The NSW Government has committed $6.8 billion to electrify the South Coast rail line between Kiama and Bomaderry and to double tracks at key bottlenecks. Construction is expected to be complete by the mid-to-late 2030s, with detailed planning starting in 2027. The announcement follows the government scrapping timetable changes that were due to take effect in November after community concerns. Premier Chris Minns said the upgrade would deliver faster, more reliable trains. An immediate $621 million will fund upgrades to power, signalling and flood protection ahead of the main works.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been hired as a professor of practice at the University of Sydney. The 46-year-old joins the faculty of medicine and health, where the role will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Ardern will explore ways to address global health challenges, inclusion and wellbeing, and will lead guest lectures and masterclasses. The university says the position is not a full-time teaching role. Ardern and her family moved to Australia in February, reportedly buying a $5.3 million home on Sydney's northern beaches.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will lecture and mentor at the University of Sydney, beginning this month. Her work will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Based in the school of public health, she will host guest lectures and masterclasses, although the university says it is not a full-time teaching role. Vice-chancellor Mark Scott praised Ardern's leadership, saying empathy and resolve can strengthen each other. Ardern moved to Australia earlier this year.
Randwick Council has closed Malabar Beach in Sydney's east after whale remains washed up there. The juvenile whale carcass had earlier drifted onto the shore at Lurline Bay last week. Council lifeguards fenced off the area over concern the carcass could attract sharks. Council moved the remains further up the beach and is arranging contractors to dispose of them. The beach will stay closed until further notice.
Researchers at Royal North Shore Hospital and the University of Sydney are developing a world-first screening method to detect coronary artery disease before symptoms appear. The approach combines blood tests for biomarkers with CT imaging. More than 5000 people have taken part so far. Sydney mother Jennifer Tucker found she had a severe blockage in a coronary artery after collapsing while pushing a pram. Researchers want to expand the program into rural and remote areas, where heart attack rates are higher and preventative care is harder to access.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been appointed a professor of practice at the University of Sydney. The part-time role will see her guest-lecture, run masterclasses and mentor students and researchers in the school of public health. Her work will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Ardern, who led New Zealand from 2017 to 2023, said she was looking forward to working with the university community. University vice-chancellor Mark Scott said students would learn from a thoughtful teacher with much to share about public leadership.
Economists say the unrest in France is a warning signal for Australia's public spending and rising costs. Hundreds of thousands marched across France on Saturday over school underfunding and cost-of-living pressures. Economist Luke Hartigan said soaring energy costs are a major factor, but that France's high public debt and generous welfare state are the more fundamental problem. Public debt in France is nearly 120 per cent of the economy, compared with 53 per cent in Australia. Economist Bob Breunig called for an honest public conversation about what government can do and what it will cost.
Australian fashion label Shona Joy will close after 26 years in business, founder Shona Thatcher has announced. Ms Thatcher told staff of the decision on Monday, saying she wants to spend more time with her family at their Byron Bay home. She started the label in 2000, selling designs at Bondi Beach and Paddington markets. She said the business was not closing due to financial stress. The label will continue operating until January, and staff will receive their entitlements.
A covert recording of a prison meeting between Beau Lamarre-Condon and a friend has been played to the New South Wales supreme court. Lamarre-Condon, 31, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. He is accused of fatally shooting Jesse Baird and Luke Davies with his police service weapon at Baird's Paddington home in February 2024. In the recording, Lamarre-Condon allegedly says he fully takes accountability for drawing his friend into the matter. The trial before Justice Natalie Adams continues.
Belfast watchmaker Nomadic has unveiled the Dána 141, its first dress watch, inspired by the city's historic ship-design drawing offices. The rectangular steel watch is 39.6 by 28 millimetres and is available from 30 October in Emerald Green, Black Velvet and Moonlight White. It has a Swiss hand-wound movement and an open caseback showing its industrial character. The watch costs AUD $2,425 and can be bought from Nomadic's website, which ships worldwide. Founder Peter McAuley says he wanted a more formal option from the brand, which is known for tool watches.
A guide ranks 12 beers suited to Australian summer weather, favouring lighter brews with lower alcohol. Recommended styles include pilsners, wheat beers, session IPAs, sours and radlers. Picks range from hazy pale ales and sours to a non-alcoholic option. Each entry lists alcohol content, approximate price and flavour notes, with suggested occasions such as beach days, barbecues and campfires. The guide also answers common questions about alcohol levels and the differences between radlers and shandies.
Sigma's FP2 full-frame camera launches globally on November 11, 2026, with a retail price of US$2,199. It pairs a 24.5-megapixel partially stacked sensor with 6K OpenGate video recording, ProRes RAW support and 70GB of internal storage. The camera omits a mechanical shutter, in-body stabilisation and a headphone jack. Its design positions it as a step up from the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P, offering an alternative to the Sony FX3, which costs AUD$6,499.
