News Archive

I have been told that in the summertime Capri smells of hibiscus. But I am here in January, in the depths of winter, as the fruit rots on the vine and the sunsets lay to waste. The island is at once intimate …

It’s time to dust off the mouldy boots and replace the old peas in dented whistles: this old Rugby League warrior (spectating only these days) is avidly anticipating the kick-off to the 2013 National Rugby League season. Like many other supporters, I …

After one year of technical government and almost two decades of Berlusconi government, Italy finds itself at a crossroads. Under the eyes of Europe and the world Italian voters will have to make a choice on Sunday February 24 and Monday February …

The annual Koreatown Festival combines the best of traditional Korean dance, song and instruments with a modern twist – namely the Gangnam-style dance contest and K-pop – to showcase what this vibrant, lesser-known Asian community is all about. Only very recently has …

I stared at my reflection in mild disbelief. A girl wearing heavy black frames gazed back owlishly. Behind them were brown eyes covered with prescription contact lenses – which I had switched to several months ago because I was tired of wearing …

“Always listen to your Mum” was the take home message when larger-than-life Jesse Williams arrived home from the US last month. Arriving back in Australia from his latest tour of duty on the US grid-iron circuit, the 22-year-old was spotted sporting a …

Gripping finals matches, success for our Australian players and outstanding attendance figures highlighted the 2013 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Considered as the first of the four ‘Grand Slam’ tennis events of the year, the Australian Open is conducted on the picturesque …

For some people Australia Day is about fireworks, Aussie flags, Australian of the Year awards or a day off work with barbecues and  entertainment. For others it is Invasion Day, Sovereignty Day or Survival Day.  Not a day to celebrate. In fact, …

The rhythmic patter of rain on the tent wakes us before our alarm: 3:30a.m. Whose idea was this again? We step out into the pitch black and are met by our smiling guide, Made, who hands us torches and ponchos. How can …

China has paid for its long-term air pollution with an unprecedented haze shrouding Beijing and sparking mass panic over the past three days. On January 12, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Centre (BMEMC) announced that the official measurements of PM2.5 fine particulates had reached 993 …