Thursday, 29 October 2026today, still filling

Richard Norton, 75, an Australian stuntman and fight choreographer who worked with Chuck Norris and served as bodyguard for David Bowie, died in March 2025 after cardiac arrest following injection of unapproved peptides. Victorian Coroner David Ryan found he had injected CJC1295 and Ipamorelin, which had been prescribed by a doctor. The coroner recommended the Therapeutic Goods Administration review the substances and consider restricting them to clinical trials only.

Australia's screen composers are warning against the growing use of artificial intelligence to generate soundtracks, comparing it to a non-stop diet of fast food. Josh Hogan, on the board of the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, wants a licensing regime for music used to train AI systems, with composers paid each time their tracks are used by AI models. Hogan argues that a shift towards 'AI slop' will significantly impact culture and the profession itself.

Utah has filed 13 felony charges against prediction market operator Kalshi and two of its executives, Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, after a federal judge rejected the company's attempt to prevent Utah from enforcing its anti-gambling laws. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said Kalshi continued to operate in the state despite a court ruling that Utah's gambling laws apply to the company. Kalshi called the charges a 'crazy overreach' and said it would challenge them in court, noting it had previously succeeded in similar litigation in Arizona.

A final Radio NZ-Reid Research poll before New Zealand's 7 November election shows Labour on 30.6 per cent and National on 24.8 per cent, with centrist party Opportunity at 7.2 per cent. National has dismissed the figures, which would represent its second worst result since foundation. Senior figures including Finance Minister Nicola Willis could lose their seats. However, other recent polls from TVNZ, The Post and the Taxpayers Union show different results, suggesting the election is exceptionally close.

A federal judge has rejected a Trump administration request to stop California from processing the ballots of up to 20,000 people, warning it would 'wreak havoc' on the midterm elections. The ruling by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter comes as more than 3.7 million people have already voted in California ahead of the 3 November election.

Australian actor and stuntman Richard Norton died in March 2025 after suffering cardiac arrest at his Melbourne home. The 75-year-old had been prescribed peptides CJC1295 and Ipamorelin by his doctor but injected double the recommended dose. The coroner found the overdose caused an anaphylactic reaction leading to his death, and recommended tougher restrictions on such substances.

Robert John Crawford, a former RAAF pilot, is accused of murdering his wife Frances in 2024 and staging the scene as a lawnmower accident. His trial in Brisbane Supreme Court has heard evidence of his affairs spanning two decades and marital breakdown. His adult children are expected to testify.

A department has reversed a ban on cricket pitches at schools after facing opposition. The move represents a partial victory for cricket-loving students, though concerns remain about the sport's future in education.

Australia's government is set to pass a domestic gas reservation scheme requiring producers to set aside 20 per cent of their annual exports for Australian consumers. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the policy will be rammed through the federal lower house by Labor's parliamentary majority on Thursday. The scheme aims to create a modest oversupply to help lower electricity prices and support manufacturing, though the Greens oppose it as potentially promoting damaging projects.

A teenager in Darwin has been charged with three terrorism offences following searches of his home by Australian Federal Police, Northern Territory Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Investigators alleged they found violent extremist material and instructions for making 3D-printed firearms on devices and documents seized from the boy. AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Paula Hudson said investigators were increasingly concerned about young people being radicalised online, stating that terrorists use the internet to radicalise vulnerable individuals at a rapidly increasing rate.

Chery has launched its premium Lepas brand in Australia as an electric and plug-in hybrid-only marque with a standalone dealer network. Lepas Australia boss Brad Ryan said the brand wanted to be 'distinctive' and operate independently, pledging it would exist 'forever'. The brand expects to open 23 dealers across Australia in November 2026 and plans at least eight additional models before 2028 following the L6 electric SUV launch. Lepas is one of eight brands the Chery group will operate in Australia by 2028, though executives say there is 'zero' risk of confusion between them despite shared components.

Record numbers of Australian households have turned to financial helplines in 2026 as high inflation and rising interest rates leave little room to cut spending. The National Debt Helpline has experienced record demand, with more than one-third of clients either working or self-employed. Economists predict another rate rise after September's headline inflation rose to 0.8 per cent monthly, bringing the annual rate to 4.3 per cent.

The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a Japanese facility for joint production of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced. The missiles, part of a programme called 'Operation Supercharge', are essential for F-35 fighter jets used by both militaries. Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the announcement in Cebu at a regional defence meeting, saying they had 'shared a sense of crisis' over the increasingly severe regional situation and agreed to strengthen their alliance's deterrence capabilities.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has defended the Budget against claims it lacks boldness, insisting there are 'strong signs that the economy will improve' whilst acknowledging the Government has limited 'room for manoeuvre'. He highlighted measures including a council tax cut to help 20 million households with energy costs and lifting 70,000 businesses out of business rates. However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the Budget's 'raft of fiddly measures' would do little to boost growth, whilst the Resolution Foundation said Chancellor John Healey had 'spread the jam thin'. Opposition leaders disagreed: Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it 'not good enough, not strong enough, not bold enough', and Reform UK's Robert Jenrick described it as a 'nothing burger'.

Three neighbours in Ipswich have won a combined £1 million in the People's Postcode Lottery after their postcode, IP1 6PN, was drawn on Thursday, October 29. One winner who played with two tickets took home £500,000, whilst the other two each won £250,000. This was the sixth postcode to win £1 million during the lottery's daily prize draws between October 24 and 31.

Scotland has banned the sale of all nicotine and herbal smoking products to under-18s as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. The rules, which came into force on 29 October, make it illegal for children to purchase pouches, strips, pearls and any herbal smoking products. Retailers must hold valid registration by 29 April 2027, making Scotland the only part of the UK to track where such products are sold. Vending machines can no longer stock these items and substantial discounts are banned.

Executive teams at Tasmania's three public companies responsible for the state's power received almost $10 million in wages over 2025-26. One energy boss earned twice as much as Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

Chancellor John Healey announced an increase in gambling taxes to fund business rates relief for high street firms, with 70,000 businesses to be taken out of paying rates altogether. Andy Lennox, re-elected to the Destination Management Board representing tourism across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, criticised the measures, saying rates relief means little when employment and operating costs keep rising and the relief has only helped 2.9 per cent of hospitality venues. He called for a VAT cut instead. The budget also includes a £100 payment for around 20 million households in council tax bands A to D to help with energy bills, at a cost of £2.6 billion.