2GB’s Ben Fordham pulls out of Liberal event, saying he didn’t realise it was fundraiser for party | Australian media newsthirst.

Nine’s 2GB radio host Ben Fordham has pulled out of a Liberal party fundraiser in Kirribilli, saying he did not realise the event was raising money for the political party when he accepted the invitation to speak. “Kirribilli Branch is honoured to be joined by Ben Fordham, Sydney’s No.1 radio presenter,” the invitation said. “Ben…

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Jumping castle only pegged down by half its anchor points when six children killed, Tasmanian court told | Tasmania newsthirst.

A jumping castle at the centre of a primary school tragedy that killed six children was lifted, spun around in circles and tossed 75 metres by a “mini-tornado”, a Tasmanian court has been told. Rosemary Gamble, operator of Taz-Zorb, which set up inflatable equipment at Hillcrest primary school on 16 December 2021, is facing a…

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Vodafone and Three merger could get go-ahead, says watchdog | Vodafone newsthirst.

The proposed £15bn merger between the telecoms companies Vodafone and Three to create the UK’s largest mobile phone operator could the go-ahead if they invest £11bn to upgrade the merged group’s network across the country, the competition watchdog has said. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said if the pair agreed to the pledge, including…

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US security agencies warn of Russian election disinformation blitz in swing states | US elections 2024 newsthirst.

Russia-linked disinformation operations have falsely claimed officials in battleground states plan to fraudulently sway the outcome of the US presidential election, authorities said a few hours ahead of the opening of polling booths in the 5 November vote. “Russia is the most active threat,” the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI…

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University fees to be set by new commission as Labor urged to reverse Scott Morrison’s price hikes | Australian universities newsthirst.

Labor has confirmed university fees will be set using advice from its proposed Australian Tertiary Education Commission, as it ramps up attacks on the Coalition for opposing Help debt cuts. The Albanese government’s plan to cut all Help debts by 20% and to lift the repayment threshold has drawn criticism from the opposition, students and…

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More than 500 new poker machines installed in NSW despite Chris Minns promising to slash numbers | Gambling newsthirst.

More than 500 new poker machines have been installed since Labor won office in New South Wales last year, despite a campaign pledge to cut their numbers in pubs and clubs. In January 2023, two months before the state election, the now premier, Chris Minns, declared a Labor government would “reduce the number of poker…

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