The 2026 Perth Festival has officially opened, transforming the city with immersive installations, powerful storytelling, and large-scale cultural programming that places community and connection at its centre. A highlight of this year’s festival is Karla Bidi, meaning “fire trail” in the Noongar language. The installation stretches along the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), featuring illuminated gathering points that symbolise traditional First Nations practices of coming together around campfires. The light and sound experience invites visitors to reflect on culture, place, and shared history while engaging with Perth’s natural landscape. Festival organisers have positioned the river at the heart of this year’s programming, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and community participation. Among the featured works are interactive installations encouraging residents and visitors to share personal stories, creating a living tapestry of voices across the city. The Noongar-inspired elements underscore the importance of recognising ancient traditions and Country as a living part of Australia’s contemporary cultural identity. Through light, sound, and performance, the festival explores themes of resilience, belonging, and cultural memory. Running until 1 March, Perth Festival 2026 features events for all ages, including evening light displays, performances, and city-wide creative projects celebrating both local and international artists. As the installations illuminate the city each night, the festival continues to draw crowds to Perth’s public spaces, reinforcing the role of arts and culture in strengthening community connection and celebrating Australia’s diverse creative landscape.

Brisbane, The Queensland Government has announced a new suite of gun control measures aimed at tightening firearms ownership rules and bolstering public safety in the wake of rising community concerns. Under the proposed reforms, most firearm licences would be restricted to Australian citizens, limiting access for other categories of permit holders. The laws also introduce tougher penalties for criminal use of guns, including mandatory minimum sentences for offences such as drive-by shootings and serious weapon-related crimes. In addition to citizenship-based licensing restrictions, the legislation targets loopholes that may be exploited for illegal purposes, such as the creation or possession of improvised weapons, including those made with 3D printing technology. Police powers to seize unregistered firearms have also been strengthened under the reforms. The announcement comes as part of a broader effort by the state government to address community safety risks and respond to national debates on gun control following a terror attack in Sydney late last year. Senior ministers have said the changes aim to strike a balance between responsible firearm ownership and greater protections for the public. However, the new measures have drawn criticism from some gun safety advocates and civil liberties groups, who argue that the reforms do not go far enough and could leave gaps in preventing firearm misuse. Opposition parties in Queensland have also signalled concerns about the potential impacts on lawful firearm owners, particularly those in rural and regional areas. Community leaders and victim support organisations have welcomed aspects of the reforms, noting the importance of preventing violent crime and reducing access to dangerous weapons. Public consultations and parliamentary debate on the legislation are expected in the coming weeks. The gun law reforms mark a significant step in Queensland’s approach to public safety policy, reflecting a renewed focus on reducing gun-related harm while balancing the rights and responsibilities of legal firearm holders.

The Australian share market enjoyed its strongest trading session since April 2025 on Monday, as investor sentiment improved and broad gains drove the S&P/ASX 200 index higher. The benchmark ASX 200 rose sharply, climbing by 1.85 per cent, marking its most robust performance in nearly a year and clawing back losses from recent sessions. All 11 main market sectors finished in positive territory, reflecting broad-based confidence among traders and investors. Technology stocks led the rebound, with major firms in the information technology sector posting significant gains. The real estate and financial sectors also delivered strong performances, contributing to the market’s overall upward trajectory. Market analysts said the rebound was supported by renewed optimism from global markets, particularly in technology shares, as well as positive sentiment ahead of a busy corporate earnings week. Local data showing softer household spending in December did little to dampen market enthusiasm, with investors focusing instead on momentum in key sectors. Mining and commodity prices were mixed, with iron ore prices trading lower, while gold continued to rise on sustained demand from central bank purchases. The Australian dollar remained steady against major currencies, supported by the market’s overall resilience. Notable individual stock movements, including gains among technology and infrastructure companies, further boosted investor confidence. Some real estate and financial stocks also attracted buying interest, contributing to the market’s broad gains. The strong performance on Monday provided a welcome rebound after a recent sell-off and offered early-week optimism for traders ahead of important economic data and upcoming company earnings reports.

The Australian government has raised serious concerns about child safety on the popular online gaming platform Roblox, with officials calling on the company to explain how it safeguards young users from harmful content and inappropriate contact. Recent reports have highlighted instances where children using the platform have been exposed to sexualised content, material encouraging self-harm, and contact from adults in ways that raise potential grooming red flags. In response, federal communications authorities have signalled they are reviewing Roblox’s classification and safety measures to determine whether current protections are sufficient for younger players. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government has written to Roblox, urging urgent action to strengthen protections for children. The platform’s current PG rating in Australia requires parental guidance but does not impose strict content controls. Officials are now considering whether this rating remains appropriate, given the growing popularity of the game among primary and early secondary-school-aged children. The online safety watchdog is also expected to conduct tests of Roblox’s moderation systems to assess whether they effectively filter offensive and harmful content. Parents, educators, and child safety advocates have welcomed the scrutiny, arguing that digital environments must be safe by design and not rely solely on reactive measures. Critics of current safety systems say platforms with large child audiences bear a responsibility to implement age-appropriate safeguards, clear reporting tools, and robust moderation protocols. They say failure to address these issues can expose vulnerable users to psychological harm and unsafe interactions. Roblox has not yet publicly released details of how it intends to respond to the government’s request, but technology industry analysts say global platforms must increasingly prioritise user safety as part of regulatory expectations. The debate highlights broader concerns over digital content safety and the need for clearer standards to protect children in online gaming and social spaces, where global communities intersect, and content can spread rapidly.

NSW has announced what it is calling the nation’s largest Australia Day 2026 program, with a full day of free events across the state and a major focus on Sydney Harbour from dawn until late night. The program weaves together First Nations ceremonies, family activities, harbour spectacles and a star‑studded concert at the Sydney Opera House, framed as a day for both celebration and reflection following the recent Bondi terror attack. Dawn ceremonies and First Nations focus Sydney’s program begins with a Dawn Reflection as the sails of the Sydney Opera House are illuminated with artwork by Aboriginal artist Garry Purchase, signalling the start of the day’s commemorations on Eora Country. This is followed by the WugulOra Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo’s Walumil Lawns, continuing a tradition that acknowledges the cultural and spiritual significance of 26 January for First Nations peoples and invites the wider community to reflect on history and resilience. Harbourfest on water and in the sky From late morning, Sydney Harbour transforms into a large‑scale Harbourfest with a sequence of on‑water and aerial events designed for spectators along the foreshore and on vessels. Signature elements include the Ferrython, the Midday Salute honouring Australian veterans through a tri‑forces display, the Harbour Parade with decorated boats, the Tall Ships Race and the 190th Australia Day Regatta, billed as the world’s oldest annual sailing event. Family activities around Circular Quay Around Circular Quay, the program emphasises accessible, family‑friendly activities spanning much of the day. Surf Life Saving NSW will run its Fun in the Sun activation at First Fleet Lawn, offering free games and water‑safety education for children, while the Mega Kidz Zone at the Overseas Passenger Terminal returns with large‑scale games, inflatables and arcade attractions aimed at younger audiences. Australia Day Live concert and tribute The evening culminates in Australia Day Live, a free concert on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House set against the harbour and bridge, positioned as the emotional centrepiece of the program. An all‑star Australian lineup features Cody Simpson, Kate Ceberano, William Barton, Jude York and supergroup The Fabulous Caprettos (Wendy Matthews, Rai Thistlethwayte, Dave Gleeson and Joe Camilleri), alongside performers such as Burn the Floor and John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra, with a fireworks and aerial display over Circular Quay closing the night.     A key segment of the concert will be a tribute to those affected by last month’s Bondi terror attack, which claimed multiple lives and left the state in mourning. Sydney band SHIR, associated with the Australian Jewish Music Festival and known for a widely shared rendition of “I Am Australian” at the Bondi vigil, is slated to perform as part of a moment of shared remembrance embedded within the broader celebration Statewide events and government message Beyond Sydney, local councils and communities across New South Wales will host citizenship ceremonies, community festivals and Australia Day Ambassador Program events, with more than 100 Australians recognised for their contributions travelling to regional and suburban locations. The NSW Government is promoting the 2026 program as the largest of its kind in the country, highlighting its free, statewide nature and promising further detail closer to the day.   Premier Chris Minns has framed the day as an opportunity to focus on shared beliefs in freedom, respect and a “fair go,” while acknowledging the contested nature of the date and underscoring the need for space to reflect on First Nations history and the trauma of recent events such as the Bondi attack. Jobs and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper has emphasised themes of diversity, mateship and unity, stressing that the expanded program is designed to allow people to participate in ways that suit them, whether at harbour spectaculars, formal ceremonies or smaller gatherings with family and friends.

More than 2200 locations across Victoria have been approved for mobile speed camera use in January 2026, as authorities refresh their enforcement map for the new year. The official list, published monthly by the Victorian Government, now includes 2262 potential sites where cameras can be deployed at any time during the month. What’s changed this month The January update brings a modest reshuffle, with six new camera locations added and ten removed from the state-wide schedule. While the overall coverage remains extensive, the adjustments fine-tune enforcement around both regional and metropolitan roads.   New locations: Warrnambool: Aitkins Road, Raglan Parade and the Princes Highway. Hamilton: Mt Napier Road and Coleraine Road. Toolern Vale: An additional site on Diggers Rest–Coimadai Road.   Removed locations: Anakie Road (Bell Park), Barkers Road (Hawthorn East), Bennett Road (Horsham), Clarendon Street (East Melbourne), Cookes Road (Doreen), Edgecombe Road (Kyneton), Gardenia Street (Horsham), Meeniyan–Promontory Road (Buffalo), Sheepwash Road (Barwon Heads), and one of two entries for the Princes Highway in Moe, with one Moe listing remaining active. How sites are selected Each mobile camera site must satisfy at least one safety or enforcement criterion before it is approved for use. The aim is to target high‑risk or problematic areas rather than placing cameras at random. A recent history of speed‑related crashes or road trauma over the past three years.   Confirmed complaints about speeding from community members or local councils.   Identification by police as a location with persistent speed issues.   Situations where other enforcement options are considered unsuitable, making mobile cameras the most practical tool. Who runs the cameras Victoria Police decide when and where each camera operates, but day‑to‑day operation is handled by private contractor Serco. The devices are housed in unmarked vehicles and rely on Gatso T‑Series camera units supplied by road safety technology company Sensys Gatso. Serco has been providing traffic camera services to Victoria since 2007, with its current contract—first awarded in 2019—extended through to October 2029.   The partnership covers the deployment, operation and maintenance of the mobile enforcement fleet across the state. Trailer-based cameras on the way Victoria is also moving toward wider use of trailer‑mounted portable speed cameras following a recent trial. A new agreement will see Sensys Gatso supply trailer‑based systems to Serco until October 2029, indicating these units are expected to become a regular part of the enforcement mix.   Trailer cameras are already in use in Tasmania, where Sensys Gatso supplies and operates similar systems.   Authorities say the combination of vehicle‑based and trailer‑mounted cameras is intended to strengthen speed compliance and reduce road trauma across both Melbourne and regional Victoria.

It was a birthday to remember for six‑year‑old Charlie McEvoy from Noosa, whose dream of becoming a police officer received an unforgettable boost last weekend. Charlie and his mum Katie had recently visited Noosa Police Station to invite the local officers to his upcoming birthday party. During their visit, police gave the crime‑fighting enthusiast a quick station tour, a memorable experience for the young boy already proudly wearing a junior police uniform given to him by Santa last Christmas. Just a few days later, Charlie’s dream came true. Senior Constable Joel Schoenberger and Constable Alex Browne surprised him by driving their patrol car right up to his party on Saturday, January 10. The officers let Charlie climb inside, try the siren, and handed him a very special birthday present: a custom mini vest complete with a badge naming him Special Constable Charlie. “It was such a lovely morning,” said Charlie’s mum Katie. “The officers were incredible. They made his day unforgettable.” Constable Browne told MAN TV it was just as special for them: “We were thrilled to help make Charlie’s birthday a little bit more memorable.” The celebration was entirely police‑themed from the decorations to the cake but what stood out most was the community spirit between officers and residents. Katie said the experience still comes up in every conversation: “Charlie tells everyone he meets about his police party, even people we run into while walking the dog.” It’s moments like these that remind Queenslanders how strong connections between local police and the community can inspire the next generation. Source: Queensland Police Service Media Release “Noosa officers make a birthday wish come true” (Jan 16, 2026)

Indonesian fisheries surveillance flight PK-THT has crashed in mountainous terrain in South Sulawesi after vanishing from radar during a domestic flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar, with all on board feared dead as large-scale search and recovery efforts continue. Indonesian authorities say wreckage from the ATR 42-500 turboprop, operated by Indonesia Air Transport on behalf of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, was found scattered across a remote peak in Maros Regency. Indonesian authorities have launched a major search and recovery operation after an Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500, registered PK-THT, disappeared from radar on Saturday while approaching Makassar in South Sulawesi with 11 people on board. The aircraft was operating a government fisheries surveillance mission between Yogyakarta and Makassar when contact was lost in poor weather over rugged mountain terrain. Officials from Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) report that the turboprop made its last radio contact at around 1:15–1:17pm local time, shortly after being cleared to approach Runway 21 at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. Air traffic controllers then lost both radar and voice communication, triggering an immediate alert and the deployment of ground and aerial search teams to the Bantimurung and Leang-Leang mountain area in Maros Regency, north-east of Makassar. Wreckage Located In Remote Mountains After searching through the night and resuming operations before dawn, joint SAR teams involving the military, police and volunteers reported the first visual signs of debris on steep slopes in the Maros highlands. By mid-morning, rescuers confirmed they had located major sections of the fuselage and a wide debris field on a remote mountain peak, accessible only on foot and by helicopter. Basarnas officials and local commanders say at least one body has been recovered from a ravine below the main wreckage site, and that the condition of the aircraft remains indicates a high‑impact crash with little chance of survivors. Recovery teams are working in hazardous conditions, hampered by fog, sheer cliffs and dense forest, and say it could take days to retrieve all victims and secure the flight’s black boxes. Victims And Mission Details Authorities state that 10 to 11 people were on board, including the flight crew and officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries travelling on an aerial monitoring mission over Indonesian waters. Local media report that three ministry personnel were among those on the flight, which had been converted from a standard passenger layout into an airborne surveillance platform in 2025. Indonesia Air Transport, which operated the aircraft under a government contract, has not yet released a full passenger and crew manifest pending notification of families. The ATR 42-500 involved first entered service in 2001 and was transferred into fisheries surveillance duty in 2025, according to independent aviation records. Investigation And Safety Concerns Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation has confirmed that a formal investigation is under way to determine why the aircraft went silent mid‑air so close to its destination. Investigators will examine air traffic control data, weather conditions, maintenance history and, once recovered, flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the wreckage site. The crash adds to Indonesia’s troubled aviation safety record, with the country’s geography, ageing fleets and challenging weather repeatedly highlighted as risk factors in past accidents. Officials stress that all available resources remain focused on locating every victim and securing key evidence, while counselling and support are being offered to grieving families in Makassar and Yogyakarta.

Brisbane Launches Funding Program to Support Future Olympic and ParalympicAthletes Brisbane City Council has announced a new program, "Brisbane Towards 32," to support athletes preparing for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The program starts with a $100,000 grant from the city, which will be matched by corporate donations through the Aussie Athlete Fund. This approach creates a pooled funding model to assist athletes. At least 18 athletes from Brisbane will receive grants of up to $10,000 each. The funding is intended to cover costs related to training, competition, equipment, coaching, and travel. The program is open to athletes from all sporting disciplines, with a focus on preparing individuals to represent Australia in 2032 and in future games. In addition to financial support, the initiative offers resources for professional development, such as networking and financial literacy training. The Aussie Athlete Fund, led by Natalie Cook, is a national organization aimed at reducing financial barriers for athletes. According to data from the Australian Sports Foundation, nearly half of Australia's top athletes earn below the poverty line, impacting their ability to participate in international competition. “The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are not just an opportunity to build a better Brisbane, they’re also a chance to invest in our homegrown sporting talent,” says Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. “The Brisbane Towards 32 program will take pressure off talented local athletes so they can focus on training hard competing at the highest level and chasing their dreams.” The Brisbane Towards 32 program is part of the Schrinner Councils broader strategy for the city in connection with the 2032 Games. The announcement included statements from Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Natalie Cook, who both emphasized the programs role in supporting athletes and the city’s preparations for the upcoming international event.

An international team, co-led by Southern Cross University, Indonesia’s national researchand innovation agency (BRIN) and Griffith University, discovered and dated cave paintingsmade by our species on the island of Sulawesi at least 67,800 years ago. The paintings were dated using advanced uraniumseries analysis of mineral deposits around the pigment, giving a solid minimum age for the artwork. The cave shows evidence of artistic activity spanning tens of thousands of years, with art being produced there up until about 20,000 years ago. “It is now evident from our new phase of research that Sulawesi was home to one of the world’s richest and most longstanding artistic cultures, one with origins in the earliest history of human occupation of the island at least 67,800 years ago,” said Professor Maxime Aubert, an archaeologist and geochemist from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR), who co-led the study. Importantly, the findings help strengthen the idea that modern humans were present in this region long before 65,000 years ago and likely used these islands as stepping stones in their journey from mainland Asia into what became Sahul — the ancient landmass of Australia and New Guinea. The age and location of the art support theories about early human migration through Indonesia into Australia, especially by groups closely linked to the ancestors of Indigenous Australians. This remarkable discovery not only rewrites part of the story of human artistic expression but also offers a powerful glimpse into how our ancestors moved, adapted, and expressed themselves tens of thousands of years ago. Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau from the Geo archaeology and Archaeometry Research Group (GARG) at Southern Cross University, who co-led the research, said the discovery sheds light on the most likely course of humans’ ancient island-hopping journey from mainland Asia to Sahul via the northern route. “With the dating of this extremely ancient rock art in Sulawesi, we now have the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul,” Professor Joannes-Boyau said.