1. Victoria enters sixth lockdown

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced a seven-day lockdown after eight new local case were recorded in the state. "The Delta variant moves so fast that, with even a handful of positive cases that can't be linked, that haven't been in isolation through their infectious period, there is no alternative for us", Andrews said.

2. REA Group reports profit rise

REA Group has reported an 18% rise in annual net profit and a 19% increase to its full year dividend of 131 cents per share with a final dividend of 72 cents per share declared. "This has been a defining year for REA, successfully navigating the pandemic to deliver an excellent financial result and emerge an even stronger business," said CEO Owen Wilson

3. Australia equals Olympic gold medal record

Australia has won 17 gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, matching the previous record from the Athens Olympics in 2004, and placing fourth on the 2020 medal table behind China with 34 golds, the United States with 29 and Japan with 22. Among Australia's last few gold medal opportunities will be the women's beach volleyball final against the US today.

4. Thai zoo says its penguins are lonely without visitors

As lockdown restrictions remain in place in Thailand, staff at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Bangkok told Reuters that their 41 penguins have been feeling "a bit confused" and "lonely" without visitors. "Now when they come out and there's no one here, they sometimes stop to look around, as if they're wondering where all the people have gone," penguin specialist Tossapol Kosol said.

5. S&P 500 closes at another new record

The S&P 500 moved 26.44 points or 0.60% higher to 4,429.10 on Thursday, reaching another new record-high close. It was a positive day for the other two major US indexes as well, with the Dow Jones rising by 271.58 points or 0.78% to 35,064.25 and the Nasdaq gaining 114.58 points or 0.78% to 14,895.12