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Lighter · 7 October 2026

Eight warm pictures of lambs

Picture Desk

Eight warm pictures of lambs. A quiet list, with a few words beside each picture and the credit kept.

Sports · 7 October 2026

Zach Merrett’s Exit: The Bombers’ Ghost Still Rings in the Chat Group

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Zach Merrett left the Bombers after a bleak season, but the chat group keeps his name alive – a reminder that in footy, a player’s exit can feel as subtle as a ghost in a group chat.

Finance · 7 October 2026

S&P 500 tops 7,800 as Nasdaq hits record, AI chip rally fuels gains

Iris Quay, London desk

The S&P 500 closed above 7,800 for the first time, with the Nasdaq also reaching a record high. A rally in AI chipmakers and a dip in U.S. Treasury yields drove the market higher, even as investors remain cautious about…

Politics · 7 October 2026

Builders brag about quarterly uptick while councils stare at the ever‑growing gap to the housing target

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Home construction has nudged higher this quarter, yet it remains far short of government ambitions, as soaring costs and interest‑rate pressure threaten to stall the momentum.

Technology · 7 October 2026

Pornhub Back in Australia, But Only After Apple Gives the 18‑Plus Thumbs‑Up

Ash Park, Sydney desk

Pornhub has quietly returned to Australia, but the Canadian‑owned site can only be accessed after iPhone and iPad users clear Apple’s notoriously strict age‑verification prompt, which the company says is one of the…

Business · 7 October 2026

Dalaroo’s Côte d’Ivoire Gold Jackpot Catapults Shares 67%

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Dalaroo Metals shares jumped 67% to 12.5c after announcing a high‑grade gold discovery in Côte d’Ivoire, estimating 18 million ounces at 7.31 g/t and a broader 23 million ounces at 2.14 g/t.

Sports · 7 October 2026

North Melbourne's Hop‑ing Plea to Keep Star Zane Duursma

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

North Melbourne is making a last‑ditch effort to persuade star Zane Duursma to stay with the club.

Business · 7 October 2026

EatClub Swipes Right: Over 250 Venues, Including 8 Michelin‑Starred, Join Discount App

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Auckland‑based EatClub has launched a discount dining app that has signed up more than 250 venues, including eight Michelin‑starred restaurants, aiming to make fine dining more affordable.

Business · 7 October 2026

Finance face‑off turns Morning Report into a free‑for‑all

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

National’s Nicola Willis and Labour’s Barbara Edmonds faced off on Wednesday’s Morning Report, turning the segment into a verbal tug‑of‑war that left viewers wondering what the next day’s market would reveal.