Capital of Victoria, Australia; a global city and cultural hub
Czech Republic has secured the Billie Jean King Cup, defeating Britain 2-0 to claim their 12th title. Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova led the charge, delivering straight-set wins for a dominant performance. Barbora Strycova marks her first win as captain, while Britain’s squad features rising players but falls short in Shenzhen.
National cabinet is moving to implement nationally consistent standards for datacentres to use 100% renewables with firming, while allowing exemptions if state-owned plants prove cheaper. Projects approved before the rules apply will stay under existing state laws. The move follows surging datacentre demand and aims to curb electricity costs while balancing local impacts.
Yayoi Kusama has died at 97, her studio has announced. The Japanese artist has become globally famous for polka dots, Infinity Nets and Infinity Mirror Rooms, and she has continued to paint into her final days. Her work has drawn huge museum audiences and influenced generations of artists across pop, minimalism and performance art.
A set of weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1s show strong average effectiveness, but a notable minority of patients experience little to no weight loss. Researchers are investigating why responses vary, aiming to tailor treatments and improve cost-effectiveness.
The NFL has staged its first regular-season game in Australia, selling out Melbourne’s 100,000-seat MCG and signaling a long-term push into the Asia-Pacific region. The Rams host the 49ers in a high-profile clash that tests logistics, fan demand, and future scheduling.
Cristina Rapti-Tzelepi has given birth in Athens to a daughter using an embryo frozen for more than 22 years, amid Greece’s 54-year age limit for IVF. Doctors say the case raises questions about the law as Greece faces a declining birth rate.
The Guardian reports a new graphic novel by Melissa Chan and Badiucao imagines a dystopian future where China and the United States are at war in 2035. It foregrounds the experiences of the Chinese-speaking diaspora and argues authoritarianism everywhere is bad, while highlighting risks to journalists and artists who criticise Beijing.
The UN General Assembly has voted 164–1 to encourage use of the Equal Earth projection instead of the Mercator map. The non‑binding resolution, led by Togo and backed by the African Union, has prompted objections from the United States and concerns from countries including Ukraine, Japan and India over how disputed territories appear.
Two Iranian football players who abandoned their team have discussed their refugee journey on Australia’s 60 Minutes. They say they stood with their people, survived threats, and eventually became Australian citizens after seeking asylum in Australia amid Tehran’s crackdown and international pressure.
England has completed a 3-0 Rothesay Series clean sweep after defeating Pakistan by eight wickets at Edgbaston. Root and Cox secure a calm chase of 130, following Razaullah’s fearless 81 from 63 and Abbas’s 4-42 in Pakistan’s first innings. The result caps a turbulent tour for Pakistan and a triumphant turnaround for England.
The San Francisco 49ers have defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-7 in the first regular-season NFL game in Australia, with Brock Purdy directing a precise performance and the defense stifling Stafford. San Francisco arrived a week early, while Los Angeles traveled on short notice. The result extends the 49ers’ recent dominance in the NFC West rivalry.
The Los Angeles Rams travel to Melbourne for the NFL’s inaugural regular-season game in Australia, facing the San Francisco 49ers. Teams have adopted contrasting travel strategies to fight jet lag, with the Rams opting for a late arrival to preserve rhythm, while the 49ers have spent a week in the country. The game is Sunday local time with Netflix streaming.
Joanna Wietrzyk has faced backlash after competing in Beijing while fecal matter ran down her legs. Hyrox has apologised and introduced rule changes to address bio-contamination and safety. The incident has reignited debate about extreme training culture and athlete welfare at hybrid fitness events.
KP has been appointed as a specialist mentor to Englands white-ball teams for the ODI and T20 series against Sri Lanka, and will be involved in winter tours and the 2027 World Cup setup, integrating with Brendon McCullums coaching group.
UEFA has announced 2028, 2029 finals across Europe. The Allianz Arena will host the 2028 Champions League final; Camp Nou will host in 2029. Barcelona continues reconstruction at Camp Nou, while Madrid’s Metropolitano hosts the 2026-27 final. Women’s final lands in Lyon in 2028 and Cardiff in 2029. London misses 2029 World Athletics and Wembley remains a historic host.
Netflix executives describe events as appointment TV and outline a strategy to use global events, NFL rights, and international games to fuel growth. The company is pursuing five NFL games this season and contemplates FIFA World Cup rights while expanding international programming amid a shifting sports and entertainment landscape.
The government has announced stricter visa requirements for international students and changes to how family members can accompany students, aiming to reduce net migration and ease housing pressures. The measures include no-further-stay provisions for temporary visas, updated compliance, and more detentions resources; the plan targets student and skilled visas to achieve a lower migration figure by 2028.
Isack Hadjar has extended his Red Bull deal and returns for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after wrist injury. He has impressed in his debut year and is now set to race alongside Max Verstappen, with his commitment framed as a long-term belief in his potential.
Qantas has moved to launch direct Sydney–New York and Sydney–London flights under Project Sunrise, with Airbus A350-1000ULRs delivering up to 22 hours of nonstop flying. The airline says the routes will boost earnings and reshape travel, while cabins across all classes are being refreshed for comfort.
The federal police have arrested the seventh man in Victoria since May on allegations of possessing or distributing ISIS content online. A 65-year-old Australian citizen has been charged with being a member of a terrorist organization and distributing violent extremist material. He allegedly sent 10,000 files between 2015 and 2020, including propaganda, and provided guidance on evading authorities and planning mass attacks.
The Medicare breach involving an OpenAI agent has prompted a Greens-led Senate inquiry. Altman and Amodei are being asked to appear as hearings in Canberra confront questions on regulation and security. Albanese has condemned the incident and signals tighter tech rules ahead of next year.