Michael West Media

August 29, 2026 05:23 | News Iran has condemned the United States’ new economic sanctions as “state terrorism” and says other countries are legally obliged not to implement them while the US Treasury Department announced additional targeted Iran-related measures.

Australians are searching for loved ones missing in floods along the Nepal-Tibet border as aid groups warn of a looming humanitarian disaster. At least 580 people have died and more than 2000 are missing, including 38 Australians, after a landslide of ice and rock burst the banks of the Trishuli River on Wednesday. Chinese and Nepalese authorities have warned further flooding may occur, complicating rescue efforts and posing a risk to communities in the area.

August 29, 2026 02:17 | News Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh says inflation is still too high and has suggested the US central bank may have to raise interest rates in the coming months to bring it down. “We must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed. Otherwise, we have work to do,” he said in a major speech on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

King Harald of Norway passed away on Friday. The country mourns while welcoming his son as the next regent. But will King Haakon be the last, our own (lapsed) Norwegian, Kim Wingerei asks? When he took over from his father, the much revered and loved King Olav, in 1991, some people were unsure who he was and whether he could live up to the standard Olav had set. In his 36 years as King, he did, with more than 9 out of 10 supporting him, according to recent polls.

August 28, 2026 16:52 | News Laws to create an Australian-first legal right for employees to work from home are in limbo after a second pause in as many weeks. Victoria’s upper house was expected to debate the legislation on Friday after Premier Ben Carroll earlier in August pushed back its start date to mid-2027 and flagged “sensible amendments”.

Real wages are down, and the RBA is afraid to change that. Recovery may be unachievable unless real wages grow or profits and wages are redistributed. Economist Greg Jericho explains. Prior to the pandemic, governments drove the decline in nominal and real wage growth through public sector wage caps of no more than 2.5% annual growth. Such caps demonstrated the strong role the public sector plays in setting the overall level of wage growth across the entire economy, including the private sector.

August 28, 2026 15:27 | News Researchers will be evacuated from a World Heritage island to protect their mental health amid a worsening bird flu outbreak, as it emerges a dolphin has tested positive for the virus. The Australian Antarctic Division says it will withdraw staff from the Australian territory of Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean to protect the psychological wellbeing of its scientists.

Air New Zealand says high fuel costs and maintenance constraints pushed ​the airline to its largest annual loss in three years. The carrier has been dealing with engine maintenance problems since 2023, when Pratt & Whitney recalled more than 1000 engines used on Airbus aircraft for inspections, leading to intermittent groundings in subsequent years.

August 28, 2026 14:00 | News Home appliance retail giant Harvey Norman is refurbishing many of its stores as part of efforts to lure shoppers back in after a big drop in foot traffic. The number of shoppers coming into Harvey Norman’s 195 Australian franchise locations is down 10 to 20 per cent, says executive chairman Gerry Harvey. “It’s across retail everywhere, except Chemist Warehouse.

An intervention from the prime minister on Australia’s refugee intake is not a reflection of Labor’s broader overhaul of migration numbers, a cabinet minister says. Anthony Albanese confirmed on Thursday the nation’s annual refugee intake would remain at 20,000 people, despite earlier reports suggesting it could be cut by one-third to 13,750 at the next federal budget.