Early skirmishes point to a war over renewables lasting well into 2017
A political divide is forming over renewable energy's future in Australia.
Environment
NSW drops off the solar pace as demand shifts towards business
National demand for solar is up slightly, but NSW is going backwards
AGL fined $124,000 for breaching political donations laws
Energy giant AGL has been fined $124,000 in the NSW Land and Environment Court for failing to disclose political donations when making planning applications in the state.
Oil spill at Sydney Harbour depot has residents concerned
A spill of heavy fuel oil in Sydney Harbour raises fresh concerns from local residents about the safety of Australia's oldest storage depot.
Baird government mining approvals plan stirs unease
Plans by the Baird government to overhaul the state's mining approval process have drawn the ire of anti-coal groups and wary support from the industry.
It's official: Sydney has its hottest year ever
Australia posted its fourth-hottest year in 2016, driven by record sea-surface temperatures around the nation, in a period marked by frequent extreme events, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Shark!
Have a spate of bites and sightings up and down the NSW coast raised the odds that an attack awaits beachgoers this summer? Peter Hannam investigates.
Taronga Zoo's red panda cub nursed back to help after neck injury
An adorable baby red panda who suffered horrific neck injuries has a second lease on life thanks to a cuddly toy and a Sydney zookeeper.
'God's country' up in flames as fire rips east near Tarago
A large fire swallowed more than 3300 hectares as it burned east from Lake George on Tuesday afternoon.
Sydney 30 degrees at midnight as city endures hot summer night
Sydneysiders have endured yet another sticky, stifling night of summer, with the temperature not dipping below 28 degrees in the city all night.
Snakes? Spiders? Jellyfish? Nope. Our most dangerous animal is the bee
An analysis of more than a decade of Australian bites and stings has found that the bee poses the biggest public health threat.
'Extreme rain' ahead as temperatures continue to rise
Climate change will result in higher humidity and more severe rainstorms, according to new Australian research.
Nine fin facts about sharks in Victoria
Questions about sharks in Victoria that you probably have wondered about at some point, but never found the answers to.
Energy chief: why Trump is unlikely to derail renewables
Head of international energy body says policies are important, but the economic facts "are stubborn".
Hot night on Tuesday as minimum of 25 predicted for Sydney
After a reprieve from extreme heat on Sunday, Sydney is in for one hot night on Tuesday.
Final homes reconnected to power after freak Canberra windstorm
ActewAGL and SES crews were on Sunday still cleaning up damage from Friday's freak windstorm.
No warning: Freak windstorm takes Canberra by surprise as major clean-up gets underway
It dropped the temperature nine degrees in nine minutes and now a major clean-up is underway in the capital after Friday's freak windstorm.
Sydney suffers through record hot night as mercury hits 30C at 2am
You're not wrong: Sydney has just tossed and turned through a night of "quite exceptional" heat.
Total fire ban for Sydney as scorcher forecast and fire risk soars
As NSW residents yet again brace themselves for scorching heat with the mercury set to rise above 40c, authorities have issued a total fire ban across most of the state.
Light sprinkle follows warm night with cold and showers to come
After a warm night, Melbourne woke up to light rain on Friday, a little taster of the heavier falls expected later on.
Vegan denied Swiss citizenship by neighbours upset at her animal campaigns
A woman in Switzerland has been refused citizenship, and therefore a passport, because her "annoying" vegan campaigning has rubbed her neighbours up the wrong way.
Power cuts, fires as heatwave begins to recede - for now
Power cuts, sizzled tennis players and runaway grassfires featured in another scorching summer's day in and around Sydney, with only a limited respite before the heat returns.
Storms to herald brief respite for Sydney from 'scorching' heat
Sydneysiders are in for a roasting as high temperatures combine with rising humidity to make for an exceptionally uncomfortable day.
Tiger vets told: get to the bottom of it but don't make it snappy
It was a tough call as to who had the more enviable job. The answer depended which end of a large and potentially dangerous predator you would rather be working on: the head (read canine teeth) or the tail (read anal gland).
Spectacular cloud formation photographed on Australian flight
A spectacular cloud formation captured during a flight over the Great Australian Bight has delighted weather enthusiasts and enraged conspiracy theorists.
Sydney heat triggers ozone level warning and total fire ban
Health authorities have warned Sydneysiders to be on alert as the baking sun sends temperatures and ozone levels soaring and triggers a total fire ban.
Vicious storm fells one of California's iconic drive-through tunnel trees
One hundred and thirty-seven years ago, well before the Calaveras North Grove was purchased by the California State Park System and renamed the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, the land's owners carved an enormous hole in the base of one of its sequoia trees. On Sunday, that tree fell.
Sydney air pollution alert as NSW heatwave to top 47 degrees
NSW Health has issued an air pollution alert as Sydney prepares to swelter through another summer day, warning residents that an increased level of ozone in the atmosphere is likely to affect residents with respiratory problems.
Canberra weather: Hot spell unlikely to be over anytime soon
Canberrans who have stepped outside and felt particularly sweaty these past four days can blame the mercury for hitting 30 degrees or higher since Friday. And they may not get some relief for at least another week.
Little relief on the horizon for Sydney as huge hot air mass moves in
Sydneysiders face an extended period of hot weather with warm nights likely to give only limited relief from daytime heat peaks.
Climate change warrior set to become household name
In the United States in November, in a single 48-hour period, two hugely significant things happened. One of them received worldwide attention but the other, somewhat improbably, might yet turn out to be more important.
Dolphin shows belong in the history books
Growing up in Pakistan, my favourite show was Flipper. Living in a city a thousand kilometres from the nearest ocean, it was the most I knew about our beautiful dolphin friends.
Most powerful storm in a decade predicted for Northern California
The first band of what forecasters predict will be the region's most powerful storm in a decade moved into Northern California on Saturday evening, prompting official warnings of widespread flooding and epic snowfall in mountain areas.
NSW heatwave to send temperatures soaring above 45 degrees
A stubborn heatwave is settling in across the state with little relief in sight for days.