Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital's pathology service incorrectly messages 400 people to tell them they have tested negative to COVID-19 when they had tested positive.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu described voting in South Africa's first democratic election in 1994 as "like falling in love", a remark that is being remembered after his death at the age of 90.

Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa's struggle against white minority rule, has died at an aged home in Cape Town, according to a statement on behalf of the Tutu family.

Victoria, Queensland and the ACT's daily COVID numbers were all lower on Boxing Day compared to Christmas Day, but New South Wales and South Australia have reported new daily records.

As South Australia sets another daily record, with 774 new COVID-19 cases, the SA government announces new restrictions for hospitality venues, gyms and home gatherings.

Already leading the series 2-0, Australia bowls England out for 185 to kick off the third Ashes Test at the MCG on Boxing Day.

The three favoured supermaxis head the race for line honours in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with LawConnect making the most of conditions going into the first evening's run down the NSW coast. 

For 30 years, China has studied the fall of the USSR to avoid a similar collapse. They made three key decisions in Beijing to outlive their ideological cousin. 

Thousands of West Australians have been sweltering through the heat without air-conditioning, enduring the hottest ever Christmas Day on record — and many could be waiting past midnight for their power to come back on. 

Heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds are expected across the Top End over the next two days after Darwin experienced its coolest Christmas Day on record. 

Myanmar government troops round up villagers, some believed to be women and children, fatally shooting at least 38 and burning the bodies, according to reports.

The NSW government urges people to not get swabbed for COVID-19 unless required, in a bid to take pressure off pathology backlogs under strain from soaring demand.

After 100 days of activity, the Cumbre Vieja eruption on Spain's La Palma has officially ceased as attention shifts to reconstructing the island.

Aria-award winners Sheppard are giving an outback op shop some serious sparkle, thanks to their wardrobe collected from world tours.

Australians are expected to splash more than $21 billion during the Boxing Day sales period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a boom in demand for pools and for some people, the more unconventional the construction, the better.

Sudden voluntary closures of pubs and clubs are leaving hospitality workers without the festive pay they were relying on, with no current government support because it didn't mandate the lockdown.

Western Australia has recorded one new case of COVID-19 — detected in a person who attended the Perth Mess Hall event and who had also been staying at the Fremantle hostel linked to the cluster. 

Queensland records 714 new cases of COVID-19, with the dip in numbers likely due to fewer tests on Christmas Day.  Authorities say numbers are likely to get "substantially higher" in coming days.

Five vans used by Guide Dogs Victoria to transport puppies in training and provide services are stolen from Kew overnight.

Health experts are urging Australians to add a splash of colour to their diet —  and new, vibrant breeds of vegetables are becoming available to make that task easier. 

The Taliban dissolve Afghanistan's election commission, a panel that supervised polls during the previous Western-backed administration. 

The stabbing deaths of an elderly couple in their suburban property was deemed a "religiously motivated terrorist attack" by Australia's intelligence boss, but those who know the alleged killer says there is more to the story.

Steven Spielberg's take on West Side Story hits cinemas in Australia on Boxing Day. This is why it's been causing a stir overseas.

Jack the Ripper was the original cold case and the reason women were warned against leaving their homes after dark. More than 130 years on, though, historians and sleuths are deconstructing the myth surrounding the man — or men.