HEAVILY armed police have stormed a cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place, ending a 16-hour siege with gunfire and explosions.

Bill Shorten will find “other words” when asked about internal ructions after deceiving voters over Kevin Rudd meeting.

Humans and dogs have lived together for thousands of years, but we may be forgetting how to co-exist peacefully, writes Paul McGreevy.

THE point of no return. The last point. The point that does you in. The point that knocks you out.

The government has pushed back responsibility for the absentee Fair Work vice-president Micha­el Lawler.

Google says burying links to some commercial news sites is an insignificant experiment, but experts argue the tech giant is throwing its weight around in retaliation to being asked to pay news organisations for original content.

ASADA has stressed the importance of two witnesses to its case against Stephen Dank and 34 current and former Essendon players.

TONY Abbott has heaped further pressure on doctors to impose a $5 price signal on doctors’ consultations.

China's foreign ministry says Australia is "purposely setting up obstacles" to make it harder for Chinese companies to invest.

For farmers these are very difficult times, seriously exacerbated by the drought. Those looking for a scapegoat for the recent tragedy of fish deaths below Menindee Lakes achieve nothing more than fuelling media coverage and unrest, writes Les Gordon.

ISLAMIC STATE has issued instructions on how to treat captured Yazidi women, and authorising them to rape prepubescent girls.

Western Australia will reclassify Victoria as "low-risk", while Victoria is declaring Greater Brisbane an "orange zone". Here are the current coronavirus border restrictions in place across Australia.

THERE is a growing view that the working relationship between Julie Bishop and Peta Credlin has irretrievably broken down.

TWO Sydney men have been placed under powerful new anti-terrorism “control orders” following a series of raids across the city.

Australia puts together a formidable first-innings score of 369 on day two of the must-win fourth Test at the Gabba. Follow live.

Kathy Jackson was overpaid 40 weeks of annual leave entitlements when she left the HSU, a Federal Court has heard.

If the mere mention of ticks sends a shiver down your spine, you're not alone. But knowing more about the tiny creatures, how to spot them, and how to safely remove them from you or your pet may help to allay your fears.

One of the nation’s most elite schools oversaw a culture of sexual and emotional abuse, a royal commission has heard.

The Federal Government will increase funding to youth mental health service provider Headspace by about 50 per cent next financial year, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison says will make a big difference in young people's lives.

David Gallop hasn't distinguished himself during his tenure as FFA chief executive, but after announcing his upcoming resignation he cannot be blamed for all the ills of Australian football, writes Richard Hinds.

WA’s faltering economy and escalating government debt have further dented Premier Colin Barnett’s popularity.

THE last group of asylum-seeker children held on Christmas Island is expected to be flown to the mainland today.

Australian police are monitoring two Indonesian pilots — one who visited Sydney — who may be a security threat, reports say.

The number of displaced people worldwide hits a record high of 70.8 million, with developing nations bearing the brunt of an influx of refugees fleeing conflict and political oppression, according to a UN report released for Refugee Week.

Britain's High Commissioner to Australia defends Sir Kim Darroch, who resigned as British ambassador to the United States after criticisms he made about Donald Trump were leaked.