A good newspaper is never nearly good enough but a lousy newspaper is a joy forever.

The world has been following the remarkable story of Valerie, a miniature dachshund who captured hearts after disappearing into the Australian wilderness. Now, after 529 days missing on Kangaroo Island in South Australia, Valerie has finally been found — and a simple smelly T-shirt played a crucial role in her rescue.

In the spring of 2012, 21-year-old Jenny McGowan found herself deep in the remote village of Nangi, tucked high in Nepal’s Himalayan mountains. She was there volunteering, teaching English as part of a college program, with no expectation of meeting anyone new — especially not someone who would change her life forever.

Vast regions of Queensland, Australia, are under water after unprecedented flooding engulfed much of the state's outback. Communities are now bracing for even more rain, as record-breaking downpours continue to wreak havoc across the region. Several towns in western Queensland have reported their worst flooding in more than 50 years.  

Lucy Markovic, the model who gained fame through her appearance on Australia’s Next Top Model, has died at the age of 27.

Her agency, Elite Model Management, announced the news on Thursday, revealing that Markovic had been battling a rare brain condition. Just hours before, a message posted on her official Instagram story mentioned she was "battling for her life."

Late-morning McMuffins just got harder to find in Australia. McDonald’s has announced it is shortening breakfast service times by 90 minutes due to an ongoing egg shortage caused by widespread bird flu outbreaks. The virus has already led to the culling of around 1.5 million chickens, severely impacting egg supply across the country. 

In a major public health shift, Australia has announced that vapes will only be available for purchase through pharmacies starting this year. The new policy aims to curb rising nicotine addiction, especially among young people, by tightening access to vaping products. The government hailed the move as "world-leading," positioning Australia at the forefront of global efforts to regulate vaping.