4 d. ago Australia mushroom murderer Erin Patterson sentenced to life in prison with a non

Triple murderer sentenced in Victorian supreme court after killing relatives with a beef wellington lunch laced with death cap mushroomsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastErin Patterson has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years after murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth with a lunch laced with death cap mushrooms.Justice Christopher Beale delivered the sentence during a live broadcast in the Victorian supreme court on Monday morning. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago From a new Thomas Pynchon novel to a memoir by Margaret Atwood: the biggest books of the autumn

Essays from Zadie Smith; Wiki founder Jimmy Wales on how to save the internet; a future-set novel by Ian McEwan; a new case for the Slow Horses - plus memoirs from Kamala Harris and Paul McCartney all among this season’s highlightsHelm by Sarah HallFaber, out now Hall is best known for her glittering short stories: this is the novel she’s been working on for two decades. Set in Cumbria’s Eden valley, it tells the story of the Helm – the only wind in the UK to be given a name – from its creation at the dawn of time up to the current degradation of the climate. It’s a huge, millennia-spanning achievement, spotlighting characters from neolithic shamans to Victorian meteorologists to present-day pilots. Continue reading...

Culture

1 week ago Women cope better when their partner dies. I’ll have to go before him, out of spite

Should your partner be your best friend? After David Mitchell mansplained relationships, I asked my husband and his answer surprised meDavid Mitchell is probably the only male on the planet who could get away with defending mansplaining, so that is what he has done. “I feel there’s an unfairness to the term, which is taken to be men explaining things in a boring way to women,” he told the Sunday Times. “Because they do it to each other, and they take turns, and that’s what men call a conversation.”In the same interview, Mitchell and his comedy partner Robert Webb are asked how each counselled and supported the other through various personal challenges. They are confused and slightly aghast at the idea that they might have discussed such matters. What do men talk to one another about, then? “Well, yes,” says Mitchell. “That’s a question [my wife] Victoria’s asked me many times. And I never really know.” Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Man, 61, arrested in alpine hunt for suspected Porepunkah gunman Dezi Freeman

Asked whether man, 61, was associated with Freeman, a Victoria Police spokesperson said that line of inquiry would form part of interview by detectivesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 61-year-old man has been arrested and interviewed by detectives investigating the whereabouts of a man accused of killing two police officers.The hunt for alleged gunman Dezi Freeman is in its fifth day with hundreds of police continuing to scour Victoria’s high country wilderness amid strong winds and chilly conditions. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Porepunkah’s alleged police killer vanished into wild alpine bush – leaving locals behind in the mess

Dezi Freeman’s anti-government views and bushcraft skills were well-known in the small Victorian town before he allegedly killed two officersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt didn’t take long for Dezi Freeman to allegedly shoot and kill two police officers before he vanished into the bush in the Victorian high country, seemingly without a trace.That brief moment in time launched a manhunt that has involved hundreds of police officers from all over the country, some of Australia’s elite special forces, a visit from the premier and, as one local described it, a media “circus” in the small town of Porepunkah, in Victoria’s north east. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Porepunkah police shooting: wife of alleged killer Dezi Freeman arrested in late

Victoria police arrested and interviewed a 42-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy, releasing them ‘pending further inquiries’What we know so far about the Victoria police shooting and suspect Dezi FreemanReport: Porepunkah suspect used to spy on my family with drones, says former neighbourGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice overnight arrested the wife of Porepunkah shooting suspect Dezi Freeman, interviewing and releasing the 42-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy “pending further inquiries” as the manhunt in Victoria’s high country continues.On the fourth day of the massive police operation to find Freeman, who on Tuesday morning allegedly shot and killed two police officers and injured a third, police again appealed directly to the fugitive to turn himself in and bring the search to a safe end. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Porepunkah police shooting live updates: Victoria police ‘throwing everything’ at manhunt for suspect as search enters day three – latest news

Police officers allegedly shot dead on Tuesday identified as detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson and senior constable Vadim de Waart. Follow today’s news liveWho is Dezi Freeman? Porepunkah shooting suspect has association with ‘sovereign citizen’ ideas and called police ‘terrorist thugs’Slain police officers named as manhunt for alleged killer continuesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlpine parts of Victoria saw a fresh blanket of snow overnight, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning one of the strongest and widespread cold outbreaks of the winter season will soon move across the state in the coming days.Helen Reid, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said snow is expected to be a big part of a cold weather system moving across south-eastern Australia. The system could dump large amounts of snow – up to half a metre – over Alpine mountains near the Victoria-NSW border. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Porepunkah shooting live: police victims named; up to one metre of snow forecast for Victoria’s alpine areas as manhunt continues

Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush says suspect Dezi Freeman, 56, is “heavily armed” and still at large. Follow live updatesPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaThe chief commissioner of Victoria police, Mike Bush, said Freeman, 56, is “heavily armed” and still at large. Bush said a “large team” were “absolutely focused” on finding the suspect:We are pouring every resource into this search for this person, we must find him The hunt will continue until we find him. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Porepunkah shooting live: police release image of suspect; up to one metre of snow forecast for Victoria’s alpine areas as manhunt continues

Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush says suspect Dezi Freeman, 56, is “heavily armed” and still at large. Follow live updatesPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaThe chief commissioner of Victoria police, Mike Bush, said Freeman, 56, is “heavily armed” and still at large. Bush said a “large team” were “absolutely focused” on finding the suspect:We are pouring every resource into this search for this person, we must find him The hunt will continue until we find him. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago ‘Dangerous’ suspect who allegedly killed two officers escaped into bush alone and is believed to be ‘heavily armed’ – as it happened

This blog has now closedPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaWangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.We ask people avoid the area.Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.We thank you for your patience and understanding. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Victoria police shooting live updates: suspect who allegedly killed two officers in ‘horrific’ attack at large and believed to be armed

Follow live updatesPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaWangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.We ask people avoid the area.Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.We thank you for your patience and understanding. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Victoria police shooting live updates: ‘Significant search’ underway for alleged offender after two officers dead, one injured while executing search warrant at rural property

Follow live updatesPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaWangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.We ask people avoid the area.Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.We thank you for your patience and understanding. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Victoria police shooting live updates: Alpine Shire mayor describes ‘deep sorrow and shock’ after two officers dead, one injured at rural property

Follow live updatesPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWhat we know so far about the shooting in rural AustraliaWangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.We ask people avoid the area.Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.We thank you for your patience and understanding. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Victoria police shooting live updates: two officers dead, one injured after incident at rural Porepunkah property

Follow live updatesPorepunkah shooting: two Victoria police officers dead, one injured in attack at rural propertyWangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.We ask people avoid the area.Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.We thank you for your patience and understanding. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Cruz Beckham, 20, shares an intimate moment with girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29, after joining shirtless dad David aboard their lavish yacht during Italian family getaway

The youngest Beckham son, 20, jetted off on a luxury trip with his family, including his brother Romeo, 22, and sister Harper, 14.

Politics

2 w. ago Cruz Beckham, 20, shares an intimate moment with girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, after joining shirtless dad David aboard their lavish yacht during Italian family getaway

The youngest Beckham son, 20, jetted off on a luxury trip with his family, including his brother Romeo, 22, and sister Harper, 14.

Politics

3 w. ago Shirtless David Beckham cheekily squeezes wife Victoria's bottom as they continue their loved

The former footballer, 50, and fashion designer, 51, who have been married for nearly 25 years,  packed on the PDA on their £16M superyacht with sons Cruz, 24, Romeo, 22, and daughter Harper, 14.

Politics