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News from the ABC Australia

Maroons search for new Origin coach suffers double setback
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

Billy Slater's old pair of assistants in Matt Ballin and Ben Te'o loom as the two leading candidates to take over as Queensland coach, after Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters rule themselves out of the race.

Pauline Hanson vows to slash cigarette prices by nearly $30 a pack
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

One Nation says high taxes on tobacco have pushed Australians into the black market, and the only way to undo that is by cutting the price of cigarettes in half.

Road to Phillip Island closed after fatal accident
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

A motorcyclist has died in a fatal collision at San Remo near Phillip Island this morning.

Man and woman charged with murder after human remains found south of Brisbane
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

Police said a search was executed after four years of investigations into the disappearance of a 46-year-old man in March 2022. 

'Wake-up call': Danger from heatwaves 'underestimated' for people over 60
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

A new global study suggests older people may face serious health risks from heat at much lower temperatures than previously understood.

Queensland graziers pushed to the brink as feed runs dry
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

Nearly a month after vast swathes of Queensland were drought declared, pastures are bare, rivers have stopped running, and hay sheds sit empty.

Stress-free Book Week costumes with a musical twist
Posted on Tuesday August 18, 2026

Love it or dread it, Book Week is almost here. Try these low-stress costume tips inspired by this year's Symphony of Stories theme, celebrating books and music.

Hockeyroos downed by reigning champions in World Cup pool match
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The Hockeyroos have been beaten by the Netherlands in their second match of the FIH Hockey World Cup, going down 4-2 despite a battling performance against the reigning champions.

Swans coach 'disappointed' over Melbourne incident
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The ABC understands Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Riley Bice are the players linked to the investigation, although there is no confirmation that they were directly involved or that all four have spoken to police.

Fungi fans celebrate its recognition as nature's third living kingdom
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The Australian Labor Party's national platform now explicitly recognises fungi alongside flora and fauna.

Live: BHP reports 30pc profit jump on high copper prices
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

BHP reports a 30 per cent profit jump on high copper prices as we delve into the books of some of the nation's most valuable listed companies. Follow the day's events and insights from our business reporters on the ABC News live markets blog. 

Mourners say Jason Arday 'was hunted' by tabloid media before his death
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Mourners at a London vigil for Jason Arday accuse the British tabloid media of "hunting" the late Cambridge professor, as Cambridge's Chancellor speaks out. 

WA judges told to stop giving reduced sentences due to prison overcrowding
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The practice of giving criminals lighter sentences because of poor conditions in Western Australia's jails should stop in most cases, the state's Court of Appeal rules.

Mangione's NYC trial postponed indefinitely amid double jeopardy fight
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Luigi Mangione's lawyers have described him as a "pawn in parallel prosecutions" and accused state and federal prosecutors of "trying to punish him twice for the exact conduct".

Labour hire company and four farms face more than $3 million in fines
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

A major labour hire legal case is set to begin in the Victorian Supreme Court and could see those accused face fines totalling more than $3 million.

LIV Golf ending season early after cancelling final event
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

LIV Golf is ending its season one week earlier than planned, announcing on Monday it will not hold the team championship in Michigan next week and instead crown the team champion this week.

Cherry blossoms planted 30 years ago to honour Vietnam vets are dying
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Providing bursts of blooms in spring and a canopy of shade in summer, Bowral's avenue of soldier-like trees is being tested by disease.

Live: 'Widow tax' fix expected to be fast tracked after Taylor ultimatum
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

A fix to the so-called widow tax is expected to be fast-tracked after Treasurer Jim Chalmers signalled he was open to addressing it sooner rather than later. Follow live.

NT rangers make 'gobsmacking' find after pygmy blue whale beaches itself
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

A pygmy blue whale has died after becoming stranded off the coast of Groote Eylandt in what researchers believe is the first time the species has ever been sighted in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Sydney Airport 'crisis' a 'long time coming', retired airline pilot says
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Sydney Airport could face "catastrophic" consequences if safety issues are not addressed following three incidents in as many weeks, a former pilot and aviation safety investigator says.



News from the BBC World Service

Trump threatens to bomb US ally Oman if it 'gets in the way' over Iran deal
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Trump's threat on Oman, which has been holding its own talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, comes as a 60-day window for peace negotiations expires.

Tributes to actress Hayden Panettiere as coroner finds 'no signs of trauma'
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The US actress, who has died at the age of 36, starred in the TV shows Heroes and Nashville.

Fifa executive leaves job three weeks after speaking out against Infantino plan
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Senior Fifa figure Kevin Lamour is sacked by football's world governing body three weeks after criticising its president Gianni Infantino.

Burnham exchanged messages with person posing as Trump's chief of staff
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Downing Street has declined to comment on the security breach, first reported by Politico.

Parents pushed to breaking point by Child Maintenance Service, BBC told
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Mothers describe battles to make ex-partners pay, while fathers say they have been wrongly charged thousands.

Emotional farewell to 'global, iconic superstar' Bonnie Tyler
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Fans, friends and family travel to Swansea to pay tribute to Total Eclipse of the Heart singer.

Does Reform's plan to cut £50bn in welfare spending add up?
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

BBC Verify breaks down what the party says it wants to do to cut the benefits bill - and how realistic it is.

Jason Arday's family 'still coming to terms' with his death as vigil held
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Jason Arday's family spoke of the "public cruelty" the academic faced before his death last week.

Princess Eugenie announces name of baby daughter
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The couple's third child was born earlier this month at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, weighing 6lb 9oz.

Boy, seven, among four injured after crash in Ireland that killed five teenagers
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

A car in which the five teenagers were travelling in was going the wrong way down a motorway in County Kildare.

Kushner hails 'very good' meeting with Netanyahu after Hamas talks on Gaza peace plan
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Donald Trump's Middle East envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is seeking to gain Israeli backing for the US-backed Gaza peace plan.

Australia's Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson is appealing - here's what you need to know
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The Australian, who notoriously poisoned her family members, is trying to overturn her conviction.

Hayden Panettiere's life of struggles alongside screen success
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

She went from child actress to Hollywood star, but endured addiction, harassment and personal trauma.

In pictures: Hayden Panettiere's life and career, from child actor to Scream star
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

The former child star whose breakthrough came in 2006 later opened up about her struggles with mental health.

Watch all four gold medal triumphs from Amy Hunt's historic European Championships
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Relive Great Britain's Amy Hunt's "iconic" European Championships where the sprinter won four gold medals with victories in the women's 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x100m relay.

Drugs, violence and racism: A week in Glasgow city centre
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

A BBC investigation captures people openly dealing and taking drugs, as well as thefts, arrests, and violence.

How switching your bank account could earn you up to £220
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

New research suggests staying put is costing British savers billions in missed interest every year.

Instagram and Facebook could change forever if Meta loses child privacy trial
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

US states are suing the social media giant to force an overhaul of its platforms for young users.

Wildfire phone alert was 'entirely appropriate', government says
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

Millions of phones across England and Wales bleeped with a "severe alert" notification on Friday.

Rain on way for UK with temperatures to drop to overnight lows of 3C in some places
Posted on Monday August 17, 2026

After an exceptional summer of heatwaves and drought, the weather will turn wetter and cooler this week, as Simon King explains



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