The wet conditions are not unlike an east coast low developing offshore.

Largely dormant for the last two years, Sicily's volcano erupted for the first time this year.

The State of the Environment report, the latest five-year government snapshot, makes for generally dismal reading.

"It is altering the structure and function of natural ecosystems, and affecting heritage, economic activity and human wellbeing."

Thai veterinarians removed 915 coins from a 25-year-old sea turtle which had been swallowing items thrown into her pool for good luck, eventually limiting her ability to swim.

More than half the world's turtles and two-thirds of some bird species along Australia's east coast are being found to have ingested plastics as the toll from pollution mounts.

Poor countries have contributed the least to human-induced climate change but are already being affected more than richer ones.

Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to batter most of the NSW coast for most of the working week as a low-pressure system that delivered a weekend drenching continues to linger off the state's coast.

The remarkably inactive cyclone season off Australia's north has finally been disturbed by a major storm, as Tropical Cyclone Blanche brings heavy rain and strong winds to the Top End around Darwin.

She is probably the only internet sensation in Harpursville, New York, a hamlet of about 3500 people in the Southern Tier region: April, a very pregnant giraffe, whose livestream video has attracted millions of viewers.

A rescue mission to help one of the world's rarest parrots is nearing its climax, and a group of Canberra bird enthusiasts is helping out.

"It's wrecking the green grid that is fundamental to a healthy and liveable city."

So how did we get here?

So much for axing the tax: a growing crisis in the electricity market has led to wholesale power prices more than doubling in a year, and rising to at least twice what they were under the controversial Labor-Greens carbon price.

Australia's original climate change-focused think-tank and lobby group will shut after it failed to replace the multi-million-dollar bequest it relied on.

They are only starting to gain a foothold in the Australian market, but could batteries provide a near overnight solution to the energy woes that have hit South Australia and risk spreading east?

Fabulous places, fascinating friends and buying stuff: having an admin job in a global circus is a blast, says Melbourne woman.

Over the past three years, almost all of the world's reefs have experienced summertime heat stress.

A wildflower superbloom is underway in a Californian desert after seven inches of winter rain.

Tasmanian devils with tumours the size of golf balls have had their cancerous growths disappear, after scientists successfully trialled a new way to kick-start the animals' immune system.

Most of Sydney can expect steady showers from late this afternoon, with commuting likely to be a damp affair on Wednesday morning too.

Almost 60 per cent of NSW's mammal species and a third of the birds on the endangered list and conditions are getting worse.

"It was very interesting watching this iridescent aquamarine colour light up the waves as they crashed. It was as good as shooting the Aurora Australis, but a bit easier."

Sydney looks to have dodged the worst of the widespread storm activity over inland NSW but keeping raingear handy will remain the sensible option for residents for days to come.

Issues at two of Australia's largest radioactive waste stores have put a controversial and longstanding government plan back under the spotlight.