Friday, 16 October 2026today, still filling

Tesla unveiled its next-generation Roadster at an event in Texas, equipped with cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX. The car demonstrated flying capabilities, driving upside down, and accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under one second. Tesla plans to begin production in 2028 without yet announcing a price.

A major police operation is under way in Sydney's inner west after reports of gunfire just before lunchtime. The area around Williams Parade and Constitution Road has been cordoned off. No injuries have been reported and no arrests have been made so far. Light Rail services between Dulwich Hill and Lilyfield have been halted.

Four Western Australians have been named finalists for the 2027 Australian of the Year award. They are Eskimo Joe frontman Kav Temperley, Dr Emily Zhen who developed organ preservation technology, Professor Michael Wear who leads marine restoration at Shark Bay, and Esther Oh, whose telehealth innovation Agili8 uses smart glasses to connect remote patients with medical experts.

Phillip Island will host a Supercars championship final-series round for five years from 2027, providing a racing lifeline after losing the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in February. Supercars have not raced at the Victorian circuit since 2019. The move required a circuit to be removed from next season's 14-race schedule to make room for Phillip Island, though the series grand final will remain in Adelaide.

A Peaky Blinders filming location tour in Dudley has attracted visitors from over 80 countries, including superfans from Croatia. The tour organisers report significant international interest in the series' British locations.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan visited the Alexandria Staging Facility at Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana on 15 October, according to his official social media. Designated by President Trump in November 2024, Homan is responsible for border security and deportation efforts. He witnessed the deportation of Haitian immigrants and cited a record-breaking day for ICE deportations since Trump returned to office.

Australia may impose tariffs of up to 70 per cent on Chinese aluminium windows and doors, after the Australian Trade Remedies Commission found they were being sold at unfair prices with government subsidies. Local manufacturers' sales volumes fell 19 per cent between July 2021 and June 2025. A final recommendation goes to Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres by December 2026.

Overwatch Technologies, founded in August 2025, has listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The defence company develops AI surveillance technology using autonomous systems, advanced sensors and data analytics to help government and security agencies monitor the seas for military threats and illegal activity. Chief executive Oscar Leslie said the technology enables authorities to monitor larger areas without relying solely on traditional surveillance infrastructure, and can be used to track shipping vessel safety and detect criminal activities.

Australian and Chilean police have dismantled an alleged drug-smuggling network after Chilean authorities discovered a plot to smuggle 23kg of cocaine into Sydney on a commercial aircraft. The cocaine, worth an estimated $17 million in Australia, was seized and replaced with a substitute by the Australian Federal Police, who arrested two men when they attempted to collect the packages at Port Botany car park near Kingsford Smith Airport. A Bolivian national and Argentinian national were also arrested in Chile. Both Australian men, aged 33, face charges of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. They were refused bail and will return to court on 9 December.

Greens leader David Shoebridge will meet with Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko on Friday to discuss his stated opposition to sending military aid to Ukraine. Shoebridge has said the Greens, as a party of non-violence, do not support military assistance. Myroshnychenko said he would seek to persuade Shoebridge to change his position, noting that many European green parties do support Ukrainian military aid.

Al Pacino will receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award for his film career and humanitarian work, the actors' union announced. The 62nd recipient of the honour, Pacino is best known for playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather and has worked across film, television and stage for more than six decades. The award will be presented at the 33rd Actor Awards in Los Angeles on 28 February 2027.

Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has rejected calls for an independent investigation into sexual harassment in the military, saying it would have unintended consequences. The position comes after a recording device was found in an all-female cabin aboard HMAS Leeuwin in Cairns. Senator Jacqui Lambie, a former soldier, has urged an independent body to examine such incidents, arguing Defence has failed to address the problem. Mr Conroy said the government is committed to reforming defence culture through internal measures.

The Executive Tower at the Arizona State Capitol was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a clerk in the Secretary of State's office opened an envelope containing white powder. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes described it as a 'targeted threat'. The hazmat and FBI teams assessed the situation, and no one was hurt. Governor Katie Hobbs was not in the tower at the time.

Grey's Anatomy returns for its 23rd season on Thursday 15 October at 10pm ET on ABC. New cast members include James Wolk as surgeon-turned-businessman Seth Norton, former Schitt's Creek star Sarah Levy and Never Have I Ever's Martin Martinez. Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver, who played Owen and Teddy Altman, have left the series.

GWM Australia has announced unprecedented pre-launch interest in its new Haval H7 mid-size SUV, with 1500 expressions of interest following its debut at the Everything Electric exhibition last month. The company says the model has attracted substantially more website page views and YouTube video views than its predecessor, and generated strong interest at a pop-up display in Melbourne. First customer deliveries are expected within two weeks, with the SUV priced below $50,000.

Thames Valley Police feared Prince Andrew could block searches at his homes by claiming King Charles owned the properties, newly released court files show. Police acknowledged the February search warrants used on Andrew's Sandringham and Royal Lodge residences were unlawful. Documents from High Court proceedings reveal detectives were concerned evidence could be lost if they had to seek Buckingham Palace permission first.

A 42-year-old man was shot dead at a property in Wollert, Melbourne's north, on Thursday evening in what police believe was a targeted attack. No arrests have been made. Social media footage shows three figures fleeing the scene, with two dressed in black running to a sedan before the car sped away.

Grand Canyon National Park is asking the public to decide how to rebuild the North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire shut down the area during peak tourism season last summer and flooding caused further disruption. The park is considering three options: restore and modernise the North Rim, expand the season so it closes for only four months instead of six, or keep it open year-round. Rebuilding would cost at least $600 million and take five to 10 years.

Arizona's Supreme Court has unanimously approved Grand Canyon University to open a College of Law, making it the first law school to receive this type of authorisation from the court. GCU graduates will be eligible to pursue licensure immediately upon graduation, subject to passing the bar exam and meeting character and fitness standards. The approval comes as Arizona faces an attorney shortage, ranking 49th in lawyers per capita. GCU plans to open the law school as early as 2027 and will pursue American Bar Association accreditation once eligible.

Jack Viney has departed Melbourne after 14 years as a player to join West Coast Eagles in the AFL trade period. The midfielder, who joined the Demons as a father-son recruit in 2012, played 238 games, captained the club for three seasons, won two best and fairests, and was part of the 2021 premiership-winning team. A serious Achilles injury restricted him to just one senior game in 2026. Still contracted for two more seasons, Viney was encouraged to explore other options. His West Coast deal includes two years as an assistant coach after his playing career ends.

Artificial intelligence experts warned a parliamentary inquiry that Australia's AI Safety Institute is under-resourced for its role on the international stage. AI researcher Janet Egan, a former Prime Minister's office staffer now working in Washington D.C., said the institute's $7.5 million funding was inadequate compared to investment by other countries. She told the Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence that the institute has a broad remit providing AI advice across government but lacks capacity to handle critical questions around AI alignment and control.

Sixteen-year-old Yvie Ling-Hegarty from Keighley has won her fourth consecutive European taekwondo title at the championships in Italy, becoming the first British fighter to achieve this feat. She competed as part of the England squad and claimed gold in Sparring and Team Sparring, plus three silvers. Her Beanland Taekwondo team-mates also performed well, with Levi Morris winning double gold and James Waddington claiming six medals.

Two vessels have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after being struck by projectiles in separate incidents, maritime officials say. Iran has said it is stepping up strikes in response to US port blockades and sanctions. All 21 crew members of the GFS Pride were safely evacuated with no injuries reported, though one crew member was killed when the Cape Dao was struck on 23 September.

Alex Carey is confident he can handle Australia's hectic cricket schedule, which will see him keep wicket to more than 16,000 balls in a year. Carey performed well in Australia's drawn Test series against Bangladesh and made a crucial diving catch in the first Test against South Africa in Durban. Australia faces up to 20 Tests over the next 12 months, culminating in next year's Ashes.

Nearly 4,000 deaths in England last winter were caused by flu, with the vast majority among people aged 65 and over. The UK Health Security Agency's annual report found that the vaccination programme prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions and over 7,100 deaths. Charity Age UK and other organisations are urging older people not to become complacent and to ensure they receive all eligible vaccinations.

Six people were arrested on suspicion of arson-related offences during an investigation but have all been released. Pubs could be given protections to prevent incidents like that affecting the Crooked House.

The government has announced that from 6 November it will be illegal to possess or publish pornography showing strangulation or suffocation, sexual activity between relatives, or adults role-playing as children under 16. The ban follows a 2025 review by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin into pornography regulation, which found depictions of choking were widespread on popular sites and had helped normalise the act among young people. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said the measure was not about criminalising harmless preferences but about preventing content that normalises violence against women, which can blur the line between what people see in pornography and what is acceptable in real life.