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The New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, has announced that laptop requirements for public primary school students are being scrapped. The government says the reforms are aimed at reducing children's screen time, and parents are expected to save money from the next school year.
The NSW Rural Fire Service reports a bush fire at 9400 Newell Highway, Coonabarabran, in the Warrumbungle council area, covering about 1 hectare. The fire is now under control, and the alert level is Advice, the lowest level. The update was issued on 8 November 2026 at 08:24.
Students, parents and teachers at a Sydney school are reported to support a program in which students do the cleaning. Teachers say it helps build respect among students.
On 8 November 1965, the Murder Act received Royal Assent, formally abolishing the death penalty in the United Kingdom for almost all crimes. It was introduced by Sydney Silverman, MP for Liverpool, and replaced hanging with mandatory life imprisonment in most cases.
A Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece headlined "Loosening lips? Keep an eye on the ships" argues that former senator George Brandis should consider that free speech can become incitement to violence. The available material gives no further detail on the context of his remarks.
A cold front brought rain and storms to New South Wales, with snow reported across parts of the state. Temperatures dropped by as much as 10 degrees Celsius in some Sydney suburbs, according to ABC News.
Several property projects by the collapsed builder Bathla across Sydney remain unfinished. Local residents say they are worried about what this means for their suburbs.
A police investigation is underway after a body was found in bushland west of Sydney, as reported by The West Australian. The sources available give no further details about the person or the circumstances.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Byron Bay, a town in the Northern Rivers region, records the fourth-highest drink-driving rates in New South Wales. Local residents say the reasons behind the figures are complex.
A Region Canberra columnist writes about attending the Blue Mountains Writers Festival in Katoomba and says the experience left them feeling better informed. They reflect on their own university learning and how broadening their viewpoint revealed gaps in their knowledge.
A body was found in bushland in the Central Tablelands near Newnes Plateau, according to The West Australian. The homicide squad is assisting with the investigation into the death.
A cold front is moving across Australia's east coast, with Sydney's "feels like" temperature dropping to 4C. The change comes a few weeks before summer.
Jacaranda trees across Sydney are flowering in the warmer spring weather, covering the city in purple blossom. The trumpet-shaped flowers usually appear in October and November and soon carpet the ground beneath the trees, drawing visitors and photographers.
A leading forensic psychiatrist has said Corrections NSW should play no role in managing mental health care for prisoners. The comment follows an ABC investigation that reported systemic failures in the care of prisoners with mental illness.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports on Buhrich House II, a house noted for its floating walls, copper-clad wavy roof, and a red fibreglass bathroom. The article describes the property as a mysterious hidden house that can be risky to visit, and notes it has no stair or deck railings.
Jess Wilson, Victorian Liberal leader, has said a Liberal government would repeal Victoria's treaty with First Peoples within its first 100 days. The Guardian Australia reports on the proposal and asks whether it reflects what voters want.
A Grattan Institute report, covered by The Guardian Australia, finds that psychiatrists and paediatricians are among the specialists most likely to charge fees it describes as "extreme". It says more than 2.2 million Australians paid such a fee to see a specialist last year, and that some doctors charge up to three times the fees of their peers. The Conversation argues that specialist fees are rising and that the government should look beyond the current reforms to rein in costs.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has downgraded its bushfire warning for Tutunup and Yoganup to an advice, saying the threat has reduced because bushfire behaviour has decreased. The update was issued at 6:31 PM on 8 November 2026. Check Emergency WA for the latest information.
What to do: Check Emergency WA (DFES) for the latest updates on the bushfire advice for Tutunup and Yoganup. Follow any further instructions from DFES.
Ahead of this month's Victorian election, WAtoday and The Age have both published a preview naming 13 seats they expect to shape the result. The seats span the inner city, the suburbs and regional areas, and the outlets say these electorates will help decide who wins.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has changed its warning for a bushfire in Casuarina to Bushfire Advice – Stay Informed, because the fire is now contained and controlled. The advice was issued at 4:34 PM on 8 November 2026.
What to do: Stay informed about the bushfire through the official DFES warnings channel, as the advice is now Stay Informed rather than an emergency warning.
The Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has issued a bushfire advice to stay informed about a fire in the Muja and Palmer State Forest area. The advice was issued at 4:46 PM on 8 November 2026, and the source excerpt we have is cut short, so further details of the advice are not available here.
What to do: Stay informed about the bushfire advice for Muja and Palmer State Forest. Check Emergency WA (DFES) for official warnings and updates.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has downgraded its bushfire warnings for the Kupartiya and Mueller Ranges areas and for Kununurra to Bushfire Advice, saying the threat is reduced because bushfire activity has decreased. The updates were issued on 8 November 2026, at 2:42 pm, 2:45 pm and 2:49 pm local time. Anyone in these areas should keep checking Emergency WA for official updates.
What to do: Keep checking Emergency WA (emergency.wa.gov.au) and DFES for official updates. Follow any further advice issued for your area.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a bushfire advice for the Mueller Ranges, asking people to monitor conditions. The advice is unchanged from the previous alert, and travellers are warned that there is a lot of smoke over the highway.
What to do: Monitor conditions and follow the latest updates from Emergency WA (DFES) at emergency.wa.gov.au. Travellers should take care on the highway, where there is a lot of smoke.
Parents of children at Northern Territory Catholic schools have been told to expect a greater police presence. The notice follows two teenagers being charged with terrorism-related offences within a week, according to ABC Canberra.
The Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has issued a new Smoke Alert for Dwellingup and surrounding areas in the Shire of Murray, issued at 8:30 AM on 8 November 2026. The alert concerns smoke in the area, and residents should check the official Emergency WA warning for the full details and any steps to take.
What to do: Check the full alert on Emergency WA (DFES) for the latest details and any steps to take. Official updates are available from Emergency WA and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Residents of Dwellingup and surrounding areas in the Shire of Murray should follow the instructions in the alert.
The Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has issued a new smoke alert for Karragullen, Roleystone and surrounding areas in the City of Armadale. The alert was issued at 8:34 AM on 8 November 2026. Residents in the area should check Emergency WA for the full alert and any updates.
What to do: Check the full alert on Emergency WA (emergency.wa.gov.au) for the latest details and instructions. People in Karragullen, Roleystone and surrounding areas of the City of Armadale should follow the steps in that alert. Watch for updates from Emergency WA and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has issued a new smoke alert for Jarrahdale and surrounding areas in the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale. The alert was published by Emergency WA (DFES) on 8 November 2026 at 08:26 AM local time. Residents in the area should check the official alert for details and any actions to take.
What to do: Read the full smoke alert on Emergency WA (emergency.wa.gov.au) for the affected area and any steps it recommends. Check for official updates from Emergency WA (DFES) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
An ABC Canberra article says the latest interest rate rise is beginning to take effect, with attention turning to bank balances after the Melbourne Cup. The source frames the change as a contest between savers and spenders, but its excerpt gives no further figures or details.
WAtoday has published an interactive trivia quiz, the Superquiz, for Monday, 9 November. The quiz is aimed at readers who enjoy testing their general knowledge.
The Guardian Australia reports that Queensland's first independent victims' commissioner, Beck O'Connor, faced a response from the LNP government after speaking publicly. Community groups are reported to fear retribution and funding cuts, and the government has been accused of using threatening tactics to silence critics.
With 99 percent of votes counted, the African National Congress (ANC), led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has won 31 percent of the vote nationally. Near-final results reported by DW show the party's lowest-ever vote percentage in local elections, which it attributes partly to shortcomings in municipal services such as water and electricity supply.
Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have left about 850,000 people without electricity, according to Al Jazeera, with attacks reported in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions. BBC News reported that the strikes wounded nine people and came before Ukrainian and Russian delegations were due to attend trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi the following week.
Saudi-led coalition air strikes in Sanaa, Yemen, reportedly killed at least 33 people and injured 39, according to the Houthi militia; Saudi Arabia had not commented in the first reports. Later reports say the death toll rose, Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles targeting Riyadh, and the Houthis launched fresh strikes, with the two sides described as escalating their conflict.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan, damaging windows and shelves and injuring at least 22 people, according to reports. People have been warned about the possibility of further strong quakes, particularly over the next two to three days.
What to do: Follow advice from Japanese authorities and official weather and earthquake agencies for updates, and be prepared for possible strong aftershocks over the next two to three days.
New Zealand's election has produced no clear winner on election night, and the result remains on a knife-edge. Special votes are still to be counted, and reports say it could take weeks to confirm whether Christopher Luxon or Chris Hipkins will become prime minister.
According to Al Jazeera, Civil Defence has reported more than 1,500 emergency calls after heavy rains. Thousands of tents and shelters have been destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of people without shelter.
The sudden collapse of Ueno Bank has led to suspected financial fraud, with public money at risk and millions of customers affected. Reports differ on the political outcome: DW said President Santiago Peña faced impeachment, while BBC News reported that Peña had been ousted and that the former president had been charged.
Polish police say a gunman opened fire in the main market square in Krakow, killing six people and wounding 15 others. Police later found three more bodies at the attacker's home, and the gunman is in hospital, and Poland has begun two days of national mourning.
UFC chief Dana White has been offered the job of White House press secretary, and he says he will meet with President Trump about it. The White House has had no press secretary since October, when Katie Zacharia left the position after less than a week in the role.
Australia's Kangaroos defeated Samoa at Allianz Stadium, with Reece Walsh scoring a hat-trick. The win sets up a final against New Zealand next week.
Lionel Messi has become the first player to win the MLS Golden Boot award in consecutive seasons. He scored 26 regular-season goals to top the scoring charts, helping Inter Miami reach the MLS Cup playoffs.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has tasked Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads an anti-Netanyahu alliance, with the first attempt to form a government. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition bloc won a majority in last week's election, and coalition talks are expected to be difficult. Reports say Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a ruling coalition.
Delegates from more than 190 countries are meeting in Turkey for the latest round of UN climate talks, known as Cop31, over the next fortnight. The United States will not take part, according to the report. The talks come as the planet faces human-caused global heating.
Polish authorities have launched a terrorism investigation after an attack that killed six people. Government officials say the suspect was likely influenced by far-right ideology.
Tom Dearden used a dummy to get past Samoa's defence and scored the first try of the match. The report comes from a single outlet and gives no further details of the game.
That's everything for today. Come back later for more.
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