29 h. ago Nigel Farage’s Reform UK hammers Tories and Labour in local election rout

Big two parties lose ground while rightwing rival surges in council and mayoral polls

Politics

42 h. ago As Australia heads to the polls, big parties brace for rise of independents

The soft, undecided and swinging voters are at an all-time high in Australia, while support for the centre-left Labor and conservative-leaning Coalition is lowSee all our Australia 2025 election coverageMore than 18 million Australians will head to the polls this Saturday to choose between the incumbent centre-left Labor party and its conservative-leaning Liberal/National Coalition challenger.But about one in three voters will brush off the major contenders – led by the current prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton – in favour of someone else altogether, in an election marked by a cost of living crisis and the spectre of Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago When you’re this big, the world is your oyster: top shellfish vie for title of Australia’s heaviest

On Saturday, monster molluscs – some more than a decade old – will weigh in at Narooma’s oyster festival on the NSW south coastGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastAs voters head to the polls to elect Australia’s new leader, another kind of competition will be unfolding south of Sydney: a face-off to determine the country’s heaviest oyster.On 3 May, the Australia’s Biggest Oyster competition will return for its 18th year at the Narooma oyster festival, held on the New South Wales south coast – the heart of rock oyster country. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Erin Patterson: New Mail podcast launches to hear case against Australian mother

The stage is set for a case that will dominate headlines in Australia, with crime correspondent Caroline Cheetham and reporter Wayne Flower set to share every courtroom revelation as it happens.

Politics

3 d. ago Wallabies aim for smooth coaching transition with Les Kiss to take over in 2026

Kiss to see out Super Rugby Pacific contract with Queensland RedsJoe Schmidt to remain in charge for end-of-season European tourIncoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss is confident he will have enough time to prepare for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, despite only taking charge of the national side from mid-2026.Rugby Australia confirmed on Wednesday that current head coach Joe Schmidt will continue to lead the Wallabies through the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour and until July next year to allow Kiss to see out his contract with Queensland Reds. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘The eighth wonder of the world’: China’s terracotta warriors to march on Australia for blockbuster show

Perth will host huge exhibition of ancient treasures from first emperor’s tomb in June, with 40% of the artefacts leaving China for the first time everGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailTwo thousand years ago, in a bid to conquer death itself, China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang commissioned a city of the dead: a 49 sq km mausoleum guarded by an army of clay warriors, built to defend his tomb for eternity.When farmers near Xi’an unearthed the first clay head in 1974, they cracked open one of humanity’s greatest archaeological mysteries, with more than 8,000 Terracotta Warriors discovered over the last 50 years. Now, fragments of that dream of immortality rise again – this time in Perth, where the largest exhibition of the Terracotta Warriors ever staged in Australia will head later this yearSign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Reform on course to beat Labour and the Tories in Red Wall mayoral elections as polls suggest a bad night for main parties

Andrea Jenkyns, the former Tory minister, is set to romp home in Greater Lincolnshire, while in neighbouring Hull and East Yorkshire, former boxer Luke Campbell is ahead.

Politics

2 w. ago Johnny Sexton joins British and Irish Lions coaching staff as new Ireland role revealed

The former fly half will join Andy Farrell’s team of assistants in Australia before joining the head coach’s Ireland staff

Politics

2 w. ago $500 for the nosebleeds? Lady Gaga fans furious over ticket prices for Australian shows

The Mayhem tour’s ticketing agencies deny dynamic pricing has been implemented, but fans have complained prices are high and inconsistentElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastThe little monsters are not happy. Lady Gaga fans have swamped social media to complain about exorbitant ticket prices for the pop star’s Australian concerts, with many speculating that dynamic pricing is involved – a claim the official ticketing agency for the Melbourne and Brisbane shows, Ticketmaster, has denied.Off the back of her chart-topping album Mayhem, Lady Gaga is heading to Australia for the first time in 11 years, with Live Nation bringing the Mayhem Ball to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in December. Ticketmaster, which is owned by Live Nation, is responsible for the ticket sales in Melbourne and Brisbane. Ticketek is separately handling the Sydney show, because of its affiliation with Sydney venue Accor Stadi...

Economics

2 w. ago Anthony Albanese backs Australian cafe owner in Canada over reported Vegemite stoush with local authorities

Australian PM says dispute over added vitamins in breakfast spread is ‘rather odd’ given Canada accepts shipments of UK’s MarmiteElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastAs the Trump administration’s tariff regime dominates headlines, Australia and Canada have become entangled in their own mini trade stand-off.Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Tuesday threw his support behind a cafe owner in Toronto who was reportedly in a dispute with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) over importing Vegemite.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Continue reading...

Culture

3 w. ago Gary Barlow reveals if he plans to ditch music for presenting as he teases third wine series

EXCLUSIVE The Take That frontman is about to be seen heading to Australia for the second edition of Gary Barlow’s Wine Tour and would ‘love’ to explore other countries in future

Culture

4 w. ago Pharmacist's alert over 'high' hay fever risk and how to beat symptoms

Sultan Dajani has shared five tips to help reduce hay fever symptoms this spring, as forecasts suggest pollen levels could be particularly high

Events