Bendigo Bank Axes 158 Roles; Charlie Kirk Shooting at Utah University; Opposition Leader Apologizes Over Immigration Remarks
Good Morning ! It's Friday 12 September . Welcome to The Front Cover, your gateway to the world of Mencari News and we're covering the fatal shooting of a conservative influencer and Opposition party saga over Price Comments
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Today's reading time is 5 minutes. - Miko Santos
Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah Valley University; search for shooter remains unclear
Conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, 31, died after a single rooftop shot struck him during a UVU event in Orem, Utah. Gov. Spencer Cox called it a “political assassination” as authorities probe conflicting reports about a person of interest and increase security nationwide.
Bendigo Bank Cuts 158 Jobs Despite $514 Million Profit, Union Says 'Community Banks' Mirror Big Four
Bendigo Bank will eliminate 158 positions across its technology and mortgage divisions, affecting 637 workers total in a restructure announced this week that has drawn sharp criticism from the Finance Sector Union.
The regional lender will axe 145 technology jobs and 13 mortgage help positions, giving workers as little as two days to review the changes before implementation.
The cuts come one week after Bank of Queensland eliminated 200 jobs and moved half its contact center operations to India through outsourcing firm CapGemini, marking the latest in a wave of banking sector layoffs.
Opposition Leader Apologizes to Indian Australians Over Price Comments
Liberal Party leader Susan Ley issued a formal apology to Indian Australians Wednesday during her first visit to Tasmania since becoming opposition leader, addressing hurt caused by recent controversial comments from Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa-Price.
Speaking at a press conference in Hobart, Ley acknowledged the distress caused to migrant communities while defending her handling of the Price situation amid questions about her leadership approach.
"May I take this opportunity as leader of the Liberal Party to apologise to all Indian Australians and indeed others who were hurt and distressed by the comments that were made," Ley said. "Comments that I said at the time should not have been made."
ON PART8A
This episode examines the concerning rise of far-right extremist groups in Australia, focusing on the August 31st "March for Australia" protests that drew thousands across major cities. Dr. Simon Copland, an expert in online extremism from Australian National University, explains how groups like sovereign citizens—people who believe governments are illegitimate—have grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conversation reveals how these movements use social media to spread anger and false information, particularly targeting immigrants as scapegoats for Australia's housing and cost-of-living crises. Despite organizers claiming otherwise, neo-Nazi groups actively participated in and spoke at these rallies, showing the interconnected nature of Australia's extremist ecosystem.
Inside Australia's Growing Far-Right Movement: Expert Analysis of the August 31st Protests
This episode examines the concerning rise of far-right extremist groups in Australia, focusing on the August 31st "March for Australia" protests that drew thousands across major cities. Dr. Simon Copland, an expert in online extremism from Australian National University, explains how groups like sovereign citizens—people who believe governments are ille…
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METRO & POLITICS
➡️ Australia's McKenzie Warns Democratic Debate Under Threat After Charlie Kirk Murder. Australian National Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie warned that the murder of American political activist Charlie Kirk represents a dangerous threat to democratic discourse and free speech in Western democracies, calling for vigilance against both political violence and "cancel culture" that silences dissenting voices through social and economic pressure.
➡️ Broome Hotel Manager Faces 16 Sexual Assault Charges in District Court Trial. A former security guard testified in Broome District Court that Stewart Patrick Burchell, the 51-year-old former manager of Roebuck Bay Hotel, repeatedly sexually assaulted and harassed her during work shifts between 2017 and 2023, as part of a trial involving 16 charges against multiple complainants.
➡️ Multiple Australian Cabinet Ministers Now Require AFP Protection Amid Rising Security Threats. Former Labor Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon revealed that multiple Australian Cabinet Ministers now require regular Australian Federal Police protection on home soil for the first time in decades, warning that Australia's historically peaceful political environment is deteriorating amid rising security concerns following the murder of American activist Charlie Kirk.
WORLD AFFAIRS
➡️ UK Prime Minister Starmer Fires US Ambassador Mandelson Over Jeffrey Epstein Links. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson on Thursday after newly published emails revealed the diplomat had a closer relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than previously disclosed, including messages calling Epstein his "best pal" and urging him to "fight for early release" from prison.
➡️ Royal Reconciliation: Prince Harry and King Charles Hold 50-Minute Private Meeting. Prince Harry met with his father King Charles at Clarence House in London on Wednesday for their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024, holding a private 50-minute tea session that royal correspondents describe as a small but significant step toward potential family reconciliation following years of public disputes and estrangement.
➡️ Israel Strikes Doha Targeting Hamas Leaders as Qatar Calls Emergency Arab Summit. Israel conducted an unprecedented airstrike on Qatar's capital Doha targeting Hamas political leaders, killing six people including a Qatari security officer, prompting Qatar to condemn the attack as "state terror" that has destroyed hopes for Gaza ceasefire negotiations and leading to heated phone calls between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu over the violation of a key US ally's sovereignty.
ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS & LIFESTYLE
➡️ Joaquin Phoenix, Nicola Coughlan Lead 3,900 Film Industry Professionals in Israeli Boycott Pledge. Over 3,900 film industry professionals including Oscar winners Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and "Bridgerton" star Nicola Coughlan have signed a pledge organized by Film Workers for Palestine refusing to work with Israeli film institutions they claim are "complicit in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people," citing International Court of Justice rulings and drawing inspiration from 1987 anti-apartheid film industry boycotts of South Africa.
➡️ Lleyton Hewitt Appeals Two-Week Tennis Ban After $30,000 Fine for Pushing Volunteer.Australian tennis legend and Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has engaged lawyers to appeal a two-week ban and $30,000 fine imposed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency after he was found guilty of pushing a 60-year-old anti-doping volunteer following Australia's Davis Cup semi-final defeat against Italy, with the ban scheduled to run from September 24 to October 7.
➡️ Backpacks and Water Bottles Lead Back-to-School Spending Trends, Shopify Data Shows. Shopify sales data reveals that back-to-school shopping in July 2025 was dominated by school uniforms experiencing a dramatic 231% month-over-month growth, while backpacks, sports uniforms, and water bottles led overall spending categories, with regional variations showing the Midwest favoring sports uniforms and the West Coast prioritizing water bottles over other school supplies.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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