Roger Federer has come away with the bragging rights over fellow tennis great Serena Williams after the pair faced each other on court for the first time. After both champions won their respective singles ties, Federer spearheaded Switzerland’s 4-2, 4-3 (5-3) victory in the mixed doubles decider at the Hopman Cup in Perth. “I was nervous returning,” Federer said after …

Australian housing prices have experienced their steepest drop since the global financial crisis, according to property analysts CoreLogic. On a national basis, property prices fell 4.8 per cent last year — driven mainly by sharp declines in Sydney (-8.9 per cent) and Melbourne (-7 per cent). The latest figures from CoreLogic show national dwelling values have slumped 5.2 per cent …

The NSW Government has ordered a “comprehensive investigation” into the structural integrity of Sydney’s Opal Tower after a severe crack in the 34-storey apartment building forced a mass evacuation on Christmas Eve. It comes as photos of the damage to the building have emerged, showing the destruction of the plaster inside and the cracking in walls that triggered the evacuation, …

A 39-year-old man has been charged in western Sydney as part of an investigation into a notebook allegedly outlining plans to kill senior politicians that led to the wrongful imprisonment of a UNSW employee. NSW Police detained Arsalan Khawaja, the brother of Test cricket star Usman Khawaja, over the alleged terror hit list, which was found in an office in …

ABC Radio National presenter Patricia Karvelas was asked by an attendant to leave the press gallery during Question Time at Parliament House because she was showing “too much shoulder”. Ms Karvelas was wearing a white “half-sleeve” pantsuit, but a supervisor in the House of Representatives had deemed she was in breach of the dress standards, which dictate what MPs, their …

When you put on one of the world’s biggest fireworks shows year after year, it must become a challenge to top what has come previously while also coming up with something new. This New Year’s Eve celebration comes with two never-before-used colours in the display. There will be lime and peach-coloured fireworks over Sydney Harbour for the first time, thanks …

Thousands of students have taken to the streets across Australia to call for action on climate change in defiance of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s advice for them to stay in school. Crowds of thousands of students blocked busy city streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, with smaller gatherings also taking place in regional centres. Up to a thousand children packed Sydney’s …

Christmas lights can be a great way to bring people together. But keep your neighbours up at night, and they may not be so merry. Here are some of the most common reasons why people complain, and what local councils, police and experts in neighbourhood disputes say you can do to keep everyone onside. Lights are too bright or shine …

In the end it took 96 seconds for Jeff Horn to deliver the comprehensive victory he knew he had to produce against Anthony Mundine. Horn may have been late to the pre-fight weigh-in at Lang Park due to Brisbane’s Friday night traffic but he ensured a quick finish when he faced the veteran in the ring. Mundine looked sluggish from …

Sexting among teens could be considered legal in some cases under new laws aimed to reduce the risk of consenting children being convicted of possessing child pornography. The laws — which come into effect in New South Wales today — provide a legal exception for children under 18 taking, sharing or keeping nude photographs of themselves and others, particularly if …