Latest news with #YahooNews
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie renter's 250 million-year-old discovery in inner-city backyard
An Aussie woman has made an astonishing ancient discovery in the backyard of her inner-city rental home. During one particularly rainy day earlier this month, the Sydney renter noticed an 'unusual' pattern emerge on a large, heavy rock propped up in her garden. 'It was quite dirty so it wasn't until it washed off a bit that I went 'oh, it's got something on it',' the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told Yahoo News. Intrigued by the intricate detail 'all over' the chunk of sandstone, she decided to take a photo. 'Then I realised it was a fossil,' she said, adding she believes the owner of the property must have placed it there after 'digging out' an old cellar on the property. Although she has never ventured inside the 'scary' underground room, the woman said her partner had spotted an 'original stove' inside. Seeking answers about what could have created the pattern on the huge stone, the curious resident sought help from Aussie fossickers online. 'I thought it was plants, but apparently it is a sea creature,' she said after being inundated with responses. 🍄 Woman's 'smelly find sprouting from backyard lawn 🏊 Tragic find at bottom of backyard pool prompts urgent plea Ancient discovery near popular Aussie camping spot sparks delight After reviewing images of the rock, palaeontologist Sally Hurst and members of the Fossil Club of Australia confirmed to Yahoo the 'great find' is at least 250 million years old. The clusters of fine lines seen on the stone were created by 'a group of animals known as Bryozoa, which are simple aquatic invertebrates that we still have today', she explained. 'This one in particular is called Fenestella. It's from the mid-Permian, so before the dinosaurs, at around 272 to 259 million years old!' Hurst, from Macquarie University, told Yahoo the fossil is likely from the Fenestella Shale Member exposed at Mulbring Quarry in the Hunter Valley. 'So not originally from Sydney or the cellar of the property, but slightly further afield,' she said. 'It's a beautiful specimen, and quite a common find from that area.' While they are found around the world, in Australia fossilised Fenestella is primarily seen in the Sydney Basin and the NSW's South Coast. They are not as commercially valuable as some other fossils, but can be precious to scientists and collectors. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Aussie traveller risked $2,100 fine packing personal item for a 'good time'
While packing for her overseas holiday to visit family, 28-year-old Andy decided last minute to throw her vibrator into her hand luggage. Little did she know the decision could have cost her $2,100. The Sydney woman travelled to Abu Dhabi at the start of the month and told Yahoo News she noticed extra security as she was exiting the international airport. She admitted it felt unusual at the time, but after the 14-hour flight, she shrugged it off and walked through to greet her brother. It was only later that she realised she could have had a run-in with authorities. "I was talking about the security with my brother and he said, 'You know they have those extra scanners there on the lookout for contraband'," she recalled to Yahoo News. When she asked what items were considered illegal, suggesting possibly cigarettes or alcohol, her brother replied: "You know, like sex toys". "It kind of took me a hot minute to remember, he was so blasé about it... but I was like, hold on, I had a vibrator in my bag." Andy believes she managed to get away with carrying the item into the country purely because of its unconventional shape, with the palm vibrator mostly flat and designed to look inconspicuous. "At least it doesn't look like a straight-up dildo," she joked. "I dodged a bullet because the scanner must not have picked up what it was." ✋ OnlyFans model reportedly has Australian visa cancelled over controversial schoolies plan 👀 Dog walker 'horrified' by pet's phallic find at Aussie park 😲 Aussie model defends X-rated 'billboard' stunt Despite being able to laugh about it now — with her and her vibrator safely home in Australia — Andy has since warned travellers to be more vigilant of local laws in international countries before jetting off on holiday. "It's a country that grounds itself in religion, so it's fair enough," she said. "Just take note of it when you go overseas when you're actually stopping over in places like Abu Dhabi and anywhere in the Middle East. Maybe just double-check the laws of what they consider illegal." Sex toys are a prohibited good in several Middle Eastern and Asian countries. The United Arab Emirates, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Maldives all have strict laws on sex toys. Travellers caught buying, selling or having the items in their possession can face criminal action, with Andy dodging a $2,100 fine in Abu Dhabi. So the question is — was it worth it? Andy's answer was a resounding no. "Listen, probably not, no," she laughed. "The UAE has very different laws so I'd rather not get fined or kicked out of the country just for having a good time. "Be on the safe side, don't take it." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Major change on Aussie roads to combat ongoing crisis: 'About time'
Across the country's most populous state, koalas are under enormous threat. Classified as endangered, local populations have drastically reduced by up to 60 per cent in the last 25 years. The 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires alone resulted in the death of an estimated 6,382 koalas across NSW. Other factors, such as deforestation and collisions with cars, also continue to impact their numbers. In response, the state government has unveiled a new device designed to help koalas — and hopefully other animals — safely leave dangerous road corridors and return to their natural habitats. In a NSW-first, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has now installed eight Fauna Escape Hatches along sections of the Hume Highway, including at Wilton, Nepean Bridge and Moolgun Creek Bridge. These locations were chosen because they already feature koala exclusion fencing and are supported by timber pole structures. The hatches form part of a broader, layered approach to wildlife protection, which also includes dedicated crossing points and fencing to keep animals off the roads. TfNSW plans to expand the use of these hatches to other high-priority koala habitats, including Deadmans Creek on Heathcote Road and Appin Road in southwest Sydney and eventually, further across the state. Speaking to Yahoo News, a TfNSW spokesperson said it is determining where the devices might be of most benefit. "We are examining how fauna escape hatches can be applied in other areas where there is high koala activity," they said. They will form part of several initiatives, including koala protection fencing, koala poles, three koala underpasses and signs to increase driver awareness." The one-way design includes angled aluminium or stainless-steel prongs that allow koalas to push through from one side but prevent them from re-entering the roadway. This aligns with koalas' instinctive behaviour to push under obstacles rather than climb over them. The hatch works best when installed alongside koala exclusion fencing, where it adds an extra layer of protection and can be retrofitted to existing infrastructure. Its primary aim is to reduce the risk of collisions between vehicles and wildlife, ultimately improving safety for both koalas and motorists. Originally developed by Endeavour Veterinary Ecology, the Fauna Escape Hatch underwent a 12-month field trial beginning in 2023 in Toorbul, Queensland. Incredible change on Aussie property amid critical fight for species Drivers warned over growing problem after grim roadside find Fears koalas on road to extinction as 'devastating' statistic revealed The trial involved tracking 85 wild koalas as part of an existing monitoring program and proved the hatch to be an effective alternative to other roadside escape solutions. The positive results have sparked interest from government agencies and conservation organisations across Australia. Many NSW residents applauded the move online, saying it was "about time" and suggested the state should have "more everywhere". Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Poll: How tariffs are tanking Trump's approval rating
In 1992, Democratic political strategist James Carville famously distilled the presidential election down to one blunt catchphrase: 'It's the economy, stupid.' The results of a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll suggest that, more than three decades later, the start of President Trump's second term could be summed up the same way — particularly when it comes to tariffs and trade. The survey of 1,560 U.S. adults was conducted from May 22 to May 27, following months of global economic upheaval — all of it triggered by Trump. On-again off-again tariffs as high as 145%. Retaliatory measures from major allies and trading partners. Headlines about trade wars. Market nosedives. Market recoveries. Legal confusion. Stress among small-business owners. And rising prices for ordinary American consumers. At the same time, Trump's approval rating has steadily deteriorated. Before last November's election, a majority of Americans (51%) told Yahoo News and YouGov that they approved of the way Trump had handled his first term in office; fewer (43%) said they disapproved. But when asked again in March how they felt about the president's performance since returning to office, those numbers had flipped: more respondents now said they disapproved (50%) than said they approved (44%) of the job Trump had done during the first two months of his second term. A few weeks later, in April, the gap between Trump's disapproval (53%) and approval (42%) ratings had grown even wider (to 11 percentage points). And the latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows that gap is continuing to expand. Today only 41% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, while 54% disapprove, putting him 13 points underwater. Those are some of the president's worst numbers since the latter stages of his first term. Digging deeper, more Americans disapprove than approve of how Trump is handling each major issue included in the survey: immigration (by a two-point margin); government spending (by an eight-point margin); the war between Russia and Ukraine (by an eight-point margin); diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI (by a nine-point margin); and democracy (by a 13-point margin). But the biggest gaps between Trump's approval and disapproval ratings emerge when Americans are asked about economic issues. According to the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, the president is now 19 points underwater on the economy in general (37% approve to 56% disapprove); 22 points underwater on trade and tariffs (35% approve to 57% disapprove); and 27 points underwater on the cost of living (32% approve to 59% disapprove). To put those numbers in perspective, Trump's average approval rating on the economy was 49% in the middle of 2020 — at the height of the COVID-19 crash. His average disapproval rating was 45%. Similarly, a full 57% of Americans think Trump has 'gone too far 'in "raising tariffs on imported goods' — significantly more than the share who think he's gone too far in 'cutting the federal workforce" (51%), 'arresting and deporting immigrants' (49%) or "investigating his political opponents" (45%). Just 4% of Americans say Trump's approach to raising tariffs has 'not gone far enough.' As a result, 40% of U.S. adults now rate the economy as 'poor' — a five-point increase since April. Among independents, that same number has jumped a full 10 points — from 35% to 45% — over the last month. All told, nearly three quarters of Americans (72%) now say the economy is either fair or poor. Just 25% consider it excellent or good. Earlier this month, House Republicans passed Trump's 'one big, beautiful bill' — a package of tax cuts, social safety net reductions and increased border and military spending meant to deliver the bulk of his legislative agenda. But assuming that some version of the bill survives the Senate — a big if at this point — it is unlikely to reverse the president's economic standing. In the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, half of respondents were asked whether they 'approve or disapprove of the federal budget just passed by the U.S. House of Representatives' — with no additional information provided. Twenty-eight percent said they approved, 41% said they disapproved and 31% said they weren't sure — hardly a ringing endorsement. Meanwhile, the other half of respondents read the following description of the bill before answering the same question: The U.S. House of Representatives just passed a federal budget that extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts for Americans of all incomes, at a cost of $3.8 trillion, while partially paying for those cuts by reducing Medicaid and food stamp benefits for lower-income Americans and ending some clean energy programs. The House budget also increases military and border spending and raises the debt ceiling from $36 trillion to $40 trillion. Among this second, more informed group of respondents, approval of Trump's budget bill stayed roughly the same (31%). But uncertainty fell by 17 points (to 14%) — and disapproval shot up by nearly as much (to 55%). __________________ The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,560 U.S. adults interviewed online from May 22 to May 27, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.9%.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Poll: How tariffs are tanking Trump's approval rating
In 1992, political strategist James Carville famously distilled the presidential election down to one simple catchphrase: 'It's the economy, stupid.' The results of a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll suggest that, more than three decades later, the start of President Trump's second term could be summed up the same way — particularly when it comes to tariffs and trade. The survey of 1,560 U.S. adults was conducted from May 22 to 27, following months of global economic upheaval — all of it triggered by Trump. On-again, off-tariffs as high as 145%. Retaliatory measures from major allies and trading partners. Headlines about trade wars. Market nosedives. Market recoveries. Legal confusion. Stress among small-business owners. And rising prices for ordinary American consumers. At the same time, Trump's approval rating has steadily deteriorated. Before last November's election, a majority of Americans (51%) told Yahoo News and YouGov that they approved of the way Trump had handled his first term in office; fewer (43%) said they disapproved. But when asked again in March how they felt about the president's performance since returning to office, those numbers had flipped: more respondents now said they disapproved (50%) than said they approved (44%) of the job Trump had done during the first two months of his second term. A few weeks later, in April, the gap between Trump's disapproval (53%) and approval (42%) ratings had grown even wider (to 11 percentage points). And the latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows that gap is continuing to expand. Today, only 41% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance while 54% disapprove, putting him 13 points underwater. Those are some of the president's worst numbers since the latter stages of his first term. Digging deeper, more Americans disapprove than approve of how Trump is handling each major issue included in the survey: immigration (by a two-point margin); government spending (by an eight-point margin); the war between Russia and Ukraine (by an eight-point margin); diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI (by a nine-point margin); and democracy (by a 13-point margin). But the biggest gaps between Trump's approval and disapproval ratings emerge when Americans are asked about economic issues. According to the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, the president is now 19 points underwater on the economy in general (37% approve to 56% disapprove); 22 points underwater on trade and tariffs (35% approve to 57% disapprove); and 27 points underwater on the cost of living (32% approve to 59% disapprove). To put those numbers in perspective, Trump's average approval rating on the economy was 49% in the middle of 2020 — at the height of the COVID-19 crash. His average disapproval rating was 45%. Similarly, a full 57% of Americans think Trump has 'gone too far 'in "raising tariffs on imported goods' — significantly more than the share who think he's gone too far in 'cutting the federal workforce" (51%), 'arresting and deporting immigrants' (49%) or "investigating his political opponents" (45%). Just 4% of Americans say Trump's approach to raising tariffs has 'not gone far enough.' As a result, 40% of U.S. adults now rate the economy as 'poor' — a five-point increase since April. Among independents, that same number has jumped a full 10 points — from 35% to 45% — over the last month. All told, nearly three quarters of Americans (72%) now say the economy is either fair or poor. Just 25% consider it excellent or good. Earlier this month, House Republicans passed Trump's 'one big, beautiful bill' — a package of tax cuts, social safety net reductions and increased border and military spending meant to deliver the bulk of his legislative agenda. But assuming that some version of the bill survives the Senate — a big if at this point — it is unlikely to reverse the president's economic standing. In the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, half of respondents were asked whether they 'approve or disapprove of the federal budget just passed by the U.S. House of Representatives' — with no additional information provided. Twenty-eight percent said they approved, 41% said they disapproved and 31% said they weren't sure — hardly a ringing endorsement. Meanwhile, the other half of respondents read the following description of the bill before answering the same question: The U.S. House of Representatives just passed a federal budget that extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts for Americans of all incomes, at a cost of $3.8 trillion, while partially paying for those cuts by reducing Medicaid and food stamp benefits for lower-income Americans and ending some clean energy programs. The House budget also increases military and border spending and raises the debt ceiling from $36 trillion to $40 trillion. Among this second, more informed group of respondents, approval of Trump's budget bill stayed roughly the same (31%). But uncertainty fell by 17 points (to 14%) — and disapproval shot up by nearly as much (to 55%). __________________ The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,560 U.S. adults interviewed online from May 22 to 27, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.9%.
