Nearly 5000 children are stuck in institutional housing as Australia's adoption rates continue to plummet.

Total adoption numbers have fallen by 41 per cent, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

More than 260 children were adopted in 2020-21, but in 2024-25 that figure dropped to just 155.

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Overseas adoptions nearly halved in that period, falling from 37 to just 19.

The 19 children adopted from overseas came from just six countries: Thailand, Taiwan, India, Colombia, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Domestic adoptions accounted for almost 90 per cent of the adoptions finalised in 2024-25, and about 80 per cent of them were known child adoptions.

But even known child adoptions, wherein a child is adopted by someone they already have a relationship with, declined by about one-fifth from 147 to 119.

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Exclusive: It looks like a normal photo of damaged makeup but alarm bells went off in Tanielle Jai's mind as soon as she saw it.

The Queensland-based makeup artist and business owner has recently seen a spike in customers trying to use AI to 'reverse scam' her business.

It's forced her to overhaul her returns process, which is how she caught the photo.

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The customer who sent it claimed it showed that the bronzer they ordered had been damaged in transit and requested a full refund.

But Jai noticed some inconsistencies, like the cream product appearing to be runny and crumbly at the same time.

"The formula we have just couldn't physically do that," Jai told nine.com.au.

"We also ran the image through AI detection websites and it came back as completely fake."

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A man accused of being part of a Romanian gang scamming elderly women has faced court in Sydney after being extradited from Western Australia.

Vasile Bombonel, 38, was allegedly part of a group of people that targeted elderly women at shopping centres across New South Wales

As part of the scam, one person from the group would allegedly approach an elderly person, claiming they'd dropped cash or their wallet.

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When the elderly person opened their wallet to check, a second person from the group would allegedly steal their bank cards, which were then used in fraudulent purchases.

It is believed 39 people between the ages of 70 and 100 have been targeted in several Sydney suburbs, as well as on the state's South Coast and in Grafton, in New South Wales' north.

Queensland Police arrested three other Romanians who are accused of being part of the same gang two weeks ago.

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Bombonel was arrested at Perth Airport on April 8.

He appeared before a Western Australia court and was later extradited to Sydney, where he was escorted through the Qantas terminal by police.

As he made his way through the terminal, the man was captured giving a thumbs-up sign to cameras, as well as appearing to offer sarcastic applause.

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He also waved to the cameras as he was put in the back of a police car.

The man has now been charged with 18 offences, including six counts of stealing from the person with a value less than or equal to $2000, and stealing from the person more than $2000 and less than or equal to $5000.

He was refused bail this afternoon in a Sydney court and will remain behind bars.

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The countries have agreed to meet in order to try and bring about peace in the Middle East, after the US and Israel began bombing Iran over nuclear weapons claims.

The lucky numbers have been drawn.

Foodstuffs stores may shorten opening hours, with PAK’nSAVE Kaitaia shut at 8pm.

Three people have died after a car slammed into a tree in Perth.

Police were called to Stoneville Road in Stoneville to the north-east of the city at about 8.50am after a car left the road and hit a tree.

Three adults inside all died at the scene, police say.

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More to come.…

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People in coastal or low-lying flood-prone areas urged to get to higher ground.

The Football Ferns will face Papua New Guinea in Wednesday’s final in Auckland.

Transport disruption is expected tomorrow in Auckland as severe weather hits the city.