ABC News Australia

abc.net.auNordic leaders press Putin to end Ukraine war in rare phone callThe move breaks with a longstanding practice among Western European leaders of shunning direct contact with the Kremlin.

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Nordic leaders urge end for Ukraine war in rare phone call with Putin

abc.net.auFighting paused in Ukrainian city under deal announced by Melania TrumpA ceasefire brokered with the assistance of Melania Trump has come into effect in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.

Russia, Ukraine pause fighting in Oleshky after truce announced by Melania Trump

abc.net.auMen charged with national security offences over incident at US base in EnglandTwo men have been charged with national security offences over last month's incident at RAF Fairford, a US-run military base in England.

Two men charged with national security offences over incident at RAF Fairford in England

abc.net.auAFP boss warns boys as young as 12 being radicalised at homeNew Australian Federal Police data has analysed teen boys being radicalised, shattering previous intelligence assumptions about who is targeted.

AFP boss reveals new youth radicalisation data, with warning signs for teen boys

abc.net.auGreens launch $21-a-week tax cut in bid to 'replace Labor'New Greens leader David Shoebridge will address the National Press Club, proposing a new tax cut and a welfare boost and declaring he will pursue "rivers of gold" from the resources sector.

Greens leader proposes $21-a-week tax cut in vow to 'replace Labor'

abc.net.auLoyal back to reclaim Sydney to Hobart recordAnthony Bell brings his Loyal name back to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race after 10 years away. But his new challenger is a rebadged version of last year's line honours winner.

Anthony Bell brings Sydney to Hobart record-holder back for 2026 race

abc.net.auChinese sponsors cut ties with Kylian Mbappé after Mao meme backlashChinese sponsors drop French soccer star Kylian Mbappé after a video surfaced appearing to show him commenting about a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong.

Chinese sponsors cut ties with Kylian Mbappé after Mao meme backlash

abc.net.auCompany director charged over alleged kickbacks in Pilbara corruption scandalA man has faced court over alleged payments to a corrupt former manager at the Shire of East Pilbara.

Company director charged with corruption over dealings with East Pilbara shire

abc.net.auMan charged with murder over alleged fatal stabbing of partnerA 39-year-old man has been charged with murder over the death of his female partner, who died in hospital last month after being allegedly stabbed twice in the chest.

Man charged with murder after partner dies in hospital following alleged stabbing

abc.net.auFormer Qld education worker charged with historical child sex offencesDarling Downs man Dion Ashley Paulsen is charged with historical child sex offences stemming from the period of 2007 to 2010.

Former Queensland Education worker charged with historical child sex offences

abc.net.auDementia deaths in Australia surpass one in 10 of all fatalitiesThe Australian Bureau of Statistics says it is the first time the deadly condition has accounted for more than 10 per cent of all Aussie deaths.

Dementia deaths surpass one in 10 to remain Australia’s leading cause of death

abc.net.auChina tipped to 'step forward' as Woodside exits Timor-Leste gas projectAn analyst predicts China will swoop in to help Timor-Leste develop its long-planned Greater Sunrise oil and gas project after Woodside sells its stake.

China tipped to circle Timor-Leste's Greater Sunrise project after Woodside sells stake

abc.net.auLive: Smith under injury cloud as series-deciding Cape Town Test beginsThe Test series is on the line as Australia and South Africa meet in the shadow of Table Mountain in Cape Town for the deciding match. Follow live.

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Live updates: South Africa vs Australia, third Test, day one from Newlands, Cape Town

abc.net.auRescue helicopter gets 'pass mark' despite workplace concernsA workplace safety review has given the Northern New South Wales Helicopter Rescue Service a "pass mark" despite admitted workplace culture shortfalls.

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Rescue helicopter service review finds 'inadequate' discipline for bullying, sexual harassment

abc.net.auWalsh back at fullback in Kangaroos team to face Cook IslandsAustralia's men's and women's teams are named for this weekend's Rugby League World Cup games against Cook Islands and Wales as Reece Walsh comes back in at fullback.

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Australia names Kangaroos, Jillaroos teams for Rugby League World Cup to face Cook Islands, Wales

abc.net.auFour charged over suspected arson attack on home with family inside Two men and two women have been charged in connection with a fire at a south-west Victorian home while a father and his children were still inside.

Four people charged in relation to alleged arson attack on Cobden home with family inside

abc.net.auGaza ceasefire hasn't stopped Israel committing genocide, UN inquiry findsIsrael has continued to commit genocide in Gaza since last October's ceasefire, according to a report from UN-commissioned experts. Israel has rejected the findings as "misinformation".

Israel committing genocide in Gaza despite ceasefire, UN commission of inquiry finds

abc.net.auMother grieves for son killed in 'skid car' crash as driver is jailedGrief is still raw for Logan Power's family more than 18 months after he was killed in a crash involving a dangerously modified "skid car".

Driver of modified 'skid car' jailed for Tamworth crash that killed Logan Power

abc.net.auChilling final moments of murdered WA woman revealed in courtA Perth court hears graphic details of the final moments of Tara Morrison, who was stabbed repeatedly by her former girlfriend in a drug-fuelled attack.

Hannah Glover reveals graphic details of Tara Morrison's murder at trial of James Sorgiovanni

abc.net.auTasmania Devils' inaugural VFL captain axed after pub incidentThe Devils' inaugural VFL captain Robbie Fox has parted ways with the club after one season, following an incident at a Hobart pub.

Tasmania Devils' inaugural VFL captain Robbie Fox axed after pub incident

abc.net.auUnusually shaped giant hail seen as 'very dangerous' storms hit QueenslandSpiked hail stones observed at Mudgeeraba as 'very dangerous' storms hit already soaked south-east Queensland.

Giant hail observed in parts of south-east Queensland as 'very dangerous' storms strike

abc.net.auMusic mogul Jay-Z picks himself to perform at next Super BowlJay-Z has been picked to take the stage as the musical feature during next year's half-time show at the Super Bowl.

'Culture on the world's biggest stage': Jay-Z to headline NFL Super Bowl half-time show

abc.net.auAFL abandons Opening Round for season 2027The AFL abandons the Opening Round after two years, returning to a season start with all 18 teams in action.

AFL abandons Opening Round in favour of 18-team Round One for 2027 season

abc.net.auUN experts disappointed shackling and strip-searching bills blockedUnited Nations experts have released a statement calling on the Australian parliament to progress reforms for women and children in custody after legislation on shackling and strip-searching was blocked.

UN experts criticise parliament for blocking shackling and strip-searching bills

abc.net.auOwner of missing dog devastated by AI photo scamWestyn Ruyter offered a $10,000 reward when his Irish wolfhound went missing, but instead of getting his dog back he received a second bitter blow.

Owner of missing Irish wolfhound targeted by scammers after offering $10k reward

abc.net.auBad report card for government businesses being propped upThe Tasmanian taxpayer is on the hook to prop up ailing government businesses, including the Spirit of Tasmania operator, to the order of billions of dollars, the state's auditor-general says.

Government businesses being propped up to cost Tasmanian taxpayers billions, auditor-general says

abc.net.auFormer RAAF pilot stood to gain more than $5m from wife's death, court hearsThe trial of Robert Crawford, who is accused of murdering his wife Frances Crawford, has heard he took steps to acquire her estate weeks after her death.

Former RAAF pilot Robert Crawford stood to gain more than $5 million from wife's death, court hears

abc.net.auScammers target major holiday parks across Australia in cybersecurity breach Australian travellers are being warned their personal information may have been exposed following a cybersecurity breach involving an accommodation software company.

Major holiday park operators warn guests about fraudulent emails, messages seeking credit card details

abc.net.auEchoes from disused water tower become music for 'magical' performanceHigh school students join a professional string quartet to make music from a disused water tower.

Students make music from echoes in old water tower at Cobar Sound Chapel

abc.net.auAfter days of delay, state regulators confirm probe into methane leak at ChevronDispelling its initial uncertainty, the WA government has confirmed an investigation is underway into repeated large methane emissions from Chevron's Gorgon gas complex.

WA regulators are actively investigating methane leak at Chevron's Gorgon gas project

abc.net.auHow WhatsApp 'army' flipped Brazil election and halted Trumpian trendTwenty-one days and an "army" of voters is all it took for a social media movement to grow so vocal it delivered Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva an historic fourth presidential term.

How "Lula's Army" WhatsApp group mobilised to flip Brazilian election result

abc.net.auCommunity opposes proposed data centre near dark sky reserveThe South Australian town of Tungkillo fears its rolling hill landscape, which is part of Australia's first dark sky reserve, is at risk of being tarnished if a proposed hyper-scale data centre goes ahead.

Mid Murray residents concerned proposed hyper-scale data centre infringes on dark sky reserve

abc.net.auParents of 4yo killed in Canberra crash call for 'lightest possible sentence'The parents of a four-year-old boy killed in a Canberra car crash have asked that the 80-year-old driver be granted leniency to "spend the rest of her life surrounded by her children and grandchildren".

Parents of four-year-old killed in Canberra crash call for driver to receive 'lightest possible sentence'

abc.net.auBorlase's WNBA dream fading after Game 5 finals loss to ValkyriesAnother big performance from the Golden State Valkyries puts Australian Izzy Borlase's Atlanta Dream on the brink of losing the WNBA Finals series.

Golden State takes 3-2 WNBA Finals lead with Game 5 win over Atlanta

abc.net.auMeta merges apps and device accounts under one systemMeta has automatically rolled users on to its new Meta Account system, bringing account management for apps like Facebook and Instagram under one unified approach.

Meta launches unified account system for all apps

abc.net.auFirst Australian charged under deepfake pornography laws avoids jailWilliam Hamish Yeates previously admitted to creating sexually explicit deepfake images of a teenage girl before sharing them online.

First Australian charged under deepfake pornography laws avoids jail

abc.net.auScientists video REM-like sleep in Australian jumping spider species The most comprehensive study of its kind confirms that jumping spiders go through two phases of sleep, including a REM-like state that is associated with human dreaming.

Scientists video REM-like sleep in Australian jumping spider species

abc.net.auCourt rejects 'jarring' Gold Coast high-riseA court has overturned the Gold Coast council's approval of a $130 million, 14-storey Kirra tower, finding its design "lacks coherence and harmony" and did not justify exceeding the height limit.

Court rejects 'jarring' Gold Coast high-rise like 'a person wearing ill-fitting clothing'

abc.net.auHuge gas-fired power station plan quietly revealed amid renewables fanfareWA's environmental watchdog releases for public comment a plan for a mega gas-fired power plant on the same day the state government trumpets an ambitious plan to almost double renewable energy generation.

Bid to double WA's renewable energy generation as huge gas-fired power station planned

abc.net.auNew Queensland laws ironing out a legal loophole on pornographic 'deepfakes'The proposed laws introduce a maximum penalty of three years in jail for adult offenders, and 18 months behind bars for children.

Queensland government introduces new laws criminalising creation of sexually explicit deepfake images

abc.net.auTeen remains critical as police appeal for information after Logan shootingThe 19-year-old is fighting for her life in intensive care after being gunned down by two masked men outside Fitzys Loganholme on Saturday night.

Vana-Reese Schuster-Togiatau, 19, in critical condition as police appeal for information after Logan drive-by shooting

abc.net.auMayoral candidate drops unfair dismissal case against Ambulance TasmaniaWest Tamar mayor candidate Rick Shegog was dismissed from Ambulance Tasmania in September last year in relation to alleged breaches of the code of conduct.

Mayoral candidate Rick Shegog drops unfair dismissal case against Ambulance Tasmania

abc.net.auMPs uninvited in wake of Christmas 'cancelling' falloutA Tasmanian senior secondary college has withdrawn invitations to politicians for its end-of-year celebrations, as the fallout from the premier's social media post about another school's Christmas event continues.

Launceston College withdraws invitations to politicians following fallout from Christmas 'cancelling' fallout

abc.net.auLamarre-Condon reported work-related trauma on way to handing himself inA half-hour call Beau Lamarre-Condon made to a police assistance line on the way to meet detectives has been played in court during the double murder trial.

Beau Lamarre-Condon makes trauma, bullying claims on call to police line before handing himself in

abc.net.auANALYSIS: This could be the biggest investment bet in the history of global capitalismAnthropic looks set to surpass SpaceX's record-breaking IPO despite so far failing to produce an annual profit.

Anthropic eyes biggest ever IPO as AI funding starts drying up

abc.net.auWilliams eyes Melbourne Cup success with horse he'll meet in the yardMelbourne Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams hopes racing's version of a blind date will quickly evolve into a successful partnership as he eyes further glory in the race that stops a nation.

Craig Williams to ride James J Braddock in Melbourne Cup

abc.net.auFive things I'm asked about dwarfism, and my honest responsesTo improve acceptance and an understanding of this physical condition, here are five of the most common questions I'm asked — with my honest answers.

Dwarfism Awareness Month gives me a chance to celebrate who I am

abc.net.auDepartment sinks PM's claim $6m golf club grant was to fix sewage issuesInfrastructure Department officials categorically rejected the prime minister's claim regarding the Marrickville Golf Club grant at a Senate estimates hearing last night.

Department sinks PM's claim Marrickville Golf Club grant was to fix sewage issues

abc.net.auShould we replace controversial colonial statues? Hobart just didA statue of colonial figure William Crowther, toppled in Hobart’s Franklin Square in 2024, has been replaced by a native garden ringed with inscribed bronze, in a project believed to be the first of its kind in Australia.

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Hobart unveils permanent replacement for toppled William Crowther statue