The sale of legal cigarettes has jumped by 55 per cent in Queensland following harsher laws being imposed on the black market.

Sydney Roosters No.7 Sam Walker played through pain on debut and continued that tradition in the grand final as he thanked a former halves partner on the win.

An official in Iranian President ​Masoud Pezeshkian's office says the country's oil minister has announced his resignation.

Stalwart Marnus Labuschagne has showed his readiness for Australia's first Test in South Africa with a warm-up century in Potchefstroom.

Sydney Roosters star Mark Nawaqanitawase has made such an impact on the code that his coach says he will redefine what a winger can do in the NRL.

More than 22,000 Newcastle fans packed into the Knights' home stadium and watched the NRL grand final together, for an evening that ended in misery.

Australian leaders will face pressure over the nation's fossil fuel exports as they attend climate talks in the Pacific.

The Newcastle Knights are still reeling after their grand final loss, and want to use the experience to motivate a return to the big dance.

James Tedesco is a three-time premiership winner and says captaining the Roosters to an NRL title is one of the greatest honours of his career.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has visited Ukraine, telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that "we can talk but only when the weapons fall silent".

Incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro are vying to become president of Brazil alongside 10 other candidates as voters head to the polls.

Rob Toia has been torn over his World Cup allegiance and the Sydney Roosters star has finally made a call on his eligibility.

Newcastle's energy-sapping run to the NRL grand final eventually caught up with them as the Knights fell to a 19-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters.

James Tedesco has won the Clive Churchill medal as the player of the match in the NRL grand final as his Sydney Roosters defeated the Newcastle Knights 18-19.

The Sydney Roosters are NRL premiers again, after beating Newcastle 19-18 in a thrilling grand final.

Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase's moment of soccer genius was a new trick and a much needed one as he leaves the NRL with a deserved premiership.

Iran has reaffirmed its stand on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, insisting its seven conditions must be met by the US.

Frenzied Newcastle fans created a wild grand final atmosphere but they were denied the chance to celebrate a long-awaited NRL premiership.

Pared back but popular, the NRL's grand final pre-match entertainment honoured Jai Arrow and Nathan Charles, who are both battling MND.

Newcastle utility Thomas Cant will start at hooker for the first time in the NRL grand final, while the Sydney Roosters have unveiled their starting side.

Sydney Roosters halfback Tarryn Aiken has won a second Karyn Murphy medal, returning the Tricolours to the top of the NRLW after a stellar undefeated season.

Sydney Roosters have walloped defending premiers Brisbane 30-6 in the NRLW grand final with halves Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken playing starring roles.

Australia's auction clearance rates have dropped to nearly their lowest levels of the year as another interest rate rise eats into buyer budgets.

The Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn could be forced to the AFL trade table, if bids for star restricted free agents are matched.

A quarter of a million people will save significant sums when a controversial state land tax - introduced to tackle COVID-era debt - is rolled back.

Households are unlikely to receive significant cost-of-living help in the coming months as the government tries to curb high inflation and rising debt costs.

Diehard Newcastle Knights supporter Chris Clancy has recounted the moments a car drove into a crowd of fans, leaving him and nine others injured.

Australia's quest for an Olympics berth in lacrosse will begin when they host the Asia-Pacific sixes championships on the Sunshine Coast.

A state government has been accused of dragging its heels on a popular yabby trap banned elsewhere for catching more than yabbies.

More than half of the combatants in Sunday's NRL grand final will wake up on Monday to learn if they have earned World Cup selection.

Wakefield Trinity's Tyson Smoothy has achieved the amazing rugby league double of back-to-back grand final wins in Australia and the UK in successive years.

A Pacific event will set the agenda for the United Nations' global climate summit and groups are calling for Australia to push ambitious goals.

Three years on from the deadliest attack in Israeli history, communities across Australia are reflecting on October 7 and the ensuing war on Gaza.

Health officials say five people, including four women, have been killed in an Israeli air strike on an apartment building ‌in Gaza City.

As Max Verstappen sets off from pole in the Malaysian-based Bahrain Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri is bracing for another difficult outing at Sepang.

Reforming the tax system is on new Greens leader David Shoebridge's agenda as he looks to convert Australian voter angst into support for the progressive party.

While city workers might rejoice, for farmers the onset of daylight saving time is a six-month grind - and they're calling for compromise.

Shouldering the responsibility for last year's NRLW grand final loss, Sydney Roosters star Jocelyn Kelleher is out to bury past pain against Brisbane.

Newcastle has been starved of success for generations and the only thing standing in their way is a Sydney Roosters side dripping in experience and talent.

Chris Fagan may be a Brisbane Lions legend, but his NBL allegiance to the Tasmania JackJumpers has proved a lucky charm too.

The Russian foreign ministry has warned foreign visitors and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital Kyiv or avoid areas near army and government buildings.

Taylah Preston will be Australia's only representative in the WTA Tour's China Open third round after two of her compatriots were defeated in Beijing.

Four Cairns players have posted 20-plus scoring nights as the Taipans unleashed a 35-14 fourth quarter to steamroll Melbourne United in an NBL boilover.

Gold Coast have finally enjoyed an AFLW win over the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda recorded their lowest score in a heavy defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

Taran Armstrong has starred for the Tasmania JackJumpers, who scored the last 10 points of the overtime period to mow down the Bullets in Brisbane.

It wasn't easy, but Australian Alex de Minaur has booked his spot in the quarter-finals of the China Open with a gutsy win over France's Quentin Halys.

Australia and captain David Fifita have routed Papua New Guinea in the annual Prime Minister's XIII game in Port Moresby, despite a litany of errors.

Half a state is on flood watch after heavy rains left catchments sodden with more to come on a weekend of wild weather.

Winger Jada Taylor has put her hand up for a World Cup berth after Australia handed PNG a record loss in the annual women's Prime Minister's XIII match .

Adelaide defender Jordon Butts has joined the Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the AFL trade period.