ABC

Related Story: Stolen car at centre of police chase where shot was fired found dumped in Gosnells Police have issued an appeal for help to find two men they want to speak to in relation to a shooting in Perth’s southern suburbs, saying the pair are “unpredictable” and should not be approached. Key points: At […]

UN agencies have warned swarming locusts could cause a “major hunger threat” in East Africa as at least nine countries face the worst outbreak of the voracious insects seen in the region in 70 years. Key points: A small group of locusts have entered Congo for the first time since 1944 Swarms recently reached South […]

The air quality in Australia was amongst the worst in the world at times during the bushfire crisis that raged through large swathes of eastern states in December and January. Key points: Canberra had the world’s most polluted air on New year’s Day, but overall, Australia’s air quality is very good India had 21 of […]

A North Queensland man who dowsed his mother in fuel and chased her with a blowtorch has been acquitted of attempted murder, with a jury instead finding him guilty of attempting to maim or disfigure. anKey points: During an argument in September 2018 Zachary Holmes doused his mother in fuel and chased her onto the […]

Australia will be at risk of greater economic pain if it withdraws from the global community over fears of a coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s chief international business advocate has warned. Key points: Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is leading a delegation of Australian businesses to India He has warned against withdrawing from the global community amid […]

One of Australia’s most prestigious universities is offering cash grants of $7,500 to help Chinese students get around the coronavirus travel ban and resume their studies. Key points: The grants will help students serve quarantine periods in other countries Other Australian universities have offered smaller grants Research suggests some Australian universities are over-reliant on revenue […]

An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 has struck the Tanimbar region in Indonesia, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) says. The quake was at a depth of 49 kilometres, the EMSC said. The Indonesia Geophysics Agency and Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami potential from the quake. Northern Territory residents told the ABC […]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stopped short of declaring coronavirus a global pandemic. But with the death toll approaching 3,000, the virus has prompted unprecedented levels of worldwide action to control its spread. If you’re looking for a quick refresh on all of the key facts about coronavirus, you can find them here. What […]

Hipster culture and its love of nostalgia and long beards has found its way to historic Hobart. Key points: Hobart’s median house price rose 15.6 per cent year on year for the December quarter for 2019 The city is becoming increasingly popular due, in part, to the rise of contemporary restaurants, bars and festivals Hobart […]

Ex-tropical cyclone Esther is tracking an unpredictable path across northern Australia and could re-intensify later in the week, with the Bureau of Meteorology describing it as “a remarkable system”. Key Points: Ex-cyclone Esther Key points: Ex-tropical cyclone Esther could re-intensify on Friday after spending most of this week inland Some NT cattle stations have received […]

Forest protesters in Tasmania no longer have the potential of a huge fine hanging over their heads after the state’s workplace safety regulator lifted a ban on their activities. Key points: A notice effectively banning protests by the Bob Brown Foundation has been withdrawn by Tasmania’s work health and safety regulator A Hobart magistrate described […]

Desiree Sheets-Chavolla works as a cleaner at Sydney Airport. She currently does an average of 26 hours a week but would like to work more. “I’m constantly having to ask for extra work,” she told 7.30. “They’ve created like a shark tank for us — we have to fight for any overtime.” Ms Sheets-Chavolla is […]

The co-managers of a luxury Kangaroo Island resort have described how they took shelter in a bunker to survive a catastrophic bushfire that tore through the region. Key points: The Ravine bushfire tore through about 50 per cent of Kangaroo Island The Southern Ocean Resort was completely destroyed by the fire Resort staff survived by […]

Related Story: Our empty plane was just the beginning: venturing to Italy’s coronavirus ‘red zone’ Related Story: WHO says coronavirus outbreak has ‘pandemic potential’ but is not there yet While I would never do anything to put my family at risk, I’m relatively at ease about taking my two young daughters to Italy for a […]

Budget airline Tigerair will axe five domestic routes and cut its fleet by a third, with regional centres the hardest hit. Key points: Virgin Australia has scrapped mostly regional Tigerair routes and reduced its fleet in response to ongoing losses The company says the coronavirus crisis is having a “weakening effect” on international and domestic […]

A young Irish man with cystic fibrosis who calls Western Australia home has been denied entry back into the country because the cost of his medication is too high, his family has said. Key points: Sean Colgan’s latest visa re-entry from Ireland was rejected, meaning he has spent the last nine months away from his […]

Related Story: Auschwitz survivors warn of rising anti-Semitism 75 years on Related Story: ‘Better places to learn how to walk on a balance beam’ than Auschwitz A dress made for a Holocaust survivor so she had something to wear as she walked out of a concentration camp to freedom is one of several new items […]

The Australian Government says it is “pandemic ready” but warns “no country is immune” as coronavirus hotspots continue to crop up around the globe. Key points: The outbreak in Italy has seen the virus spread to other European countries for the first time A Brazilian man tested positive — if confirmed, it will be South […]

An $8 million, award-winning stretch of tree-lined street in central Geelong, which was designed to keep cyclists safer, will be partially ripped up after the council decided it was causing too much congestion for cars. Key points: The first phase of the Geelong green spine was only completed in 2018 but council last night voted […]

Former drug squad detective Paul Dale wants the public to believe he is the victim of police corruption and a media stitch-up. Key points: Paul Dale argues he is a victim of hysterical headlines and a corrupt police force In a new book, he suggests readers consider both sides of the story before assuming he […]

A $1 million reward has been offered by police for information about the murders of three Aboriginal children in Bowraville, on the NSW Mid North Coast. Key points: A prime suspect in the case has been acquitted and had a retrial refused, and cannot face a new trial due to double jeopardy rules Police have […]

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has promised to raise the case of Australian alleged child abuser Malka Leifer with his country’s top judge if her extradition case continues to stall in the courts. Key points: Malka Leifer has been battling against extradition proceedings since 2014 She is facing 74 counts of sexual assault from her time […]

A club in Scott Morrison’s electorate was given $50,000 for a building that had already been built — and the Prime Minister’s office was told about it before he attended a media event at the ground. Key points: The Government decided to give the Sans Souci Football Club $50,000 for a building that was about […]

It has been a tragic fire season. Families and communities have been devastated, not to mention the loss of livestock, native animals and carbon emissions pumped into the atmosphere. Then there are the stories of small businesses going broke and children developing asthma from the months of choking smoke. It will be tragedy piled on […]

A Gold Coast City Council candidate has defended herself after online attacks criticised her links to a well-known big game hunter — her husband. Key points: Council candidate Mary-Anne Hossack says she isn’t surprised her husband’s passion for big game hunting is being used to discredit her campaign Division 9 Councillor Glenn Tozer says criticism […]

Related Story: Owner of $1,500 cat which was euthanased by mistake wants answers from vet A woman’s decision to take her son’s 11-week-old kitten to an RSPCA hospital facility for treatment after it became ill ended in heartbreak, with the kitten being euthanased without consent. Key points: Belinda Stevens said the RSPCA Wacol hospital thought […]

Convicted paedophile and former NSW Labor Minister Milton Orkopoulos has had his parole revoked. The 62-year-old was arrested last week and charged with three counts of failing to comply with his reporting obligations. The former minister was also arrested in January over two alleged breaches of parole, which related to a conversation he had with […]

Citrus growers say that fresh Australian orange juice may not be widely available in the future because of low prices paid to growers. Key points orange juice Key points: Low supermarket orange juice prices have reduced plantings Citrus growers can get better returns selling for fresh fruit than juice Drinks such kombucha and energy drinks […]

Related Story: Albanese says coal mining could continue in a net-zero-emissions Australia Related Story: World’s biggest investment firm ditches coal in ‘fundamental reshaping of finance’ A London-based resource royalties company with a stake in a north-west New South Wales thermal coal mine has announced it will no longer invest in thermal coal extraction. Key points: […]

Men are more than twice as likely to be hospitalised playing sport than women, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Key points: Just under 60,000 people were hospitalised due to sports injuries in the 2016-17 period A third of those hospitalised were injured playing one of the […]

Wedged between Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park, the North Sydney Olympic Pool has been an icon of the harbour for 84 years. Key points: North Sydney Council was awarded a $10 million Federal Government grant to upgrade the North Sydney Olympic Pool The Federal Government awarded the grant out of the Female Facilities and […]

Greg Chrystal never thought of wearing a face mask until his doctor told him his respiratory infection was likely caused by weeks of fighting bushfires. Key points: Health ministers will meet on Friday and have been urged to implement a study of the long-term health effects of people fighting bushfires Experts say firefighters have been […]

The first clinical trial in the United States of a possible coronavirus treatment is underway in Nebraska and is expected to include 400 patients at 50 locations around the world. Key points: Dr Andre Kalil said the goal was to help people who need it the most Fourteen people evacuated from a cruise ship in […]

Related Story: ‘I’m going to jail’: Childcare manager’s triple-0 call revealed in court after boy found dead on bus The family of a toddler who died after being left for hours on a childcare centre minibus have thanked the community and Cairns police for their support as they struggle to deal with their devastating loss. […]

British singer Duffy has explained her long absence from the music scene by saying she was “raped and drugged and held captive”, but has given no details about where or when the incident took place. Key points: The Welsh singer made her name with the single Mercy and debut album Rockferry But she has largely […]

After a life at the top of Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein faces a prison sentence as he awaits sentencing for his convictions for sexual assault and rape. But his first stop after the verdict was announced yesterday wasn’t New York’s infamous Rikers Island jail, where he’s expected to stay, but a jail unit at nearby Bellevue […]

Related Story: Emergency flood alert issued for St George with more rain forecast for Queensland Related Story: Cars stuck in floodwaters prompt multiple swift water rescues Swiftwater crews are on standby in St George in Queensland’s southern inland, with dozens of homes in low-lying areas at risk of flooding from the rising Balonne River. The […]

Related Story: Malala Yousafzai says Taliban ‘made a mistake’ thinking they could silence her Related Story: Greta Thunberg nominated for 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has met her role model, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, during a visit to Britain’s University of Oxford, where she spoke to students about climate […]

When Ron Fielding tells people he plans to be brought back to life long after he dies, he gets a few curious looks, but that is just what he has signed up for. Key points: The Southern Hemisphere’s first cryonics storage facility is due to open in Victoria later this year It will have the […]

A convicted heroin trafficker murdered his daughter in a fit of rage over her partying and recreational drug use, an Adelaide court has been told. Petrit Lekaj, 49, is awaiting sentencing for the murder of his 20-year-old daughter Sabrina in the western Adelaide suburb of Kidman Park last July. He pleaded guilty to the crime […]

Related Story: Three baboons recaptured after escaping from Sydney hospital, ‘no danger’ to public They weren’t pets — that’s illegal in Australia — and they weren’t from the zoo. The three baboons that yesterday broke free from a truck in Sydney’s Inner-West were from a research facility, where medical experiments are conducted on animals. In […]

Before I have a chance to ask dementia researcher Amy Brodtmann about the failure of yet another Alzheimer’s treatment, she wants to make one thing clear. “Whenever these drugs fail, you can’t underestimate how devastating it is.” After three decades of research and billions of dollars of investment, news that another Alzheimer’s drug treatment has […]

The threat of climate change has led to the creation of a refuge for wildlife on Lady Elliot Island at the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef. Key points: Scientists predict Lady Elliott Island will see an influx of animals relocating to its cooler waters from up north The island is already home to […]

Julian Assange tried to contact Hillary Clinton and the White House when he realised that unredacted US diplomatic cables given to WikiLeaks were about to be dumped on the internet, his lawyer has told his London extradition hearing. Key points: US authorities say the release of unredacted diplomatic cables have put people at risk of […]

Victoria’s Education Minister says high school students are receiving sub-standard education about the holocaust, and will make learning about the atrocities of World War II compulsory for year 9 and 10 students. Key points: Minister for Education James Merlino says holocaust education can help combat rising anti-Semitism The Government will work with the Victorian Jewish […]

Related Story: ‘The public wants blood’: Councillor quits live on radio over ‘personal attacks’ There are calls for an overhaul of Tasmania’s local government code of conduct system, with councils forking out tens of thousands of ratepayer dollars for complaint investigations. Key points Of the 20 code of conduct complaints investigated in the 2018-19 financial […]

The Australian share market is following global markets sharply lower after Wall Street plunged for a second straight day. Share traders are increasingly concerned about the growing financial fallout of the COVID-19 coronavirus as it spreads outside of China. Follow the latest market moves and analysis on our live blog. External Link: Live: ASX follows […]

The Australian share market is following global markets sharply lower, after Wall Street plunged for a second straight day. Share traders are increasingly concerned about the growing financial fallout of the coronavirus, COVID-19, as it spreads outside of China. Follow the latest market moves and analysis on our live blog. External Link: Live: ASX follows […]

More than a dozen people have been killed and hundreds injured in violent protests over a new citizenship law in India’s capital New Delhi. Key points: The new law makes it easier for non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to become citizens Mobs beat people in the street and many of the injured were treated […]

A passer-by used an axe to free a woman trapped in her car by a fallen branch amid a short but intense storm in Perth overnight. Key points: The SES attended more than 150 calls for help overnight Cars were crushed by falling trees as the storm hit during peak hour Some schools are closed […]

Opera singer Placido Domingo has apologised to the women who have accused him of sexual harassment after an investigation by the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) found he had behaved inappropriately with female performers. Key points: Dozens of female performers said they witnessed or experienced inappropriate behaviour Domingo allegedly forced wet kisses on women, […]

Police are at the scene of a fatal crash on the Bass Highway near Carrick in Tasmania’s north. Key points: Police have not confirmed how many people have died It is understood up to six people were treated for injuries at the scene A number of people were taken to the Launceston General Hospital Emergency […]

Related Story: Ambitious bid to sell Perth Glory to a UK-based cryptocurrency group falls over Related Story: A-League club Perth Glory set to be sold to London-based cryptocurrency group Right from the start, something did not seem right about this. Was it the shed in rural Wales that was supposedly the office of the London […]

Related Story: Tokyo Olympics organisers have ‘serious concerns’ over coronavirus threat A senior member of the International Olympic Committee says that if it proves too dangerous to hold the Olympics in Tokyo this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak, organisers are more likely to cancel it altogether than to postpone or move it. Key points: […]

A second man has been arrested over the brazen shooting of south-west Sydney teenager Omar Elomar almost a fortnight ago. Key points: The accused man has been refused bail and will face court today Police have described Mr Elomar’s shooting as an “unprovoked” attack An 18-year-old man was last week charged with concealing a serious […]

A man who had complex, high-risk surgery at a Territory hospital “did not understand” the consent papers he signed or the details of his treatment, in a case which sparked an independent investigation. Key points: In 2018-19, the commission received two complaints from people who were non-native English speakers and were not provided an interpreter […]

Related Story: Share traders have finally panicked about coronavirus, but are they worried enough? Related Story: ‘It takes a brave soul to be buying these markets’: ASX slumps then stabilises The global stock market rout looks set to extend to a third straight session on the ASX, after a night of steep losses in Europe […]

Related Story: Fires could break containment lines in SA as temperatures soar, CFS warns Related Story: Suspicious blaze comes close to SA campground but Cudlee Creek fire contained Rain has softened the fire-scorched landscape of Keilira in South Australia’s south-east with a wash of green growth. And while locals are also working hard to rebuild […]

Related Story: Eel-harvesting system older than Egypt’s pyramids further revealed by bushfires Related Story: A decade of lobbying sees Indigenous site older than the pyramids get World Heritage listing Fresh evidence shows two prominent south-west Victorian volcanoes, Budj Bim and Tower Hill, erupted at least 34,000 years ago and that people were in the area […]

Marina Go is not easily intimidated. She’s used to being one of very few women in a boardroom full of men, using her voice to speak up and speak out. After extensive experience in the media industry, Go’s first board appointment came with Netball Australia in 2007, and after a six-year term there, she became […]

They see the worst the internet serves up so, in theory, you don’t have to. People post shocking violence, sexual abuse, and vitriol-filled hate speech. But those whose job it is to sift through and scrutinise the dark side of social media say the work is taking a heavy toll. “Content moderation is a new […]

Clay target shooting is a sport that does not discriminate, and for years women have excelled — at times outperforming their male counterparts. Key points: Olympic medallist Deserie Baynes says she’s proud to see the rise in shooting’s popularity among women She describes it as one of the few sports in which a woman is […]

Volunteers travelling from as far as the United States are helping an animal sanctuary affected by the summer bushfires to recover. Secret Creek Sanctuary owner and manager Trevor Evans said he had defended his property from bushfire three times in just over 20 years. But despite his experience and preparation, he said he had been […]

Here’s what you need to know this morning. Investigation into baboon escape An investigation is underway into how three baboons were able to escape last night and roam the grounds of Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) hospital. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said a male baboon was being taken in for a vasectomy at the […]

The 2020 Democratic primary sprang to life last week at a Nevada debate that was as vicious as it was entertaining. Elizabeth Warren attacked everybody, and raised millions after the debate. Follow all the best attack lines in our live blog below. External Link: South Carolina debate link

Sick Canberrans are becoming gravely ill while waiting years for specialist medical care, doctors say. Key points: The average waiting time for “urgent” outpatient clinics in the ACT public health system exceeds the target in every specialist area “Urgent” rheumatology patients wait, on average, more than 16 months for an appointment — the clinical standard […]

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Not for the world champions, the trophy holders, the best-paid and best-resourced team contending for a T20 World Cup with all the comfort and support of home. Two games of four through the group stage, the Australian team is halfway across a tightrope. Each step is tentative, limbs […]

There’s a reason Australian tourism ads feature panning shots of untouched remote beaches and valleys lined with vineyards. The value of Australia’s agriculture and livestock, from shiraz to Wagyu beef, is inherently tied to the perception of Australia as a country of unspoilt beauty and bountiful and fresh produce. Prior to this season’s bushfires, Australian […]

In retrospect, I can’t believe how casually I promised to turn my life upside down. Six months ago, my wife and I moved to Singapore for her work. We’d spend a full year in the little red dot, and she would be busy. So I blithely said I would take over the care of our […]

Around the world, Jacinda Ardern has received acclaim from those who see the charismatic New Zealand Prime Minister as a leader for the modern age. Key points: New Zealand First has been accused of dealing with opaque loans and donations Ms Ardern has refused to reprimand, criticise or even question her Deputy Prime Minister Polling […]

In our booming cities, one construction project rolls into the next and those living through them are left asking: will we ever get ahead? It’s lunchtime. City workers — most with headphones firmly secured — zigzag around each other, searching for food or somewhere to sit. The streets are buzzing, but the usual drone of […]

Volunteers working with Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, WIRES, have raised questions over the distribution of funds and delays in reaching services helping affected wildlife. Key points: $50 million out of $60 million donated to wildlife rescue organisation WIRES will support long-term recovery The charity said it has paid out $7 million and reassured donors […]

Related Story: Derailed XPT train would have been travelling slower under Victorian regulations, rail union says Related Story: Train driver killed in derailment had told friend about issues on the line With the lead locomotive now removed from the tracks at the scene of last week’s train derailment north of Melbourne, the deceased train driver […]

The first indication of what we were flying into was flight BA7305, a late-afternoon service from London to Milan. Key points: Coronavirus was first reported in the northern Italian town of Codogno last Friday It brought about the closure of 11 nearby towns and isolation of 50,000 people More than 280 people in Italy have […]

The head of Iran’s counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus, authorities have said, amid concerns the outbreak may be far wider than officially acknowledged. Key points: Mr Harirchi promised that authorities would bring the virus under control The UAE has banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak for at […]

A hotel in Spain’s Canary Islands has been put under lockdown after an Italian doctor staying there tested positive for coronavirus, which has killed thousands of people worldwide and infected thousands more. Key points: The man arrived from an area in northern Italy where there is a cluster of coronavirus cases Spanish health authorities said […]

Egypt’s former long-time leader Hosni Mubarak has died at the age of 91, weeks after undergoing treatment in intensive care following surgery. The former president ruled Egypt for 30 years until he was ousted following the Arab spring protests in 2011. He was arrested in April 2011, two months after stepping down, and in 2012 […]

A Uyghur woman reportedly under house arrest has responded to comments made by a Chinese diplomat on Q+A that she and her Australian son preferred to live in China’s autonomous region of Xinjiang instead of Australia. Key points: China’s Wang Xining claimed Ms Wumaier wanted to stay in China Ms Wumaier was pictured holding up […]

The Senate has condemned the comments of Order of Australia recipient Bettina Arndt, as pressure ramps up to have her stripped of the honour. Key points: Liberal and Labor senators have joined in their condemnation of Bettina Arndt’s comments Only One Nation senators opposed the motion to condemn the comments about Hannah Clarke’s murder Ms […]