Environment
'Getting close': El Nino event seen as not far off as Sydney sizzles
The hot start to November may be a taste of the summer to come with meteorologists watching a Pacific Ocean that is being primed for an El Nino event.
- by Peter Hannam
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Extreme weather
NSW east coast now in 'severe' fire danger as mercury soars
A large mass of hot air moving across the state on Friday is driving temperatures up towards 40C in some parts, as a number of bushfires burn.
Recycling
I tried out Queensland's new recycling scheme so you know what to expect
Despite teething problems, Queensland's cash for containers scheme is up and running.
- by Tony Moore
Extreme weather
Temperatures to soar in Sydney on Friday, prompting total fire ban
The large pool of heat that have been baking inland Australia will reach the east coast, pushing the mercury towards the 40-degree mark and prompting authorities to declare total fire bans for Sydney, the Illawarra and the Hunter.
- by Peter Hannam
Exclusive
Great Barrier Reef
'Success guaranteed': Reef centre misses funding despite strong review
A world-renowned coral reef research centre missed out on funding to groups proposing the study of the "digital child", "creative aging" and the Enlightenment despite an external review finding its plan to be "revolutionary".
- by Peter Hannam
Exclusive
Bill Shorten
'Bare minimum': Greens arc up over Labor's climate policy rebuff
The federal Greens approached their Labor counterparts to secure a 'joint leadership' on climate and energy policy ahead of the next year's elections, only to have their overture rebuffed.
- by Peter Hannam
Extreme weather
'Bit of a shock': Coming heat to dry off much of October's wet spell
Sydney's wettest October in nine years helped ease fire conditions for a time but the coming surge in heat will sap much of those gains in vegetation moisture, the Rural Fire Service and meteorologists say.
- by Peter Hannam
Animals
This Northern California mountain lion is a serial killer - of horses
Ranchers and conservationists have been arguing over how to best manage wild horses in a California national park. Now, a cougar is helping out.
- by Jaclyn Cosgrove
Exclusive
Foreign aid
Two billion people hit by natural disasters in the past decade: Red Cross
Australia is in the world’s most disaster-prone region.
- by Matt Wade
Water
Cliefden Caves spared as government finds 'better alternative' for dam
A heritage-listed cave complex in central west NSW has been spared from inundation after the Berejiklian government chose an alternative water-security project.
- by Peter Hannam
Food
Kitchen Garden: 'salad bar' makes for a happy clucker
The chicken crew includes a Belgian D’Uccle hatched in an incubator with a duck and turkey so it has had trouble adapting to life as a chicken.
- by Susan Parsons