BTN Newsbreak 28/05/2025
COALITION COMEBACK
Just over a week after breaking up, the Coalition is officially back together. Yep! Just over a week after breaking up, the Coalition is back together. As you might know, the Coalition is made up of the Liberal Party and the National Party. And while they're separate parties, they work together, vote similar ways, and if elected, share power. But recently things got rocky. The Liberals had a rough election. In fact, it was one of their biggest losses ever; it lead to a new leader and some policy changes. But the Nationals, who only lost one seat, didn't want to give up on some big polices, like nuclear power and cracking down on big supermarkets, so they decided to end things and walk away. But now, after some time apart, the Liberal and National parties have worked out their differences and have struck a deal to become the coalition once again.
HARRY POTTER CAST
After a massive search, the lead roles in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series have been found! 11 year old Dominic McLaughlin will play the title character, Harry Potter, while Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. They were cast after a big open casting call for British children, and are set to make their on screen debut in the roles next year.
ANTARCTICA TOURISM
When you think of going on a holiday, you probably don't think of Antarctica. But new research shows it's quickly becoming one of the hottest, or coldest, tickets in town! Antarctica might not be the first place you think of for a holiday. But earth's coldest, driest, windiest, continent is getting more and more popular. You see, thirty years ago, about eight-thousand tourists visited Antarctica each year, but today, that number's closer to 125,000 and a new report says that if things keep heading in the same direction, yearly visits could reach almost half a million people in the next decade! That's got some experts worried, because too many visitors could have a negative impact local wildlife, the landscape, and even spread diseases. So, they're calling for more rules around tourism to the continent like limits on how many people can visit certain areas and extra tourism taxes to help better protect the environment.
VEGGIE ORCHESTRA
First up to London's Vegetable Orchestra! Yes, they've made quite a name for themselves recently, with performances on TV and in front of King Charles. They make their instruments themselves, using a power drill, a paring knife, and a bit of know-how. The idea first came about when Tim here found out about a man in Japan who makes recorders out of carrots, and the rest is history.
BEATBOXING NUNS
Now to Brazil, where these beatboxing nuns have gone viral after performing on live TV. The clip, which was originally broadcast on the local Catholic TV channel, quickly spread on social media, with one of the nuns racking up more than a hundred thousand followers as a result! The nuns say the reason they beatbox is because they work a lot with young people doing it rough, and music helps them to connect.
AUSSIE PILOT AEROBICS
And finally, back home to an Aussie pilot pulling off some incredible stunts. Emma McDonald took to the skies over Raglan in Central Queensland, for the Old Station air show, performing daredevil flips, dives and rolls at speeds of 350 kilometres per hour!
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36 minutes ago
- News.com.au
What it is really like to be a WAG in Australia
For years, WAG culture has been put on a pedestal in Australia. Glamorous, polished, and always front and centre. From Rebecca Judd to Jesinta Franklin, the women behind AFL stars have been splashed across the pages of Austraia's newspapers, labelled 'glamour WAGs' and packaged into a media-driven identity that has little to do with the actual reality of life inside the AFL bubble. We don't talk enough about what it's really like to be the woman behind the athlete. The public sees the polished photos, the race day outfits, the glamour. But they don't see the long-distance parenting, the invisible mental load, or the unspoken expectation that you make yourself smaller while they chase something big. I know this firsthand. I've lived it. My husband, Lachie Henderson, spent over a decade in the AFL system, playing for Brisbane, Carlton, and Geelong. 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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
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News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Joliestar storms home for thrilling last-stride victory in Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup
The legend of Chris Waller went to a new level as the champion trainer combined with James McDonald to narrowly deny an extraordinary Queensland fairytale at Eagle Farm. Joliestar snatched victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat in the Kingsford Smith Cup to mow down Tony Gollan's Queensland bolter Zarastro and deny jockey Angela Jones her maiden Group 1. It gave Waller his 19th Group 1 of the season, breaking his previous record for the most Group 1 winners in a season in Australia. It was also the first time a female horse had won the Kingsford Smith since Sea Siren saluted in 2012 and Black Caviar a year earlier. But this was a race that was about far more than raw statistics. Just about everyone seemed to have it pegged as a clash between Newmarket Handicap champion Joliestar and Giga Kick, the former The Everest champion. But no-one told young Queensland jockey Jones, riding in just her third Group 1 race and only partnering Gollan-trained Zarastro because the race had been rescheduled from the washout a week earlier. Zarastro, having his first lash at a Group 1, fought like a caged tiger to head off a challenge from Golden Mile and he looked to be heading for an incredible triumph. Then came Joliestar from so far back that even McDonald thought it was a near impossibility, snatching an incredible last gasp win. Joliestar will almost certainly not contest next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, with owner Brendan Lindsay saying it's not on the cards. An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩 @cwallerracing @mcacajamez @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Sights will be set on a revenge mission in this year's The Everest after the Joliestar team felt the mare raced without any luck last year. Waller felt that what ended up being the winning move was McDonald getting Joliestar across ahead of Giga Kick in the early stages. But, watching the race, Waller still felt it was a tall order to be able to run down the leaders. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page 'It's been hard to run the leaders down today but we discussed things pre-race and we couldn't change our racing pattern,' Waller said. 'James went straight across from the barriers and got in front of Giga Kick and one or two others and that was what probably won him the race. 'Joliestar was off the bridle at the 500(m) but her class got her home. 'We missed out on (winning) The Everest last year, so we would like to have another crack this year.' McDonald described Joliestar as a 'big rocket.' 'She wasn't entitled to win, but that's how good she is,' he said. 'When I looked up at the 600 (m) I thought I was OK. 'Then I got on my bike but as soon as I did that, the pace quickened and the margin went from five lengths turning for home to seven lengths. 'It just didn't feel like I was making ground. 'I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn't like the ground at Eagle Farm today.' • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure There has rarely been a happier second-placed finisher in a Group 1 than Gollan who was proud as punch of Zarastro which started as a $17 chance. 'He ran the race of his life, he was so tough,' Gollan said. 'He was beaten three times down the straight, but he kept putting his head out. 'I couldn't have been prouder of the horse, he hasn't raced in many weeks due to track conditions and things like that. 'Then to go down to such a good, strong race like that and race that well, I'm so happy. 'I knew we got beat on the line but it took a multiple Group 1 winner to beat him. 'I'm very proud of my horse and I'm very proud of Angela.' Giga Kick battled away but could only manage sixth while potential Stradbroke Handicap contender Rise At Dawn was fifth. The connections of Giga Kick said it was one of the few times in his career that he has produced a disappointing run.
