A man charged with terror offences planned to create an Islamic State (IS) base in the Blue Mountains and encourage fighters to launch “guerilla-stye” attacks in Sydney, court documents allege. Isaak el Matari, 20, had his matter heard in Parramatta Local Court this Thursday charged with three offences including being a member of IS and preparing a terrorist act. He …

US President Donald Trump has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarised Zone between the two Koreas. Trump became the first US President in history to cross the border, in what he said was a “great day for the world”. “It’s a great, great honour,” Trump told reporters after the brief handshake. A media frenzy broke …

Strathfield MP Jodi McKay has been elected as the New South Wales Labor leader with a clear majority. Ms McKay defeated Kogarah MP Chris Minns in a caucus vote 29 to 21, and sealed the deal by also winning 63 per cent of the votes of 10,800 rank-and-file members. It means that for the first time in NSW, two women …

A much anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Japan where discussions on trade dominated went “better than expected”. “We has a very very good meeting with China,” Mr Trump told reporters after the meeting in Osaka on Saturday at 12pm (AEST). “I would say probably even better …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has used his first foreign policy speech to call for calm between China and the US. Now his real challenge lies ahead: Talking Donald Trump out of a trade war that could devastate the Australian economy. But don’t expect Mr Morrison to make a show of calling out the US president. Speaking in Sydney on Wednesday …

US President Donald Trump threatened to obliterate parts of Iran if it attacked “anything American”, in a new war of words with Tehran after it condemned the latest US sanctions and called White House actions “mentally retarded”. Mr Trump on Monday signed an executive order imposing largely symbolic economic sanctions against Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior …

Firefighters say they were beaten back by flames as they tried to save a young family from an “intense” house fire in Singleton in the NSW Hunter Valley which has left three children dead. Two five-year-old twin girls, Matilda and Scarlett Rinkin, were taken to Singleton Hospital but could not be saved and the body of their 11-year-old brother was later …

Palestinian officials dismiss $50bn investment and infrastructure proposal, say political solution must be found first. The United States has revealed a proposal to create a $50bn global investment fund for the Palestinians and neighbouring Arab states, designed to be the economic engine of the long-awaited US Middle East peace plan. The plan was posted on the White House website on …

A ban on mobile phone use in Victorian public schools aimed at curbing distraction and cyberbullying has divided opinion among teachers and students. Education Minister James Merlino said the ban, which would be in place during school hours in state primary and secondary schools, would start in the first term of 2020. Phones must be kept in school lockers from …

The Matildas have crashed out of the Women’s World Cup, losing to Norway in a penalty shootout after scores were locked at 1-1 after extra time. In a tense, dramatic and controversial affair, Australia looked to be mounting another trademark comeback, before Alanna Kennedy was sent off in the 104th minute to turn the tide in favour of the Norwegians. …