China has blasted Canada for "irresponsible" remarks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the country of "arbitrarily" sentencing a Canadian to death for drug smuggling, aggravating already icy relations.

South Australia's Port Augusta has smashed its previous heat record, reaching a scorching 48.9C as much of Australia continues to swelter.

Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, told royal well-wishers she was six months pregnant but the royal couple do not know the gender of their first baby, British media reported.

The federal government has launched a website that it says will help millions of older Australians to live longer, better lives.

More than 30,000 Los Angeles teachers demanding higher pay and smaller class sizes have walked off the job in the second-largest US school system, union officials say, leaving 640,000 students in limbo.

Coca-Cola Amatil's decision to replace plastic straws with paper in Australian outlets has been welcomed by environmental groups, but consumers have been warned against being complacent with disposal.

Today's Birthday, January 15: Australian rugby league star Greg Inglis (1987 - ).

A "delicate operation" is under way to move a truck that rolled spilling gas cylinders across a busy Melbourne freeway and bringing traffic to a standstill.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian won't budge on pill testing despite an emotional plea from the family of a teenager who died of a suspected overdose at a music festival and a savage attack from the Greens.

A Melbourne woman is accused of passing herself off as a conveyancer to transfer property into her own name and reap millions of dollars.