Australia

Australian PM faces new leadership challenge from conservative rival

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull clings to leadership despite nine Cabinet ministers voting against him, but he is expected to face a renewed leadership challenge from former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

Australian prime minister wins leadership challenge

Peter Dutton resigned from cabinet after losing a leadership challenge against prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who had called for the vote after weeks of speculation and falling opinion poll ratings.

Pope vows no more cover ups on sexual abuse in letter to Catholics

Pope Francis has appealed to Catholics around the world to help root out the scourge of child sexual abuse. In an unprecedented letter, he said "we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude ... of the damage done to so many lives."

All Blacks drew "line in sand" to burst Wallabies bubble

The All Blacks' pack were decisive in the 38-13 rout at Sydney's Olympic stadium on Saturday, dominating the set pieces and winning a slew of line-outs from the Wallabies' throw.

'Are we racist? Well, we're Australians'

Recent debates in Australia surrounding immigration have revealed a long-known underbelly of racism and a country in denial.

Australian politician calls for 'final solution' to end Muslim migration

Senator Fraser Anning called for a national vote on whether to ban Muslim migration, saying Muslims were responsible for acts of terror and crime and were dependent on welfare. His use of the term 'final solution' in his comments provoked outrage.

Australia archbishop gets house detention for abuse cover-up

Former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson will be eligible for parole in six months, during which he will serve his home detention at his sister's house. His lawyer says he will appeal the one-year home detention sentence.

Abuse, ball-tampering threaten cricket says ICC boss

The International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson says the public have made it clear that they do not want ball tampering or other forms of cheating in the sport.

Birds learn another language by eavesdropping on neighbours

The fairy wen, an Australian songbird, isn’t born knowing other birds’ chirps, but it can learn to recognise a few “words.” Scientists explain how they taught the birds the distress calls of other species.

The deafening silence around the Australia-US refugee deal

Trump’s Muslim ban complicates the recently signed Australia-US refugee deal – and Australia complicates it further by denying journalists and rights activists entry to the contentious Manus Island detention centre.

Anger and disappointment as MH370 report offers no new findings

A long-awaited official report into flight MH370's disappearance gave no new information about why the Malaysian plane vanished, sparking anger and disappointment among relatives of those who were on board.

Australian scientists develop 'world first' melanoma blood test

Australian scientists claim the new test could help doctors detect the skin cancer before it spreads through a person's body.