A fire broke out in a single room on the second floor of an Ibis Budget Hotel on the Hume Highway in Strathfield South at approximately 9:45pm, leading to the evacuation of 100 guests. The blaze was contained within 25 minutes, with five people treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital as a precaution. Fire and Rescue officials are treating the incident as accidental, believed to have been caused by a cigarette igniting a mattress in the room.

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Widow's Bay is a new comedy-horror television series starring Emmy Award winner Matthew Rhys from The Americans, alongside Kate Flynn and Stephen Root. The show, written by Katie Dippold of Parks and Recreation, is a homage to 1980s horror films and Stephen King's work, following a small island mayor who refuses to believe residents' claims that their town is cursed. The series blends mystery, comedy and horror in equal measure, drawing comparisons to classic films like Jaws, Halloween, The Shining and Misery.

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A crew member in his 30s has gone missing from a commercial ship off the coast of South Port Phillip Bay near Melbourne. Emergency services were alerted at 8.30pm after the ship's crew reported the man missing while approaching the heads after leaving port. A multi-agency air and water search operation is continuing overnight.

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Four ISIS brides and nine children have been blocked from leaving Syria for Australia, with Syrian authorities claiming the Australian government refused to receive them at Damascus airport. The Australian government maintains it is not providing assistance to repatriate individuals who travelled overseas to support ISIS, though it is legally required to issue passports if requested. Political debate continues over border security measures and whether temporary exclusion orders should be implemented.

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An interim report into anti-Semitism has delivered 14 recommendations to the government following the Bondi terror attack. The report reveals that counter-terrorism funding had declined despite a 31% increase in overall intelligence agency budgets, and finds that Jewish Australians now face greater risk than before the attack. The Royal Commissioner determined no immediate restructuring of counter-terrorism agencies is required, though both Commonwealth and state governments have accepted all recommendations for enhanced operations.

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Rebel Wilson has completed her testimony in a defamation trial brought against her by the lead actress from her directorial debut film. The actress claims Wilson made false public statements about her to 11 million social media followers, with allegations including lying, stalking and bullying raised during cross-examination. The case has concluded with a verdict expected in several weeks, potentially impacting Wilson's career and public reputation as she transitions into directing and awaits the arrival of her second child.

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Four ISIS brides and nine children have been blocked from leaving Syria for Australia, with Syrian authorities claiming the Australian government refused to receive them at Damascus airport. The incident has sparked debate about government protocols, as ministers maintain Australia will not assist in repatriating individuals who supported ISIS, despite legal obligations to issue passports. Additionally, an interim report into anti-Semitism following the Bondi terror attack has delivered 14 recommendations, revealing funding concerns and finding that Jewish Australians face greater risk than before the attack.

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New research from ING reveals singles face significantly higher living costs than couples, saving approximately $400 less per month and holding around $20,000 less in savings on average. Fixed expenses like rent, mortgages, internet and utilities don't scale down for single-person households, resulting in singles paying roughly $800 more per month or $9,300 annually in bills. Bill stress also hits singles sooner, at around $1,600 monthly income compared to $2,400 for couples.

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Iran's supreme leader has rejected peace negotiations with the United States, vowing not to relinquish the country's nuclear and missile capabilities while maintaining control of the Gulf region and Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has escalated his rhetoric in response, demanding Iran comply soon, while both sides claim victory in recent conflicts. The standoff centres on Iran's refusal to negotiate on missiles following recent warfare, Trump's blockade strategy that has pushed oil prices above $125, and slim prospects for diplomatic resolution despite potential flexibility on some issues.

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Police raided the luxury Burleigh Heads beachfront apartment of Dr Reza Adib, partner of former Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, seizing several items of interest. The investigation does not involve Palaszczuk herself, though no charges have been laid and the nature of the investigation remains unclear. The raid occurred as Palaszczuk was promoting her new memoir, which includes candid details about her relationship with the Brisbane surgeon.

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