Fears are growing that Australian produce could rot in fields if backpacker visa cuts go ahead. A federal agriculture department official told a Senate estimates hearing that no modelling had been done on the likely effect on harvests. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that second-year visa places will fall from 57,000 to 45,000, and third-year places from 31,000 to 5000. The Northern Territory government has warned that the Top End mango harvest could lose 1000 workers. The National Farmers Federation has urged the government to return to regular visa processing.
BINGE has released a first look at Wentworth: Halfway Home, five years after the original series ended. The show follows Susan 'Boomer' Jenkins, played by Katrina Milosevic, who is freshly paroled and moves into Sal's Halfway House to regain custody of her daughter. When a body is discovered, she must decide who she can trust. Rachel Griffiths and nine other cast members have joined the returning ensemble. Production is underway in Melbourne, and the series premieres exclusively on BINGE and Foxtel in late 2026.
A mud crab venture in Wadeye, a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, has grown into a full commercial operation. The Thamarrurr Sea Farmers now have up to 60 crab pots in the water and a team of nine workers. They send 35 to 50 kilograms of mud crabs to Darwin each week. Backers hope the industry could eventually employ about 100 people, though leaders say the growth will take time. The sea farmers say they are focused on sustainable harvesting.
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Cameron Green has impressed in training nets at Newlands ahead of Australia's third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The all-rounder is not yet cleared to bowl after a rare abdominal injury suffered in an ODI. He is expected to resume a specialist batting role, possibly away from the No.5 position. Matthew Renshaw has strong claims on that spot after his strong showing in Durban. The Test starts on Tuesday.
Entry-level mechanical watches are getting cheaper and better, and major brands are part of that trend. WIRED asked its watch experts to choose their favourite mechanical watch under $400. The list includes models from Caravelle, Orient, Timex, Sea-Gull, Baltic, Bulova, Citizen, Vostok and Seiko. Each pick is described by its price, size, movement and water resistance, along with the reasons the experts gave for choosing it.
A renovated three-bedroom bungalow on Maribyrnong Road in Moonee Ponds sold at auction on Saturday for $1,375,000. The home sold $25,000 above its reserve after two bidders competed. The vendors bought it in early 2023 for $880,000. In Clifton Hill, a Victorian terrace house sold for $1,451,000 at auction, with five bidders pushing the price more than $160,000 above its $1.29 million reserve. Agents said buyer interest picked up in recent weeks.
A renovated three-bedroom bungalow on Maribyrnong Road in Moonee Ponds sold at auction on Saturday for $1,375,000. The home sold $25,000 above its reserve after two bidders competed. The vendors bought it in early 2023 for $880,000. In Clifton Hill, a Victorian terrace house sold for $1,451,000 at auction, with five bidders pushing the price more than $160,000 above its $1.29 million reserve. Agents said buyer interest picked up in recent weeks.
Travis Head has called for Australia's batsmen to build stronger partnerships ahead of the third Test in Cape Town. He said the side has relied on one batter per innings rather than a collective effort. Head made 121 in Gqeberha, but Australia was bowled out for 99 in the innings that led to their loss. Head said the team has struggled to find partnerships in recent weeks, despite facing strong attacks. Head also said batting order makes little difference to his approach, and he expects his place as opener to stay for now.
Preliminary police data shows property offences in Darwin have risen since October last year, returning to 2024 levels in July and August 2026. Across the Northern Territory, property offences fell 15 per cent and offences against the person fell 6 per cent in the government's second year. Alice Springs has seen significant reductions in both crime types, while Katherine's crime levels are similar to or worse than two years ago. Rural areas have not shown the drops the government's measures targeted. The government did not respond to a request for comment.
Samsung has added a wider foldable phone to its lineup, likely in response to leaks about Apple's iPhone Duo. The wider screen shows video with less wasted space and suits reading documents and portrait-mode apps better than square foldable screens. Foldable phones remain expensive, but the gap with top flat phones has narrowed as flat phone prices have risen. Apple's iPhone Duo costs $2,000, while Samsung's wide model costs $1,900 and has been discounted at some retailers since launch.
A technology reviewer has listed smartphones sold outside the United States that are worth considering, along with several models to avoid. Recommended options include the Xiaomi 17T, Oppo Find N6 and Honor Magic 7 Pro, each judged on performance, camera and software. The guide also advises buyers importing phones to check whether the device supports the mobile network bands used by their carrier. It warns that customs charges can add significant cost, and that phones released only in China often lack Google services.
Calls are growing for improved safety and domestic, family and sexual violence services in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. A 26-year-old man has faced court over the alleged murder of a 16-year-old girl in a domestic violence attack in Alpurrurulum. Special Envoy Marion Scrymgour has asked governments to reopen the police station there, which closed in 2018. She says violence is also affecting women and children in Wadeye and Katherine. The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory has called for urgent investment in specialist support, safe accommodation and permanent police presence.
Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt reportedly owns about 1 per cent of AI lab Anthropic, according to Bloomberg. That is roughly twice the 2 per cent held by co-founder and chief executive Dario Amodei, if the estimate is accurate. Schmidt reportedly invested tens of millions of dollars in Anthropic's 2021 Series A round, when the startup was valued at $461 million. Anthropic is widely expected to go public before the end of the year, with some estimates valuing it at up to $2 trillion. At that valuation, Schmidt's net worth could rise by as much as $20 billion.
Cettire founder and chief executive Dean Mintz has listed his modernist Toorak mansion for between $18.2 million and $20 million. Mr Mintz bought the five-bedroom house in 2021 for $14.5 million. The home features a heated pool, a six-car garage, a wine cellar and a spiral staircase that took six months to install. Melbourne Sotheby's International Realty agents Antoinette Nido, Max Ruttner and Casey Jiang are handling the sale. The house sits in a cul-de-sac close to Toorak Village and schools.
The NBA season kicks off with the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics leading the power rankings. The Thunder, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a strong defensive lineup, are projected to top the league. The Spurs, featuring Victor Wembanyama and a revamped roster, aim for a deep playoff run. The Celtics, despite trading Jaylen Brown, remain competitive with Jayson Tatum and new additions like Paul George. Other teams like the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets also show promise, setting the stage for an unpredictable season.
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Darwin calls itself the city of birds, with about 200 bush bird species and dozens of waterfowl, seabirds and shorebirds across the Top End. Charles Darwin University ornithology researcher John Woinarski says the seasonal climate and small local population make the region a safe haven for many species wiped out elsewhere. He says the region's birds are almost all native, unlike much of the rest of Australia. Photographs from across the Top End feature crimson finches, rainbow bee-eaters and an all-black blue-winged kookaburra, which Professor Woinarski describes as a genetic fluke.
The Rugby League World Cup begins tomorrow in Parramatta, when Australia plays Samoa. The Jillaroos have won 15 of their last 16 matches and are heavy favourites. Samoa is 53.5-point underdogs, after losing 60-0 to Australia last year. New Zealand is seen as the only side with a realistic chance of beating Australia. England will face Australia in Perth next week.
