Behind the scenes at Perth’s most controversial expo

With measured success.

Hong Kong has retained its status as the world’s freest economy in the latest annual ranking by a top Canadian think tank, although its score has declined in recent years. Switzerland overtook Singapore to claim second place in 2026, pushing the city state down to third in the league table released by the Fraser Institute on Tuesday. The Economic Freedom of the World report, compiled by the Vancouver-based public policy research organisation using data from 2024, ranked Hong Kong first among 165...

Germany and France, the European Union’s two largest economies, jointly called for tougher EU trade defences, as European and Chinese negotiators prepare for crunch talks this week under the shadow of a potential trade war. “The open and rules-based trade system is massively affected by weaponisation of trade, systemic market-distorting practices, and global macroeconomic imbalances,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron said in an open letter. “We need urgent...

The fallout is escalating for reality TV star Sam Wood after he was charged with domestic violence allegations.

Sun-soaked indie rockers Mid Drift tell CityChats about turning female rage into fun, floaty tunes, and the dream venues where they’d love to play.

Sun-soaked indie rockers Mid Drift tell CityChats about turning female rage into fun, floaty tunes, and the dream venues where they’d love to play.

Six people have been arrested after leading police on a chaotic chase across two freeways in Melbourne's south-east.

A woman is in hospital after being stabbed on a Melbourne tram.

A teacher from an elite Melbourne girls school has been charged with grooming and sexually assaulting a student.

The recent US-China summit yielded a narrow, caution-filled outcome for bilateral trade: a two-month extension of the Kuala Lumpur trade truce, which now expires on January 10 next year. This reprieve eases fears of immediate tariff escalation and shows that head-of-state diplomacy can still curb spiralling confrontation. Yet the short timeline exposes the wide gulf separating the two sides’ priorities. China’s position has been unambiguous: removal of all punitive tariffs and restrictive...

Across 14 schools, median parent income jumped by $50,000 or more between 2023 and 2025.

The new Medicare Kids Hub will provide free mental health support for children aged zero to 12, who won’t need a referral.