A Central Coast man accused of sexually assaulting two women he met on the dating app Tinder has been found guilty of all 10 offences by a jury in Newcastle.

Leading world expert Peter Fleming discredits some of the evidence used to convict Kathleen Folbigg of murder, at her judicial inquiry. 

More than 20 people have drowned off a three-kilometre stretch of coastline between Newcastle and the Central Coast in NSW since 2008. As the coastal drowning death toll reaches a statewide record this summer, communities are trying to come up with solutions.

Two-time MasterChef contestant Reece Hignell is stoked that Sydney WorldPride is shining a light on queer chefs from across Australia in what he describes as a "very masculine" industry.

Newcastle has staked its future on Kalyn Ponga and, in moving him to five-eighth, the Knights want that future to start right now. 

Qantas passengers travelling to Sydney from Santiago, Chile, have spent the night on the floor at Newcastle Airport after their flight was diverted due to a storm. 

Farmers had hoped changing to a new oyster variety would solve their problems, but an unknown killer has struck newly established Pacific oyster beds as well.

Rebuilding fences and sheds damaged by floodwaters in the Cessnock and Singleton areas is high on the priority list of volunteers.

Warren Smith was a surf life saver for nearly 40 years and back in 1985 he started Surfest. At the time it was the world's richest surfing competition. This week, as some of the world's best surfers compete in Surfest in Newcastle, Craig Hamilton sat down with Warren Smith for one on one.

How Kurri Kurri's Enemy Alien No.11 inspired a generation of musicians.

Turtle returned to ocean: Two years ago Port Stephens marine rescue group Sea Shelter found Beryl the green sea turtle injured and covered in parasites on a beach at Lemon Tree Passage. Now she's returned to the ocean fitted with a special device to track her progress. Watch the video of her return to sea on Facebook.

Varroa mite found: The deadly varroa mite has been detected in beehives in two places on the NSW Mid North Coast, linked to the illegal movement of beehives. The NSW Department of Primary Industries says both sites, at Taree and nearby Wherrol Flat, were linked to known properties in current eradication zones in the Hunter region. 

Reduced jail sentence: A Newcastle man convicted for sexually assaulting women he met on social media has had five years shaved off his maximum 40-year jail sentence. In 2018 Andrew James Benn was jailed after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting 14 girls and women, aged from 15 to 25, between September 2012 and January 2017. He pleaded guilty to 33 offences, but argued his sentence was "manifestly excessive". The Criminal Court of Appeal found an error was made in the original sentencing process.

Teacher shortages 'dire': The NSW Teachers Federation has described teacher shortages in the Upper Hunter as "dire". It says Muswellbrook High School has about 10 roles that need filling and teachers are running lessons that are outside their subject areas. The Education Department says while there are job vacancies at the school, all classes are being staffed by qualified teachers and casuals and the school is receiving intensive support to address staffing challenges.

Coal prices and power: Export-focused mining companies must now provide cheaper coal to NSW power stations under the state government's revised coal reservation policy. Energy Minister Matt Kean says the measures will level the playing field among coal producers and put downward pressure on electricity prices. But many in the industry, including the NSW Minerals Council, are not convinced.

Offshore wind farm news: The Australian subsidiary of French energy company EDF Renewables has acquired the proposed Newcastle offshore wind farm. The floating offshore project, under development near the Port of Newcastle, has been in the pipeline for almost a decade. The company says it will be developed in stages to align with the progressive retirement of the region's ageing coal‐fired power stations.

Targeted cancer treatments: Australia's leading precision medicine program for children with cancer is expanding to become available to all children by the end of the year, including at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital. The program involves genomic analysis of each cancer and the use of targeted treatments. The expansion will be done in stages, starting with all children diagnosed with brain cancer, and rolling out to all other types of childhood cancers as the year progresses.

Health chief resigns: Hunter New England Health chief executive Michael Di Rienzo has resigned and will leave on March 9. NSW Health Pathology chief executive Tracey McCosker will fill in during the recruitment period.

Matildas victories: The Matildas opened their Cup of Nations campaign with a 4-0 win over the Czechia in Gosford last week, backing it up with a 3-2 victory against Spain on Sunday. The team will aim to continue its winning streak when it takes on Jamaica in Newcastle tonight (Wednesday).

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