A family of three have been saved by two strangers after a backpacking mishap in central California.

Two hikers found a lime green water bottle floating in a river, with the word ‘HELP’ carved into it and an SOS message found inside.

The hikers alerted authorities and the trio were found some time after midnight by a California Highway Patrol helicopter.

The family is asking the two hikers who left the rescue without giving their names to come forward so they can thank them.

Australia's first 'human body farm' at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER), has found dead bodies move significantly when they decompose.

Time-lapse photography of a corpse over 17 months revealed the arms, which started down by the sides of the body, moved so they ended up out to the side of the body.

A live export probe has launched after Australian cattle were roped and slaughtered in Indonesia.

The alleged inhumane slaughter of Australian cattle in an Indonesian car park is being investigated by the Department of Agriculture.

Footage shows at least four cattle of which are understood to be from the Northern Territory — being pulled to the ground with ropes and killed, without first being stunned.

Queensland bushfire conditions are expected to worsen today and tomorrow, with a dry wind forecast to sweep across parts of southern Queensland.

The fire danger rating is "very high" for nine of the 15 regions and will remain there until Saturday.

About 55 fires continue to burn, from the wet tropics in the north to Ballandean near the southern border, however, none pose an immediate threat this morning.

Netflix has warned a viral Facebook event inviting young Brisbane residents to “show their crazy party side” for a documentary is fake.

The post yesterday by a page calling itself “Netflix Australia — Brisbane” attracted more than 6,000 comments and was shared nearly 500 times.

“Hey Fortitude Valley Brisbane!” it said.

Google is launching a website called Recover Together that aims to help the estimated 20 million Americans currently struggling with addiction and the 23 million others who are in recovery.

The website launch coincides with National Recovery Month in the U.S., which aims to educate Americans about the benefits of substance use treatment and mental health services available.

The U.S. Justice Department will reveal the identity of a person believed to be connected to the Saudi government and accused of aiding two of the 9/11 hijackers.

The name the Department plans to release comes from a 2012 FBI investigation into three people said to have assisted two of the hijackers in Southern California.

The other two names are already known.

News of the disclosure has come just one day after the 18th anniversary of the attack.

Western Sydney University is accused of “messing with vulnerable students” after mistakenly offering hundreds of students early entry to their Bachelor of Health Science degree.

The false offers were sent via text message and email to both high school students as young as 15 years old, as well as current university students in their second and third years of their degree.

The university posted to their Facebook page apologising for the error and is contacting all those affected.

Backstreet’s back, alright, with the world’s biggest-selling “boy band” confirming they will bring their DNA World tour to Australian arenas in May next year. 

Since the harmonic five AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie D and Kevin Richardson launched in the mid 1990s golden era for r&b flavoured pop, they are one of the few acts to not only maintain their fan base but remain one of the biggest groups on the planet.