May 18, 2007 Drenching rains fell across most of Australia's parched south-east on Friday, with the best falls in a decade in some areas, delighting farmers who have endured seven years of drought. Widespread falls were recorded across New South Wales state, where drought has hit about 80% of farmland, and the southern state of Victoria, with more autumn rains forecast over coming days. In the town of Bourke, about 800km north-west of Sydney, more than 70 millimetres fell in the 24 hours...

It s a non-profit haven for about 80 exotic animals many of them endangered species that are retired from performing or rescued from people who tried to keep them as pets. But they re expensive to care for, and when they start growing, they can become unpredictable, aggressive and dangerous, as some owners have discovered the hard way. He glares for a moment from the back of his enclosure and then flings himself at the fence to get a closer look at the unfamiliar faces. As beast after...

The MIAG, a group of Southland sheepfarmers, who were optimistic about the prospects of reforming the industry were disappointed by the attitude of the companies. We have the best lamb in the world and consumers lining up to buy it but we have an industry model of a big old dinosaur that is spiraling down and not evolving and threatening to take the whole industry with it. We wanted to discuss the development of closer co-operative relations, the possibility of better undertakings on...

The roadside shoulder is bare of any natural vegetation; worn, and rutted, as nature-loving visitors pulled their vehicles over to capture a picture of a beautiful vista. At the time of acquiring the permit, a ranger explains proper behavior and safe distance requirements for wildlife, should you encounter grizzlies, wolves, or other critters. Except for the first twelve miles of the park road, which is paved and open to private vehicle traffic, the only way visitors have vehicular access...

True, a wee while back, he picked up a woman's magazine and so was induced to go on some crackpot diet, after which he blundered around looking like a half-full sack of potatoes. But the first vote on his watch - that for the deputy presiding orifices - saw four papers spoiled by MSPs who voted more than once in the secret ballot. They were both good candidates, though Alex could never get away with wearing the kind of pink leather jacket that Margo sported yesterday (he's more a magenta...