Researchers have discovered ancient platypus fossils in outback South Australia, where they are believed to have lived with lungfish, flamingos and freshwater dolphins. They also had major a difference from the modern species: well-formed teeth.
Alexander James Macdonald Terry, 69, was sentenced to nine years in prison for 13 offences including rape and sexual assault. A judge called him a "sexual predator" who "used and abused" vulnerable victims, some from overseas, between 2017 and 2023.
Telstra CEO Vicki Brady apologized for a national outage caused by a software fault affecting trains, transactions, and emergency calls. In sports, France advanced to the World Cup semi-finals. Australian politics features a Labor mayor's push for pokies reform.
Broadcaster and former senator Derryn Hinch has died at 80. Remembered as provocative but courageous, he was a mentor to parliamentarians and a champion for victims of crime. Hinch was jailed multiple times for contempt of court, including naming a paedophile priest and airing details of a notorious killer's history.
Victoria's Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has suspended Gabow Family Day Care for 90 days, impacting over 40 residences. The regulator cited failures in child safety and educator qualifications, marking the first immediate suspension by VECRA since its establishment.
Former Reserve Bank economist Justin Wolfers warns Australia must examine the influence of money in politics, citing Donald Trump's alleged "selling of the presidency" and profits from his position. Wolfers also discussed immigration's role in innovation and AI's impact on productivity.
A new study analyzing the speeds of 258 spider species suggests Australia's brown huntsman may be one of the swiftest, capable of moving at 3.59 meters per second. Researchers found that medium-sized spiders with long legs tend to be the fastest.
