Tired but smiling, an 18-year-old Saudi runaway who said she feared death if deported back home has arrived in Canada, which had offered her asylum in a case that attracted global attention after she mounted a social media campaign. “This is Rahaf Alqunun, a very brave new Canadian,” Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said arm-in-arm with the Saudi teen in Toronto’s …

An emotional Justice Margaret Beazley has fought back tears as she formally accepted the role of NSW Governor from the NSW Premier today. At a ceremony outside the Sydney Opera House, Ms Beazley, a former Federal Court of Australia judge and NSW Court of Appeal judge, said she was honoured to take the role after the forced resignation of David …

More than a million cigarettes illegally imported into Australia under a layer of loose tea have been seized by border officials in Melbourne. Two men have been arrested after Australian Border Force officers stopped a rental truck in Tullamarine containing $10 million worth of illegal tobacco on Thursday. It’s alleged as well as the latest 1.1 million cigarette consignment the …

The AFC Asian Cup is upon us and, as reigning champions, all eyes will be on the Socceroos to see if they can retain their crown under new coach Graham Arnold. Arnold has coached the Socceroos in an Asian Cup before, with the former Sydney FC boss taking over just before leading the side to the quarterfinals in 2007. Since …

Roger Federer has come away with the bragging rights over fellow tennis great Serena Williams after the pair faced each other on court for the first time. After both champions won their respective singles ties, Federer spearheaded Switzerland’s 4-2, 4-3 (5-3) victory in the mixed doubles decider at the Hopman Cup in Perth. “I was nervous returning,” Federer said after …

Australian housing prices have experienced their steepest drop since the global financial crisis, according to property analysts CoreLogic. On a national basis, property prices fell 4.8 per cent last year — driven mainly by sharp declines in Sydney (-8.9 per cent) and Melbourne (-7 per cent). The latest figures from CoreLogic show national dwelling values have slumped 5.2 per cent …

The NSW Government has ordered a “comprehensive investigation” into the structural integrity of Sydney’s Opal Tower after a severe crack in the 34-storey apartment building forced a mass evacuation on Christmas Eve. It comes as photos of the damage to the building have emerged, showing the destruction of the plaster inside and the cracking in walls that triggered the evacuation, …

A 39-year-old man has been charged in western Sydney as part of an investigation into a notebook allegedly outlining plans to kill senior politicians that led to the wrongful imprisonment of a UNSW employee. NSW Police detained Arsalan Khawaja, the brother of Test cricket star Usman Khawaja, over the alleged terror hit list, which was found in an office in …

ABC Radio National presenter Patricia Karvelas was asked by an attendant to leave the press gallery during Question Time at Parliament House because she was showing “too much shoulder”. Ms Karvelas was wearing a white “half-sleeve” pantsuit, but a supervisor in the House of Representatives had deemed she was in breach of the dress standards, which dictate what MPs, their …

When you put on one of the world’s biggest fireworks shows year after year, it must become a challenge to top what has come previously while also coming up with something new. This New Year’s Eve celebration comes with two never-before-used colours in the display. There will be lime and peach-coloured fireworks over Sydney Harbour for the first time, thanks …