MORNING BRIEFING: Western Sydney residents concerned about the new 24/7 airport will have years to wait before they know proposed flight paths, while the enduring drought pushes Dubbo to cut water use even more.

MORNING BRIEFING: Firefighters say it could take weeks, potentially months, to contain about five fires burning around Armidale and Tenterfield, while a woman is injured and a firearm stolen during a break and enter in Orana.

The New South Wales Government is funding an aerial survey for water in the state's central west.

The Bureau of Meteorology says almost 30 millimetres has fallen at Bourke in the state's upper-west but the widespread, heavy rain needed to end the drought is unlikely in the near future.

Parched parts of NSW received a welcome dump of rain over the weekend.

Regional airline Rex is threatening to cut services on its Sydney-to-Dubbo and has sent a scathing letter to Dubbo households criticising their local council.

Who are the Christian nationalists? What do they stand for and how influential are they in American politics?

Jan Fran campaigns for the power of girls. Why is it that girls are still less likely to work and learn than boys? Why are girls still expected to adapt and keep the peace instead of speaking out? A major factor that empowers girls, is it to give them self-confidence at an early age and to tell them that the world is theirs to conquer.

Many diets fail because your metabolism and brain adapt to different kinds of diets and physical activity. When you cut back your energy in-take, your body starts creating appetite enhancers.

It’s 250 years since the arrival of Captain James Cook. In maritime circles he’s celebrated as a great navigator and map-maker. But for First Nations people, Cook is the symbol of the European invasion which decimated their communities. So how should Cook be remembered today? Author Peter Fitzsimons and historian Professor John Maynard discuss the man and the myth.

It's been just over three decades since most of us first heard about global warming. Meanwhile, the 20 hottest years on record have all occurred in the last quarter century. The implications of extreme weather and climate change are now being felt. Why have we done relatively little in response? Richard Aedy goes looking for answers in a four-part series on RN. Look for RN Presents in the ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts.

A victim of a horrific stabbing attack has woken up and remains in intensive care, days after being critically injured during the South Hedland shopping mall rampage in WA's Pilbara.

Wildlife parks have a long road back to financial buoyancy after coronavirus restrictions stripped them of their sole source of income; visitors, and some operators are dipping into personal savings just to keep their animals fed.

A fierce cold front brings heavy rain and damaging winds across Perth and Western Australia's south-west, prompting hundreds of calls to emergency services and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power.

Western Australia reports no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, marking a full week since its last positive test, with the Premier calling it an "amazing and incredible and terrific" result.

With rain forecast for Sydney on Thursday, Australia's up-and-down Twenty20 World Cup is at risk of coming to an anti-climactic and disappointing end.

South Africa pushes Australia all the way, but the hosts are through to the T20 World Cup final in a rain-affected game at the SCG.

India and England's Twenty20 World Cup semi-final was washed out and Australia's clash with South Africa almost was too, all without a backup plan in place. How was this allowed to happen?

Australia slumps to a 3-0 series defeat in South Africa with a six-wicket loss in Potchefstroom, despite Marnus Labuschagne's maiden ODI century.

A popular beach in Byron Bay has been washed away by the worst erosion in at least 30 years.

A magistrate who found a Nimbin Mardi Grass festival worker not guilty of drug driving has blasted the NSW Government's advice to motorists, saying it "lulls them into a false sense of security".

Strong winds and high temperatures fuelled bushfires that destroyed at least 30 homes in northern NSW on October 8, 2019.

From phoning war widows and having a chat to ease isolation, to walking a service dog down the driveway, younger veterans are finding creative ways to make this Anzac Day count.

As southern parts of Australia look set for a wet winter, the northern part of the NT is grappling with its second poor wet season in as many years.

The southern Queensland town of Yelarbon is the latest to put itself on the map with a large-scale silo mural, but visitors will have to wait until COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted.

The shire's mayor says with more than 500,000 people from the Gold Coast having their beaches closed and all descending on the Tweed, it is a "pretty frightening prospect for our community".

An infant baby girl is recovering in a Queensland hospital with life threating injuries after allegedly being assaulted by her mother last month.

Despite busy bottle shops, the same can't be said about the many craft breweries around Australia.

Nearly 150 extra police will be out questioning Queenslanders this weekend who are enjoying the first days of easing restrictions, as the state records just one new case of coronavirus.

A hospital in north-west Queensland says emergency department admissions have fallen by 20 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic.

Queensland authorities question if the coastal city could return to its usual way of life too soon, after allowing beaches to open and people to picnic.

This holiday hotspot has the potential of having zero active coronavirus cases by early May, but with fine weather and loosening restrictions the situation could prove otherwise.

Queensland mother Nina Hensley says the jumping castle has helped her daughter with Angelman syndrome cope with coronavirus restrictions.

Nicholas John Crilley is sentenced to life in prison for what prosecutors said was the "sadistic" torture of a woman that left her with broken facial bones and burns to almost half her body.

If you're watching your pet at home and wondering if they're acting a little bit strange, no, you're not going crazy — but they might be.

A dog breeder on Queensland's Sunshine Coast accused of selling puppies with genetic conditions says dogs are living creatures and don't come with guarantees — and she's backed by the RSPCA.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces a partial resumption of schools from next week for kindergarten, prep, year 1 and high school seniors.

A central Queensland farmer's sunflower crop has become a social media sensation, with surprise crowds of thousands flocking to his property to admire the bright fields.

Wide Bay macadamia grower Kate Rose is crediting 'Korean natural farming', which she says improves the microbiology in the soil using indigenous microorganisms, for a large increase in crop yield.

Rowing machines and online coaching are keeping these teenage rowers motivated amid the coronavirus shutdown, and their coaches say many are even achieving personal best times.

Hundreds of thousands of "coffee table"-sized units will help power a renewable gas plant being built on the Western Downs.

ABC North Coast resident arts reviewer, Jeanti St Clair looks at the latest music and theatre to hit the region.