreign aid and renewable energy programs, though these areas represent only 1% of total spending. Eleven ISIS families consisting of 34 Australian women and children have been turned back after leaving their Syrian camp, with debate continuing over whether they should be allowed to return. A neighbourhood dispute in Sydney's northwest has reignited discussion about the etiquette of mowing nature strips that belong to neighbours. See omnystudio.com/...
Feb 16, 2026•6 min
