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<p><meta charset="utf-8" />For Tereza Hussein, a 14-year-old refugee who lives in Darwin, Australia's planned social media ban would mean losing a direct line to the most important person to her: a grandmother she has never physically met.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"It's the only way I've ever connected to my grandma before, over socials," said Hussein, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but lived in a refugee camp in Malawi before settling in Australia when she was nine.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"It's going to have a very big change in my life because it's going to be hard for me to talk to the people that I've left behind," she said.</p>

<p>While Hussein rarely posts on social media, she uses Meta's&nbsp;Instagram and Snapchat primarily to view and discuss photos and videos from family and friends.</p>

<p>She represents what experts say is a blind spot in a plan by Australia's government to put an age minimum on social media in response to concerns about bullying, predatory grooming and physical and mental health.</p>

<p>For teenagers from migrant, LGBTQIA+ and other minority backgrounds, an age block could cut off access to essential social support.</p>

<p>Some 97% of Australian teenagers use social media across an average of four platforms, surveys show, making them among the world's most connected youth.</p>

<p>Nearly two-thirds of parents of Australian teenagers reported concerns about their children's social media use, according to a 2024 survey by youth service ReachOut.</p>

<p>Now the government wants to curb social media addiction by cutting the cord.</p>

<p dir="ltr">While the ban is yet to be legislated and at present lacks key details -- such as which ages and platforms it would affect -- the government's first step is to trial age verification.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Youth advocates, however, warn the ban will cut social connections for vulnerable youth and have instead called for tech platforms to better enforce safe interactions.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-american-billionaire-and-past-monk-investigated-for-tax-abuse-768017">Indian American billionaire and past monk, investigated for tax abuse</a></strong></p>

<p dir="ltr">"The ban is pretty much the opposite of what we would recommend," said Amelia Johns, an associate professor of digital media at University of Technology, Sydney, who studied migrant teens' social media use during COVID-19 lockdowns.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"Everyone is living on social media. For a lot of young people it's not an option to opt out, and I do wonder about the mental health consequences of a complete blanket ban."</p>

<p dir="ltr">So far, no country has rolled out an age-based ban targeting internet platforms. France and Britain have tested age verification but are yet to go live with a ban, while some U.S. states require age verification to access restricted content.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Australia plans to introduce legislation by the end of the year. While no lower age limit has been proposed, officials have suggested around 14 to 16.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"If I lost social media it would make me feel a lot more isolated," said Ben Kioko, a 14-year-old from Sydney who self-described as autistic and part of the LGBTQIA+ community.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"Since I struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, it would make those a lot worse than they already are and could really affect my life long-term," he added.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a key proponent of the ban.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"Parents want their kids off their phones and on the footy field, so do I," he said in September.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-presents-much-awaited-victory-plan-whats-in-it-invitation-to-join-nato-and-more-768022">Zelensky presents much-awaited 'victory plan': What's in it? Request to join NATO, and more</a></strong></p>

<p>A spokesperson for Albanese didn't respond to Reuters' request for comment</p>

<p>Justine Humphry, a media researcher at University of Sydney who has published an online safety programme, said while social media companies should better protect teenagers, an outright ban was based on "nostalgia" for a childhood without screens that she described as "fiction".</p>

<p>Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, declined to comment. It has said it supports protecting young users from harmful content and interactions but an age block should be the responsibility of smartphone makers.</p>

<p>The company upped privacy default settings for under-18 Instagram users this September and said those under 16 need parental approval to relax settings.</p>

<p>Alphabet (GOOGL.O), owner of YouTube, one of the most popular platforms for teenagers, declined to comment but said in a blog post it has features to give parents oversight of their children's use.</p>

<h2>'WORKAROUNDS'</h2>

<p dir="ltr">Elsewhere, no attempts to enforce age restrictions have succeeded partly due to access to virtual private networks (VPNs) that hide users' locations and personal information, experts said.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A report by former judge Robert French, commissioned by South Australia state to support its own separate plan for a teen social media ban, noted "there will undoubtedly be workarounds by knowledgeable child users".</p>

<p dir="ltr">A 2022 age verification trial in France, which wants social media restricted to 15 and above, found nearly half the country's teenagers could use VPNs, said Olivier Blazy, a computer scientist at Paris's Ecole Polytechnique who worked on the project.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/court-says-impeachment-proceedings-against-kenya-deputy-president-are-constitutional-768001">Court says impeachment proceedings against Kenya deputy president are constitutional</a></strong></p>

<p dir="ltr">Antonio Cesarano, product manager for Proton VPN, said customer numbers typically surged when restrictions were introduced.</p>

<p dir="ltr">In 2021, soon after YouTube started asking users for identification to view age-restricted content, a developer using the alias ZerodyOne posted software on open source website Github that helped users bypass the restrictions.</p>

<p dir="ltr">It has been downloaded about 2.5 million times, according to data shared by ZerodyOne, who gave only his first name, David.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Sydney high school student Enie Lam, 16, said she uses a VPN to bypass her school's wifi restrictions for school-assigned research like reading news articles online.</p>

<p dir="ltr">"I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I'm working on it," she said. "But a ban is not going to work."</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>


For Tereza Hussein, a 14-year-old refugee who lives in Darwin, Australia's planned social media ban would mean losing a direct line to the most important person to her: a grandmother she has never physically met.

For Tereza Hussein, a 14-year-old refugee who lives in Darwin, Australia's planned social media ban would mean losing a direct line to the most important person to her: a grandmother she has never physically met. "It's the only way I've ever connected to my grandma before, over socials," said Hussein, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but lived in a refugee camp in Malawi before settling in Australia when she was nine. "It's going to have a very big change in my life because it's going to be hard for me to talk to the people that I've left behind," she said. While Hussein rarely posts on social media, she uses Meta's Instagram and Snapchat primarily to view and discuss photos and videos from family and friends. She represents what experts say is a blind spot in a plan by Australia's government to put an age minimum on social media in response to concerns about bullying, predatory grooming and physical and mental health. For teenagers from migrant, LGBTQIA+ and other minority backgrounds, an age block could cut off access to essential social support. Some 97% of Australian teenagers use social media across an average of four platforms, surveys show, making them among the world's most connected youth. Nearly two-thirds of parents of Australian teenagers reported concerns about their children's social media use, according to a 2024 survey by youth service ReachOut. Now the government wants to curb social media addiction by cutting the cord. While the ban is yet to be legislated and at present lacks key details -- such as which ages and platforms it would affect -- the government's first step is to trial age verification. Youth advocates, however, warn the ban will cut social connections for vulnerable youth and have instead called for tech platforms to better enforce safe interactions. Also Read | Indian American billionaire and past monk, investigated for tax abuse "The ban is pretty much the opposite of what we would recommend," said Amelia Johns, an associate professor of digital media at University of Technology, Sydney, who studied migrant teens' social media use during COVID-19 lockdowns. "Everyone is living on social media. For a lot of young people it's not an option to opt out, and I do wonder about the mental health consequences of a complete blanket ban." So far, no country has rolled out an age-based ban targeting internet platforms. France and Britain have tested age verification but are yet to go live with a ban, while some U.S. states require age verification to access restricted content. Australia plans to introduce legislation by the end of the year. While no lower age limit has been proposed, officials have suggested around 14 to 16. "If I lost social media it would make me feel a lot more isolated," said Ben Kioko, a 14-year-old from Sydney who self-described as autistic and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. "Since I struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, it would make those a lot worse than they already are and could really affect my life long-term," he added. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a key proponent of the ban. "Parents want their kids off their phones and on the footy field, so do I," he said in September. Also Read | Zelensky presents much-awaited 'victory plan': What's in it? Request to join NATO, and more A spokesperson for Albanese didn't respond to Reuters' request for comment Justine Humphry, a media researcher at University of Sydney who has published an online safety programme, said while social media companies should better protect teenagers, an outright ban was based on "nostalgia" for a childhood without screens that she described as "fiction". Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, declined to comment. It has said it supports protecting young users from harmful content and interactions but an age block should be the responsibility of smartphone makers. The company upped privacy default settings for under-18 Instagram users this September and said those under 16 need parental approval to relax settings. Alphabet (GOOGL.O), owner of YouTube, one of the most popular platforms for teenagers, declined to comment but said in a blog post it has features to give parents oversight of their children's use. 'WORKAROUNDS' Elsewhere, no attempts to enforce age restrictions have succeeded partly due to access to virtual private networks (VPNs) that hide users' locations and personal information, experts said. A report by former judge Robert French, commissioned by South Australia state to support its own separate plan for a teen social media ban, noted "there will undoubtedly be workarounds by knowledgeable child users". A 2022 age verification trial in France, which wants social media restricted to 15 and above, found nearly half the country's teenagers could use VPNs, said Olivier Blazy, a computer scientist at Paris's Ecole Polytechnique who worked on the project. Also Read | Court says impeachment proceedings against Kenya deputy president are constitutional Antonio Cesarano, product manager for Proton VPN, said customer numbers typically surged when restrictions were introduced. In 2021, soon after YouTube started asking users for identification to view age-restricted content, a developer using the alias ZerodyOne posted software on open source website Github that helped users bypass the restrictions. It has been downloaded about 2.5 million times, according to data shared by ZerodyOne, who gave only his first name, David. Sydney high school student Enie Lam, 16, said she uses a VPN to bypass her school's wifi restrictions for school-assigned research like reading news articles online. "I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I'm working on it," she said. "But a ban is not going to work." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Will Australia ban social media for teens? Fears rise of move isolating them

<p>After some beach closures and tense hours over hundreds of black balls washing up on Australian sea shores, the mystery appears to have been solved.</p>

<p>Earlier reported to be the result of a possible oil spill in the ocean or even speculated as dinosaur eggs, the black objects have now been identified as tar balls, reports said on Wednesday (Oct 16).</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Oil spill in Trinidad &amp; Tobago; 10 miles of coastline affected due to oil spillage</strong></p>

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<p>A tar ball is a hardened blob of petroleum. It can form naturally or as a result of oil spills and after floating in the waters for long periods of time. They are considered a pollutant.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-singapore-intensifies-clean-up-as-rare-oil-spill-prompts-closure-of-public-beach-732295/singapore-intensifies-clean-up-efforts-after-rare-oil-spill-732292"><strong>Also read: In pics | Singapore intensifies clean up as rare oil spill prompts closure of public beach</strong></a></p>

<p>Local news channel 9 News reported that Randwick City Council determined after tests that the objects were tar balls.</p>

<p>The council said preliminary test results from samples collected on Tuesday showed the balls were a hydrocarbon-based pollutant consistent with the makeup of tar balls, as was suspected, News.co.au said in an update.</p>

<p>Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said council staff were working to remove the balls from the beaches.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-gaemi-causes-ship-sinkings-and-major-oil-spill-risk-in-manila-bay-744126"><strong>Also read: Typhoon Gaemi: Oil tanker and cargo ship sink, huge oil spill risk in Manila Bay</strong></a><br />
<br />
"Our community is rightfully very protective of our natural environment and this has been a very concerning incident," 9 News&nbsp;quoted Parker as saying.</p>

<p>Since Tuesday when the balls were first noticed by lifeguards in Sydney's iconic Coogee beach, authorities had closed access to it, as well as the nearby Gordons Bay beach. Both beaches remained closed as of&nbsp;Wednesday evening.</p>

<p>Cleaning crews are at work to clear the debris.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


After some beach closures and tense hours over hundreds of black balls washing up on Australian sea shores, the mystery appears to have been solved. Earlier reported to be the result of a possible oil spill in the ocean or even speculated as dinosaur eggs, the black objects have now been identified as tar balls, reports said on Wednesday (Oct 16).

After some beach closures and tense hours over hundreds of black balls washing up on Australian sea shores, the mystery appears to have been solved. Earlier reported to be the result of a possible oil spill in the ocean or even speculated as dinosaur eggs, the black objects have now been identified as tar balls, reports said on Wednesday (Oct 16). Watch: Oil spill in Trinidad & Tobago; 10 miles of coastline affected due to oil spillage × A tar ball is a hardened blob of petroleum. It can form naturally or as a result of oil spills and after floating in the waters for long periods of time. They are considered a pollutant. Also read: In pics | Singapore intensifies clean up as rare oil spill prompts closure of public beach Local news channel 9 News reported that Randwick City Council determined after tests that the objects were tar balls. The council said preliminary test results from samples collected on Tuesday showed the balls were a hydrocarbon-based pollutant consistent with the makeup of tar balls, as was suspected, News.co.au said in an update. Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said council staff were working to remove the balls from the beaches. Also read: Typhoon Gaemi: Oil tanker and cargo ship sink, huge oil spill risk in Manila Bay "Our community is rightfully very protective of our natural environment and this has been a very concerning incident," 9 News quoted Parker as saying. Since Tuesday when the balls were first noticed by lifeguards in Sydney's iconic Coogee beach, authorities had closed access to it, as well as the nearby Gordons Bay beach. Both beaches remained closed as of Wednesday evening. Cleaning crews are at work to clear the debris. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia solves mystery of black balls washing up after two Sydney beaches closed. Here is what they are

Things are looking down for Australia's prime minister. A poll has revealed that popularity ratings of Anthony Albanese has hit a new low. A fresh poll reveals that Albanese faces the lowest approval ratings since he became prime minister. Watch in for more details!

Australian PM Anthony Albanese's Approval Rating Hits A New Low

Australia has introduced a new 'Work and Holiday' visa program for Indian nationals, aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries and promoting cultural exchange. The program allows eligible young Indians to travel to Australia for up to one year, where they can work and holiday, providing opportunities for employment, tourism, and education. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance people-to-people connections and support the growing demand for skilled workers in Australia. The program also reflects Australia's commitment to fostering stronger bilateral relations with India.

Australia Working Holiday Maker Visa 2024: Over 40,000 Indian Applicants In 2 Week

Australia's conservative opposition coalition has pulled ahead of the Labour government for the first time since the May 2022 election, while ratings of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fell to the lowest levels. Watch for more details!

Australian PM Anthony Albanese's Approval Rating Hits a New Low

Australia Launches 'Work and Holiday' Visa Program For Indians

A fresh controversy has erupted over official gifts received by UK's royal family, concerns have been raised about transparency and accountability in the monarchy of allegations that they have not revealed their official gifts from the past four years.

Buckingham Palace Asked To Disclose Gifts

The visit of King Charles and queen Camila to Australia later this month is being very keenly watched for more reasons than one. Now besides being a key international trip after his cancer diagnosis his reaction to the question of the fate of the monarchy in Australia is also gaining a lot of interest.

Future Of Monarchy In Australia

King's Reply To Republican Campaigners

<p>King Charles said that he would not stand in the way if Australia wished to become a republic and replace him as the country's head of state, according to media reports on Saturday (Oct 12).&nbsp;</p>

<p>King’s assistant private secretary Nathan Ross told the anti-monarchists:&nbsp;"His majesty, as a constitutional monarch, acts on the advice of his ministers and whether Australia becomes a republic is, therefore, a matter for the Australian public to decide.”</p>

<p>Ahead of King's visit later this month, he is said to be adopting an "anti-confrontational approach" to Australian republican campaigners, the Daily Mail reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response to the Australian Republican Movement’s (ARM) request for a meeting with the monarch, the king’s assistant private secretary is understood to have emphasised his “deep love and affection” for Australia.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-king-charles-and-kate-middleton-received-nearly-30-000-messages-post-their-cancer-diagnosis-news-743850"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;King Charles and Kate Middleton received nearly 30,000 messages post their cancer diagnosis news</strong></a></p>

<p>The ARM said it is "the peak body advocating on behalf of the Australian people for an Australian republic with an Australian as our head of state”.</p>

<p>In 1999, Australia held a referendum on the issue of becoming a republic, in which 54.9 per cent voted against it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said, "Australia should have an Australian as our head of state”, but recently indicated that a second referendum was not a priority.</p>

<p>A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, "Like his mother before him, it has always been the case that his majesty the King feels that it is a matter for the Australian people.”</p>

<p>Graham Smith, the head of the British campaign group Republic is in Australia to protest against the monarchy during King Charles' visit. He said the main reaction to his trip had been one of "indifference and disinterest".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’ve been in Australia talking to friends, campaigners and others for the past two weeks. Most people are barely aware of the visit and couldn’t care less. I’m here to promote the UK campaign, to question how Charles can represent us and why he is making this very brief visit at great expense to Australian and British taxpayers," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I’m also here to say to Australians this isn’t an institution that deserves respect or deference, and that they shouldn’t believe for a moment that the UK is a nation of royalists. I’m hoping the visit will help influence the debate in both countries and highlight the irrelevance of the monarchy," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


King Charles said that he would not stand in the way if Australia wished to become a republic and replace him as the country's head of state, according to media reports on Saturday (Oct 12).

King Charles said that he would not stand in the way if Australia wished to become a republic and replace him as the country's head of state, according to media reports on Saturday (Oct 12). King’s assistant private secretary Nathan Ross told the anti-monarchists: "His majesty, as a constitutional monarch, acts on the advice of his ministers and whether Australia becomes a republic is, therefore, a matter for the Australian public to decide.” Ahead of King's visit later this month, he is said to be adopting an "anti-confrontational approach" to Australian republican campaigners, the Daily Mail reported. In response to the Australian Republican Movement’s (ARM) request for a meeting with the monarch, the king’s assistant private secretary is understood to have emphasised his “deep love and affection” for Australia. Also read: King Charles and Kate Middleton received nearly 30,000 messages post their cancer diagnosis news The ARM said it is "the peak body advocating on behalf of the Australian people for an Australian republic with an Australian as our head of state”. In 1999, Australia held a referendum on the issue of becoming a republic, in which 54.9 per cent voted against it. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said, "Australia should have an Australian as our head of state”, but recently indicated that a second referendum was not a priority. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, "Like his mother before him, it has always been the case that his majesty the King feels that it is a matter for the Australian people.” Graham Smith, the head of the British campaign group Republic is in Australia to protest against the monarchy during King Charles' visit. He said the main reaction to his trip had been one of "indifference and disinterest". “I’ve been in Australia talking to friends, campaigners and others for the past two weeks. Most people are barely aware of the visit and couldn’t care less. I’m here to promote the UK campaign, to question how Charles can represent us and why he is making this very brief visit at great expense to Australian and British taxpayers," he said. "I’m also here to say to Australians this isn’t an institution that deserves respect or deference, and that they shouldn’t believe for a moment that the UK is a nation of royalists. I’m hoping the visit will help influence the debate in both countries and highlight the irrelevance of the monarchy," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

'Won't stand in the way': King Charles on Australia becoming a republic nation

<p>A 34-year-old&nbsp;woman in Australia is fighting for her life&nbsp;after a brutal attack by her dog in North Queensland. The dog bit her arm off during the attack inside a house in the coastal city of Townsville. The emergency services were reportedly called around 7:00 am (local time) on Friday (Oct 11).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woman had sustained 'life-threatening' injuries as her right arm below the elbow had been severely injured. However, the detached part was retrieved by the paramedics before she was rushed to a local hospital. The woman is said to be in a serious but stable condition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police had arrived to find the woman bleeding heavily outside the house, and the dog was believed to be a pit bull, said&nbsp;Senior Sgt Scott Warrick during a press conference.&nbsp;He said, "It was very angry, very aggressive... [it] was still trying to get outside."</p>

<p>After arriving at the scene, some officers barricaded the house while others applied a temporary bandage to the woman’s arm to stop bleeding until paramedics arrived.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-milton-florida-clearing-debris-as-monster-storm-passes-over-12-dead-766484">Hurricane Milton: Florida ‘clearing debris’ as monster storm passes over, 16 dead</a></strong></p>

<p>Sgt Warrick said, "I've been a police officer for 37 years... this is the first time I've gone to such a serious injury as a result of a dog attack. He added, "The injuries to this lady are just absolutely awful and we wish her a speedy recovery.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also stated that the dog was euthanised on the advice of animal control officers.</p>

<p>"I have dogs, and to see an outcome like this is absolutely heartbreaking, and we do understand people will be upset... but we were left with no other choice," said&nbsp; Sgt Warrick.&nbsp;A second small dog was found injured at the scene and is being cared for by the RSPCA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two neighbours told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News)&nbsp;that the dog involved in the incident was known for being aggressive and also mentioned that it had attacked him before.</p>

<p>Sgt Warrick said that police may have been contacted for the dog before, but currently, they are looking into the specifics.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A 34-year-old woman in Australia is fighting for her life after a brutal attack by her dog in North Queensland. The dog bit her arm off during the attack inside a house in the coastal city of Townsville.

A 34-year-old woman in Australia is fighting for her life after a brutal attack by her dog in North Queensland. The dog bit her arm off during the attack inside a house in the coastal city of Townsville. The emergency services were reportedly called around 7:00 am (local time) on Friday (Oct 11). The woman had sustained 'life-threatening' injuries as her right arm below the elbow had been severely injured. However, the detached part was retrieved by the paramedics before she was rushed to a local hospital. The woman is said to be in a serious but stable condition. The police had arrived to find the woman bleeding heavily outside the house, and the dog was believed to be a pit bull, said Senior Sgt Scott Warrick during a press conference. He said, "It was very angry, very aggressive... [it] was still trying to get outside." After arriving at the scene, some officers barricaded the house while others applied a temporary bandage to the woman’s arm to stop bleeding until paramedics arrived. Also Read | Hurricane Milton: Florida ‘clearing debris’ as monster storm passes over, 16 dead Sgt Warrick said, "I've been a police officer for 37 years... this is the first time I've gone to such a serious injury as a result of a dog attack. He added, "The injuries to this lady are just absolutely awful and we wish her a speedy recovery.” He also stated that the dog was euthanised on the advice of animal control officers. "I have dogs, and to see an outcome like this is absolutely heartbreaking, and we do understand people will be upset... but we were left with no other choice," said Sgt Warrick. A second small dog was found injured at the scene and is being cared for by the RSPCA. Two neighbours told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News) that the dog involved in the incident was known for being aggressive and also mentioned that it had attacked him before. Sgt Warrick said that police may have been contacted for the dog before, but currently, they are looking into the specifics. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia: Woman loses her arm, sustains 'life-threatening' injuries after brutal dog attack

<p>The story of a Sri Lankan worker, who migrated to Australia less than a decade ago and has become a millionaire now, has taken the internet by storm. At the age of 25, Vinul Karunaratne has made enough money to quit and shift full-time to doing gig jobs.</p>

<p>Karunaratne moved to Australia in 2015 and started working at 7-Eleven stores. But in 2019, he started taking on end-of-lease cleaning jobs on Airtasker. It’s a Sydney-based online marketplace that enables people to outsource everyday tasks - such as cleaning, assembling furniture, or yard work - for others to complete in exchange for cash.</p>

<p>Karunaratne told local news channel 7News that he didn’t have much resources and equipment when he started. “When I started, I didn't even have much equipment. I had a vacuum, mop, bucket, and some rags,” he said, adding, “That was the stuff I had at home.”</p>

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<p>His hard work eventually paid off and he was soon able to ditch his job at 7-Eleven to shift full-time to Airtasker.</p>

<p>According to the platform, Karunaratne is one of the top 10 earners on Airtasker. He manages to pocket an impressive $1,000 to $1,400 everyday. Dailymail reported that Karunaratne mainly performs bond cleans but also steams carpets and cleans offices.</p>

<p>Tim Fung, Airtasker founder and CEO said, referring to Karunaratne’s success on the platform&nbsp;that anyone can earn extra cash by working hard. Fung also termed Karunaratne’s story as ‘inspirational.’ Fung hoped that more work will be available on his platform in the coming days.</p>

<p><strong>Also read :&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiBnd7myf6IAxU_cfUHHUVlGPM4ChDF9AEoAHoECAsQAQ" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-doubles-foreign-student-visa-fee-to-curb-migration-indian-students-likely-to-be-hit-736799" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-doubles-foreign-student-visa-fee-to-curb-migration-indian-students-likely-to-be-hit-736799&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiBnd7myf6IAxU_cfUHHUVlGPM4ChDF9AEoAHoECAsQAQ">Australia doubles foreign student visa fee to curb migration, Indian students likely to be hit</a></strong></p>

<p>Karunaratne also shared his experience of working with the platform, saying it enabled him to be his ‘own boss.’</p>

<p>“It's physical work, but it's good money. I enjoy the flexibility and working on my own terms. I'm my own boss,” he was quoted as saying by the Australian media outlet.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The story of a Sri Lankan worker, who migrated to Australia less than a decade ago and has become a millionaire now, has taken the internet by storm. At the age of 25, Vinul Karunaratne has made enough money to quit and shift full-time to doing gig jobs.

The story of a Sri Lankan worker, who migrated to Australia less than a decade ago and has become a millionaire now, has taken the internet by storm. At the age of 25, Vinul Karunaratne has made enough money to quit and shift full-time to doing gig jobs. Karunaratne moved to Australia in 2015 and started working at 7-Eleven stores. But in 2019, he started taking on end-of-lease cleaning jobs on Airtasker. It’s a Sydney-based online marketplace that enables people to outsource everyday tasks - such as cleaning, assembling furniture, or yard work - for others to complete in exchange for cash. Karunaratne told local news channel 7News that he didn’t have much resources and equipment when he started. “When I started, I didn't even have much equipment. I had a vacuum, mop, bucket, and some rags,” he said, adding, “That was the stuff I had at home.” Also read: JPMorgan takes stake in Australia's financially struggling Star Entertainment His hard work eventually paid off and he was soon able to ditch his job at 7-Eleven to shift full-time to Airtasker. According to the platform, Karunaratne is one of the top 10 earners on Airtasker. He manages to pocket an impressive $1,000 to $1,400 everyday. Dailymail reported that Karunaratne mainly performs bond cleans but also steams carpets and cleans offices. Tim Fung, Airtasker founder and CEO said, referring to Karunaratne’s success on the platform that anyone can earn extra cash by working hard. Fung also termed Karunaratne’s story as ‘inspirational.’ Fung hoped that more work will be available on his platform in the coming days. Also read : Australia doubles foreign student visa fee to curb migration, Indian students likely to be hit Karunaratne also shared his experience of working with the platform, saying it enabled him to be his ‘own boss.’ “It's physical work, but it's good money. I enjoy the flexibility and working on my own terms. I'm my own boss,” he was quoted as saying by the Australian media outlet. (With inputs from agencies)

‘From rags to riches,’ Sri Lankan worker becomes millionaire doing cleaning jobs in Australia

Dating apps have simplified the search for partners, but they aren't always a safe bet. These platforms can sometimes lead to harmful experiences for those seeking genuine connections. Australia has introduced a new code of conduct for these platforms to prioritise safety for all users. Watch this story to know more.

Australia Introduces New Safety Standards For Dating Apps

After studies revealed that three out of four Australians experience some kind of sexual abuse on dating sites, the government of Australia announced that a code of conduct will be imposed on the business to better safeguard Australian users.

Australia's Online Dating Industry Adopts New Code of Conduct

<p>Australia's central bank has warned borrowers not to take on too much debt when interest rates start coming down and risk a boom/bust cycle, though it judged the financial system remained resilient overall.</p>

<p>In its semi-annual Financial Stability Review, the Reserve Bank of Australia again pointed out the resilience of households, businesses and banks despite decade-high interest rates and painful inflation.</p>

<p>A small but growing share of mortgage holders were starting to fall behind on payments, and an increasing number were making the difficult decision to sell their homes to avoid default.</p>

<p>Still, the share of borrowers in severe financial stress remains small at less than 2 per cent, the RBA said. Of those loans in arrears, 0.5 per cent were also in negative equity.</p>

<p>The RBA expects household budget pressures to ease once interest rates start to fall but also sees dangers in that.</p>

<p>"Domestic vulnerabilities could increase if households respond to any easing in financial conditions by taking on excessive debt," said the RBA in a 45-page review, warning that the risk could be magnified if lending standards drop.</p>

<p>It concluded that, under a wide range of scenarios, most borrowers will be able to service their debt, and by selling their properties to repay their loans and avoid default, the risk to the financial system is limited.</p>

<p>The central bank has kept rates steady since November, deeming a cash rate of 4.35 per cent - up from a record-low 0.1 per cent during the pandemic - restrictive enough to bring inflation within the target band of 2-3 per cent while preserving employment gains.</p>

<p>Policymakers have ruled out a near-term cut in interest rates as they wait for inflation to cool further.</p>


Australia's central bank has warned borrowers not to take on too much debt when interest rates start coming down and risk a boom/bust cycle, though it judged the financial system remained resilient overall.

Australia's central bank has warned borrowers not to take on too much debt when interest rates start coming down and risk a boom/bust cycle, though it judged the financial system remained resilient overall. In its semi-annual Financial Stability Review, the Reserve Bank of Australia again pointed out the resilience of households, businesses and banks despite decade-high interest rates and painful inflation. A small but growing share of mortgage holders were starting to fall behind on payments, and an increasing number were making the difficult decision to sell their homes to avoid default. Still, the share of borrowers in severe financial stress remains small at less than 2 per cent, the RBA said. Of those loans in arrears, 0.5 per cent were also in negative equity. The RBA expects household budget pressures to ease once interest rates start to fall but also sees dangers in that. "Domestic vulnerabilities could increase if households respond to any easing in financial conditions by taking on excessive debt," said the RBA in a 45-page review, warning that the risk could be magnified if lending standards drop. It concluded that, under a wide range of scenarios, most borrowers will be able to service their debt, and by selling their properties to repay their loans and avoid default, the risk to the financial system is limited. The central bank has kept rates steady since November, deeming a cash rate of 4.35 per cent - up from a record-low 0.1 per cent during the pandemic - restrictive enough to bring inflation within the target band of 2-3 per cent while preserving employment gains. Policymakers have ruled out a near-term cut in interest rates as they wait for inflation to cool further.

Australia's central bank cautions households against over-borrowing when interest rates decline

Chocolate-brown and fluffy, Pesto is a 9-month-old king penguin that weighs 52 pounds, more than twice the combined weight of his parents. He is also the largest chick Sea Life Melbourne has ever seen, and that has gained him a global fan base, said Michaela Smale, who has been caring for Pesto since he hatched.

Giant Baby Penguin Pesto Breaks Social Media

<p>Consumer price inflation in Australia softened to a three-year low in August due to government subsidies for electricity prices, while core inflation touched its lowest since early 2022 in the welcome progress that could ultimately open the door to rate cuts.</p>

<p>The market reaction was muted, though, as the central bank has already said it's going to look through the headline inflation decline, which is transient and insufficient to warrant near-term cuts.</p>

<p>The Australian dollar still came off its 1-1/2-year high and was last flat at $0.6891, while three-year bond futures were little changed at 96.63.</p>

<p>Swaps imply a 75 per cent chance the Reserve Bank of Australia will be able to begin cutting rates in December after it held policy steady and didn't discuss the option to hike yesterday.</p>

<p>Australia Bureau of Statistics data on Wednesday showed that its monthly consumer price index rose to an annual pace of 2.7 per cent for August from 3.5 per cent for July, within the forecast of markets.</p>

<p>That is owing to electricity subsidies from the federal and state governments, which lowered prices by almost 15 per cent for August, said the ABS. Otherwise, they would have risen 0.1 per cent.</p>

<p>Petrol prices also eased 3.1 per cent in the month.</p>

<p>More encouragingly, when volatile items and holiday travel were stripped out, the CPI retreated to 3 per cent, within the target band of 2-3 per cent, from July's 3.7 per cent.</p>

<p>Another closely watched measure of core inflation-the trimmed mean-also slowed to an annual 3.4 per cent, from 3.8 per cent in July. The RBA expects it to be at 3.5 per cent by the end of the year.</p>

<p>"What really matters - and as the RBA keeps reminding us - is the sustainable return of underlying inflation to target. That’s still a little way off, but August’s print shows momentum is moving in the right direction," said Harry Murphy Cruise, economist at Moody’s Analytics.</p>

<p>"We’re still of the view that rate cuts won’t come until February, but the risk of it being any later than that is diminishing."</p>

<p>The RBA has maintained rates unchanged since November, deciding that the cash rate of 4.35 per cent, rising from pandemic lows of 0.1 per cent, is enough to nudge inflation into its target band of 2-3 per cent without sacrificing its hard-won gains in jobs.</p>

<p>However, underlying inflation - which was running last quarter at 3.9 per cent - has only fallen a little over the past year, one reason why policymakers were not so confident that inflation is moving toward the target range.</p>

<p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday that those inflation numbers are "heartening," "encouraging," and "welcome," providing a number of measures, including the underlying inflation, that have come off.</p>

<p>"But we're not getting carried away because we know that monthly numbers can be volatile. We know that inflation doesn't always moderate in a straight line," Chalmers told a press conference in Brisbane.</p>

<p>The monthly report also provided the first update on many services for the quarter, with services inflation standing at 4.2 per cent in August from a year ago, slowing only a little from July's 4.4 per cent.</p>

<p>"Providing the falls in underlying inflation noted today are replicated in the all-important Q3 inflation numbers, it sets up a dovish pivot from the RBA at its meeting on November 5th before a first-rate 25bp rate cut in December," said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG.</p>


Consumer price inflation in Australia softened to a three-year low in August due to government subsidies for electricity prices, while core inflation touched its lowest since early 2022 in the welcome progress that could ultimately open the door to rate cuts.

Consumer price inflation in Australia softened to a three-year low in August due to government subsidies for electricity prices, while core inflation touched its lowest since early 2022 in the welcome progress that could ultimately open the door to rate cuts. The market reaction was muted, though, as the central bank has already said it's going to look through the headline inflation decline, which is transient and insufficient to warrant near-term cuts. The Australian dollar still came off its 1-1/2-year high and was last flat at $0.6891, while three-year bond futures were little changed at 96.63. Swaps imply a 75 per cent chance the Reserve Bank of Australia will be able to begin cutting rates in December after it held policy steady and didn't discuss the option to hike yesterday. Australia Bureau of Statistics data on Wednesday showed that its monthly consumer price index rose to an annual pace of 2.7 per cent for August from 3.5 per cent for July, within the forecast of markets. That is owing to electricity subsidies from the federal and state governments, which lowered prices by almost 15 per cent for August, said the ABS. Otherwise, they would have risen 0.1 per cent. Petrol prices also eased 3.1 per cent in the month. More encouragingly, when volatile items and holiday travel were stripped out, the CPI retreated to 3 per cent, within the target band of 2-3 per cent, from July's 3.7 per cent. Another closely watched measure of core inflation-the trimmed mean-also slowed to an annual 3.4 per cent, from 3.8 per cent in July. The RBA expects it to be at 3.5 per cent by the end of the year. "What really matters - and as the RBA keeps reminding us - is the sustainable return of underlying inflation to target. That’s still a little way off, but August’s print shows momentum is moving in the right direction," said Harry Murphy Cruise, economist at Moody’s Analytics. "We’re still of the view that rate cuts won’t come until February, but the risk of it being any later than that is diminishing." The RBA has maintained rates unchanged since November, deciding that the cash rate of 4.35 per cent, rising from pandemic lows of 0.1 per cent, is enough to nudge inflation into its target band of 2-3 per cent without sacrificing its hard-won gains in jobs. However, underlying inflation - which was running last quarter at 3.9 per cent - has only fallen a little over the past year, one reason why policymakers were not so confident that inflation is moving toward the target range. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday that those inflation numbers are "heartening," "encouraging," and "welcome," providing a number of measures, including the underlying inflation, that have come off. "But we're not getting carried away because we know that monthly numbers can be volatile. We know that inflation doesn't always moderate in a straight line," Chalmers told a press conference in Brisbane. The monthly report also provided the first update on many services for the quarter, with services inflation standing at 4.2 per cent in August from a year ago, slowing only a little from July's 4.4 per cent. "Providing the falls in underlying inflation noted today are replicated in the all-important Q3 inflation numbers, it sets up a dovish pivot from the RBA at its meeting on November 5th before a first-rate 25bp rate cut in December," said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG.

Australia's inflation eases to 3-year low in August, core inflation also declines

Australia has expressed admiration for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission and announced its commitment to support the recovery efforts for India's Gaganyaan capsule. This collaboration highlights the growing international partnerships in space exploration, as Australia seeks to contribute to India's ambitious human spaceflight program. The support underscores a shared interest in advancing space technology and enhancing capabilities in the field.

Australia 'Inspired' By ISRO's Gaganyaan, To Support Recovery Of India's Gaganyaan Capsule

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, known as the ACCC, has filed significant lawsuits against the nation’s largest supermarket chains, Woolworths and Coles. The regulator alleges that these companies misled consumers by keeping prices stable for extended periods, before increasing them just before advertising discounts.

Australia Files Lawsuits Against Woolworths & Coles

<p>Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he's hopeful the next data on hand will show encouraging progress in the fight against inflation but is less certain whether or not the central bank would be ready to cut interest rates this week, according to a report by a Bloomberg.</p>

<p>Inflation will slow to 2.7 per cent in August from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of economists ahead of the Wednesday data release.</p>

<p>“Whether it’s in the low threes or in the high twos, what it will show is that inflation in monthly terms is around half what we inherited a couple of years ago when we came to office,” Chalmers told Sky News Australia Sunday. “That would be welcome and encouraging progress. We are broadly on the right path.”</p>

<p>All 31 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predict the cash rate target will be kept at 4.35 per cent. Earlier this month, Governor Michele Bullock said the policy needs to stay "sufficiently restrictive" until CPI moves sustainably toward its 2-3 per cent target.</p>

<p>Independent decisions are taken by the central bank keeping a wide spectrum of factors in view, Chalmers said.</p>

<p>“The quarterly inflation number is usually the one they focus on a bit more substantially than the more volatile and more unpredictable monthly number,” he said. “They look at the unemployment figures. They look at broader growth in the economy and some of the other data around consumption. And they’ll weigh all of that up.”</p>

<p>Chalmers said the government's action is to slow inflation with consecutive budget surpluses. He added that the confirmed budget balance for the year 2023-24 is likely to be announced on Sept. 30 and reiterated it will show a surplus much larger than A$9 billion ($6.1 billion) announced in May.</p>

<p>“That’s because of our spending restraint and our responsible economic management,” he said. “The Reserve Bank governor has said that those two surpluses that we’ve now delivered are helping in that fight against inflation.”</p>


Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he's hopeful the next data on hand will show encouraging progress in the fight against inflation but is less certain whether or not the central bank would be ready to cut interest rates this week, according to a report by a Bloomberg.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he's hopeful the next data on hand will show encouraging progress in the fight against inflation but is less certain whether or not the central bank would be ready to cut interest rates this week, according to a report by a Bloomberg. Inflation will slow to 2.7 per cent in August from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of economists ahead of the Wednesday data release. “Whether it’s in the low threes or in the high twos, what it will show is that inflation in monthly terms is around half what we inherited a couple of years ago when we came to office,” Chalmers told Sky News Australia Sunday. “That would be welcome and encouraging progress. We are broadly on the right path.” All 31 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predict the cash rate target will be kept at 4.35 per cent. Earlier this month, Governor Michele Bullock said the policy needs to stay "sufficiently restrictive" until CPI moves sustainably toward its 2-3 per cent target. Independent decisions are taken by the central bank keeping a wide spectrum of factors in view, Chalmers said. “The quarterly inflation number is usually the one they focus on a bit more substantially than the more volatile and more unpredictable monthly number,” he said. “They look at the unemployment figures. They look at broader growth in the economy and some of the other data around consumption. And they’ll weigh all of that up.” Chalmers said the government's action is to slow inflation with consecutive budget surpluses. He added that the confirmed budget balance for the year 2023-24 is likely to be announced on Sept. 30 and reiterated it will show a surplus much larger than A$9 billion ($6.1 billion) announced in May. “That’s because of our spending restraint and our responsible economic management,” he said. “The Reserve Bank governor has said that those two surpluses that we’ve now delivered are helping in that fight against inflation.”

Australian treasurer anticipates progress in combating inflation

<p>Australia expects to wrap up an agreement with the United States over critical minerals before the end of the year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday, according to a report by Bloomberg.</p>

<p>Critical minerals and their supply chain will become vital to global growth from here onward, Albanese said, addressing reporters in Philadelphia on Friday after a meeting with US President Joe Biden.</p>

<p>“As we move forward and we look at the drivers of global growth in this century, Australia has the entire periodic table basically of what will be needed,” he said. “That presents an opportunity not just to get access to those resources, but how value is added to it and the supply chain issues that are related to that.”</p>

<p>He and Biden “had a really good discussion about progressing that and we are hopeful that that will be finalised by the end of this year,” Albanese said.</p>

<p>Over a year ago, the two nations started discussing the Australia-US Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact. The collaboration seeks to ensure a stable and sustainable supply of a range of rare earth minerals used in high technology at a time when China dominates the market and controls about 70 per cent of global output.</p>

<p>Albanese said he and Biden discussed how they can cooperate in developing critical minerals and also “the potential that’s there as well for further work to involve other nations like Canada and other like-minded countries to achieve our objectives.”</p>

<p>Albanese was speaking ahead of a meeting with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which also includes India and Japan. His comments were reported by ABC News.</p>


Australia expects to wrap up an agreement with the United States over critical minerals before the end of the year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Australia expects to wrap up an agreement with the United States over critical minerals before the end of the year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday, according to a report by Bloomberg. Critical minerals and their supply chain will become vital to global growth from here onward, Albanese said, addressing reporters in Philadelphia on Friday after a meeting with US President Joe Biden. “As we move forward and we look at the drivers of global growth in this century, Australia has the entire periodic table basically of what will be needed,” he said. “That presents an opportunity not just to get access to those resources, but how value is added to it and the supply chain issues that are related to that.” He and Biden “had a really good discussion about progressing that and we are hopeful that that will be finalised by the end of this year,” Albanese said. Over a year ago, the two nations started discussing the Australia-US Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact. The collaboration seeks to ensure a stable and sustainable supply of a range of rare earth minerals used in high technology at a time when China dominates the market and controls about 70 per cent of global output. Albanese said he and Biden discussed how they can cooperate in developing critical minerals and also “the potential that’s there as well for further work to involve other nations like Canada and other like-minded countries to achieve our objectives.” Albanese was speaking ahead of a meeting with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which also includes India and Japan. His comments were reported by ABC News.

Australia aims to finalise critical minerals agreement with US this year

Australia's weather bureau have found that conditions in the pacific ocean have become more la Nina-like in recent weeks, but if the weather pattern does form, it is likely to be weak and short-lived.

Australia Declares La Nina-like Conditions, Impacts Climate

Australian police announced on Wednesday that they have infiltrated Ghost, an encrypted global communications app designed for criminals, resulting in dozens of arrests. The app’s alleged administrator, 32-year-old Jay Je Yoon Jung, appeared in a Sydney court facing charges of supporting a criminal organization and profiting from the proceeds of crime.

Australian Police Infiltrate Encrypted App 'Ghost' Leading To Dozens Of Arrests

<p>A mother has been charged for allegedly&nbsp;murdering her two sons at their Blue Mountains home, located in Australia’s New South Wales.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 42-year-old woman made a brief court appearance where she was remanded in custody.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mother, Patricia Smith, faced Parramatta Local Court on Saturday (Sep 14) morning, after being charged last night with two counts of domestic violence-related murder.</p>

<p>Reportedly, Smith stabbed her 11-year-old and nine-year-old sons. The police charged her with two counts of domestic violence-related murder after their bodies were found at their Faulconbridge home on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Later, emergency services were called to the house for welfare concerns, for the woman and her children.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-in-germany-kills-himself-two-others-police-740793"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Man in Germany kills himself, two others: Police</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the New South Wales police, the mother was also found at the scene with stab wounds and was taken to hospital in a critical but stable condition. On Friday, she was released from the hospital and taken to Parramatta police station, where she was charged.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Family members 'really hurt'</strong></h2>

<p>Following the brief hearing on Saturday morning, the woman's lawyer said family members were "really hurting".</p>

<p>“Parents, grandparents and the like, and we’d ask that everyone respect that privacy because, as I said, right from emergency services who had to attend the scene ... there’d be a lot of people out there that have been subjected to this,” he told reporters outside court.</p>

<h2><strong>Father asks for 'privacy'</strong></h2>

<p>The father of the boys does not live at the Blue Mountains home, expressed disbelief at the incident, and&nbsp;asked for privacy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The loss of our two beautiful boys has caused unimaginable pain and distress,” he said in a statement.</p>

<p>“[My sons] were happy, funny, outgoing boys and were very much loved by their family and friends," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Mother accused of killing her 4-year-old son</strong></p>

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<p>Magistrate Michael Stoddart remanded the mother in custody until her next committal appearance on November 8.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A mother has been charged for allegedly murdering her two sons at their Blue Mountains home, located in Australia’s New South Wales. The 42-year-old woman made a brief court appearance where she was remanded in custody.

A mother has been charged for allegedly murdering her two sons at their Blue Mountains home, located in Australia’s New South Wales. The 42-year-old woman made a brief court appearance where she was remanded in custody. The mother, Patricia Smith, faced Parramatta Local Court on Saturday (Sep 14) morning, after being charged last night with two counts of domestic violence-related murder. Reportedly, Smith stabbed her 11-year-old and nine-year-old sons. The police charged her with two counts of domestic violence-related murder after their bodies were found at their Faulconbridge home on Tuesday. Later, emergency services were called to the house for welfare concerns, for the woman and her children. Also read: Man in Germany kills himself, two others: Police According to the New South Wales police, the mother was also found at the scene with stab wounds and was taken to hospital in a critical but stable condition. On Friday, she was released from the hospital and taken to Parramatta police station, where she was charged. Family members 'really hurt' Following the brief hearing on Saturday morning, the woman's lawyer said family members were "really hurting". “Parents, grandparents and the like, and we’d ask that everyone respect that privacy because, as I said, right from emergency services who had to attend the scene ... there’d be a lot of people out there that have been subjected to this,” he told reporters outside court. Father asks for 'privacy' The father of the boys does not live at the Blue Mountains home, expressed disbelief at the incident, and asked for privacy. “The loss of our two beautiful boys has caused unimaginable pain and distress,” he said in a statement. “[My sons] were happy, funny, outgoing boys and were very much loved by their family and friends," he added. Watch | Mother accused of killing her 4-year-old son × Magistrate Michael Stoddart remanded the mother in custody until her next committal appearance on November 8. (With inputs from agencies)

Mother accused of murdering her two sons at Australia's Blue Mountains home

Pro Palestinian and anti-war protesters in Melbourne Australia today escalated into violent clashes. A big police crackdown and arrest became the focus of demonstrations outside the venue of a key defense Expo in the city. Watch in for more details!

Australia: Pro-Palestine protesters clash with police; 24 policemen injured, 39 people arrested

<p>A bizarre campaign has been launched by Australia's Queensland&nbsp;health department addressing a very embarrassing issue people face at work which is the need to poop in between official hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The department has launched the campaign on different social media platforms and has been praised for addressing such an issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The department has also shared a video on Instagram which says “It’s okay to poo at work” and has images of dolphins, rainbows and unicorns with Neick Sanders’s song “Symphony” playing in the background.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Facebook, they adopted a simpler approach and wrote a post which read, “Pooing at work. Discuss.”</p>

<p>In their posts, the department cautioned people that “ignoring your need to poop” can lead to “serious issues”.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-bizarre-toilet-seat-decorated-with-retro-phones-goes-on-sale-for-whopping-price-of-1260-742689">This bizarre toilet seat decorated with retro phones goes on sale for whopping $1,260</a></p>

<p>“Lots of people find it difficult to poo in public toilets. But we’re here to tell you it’s definitely okay to go number 2 at work!” the caption read.</p>

<p>“Consistently ignoring your need to poo can lead to stool getting stuck in your colon, haemorrhoids and other serious issues. So, it’s better to let it out than hold it in," it said.</p>

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<p>“If you find it extremely difficult to poo around other people, you might have parcopresis. Sometimes called ‘poo paranoia’, people with this condition have an overwhelming fear of being judged by others because of the sounds or smells associated with pooing. As a result, they may experience symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating or nausea," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Department gives tips for 'stress-free public toilet poo', netizens react</strong></h2>

<p>The health department also shared some&nbsp;tips for people to have a “stress-free public toilet poo”.</p>

<p>They asked people to remember that everyone poops and try to “visualise someone famous on the toilet (like Taylor Swift)”.</p>

<p>They also suggested the use of a small fragrance spray in the toilet and avoiding consuming foods that “might trigger your bowels”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reacting to the post, a Facebook user said, “All workplaces should have a radio at a good volume in bathrooms”.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/bizarre-question-on-god-satan-christianity-in-us-school-assignment-leaves-parents-furious-753758">Bizarre question on 'God, Satan, Christianity' in US school assignment leaves parents furious</a></p>

<p>“Do it on company time and get paid to poop,” wrote one Instagram user. “In the words of the great&nbsp;Whitney Houston, it’s not right but it’s okay,” commented another.</p>

<p>However, some users were puzzled about what should be done with the knowledge that everyone poops.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I don’t know who the dedicated Instagram person is for QLD health but, my god, you are doing a great job and you need a pay rise,” wrote one Instagram user.</p>

<p>“Did the government just put an image of Taylor Swift pooping in my brain?” said another.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A bizarre campaign has been launched by Australia's Queensland health department addressing a very embarrassing issue people face at work which is the need to poop in between official hours.

A bizarre campaign has been launched by Australia's Queensland health department addressing a very embarrassing issue people face at work which is the need to poop in between official hours. The department has launched the campaign on different social media platforms and has been praised for addressing such an issue. The department has also shared a video on Instagram which says “It’s okay to poo at work” and has images of dolphins, rainbows and unicorns with Neick Sanders’s song “Symphony” playing in the background. On Facebook, they adopted a simpler approach and wrote a post which read, “Pooing at work. Discuss.” In their posts, the department cautioned people that “ignoring your need to poop” can lead to “serious issues”. Also Read: This bizarre toilet seat decorated with retro phones goes on sale for whopping $1,260 “Lots of people find it difficult to poo in public toilets. But we’re here to tell you it’s definitely okay to go number 2 at work!” the caption read. “Consistently ignoring your need to poo can lead to stool getting stuck in your colon, haemorrhoids and other serious issues. So, it’s better to let it out than hold it in," it said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Queensland Health (@qldhealth) × “If you find it extremely difficult to poo around other people, you might have parcopresis. Sometimes called ‘poo paranoia’, people with this condition have an overwhelming fear of being judged by others because of the sounds or smells associated with pooing. As a result, they may experience symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating or nausea," it added. Department gives tips for 'stress-free public toilet poo', netizens react The health department also shared some tips for people to have a “stress-free public toilet poo”. They asked people to remember that everyone poops and try to “visualise someone famous on the toilet (like Taylor Swift)”. They also suggested the use of a small fragrance spray in the toilet and avoiding consuming foods that “might trigger your bowels”. Reacting to the post, a Facebook user said, “All workplaces should have a radio at a good volume in bathrooms”. Also Read: Bizarre question on 'God, Satan, Christianity' in US school assignment leaves parents furious “Do it on company time and get paid to poop,” wrote one Instagram user. “In the words of the great Whitney Houston, it’s not right but it’s okay,” commented another. However, some users were puzzled about what should be done with the knowledge that everyone poops. “I don’t know who the dedicated Instagram person is for QLD health but, my god, you are doing a great job and you need a pay rise,” wrote one Instagram user. “Did the government just put an image of Taylor Swift pooping in my brain?” said another. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia's bizarre campaign promotes 'pooing at work', asks people to imagine Taylor Swift 'do it'

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:15,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1701}">Australia on Tuesday (Sep 10) announced its plan to introduce a ban on children using social media platforms, citing concerns over the risks these sites pose to their physical and mental health.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:68,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1754}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:68,&quot;w&quot;:366,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1754}">Minimum age for social media use</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:113,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1799}">Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that an age-verification trial would be run, but that the law would likely set between 14 and 16 years old as a minimum age for social media use.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:162,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1848}">He said he favours a ban on social media use by children aged below 16.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:195,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1881}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:195,&quot;w&quot;:722,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1881}">Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:195,&quot;w&quot;:722,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1881}" data-ved="2ahUKEwjBqp6F3beIAxXZSmwGHaMEAeoQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-bans-children-under-14-from-using-social-media-14-15-year-olds-will-need-parental-consent-704218" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-bans-children-under-14-from-using-social-media-14-15-year-olds-will-need-parental-consent-704218&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjBqp6F3beIAxXZSmwGHaMEAeoQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Florida bans children under 14 from using social media; 14-15 year olds will need parental consent</a></strong></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:244,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1930}">"I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts," he said, describing social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as a "scourge".</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:294,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1980}">"This is a scourge. We know that there is mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with," he said in a conversation with national broadcaster ABC.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:344,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2030}">He also said that "We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm."</p>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:397,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2083}"><strong bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:397,&quot;w&quot;:247,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2083}">Path-breaking decision</strong></h2>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:442,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:52,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2128}">This move would place Australia among the first countries to impose such a restriction, though previous attempts elsewhere, such as in the European Union, have faced challenges and failed due to concerns over limiting minors' online rights.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:509,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2195}">The proposal has faced scrutiny regarding the feasibility of enforcing age restrictions online.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:509,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2195}"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjBqp6F3beIAxXZSmwGHaMEAeoQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-enacts-landmark-laws-to-combat-social-media-addiction-and-protect-childrens-privacy-729977" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-enacts-landmark-laws-to-combat-social-media-addiction-and-protect-childrens-privacy-729977&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjBqp6F3beIAxXZSmwGHaMEAeoQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">New York enacts landmark laws to protect children from social media addiction</a></strong></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:541,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2227}">Toby Murray from the University of Melbourne noted that current age verification methods are "unreliable, too easy to circumvent, or risk user privacy".&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:591,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:52,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2277}">Daniel Angus, from the Queensland University of Technology, argues that an age limit might not address underlying issues, and it "threatens to create serious harm by excluding young people from meaningful, healthy participation in the digital world."&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:658,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2344}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:658,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2344}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Australia on Tuesday (Sep 10) announced its plan to introduce a ban on children using social media platforms, citing concerns over the risks these sites pose to their physical and mental health.

Australia on Tuesday (Sep 10) announced its plan to introduce a ban on children using social media platforms, citing concerns over the risks these sites pose to their physical and mental health. Minimum age for social media use Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that an age-verification trial would be run, but that the law would likely set between 14 and 16 years old as a minimum age for social media use. He said he favours a ban on social media use by children aged below 16. Also read | Florida bans children under 14 from using social media; 14-15 year olds will need parental consent "I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts," he said, describing social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as a "scourge". "This is a scourge. We know that there is mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with," he said in a conversation with national broadcaster ABC. He also said that "We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm." Path-breaking decision This move would place Australia among the first countries to impose such a restriction, though previous attempts elsewhere, such as in the European Union, have faced challenges and failed due to concerns over limiting minors' online rights. The proposal has faced scrutiny regarding the feasibility of enforcing age restrictions online. Also read | New York enacts landmark laws to protect children from social media addiction Toby Murray from the University of Melbourne noted that current age verification methods are "unreliable, too easy to circumvent, or risk user privacy". Daniel Angus, from the Queensland University of Technology, argues that an age limit might not address underlying issues, and it "threatens to create serious harm by excluding young people from meaningful, healthy participation in the digital world." (With inputs from agencies)

Australia to ban social media use for kids under THIS age to tackle mental health crisis

Australia will ban children from using social media with a minimum age limit as high as 16, the prime minister said Tuesday, vowing to get kids off their devices. Watch in for more details!

Australia: PM Albanese plans age verification trial for social media

<p>The wildlife of Australia became richer with the addition of 750 new species which will be added to the official list of species found in the country in 2023.</p>

<p>Among the species added were a laughing frog, an orb spider named Venom from Tom Hardy’s Marvel character and a marine worm whose name is inspired by the legendary Sir David Attenborough.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worms-that-live-in-eyes-and-transmitted-by-flies-can-reach-humans-experts-fear-754247">Worms that live in eyes and are transmitted by flies can reach humans, experts fear</a></p>

<p>These species have now been officially added to the rich and unique biological tapestry of Australia.</p>

<h2><strong>All about laughing frog and other new entrants</strong></h2>

<p>Among the species added to Australia's biological tapestry, the laughing frog was a standout addition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The laughing tree frog, known as Litoria ridibunda, does not croak like other typical frogs but emits a sound that is similar to laughter.</p>

<p>Its unique vocalisation has been a fascinating subject for researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another species added to the list was Marphysa davidattenboroughi, which is an intertidal marine worm and has been named in honour of Sir David Attenborough.</p>

<p>Such species highlight how diverse is the biological tapestry of Australia and that it is home to surprising forms of life.</p>

<p>The National Species List, which is a taxonomic database, is a formal record of the native plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms of the country.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Axolotls: Immortal, yet going extinct</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/axolotls-immortal-yet-going-extinct-756154/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“Many people might be shocked to hear that 70% of our native species remain unnamed and hidden to science,” said Tanya Plibersek, Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, while speaking to&nbsp;The Guardian.</p>

<p>Australia has more than 150,000 native species, and significant efforts are being made by the taxonomists in cataloging them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Professor of wildlife ecology and conservation science at Deakin University, Euan Ritchie, emphasised how important it is to continue the research of species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s vital we continue to support surveys and taxonomic research across this vast continent, as without doubt, many more species remain to be formally described by science," Ritchie said.</p>

<p>“The more scientists look, the more they realize that most invertebrate species are yet to be formally described by taxonomists,”&nbsp;the professor was quoted as saying by The Guardian.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:17,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}"><em bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:909,&quot;w&quot;:182,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2746}">(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The wildlife of Australia became richer with the addition of 750 new species which will be added to the official list of species found in the country in 2023. Among the species added were a laughing frog, an orb spider named Venom from Tom Hardy’s Marvel character and a marine worm whose name is inspired by the legendary Sir David Attenborough.

The wildlife of Australia became richer with the addition of 750 new species which will be added to the official list of species found in the country in 2023. Among the species added were a laughing frog, an orb spider named Venom from Tom Hardy’s Marvel character and a marine worm whose name is inspired by the legendary Sir David Attenborough. Also Read: Worms that live in eyes and are transmitted by flies can reach humans, experts fear These species have now been officially added to the rich and unique biological tapestry of Australia. All about laughing frog and other new entrants Among the species added to Australia's biological tapestry, the laughing frog was a standout addition. The laughing tree frog, known as Litoria ridibunda, does not croak like other typical frogs but emits a sound that is similar to laughter. Its unique vocalisation has been a fascinating subject for researchers. Another species added to the list was Marphysa davidattenboroughi, which is an intertidal marine worm and has been named in honour of Sir David Attenborough. Such species highlight how diverse is the biological tapestry of Australia and that it is home to surprising forms of life. The National Species List, which is a taxonomic database, is a formal record of the native plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms of the country. Watch: Axolotls: Immortal, yet going extinct “Many people might be shocked to hear that 70% of our native species remain unnamed and hidden to science,” said Tanya Plibersek, Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, while speaking to The Guardian. Australia has more than 150,000 native species, and significant efforts are being made by the taxonomists in cataloging them. Professor of wildlife ecology and conservation science at Deakin University, Euan Ritchie, emphasised how important it is to continue the research of species. “It’s vital we continue to support surveys and taxonomic research across this vast continent, as without doubt, many more species remain to be formally described by science," Ritchie said. “The more scientists look, the more they realize that most invertebrate species are yet to be formally described by taxonomists,” the professor was quoted as saying by The Guardian. (With inputs from agencies)

Laughing frog gets added to Australia's fauna. Here's what it is...

<p>Australia has taken a step towards inclusion. The Land Down Under will now include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in its census. This is the first time this information will be recorded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It comes after more than a week of controversy about Australia's centre-left government's earlier decision to exclude them.</p>

<h2><strong>Australian census and inclusivity</strong></h2>

<p>As per a Reuters report, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Sunday (Sep 8) that the upcoming 2026 census would include questions on sexual orientation and gender.</p>

<p>However, he did not specify what the questions would be and said that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) would design them later.</p>

<p>The questions, as per the report, would be optional and will only be asked to those over the age of 16 years.</p>

<h2><strong>'You matter'</strong></h2>

<p>Jim Chalmers said that the government has listened to the LGBTQIA+ community.</p>

<p>"We have listened to the LGBTIQ+ community to make sure that we can work with the ABS to deliver this really important change when it comes to the 2026 census," he said.</p>

<p>"We say to Australians from the LGBTIQ+ community: you matter, you've been heard, you will be counted."</p>

<p>"The message that we want to ensure that Australians hear from us today is that we understand the feedback that we got," he said, adding, "We said that we would find the best way to do this, and I believe that we have, and we will."</p>

<h2><strong>Why were the questions excluded earlier?</strong></h2>

<p>In August, the nation had decided to exclude questions about LGBTIQ+ identity.</p>

<p>At the time, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said this was done to avoid "divisive" community debates.</p>

<p>"We are doing that because we do not want to open up divisive debates in the community," he said.</p>

<p>Marles had denied any political motives behind the decision, as media reports speculated that the government was apprehensive about sparking a culture-war-like campaign ahead of the upcoming elections. In Australia, the elections are likely to be called within nine months.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Australia has taken a step towards inclusion. The Land Down Under will now include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in its census. This is the first time this information will be recorded.

Australia has taken a step towards inclusion. The Land Down Under will now include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in its census. This is the first time this information will be recorded. It comes after more than a week of controversy about Australia's centre-left government's earlier decision to exclude them. Australian census and inclusivity As per a Reuters report, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Sunday (Sep 8) that the upcoming 2026 census would include questions on sexual orientation and gender. However, he did not specify what the questions would be and said that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) would design them later. The questions, as per the report, would be optional and will only be asked to those over the age of 16 years. 'You matter' Jim Chalmers said that the government has listened to the LGBTQIA+ community. "We have listened to the LGBTIQ+ community to make sure that we can work with the ABS to deliver this really important change when it comes to the 2026 census," he said. "We say to Australians from the LGBTIQ+ community: you matter, you've been heard, you will be counted." "The message that we want to ensure that Australians hear from us today is that we understand the feedback that we got," he said, adding, "We said that we would find the best way to do this, and I believe that we have, and we will." Why were the questions excluded earlier? In August, the nation had decided to exclude questions about LGBTIQ+ identity. At the time, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said this was done to avoid "divisive" community debates. "We are doing that because we do not want to open up divisive debates in the community," he said. Marles had denied any political motives behind the decision, as media reports speculated that the government was apprehensive about sparking a culture-war-like campaign ahead of the upcoming elections. In Australia, the elections are likely to be called within nine months. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia to include questions on sexual orientation and gender in 2026 census: 'You matter'

One woman has died, schools have been shuttered as wild storms lashed Australia. Tens of thousands of people have been left without power in the region.

One dead as storms hit Australia's Southeast

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