Cairns, Australia News

Socceroos defender Michael Thwaite is relaxing in the north after Australia qualified for the 2014 World Cup series earlier this week.

Queensland's Indigenous legal service says it is disappointed to have lost a High Court appeal against sly-grogging charges on Palm Island off the state's north.

ARNOLD Murgha was sentenced to three months rehab and three months home detention after being caught with a case of wine.

RESIDENTS are urged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood, with dengue fever restrictions lifted for most parts of Townsville.

South Sydney Rabbitohs prop George Burgess has been charged with two counts of wilful damage to a car following an incident in Cairns, according to reports.

Big swells are expected on the Gold and Sunshine coasts this week as a low pressure system builds in the Tasman Sea.

A Bandidos associate charged over an armed robbery in far north Queensland has been denied bail in a Cairns court.

Banora Point artist Tony Joy is one of the finalists of the Northern Rivers Portrait Prize.

SUNNY days are forecast as Brisbane gets a break from the wet weather before the rain returns later in the week.

BEST OF THE BEST: Devonport Football Club players Kellie Gower, Rachel Crack, Jessica Whelan, Sommer Bissett, Ellkiee Richardson and Chantelle Graham are heading off to Cairns on Monday for the AFL Women's National Championship.

TWO women have been robbed at knifepoint in broad daylight by a group of people now on the run from police in far north Queensland.

COVERT recordings haves become the weapon and shield of choice for Queensland politicians, with yet another explosive tape uncovered by The Courier-Mail yesterday.

A man has been flown to Cairns hospital in far north Queensland after a flying fox accident at Cape Tribulation.

Following the earlier news that Cairns will host Mountain Bike World Cups in 2014 and 2016 , the Australian city in tropical north Queensland will also hold the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships, the sport's governing body announced on Thursday.

Cooktown Hospital's medical superintendent says reinstating the town's birthing services would bring huge benefits to Indigenous mothers in the town.

Australian cane producers bowed to concerns over a mystery crop disease and slashed to 100,000 tonnes their estimates for the rise in output as sugar mills began the 2013-14 crushing season.

Tjupurru brought his unique Didjeribone to the Snowy Mountains Festival of Music recently.

THE Townsville Shines promotion to encourage out-of-towners to visit the city and discover the region's magic winter weather and schedule of events was officially launched yesterday.

Details look like this: the sale includes economy class flights from either Los Angeles , Dallas or New York to Australia and then connecting flights to the tropical North Queensland city of Cairns , a jumping off point for trips to enjoy the crystal-blue waters of the Reef.

Recent campaigns by the AFL have made great inroads into tackling homophobia in sport.