A ‘knee-jerk reaction’ or ending ‘havoc’? The divide over Melbourne’s e-scooter ban

Taxpayers will cover the legal expenses of Helga Lam, a former Sydney boys' school teacher cleared of historical sex abuse charges against male students due to a 1970s law that only applied to men abusing boys. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal found the legislation targeted male-male homosexual conduct. Lam was accused of 15 counts of indecent assault, including intercourse and sexual acts, on students aged 13 to 16. Another ex-teacher, Gaye Grant, was also...

Australian comedian Stephanie Broadbridge faced legal threats from Olympic breakdancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn over her musical homage show, leading to its cancellation. Broadbridge issued an apology for any hurt caused and rebranded the show as ‘Breaking: The Musical’ without using Raygun’s name or likeness. The revamped show will continue with performances in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, focusing on a fictional retelling of Australian history based on internet research. Full Article

A 26-year-old mother named Valerie, who had recently returned from working in Queensland, was among the casualties of Vanuatu's worst earthquake in a century, with the death toll at 14 and over 200 injured. Australian rescue teams arrived in Port Vila, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to provide aid and support as the country begins its recovery efforts. The earthquake caused significant destruction of key infrastructure, with international assistance needed, while locals remain fearful...

A South Australian father had to perform CPR on his seven-year-old son Leo, who was unresponsive and experiencing a seizure, while waiting for an ambulance that took 35 minutes to arrive instead of the expected 16 minutes. SA Ambulance acknowledged the unacceptable delay caused by a busy afternoon for crews and conducted a review of the response time. The father expressed hope that authorities will take action to prevent similar distressing situations for other families...

Richard Curtis has only seen ‘Love Actually’ twice since its release in 2003, with one viewing being a "ghastly" experience at an American cinema. The second time, with a live orchestra at Drury Lane, was much more enjoyable, with a sweet moment when his family members received applause. In his new animated festive movie ‘That Christmas’, there is a joke referencing ‘Love Actually’, highlighting how older films like his may be perceived by younger audiences....

Ashwin unexpectedly retired from international cricket after a bizarre Test match at the Gabba, where Australia's top order collapsed in a frenzied hour on day five before the game was called off due to severe weather. Despite the draw, Australia faces doubts about its vulnerable batters while India has successfully navigated the first three Tests and needs just one win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Hazlewood injured, Australia must rely on Khawaja, Marsh, and...