In the Yarriambiack Shire, 350 kilometres from Melbourne in Victoria's rural north-west, virtually all of the towns are shrinking.

The federal government is sticking to its position of not negotiating with cyber criminals, despite hackers releasing personal data from millions of Qantas customers onto the dark web and threatening to target Australia.

There is any number of ways the ceasefire could fall over — perhaps within days.

The rallies in cities and towns dubbed the Nationwide Rally for Palestine come less than a week after the second anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack. 

Matt Payne and Garth Tander have won a remarkable edition of the Bathurst 1000 featuring seven safety cars at a rain-soaked Mount Panorama.

Chief executive Kylie Rogers wants to enhance the party atmosphere at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup carnival and intends to turn the hallowed turf into a dance floor after the last race on Champions Stakes Day.

Australia’s best jockey James McDonald must be growing tired of being plonked on the wrong Chris Waller horse in a run of group 1 outs.

Welcome to our weekly AFLW blog for round nine. Throughout the season, follow along for updates from every game, as well as news and analysis across the round.

Queenwood has doubled its success in year 9 Naplan writing – thanks to one teacher’s determination to change how it was taught.

Despite a flowering of optimism over the prospect of peace, a thorny issue remains yet to be grasped: Hamas has made no commitment to disarm.

Managing editor Michelle Pini takes a look at the Liberal Party's Far-Right takeover from within, simmering beneath the "civilised broad church" facade. read now...

Australia's political leaders have turned the sensitive return of ISIS-linked citizens into a partisan circus, ignoring legal realities in favour of fear-mongering. read now...

Gaza, the West Bank and Israel — Trump’s peace plan is more likely to divide than unite. read now...

Triathlete Greg Reddan gets to the baton in a fiery finish, scorching a Sydney surf carnival competitor. read now...

Despite record-breaking penalties, corporate misconduct continues unchecked, suggesting fines alone are failing to reform big business. read now...

Police were alerted to the incident at about 6.25pm this evening.

Sugar may have been mixed with the hot water, but Corrections hasn't confirmed it yet.

Motorists are told to expect delays.

The victim was pulled alive from the avalanche but died from their injures.

Woman says the vehicles of interest never left the accident scene.

Chief executive Kylie Rogers wants to enhance the party atmosphere at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup carnival and intends to turn the hallowed turf into a dance floor after the last race on Champions Stakes Day.

Queenwood has doubled its success in year 9 Naplan writing – thanks to one teacher’s determination to change how it was taught.

A teenager was allegedly stabbed in the chest while on board a train in Sydney’s north-west on Sunday afternoon.

A teenage boy is fighting for life in hospital after being attacked by a shark in Queensland.

Tributes are being paid to a husband and wife and their friend killed in a plane crash south of Sydney.

Despite a flowering of optimism over the prospect of peace, a thorny issue remains yet to be grasped: Hamas has made no commitment to disarm.

Hope is building ahead of the deadline for a ceasefire deal exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The back and forth threatens to derail a possible meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping and end a truce in a tariff war.

The presence of Chinese and Russian leaders at the latest Pyongyang mega-parade underlines Kim Jong-un’s rising star as a geopolitical partner against the West.

Pakistani security officials said they were responding “with full force” to what they called unprovoked firing from Afghanistan amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Bill Shorten has sparked a political storm over sudden policy moves that appeal to the Labor Left.

Progressive politics is close to killing off the worthy idea of constitutional recognition of the indigenous peoples.

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has ordered sweeping raids to prop up the cash-strapped state’s ailing budget.

Shares fell yesterday, wiping more than $30 billion in value, as investors braced for a British vote to leave the EU.

Efforts to increase the number of people studying science and maths are wrongheaded, says Productivity Commission.

Bill Shorten has sparked a political storm over sudden policy moves that appeal to the Labor Left.

Progressive politics is close to killing off the worthy idea of constitutional recognition of the indigenous peoples.

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has ordered sweeping raids to prop up the cash-strapped state’s ailing budget.

Shares fell yesterday, wiping more than $30 billion in value, as investors braced for a British vote to leave the EU.

Efforts to increase the number of people studying science and maths are wrongheaded, says Productivity Commission.