Floodwaters eased in Australia’s major coal mining region on Tuesday, allowing some mines to slowly resume production.

Military aircraft flew supplies to an Australian town disappearing beneath floodwaters on Monday, as flooding in the north-east cut coal exports.

Large parts of Australia’s coastal northeast disappeared under floodwaters on Sunday in a spreading disaster.

Australians are rejoicing after Pope Benedict cleared the way for a nun who lived more than 100 years ago to become their first Roman Catholic saint.