Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro announces Christmas will start early

A woman, Mary Elizabeth Smith, is suing a Queens cafe after allegedly biting into a chicken wrap containing a human fingertip, leading to permanent trauma and medical treatment. The cafe's owner dismissed the claims as "ludicrous," suggesting she might have found the fingertip elsewhere, while a DNA test confirmed the remains were human and female. Want More Context? 🔎

A 53-year-old woman has been charged with sly grogging after Fitzroy Crossing police discovered over 100 litres of cask wine during a traffic stop on Great Northern Highway. The alcohol, valued at approximately $10,000, was seized, and authorities suspect it was intended for illegal sale in the area, with the woman set to appear in court in September. Want More Context? 🔎

A post-election round of student assistance payments has successfully supported over 420,000 students, distributing $81.4 million, with higher uptake leading to less funding for other relief measures. While the government plans to allocate unspent funds to parent groups for vulnerable students, the opposition criticizes cuts to other support programs. Want More Context? 🔎

Fremantle will host a home final on Saturday, September 6, after the AFL confirmed the schedule for the opening weekend of finals, marking their first finals appearance since 2022. The Dockers will face either Gold Coast or Hawthorn, with ticket sales to commence once the match time is confirmed; the preceding week will feature qualifying finals for Adelaide against Collingwood and Geelong against Brisbane. Want More Context? 🔎

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an expedited expansion of a scheme allowing first home buyers to secure properties with just a 5% deposit, aiming to enhance home ownership and rental availability. While facing criticism from Nationals leader David Littleproud for insufficient housing policy changes, Albanese emphasized his government's commitment to tax cuts and potential future tax reforms to improve efficiency and equity. Want More Context? 🔎

An AirAsia flight QZ545 from Perth to Bali was forced to return shortly after take-off due to engine issues, circling Rottnest Island before landing back at the airport about an hour later. Passengers were rebooked on flights scheduled for 3:30 AM and 6:30 AM the following day, with AirAsia yet to comment on the incident. Want More Context? 🔎