The westernmost Australian state, bounded by Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and neighboring territories.
Prosecutors have moved to retry the entertainer Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos after a Perth hotel assault in 2024, with a jury previously finding him guilty on two charges and not guilty on others. A retrial date has not yet been set, while sentencing for assault convictions will follow the retrial.
The diphtheria outbreak in Australia has reached multiple states and territories, with the Northern Territory reporting hundreds of cases and at least one death. Health authorities warn vaccination rates are driving transmission, while Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected. Officials say cases are now decreasing after peaking earlier in 2026.
A 39-year-old man has died after a shark bite while spearfishing near Kennedy Shoal, 28 miles off northeast Australia. He was rushed to shore but could not be revived. Several sources note a recent fatality near Rottnest Island and ongoing shark activity in eastern Australia.
A 35-year-old man has died after a shark bite while spearfishing near Michaelmas Island off Albany, Western Australia. A 4.5-metre shark was sighted in the area. Authorities urge caution and remind the public of beach closures as shark activity is monitored.
A series of shark attacks off Australia’s east coast have left swimmers injured and beaches temporarily closed. Authorities are deploying drones and boosting surveillance as experts warn of rising incidents amid warming seas.
New Zealand has confirmed its first mainland detection of H5 bird flu after a brown skua found on Petone beach has tested positive. Authorities have said there is no evidence of mass mortality or poultry infection, but surveillance and a targeted vaccination programme for endangered captive birds have been activated as officials monitor wild populations.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a 10-year program that will image the southern sky every few nights. The telescope has started regular operations from its Chilean mountaintop site and is already returning new detections, including thousands of asteroids and transient views such as Comet 3I/ATLAS.
Six spherical pressure vessels thought to be fuel tanks from a foreign rocket have washed ashore at Forrest Beach, Queensland. Authorities warn more debris may appear and urge caution while they coordinate with international partners to identify the launching state.
Telstra’s nationwide outage has disrupted mobile and internet services, including emergency calls. Investigations are underway, welfare checks have been conducted, and ministers vow accountability as the company investigates the cause and outlines reforms.
Australia and India have signed an administrative agreement to export uranium for peaceful purposes, enabling longer-term supplies to help India expand its nuclear capacity. Details on volumes and timing remain undisclosed. The move is part of broader efforts to diversify trade and strengthen Indo-Pacific security ties during Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia.
A final, withheld confession in the Falconio case remains elusive as Murdoch, now in palliative care, has refused to reveal Falconio’s whereabouts despite officers’ pleas and a renewed video appeal from the victim’s family.
A roundup of recent studies and local efforts shows community-managed fishing areas and wildlife monitoring are shaping marine wildlife conservation. New methods reveal deeper whale shark behaviours and ongoing challenges from climate change and fishing practices, while regional initiatives seek to protect vulnerable species.
Ofgem has proposed refundable upfront deposits between £237,500 and £712,500 per megawatt for projects seeking grid connections, to stop speculative data‑centre schemes clogging the queue. The regulator has opened a consultation to force applicants to hit hard milestones or lose their place as Britain faces connection requests vastly above peak demand.
The Federal Court of Australia has ruled that Rebel Wilson did not defame Charlotte MacInnes in a series of Instagram posts about an on-set incident during The Deb. The judge found MacInnes failed to prove the posts caused serious harm or breached confidence. Wilson thanks the court and looks to move on, while MacInnes must cover costs.
Richardson has switched allegiance from Australia to Britain and is now racing for Team England in Glasgow 2026. Injury has sidelined him, replacement Harry Radford steps in as the sprint program kicks off; Hoffman remains a rival as England and Australia clash on the velodrome track.
A Western Australia District Court jury has found Yung Filly star Andres Barrientos not guilty on three counts of sexual penetration without consent, but has convicted him on two counts of assault causing bodily harm. The jury could not reach verdicts on three rape charges. Barrientos remains on bail as sentencing is scheduled for August 21 after the mixed verdicts in Perth.
Bob Montgomery, who finished a six‑week charity ride from Broome to Bowral with his 18‑year‑old grandson, has died unexpectedly but peacefully at 82, raising about A$105,000 for MND NSW; the journey drew public praise and a final homecoming event.
A District Court of Western Australia has convicted Christopher Saunders, 76, on 13 of 19 charges of sexual abuse dating from 2008 to 2019 in the Broome Diocese. He led the diocese from 1996 to 2021 and resigned after an earlier police inquiry. The verdict follows a lengthy trial in which four charges were dropped and six were acquitted; sentencing is set for September 21.
Dolphins off Australia’s east coast are using empty shells to trap prey, a behavior called shelling. The approach has been observed in Hervey Bay and Queensland’s Great Sandy Marine Park, with footage suggesting maternal transmission. Researchers say this adds to evidence of tool use in dolphins and may illuminate how humans evolved tool use.
The ACT has agreed to participate in a nationwide gun buyback scheme following the Bondi attack, with details still being finalised. NSW and the Commonwealth have outlined phased compensation, while other states weigh participation. The scheme aims to remove high-risk firearms and strengthen safety.