Highly-regarded Triumph Hurdle entry Minsk is finally due to make his debut over timber in the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Exciting novices Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card are the star names among eight entries for the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury.

Coldplay and Kylie Minogue were among a host of stars to perform at simultaneous charity shows in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia on Saturday, to benefit the victims of the recent bushfires and floods Down Under.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his team were formally sworn in as Australia’s new government today, nine days after sweeping to power in elections that ended more than 11 years of conservative rule.

Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd named his Cabinet today, choosing a woman to be Australia’s deputy leader for the first time and former Midnight Oil rock singer Peter Garrett as environment minister.

Australians entered a new political era today after electing their first new prime minister in more than a decade, and handing four-term leader John Howard a humiliating loss.

Australia’s outgoing Prime Minister John Howard said it is “very likely” he will lose his seat in Parliament, minutes after he conceded defeat in the national election.

The Live Earth global concert series kicked off today with a Aboriginal Australian group dancing and singing a traditional welcome at the first venue in Sydney.

Country music star Keith Urban is set to serenade his bride Nicole Kidman at their upcoming wedding, according to media reports in Australia.

American pop star Ashlee Simpson and newcomers The Veronicas were the big winners at the MTV Australian Video Music Awards (AVMAs) yesterday, picking up two awards each.

Australian rock star-turned-MP Peter Garrett returned to parliament saying he felt “quite a bit better” after he collapsed on a Sydney beach at the weekend.

The rock singer and environmentalist who was front man for Australian rock band Midnight Oil announced this morning he will run for Parliament on the opposition Australian Labor Party’s ticket in elections expected later this year.

Peter Garrett, the lead singer of disbanded Australian rock group Midnight Oil, may run for parliament for the Australian Labour Party, in a move that party leaders hope could win them crucial support from environmentalists.

Mourners in cowboy hats mingled today with Australia’s prime minister and music stars at the state funeral of Slim Dusty, a country singer hailed as one of the nation’s greatest storytellers and a promoter of reconciliation between Aborigines and other Australians.