Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

'Deceptively cute' tiny prehistoric whale species discovered in Australia
Long before whales were majestic, gentle giants, some of their prehistoric ancestors were tiny, weird and feral. A chance discovery of a 25-million-year-old fossil on an Australian beach has allowed paleontologists to identify a rare, entirely new...
Shane Warne’s legacy lives on: Heart health screenings reveal nearly 70 per cent of Australians checked are at risk
From: Monash University The results are in from Australia’s most important Test of the summer - and it wasn’t just on the pitch. A national heart health screening initiative launched in memory of cricket legend Shane Warne has found nearly 7 in 10...
Australian study eyes solar trading between neighbors for bigger returns
CANBERRA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers say rooftop solar owners can earn more by selling excess power to neighbors, reducing grid strain. Published in Renewable Energy in the Netherlands, the findings come as nearly 40 percent of...

Vietnam fosters cooperation with Australia’s Tasmania state
Sydney (VNA) — Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam has accompanied a delegation from central Hue city led by Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phuong on a working visit to Tasmania, aiming to foster all-round...
Australian study finds no link between plastic chemicals in pregnancy and preterm birth
CANBERRA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- An Australian study found common plastic chemicals exposure in pregnancy does not raise preterm birth risk, challenging earlier global research. Phthalates, found in food packaging and personal care items, are...

Australian spider with an 'excruciating bite' arrives in Britain: Cotswolds tourist is left with a hand 'like a balloon' after encounter
A Cotswolds tourist was left with his hand swollen 'like a balloon' after a spider from Australia followed him from the other side of the world. Hugh Marsh from Perth, Australia, was in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, for his cousin's wedding...

Maker or faker? Australia’s handicraft markets face rise in mass-produced goods
Peggy Byrne was strolling through market stalls held by artisans and makers in Adelaide. A selection of crocheted flowers and animals caught her eye. Byrne, the owner of Bowerbird, a design market in the city, asked the stallholder which pattern...

Raiders' intriguing 6-foot-6, 373-pound Australian OL hopeful
HENDERSON, Nev. -- When Laki Tasi took a trip to Grubbies Burgers and Hawaiian BBQ in Queensland, Australia, last September, he was given more than a meal to satisfy his hunger. Tasi was enjoying a double patty burger when he had a conversation...

Saddleworth-based students help Rishworth School to huge success
SADDLEWORTH-BASED students contributed to a huge increase in grades achieved at Rishworth School. Many from the area cross the border into West Yorkshire for their education and this year was a huge success. For they achieved an impressive overall...

Australian amateur teams named ahead of major competitions
The international amateur golf swing continues in the coming months, and two teams set to represent Australia later this year have been announced. RELATED: Ella Scaysbrook’s fairytale run ends in Oregon First is the team of seven heading to the...

Judy Bailey and a lost century of Australian culture
The El Rocco, a cellar on William Street in Sydney’s Kings Cross, started hiring jazz musicians because the TV they’d installed to get the punters in shut off at 10pm, and the young clientele drawn there by this novelty didn’t want to go home that...

University of Melbourne retains top position in Australia – Academic Ranking of World Universities
University of Melbourne ranked 38 in the world in the 2025 ARWU results.The University of Melbourne has retained its position as the leading Australian university according to the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The...

Rare ‘brain-eating amoeba’ detected in drinking water supplies in Australia
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...
Australia’s Top Digital Agencies Honored by the Netty Awards
The Netty Awards spotlight four of Australia’s leading digital agencies, recognizing their innovation, creativity, and proven results. These industry leaders are setting new standards in branding, web development, performance marketing, and...
Australian university hits back at the ABC over ‘false reporting’
The University of Technology Sydney has publicly criticised ABC News, accusing the broadcaster of publishing false and “misleading” claims about its decision to suspend enrolments for more than 100 courses in 2026. The course suspension, announced...

Missile-damaged Weizmann Institute still leads Israeli universities in Shanghai Rankings
Three Israeli universities have once again been ranked among the world’s top 100 in the prestigious Shanghai Ranking, but all three slipped in position compared to last year. According to the ranking published on Friday, the Weizmann Institute,...

University workers threatened with redundancy told to 'wash their delicates' in 50 BIZARRE tips to manage stress
University staff anxious about redundancies have been advised to 'bake desserts' and 'clean their bathroom', as an external firm works to cut millions from the budget. Consultants have been ordered to save $100million at the University of...
Australia: Police officers jailed over assault of mentally ill woman in Western Sydney
On August 8, two former New South Wales (NSW) police officers were jailed for the violent assault of a 48-year-old mentally ill woman in Western Sydney. In what Judge Graham Turnbull described as an attack “clearly calculated… to inflict the...

Anchora marks Asia-Pacific growth with La Trobe University win
Anchora has secured a significant engagement with La Trobe University as it marks its fourth anniversary, underscoring its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The independent marketing technology and AI consultancy commenced work with La Trobe...

Australia’s business events sector fully rebounds with ABEA reports on key insights
Australia’s business events sector has fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels across many measures, with 2024 showing strong inbound performance, according to two major research papers released by the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA)....