THINGS ain’t what they used to be.

Despite sceptics who feel they are a cause for gloom, the first Irish Cloud Festival aims to show that clouds are beautiful. Joe McNamee reports

AN Irish tourist has drowned in a scuba accident in Australia while taking part in a diving course.

Australians hit by Cyclone Yasi have been warned to look out for killer birds.

Strong winds and driving rain began buffeting north-east Australia today as one of the country’s biggest storms arrived.

Police ordered remaining residents to get off the streets today as one of Australia’s biggest-ever storms bore down on the north-east.

Robbie Fowler has signed on as Perth Glory’s marquee player for next season after resisting overtures from A-League champions Sydney FC.

A 23-YEAR-OLD Irish backpacker has been killed in Australia after the driver of a car suffered a seizure, lost control of the vehicle and ploughed into the man as he sat on a bench.

Former England striker Robbie Fowler will skipper North Queensland Fury through their historic debut Hyundai A-League season.

Dramatic videotape of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin’s last moments shows him pulling from his chest the poisonous stingray barb that killed him, officials said today, as tributes poured in for the beloved naturalist famed for getting dangerously close to deadly beasts.

A massive cyclone tore off roofs and uprooted trees across Australia’s north-eastern coast today, packing winds so powerful that emergency workers were forced to stay indoors, despite pleas from terrified residents.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has emerged as favourite to lead the Kangaroos to the 2008 World Cup following the sudden resignation of Wayne Bennett.

AN 11-year-old Australian girl was rescued from the jaws of a crocodile by a man who leaped on the reptile and poked it in the eye.

New Australia coach Wayne Bennett has included nine players who missed last November’s Ashes Series in a provisional 25-strong squad for the Anzac Test against New Zealand in Newcastle on April 23.

Two Irish backpackers appeared in court in Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory today charged with raping a Canadian woman in the city.

Two elderly Australian fishermen survived a terrifying ordeal in a crocodile-infested swamp after their boat capsized, police said today.

Jungle contestants on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! will have to contend with potentially fatal stings among their many hazards – from a killer tree.

Helicopters and army trackers were brought in today to help search for a British teenager missing in tropical northeast Australia.

The Lions could tackle a weakened Queensland Reds side when they face their first major test in Brisbane on Saturday.

Graham Henry can expect an Australian Rugby Union apology following a beer-spraying incident after the Lions’ tour opener against Western Australia in Perth.

A record-breaking 25,000 bolts of lightning struck part of Australia in just one hour.