A US Government committee will look into a news report claiming the FBI investigated whether President Donald Trump has been working on behalf of Russia, against US interests. It comes after the New York Times reported that the probe began in the days after Mr Trump fired James Comey as FBI director in May 2017. It said the agency’s counterintelligence investigators …

An emotional Justice Margaret Beazley has fought back tears as she formally accepted the role of NSW Governor from the NSW Premier today. At a ceremony outside the Sydney Opera House, Ms Beazley, a former Federal Court of Australia judge and NSW Court of Appeal judge, said she was honoured to take the role after the forced resignation of David …

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has shown no signs of a seven-month tour absence through injury last season, reprising his form of more than a decade ago to beat Australian Alex de Minaur in the Brisbane International quarter-finals. The 2008 Australian Open finalist had knee surgery last year, but the 33-year-old piloted his big frame expertly around Pat Rafter Arena in a 6-4 …

Mr Trump’s comments came after he and Democratic leaders failed to strike a deal in sometimes combative talks to end the partial shutdown of the US Government. Emerging after more than two hours of talks as the shutdown hit the two-week mark, Mr Trump told reporters he could use executive authority to build the border wall, but wanted to try …

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 …

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, …

The Japanese Government has confirmed it will restart commercial whaling in July, exiting the International Whaling Commission (IWC). It will stop its so-called scientific whaling in the Antarctic Ocean, and only fish in seas near Japan and the country’s exclusive economic zone. Japan has long been fed up with the deadlock at the IWC, with pro- and anti-whaling nations unable …

Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal family have met with cheering crowds while attending a Christmas church service in Sandringham. The 92-year-old Queen arrived by car while the younger Royals walked from her country house to St Mary Magdalene Church. Prince Philip, who is 97 and largely retired from public life, did not attend the church service but a royal …

Sir David Attenborough says the “collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon” unless urgent action is taken against global warming. The 92-year-old famed British naturalist and BBC presenter blamed humans for the, “man-made disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years”. “The world’s people have spoken, their …

The French Government is preparing to suspend fuel tax increases following weeks of protests that turned violent, according to a government source. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was due to announce the suspension on Tuesday, the source added, in what would mark President Emmanuel Macron’s first significant U-turn on a major policy since taking power in 2017. The so-called “yellow vests” …