Australian

World number one Ash Barty retires

"Current WTA world number one Ashleigh Barty has today announced her retirement from professional tennis following a remarkable career at the top of the women's game," the WTA said in a statement this afternoon.

In a statement on Instagram, Barty said today was "difficult and filled with emotion for me" as I announce my retirement from tennis.

"I am so thankful for everything this sport has given me and leave feeling proud and fulfilled. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I'll always be grateful for the lifelong memories that we created together."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tests positive to Covid-19

In a statement released late last night, Mr Morrison confirmed he took a PCR test after developing a fever on Tuesday evening.

He had been due to attend an event in support of the Ukrainian community at the Sydney Opera House but cancelled due to his symptoms.

Mr Morrison said he was experiencing flu-like symptoms and would spend the next week recovering in isolation at home in Sydney.

"I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result," he said.

Australian capital Canberra goes into snap lockdown

It will come into effect at 17:00 local time on Thursday (07:00 GMT).

The lockdown was called for the whole of the Australian Capital Territory - home to around 400,000 people - because authorities do not know how the infected person caught the virus.

Residents will only be able to leave home for essential reasons.

Queues were reported at supermarkets as the lockdown approached.

Australia is struggling to get on top of the highly infectious Delta strain, which has resulted in two of its largest cities - Sydney and Melbourne - going into strict lockdowns.

Morrison celebrates 'miracle' win

  He told supporters he had "always believed in miracles" as partial results showed the Liberal-National Coalition close to a majority.

Opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten has announced he is resigning after accepting defeat.

Exit polls had suggested a narrow Labor win for the first time in six years.

The final result of the election may not be known for some hours, but with more than 70% of votes counted the Coalition has won, or is ahead in, 74 seats in its quest for a 76-seat majority, with Labor on just 66 seats.

   

Australia in state of shock over alleged gunman

Fifty people died on Friday after a gunman carried out shootings in two mosques on Deans Ave and Linwood Ave.

Australian man Brenton Tarrant has been charged with murder for allegedly carrying out the attack.

The AM Show Australian correspondent Jason Morrison said Australians are in a state of shock over the attack.

"All I guess we can say is overwhelmingly we are so so so deeply sorry."

Mr Morrison said there is some culpability in Australia because Tarrant wasn't on any watchlist or being looked at.

Australian town plans 150th anniversary for incorrect year

The town of Charleville, in Queensland, had begun planning festivities for next year to mark what locals believed was its official recognition in 1868.

However, a check of state records showed the historic moment had actually taken place in 1865.

Mayor Annie Liston said it was a disappointment.

"We put so much budget towards it, then we found out it was gone. It was the biggest shock to all of us, I can tell you," she told the BBC.

"We were all prepared to have this big shindig next year and [the date] is not even correct."

Australian man's thumb surgically replaced by toe

Zac Mitchell, 20, was injured in April while working on a remote farming property in Western Australia.

"A bull kicked my hand into the fence," Mr Mitchell said of the incident.

He underwent two unsuccessful operations to reattach his thumb before doctors opted to relocate his big toe in surgery lasting eight hours.

Mr Mitchell said fellow workers had attempted to preserve his thumb immediately after the accident.

"They put it in the esky [cooler] with some ice," he told the BBC.

Australians sending 'unhelpful' donations like high heels, handbags, chainsaws to disaster zones

Aid agencies have issued a firm plea to Australians who donate goods to people in disaster zones to avoid sending unrequested items, saying they will likely end up in landfill.

They said the best way to help people in disaster-struck zones was to instead send money.

The report is the first piece of research examining the often huge financial burden of disposing unrequested goods sent by well-meaning Australians.

Spider bites Australian man on penis again

The man was using a portable toilet on a Sydney building site on Tuesday, when he suffered a repeat of an almost identical incident five months earlier.

Identified only as Jordan, he said he was bitten on "pretty much the same spot" by the spider.

"I think I'm just very unlucky to be honest," he told Sydney radio station Kiis FM.

"It seems like it got a better shot at it this time," he said.