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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce opted for a change of scenery, swapping New York City’s hustle and bustle for a night in Cleveland. On Saturday evening, they were spotted sitting courtside at Rocket Arena, eagerly watching the Cavaliers face off against the Knicks during Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
The engaged duo showcased their fashion harmony with matching denim ensembles, perfectly capturing the vibe of their sporty evening out.
Swift, at 36, chose a nearly full Stella McCartney outfit, featuring a sold-out patchwork denim bomber jacket with chain details, wide-leg jeans, and stylish high-heeled sandals, all from McCartney’s main line.
The 14-time Grammy recipient completed her look with a chic black Dior Cigale bag, along with her bespoke engagement ring designed by Kindred Lubeck, courtesy of Kelce.
Kelce, also 36, wore a short-sleeved Louis Vuitton denim shirt and pants, along with a pair of pieces from Cartier: a gold Love Unlimited bracelet and his go-to Santos de Cartier Skeleton watch.
Leaning into the Cavaliers’ color palette of black, wine and gold, the Cleveland Heights native finished his look with Nike LeBron 7 MVP sneakers and a Just Don x Mitchell & Ness hat featuring the team’s name and logo along with luxe python trim.
Denim’s been a game-day staple of Swift’s since the beginning of her relationship with the Kansas City tight end; she wore a pair of Ksubi cutoffs to her very first Chiefs game in 2023, teamed a dark-wash Versace corset with Grlfrnd jean shorts for the first game of the 2024 season and even sported crystal-embellished Daisy Dukes at the 2025 Super Bowl.
And with Kelce returning to the Chiefs for another season this fall, we can expect to see plenty more designer denim on the sidelines.
In an intriguing discovery, scientists have identified the remnants of an ancient “third eye” located in the center of the human head, a feature that continues to play a significant role even after millions of years of evolution.
Research teams from the United Kingdom and Sweden have named this ancient organ the “composite ancestral median eye.” They propose that it was crucial for early human ancestors, who relied on it after their evolutionary predecessors lost their two lateral eyes around 500 million years ago.
The study suggests that these early non-vertebrate creatures, which lacked backbones, adapted to life underground. As a result, they lost the functionality of their lateral eyes and turned to this central organ as their primary means of detecting light.
In modern humans, while this third eye no longer directly perceives light, it still plays a vital role. It processes information received from our eyes about light and darkness, which is essential for regulating sleep patterns.
The main function of this third eye today is the production of melatonin, a hormone that signals to the body when it is nighttime and time to rest.
This helps synchronize the circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycle, which promotes sleepiness and influences the body’s other physiological processes during the day and night.
This includes controlling the reproductive system, immune health, and some scientists theorize even affects our mood and ability to control body temperature.
This organ is now called the pineal gland. While it is no longer a real eye, it is made of special cells called pinealocytes that release melatonin.
Scientists have unlocked the evolutionary timeline of the human ‘third eye,’ an ancient organ that non-vertebrate ancestors relied on and still exists in the human skull (stock image)
Scientists believe an ancestral species humans evolved from lost their normal side eyes and developed a central eye in the middle of their head
The goal of the study, published in Current Biology, was to figure out how the human eye and retina evolved over hundreds of millions of years.
Researchers led by Professor Thomas Baden, a neuroscientist at the University of Sussex, discovered that the world’s earliest human ancestors had both side eyes and a middle light-sensing structure in their heads.
When some of these early ancestors began burrowing and filter-feeding half a billion years ago, they lost their side eyes and came to rely mainly on this middle structure to sense direction and to know when it was day or night on the surface.
Much later, scientists believe parts of that third eye evolved and moved to the sides of the head, developing into the vital nerves called retinas we have in our eyes today.
Baden told BBC Science Focus: ‘The need to know what time of day it is, or where is up and down if you’re in deep water. That doesn’t go away. So, we speculate that that’s when we lost the original side eyes, but we kept the original median eye, because that’s what it’s good for.’
‘Therefore, the retina predates the eye, if that makes sense,’ the scientist added.
The international team did not perform new experiments or take any scans themselves. Instead, they carefully reviewed several existing studies and genetic data from animals such as fish and lampreys to see how this eye still serves a purpose in species related to humans.
The results have changed what scientists understand about this mysterious eye by proving that our retinas and the pineal gland both came from the same ancient structure, rather than evolving separately.
Humans still have remnants of this third eye inside their skull, with the cells of the pineal gland releasing melatonin to regulate sleep (stock image)
Some species still have a visible third eye, including a reptile from New Zealand called the tuatara, and the organ has a lens and retina just like their normal eyes.
Its main job is not to see detailed images, but to detect changes in light, especially overhead light from the sky. This helps the tuatara regulate its circadian rhythms and manage daily behaviors like knowing when to bask in the sun or hide.
While there is no credible scientific evidence to prove it, there has also been a long belief that the human ‘third eye’ also has a connection to supernatural abilities, such as intuition, inner vision and psychic perception.
This power has been strongly tied to traditions in Hindu and yogic culture, where the third eye is connected to the ‘Ajna chakra,’ an energy center in the human body.
Ancient texts focusing on the practice of yoga described the awakening of this chakra as being able to unlock clairvoyance, telepathy and spiritual insight.
Pope Leo XIV issued a stern warning about the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in his inaugural encyclical released on Monday. Titled “Magnifica Humanitas,” the document urges global policymakers to confront the rapid proliferation of AI technology with decisive action, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks that promote justice and mitigate the potentially harmful effects of technological advancements.
As the first pope from the United States, Pope Leo XIV has consistently voiced concerns about AI’s impact, particularly on the welfare of children and the workforce. In his initial address to the cardinals following his succession of the late Pope Francis in May, he highlighted the technology’s role in presenting “new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”
The encyclical draws a historical parallel by referencing Pope Leo XIII, whom Leo XIV regards as a “beloved predecessor.” The Catholic Church is commemorating the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s influential encyclical, “Rerum Novarum,” published in 1891, which advocated for the protection of workers’ rights during the upheaval of the second Industrial Revolution.
While Pope Leo XIV acknowledges that technology itself is not inherently adversarial to humanity, he stresses the importance of ensuring that these modern tools are directed towards the common good. He insists that society must take responsibility in guiding technological development to serve humanity’s best interests.
While the pontiff wrote that technology “should not be considered, in itself, as a force antagonistic to humanity,” society must ensure that newly-available tools are “oriented toward the good.”
He added, “New technologies open up a horizon extending in directions that are imaginable but not yet fully predictable. This complicates the assessment of their potential impact and the long-term effects they may have on both the dignity of individuals and the common good.”
As for how to address AI, the pope highlighted the need to “openly” discuss ethical frameworks regarding the technology to ensure that a select few do not control how it is applied.
“Calling for prudence, rigorous evaluation and even, at times, a slower pace in adopting AI does not mean opposing progress; instead, it is an exercise of responsible care for the human family,” he wrote.
“What is needed is a more active political involvement that is capable of slowing things down when everything is accelerating, and of protecting the opportunities for communities still to be able to participate and ask questions,” Leo added.
Christopher Olah, the co-founder of Anthropic, was in attendance for the Vatican’s launch of the manifesto. Anthropic is engaged in litigation with the Trump administration after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated the company as a supply chain risk and President Trump directing civilian agencies to stop using Anthropic’s products.
Those moves came after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei demanded that the federal government refrain from using the company’s Claude chatbot for fully autonomous lethal weapons or for the mass surveillance of Americans.
The White House has been more open to the technology as of recently.
At the Vatican on Monday, Olah welcomed the pontiff’s leadership on AI.
Lawmakers in the U.S. on both sides of the aisle have warned about the risks posed by AI, although many in Washington have stressed the need for U.S. companies to keep up with their Chinese counterparts.
Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), on the other hand, has banged the drum in favor of regulating the technology — he and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) even proposed legislation in March to halt construction of new data centers until the federal government implements safeguards.
The administration, meanwhile, has attempted to unleash U.S. companies in the AI fight against China.
While Bella Hadid consistently dazzles on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet with her elegant gowns, her casual style between events is equally captivating.
Taking a break from her red carpet appearances, the 29-year-old supermodel turned heads with her chic swimwear choices while enjoying the sun-drenched shores of the French Riviera. One standout piece was a striking white one-piece swimsuit that was as revealing as it was stylish.
Hadid took to Instagram Stories over the weekend, sharing glimpses of her time basking in the sun. She donned a swimsuit by Indah, a Bali-based brand known for its designs that strike “the perfect balance between skimpy style and customizable coverage.”
Indah
This particular swimsuit features a completely open back and sides, complemented by a deeply plunging neckline. Its design is enhanced by three adjustable ties, offering wearers the flexibility to tailor their fit and reveal as much skin as they prefer.
Completing her leisurely boat-day ensemble, Hadid accessorized with a crochet headscarf, chic Chanel sunglasses, and elegant gold hoop earrings, effortlessly blending style and comfort.
The racy one-piece isn’t the only memorable swim style Hadid’s sported during her time in Cannes; the brunette beauty was also spotted doing yoga in a metallic bikini while aboard a yacht, and posing for pics in a striped Prada maillot.
Hadid also showed off a parade of gorgeous gowns while at the French film fest, including a white lace Schiaparelli Haute Couture look inspired by an iconic dress Jane Birkin wore at Cannes in 1969.
With the same dangerously low-dipping neckline and black brooch as Birkin’s original gown — which the “Blow-Up” actress famously wore backwards — Hadid’s bespoke design called for 22,160 hours of embroidery work.
Other standout styles included Hadid’s gray satin Prada gown and matching cape for the “Garance” premiere and the archival gold Elie Saab Couture dress she chose for the Chopard Miracle Gala.
Donald Trump is set to make yet another visit to the hospital, marking his third in just over a year. This frequency is sparking public debate among medical experts about the 79-year-old’s health and his capability to fulfill the demanding role of President.
On Tuesday, Trump is scheduled to undergo both medical and dental evaluations at Walter Reed Medical Center. This visit follows a pattern; he attended his annual physical examination last April and returned to the facility in October for what was described as a “scheduled follow-up.”
Recently, public appearances by Trump have raised eyebrows as he has been seen with more visible bruises and red marks, particularly on his neck and hands. These physical signs are adding to concerns about his overall well-being.
These health observations coincide with growing public skepticism. According to an April survey conducted by Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos, only 40 percent of Americans are confident in Trump’s mental acuity to serve effectively as the nation’s leader.
The public is taking notice too. Just 40 percent of Americans believe Trump has the mental sharpness to serve as president, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted in April.
That marks a seven-point drop from 47 percent in September. The questions cut deep given Trump made mental fitness central to the 2024 election, repeatedly slamming Joe Biden as lacking the capacity to stay in office.
On physical health, the numbers are even starker: 44 percent now say he is fit for the job, a sharp drop from 54 percent.
Trump, the oldest president ever inaugurated, has repeatedly claimed he is in ‘excellent health’ and feels better than he did 30 years ago.
Fresh health concerns are swirling around President Donald Trump, 79, as he heads to Walter Reed Medical Center for the third time in 13 months
The latest visit comes as the President has been seen at public events with a growing number of bruises and red marks across his skin, including on his neck and hands
The left foot and swollen ankle of President Donald Trump are pictured as he sits with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office of the White House in July 2025
A red rash appears on the President’s neck at a White House event in March
But questions have swirled as Trump’s ankles often appear swollen, bruises cover his hands, and he’s been spotted closing his eyes during meetings.
The President was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency in July last year, a common vein condition which can cause swelling in the legs and ankles.
Trump has blamed his bruised hands on a mega daily aspirin dose, which can increase the risk of bruising or bleeding, especially in older people and those taking higher doses.
He has also denied dozing off at Cabinet meetings and Oval Office events, claiming that he is merely closing his eyes while listening as others speak.
‘A lack of candor’: What the doctors are saying
Former White House doctors have also raised concerns that there may be a deeper issue with Trump’s health.
‘This White House just doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge any physical ailment, but older people develop medical issues, and the President is almost 80 years old,’ said Jonathan Reiner, the former cardiologist for Vice President Dick Cheney.
‘There just seems to be a lack of candor from the White House.’
Other former White House physicians have criticized the administration for not releasing more precise information about the President’s health.
A bruise on a hand of Donald Trump is seen during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Oval Office, at the White House, in Washington, DC, US, August 25
‘After a decade of delusion, deceit, denial or delay from the administrations and White House physicians regarding presidential evaluations, my expectation bar is pretty low,’ said Jeffrey Kuhlman, a former physical presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama.
‘I hope they are at least transparent and truthful.’
Trump has previously bragged about receiving ‘strong’ cognitive scores on all of his mental health exams, though those test results are not available for public review.
Presidents are not required to disclose their annual health records, but in recent months there has been bipartisan support among lawmakers for the creation of an independent commission to assess the President’s health.
Testosterone, Dr Oz and the Trump defense
Trump’s top health officials have pushed back on scrutiny of the President’s medical records.
‘Dr Oz looked at his medical records and said he’s got the highest testosterone level that he’s ever seen for an individual over 70 years old,’ Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on a podcast hosted by Katie Miller.
As Trump’s medical checkups have grown more frequent, online rumors and conspiracy theories about his health have spread like wildfire, prompting swift pushback from the White House.
One flashpoint came in early April, when viral claims that Trump had been rushed to Walter Reed forced the White House to insist he was actually monitoring search-and-rescue operations in Iran.
The administration then launched a digital ‘Wall of Shame’ targeting not only the influencers behind the rumors but reporters and outlets that flagged Trump’s absence from public view.
In a statement, the White House wrote: ‘Trump was in the Oval Office and Situation Room commanding one of the most daring, complex military search-and-rescue missions in modern American history, the Radical Left revealed the true sickness rotting their souls.’
The ongoing gang conflict in Sydney has taken an international turn, as violence erupted in Ho Chi Minh City, resulting in the tragic death of a 24-year-old outside a restaurant on Thursday night.
In a recent development, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of being involved in the shooting that targeted a group of foreigners in the Ben Thanh Ward. These arrests were facilitated through the collaborative efforts of the ministry’s operational units and the Ho Chi Minh City Police.
In footage of the shooting that emerged last week, a hooded hitman in a hat exits a restaurant circling behind Lemalu and his associates before unleashing several shots from a pistol. (Nine)
Last week, disturbing footage surfaced showing the chilling moment when a hooded gunman, disguised under a hat, emerged from a restaurant. The assailant stealthily circled behind Lemalu and his companions before firing multiple shots from a pistol.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Lemalu dashed inside the establishment, only to collapse onto the floor, succumbing to his injuries.
Lemalu runs inside and crashes onto the floor.
The Vietnamese ministry confirmed a second person was also injured.
Lemalu was a senior figure in the Coconut Cartel after cutting ties with a gang linked with Sydney’s Alameddine family.
Police are investigating if the shooting is linked to the ongoing struggle for the drug trade that’s caused escalating violence across Sydney.
Trang Bang Ward Police in Tay Ninh released images and names of two Australian men they wanted to speak to in connection with the shooting.
It was unclear whether they were the two suspects arrested today.
Retired NSW Police sergeant Glenn Gorick said the assassination was a “warning”.
“If they can find you in Vietnam, they can find you anywhere,” he said.
The ministry said it was investigating, verifying and handling the suspects in accordance with the law.
These phrases, once relegated to obscure corners of the internet, are now becoming a more frequent part of the daily reality for many Indian Australians. As discussions surrounding migration numbers intensify in both political and public spheres, community leaders report that such sentiments are increasingly encountered on social media, public transportation, workplaces, and neighborhood chats.
According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), India has taken a central role in Australia’s migration narrative. For the first time on record, individuals born in India now constitute the largest overseas-born population group in the country. They have slightly overtaken those born in England, marking a significant demographic shift expected to be officially recognized in 2025.
Of the 8.83 million Australian residents born overseas, 971,020 were born in India as of 30 June 2025, reflecting steady growth in Indian migration over the past four years.
But behind the headlines and political arguments over migration is a more confronting reality emerging within parts of the Indian Australian community: a growing awareness that migrants are being blamed for pressures linked to housing, infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
Researchers and community advocates say racist abuse and anti-Indian rhetoric have intensified in recent years, amplified online amid increasingly politicised migration debates and public protests.
Source: SBS News
The concerns echo warnings from Australia’s human rights sector. Last month, Australian Human Rights Commission president Hugh de Kretser warned that rising racism and political polarisation risk undermining social cohesion, particularly when migrant communities are treated as threats or blamed for broader issues.
Launching the commission’s inaugural annual human rights assessment, he pointed to recent anti-migration rallies, saying migrants from India, Muslim communities and people of Lebanese and Palestinian backgrounds had all been targeted in public discourse.
“These attacks on migrants must stop,” de Kretser said in his National Press Club address.
Migration experts say much of the debate often lacks key context, including ongoing domestic labour shortages, post-COVID-19 migration flows and Australia’s economic reliance on skilled migrants and international students.
As India takes on a leading role in Australia’s migration story, the debate is no longer only about population numbers. It has become a test of how Australia balances social cohesion, economic need and multicultural identity amid rising anxiety and political tensions.
Why Indian migration to Australia has surged
India’s rise as Australia’s top source of migrants did not happen overnight.
ABS figures show Indian-born residents have been among the fastest-growing overseas-born groups in Australia in recent years, mainly driven by international education and skilled migration pathways.
Abul Rizvi, former deputy secretary of the immigration department, says the shift reflects broader changes across major source countries. He points to a decline in applications from the United Kingdom following Brexit, alongside reduced long-term student migration from China due to improved domestic opportunities.
Against that backdrop, he says the growth in applications from India is underpinned by the country’s strong economy and a continuing desire among its people to study and work overseas.
“Economic growth in India has meant more people can afford an overseas education,” Rizvi tells SBS News.
“At the same time, job opportunities in Australia are still seen as stronger, although that may change over time as India continues to grow.”
Demographer Liz Allen says India’s position at the top of Australia’s migration intake reflects the profile of younger Indian migrants pursuing education and employment opportunities.
She says public debate around migration has been distorted in the post-COVID-19 period.
“Misrepresentations of net overseas migration (NOM) since the border reopenings have led to the spurious notion that migration is spiralling out of control,” she tells SBS News.
“This is simply not the case. Negative net overseas migration during COVID means Australia has likely not seen the level of growth we would have been on track for had border closures not occurred.”
ABS figures show net overseas migration has eased from its post-pandemic peak, falling from 538,000 in 2022–23 to 429,000 in 2023–24 and down to 306,000 in 2024-25.
Online abuse and rising racial tensions
Data from the 2025 Mapping Social Cohesion survey by the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute points to growing unease towards some migrant communities in Australia, alongside persistently high levels of reported discrimination.
The survey found 30 per cent of respondents held a somewhat or very negative view of immigrants from India, compared with 26 per cent for immigrants from China and 43 per cent for immigrants from Sudan.
At the same time, researchers estimated that two in five immigrants from Asian and African backgrounds experienced discrimination in the previous 12 months based on skin colour, ethnic origin or religion.
Source: SBS News
For some Indian Australians, those figures reflect what they say they are experiencing in daily life.
Amar Singh, a Sydney-based community leader and the founder of Sikh-led food charity Turbans 4 Australia, who arrived from northern India as a student around 15 years ago, says the level of racism towards Indian Australians is the worst he has seen.
Racism towards Indians is at its peak
“In close to three decades here, I have not seen this much blatant racism. This needs to be called out at all levels,” he tells SBS News.
Amar Singh says racism towards Indian Australians is at its peak. Source: Supplied
Singh says the current climate echoes the hostility faced by international students during 2008–09, when reports of attacks and discrimination prompted national concern. But he argues the Indian community today is more established and embedded in Australian civic life.
“People who were international students in 2008 or 2009 are now business owners, citizens, voting and fully engaged in the public system,” he says.
James O’Donnell, a demographer at the Australian National University and the lead investigator of the Scanlon Foundation research, says political and public rhetoric could play a significant role in shaping community attitudes towards migrants.
“International research suggests that political rhetoric, particularly when it is divisive and exclusionary, shifts public attitudes and potentially contributes to higher levels of prejudice towards migrant and diverse communities,” he tells SBS News.
“This is still an emerging area of research in Australia, though it appears likely that rhetoric both in public and in online spaces is a mechanism through which national and global sentiments translate to prejudice and discrimination towards Indian Australians and other groups.”
The debate around migration has also sharpened politically in recent years, with phrases such as “mass migration” and warnings that Australia is changing “too quickly” becoming more common amid housing pressures and concerns about strained infrastructure.
The September 2025 controversy surrounding comments by Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who falsely claimed that Labor was favouring Indian migrants for political reasons — prompted backlash from across the political spectrum and sections of the Indian Australian community, who described the remarks as “divisive”.
Vasan Srinavasan says much of the current hostility towards the Indian community is driven by a small minority of people who are “ignorant”. Source: SBS News
For Vasan Srinivasan, president of the Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria, the present situation reflects a pattern seen across earlier generations of migrants to Australia.
“Greeks went through it, Italians went through it, Vietnamese went through it, Chinese went through it,” he tells SBS News.
“Now it’s our turn.”
Srinivasan, who migrated to Australia from southern India in 1987, says the Indian community’s contribution to Australia is substantial, particularly in skilled professions and essential services.
“Ninety-nine per cent of Indians who come here come with skills. We do contribute every means to put this country forward.”
He says much of the recent hostility has been driven by a small minority, magnified by misinformation and social media commentary.
“It’s not the majority of Australians. It’s a very small section, but they are loud, and that’s what people are seeing.”
He believes the solution lies in engagement rather than confrontation.
“We can manage. We need to educate these people. I’ll tell you once they get to know who we are, they are not going to do what they’re doing. They’re very ignorant at this stage, [a] few of them.”
Is Australia becoming less tolerant?
The social cohesion survey found that concern about migration levels has risen sharply in recent years. In 2022, 24 per cent of adults said the number of immigrants accepted into Australia was “too high”. By 2024, that figure had climbed to 49 per cent, rising again to 51 per cent in 2025.
But researchers caution against interpreting those figures as evidence of widespread hostility towards migrants or multiculturalism.
O’Donnell says many Australians were able to separate concerns about migration levels from their attitudes towards migrants themselves.
“Most people can distinguish their views on migration levels from their attitudes towards people and the contribution of immigration to Australia,” he says.
“Amongst those who said immigration was too high on the 2025 Mapping Social Cohesion survey, most still said multiculturalism has been good for Australia and believe immigrants have benefited Australian society, culture and the economy.”
However, O’Donnell says rising anxiety around migration levels is increasingly being linked to less positive attitudes towards diversity and people from migrant backgrounds.
While anti-migrant sentiment may not reflect majority opinion, he says it can still have damaging consequences for communities, particularly in online spaces.
“It might not be true for all or even most people that spikes in migration contribute to racist and discriminatory attitudes,” he says.
“[But] it could be true for a large enough number of people, though, particularly for the way in which racist attitudes feed off high migration levels in the online space, to have a damaging effect for immigrants and diverse communities.”
The findings suggest that Australia’s migration debate is complexifying: public concern about migration levels is rising, even as support for multiculturalism remains broadly intact.
Migration, belonging and India-Australia relationship
Teesta Prakash, a research fellow in security and geopolitics at the Australia India Institute, says the recent rise in anti-immigration movements in Australia — including rallies such as “March for Australia” — highlights the barriers many Indian Australians still face in achieving full social acceptance.
She argues Australia’s approach to diaspora communities, particularly the Indian diaspora, has not kept pace with the realities of modern multicultural societies.
“Existing studies on the Indian diaspora, while useful for gauging the pulse of the national collective, have largely fixated on outcomes — whether economic or sentiment-focused,” she tells SBS News.
We know that both of these framings of the Indian diaspora — economic asset and surplus actors — fail to tell the accurate story of the sense of belonging of this particular community.
Teesta Prakash says many Indian Australians still face barriers to full acceptance. Source: Supplied
Prakash says this growing visibility has made questions of belonging and representation more central to how the diaspora understands its place in Australia.
Migration has also become central to the broader India–Australia diplomatic relationship, not only because of India’s population size and labour pressures, but because mobility itself has become strategically important to New Delhi.
“India now sees human capital itself as its core economic export and believes trade agreements should facilitate movement of skilled people alongside goods, services and investment.”
The economic case for migration
Australia, like many advanced economies, is an ageing society — a demographic shift that economists and demographers say makes immigration central to sustaining the labour force, productivity and long-term growth.
Allen says Australia is now competing globally for migrants with countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and parts of Europe — many of which were once major sources of migration to Australia.
“Demographically younger countries, like those in Australia’s geographic region, have a demographic edge due to their relatively ample working-age populations,” she says.
Alan Gamlen, director of the Australian National University’s Migration Hub, says Indian migrants make a substantial contribution across sectors, including health, education, IT and hospitality.
But as migration has become more visible in public debate, he warns against rhetoric that links migrants to cost of living pressures and housing shortages.
It’s not fair to single out migrants for housing or job pressures.
“These are systemic issues linked to policy settings, market dynamics and broader economic trends — not the result of migration alone,” Gamlen tells SBS News.
The visibility of Indian migrants has often meant the community is drawn into shifts in public sentiment, with tensions resurfacing at different points in time, including the spate of targeted attacks on Indian students in 2008–09 and again in the current cycle of anti-immigration sentiment and migration debate.
“Narratives about Indian migrants often re-emerge because they’re a large, visible group and sometimes become a convenient target during times of social or political tension. This pattern is not unique to Australia.”
Beyond the numbers
For many Indian Australians, the debate around migration has moved well beyond statistics, policy settings and economic contribution. It has become a question of identity and acceptance in everyday life.
“Mate, we are all here because we want to build a future for ourselves,” Amar Singh says.
“Most Indians, if you can talk about just our community, our economic migrants, are here for a betterment of life, for their future generations, and they’re working hard for it.
We are Australians, we’re just Australians of Indian background.
Experts say the challenge for the broader community is to ensure that debate over migration does not harden into division, as the country grapples with balancing economic pressures with the realities of a diverse, multicultural society.
On Sunday night, Daniel Suarez stepped out of his vehicle, victorious from the Coca-Cola 600, with a poignant tribute in mind. He wore a black cap emblazoned with the number 8, a nod to the late NASCAR legend Kyle Busch.
Suarez, who once drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports, found the timing of his victory deeply meaningful. Just days after the shocking news of Busch’s passing at the age of 41, the 34-year-old driver felt the weight of the moment.
“This win carries a lot of significance,” Suarez shared with Amazon Prime, visibly emotional. “It’s been an incredibly hard week. Kyle was someone truly special.” With tears in his eyes, Suarez continued, “I dedicated this to Kyle, to Samantha, to Brexton, to Lennix, and to his entire family.”
He reflected on his journey, acknowledging, “Every victory is unique, but this one has a special resonance because of Kyle. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been an Xfinity champion or had my chance in the Cup Series. Winning this race in his honor is beyond words.”
Over the past decade, Suarez and Busch formed a close bond, even finding themselves as competitors on the track. This friendship made the tribute all the more heartfelt and personal.
The Mexico native said the two never had any issues between them, calling their relationship “amazing.”
Suarez further explained that Busch’s influence helped him progress during his career, saying he’s forever grateful that he “gave me a hand when I needed it the most.”
He set out this weekend to make sure people learned more about Busch’s legacy, and won the race after NASCAR called it 27 laps early due to weather.
“A lot of people didn’t know who he was as a person. Many people, fans, they knew him as a racing driver. “But the person that is behind the fire suit, behind that helmet, that’s what counts the most. That family man,” Suarez said. “Every time that you talk to Kyle about Brexton, his eyes light up. He was a family man. And because of that, this race is so special. All the combination of these things.
Daniel Suarez celebrates his victory Sunday. AP Photo/Matt Kelley
“I want to make sure that the focus and the most important thing about this victory is not Spire Motorsports, it’s not Daniel Suarez — it’s Kyle Busch. Because he was a very, very important piece for me to be here and for Spire Motorsports to be where it is right now.”
Suarez’s touching remarks came during a weekend when the racing world honored Busch following his death on Thursday at age 41.
A statement from the Busch family said the star driver died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, “resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.”
Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, talks with Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, after the NASCAR Xfinity Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
Busch had been scheduled to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 before being hospitalized on Wednesday, having previously been found unresponsive inside a North Carolina racing simulator.
The Indianapolis 500 honored Busch during the 18th lap on Sunday, with the broadcast going silent.
In a tragic incident in Chicago, a two-year-old boy named Jamonte Shaw lost his life after accidentally shooting himself. This heartbreaking event unfolded on a Sunday afternoon inside a residence located at the intersection of 104th and South Maryland streets, according to Chicago police.
Authorities have confirmed that a man is currently in custody in connection with this case. The boy’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting calls for increased vigilance in firearm safety, especially in homes with young children.
The severity of the situation became apparent when Jamonte was quickly transported to Comer Children’s Hospital. Despite the efforts to save him, he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Community activists present at the scene emphasized the critical importance of securing firearms and ensuring they are out of reach of children. They hope this devastating incident serves as a powerful reminder for parents and caregivers to take every precaution necessary to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The child was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, where he later died.
Detectives and evidence technicians on scene and the hospital are now trying to piece together how this happened
“We could talk about the lessons and things that we all have to learn from this, but the tragedy I think at this point, and the pain the family’s feeling, and the pain that we all should feel for this child who was just beginning,” Pastor Donovan Price. “We can’t keep losing our babies because of some adult things, and so, whether it’s gun locks or gun safety kits, or whatever the case may be, or just plain paying attention, we got to be proactive or pray active.”
It’s unclear exactly how the toddler was able to access the gun.
Police said a 31-year-old man is now in custody.
No word yet about possible charges, nor have police said what his relationship is to the toddler.
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PLANO, Texas – As the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas reaches its final stretch, candidates Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton have largely stepped away from the spotlight on the eve of the runoff election. Instead of engaging in public campaign events, both candidates are relying heavily on their media presence to sway voters.
This absence from public appearances on Monday marks the culmination of a fiercely contested campaign, which has seen advertising spending soar beyond $109 million, with a significant portion coming from Cornyn’s camp. Unlike his competitor, Cornyn is dedicating the day to a non-campaign event in San Antonio, honoring high school graduates bound for the nation’s service academies. His last official campaign event took place in Corpus Christi on Friday.
Meanwhile, Paxton concluded his public appearances last Thursday with events in the Austin area and San Antonio. His campaign strategy leans heavily on the endorsement he received from President Donald Trump on May 19, allowing his campaign team and a supportive super PAC to amplify this message.
Trump’s endorsement, coupled with his critique of Cornyn, who has had a strained relationship with the president, was strategically timed to coincide with the early voting period, which wrapped up on Friday. As Texans prepare to cast their votes on Tuesday, the impact of these endorsements and last-minute campaign efforts remains to be seen.
Trump’s announcement and accompanying dismissal of Cornyn, who has had an awkward public relationship with the president, came on the second day of early voting, which ended Friday.
Though the candidates were quiet over the weekend, Trump reaffirmed his support for Paxton on Sunday, and disparaged Cornyn as insufficiently loyal to him.
Paxton, Trump posted on social media, “was also very loyal to your favorite President, ME,” while calling Cornyn “VERY disloyal to me.” It was Trump’s strongest rebuke of Cornyn, who had dismissed his 2024 comeback chances, and echoed the president’s reproach of Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy before he lost in the May 15 GOP Senate primary.
Following Trump’s call for retribution, Republican voters in Indiana and Kentucky have also chosen GOP primary challengers over incumbent GOP officeholders who have crossed the president or opposed his agenda.
For a contest that is expected to draw a fraction of Texas’ 18.7 million voters, the two candidates’ campaigns and supporting groups were continuing to bombard all Texans with advertising, though more by Cornyn’s backers than Paxton’s.
“It’s just a slug fest, with the campaigns and third-party groups slugging it out,” said Wayne Hamilton, a former executive director of the Texas Republican Party.
The combination of Cornyn’s campaign and supporting super PACs have far outspent pro-Paxton groups over the past year, by almost nine-to-one. But the gap has shrunk as the runoff has approached. In the final week of the campaign, the combination of pro-Cornyn ad spending was less than twice Paxton’s group.
Cornyn’s network continued to air spots attacking Paxton over ethical and personal questions that have shadowed him with little effect throughout the campaign. Cornyn’s campaign also had reprised an ad noting his tendency to vote in the Senate for Trump’s priorities.
Paxton’s campaign and groups supporting him transitioned midweek to all ads noting Trump’s endorsement, though Paxton’s primary super PAC, Lone Star Liberty Fund, began airing one over the weekend aimed at raising questions about state Rep. James Talarico, the Texas Democratic Senate nominee.
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