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8 October 2026

Chris Hipkins commits to Nelson Hospital redevelopment and Hope Bypass

Downunder Voices Newsroom

Source reporting: rnz.co.nz

Chris Hipkins commits to Nelson Hospital redevelopment and Hope Bypass

The Labour leader told voters his party is committed to the Hope Bypass and the Nelson Hospital redevelopment, and won't cancel or defer projects already underway.

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8 October 2026

Back to Back Barries: How Labor should fight One Nation - podcast

Tony Barry and Jessie McCrone examine the latest Redbridge poll (‘the poll that stops the nation’) that shows support for the prime minister and Labor is slipping significantly. Tony asks Jessie – a former senior Labor advisor – how she would counsel Anthony Albanese and what she thinks could improve Labor’s chances against One Nation. And the two former sparring partners also look at the upcoming Victorian election and what it could mean for both the major parties at a federal level Email the show: backtobackbarries@theguardian. com

Source: Guardian Australia PoliticsOriginal source

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8 October 2026

Nicolás Maduro and his wife indicted for alleged torture of US citizens

Ousted Venezuelan president and Cilia Flores have been in jail in New York since early January The deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted for alleged conspiracy to commit torture, according to Manhattan federal court papers unsealed on Thursday. The superseding indictment was unsealed shortly before Flores appeared at court in her ongoing push for pre-trial release – which was denied by Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Maduro and Flores have been held in a New York City jail since early January.

Source: The Guardian WorldOriginal source

8 October 2026

Ethiopia launches drone attack against Eritrean troops who crossed into Tigray

Government forces’ attack raises risk of internal conflict in Ethiopia that could trigger regional war Eritrean troops who crossed into Ethiopia’s Tigray region have come under drone attack from government forces, raising the risk that renewed internal conflict in Ethiopia could trigger an all-out regional war between the neighbouring countries. Military vehicles carrying soldiers drove across Eritrea’s southern border into Tigray on Wednesday, reaching the town of Adigrat 25 miles (40km) south, according to civilian witnesses, a militia commander and the conflict monitoring group Acled.

Source: The Guardian WorldOriginal source

8 October 2026

Researchers find 180,000 giant tortoises living on island in Seychelles

Figure is highest ever recorded for species and confirms one of Indian Ocean’s greatest conservation success stories A survey of the world’s largest free-roaming giant tortoise population has revealed that the once endangered species is thriving. A population of Aldabra giant tortoises lives on an island in Seychelles called Aldabra Atoll.

Source: The Guardian WorldOriginal source