Sydney desk

Filed from the Sydney desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

World · 5 October 2026

Russian Drones Hit Kyiv’s Key Bridges, Turning Commutes into a Game of ‘Dodge the Drone’

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Russian drones struck several major bridges in Kyiv, disrupting traffic and prompting Ukrainian officials to vow a stronger response as Russia ramps up its attacks on the city’s infrastructure.

Finance · 5 October 2026

ASX Skips Ahead, Wall Street Smiles While Jobs Report Plays the Cool‑Down

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A surprisingly lukewarm U.S. jobs release has market participants swapping sweat for smiles, nudging the Australian Securities Exchange higher and the New York indices toward their all‑time peaks.

Politics · 5 October 2026

Queensland's 55% Legal Cigarette Surge Fuels Federal Blueprint to Tackle $8.5bn Illicit Market

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

A 55% rise in legal cigarette sales in Queensland is being touted by the federal cabinet as proof that street‑level enforcement can dismantle the $8.5 billion illicit tobacco market, prompting a new federal blueprint…

Business · 4 October 2026

From Prison Jumpsuit to Private Paradise: Zhao Courts UAE Clan and the Trumps

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Crypto billionaire Changpeng Zhao, once incarcerated in the United States, has reportedly found favour with the ruling family of the UAE and the Trump family, turning his private paradise into a new kind of power‑play.

World · 4 October 2026

Musk Returns to White House, Promises Tesla‑Powered War Machines; Australia Reassesses Defence Strategy

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Elon Musk’s return to the White House and his pledge to bring private‑sector warfare tech to the US forces has sent shock waves through Canberra, forcing Australian defence planners to reconsider what kind of drone�…

Sports · 4 October 2026

Averillo’s Hat‑Trick Turns Panthers’ Afternoon into a One‑Man Show

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Jake Averillo darted over for his third try, completing a hat‑trick that turned a routine mid‑week clash into a solo spectacle against the Panthers.

World · 4 October 2026

Iran’s New Diplomatic Playbook: Turning Crisis into a Masterclass in Missteps

Priya Nair, Sydney desk

Iran’s government has signaled a willingness to drive a regional conflict to its limits, prompting analysts to liken the move to the Trump‑era foreign‑policy missteps that now serve as cautionary case studies. Poli…

Business · 4 October 2026

WIN pulls Network 10 from Mount Gambier, Riverland and Griffith after three‑month reprieve

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a three‑month hold‑out, WIN confirmed that Network 10 will be removed from the regional markets of Mount Gambier, the Riverland and Griffith, underscoring the licence holder’s warning about the uncertain…

World · 4 October 2026

Australia’s Soccer‑Crazed Search for Argentina vs Burkina Faso Sparks Prediction Buzz

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

A surge in Australian searches for the upcoming Argentina‑Burkina Faso fixture on 4 October 2026 has turned pubs into impromptu think‑tanks, with fans debating where to watch and what the kickoff time will be.