Primadonna: Tonka dropped a fifth of his body weight because he was depressed that he wasn't getting enough cuddles. Now Donna Kilpatrick, 16 and Jayden Doevendans, 16, have cheered him up. Handlers at an animal sanctuary in north-east Australia were mystified when their star attraction was brought low by a mystery illness. Tonka the wombat shed 20 percent of his body weight after Cyclone Yasi... 

Battering: The giant Cyclone Yasi hits the Australian shore at northeast Queensland. Cyclone Yasi hit the Australian coastline today as tens of thousands holed up in shelters to survive the worst storm in the country for generations. The massive storm crashed into Queensland in the north east this lunchtime, ripping roofs from buildings and cutting power to thousands of homes. Officials and residents... 

TONY Abbott believes it is “far from certain” Australia will become a republic in his lifetime, after Labor signalled a new push on the issue. Julia Gillard today declared she wants Australia to become a republic when the Queen dies, and plans to lead a national debate on the form the republic would take. The Prime Minister said today that despite being a republican, she understood...