Latest

Business · 2 October 2026

Rampart's Razor‑Sharp Pitch: Will Investors Get Soft‑Served?

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

When media mogul Joe Aston’s fledgling platform, Rampart, announces a new funding round, market participants scramble to decide whether the venture’s appetite for corporate sponsorships will be a bite or a buffet. Th…

Sports · 2 October 2026

Joey’s ‘blow‑in’ showdown turns into a neighbourhood splash‑down

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

When a lawn sign calling Joey a ‘blow‑in’ sparks a water‑fueled feud, Andrew Johns steps into the suburbs to keep the local drama from turning into a full‑bore brawl.

Business · 2 October 2026

Snowy Legacy: Engineering Giant Evades Criminal Charges After 13-Year Bribe Investigation

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A storied Australian engineering firm that first engineered the Snowy Hydro dam concludes a 13‑year AFP bribery probe with no charges, settling for $9 million while retaining lucrative government contracts. Market pa…

Lighter · 2 October 2026

Eight gentle pictures of otters

Picture Desk

Eight gentle pictures of otters. A quiet list, with a few words beside each picture and the credit kept.

Sports · 2 October 2026

Knights' 14‑year‑old hooker set to debut in grand final, sparking a league‑wide debate on child‑protection rules

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Newcastle Knights are ready to let a teenage prodigy take the field in the NRL grand final, a move that could see the league re‑examine its age‑policy and trigger a wave of parental protests.

Business · 2 October 2026

Craft Brews Go to Extremes: When Innovation Meets Saturated Markets

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Amid a glut of craft options, Washington’s breweries are pushing the envelope with bizarre gimmicks and bold flavors in a bid to stay relevant, turning every pint into a punchline of innovation.

World · 2 October 2026

Trump’s Diesel Gambit Forces Europe to Pump the Brakes on Strategic Reserves

June Harrow, Washington desk

Washington has pressed European allies to tap their strategic diesel stockpiles after President Trump threatened an export ban, turning fuel policy into an election‑year circus.

Finance · 2 October 2026

Western Sydney Homeowners Prepare for the ‘Batten‑Down‑the‑Hatches’ Season as Rates and Petrol Prices Surge

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

With interest rates ticking up, fuel costs spiking, and house values slipping, residents in Western Sydney are tightening belts, swapping weekends for home repairs, and hoping market participants will eventually calm the…

Politics · 2 October 2026

Cartoonists’ ‘Best Of’ Leaves Politicians Wondering Who Got the Last Laugh

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

A look at the October 2 ‘Best of cartoons’ selection and what it says about the state of Australian politics, with a nod to the artists who managed to capture the absurdity.