7 d. ago Before megalodon, researchers say a monstrous shark ruled ancient Australian seas

Researchers have dated vertebrae from a massive prehistoric shark thought to have ruled the waves off northern Australia back to further in the Cretaceous period than was previously known

Politics

2 w. ago Heatwave warning for large parts of Australia as temperatures expected to reach low 40s

New South Wales south coast faces highest heatwave category, with extreme temperatures forecast elsewhere, including in Western Australia and the NTFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCommunities across large parts of Australia have been urged to take precautions as temperatures begin to soar ahead of severe and extreme heatwave conditions, with parts of western Sydney expected to reach the low 40s by Saturday.The Bureau of Meteorology has issued heatwave warnings in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with an extreme warning in place on the NSW south coast – indicating the highest level of risk. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy mania hits Melbourne as fans skip school and work on ‘special day’ | Jack Snape

The Northern Irishman’s appeal was clear at the Australian Open with queues forming at the crack of dawn to catch a glimpse of the golf starOrganisers didn’t have to wait long to feel the full impact of Rory McIlroy’s appearance at the Australian Open on Thursday. Two thousand fans were waiting outside at Royal Melbourne at 6.30am, eager to get to the 10th tee for the Northern Irishman’s first swing at Australia’s premier tournament in a decade.Agitation was building. Time was ticking. Scanning all those barcodes might take half an hour or more. And so on a warm and windy workday in Australia’s biggest city, the gates were flung open. Rory mania had begun. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Thousands without power across Australia after Cyclone Fina batters parts of country

Darwin International Airport closed on Saturday as a precaution over Fina

Politics

3 w. ago Cyclone Fina cuts power and damages homes across northern Australia

Thousands left in the dark as damaging winds, flash floods and a second major storm batter two states

Events

3 w. ago Tropical Cyclone Fina brings gales and torrential rain and leaves more than 19,000 without power in Top End

Strongest cyclone to approach Darwin since Tracy in 1974 intensifies to category 4 as it moves towards northeast Kimberley coastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTop End residents are in cleanup mode after a night of damaging winds and heavy rain from Tropical Cyclone Fina.Arriving as a category 3 system, Fina brought destructive winds and heavy downpours to remote Tiwi Islands communities, then Darwin and surrounds on Saturday and into Sunday. Continue reading...

Sport