Thursday, 22 October 2026today, still filling

NSW Parliament has updated its internal breastfeeding policy to use gender-neutral language, replacing maternal references with terms like 'parent', 'carer' and 'lactating parent'. NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane criticised the change in a viral social media post, arguing that parliament was erasing gendered terms specific to women's experience. Ms Sloane said the policy change was 'completely nuts' and questioned why parliament was 'messing around with language' to describe something unique to women, though she expressed support for workplace flexibility for all parents.

The Freelander 8, a new premium three-row SUV launching in Australia in 2027, impressed reviewers during a short drive in China. The vehicle combines traditional British styling with Chinese technology through a joint venture between JLR and Chery. The cabin was praised for its roominess and comfortable seats, though reviewers identified some elements needing refinement. Pricing will be crucial to its success in Australia, with reviewers suggesting it needs to sit around $85,000–$90,000 to compete effectively against vehicles like the Hyundai Palisade and Mazda CX-80.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says social media platforms 'should have a responsibility' to remove death and rape threats, following an attack on independent MP Helen Haines. He called the level of threats toward politicians 'completely unacceptable' and said his government would work with security agencies and parliament on the issue, though previous hate speech legislation failed to gain support from the Coalition or the Greens.

A large fire broke out near Badlands Bar, a late-night music venue in Perth's Northbridge, around 4.20am on Thursday. The blaze spread through nearby vegetation and reached the side of the building but caused no significant damage. Police are investigating the cause, which is not thought to be suspicious at this stage.

A Bunkie police officer will face the town council for discipline after an inquiry found he acted aggressively towards a handcuffed man. On 22 September 2026, Officer Garrett Greer confronted Jason Dove during booking on a trespassing charge, slapping his chest and pinning him to the wall several times. Dove alleges Greer told him to leave Bunkie and that the altercation continued after the security footage ended, with officers ridiculing his possessions.

The Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena arranged a private suite with additional security for former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night. Freedom had expressed concerns about his personal safety to federal, state and local authorities, the WNBA, the Dream and arena officials. State police assigned an officer to Freedom at his request. This is his first WNBA game since late August, when he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game and banned from the arena following an interaction with guard Natasha Cloud.

General Motors has confirmed its eyes-off autonomous driving system will expand beyond the Cadillac Escalade IQ to light-duty pickups and crossover SUVs. GM chief product officer Sterling Anderson said the system would start on highways and expand to other driving conditions across the portfolio. The automaker also plans a longer-term 'mission mode' where vehicles handle tasks like grocery shopping without occupants.

Australian education unions have called for urgent legal protections after AI-generated sexual deepfakes targeting schoolgirls and female teachers became widespread. The Australian Education Union told a federal parliamentary inquiry that reports of deepfake abuse involving school-aged children had doubled in 18 months, with at least one school-related incident reported each week. Union leaders said the technology was creating serious safety risks and potentially driving teachers out of the profession.

The US Department of Agriculture confirmed on Wednesday that the flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite has been found in an elk on a game ranch in Pecos County, Texas, after the animal was harvested by a hunter. The parasite, eradicated from the US decades ago, has surged north from Central America through Mexico in recent years. Officials are urging hunters and ranchers to watch for signs of infection, including visible maggots in wounds and foul-smelling injuries, and to report suspicious cases immediately.

Tesla's third-quarter net income fell 44 per cent to $US787 million, though excluding certain items the company beat analyst expectations. Revenue was flat at $US28 billion. The firm sold nearly 490,000 vehicles, a rise from the prior quarter following a prolonged sales decline. Elon Musk said special committees at Tesla and SpaceX have been set up to discuss a possible merger between the two companies, though many hurdles remain.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has denied a retired judge's request for state-provided legal counsel following criminal charges against state Attorney General Liz Murrill that were later dismissed. Judge Laurie White, who served as special prosecutor, also had her request to pause a public records lawsuit denied. The case stemmed from letters Murrill wrote to New Orleans officials opposing court consolidation; she was charged with malfeasance and intimidation but the charges were dismissed in July.

Josh Jacobs apologised to his Green Bay Packers teammates on Wednesday as he returned to practice for the first time since pleading no contest to two misdemeanour charges stemming from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend. The three-time Pro Bowl running back was removed from the commissioner's exempt list this week, making him eligible to play again after missing the first six games of the season. The NFL is continuing to investigate the incident and could hand down further discipline.

The Trump administration has ended its legal appeals challenging a federal court ruling that blocked its attempt to reshape the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The Department of Justice dropped two appeals on Wednesday under joint agreements where each side pays its own costs, with no official explanation given. A federal judge had ruled in June that the administration's proposed changes to the programme, which would have allowed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to remove employers supporting undocumented immigrants or transgender youth, overstepped agency powers and threatened free speech protections.

North Wales Crusaders will not compete in the Championship in 2027, with owner Jamie Elkaleh expressing frustration. The club says it has fulfilled all RFL requirements and provided financial assurances from three parties, but disputes the RFL's proposed escrow arrangements, insisting any arrangement must be fully independent. The club is seeking a meeting with RFL CEO Ian Nolan to present its business plan and secure a reprieve.

Leapmotor is entering Australia's small car segment with the B05 electric hatchback, which features rear-wheel drive and suspension tuning by Stellantis. The base Style variant is available for $35,990 drive-away until the end of 2026. The hatchback competes in a growing market of small Chinese electric vehicles, though it is not the cheapest option available.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has backed a pioneering trial called Ad-Smart that will test multiple drugs simultaneously to find treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The trial, spearheaded by the UK Dementia Research Institute and Alzheimer's Research UK, could more than halve the time needed to evaluate new therapies. Burnham's backing follows the death of his father Roy in September from the disease.

Pharmacy leaders and charities have launched a campaign calling for prescription charges to be scrapped in England, where they remain unlike Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A survey of 1,781 adults found 10% have gone without prescribed medicine because of cost, and 12% delayed collecting prescriptions for the same reason. The National Pharmacy Association described the charges as a 'cruel tax on illness' and urged the Chancellor to eliminate them in the upcoming Budget.

Britain and its northern European allies face significant military gaps in the Arctic, according to a Defence Committee report. MPs warn that shortages of Royal Navy warships could leave the UK vulnerable to Russian military expansion and maritime sabotage. The committee says dramatic progress is needed by 2030, citing shortfalls in anti-submarine warfare and the breakdown of HMS Protector, the UK's only ice patrol ship.

Blackpool is one of four places shortlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029 title, alongside Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham. The winning location will receive a £10 million prize fund and a boost for investment, jobs and tourism. Each shortlisted place will receive at least £125,000 to develop its bid before the final decision in early 2027.

Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan, the Welsh Labour politician who spearheaded the creation of the NHS, was monitored by MI5 for more than two decades, according to files released to the National Archives. The security service first opened a file on the backbench Labour MP for Ebbw Vale in the 1930s over concerns about his links with known communists. At one point, the MI5 director general became concerned enough about Bevan's links to a known Russian spy to brief Prime Minister Clement Attlee at No 10.

Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham have made the final shortlist to become UK City of Culture for 2029. Each of the four contenders will receive at least £125,000 to develop their proposals for the chance to secure the title and a £10 million prize fund. The title is awarded every four years and is currently held by Bradford.

Consumers are paying up to eight times more for vitamin gummies and sprays than traditional tablets and capsules despite receiving fewer nutrients, Which? has said. The watchdog compared nutrient content, doses, additives and costs across supplements, finding shoppers pay 'hundreds of pounds more than they need to' by choosing gummy and spray options. Switching from gummies to tablets could save consumers hundreds of pounds annually whilst providing higher nutrient doses.

River campaigners in York are demanding independent testing after reporting high E. coli levels in the Ouse at Blue Bridge, exceeding the 'sufficient' bathing water standard. Testing data from 21 samples since May 2026 recorded an average of 1,379 cfu/100ml, above the 900 cfu/100ml threshold. The campaign group Ouse It or Lose It is holding a public meeting to discuss the findings.

One resident was killed and eight injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday. The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and family members to leave Saudi Arabia, citing increasing hostilities by Iran-backed Houthis against civilian targets including airports and critical infrastructure. The airport suffered material damage and flights were diverted.