☕️ New claims against the CFMEU

In case you missed it, President Trump has used a centuries-old wartime law to deport Venezuelan nationals he claims are linked to a violent gang.

In today’s podcast, we explain how Trump, who promised the largest mass deportation in US history in the lead-up to last November’s presidential election, is bypassing traditional immigration laws. You can listen here.

“This is the biggest corruption scandal in our country’s history because we are talking about billions of dollars… that have been paid by ultimately Australian taxpayers.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton speaking at a press conference about Nine newspapers’ reports alleging the Victorian Government covered up criminal activity by the CFMEU. Find out more below.

90 minutes
The amount of time ABC Radio National was off air around the country on Monday morning. ABC News Radio and Triple J were also affected.

Google Images was created after Jennifer Lopez wore a green Versace dress open past the navel to the 2000 Grammys. The image became the most searched query in Google’s history at the time, prompting the company to launch the feature on 12 July 2001.

A U.S. man has been awarded $US50 million ($AU79 million) in damages from café chain Starbucks, after he was severely burned by a cup of tea.

In February 2020, a worker at a Starbucks drive-through in California failed to secure a cup of tea in its takeaway tray, which caused it to tip into delivery driver Michael Garcia’s lap.

Garcia sustained third-degree burns to his thighs, groin, and genitals, causing “permanent disfigurement”.

Following the incident, Garcia received treatment at a dedicated burns centre and had multiple skin grafts. In a statement to Instagram, his lawyers said the burns have caused him “disfigurement, pain, dysfunction, and psychological harm”.

After he launched legal action, the chain offered him $US30 million ($AU47 million) to settle his case in secret.

Garcia’s lawyers said he did not accept this settlement because Starbucks did not agree “to publicly apologise and promise to change policy to prevent this from happening again.”

According to Garcia’s lawyers, nine of the 12 jury members agreed to a total payout of $60 million, including $50 million in damages and $10 million for legal fees.

“Three jurors dissented and were crying, because they wanted the verdict to be $125 million,” his lawyers added.

The details of how the damages were calculated have not been made public.

A Starbucks spokesperson has said that it will appeal the decision, telling CBS News it believes the damages were “excessive” and that it was not at fault.

Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.

The NSW psychiatrists’ union has begun five days of official discussions with the State Government, following mass resignations.

The psychiatrists are seeking better pay and conditions.

The Government said “robust contingency plans” have been put in place to ensure anyone seeking mental health support during these discussions will “receive the care they depend on.”

The Industrial Relations Commission will listen to both sides before handing down a decision.

Psychiatrists are specialist doctors who diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Unlike psychologists, they can prescribe medications.

The public service workforce is represented by the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation of NSW (ASMOF).

ASMOF said NSW’s public mental health system has reached a crisis point that has been brewing for “over a decade,” fuelled by difficulties recruiting and retaining psychiatrists.

140 psychiatrists resigned from the public sector in 2024, followed by at least another 50 this year.

A total of 200 psychiatrists tendered their resignations in January, but some later delayed their exit, or were re-hired as contractors.

Hospitals have since experienced greater emergency department delays, hospital bed closures, and worsened conditions for both staff and patients.

The union said wait times for mental health patients have reached up to 90 hours.

ASMOF has been asking for an immediate 25% pay increase, which it says will bring NSW psychiatrists’ wages in line with other jurisdictions.

It’s also called for greater effort to address the workforce’s decreasing numbers.

The NSW Government has offered a 10.5% pay increase, which includes 1% superannuation, over three years.

It’s also offered a 10% allowance for excessive hours.

ASMOF said the delayed pay disputes have “plunged the healthcare system into crisis”.

President Dr Nick Spooner said delays in negotiations are “putting lives at risk.”

“The people of NSW deserve a functioning mental health system, but right now, we are watching it

fall apart in real time. This dispute is about the understaffing of mental health services in NSW [and] whether patients in crisis can access the care they need.”

In a statement to TDA, the NSW Government said it is committed to the Industrial Relations Commission’s “independent process to achieve a fair outcome.”

NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said while negotiations continue, the Government will ensure mental health support “remains available to anyone who needs it.”

“As we navigate this process, we want to be clear… providing continuity of care for our most vulnerable is not up for negotiation,” Jackson said.

The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), the peak national body for psychiatrists, said a solution is important to ensuring public “confidence” in the state’s mental health sector.

The organisation encourages both sides “to find a solution which addresses the critical system issues and ensures the community can access acute care as and when it is required.”

Reporting by Achol Arok.

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🍊 A Premier League team broke a 56-year drought.
🍊 Gout Gout blows past the competition.
🍊 Upsets across the board at Indian Wells.
🗞️ Also in today’s Sport Newsletter: rugby, F1, and more…

27 penguins from two different species in the New England Aquarium in Boston have outlived their expected lifespan of 15 years, with some living into their 40s. As a result, the aquarium has established a retirement area it told The New York Times is like a “country club for older animals”. Separating the young penguins means the older penguins can be fed properly and even undergo acupuncture and physical therapy. Manager of Penguins Diana Major said: "Being relaxed is key, and we think the new retirement home will ultimately lead to happier and healthier penguins.”

Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!

Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.

A Peruvian fisherman has been rescued after being lost at sea for 95 days.

61-year-old Maximo Napa Castro set out for a two-week solo fishing trip on 7 December 2024, but was blown off course by a storm 10 days in.

Castro was adrift for a further 75 days, during which he drank rainwater collected in his boat, and ate cockroaches, birds, and sea turtles.

Castro said: "I thought about my mother everyday. I'm thankful to God for giving me a second chance."

Reporting by Rosa Bowden.

U.S. President Donald Trump has invoked a centuries-old wartime law to deport Venezuelan nationals he claims are members of a notorious gang. Despite a federal judge ordering a pause on these deportations, a plane carrying 238 people still left for El Salvador on Sunday. Today, we'll break down how we got here, what this means and why it's setting the stage for a major legal battle.