7News Just In

The federal government faces scrutiny after several government agencies spent almost $80,000 sending staff to a leadership summit headlined by former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Australian fashion retailer DISSH has introduced two weeks of extra paid leave exclusively for employees who are parents with children under 12, reigniting workplace fairness debates. A father named Joe Barbour sparked controversy after throwing his 13-year-old son's Nintendo Switch out of a car window as punishment for misbehaviour.

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Australian banks are slashing credit card reward earning rates by up to 50 percent ahead of a surcharge ban taking effect on October 1st. NAB has announced cuts to rewards on cards linked to Bank of Queensland, Virgin Money and MyCard brands. Banks are also increasing fees and reducing airport lounge access for cardholders.

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ASIC has issued an urgent warning about a surge in 'pump and dump' scams, where fraudsters use fake AI-generated images and videos of finance experts on social media to lure victims into private chat groups. In the last two weeks, 16 people have reported losses totalling over $2.75 million after being manipulated into investing in stocks to artificially inflate prices before scammers sell out, leaving victims with worthless shares. The scams typically begin with social media advertisements featuring fake celebrity endorsements, then move to private forums on apps like WhatsApp where victims are pressured to invest their savings.

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Melbourne and Sydney have been ranked as the world's most expensive cities for purchasing beer and cigarettes, according to Deutsche Bank data. Australians pay at least $50 more than Auckland residents and double what New Yorkers pay, with rising alcohol and tobacco excises responsible for the steep prices. Australia's smoking rate has dropped to a record low of 5.6% among people over 14, with more than two-thirds of Australians having never smoked and vaping among young adults also declining.

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Melbourne and Sydney have been ranked as the world's most expensive cities for purchasing beer and cigarettes, according to Deutsche Bank data. Australians pay at least $50 more than Auckland residents and double what New Yorkers pay, with rising alcohol and tobacco excises responsible for the steep prices. Australia's smoking rate has dropped to a record low of 5.6% among people over 14, with more than two-thirds of Australians having never smoked and vaping among young adults also declining.

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ARN Media alleges in Federal Court documents that former KIIS FM host Jackie 'O' Henderson made a workplace harassment complaint in bad faith to exit her multi-million dollar contract and secure work in another radio timeslot. Henderson is seeking the full remaining payout of her $100 million contract, claiming she was unfairly dismissed after refusing to work with co-host Kyle Sandilands. ARN contends her bullying complaint was made outside of workplace legal guidelines.

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A three-storey Airbnb mansion in Lockleys, Adelaide's west, has been destroyed by fire, with damage estimated at over $2 million. Three tourists from Alice Springs escaped the blaze with their pet dog after waking to smoke-filled rooms around 4am. Investigators believe an electrical fault in a disused sauna on the second floor started the fire, which took firefighters almost an hour to control.

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A man charged with the murder of 74-year-old grandfather Quang Me Pham in Yennora, Sydney, was released from a mental health facility just months before the fatal attack. Corum Ash faces charges over the killing of Pham, who was walking in the area last week. An urgent internal review is examining the decision to discharge the accused, with experts pointing to potential under-resourcing in the New South Wales mental health system.

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A 36-year-old man has been charged with murder after allegedly setting his father alight outside a home in Glenmore Park, Sydney's west. The man in his 60s was found dead outside the burning property, with his son spotted leaving the scene shortly after the blaze began. The accused was treated for minor injuries before being charged and refused bail, and is scheduled to face court.

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US President Donald Trump has claimed in a primetime address that China compromised 220 million US voter files during the 2020 election cycle, calling it the largest compromise of election data in history. Trump announced the White House will release previously classified documents as proof and demanded criminal charges against those allegedly involved in covering up the data breach. The address comes months before the US midterm elections, with Trump calling for technical vulnerabilities to be fixed immediately.

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