MORNING BRIEFING: A pair of boys are "met by their parents and spoken to by police" after climbing a 111-metre communications tower, and 21 people are charged after a violent riot and police siege at a youth detention centre.

A judge denies bail to an 18-year-old ride-share driver accused of getting into an argument with a group of passengers before ramming his car into two of them.

Norm Henderson knows what it's like to be in the darkness of drug addiction, but even he has been surprised by the grip ice has on smaller towns and communities.

Freezing temperatures across New South Wales bring heavy frosts, sapping moisture from crops as farmers struggle with water shortages, but are good news for some growers

When speculation grew that a reigning British monarch would step down from the throne, it jeopardised the publication of a cookbook organised by one of Australia's largest community associations.

Brody Finlay hadn't auditioned for Baz Luhrmann's next project, and was surprised when the director's office contacted him.

With just seconds to go before running out of fuel and unknown alarms going off, Neil Armstrong's heartrate began to skyrocket.

Despite a tightening supply and smaller yields due to dry conditions, the value of Australia's wine exports has continued to grow.

Across New South Wales and Queensland's southern downs, country towns are approaching day zero, as water supplies dry up in the drought.

A circus touring in Adelaide is shut down by SafeWorkSA after two performers are seriously injured in separate incidents in less than a week, with one breaking his back and the other breaking her wrist.

Three quarters of a century after hundreds of Japanese prisoners of war escaped from a detention camp in Cowra, New South Wales, the town has forged a friendship with Japan centred on peace and respect.

Golf clubs around the country are failing to meet the needs of modern consumers and as a result memberships are at an all-time low.

Towns in regional NSW experience snowfall for the first time in 20 years as a deep polar vortex, which battered south-east Australia yesterday, moves north.

Lambs have died of hypothermia and orchards are ready for a fruitful spring following a snow event in regional New South Wales.

Parents of children attending regional and rural schools are calling for a commonsense approach in the wake of the NSW Government's crackdown on school enrolment caps and out-of-area enrolments.

After four decades, a rural community farewells the family behind the town's first and only Chinese restaurant and celebrates their role in diversifying its culinary palate.

For years Waryk Holmes was bullied while trying to be like his able-bodied classmates. Now he's teaching them a thing or two as a wheelchair racer.

Australian grain growers will produce one of their smallest crops of the decade this year.

NSW has no 'standard definition' for water restrictions, leaving it to councils to work out for themselves.

The romance and lifestyle of winemaking do not match the reality of hard work and tough business, says an international wine writer.

A major program to combat fruit fly is underway in two Australian states where the Queensland fruit fly is not native to those areas.

The beer may be flowing, but water will be limited at Mount Panorama as supercars fans help conserve water in the drought-affected community.

This family has a rare condition called ectodermal dysplasia, which means their sweat glands don't function properly and they can easily overheat.

Hopes are raised in drought-stricken towns that the Federal Government is on the cusp of delivering a stimulus package, with local mayors urging a generous spend.

As the drought spreads, spending in country towns continues to drop and rural businesses are suffering. As shops close, the owners of those that remain open hope they'll get more support in coming weeks.

The Sydney Olympics, the Waterhouse family and a mysterious Croatian have all played a part in the story of this small town's cherished work of art.

The Federal Government is unlikely to adopt the National Farmers' Federation call for exit packages for drought-ravaged farmers. But even if it did, history suggests they're unlikely to have much impact.

The world's first civilisations arose around rivers. Why do you think this was? Think about the characteristics of a civilisation and how advanced agricultural practices allowed civilisations to flourish. This video mentions four ancient civilisations. Can you think of other civilisations that emerged near a river?

Think credit cards are basically free money? Gen Fricker will make you think again. Learn how interest rates and fees affect the money you borrow, and why they may be more expensive in the long run. Oh dear! Then test yourself with ASIC Moneysmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

Gen Fricker makes income tax interesting! Learn about income tax - what it is, how it works and when you have to pay it. Easy-peasy! Then test yourself with ASIC Moneysmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

Origami folds have associated geometric patterns or "paper trails" in which we are able to visualise different types of triangles, angles, polygons, lines and symmetry. Use these patterns to turn a two-dimensional flat sheet of paper into a three-dimensional hopping frog!

What makes the Squarosaurus paper plane stay airborne for so long? Consider the size of the wings in comparison to the body - or the fuselage. What do the winglets do? What is the dihedral angle and why is it important? Now go and fold your own Squarosaurus and time how long it stays in the air. Then see if you can improve the design so it will stay airborne even longer. Don't forget to consider how you're actually throwing it!

A number of churches, including Elkhorn Baptist in Baker City, argue Brown's executive orders are invalid on “constitutional procedural grounds.”

Now IBM Business Partners can incorporate the Smarter Planet vision and innovative way of thinking into their marketing and Web presence by embedding the new Smarter Planet widget on their site. It's easy, and there's no cost.