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Assad meets with Russians as Syrian slaughter continues
Russia's foreign minister has met with Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, as the Syrian government continues its violent crackdown on rebels.
Senior scientologist charged with perverting justice
One of the Church of Scientology's senior international figures, Jan Eastgate, has been charged for a second time in Sydney.
St George facing sewage crisis
There is a new threat facing St George, with flooding damaging the local sewage treatment plant and contaminating waters.
Bloody history erased from Afghan schoolbooks
Afghan school children will receive new textbooks that pass over the country's modern history of conflict and bloodshed in an effort to promote national unity.
Madonna set for first Australia tour in 20 years
Madonna is set to tour Australia for the first time in 20 years, exciting fans who were left devastated when the Queen of Pop bypassed the country on her last world tour.
Wife killer to walk free after 25 years
Convicted wife killer Andrew Kalajzich will walk free from a Sydney jail today.
Court hears landmark animal slavery case
In what is reported to be the first case of its kind, a court in the United States has heard a case which is examining whether animals are entitled to be protected from slavery.
Training doesn't help former inmates find work
More than half of the country's prisoners are in jail for the second time and research shows those who manage to get a job are far less likely to reoffend.
Evidence suggests dam engineers 'didn't follow manual'
An expert hired by the operator of Wivenhoe Dam to peer review its handling of the last year's Queensland flood crisis says new information would lead him to believe engineers did not comply with their operating manual.
Maldives president resigns after police mutiny
The island nation of the Maldives is in crisis after embattled president Mahomed Nasheed resigns in the face of growing protests and a police mutiny.
PNG court to map out political solution
Papua New Guinea's supreme court will announce on Wednesday how it will proceed with the cases stemming from the country's political turmoil.
Xstrata, Glencore agree on $90bn merger
Glencore and Xstrata have agreed on an all-share merger worth $US90 billion in the industry's largest ever deal, creating a commodities powerhouse.
RBA decision shows confidence in economy
The Reserve Bank has surprised most economists by keeping official interest rates on hold at 4.25 per cent.
Date set for former premier Burke's new trial
A date has been set for the trial of the former WA premier and lobbyist Brian Burke on a charge of disclosing official secrets.
NZ-born billionaire eyes large Gunns stake
A New Zealand-born billionaire is in negotiations with Gunns to buy a substantial part of the Tasmanian-based timber company.
Search for survivors after Philippines quake
Rescue workers in the Philippines are searching for survivors after yesterday's earthquake which killed dozens of people.
Australia ups Syrian sanctions as bloodshed continues
Australia will impose further sanctions on the Syrian regime, as regime forces resume shelling the city of Homs for a fourth day.
Shares fall over after rates surprise
The Australian share market tumbled this afternoon after the Reserve Bank left interest rates on hold at 4.25 per cent for the month in a surprise move.
MP's son apologised to injured woman after crash
Kate Campbell, who was seriously injured when Luke Woollard crashed a boat into a pylon, says he went to her hospital bedside to apologise.
Taxi driver says reputation destroyed after trial
Perth taxi driver Prabhjit Gill, who watched as a female passenger was raped by his colleague, says he has been treated unfairly and his reputation tarnished.
Pool of blood found in school cubby house
Police are investigating the discovery of a large amount of blood in a school cubby house in Sydney's west.
Gillard returns fire to Abbott's Dirty Harry jibe
The Prime Minister has shot back at Tony Abbott's challenge in a stoush over the economy, urging him to "bring it on". Earlier today, in an address to the Coalition party room, the Opposition Leader channelled Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry, daring Julia Gillard to "make my day" by focusing on the economy in the year ahead. And the economy dominated debate on the first sitting day of Parliament for 2012, with both sides trading blows over their record of economic management.
Man facing extradition on drug ring allegations
A man wanted in Greece for his alleged role in a drug ring has lost a legal bid to stop his extradition from Australia.
10,000 motorists hit with incorrect toll charge
Up to 10,000 New South Wales motorists may have been incorrectly charged for trips on Melbourne's CityLink motorway.
Reserve Bank leaves rates on hold
The Reserve Bank has left interest rates unchanged to keep the official cash rate at 4.25 per cent, defying most economists' expectations.
Qld flood plain management approach 'ad hoc'
Experts say Queensland is decades behind other states when it comes to flood plain management.
Share market shrugs off Greek debt limbo
The Australian share market has edged higher despite a lack of resolution on a new bailout package for Greece and its debt-swap deal with private creditors.
Manager testifies about Wivenhoe release strategy
The operations manager of Wivenhoe Dam north-west of Brisbane has been called to respond to conflicting evidence at Queensland's floods inquiry.
Detention centre 'should be shut immediately'
Amnesty International says detainees at the Curtin detention centre are like walking ghosts and the centre should be closed immediately.
Minogue calls police over Twitter threats
Kylie Minogue contacts police regarding a Twitter follower who has allegedly been threatening the pop princess.
NAB posts profit, vows lowest interest rate
National Australia Bank vows to offer the lowest mortgage rate of the big four banks for the rest of this year as it announced an unaudited quarterly profit of $1.6 billion.
A tale of one man: Dickens turns 200
On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, look back at the literary achievements and scandalous life of the acclaimed novelist.
Abbott challenges Gillard to 'make my day'
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott invited MPs to muse on Judas's betrayal of Jesus before channelling Clint Eastwood's rogue cop Dirty Harry as the parliamentary year got off to a spirited start in Canberra today.
Teen's triple murder guilty pleas questioned
The DPP has questioned in court a teenager's guilty pleas to murdering three members of a family in a stabbing frenzy.
US officer breaks ranks on Afghanistan
A US army officer has accused the American military of painting a misleading picture of progress in the war in Afghanistan.
Wounded bikie refused bail on drug charges
A magistrate has refused to grant bail to wounded bikie Vincenzo Focarelli. Focarelli is in the Royal Adelaide Hospital recovering from gunshot injuries. His lawyer David Edwardson told Adelaide Magistrates Court police had arrested his 37-year-old client on "dummy charges" of breaching bail and drug trafficking to keep him in custody.
Police bust Melbourne drug syndicate
A detective has told an out-of-sessions court hearing in Melbourne that the scale of a drug syndicate uncovered in Victoria on Tuesday was on par with the activities of crime figures Tony Mokbel and Carl Williams.
Teens beaten with poles in home invasion
Two teenage boys are in hospital after being bashed during a home invasion on Sydney's north-western outskirts last night.
Teacher pleads guilty to sex with student
A former teacher at a Hobart girls' high school has pleaded guilty to maintaining a sexual relationship with a student. Former Ogilvie High School teacher Matthew Rosevear made a brief appearance in the Hobart Magistrates Court this morning, where he pleaded guilty to the charge. The 45-year-old was a woodwork teacher at the girls' school when he had sex with a 16-year-old student.
Flood evacuation order lifted in Charleville
Authorities says the flood threat has now passed for Charleville in south-west Queensland and residents are allowed to return home.
Lovelorn Jurassic cricket chirps again
The call of a Jurassic-era cricket was simple, pure and capable of travelling long distances in the night, said scientists who reconstructed the creature's love song from a 165 million-year-old fossil.
Insurance taskforce formed for flood victims
An insurance taskforce has been established to ensure flood-affected residents in south-west Queensland can lodge claims as quickly as possible.
Swan seizes on Robb surplus comments
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused the Opposition of being confused about its economic policies.
RBA must be answerable to public: Katter
Federal Independent MP Bob Katter says an unelected, independent board should not have control of the Reserve Bank and official monetary policy.
111m viewers tune in for Super Bowl
111.3 million tune in to the Super Bowl making it the most-watched TV program in US history.
Radical preacher granted bail in UK
A radical Islamic preacher with alleged links to Al Qaeda has been granted bail in Britain.
Shops running out of food in north-west Qld
Supermarkets across the north-west Queensland are running low on certain foods due to road closures from floodwaters
Cricket bosses caught out by tobacco ads
Cricket Australia will remove Indian adverts for chewing tobacco from the boundary rope in the current one-day series.
Thargomindah prepares for flood peak
Authorities say aviation fuel is desperately needed in Thargomindah in far south-west Queensland and food supplies are also running low as the town braces for a flood peak.
Emerald residents urged to make flood preparations
Authorities say several residents near the Fairbairn Dam in Emerald, east of Rockhampton in central Queensland should have their flood evacuation plans ready.
Djokovic pips Cadel to top Laureus award
Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has edged out Tour de France champion Cadel Evans for the Laureus sportsman of the year award in London.
Flooded NSW towns face weeks of isolation
Thousands of people in northern NSW are facing weeks of isolation, as record floodwaters from Queensland cross the border into already swollen waterways.
Floodwaters recede in Blackall as Isisford monitors Barcoo
Flood levels are now falling at Blackall, south-east of Longreach, as flood-affected businesses and residents continue the clean-up in the central-west Queensland town.
Locals begin clean-up in flood-ravaged Mitchell
More than three-quarters of homes in the town of Mitchell are "completely stuffed" after being swamped by an unprecedented flood over the weekend.
Government scrambles to find dam engineers
The Queensland Government is urgently trying to find two senior flood engineers for Wivenhoe Dam, north-west of Brisbane, after two of its top operators stood down on short notice.
St George levee holds as river creeps higher
St George's Mayor says she is confident the town's makeshift levee will hold, as record floods lap against a 4km dirt rampart protecting dozens of homes.
WWII artillery shell found under floorboards
A Sydney man's home renovations have taken a potentially explosive turn, with the discovery of an artillery shell under the floorboards.
Abbas to lead Palestinian unity government
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have moved a step closer to creating a unity government for Gaza and the West Bank.
Mane star goes under the knife
Adelaide Zoo's only lion has had surgery for testicular cancer. Zoo keepers noticed more than two months ago the lion had little appetite, had lost hair from his mane and had enlarged glands.
US imposes new sanctions on Iran
The United States has imposed strict new sanctions on Iran, in protest against that country's pursuit of its nuclear program.
Norway gunman demands release, medal
The Norwegian gunman who killed 77 people in twin attacks in July asked an Oslo court on Monday to immediately free him and demanded the country's highest military award, sparking derision from survivors.
Swan rejects bank bashing charge
Treasurer Wayne Swan has rejected suggestions his criticisms of the big four banks could hurt small businesses.
11 dead in Pakistan factory collapse
Nine women and two children were killed and dozens of others were trapped under rubble when a factory collapsed in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Monday, officials said.
Queen Elizabeth marks 60-year reign
Queen Elizabeth has marked the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne by spending a low-key day with school children.
43 dead after Philippines earthquake
The death toll from a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the central Philippines just before noon on Monday has risen to 43 as landslides struck a mountainous area.
Two Wivenhoe engineers removed from roles
The Queensland Government has revealed two senior flood engineers at Seqwater are no longer acting in their roles.
St George on 'knife's edge' as flood peak nears
The fate of St George, in Queensland's southern inland, rests on a makeshift flood levee constructed by desperate locals to stave off rising floodwaters.
Robb won't commit Coalition to budget surplus
Federal Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb says he cannot say if the Coalition would be able to deliver a surplus in its first term of Government.
Contador suspended, stripped of Tour title
Alberto Contador has been stripped of one of his three Tour de France titles after being banned for two years for failing a dope test during the 2010 race.
Dozens killed as Syrian forces hammer rebel city
There is growing panic in the Syrian city of Homs as government troops step up their assault against rebel-held areas.
S Korea wants crackdown on Sydney prostitutes
The South Korean government says it has written to a dozen Sydney councils asking for any information they might have about Korean nationals who are involved in prostitution at local brothels.
Teeth whitener recalled over chemical fears
The Federal Government has ordered a company to recall home teeth-whitening kits due to fears they may cause chemical burns.
Mining sector boosts jobs market
The jobs market expanded last month according to a private survey, recording the largest rise in nearly two years.
Four-hour hospital emergency rule saving lives
A report into the four-hour rule introduced to overcrowded hospital emergency departments has found that it is saving lives.
Gillard says election winnable with hard work
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she believes she can win the next Federal election.
Inquest examines baby's 'tragic' hospital death
A coroner has described the death of a baby after a medical procedure in a Sydney hospital as a "human tragedy".
No opt-out rule for airport body scanners
Civil libertarians are worried by proposed legislation meaning passengers will not be able to opt out of undergoing full body scans at Australian airports.
Navy asked to make room for Sydney cruise boom
The NSW Government is in talks with the Royal Australia Navy to free up space in Sydney Harbour for the city's booming cruise ship industry.
Toolangi logging threatens rare possum, court told
A civil trial is underway in the Victorian Supreme Court as environmentalists try to save an endangered species of possum.
Giants take down Pats in Super Bowl thriller
The New York Giants again proved New England's nemesis, defeating the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years.
Cyclone Jasmine moves away from Qld coast
Calm conditions have returned to far north Queensland, with Tropical Cyclone Jasmine continuing to move east in the Coral Sea towards Vanuatu.
Police probe deaths of Sydney housemates
Police investigating the suspicious death of a woman in Sydney's north have revealed a man who was living with her died in a fiery road crash over the weekend.
Bligh launches flood relief appeal
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has launched a flood relief appeal, with the State Government contributing $2 million.
Retail sees Christmas cheer despite slow sales
There was a surprise fall in retail turnover in the key Christmas shopping period, but official figures offer a glimmer of hope for department stores and fashion retailers.
Qld Government could face massive flood lawsuit
The Queensland Government is facing a potential class action worth hundreds of millions of dollars over last year's floods in the state's south-east.
Runaway goat causes traffic chaos
A baby goat has been caught after creating traffic disruptions in Melbourne's inner north earlier today.
Daughter speaks out on fatal hit-run case
The 16-year-old daughter of a man killed by a prominent lawyer in a notorious hit-and-run collision in South Australia says the case has left her with little faith in the justice system.
Patriots take narrow half-time Super Bowl lead
Tom Brady capped a 96-yard drive by throwing a touchdown as New England took a 10-9 half-time lead over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
Share market buoyant in morning trade
The Australian share market has begun the week in positive territory, following strong gains on the major indices in the United States and Europe at the end of last week.
$175m bailout to get Waratah trains on track
The NSW Government is bailing out Sydney's trouble-plagued new Waratah train fleet, which is already 18 months behind schedule.
Floodwaters isolate north-west Qld properties
Food drops are being prepared in north-west Queensland, where dozens of properties have been cut-off by floodwaters for several weeks.
Croc shock haunts family mourning lost daughter
The mother of a young girl who was taken by a crocodile three years ago says she is horrified a crocodile has moved into her backyard.
Transport, utilities drive inflation higher
Rising prices for transport and utilities drove inflation higher in January, according to a private measure, but the annual rate remained within the Reserve Bank's target range.
Mayor fears voluntary administration for Palm Island council
Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey says he fears the island's council, off Townsville in north Queensland, could go into voluntary administration if any more members resign.
1 million chickens seized after feed runs out
The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has seized close to 1 million chickens from a major poultry producer which had run out of money to feed them.
Police strike sparks crime wave in Brazil
Brazilian security forces have taken over in Bahia after a police strike led to a spike in murders and other violent crimes.
Eyes on RBA before first meeting
The board of the Reserve Bank holds its first meeting of the year tomorrow and bets are firming for another interest rate cut, but it remains a close call.
Gunns in trading halt
There is speculation the Tasmanian timber company Gunns could be on the verge of announcing a joint venture partner for its long awaited Tamar Valley pulp mill. The company has requested an immediate trading halt pending a significant announcement to the stock exchange on Wednesday. It says the announcement's in respect of capital raising and equity investment.
Man hit in leg in Sydney drive-by shooting
Neighbours of a man shot in Sydney's south-west overnight say they were awoken by gunfire then screaming.
Amnesty visits Australian detention centres
Amnesty International has begun a fact finding mission into Australia's detention facilities with a visit to asylum seekers at the Curtin Detention Centre in WA's far north.
Central-west Qld begins floods mop-up
The communities of Blackall and Alpha in central-west Queensland are cleaning up after weekend flooding, while medical and food supplies will today be airlifted to some isolated rural properties.
Police seek information on death of Indian contractor
Police have announced a $100,000 reward for information about the death of an Indian man near Mildura, in north-western Victoria, two years ago.
Bill amendments 'threaten Qantas' future'
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says legislation proposed by the Independent Senator Nick Xenophon poses a major threat to the company and Australian jobs.
Damage in flood-ravaged Mitchell 'shocks' locals
AgForce says there is huge damage to property and infrastructure in Queensland's southern inland around Mitchell, after around three-quarters of the town was flooded late last week.
'Barbaric' embassy attack 'served no purpose'
The Syrian embassy in Canberra is calling on the Australian Government to take swift action against those who ransacked the mission.
Hundreds shelter in flood evacuation centres
Hundreds of anxious residents from St George in southern inland Queensland are being housed in Dalby on the state's Western Downs until the worst of the floods are over.
Sticky situation as Moree floodwaters recede
The clean-up is continuing from flooding in the NSW town of Moree, but rising waters elsewhere are keeping other communities on alert.
Engineer blames 'crap English' for flood report discrepancies
An engineer has told Queensland's floods inquiry that poor English is to blame for discrepancies in evidence about how Wivenhoe Dam, north-west of Brisbane, was operated last summer.
Levee holds at Charleville
Authorities in Charleville in south-west Queensland say the levee protecting the town is still holding up against floodwaters.
Couple rescued after boat runs aground
An experienced Victorian sailor and his wife have had a narrow escape after running aground in rough seas on East Kangaroo Island just off Flinders Island.
Greek bailout at risk as talks stall
Greek political leaders have failed to reach agreement on tough austerity measures, putting a $170 billion bailout package at risk.
More Syrian bloodshed as outrage grows over UN veto
The United States vows to redouble its efforts to solve the crisis in Syria after Russia and China blocked action through the UN.
Women fight to overturn Saudi driving ban
Efforts to overturn the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia are picking up speed.
Orica set to restart Newcastle plant... again
Chemical giant Orica has warned Newcastle residents they may see flames shooting from its plant when operations resume tomorrow.
Freeze brings deaths, chaos to Europe
Freezing weather in Europe is still causing chaos across the continent, with roads closed, flights cancelled, and gas supplies choked off.
Egypt clashes rage into fourth day
Protesters and police engaged in sporadic clashes at security headquarters in Cairo as violence raged into a fourth day.
Anxious wait as river rises in abandoned town
Several thousand residents forced to abandon their homes in St George are anxiously waiting to see if the town's levees will hold up against a record flood.
Thomson report release not up to me: Shorten
Federal Employment Minister Bill Shorten says there are reasons why a report on Labor MP Craig Thomson may not be able to be publicly released.
Gillard, Labor gain ground in latest poll
Julia Gillard has overtaken Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister for the first time in nine months in the latest Nielsen poll.
United rescue draw with Chelsea comeback
Manchester United staged a stunning fightback from three goals down as Javier Hernandez's late equaliser rescued a dramatic 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
St George cut off by flood waters
The Queensland town of St George has been cut off by rising floodwaters, after thousands fled in the largest mandatory evacuation in the state's history.
Man robs hotel with toy gun
Police are looking for a man who used a toy gun to rob a hotel in Sydney's north-west, then locked two employees inside the safe.
Deadly cold snap cripples Europe
The Arctic cold snap that has hit Europe for over a week has claimed nearly 300 lives, bringing air travel chaos to London and dumping snow as far south as Rome and even North Africa.
First Gaddafi loyalists go on trial
Libya has put 41 loyalists of dead dictator Moamar Gaddafi on trial, in the first legal proceedings launched against members of the former regime which was ousted after a bloody conflict.
Aussies cruise to win over India
Australia opened the tri-series with a comfortable 65-run victory over India in a rain-affected encounter at the MCG on Sunday night.
Search for PNG ferry victims scaled back
Papua New Guinea authorities have scaled back their search for survivors from the sinking of a passenger ferry, saying none of the more than 100 people still missing were likely to be found alive.
NSW chopper victims were top filmmakers
James Cameron is among those mourning documentary filmmakers Andrew Wight and Mike deGruy, who died in a NSW helicopter crash.
Australian Syrians call for end to bloodshed
Syrian Australians have held rallies in Sydney and Melbourne calling for president Bashar al-Assad to step down immediately and end the violence.
Romney sails to easy win in Nevada
Mitt Romney cruises to victory in Nevada, crushing his rivals in the Republican presidential nomination race.
Gillard tells MPs to show more discipline
The Prime Minister has called on Labor MPs to show more internal discipline this year, as speculation about her leadership and a possible challenge from Kevin Rudd continue to stalk the party.
Residents ordered out as record flood looms
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the southern Queensland town of St George as authorities predict the Balonne River to peak at up to 15 metres in a record flood.
Strong winds fan fires in Vic
Grassfires have broken out across country Victoria as the state experiences warm and windy conditions.
Swan pressures banks to pass on future rates cut
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says Australian banks should pass on a full rates cut if the Reserve Bank moves the mark lower.
Anti-gambling pamphlets direct users to TAB hotline
The Victorian Government has been forced to pulp pamphlets aimed at problem gamblers which directed them to a phone line encouraging them to bet.
Drug-affected drivers escaping conviction
The peak motoring body in New South Wales says it is concerned by data that shows one-quarter of drug-affected drivers escape conviction and penalty.
Blast hits Egypt's gas pipeline to Israel
Egyptian authorities say saboteurs have blown up a pipeline that supplies gas to Israel, the twelfth such attack in a year.
Bayonet, cocaine found in Sydney drug raid
Cocaine, cannabis, a hunting knife, bayonet and soft body armour have been uncovered by police during a raid on a home in Sydney's south.
Family joins search for woman lost in floodwaters
An intensive search is continuing in Roma for a woman whose car was washed off a flooded causeway on Friday.
Australians in Burma for business talks
A group of Australians is in Burma for one of the first major business and academic gatherings since the Asian nation reopened its borders.
Bikies charged after Kings Cross fight
Two Hells Angels bikies have been charged with intimidating police after a brawl in Kings Cross.
Swan hoses down Labor leadership speculation
Treasurer Wayne Swan angrily rejects continuing speculation about the Labor leadership ahead of today's caucus meeting.
Syrian embassy in Canberra attacked
As many as 40 men have caused extensive damage to the Syrian embassy in Canberra after forcing their way inside.
Clean-up begins as NSW floodwaters recede
Flood-stricken communities in northern New South Wales have begun the mammoth task of cleaning up as floodwaters continue to recede.
Teen set alight during Sydney brawl
A 15-year-old boy has been charged after another teenager was set alight during a fight in south-western Sydney.
Veteran actor Ben Gazzara dies
Ben Gazzara - known for his tough-guy presence in dozens of films, TV shows and stage productions - has died.
Russia, China block UN vote on Syria
Russia and China have joined forces in a double veto to knock down a UN Security Council resolution calling for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step aside.
Southern Qld town evacuated as river rises
Residents in St George have been advised to evacuate the southern Queensland town as the Balonne River continues to rise rapidly.
Syrian embassies stormed after Homs 'massacre'
Protesters have stormed Syrian embassies around the world after reports suggested government forces had killed 200 people in the city of Homs.
Flood inquiry addresses conflict of interest claims
Queensland's floods inquiry will continue extended hearings today, but in a remarkable development one deputy commissioner will not be there.
Moree floods ease as threat moves west
The New South Wales State Emergency Service says access to the flooded town of Moree in the state's north could be re-opened later today as floodwaters continue to recede.
Rival Putin protests rally in Moscow
Tens of thousands of Russians defied bitter cold in Moscow on Saturday to demand fair elections in a march against Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule, while thousands of others staged a rally supporting the prime minister.
Charleville levee holds as waters remain steady
Residents in the Queensland town of Charleville endure a nervous night as they wait to see if the levee keeping back the Warrego River will hold.
GI injured, as NRL All Stars triumph
The NRL All Stars defeated the Indigenous All Stars 36-28, but the story of the night was an apparent ankle injury sustained by Greg Inglis.
Afghan civilian casualties rise in 2011
More than 3,000 civilians were killed in the war in Afghanistan in 2011, the fifth year in a row the number has risen, the United Nations said on Saturday in a report likely to revive tension between the Afghan government and its Western backers.
Two dead in NSW helicopter crash
Two men have died in a helicopter crash on the New South Wales south coast.
Police arrest Goulburn prison escapee
Police have captured a man who escaped from a prison in southern New South Wales.
US dismisses last charges over Afghan killings
The US army has dismissed all charges against the last of five soldiers to face court martial in the slaying of unarmed Afghan civilians, according to an army statement.
Family, friends farewell Diana Bliss
Hundreds of people have attended the funeral service for Diana Bliss, theatre producer and wife of businessman Alan Bond.
Australian takes diving to new depths
Professional free-diver Christina Saenz de Santamaria, on what it takes to reach depths of up to 60 metres on a single breath.
US confirms Manning to face court martial
The US army has confirmed private Bradley Manning will face a court martial for allegedly leaking military and diplomatic secrets.
Flood inquiry hits back at newspaper report
Queensland's Floods commissioner has attacked a report in today's Courier Mail newspaper, which she says threatens to undermine public confidence in the floods inquiry.
Opposition releases Nauru detention costings
The Federal Opposition has released its costings for reopening a detention centre on Nauru, saying it could do it for a third of the price the Government has quoted.
Inmates plaster pig on over 30 police cars
Inmates working at a correctional unit's print shop in Vermont in the United States have succeeded in plastering a prank image of a pig onto the state police crest emblazoned on police cars, with over 30 cruisers sporting the design last year.
MP plays down Labor leadership speculation
Federal Labor MP Dick Adams says today's caucus meeting is not about rallying support for Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
WA announces billion-dollar native title offer
The Premier Colin Barnett has announced details of a $1 billion money-and-land offer to native-title claimants in Western Australia. If accepted, it will settle the long-running dispute involving claimants in Perth and the South-West.
Critically endangered parrot on brink of extinction
The critically endangered orange-bellied parrot appears to be moving closer to extinction.
Anxious wait as hope fades for PNG ferry missing
There are conflicting scenes of relief and anxiety in Papua New Guinea after a ferry carrying over 350 people went down in rough seas on Thursday.
Man to face tribal punishment over desert death
Police say a man who got lost in a West Australian desert with an eight-year-old girl who later died is unlikely to be charged but will return to his community to face tribal punishment.
At least 200 killed in latest Syrian bloodshed
Reports say at least 200 people have been killed across Syria as protestors commemorate the massacre of tens of thousands of people in Hama in 1982.
Solariums banned across NSW
The New South Wales Government has become the first in the country to announce it is banning all solariums.
Surprise jobs growth in US
New figures from the United States show there has been an unexpected drop in unemployment.
Attention turns downstream as Moree floodwaters peak
Authorities says heavy rain is easing across northern New South Wales, offering some relief to flood-stricken communities.
Authorities fear Charleville levee will break
Authorities in Charleville in Queensland's south-west build a second levee in the hope that it will save the town if the first wall collapses under the pressure of the swollen Warrego River.
New clashes as anger in Egypt boils over
Three people are dead and as many as 1,500 are injured as clashes between protesters and riot police continue in Egypt's capital, reports say.
Premier seeks help as flood disaster unfolds
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says she has asked the Defence Force for help with the state's unfolding flood disaster in the south.
UN unable to agree on Syrian resolution
United Nations Security Council ambassadors have again been unable to agree on a resolution backing an Arab League plan to end the crisis in Syria.
India rebounds with T20 win
India posted its first win over Australia this summer with an eight-wicket triumph in the second Twenty20 international at the MCG.
NSW flood clean-up could take months
The clean-up from flooding in northern NSW, which has left more than 10,000 people isolated, could take months to complete.
Thomson findings may not be made public
Fair Work Australia has indicated it may not release the findings of its investigation into federal Labor MP Craig Thomson.
Parents outraged over disabled transport bungle
Parents of disabled children in New South Wales who have been left without transport to and from school say the Government has had months to solve the problem.
Dam engineers accused of flood report collusion
Queensland's flood inquiry has heard extraordinary allegations that engineers who controlled Brisbane's Wivenhoe Dam during last summer's disaster colluded to hide the truth.
Most ferry survivors escape serious injury
Hospital staff in Papua New Guinea say they are amazed only three out of 250 survivors of yesterday's ferry disaster have serious injuries.
Holden reveals jump in car sales
Holden has announced a jump in car sales just days after axing its afternoon general assembly shift at its Adelaide factory.
Shares dip as investors eye US jobs data
The Australian share market has closed lower after a mixed day of trade as investors await employment data from the United States and Greece's debt-swap deal remains in the balance.
Legal win for ABC Learning creditors
The Federal Court has ruled that banks that lent to collapsed childcare provider ABC Learning must provide access to key documents.
UN court extends sentence for Khmer Rouge jailer
Duch, the former Khmer Rouge jailer who oversaw the deaths of 15,000 people, will spend the rest of his life in jail after losing an appeal.
Inflexible workplaces 'see more sickies'
Official figures show 2.6 per cent of workers are absent on any given day but a workplace expert says staff are stressed and more should be done to change workplace culture.
Hunt for escapee who carjacked elderly couple
New South Wales police say a man who escaped from Goulburn Prison on Friday is armed and dangerous.
Drug charges hearing for wounded bikie
A lawyer says he will apply for bail when bikie Vincenzo Focarelli faces another court hearing next week on drug charges.
Turbulent times continue for major airlines
The aviation sector is still struggling to recover from the global financial crisis, with two of the world's largest airlines revealing how difficult the industry can be.
Disabled NSW school students still stranded
The New South Wales Education Minister has admitted problems that have stranded disabled students have still not been fixed.
Australian-made wreath to grace London memorial
A bronze wreath honouring the Allied World War II Bomber Command has started a journey from Australia to London.
Man jailed for AIDS threats against children
A Sydney man who tried to extort money from families with threats, including to inject children with AIDS, has been sentenced to at least two-and-a-half years in prison.
Indonesian jailed for people smuggling
A 28-year-old Indonesian national has pleaded guilty in Brisbane's District Court to people smuggling.
Increasing speculation over PM's future
The Prime Minister, the man she ousted from the job, and senior Labor ministers have publicly laughed off suggestions of a leadership coup, but there's no escaping speculation that Julia Gillard's prospects in the job are terminal.
Services sector returns to growth
Activity in Australia's services sector lifted last month after three months of decline, on the back of strong exports of resources and recent interest rate cuts.
Towns on knife-edge as flood risk intensifies
Floodwaters across southern Queensland are at record levels as hundreds of anxious residents bunker down in evacuation centres.
Jobs lost as ethanol expansion plans shelved
Australia's largest ethanol producer has suspended expansion plans, in response to the New South Wales Government's decision not to ban regular unleaded petrol.
Europe cold snap claims 160 lives
A cold snap is keeping Europe in its icy grip, pushing the death toll to 160 as countries from Italy to Ukraine struggle to cope with temperatures that have plunged to record lows in some places.
Share market in the doldrums
The Australian share market is directionless in morning trade, after markets in Europe and the United States closed mostly higher overnight.
Kabila named DR Congo election winner
Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila has been declared the outright winner in results released two months after November's disputed presidential election.
MP wants to change plea on tax charges
Greens MP Tammy Franks will fight tax charges she is facing, after an earlier guilty plea.
Police officer sent explicit texts to underage girl
A police officer who sent explicit text messages to an underage girl in state care has been given a suspended sentence. The pair exchanged text messages of a sexual nature for some weeks before the girl's carer found the messages and contacted police.
Child porn charges after computer shop tip-off
A man from Sydney's northern beaches has been charged with possessing child pornography after a computer repair shop tipped off police.
Fed chief Bernanke issues debt warning
United States Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has warned that the US economy could face the same fate as troubled European countries if it fails to curb its growing debt.
Spotted tree frogs return to national park
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is preparing to return spotted tree frogs back to the Mount Buffalo National Park in north-eastern Victoria.
Smith rejects reports of new Afghan timetable
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has rejected reports that the United States will end its combat role in Afghanistan by late next year.
Westpac boss can't rule out further job cuts
Westpac chief Gail Kelly defends the bank's decision to axe up to 560 jobs and will not rule out further cuts as the bank's profits are squeezed by a slowdown in lending.
Coles rejects call for supermarket ombudsman
Coles has again rejected calls for the Federal Government to appoint a supermarket ombudsman.
Links probed between Wollongong murder, violence
Police in Wollongong have revealed links between a murder and suspected murder last year, along with a recent shooting.
US shares close mostly higher on job hopes
Stocks in the United States have wavered on mixed company earnings reports and positive news on jobs.
Residents evacuated as floods drench southern Qld
Residents are being airlifted out of southern Queensland's interior as floodwaters creep to record levels.
Trump endorses Romney in presidential race
Donald Trump has re-injected himself and his wealth into the United States Republican presidential race by endorsing frontrunner Mitt Romney.
Woman's body found in western Sydney home
Police are investigating the discovery of a woman's body at a home in Sydney's west.
Appeal over Broken Hill shotgun hold-up
Police have released security camera vision of an armed robbery on Australia Day at Broken Hill in far western New South Wales.
Anger mounts over Egyptian soccer deaths
Thousands of protesters, including fanatical 'ultra' soccer fans, protest in Cairo over Egypt's deadly stadium riot.
Rock thrown at ambulance from high rise
A 16-year-old boy has been charged after rocks were thrown at an ambulance, cars and pedestrians in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton last night.
River runs red in Syrian massacre protest
Residents in the central Syrian city of Hama have defiantly painted roads red and staged a general strike in memory of a massacre carried out by the regime there 30 years ago.
Police identify suspect in missing teen cold case
Melbourne detectives have made a breakthrough in solving the murder of a 13-year-old girl who has been missing since 1992. Police have now confirmed they have a suspect.
Bikie to face bedside hearing of drug charges
Vincenzo Focarelli, the self-proclaimed Comancheros bikie gang leader, is due to face a hospital bedside court hearing on drug possession charges.
Assange awaits Supreme Court verdict
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange could know within weeks if he has been successful in appealing against his extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.
Pakistan PM to face contempt charges
Pakistan's Supreme Court has confirmed it will charge the country's prime minister with contempt of court, in a move that could bring down the government.
More than 100 missing from PNG ferry
PNG rescue teams say they fear about 100 people - mostly students - are dead and trapped inside the hull of a ferry which sunk off the country's north coast yesterday.
'Conquistador' Prince William sent to the Falklands
Britain's Prince William has arrived in the Falkland Islands for a six-week deployment with the Royal Air Force, in a move Argentina has condemned as a "provocation".
Record flooding strands NSW residents
An emergency is unfolding across northern New South Wales, with record floodwaters isolating towns and forcing residents from their homes after days of heavy rain. The cotton capital of Moree in northern NSW has been cut in two by its largest flood in 35 years, and many areas are receiving supplies by air.
Clive Palmer considers turning media mogul
Mining magnate Clive Palmer says he would consider following in the footsteps of fellow billionaire Gina Rinehart and buying significant stakes in Australian media companies.
Shallow 6.9 quake hits off Vanuatu
A shallow 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu late on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no tsunami warning.
Scientists tout pre-eclampsia breakthrough
A treatment for the potentially deadly pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia is a step closer after a discovery by a team of Melbourne scientists.
Police probe Times hacking claims: reports
The Times newspaper is being investigated by British police over claims of hacking emails, reports said on Thursday.
Heads roll over Egypt soccer carnage
The entire leadership of Egypt's football association is sacked after violent clashes at a soccer game in the city of Port Said left dozens dead.
Gillard urged to stop Westpac job cuts
The Finance Sector Union is urging the Federal Government to step in and stop Westpac from axing hundreds of jobs.
Fight to end Japan's dolphin slaughter ritual
While there has been much attention on Japan's renewed hunt for whales in the Antarctic, another hunt for marine mammals is in full swing along Japan's own shores.
Sleep disorders costing $5bn a year
New research has found sleep disorders cost the Australian economy more than $5 billion a year in health care and indirect costs.
Rinehart loses suppression order bid
Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart has lost an application for a new suppression order on her family trust court case.
Dam engineer accused of fabricating flood report
Queensland's floods inquiry has accused a dam engineer of fabricating a flood report because he was afraid of what people would think.
NSW town braces for historic flooding
The New South Wales country town of Moree is bracing for its worst flood since 1976 with about 2,300 people ordered to leave their homes or businesses.
Pair jailed over $7m drug bust
Two New South Wales men will have to spend at least 13 years in jail for bringing $7 million worth of drugs into Western Australia.
PNG leader suspends chief justice
Papua New Guinea's prime minister has suspended the country's chief justice and announced a tribunal to hear charges of misconduct.
Shares jump on global manufacturing growth
Some positive global manufacturing figures have helped the share market snap its three-day losing streak.
Government urged to ditch surplus to protect jobs
Economists are urging the Government to boost funding for education and training and abandon plans for a budget surplus as the strong Australian dollar sees jobs slashed around the country.
US signals 2013 end to Afghan mission
Defence secretary Leon Panetta says the United States intends to end combat operations in Afghanistan before the end of 2013, laying down a new marker for winding down America's longest war.
Welfare cuts fail to boost school attendance
An evaluation of a trial linking the welfare payments of parents to the school attendance of their children has found the threat can be effective, but not for long.
8 asylum seekers die in Malaysian sinking
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has confirmed that an asylum seeker boat has sunk off the coast of Malaysia.
Ali's trainer Dundee dies at 90
Celebrated boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali's cornerman in his greatest fights, has died at the age of 90.
Qantas announces carbon tax surcharge
Qantas is increasing airfares on both domestic and international flights in response to rising fuel prices and the carbon tax.
Lone Wolf bikie arrested over drugs and pistol
Police say they have arrested a Lone Wolf bikie after seizing a gun and drugs from a holiday apartment on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
Man sentenced over rocket launcher in shed
A man who put an unregistered rocket launcher on display in his shed has been given a suspended jail sentence, despite calls for tougher sentences for firearms offences.
Yacht skipper missing in Hastings River
A search is underway for a Brisbane man missing from a yacht in the Hastings River on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.
Charges dropped against former premier Burke
Former West Australian premier Brian Burke has walked free from court after corruption charges against him were dropped.
Scores rescued after PNG ferry sinking
Rough weather and confusion over passenger numbers have frustrated rescue teams searching for survivors of a ferry disaster off the coast of Papua New Guinea. About 240 people have been rescued in choppy waters after the MV Rabaul Queen went down 16 kilometres off the coast of Finschhafen, about 80 kilometres from its final destination of Lae. But it is unclear how many passengers the ferry was carrying when it left the city of Kimbe.
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