Australia

The 45-year-old man's back was bruised, his lungs were full of diesel and hydraulic fluid, and he feared pneumonia was setting in.

He laughed, swore and thought to himself: "God, is this how I'm going to die, in a fricking pond?"

The father of two fought panic as he digested his predicament of being pinned beneath an excavator on his remote property.

He tried to dig his way out, but it didn't work - he descended further. The water was up past his chin.

Mr Bernardi confirmed his move in Australia's upper house on Tuesday, ending months of speculation.

The outspoken senator has repeatedly criticised PM Malcolm Turnbull's government for being too moderate.

Mr Bernardi's views on topics including same-sex marriage, climate change and abortion have polarised public opinion.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me," Mr Bernardi said. "Perhaps the most difficult one of my political life."

Valued at more than $675,000, the stone is the largest known high-grade opal in the world, according to the gem's new owners, the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Australia.

"The Fire of Australia is around the size of a softball...and shows all the colors of the spectrum," museum director Brian Oldman told CNN, emphasizing the extreme rarity of the stone.

Spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters the deal that was cut by the last administration is something that Mr Trump is extremely, extremely upset with, and he does not like it.

Mr Spicer said that out of respect for Australia and its prime minister, Malcom Turnbull, Mr Trump would allow the process to go forward but with "extreme vetting" of the refugees.

Ray Johnstone found casting lines off South Australia's Yorke Peninsula without company had turned his lifelong passion into a solitary affair.

His online ad on a popular Australian classifieds site, in which he jokingly described his condition as "used", was posted on 19 January.

"I'm a widowed pensioner who is looking for a fishing mate," Mr Johnstone wrote. "My previous mate is now deceased."

The ABC ended the service to the Pacific and remote parts of northern Australia yesterday.

It said the technology was outdated and it planned to beef up FM and online services.

Mr Xenophon said the ABC's management had completely underestimated the impact of the change which he described as incredibly stupid.

He said it would not only affect thousands of people in Australia's remote areas but perhaps hundreds of thousands of listeners throughout the region and he said Australia was shrinking away from its obligation as a good neighbour in the Pacific.

The Department of Parks and Wildlife said the bottlenose dolphin was spotted off Bunbury, 170km (106 miles) south of Perth, on Australia Day last week.

A member of the public took images of the animal before alerting authorities.

Australian laws prohibit people from interfering with dolphins or whales without approval.

The public has been urged to report any sightings.

The photos appear to show the dolphin "wrapped" with a shirt or singlet vest, the department said.

Just over $US11 million will be provided annually by Australia over the next 30 years to support the Forum Fisheries Agency in its management of the world's largest tuna fishery.

FFA director general James Movick said under the programme his agency will have access to surveillance aircraft pretty much all year round.

"With one or several aircraft that we will be able to utilise around the region," Mr Movick said.

Media reports suggest that US President Donald Trump has today told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that he will not quash the US refugee deal, but simple and important questions about the detail of the arrangements remain unanswered.

The two leaders reportedly also committed to work together to improve global stability, defeat Islamic State and prevent irregular and illegal immigration.

Shortly afterwards, the White House tweeted a photo of the call and released a statement.

The US-led 12-nation agreement was set to cover 40% of the world's economic output.

Pulling out of the TPP was one of Mr Trump's first executive orders and fulfils a long-held campaign promise.

Australia has already devised a name for a possible new agreement: TPP 12 Minus One.

The country's trade minister Steve Ciobo said Australia would not abandon the TPP just because it would require "a little bit of elbow grease" to keep it alive.