Monday 2 November 2026 | five Australian stories first, then the main headlines from around the world.
Featured image: Photo: Lukasz Kobus, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Illustrative image.
Australia
1. Council to consider night-surfing lights at Snapper Rocks
A Gold Coast council report recommends a trial of beach lighting for night surfing during next year’s World Surf League Championship Tour event at Snapper Rocks. Councillors were due to consider the proposal on Monday. Bond University’s Daryl McPhee told the ABC the lights could attract prey fish and squid, which might raise the risk of tiger sharks.
2. Gold Coast mayor’s Mar-a-Lago accommodation invoice not yet released
Mayor Tom Tate stayed at Mar-a-Lago in February. The ABC reported that he first said the Trump Organization had paid and later said he paid himself, and that a freedom-of-information request for the invoice has not produced a copy. His office said a paper copy was shown once and then taken away. A $1.5 billion Trump Tower proposal for Surfers Paradise has been shelved.
3. Gold Coast green-waste recovery rises
Almost 4,000 more tonnes of organic waste were recovered from household collections in 2025/26 than the year before, the ABC reported. Commercial food-organics recovery rose 50%, from 410 to 619 tonnes.
4. NSW firearms buyback opens at six police stations
The New South Wales gun buyback began on Monday at six police stations, with appointments fully booked, SBS News reported.
5. Home values fall 1.2% in October
National dwelling values fell 1.2% in October and are 6.7% below the March peak, according to Cotality data reported by SBS News. Sydney values fell 1.6% over the month.
Around the World
6. US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island
US forces struck Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, as part of a series of limited strikes. The US military describes the strikes as defensive.
7. Russian strike hits aid distribution site in Zaporizhzhia region
A Russian strike hit an aid distribution site at Komyshuvakha in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on Monday. Regional officials, as quoted by the BBC, reported at least 29 people killed and dozens missing, while other early reports gave lower tolls. President Zelensky condemned the attack. Police later reported that the toll had risen to 42.
8. US to mediate Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi
US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Monday that the United States would mediate talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November. Reports described the talks as covering post-war security, de-escalation and humanitarian steps.
9. Chinese foreign minister meets Iranian official in Beijing
Wang Yi met Iran’s Ali Bagheri Kani in Beijing on 2 November. Reuters reported that Wang urged political solutions over renewed war and backed Iran’s sovereignty.
10. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill several
Local medics told Reuters that Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis and Al-Mussadar killed at least three people on Monday, and other reports put the day’s toll at five or more. Separately, the Israeli army ended an 11-day operation in Hebron in the West Bank that displaced thousands of residents.
Stories are included only where the reporting could be confirmed. Figures and details may be updated as events develop.
Sources
This report is a summary written in our own words from the following reporting: ABC News (Gold Coast briefing, 2 November); SBS News bulletin, 2 November; Just Security Early Edition, 3 November; Foreign Exchanges world roundup, 3 November; Nhan Dan world news in brief, 3 November.
