After some days of gale force winds, blizzards, heavy rain and snow the southeast can look forward to some calm at the end of the storm.

The strong winds that have been affecting South Australia and Victoria for the past few days have pushed through New South Wales and into Queensland today.

Even though the month of July is only a few days in, some places in Victoria have seen a quarter of their monthly rainfall, even more in some areas.

Victoria's wild weather has brought blizzard conditions to some of the state's alpine resorts.

A 20-year-old man has died in a house fire in Victoria's northwest.

SYDNEY'S Taronga Zoo has welcomed the first elephant calf to be born in Australia.

A 25-year-old Sydney man has been charged with kidnapping a German tourist, who was allegedly threatened with a knife and robbed of his credit cards.

THE cost of childcare is expected to increase if recommendations being considered by the Federal Government are adopted.

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has promised to match funds raised by Australia's Italian community to help victims of the deadly earthquake that devastated central Italy in April.