More than four months after the federal election, the last remaining seat has finally been decided after Liberal hopeful Gisele Kapterian conceded defeat and abandoned a court challenge.

The Sydney seat of Bradfield was an extremely tight race, with Kapterian initially winning by just eight votes before a full recount saw teal independent Nicolette Boele succeed with 26 votes.

The NSW Liberal Party launched legal action to review the validity of 151 of the 118,000 ballot papers, which had internally come into question, but Kapterian today announced the challenge has been withdrawn after a review provided her with the reassurance that the results were accurate.

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"After a final review of the ballot papers following the two different results in Bradfield, I am satisfied that, overall, the correct outcome has been declared," she said in a statement.

"Accordingly, we have taken the decision to no longer press the petition for a final review by the Court of Disputed Returns.

"With two different outcomes declaring two different winners, I'm grateful our electoral system anticipates and supports the need for further scrutiny through a statutory right. 

"This is particularly so given the often difficult and subjective nature of ballot interpretation." 

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has been notified of her decision and said no stone was left unturned in the case.

"Australians can be confident that the AEC left absolutely no stone unturned when it came to scrutinising this extremely close election result under the very watchful eye of many scrutineers," AEC Commissioner Jeff Pope said.

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Bradfield had become the most hotly contested federal seat in the country since polls closed on May 3.

The Liberals had been desperately trying to cling to the blue-ribbon seat, which had not elected a non-Liberal MP in its 75-year history.

Today, 145 days after the federal election, Kapterian conceded the seat to Boele.

"I'm disappointed to miss out on contributing from inside the party room, but I will continue to play my part," Kapterian said.

"I wish Ms Boele all the best in the role, and I thank the people of Bradfield for this incredible opportunity to have spoken with so many of you to hear your ideas, your stories, and what matters most to you."

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Boele accepts the 'privilege of my lifetime' 

The teal independent had unsuccessfully run for the seat in 2022 but made history at the federal election earlier this year, taking the seat from the Liberals for the first time. 

She has been serving as Bradfield MP while her win was being challenged by Kapterian.

Boele accepted her rival's defeat today and said her continuation in the role was the "privilege of my lifetime".

"Today Ms Kapterian conceded defeat in Bradfield and abandoned her challenge in the Court of Disputed Returns. This means I will continue to have the honour of representing the people of Bradfield as their Federal Member of Parliament," she said.

"Serving this community is the privilege of my lifetime, and I do not take this responsibility lightly.

"I will continue to serve with integrity, care and dedication."

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Boele said being part of the review process had given her an "even greater appreciation" for the safeguards in place and the value of every single vote.

"While we watch checks and balances erode in other countries, our electoral and judicial processes are something we can genuinely celebrate here at home," she said.

Boele said she has already worked on more than 900 local cases and will now continue to ensure her constituents' voices are heard in parliament.

"There is much work to do and I look forward to getting it done," she said. 

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Emma Mason has taken her plea to ban social media for those under the age of 16 to the world stage, receiving backing from Europe as she spoke on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Aussie mum made the journey from regional NSW to New York to make a heartfelt plea about social media use by children.

Mason's daughter, Tilly, took her own life at the age of 15 as a result of cyberbullying.

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Since then, Mason has advocated for stricter laws surrounding social media usage and spoke at the United Nations about her loss and the impact it had on her family.

Her campaign has been a significant factor in Australia's decision to outlaw social media usage for people under the age of 16.

"We watch as other parents' children get licences, they graduate, all the things that our babies won't achieve, and it's brutal," she said in her speech.

"So now I ask you to hold my Tilly and all the lost children in your hearts and do what you can to change the narrative across our world for Tilly's sake, because how many more Tillys must die?"

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, attended the speech and gave her personal support for Australia's new social media legislation.

"Many member states believe the time has come for a digital majority age for access to social media, and I must tell you as a mother of seven and a grandmother of five, I share their view," she said.

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Australia's under-16 social media ban is set ot take effect later this year despite pushback from tech giants.

"Put simply in one sentence, we want children to have a childhood, not too much to ask," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

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President Donald Trump said that he was the victim of "three very sinister events" during his time at the United Nations on Tuesday and that the Secret Service will be looking into the issues.

The president was attending the UN General Assembly, where he gave a speech excoriating the institution for having squandered its potential.

 He also criticised US allies in Europe for their handling of the Russian war in Ukraine and their acceptance of immigrants as he told fellow world leaders that their nations were "going to hell."

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On his social media website, Trump indicated that he was in a sour mood at the UN because of a trio of mishaps that he suggested was part of a conspiracy against him.

First, the escalator came to a "screeching halt" with Trump and his entourage on it, an event that Trump called "absolutely sabotage."

Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesman, said a videographer from the US delegation who ran ahead of him triggered the stop mechanism at the top of the escalator.

"The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing," Dujarric said in a statement.

"The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function."

"The people that did it should be arrested," Trump said on Truth Social.

Second, Trump said his teleprompter went "stone cold dark" during his address to the UN.

The problem with that accusation is the White House was responsible for operating the teleprompter for the president, according to a UN official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

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Third, Trump said that the sound was off at the UN as he spoke and that people could only hear his remarks if they had interpreters speaking into earpieces.

Trump said his wife, Melania, told him she couldn't hear what he said.

"This wasn't a coincidence, this was triple sabotage," said Trump, who is seeking an investigation of the matter.

Trump told the UN to save its security tapes regarding the escalator stoppage as the Secret Service will be involved in the inquiry.

A UN official speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue contributed that one to his side as well, saying the White House was operating the teleprompter for the president.

It's not unusual for escalators at the UN to stop working, as staff and visitors know quite well. In recent months, UN offices in New York and Geneva have intermittently turned off elevators and escalators as part of steps to save money because of a "liquidity crisis" at the world body.

 That's due in part to delays in funding from the United States, which is the top donor of the world body.

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EXCLUSIVE: Nerilee Gregory spent $144 on a popular berberine supplement after seeing it touted as "nature's Ozempic" on social media.

Instead of helping her lose weight, it landed her in hospital.

Now the 52-year-old from Sydney is desperately warning other Australians to do their research before buying into online claims about berberine and other supplements.

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"I was the sickest I've ever been in my life," she told 9news.com.au.

"I thought I was going to die."

What is berberine?

Berberine is a compound found in some plants, some research suggests berberine could have some health benefits.

When taken as a supplement it may lower blood sugar, increase weight loss, and improve heart health.

Macquarie University School of Natural Sciences Professor Nial Wheate said that berberine's popularity has spiked recently due to social media claims that it is a "natural alternative to Ozempic".

But there's not significant scientific evidence backing up these weight loss claims.

"The evidence, as it currently stands, does not support berberine as an effect chemical to increase weight loss, so few people are likely to benefit from it," Wheate told 9news.com.au.

"Some people may be taking it to help with regulating blood sugar levels and lowering cholesterol, but the evidence for these benefits is equally weak."

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He added that berberine supplements are provided in Australia as unscheduled, listed medicines, which allows them to be sold over the counter in supermarkets.

But it also means that while they have been assessed for ingredient safety, they have not been tested for efficacy.

Berberine supplements are widely available in Australia from chemists, pharmacies, supermarkets and online.

Tiny capsule, hellish side-effects

Berberine's advertised weight loss benefits appealed to Gregory, so she ordered two bottles of supplement capsules online for $144.

She claimed none of the marketing or packaging for the supplement included warnings about potential side-effects.

"The bottle just said take two tablets a day," she said.

Within a few hours of taking her first capsule on a Saturday night, she was violently ill.

At first she thought it was food poisoning.

"I blamed my husband because he cooked the dinner," she confessed.

For hours she was locked in the bathroom with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

It took her days to recover.

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The second time she took a berberine supplement capsule was on a Thursday morning before work.

Hours later, she had to race to the office bathroom.

Gregory claimed she was violently ill there, then managed to leave the office only to collapse outside.

"Luckily I was on my side [because] I just continued to vomit, like I had been poisoned," she said.

"It was coming out both ends for a good two hours until there was nothing left … it nearly killed me."

Eventually she made it to a nearby hospital, where doctors said she had experienced a severe adverse reaction to berberine.

Where are the warnings?

Gregory was floored that she had never seen any warnings about potential adverse reactions to berberine.

Macquarie University School of Natural Sciences Professor Nial Wheate said common side effects of berberine include diarrhoea, constipation, gas, and an upset stomach.

"Large quantities may be fatal," he revealed.

Berberine is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and it can interact with many medicines.

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Gregory knew none of this and fears many other Aussies could be in the same boat.

"I don't want anyone else to go through what I did," she said.

"Mine was a rare reaction, but I will never, ever buy another supplement."

A Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) told 9news that "no medicine or other therapeutic good is totally risk-free".

Supplements containing herbal substances like berberine are generally regulated by the TGA as therapeutic goods.

They must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before being imported to, exported from, or supplied in Australia.

Most are included as listed medicines, meaning they can only contain ingredients from a pre-approved TGA list.

"Berberine is found naturally in some plants and is a component of some herbal ingredients permitted for use in listed medicines," the spokesperson told 9news.

There are currently no restrictions relating to berberine content in herbal permitted ingredients, but berberine has not been approved for use as an ingredient by itself in listed medicines.

"The TGA continually monitors the safety of therapeutic goods in Australia, including berberine, and takes action to address confirmed safety concerns," they said.

Wheate urged Aussies to speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking berberine or any other supplements.

He also cautioned against buying supplements online.

"Buy only from a physical store in Australia [and] check that the front of the packaging has a TGA approval number," he said.

This will be formatted AUST L followed by a string of numbers, e.g. AUST L 123456.

"This means the government that approved the ingredients as safe and that it has been manufactured to the highest standard," Wheate explained.

"Don't buy a product that doesn't have an TGA approval number."

The information in this article is general in nature. Please consult your GP or other healthcare professional for advice that is specific to your needs.

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A rare Rose Bay mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs has sold for $45.1 million, setting what is believed to be Australian record for the most expensive home sold at auction.

The grand Georgian Revival home was built in 1935 and sits on a 2536-square-metre block.

Known as 'The Knoll' due to its elevated position, it overlooks the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

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Richardson and Wrench Double Bay's James and Michael Dunn handled the sale on behalf of the Burns family, who have held the prestigious property for 60 years.

The late vendor, Elizabeth Burns, died last year. She was a descendant of Sir James Burns, founder of the merchant company Burns Philp.

Michael Dunn told 9news.com.au it was a "very competitive auction".

"The property was called on the market at around $40 million and it had exceeded the reserve for the property at that point," he said.

"It was a very spirited auction. There were four bidders fighting, and there were many more other potential buyers at the auction." 

Feedback from potential buyers had originally led the real estate agency to put an estimated price of $30 million -$35 million on the property, however, it was always hard to predict what would happen when such a rare home was on offer, Dunn said.

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"In the last couple of years, there have been no sales of properties of non-waterfront properties, in the eastern suburbs, of this land size," he said. 

"So arriving at an opinion of value is very, very challenging. There are no simple formulas.

"Mansions of this calibre come up rarely, land size of this calibre comes up rarely, fronting the newly-renovated Royal Sydney Golf Club comes up rarely.

"It's one-of-a-kind and I think the buyers recognised that."

Dunn said the successful bidders planned to ultimately renovate the property and live in it.

The sale eclipses the previous known record of $43.1 million for a sale at auction, set in 2021 for a $43.1 million mansion on 47 Lansell Road in Melbourne's Toorak.

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A Queensland lotto winner has revealed big plans for his windfall – including a racing track starring one of our national animals.

The Cannonvale man was one of the five jackpot winners in Saturday's Gold Lotto draw, taking home $2 million.

The Mackay-Whitsundays region has been a hotspot for lotto wins in 2025, with eight major winners so far this year bagging more than $21.15 million collectively.

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"I've been playing Saturday Gold Lotto for two years. I never expected for this to happen to me," the man said.

"I'm still decompressing from the win. I found out Saturday morning and have been sitting on it ever since."

And he's dreaming big about what to do with his winnings.

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"I could use the money to build an emu racing track on my property between Prosperine and Airlie Beach," he said.

"I've loved emus since childhood and have always wondered if I could do such a thing. Now with $2 million – who knows?"

But first, he said, he was heading to the local RSL with some mates to celebrate.

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The man purchased his winning ticket at News Whitsunday in Whitsunday Plaza Centro, Cannonvale.

"This will be our third division one winning entry that we've sold in the last three years! We're known by the locals as a lucky store," store owner Rich Bates said.

"The last time we sold a division one winning entry before this win was in May 2024, which was also a Saturday Gold Lotto winner."

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A statue of US President Donald Trump hand-in-hand with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been removed from Washington, one day after it appeared.

The bronze protest art was placed in the city's National Mall on Tuesday (Wednesday Australian time).

It depicted the US commander-in-chief skipping alongside disgraced financier Epstein, who died in his jail cell on August 10, 2019.

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A plaque was mounted beneath the figures which read, "In honor of friendship month, we celebrate the long-standing bond between President Donald J. Trump and his closest friend Jeffrey Epstein".

Trump's former friendship with Epstein has been a topic of much debate since he returned to the Oval Office at the start of the year.

A group called The Secret Handshake claimed to be behind the work and said they had obtained a National Park Service permit to display it in the National Mall.

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Despite that, it was removed after just one day.

Eyewitness video appeared to show US Park Police dismantling and hauling away the statue before sunrise on Wednesday morning (Thursday Australian time).

A Department of the Interior spokesperson told NPR that the statue was removed "because it was not compliant with the permit issued".

They did not explain further.

The permit, which was obtained by NPR, included a clause that it may be revoked at any time provided the permittee is notified of the reason at least 24 hours in advance.

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A Secret Handshake group member claimed they were not given adequate notice.

"Instead, they showed up in the middle of the night without notice and physically toppled the statue, broke it, and took it away," they told NPR on the condition of anonymity.

"We do not know where it is."

They speculated that members of the Trump Administration "were trying to find ways to say we were not in compliance" and have the statue removed.

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"This is a literal example of the Trump administration toppling free speech when it has been legally permitted and approved because they are scared about whatever Trump is hiding in the Epstein files," they alleged.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson had previously spoken out against the statue.

Trump himself has not commented on it.

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President Donald Trump has introduced a "Presidential Walk of Fame" along a noticeable walkway outside the West Wing of the White House.

"The Presidential Walk of Fame has arrived on the West Wing Colonnade," special assistant to the president and communications adviser Margo Martin wrote in a post on X on Wednesday, with a video in which black-and-white portraits of presidents in gold frames can be seen along the colonnade.

The image selected for one former president, however, stands out: President Joe Biden, who instead of a portrait is represented by a photo of an autopen.

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Trump has personally been fixated on Biden's autopen use, CNN previously reported, and in June ordered an investigation into his actions and autopen use in a memorandum that cites Biden's "cognitive decline."

Biden at the time dismissed the suggestions in Trump's memo, saying in a statement, "Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false."

A spokesperson for Biden declined to comment on the new display.

Trump previously suggested that an autopen image would replace his predecessor's portrait.

The president flagged his plans for the portraits several weeks ago in an interview with The Daily Caller, claiming that not all presidents will be treated equally. When asked if there would be a portrait of Biden, Trump said, "We'll put up a picture of the autopen."

This week, White House press noticed a gold banner with the words "Presidential Walk of Fame" hanging above brown paper squares placed on the wall.

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"Continually impressed at how laser-focused the White House continues to be on Trump's Day One promise to lower prices and all the steps they're taking to make life easier for families struggling to get by," Chris Meagher, a former deputy press secretary for Biden, commented on X in response to the redecoration of the walkway.

Trump's June memo called on the counsel to the president, in consultation with Attorney General Pam Bondi and other agency heads, to probe whether "certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden's mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the President."

The memo also orders that the investigation include "any activity, coordinated or otherwise, to purposefully shield the public from information regarding Biden's mental and physical health" and "any agreements between Biden's aides to cooperatively and falsely deem recorded videos of the President's cognitive inability as fake."

Trump has also called for a review of "the policy documents for which the autopen was used, including clemency grants, Executive Orders, Presidential memoranda, or other Presidential policy decisions."

Biden's advisers have denied any coordinated effort to conceal from the public his deteriorating condition during the final years of his presidency.

While addressing reporters on Air Force One back in March, Trump claimed of the autopen: "I never use it."

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"I mean, we may use it, as an example, to send some young person a letter, because it's nice. … But to sign pardons and all of the things that (Biden) signed with an autopen is disgraceful," Trump added.

Trump has previously relocated portraits of other presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, and replaced former first lady Hillary Clinton's portrait with one of himself.

He also began revamping the White House Rose Garden earlier this summer, paving the grass with marble and stone tiles, adding new lighting and speakers to host events. The new patio-style set up takes after Mar-a-Lago, where Trump dines al fresco during his weekends away from Washington, and has been dubbed the "Rose Garden Club."

Trump's summer renovations to the Rose Garden mark the latest iteration of a space that has evolved over time.

Trump is scheduled to host a Rose Garden Club dinner Wednesday evening where he will be joined by Cabinet officials and senior White House staff, a White House official told CNN. The event will mark the first opportunity for guests to view the president's newly unveiled addition to the West Wing colonnade.

Millions of Australians are too strapped for cash to deal with a financial emergency, meaning a job loss or medical incident could land them in an instant crisis.

A new survey from Finder found that almost two in five respondents – equivalent to 7.9 million people – don't have enough money saved to cover three months of essential living costs.

And one in five said they found it "very difficult" to save money.

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Nearly one in 10 don't have a three-month savings buffer but are trying to get there, while eight per cent of respondents said they didn't think a three-month emergency fund was necessary.

Finder money expert Alison Banney said millions of households were vulnerable to an unexpected event like job loss or illness.

"One sudden unexpected financial setback – like a redundancy or a health scare – could throw their whole life into financial chaos," she said.

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"Those without savings could be forced to rely on debt which could quickly leave them in a worse position."

However, while 37 per cent of Australians don't have a three-month emergency fund, the average Aussie has $43,650 in cash savings according to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, highlighting a gap between the haves and have-nots.

Banney said even putting away a small amount consistently can add up over time and provide a crucial buffer.

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"The idea of saving three to six months worth of expenses can seem daunting to Australians who can't even afford an unexpected $1000 emergency outlay," she said.

"Building an emergency fund is possible. Even $20 a week adds up to more than $1000 in a year, and that's before you include any interest earned on the cash."

Banney also urged Aussies to set up an automatic transfer into a separate high interest savings account.

"There are great savings accounts available that pay a decent rate without making you jump through hoops. These accounts would be ideal for an emergency fund," she said.

"With the festive season around the corner, now is a great time to trim any unnecessary spending. From cancelling subscriptions to getting cheaper health insurance cover, see where you can divert any savings into that emergency fund straight away."

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Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest storms to hit Asia in years, whipped waves taller than lampposts onto Hong Kong promenades and turned seas rough on the southern Chinese coast overnight after leaving deadly destruction in Taiwan and the Philippines.

In Taiwan, 17 people died after floods submerged roads and carried away vehicles in one county, and 10 deaths were reported in the northern Philippines.

Nearly 1.9 million people were relocated across Guangdong province, the southern Chinese economic powerhouse.

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A weather station in Chuandao town recorded maximum gusts of 241km/hr at noon, a high in Jiangmen city since record-keeping began.

State broadcaster CCTV said the typhoon made landfall along the coast of Hailing Island in Yangjiang city at about 5 pm (7 pm Wednesday AEST), packing maximum winds near the centre of 144km/hr.

Violent winds battered trees and buildings, with torrential rain lowering visibility, video from China's state-run Xinhua news agency showed.

The typhoon is forecast to keep moving west, prompting the suspension of some train services in the Gunagxi region on Thursday. Chinese officials allocated tens of millions of dollars for relief efforts.

Schools, factories and transportation services were initially suspended in about a dozen cities, but a few of them distant from the landfall location were preparing to resume work as winds weakened.

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Winds and waves lash Hong Kong

The fierce winds, brought by Ragasa, once a super typhoon, woke Hong Kong residents in the early hours, and many went online to describe scenes like a kitchen ventilation fan being blown down and a crane swaying.

Strong winds blew away parts of a pedestrian bridge's roof and knocked down hundreds of trees across the city. A vessel crashed into the shore, shattering a row of glass railings along the waterfront.

Areas around some rivers and promenades were flooded, including cycling lanes and playgrounds. At several promenade restaurants, furniture was scattered chaotically by the winds. Ninety injured people were treated at hospitals.

A video that showed waves of water crashing through the doors of a hotel and flooding its interiors went viral in the financial hub. The hotel has not immediately commented on the incident.

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Hong Kong and Macao, a nearby casino hub, cancelled schools and flights, with many shops closed. Hundreds of people sought refuge in temporary centres in each city. Streets in Macao turned into streams with debris floating on the water.

Rescue crews deployed inflatable boats to save those who were trapped.

The gambling city's local electricity supplier suspended its power supply in some flooded, low-lying areas for safety. As the winds eased, some waded into flooded streets to catch fish.

Hong Kong's observatory said Ragasa had maximum sustained winds near the centre of about 195km/hr and skirted around 100km to the south of the city.

Hong Kong categorises cyclones with sustained winds 185km/hr or stronger as super typhoons to make residents extra vigilant about intense storms.

The observatory said Ragasa is the strongest tropical cyclone in the northwestern Pacific and South China Sea region so far this year. Preliminary analysis showed it also ranks as the second-strongest one in the South China Sea region since the observatory's record-keeping began in 1950, tying with typhoons Saola in 2023 and Yagi in 2024, it said.

Dozens dead in floods and at sea in Philippines and Taiwan

Ragasa earlier caused deaths and damage in Taiwan and the Philippines after the typhoon took a path between them.

In Taiwan, 17 people died after heavy rain caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow Tuesday and torrents of muddy water destroyed a bridge, turning roads in Guangfu township into churning rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away.

Guangfu has about 8450 people, more than half of whom sought safety on higher floors of their homes or on higher ground on Wednesday morning.

Rescuers managed to establish contact with more than 100 others who were previously unreachable in Hualien, and were going door-to-door to check on the remaining 17 residents. A total of 32 people were injured across the self-ruled island.

At least 10 deaths were reported in the northern Philippines, including seven fishermen who drowned after their boat was battered by huge waves and fierce wind and flipped over on Monday off Santa Ana town in northern Cagayan province. Five other fishermen remained missing, provincial officials said.

Nearly 700,000 people were affected by the onslaught, of whom 25,000 fled to government emergency shelters.

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