After nearly five hours and 53 minutes over five gruelling sets, Novak Djokovic beat Rafa Nadal to win his second straight Australian Open title and third major in succession.

The fallout from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protests continues, with the Opposition and the Government squabbling over what happened in the lead-up to the demonstrations.

Thousands of residents remain isolated by floodwaters along the New South Wales north coast as the threat moves inland.

A fire is threatening lives and homes 100 kilometres north-east of Perth.

Police in Adelaide have confirmed that a man is dead and another has been wounded in a double shooting.

WA police have confirmed they are investigating the death of the wife of high-profile businessman Alan Bond.

Syrian soldiers killed 19 people in fighting to retake Damascus suburbs from rebels, activists said, a day after the Arab League suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of mounting violence.

Republican US presidential candidate Newt Gingrich receives the endorsement of former rival Herman Cain ahead of Florida's primary vote.

India's players should take the blame for its 4-0 series loss to Australia because they simply were not having a go, Ian Chappell says.