Top World News

Jul 29, 2026 - World

Federal-state stoush comes as rating agency warns that electricity bills could skyrocketFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal government’s plans to mandate that AI datacentres use renewable power, rubbishing Anthony Albanese’s proposals to regulate the booming technology as “underdeveloped ideas that hand increased power to Canberra”.The latest federal-state stoush on energy comes as S&P Global, the economic rating agency, warns that power use from datacentres could rise five-fold by 2035 to 10% of Australia’s total consumption, and that a mismatch between delivery timelines for datacentres and renewable projects could lead to energy bills skyrocketing. Continue reading...

Jul 29, 2026 - World

Former leader shows support for new Victorian premier while paying tribute to Jacinta AllanFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDaniel Andrews has thrown his support behind Victoria’s new premier, Ben Carroll, saying he has what it takes to win November’s state election.In a rare public statement on Wednesday, the former premier also paid tribute to Jacinta Allan, who he handpicked to replace him as Labor leader when he resigned in September 2023. Continue reading...

Jul 29, 2026 - World

ABS data shows inflation still too high but tracking lower than anticipatedAustralian mortgage-holders have “dodged a bullet’, with the Reserve Bank now less likely to hike rates next month after new data showed inflation unexpectedly eased to 3.8%, in the year to June, from 4%.The hotly anticipated consumer price report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics had been seen by some economists as a “make-or-break” moment ahead of the RBA’s upcoming rate decision on 11 August. Continue reading...

Jul 29, 2026 - World

Exclusive: Of more than 1,000 medicinal cannabis products available, only two have been evaluated by the drug regulatorFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDoctors are commonly prescribing high-dose medicinal cannabis containing up to four times the concentration of THC tested in clinical trials, a review has found.Researchers from Monash University evaluated the available evidence for the efficacy and safety of higher THC potency medicinal cannabis products, in line with those being prescribed in Australia. THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis. Continue reading...

Jul 29, 2026 - World

Military mobilises thousands of personnel after quake on southern Kyushu island that registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scaleEarthquake rocks southern Japanese island of Kyushu – in pictures At least 13 people were killed when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, injuring hundreds and knocking out power and water to tens of thousands.“There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said on Wednesday. “We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can.” Continue reading...