News in Australia

• Abbott seizes the lead
  

  JULIA GILLARD has three weeks in which to salvage her campaign, with the latest Herald/Nielsen poll showing Tony Abbott and the Coalition would be swept to power if the election were held today.

• Hunt on for thalidomide mystery man
  

  CRAIG PHILLIPS is not a rare name. At least 10 people have that combination of names in New Zealand, and there are more than 100 of them on this side of the Tasman.

• Clarification
  

  A story yesterday, ''ATM firm is banned from listing on exchange'', mentioned an indefinite stop order against the float of My ATM. The order is interim and lasts until ASIC revokes it or makes another order.

• First round to Hinch
  

  THE broadcaster Derryn Hinch has taken his fight against court orders hiding the identity of sex offenders to Australia's highest court.

• God help Vinnies
  

  At the feud-riven St Vincent de Paul Society QCs are busy, writes David Marr.

• Strain shows as Rudd faces surgery
  

  THE former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, leaves his electorate office in Brisbane yesterday, just hours before he was admitted to the Mater Private Hospital for an operation to remove his gall bladder after ''acute abdominal pain'' on Thursday.

• Couple kept sham marriage to stop violent reprisals
  

  Centrelink unwittingly revealed a clash between Islamic laws and Western life, writes Bellinda Kontominas.

• Internet maverick Assange turns to mainstream media in his war on Washington
  

  An unprecedented 92,000 war 'logs' - raw, ground-level accounts of a nine-year conflict in which America and Australia, and 40 other nations, are mired.

• The family PM Rudd did not forget
  

  The plans are virtually complete for the new house: all that needs to be altered is the location of a light switch.

• Gillard sent bodyguard to meetings
  

  Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been accused of sending a former bodyguard and junior staff member to attend highly sensitive security meetings on her behalf.

• Vic govt rejects part of bushfire report
  

  The Victorian government is planning to reject or put off some of the main recommendations expected in Saturday's Bushfires Royal Commission report.

• Abbott leads Gillard in latest poll
  

  Prime Minister Julia Gillard has taken a battering in the latest opinion poll which shows the Coalition would win the election if it was held now.

• NSW cops soaking, flood warning out
  

  A severe weather warning has been issued for parts of northern NSW where heavy rain is expected to cause flash flooding.

• Boomers through to final
  

  The Australian men's basketball team have survived against a determined Iran team to move into the final of the Stankovic Cup in China.

• Cops face court over tow truck misuse
  

  A Victorian Police officer has resigned after an investigation over an inappropriate use of tow trucks.

• Storm causes damage in western Victoria
  

  A storm has damaged houses and taken down trees on Victoria's Western Highway.

• Bombers belt Saints
  

  St Kilda's worrying recent form has continued on Friday night following an upset 33-point AFL defeat to Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

• Rudd should rest after op, says surgeon
  

  Former PM Kevin Rudd might be out of action for longer than he hopes, with a surgeon recommending at least two weeks rest following gall bladder surgery.

• Bulldogs dent Bunnies' finals charge
  

  Souths' finals charge copped a debilitating double blow with star import Sam Burgess put on report as Canterbury registered a stunning 32-12 upset NRL win.

• Flash Gordon snatches win for Panthers
  

  Penrith winger Michael Gordon delivered the inspiration his team has been seeking to get their NRL campaign back on track on Friday night.

• Independence day getting closer
  

  The final stumbling block in the establishment of an independent commission appears to have been removed.

• Robber didn't use Brinks gun
  

  The man killed while holding up a cash van in Sydney didn't use a handgun belonging to the security company he tried to rob, police say.

• Tony Abbott wishes Kevin Rudd well
  

  Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has wished Kevin Rudd a speedy recovery after the former Labor prime minister was admitted to hospital for an operation.

• Shaw takes tour lead
  

  Ballarat cyclist Patrick Shaw is the new overall leader in the Tour of Gippsland.

• Another gas contamination scare
  

  Tests will be carried out at a second underground coal gasification (UCG) trial in Queensland.

• Eels wary of air turbulence
  

  Parramatta fear the 'Hayne Plane' could finally run into some air turbulence with the Eels pinpointing Sydney Roosters playmaker Todd Carney as a danger man.

• Eagles frustrated, not embarrassed
  

  Eagles skipper Darren Glass insists his side aren't embarrassed by a six-game losing run to Fremantle.

• Telstra incurs $170m charge on HK telco
  

  Telstra Corp says it will incur a non-cash impairment charge of $170 million on the carrying value of its Hong Kong based mobile phone telco CSL New World.

• Gits mentor back in Wallabies fold
  

  Matt Giteau has paid for his goalkicking mentor Ben Perkins to return to the Wallabies camp to ensure he can close out a vital Bledisloe Cup win on Saturday.

• Man jailed for magnum attack
  

  A man has been jailed for holding a .357 magnum to the head of his victim in a road rage incident in Adelaide.

• Narkle gets 10 years for rape of man
  

  Western Australia's most notorious sex offender has been sentenced to 10 years in jail without parole for repeatedly raping a homeless man.

• Bligh takes over ALP presidency
  

  Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has taken over the ALP's national presidency.

• Bonds close stronger on positive US lead
  

  The Australian debt market closed firmer after a positive lead from the US and overnight.

• Donkey votes may decide seat of Solomon
  

  One Nation will be listed first on Solomon's ballot paper and long-time Labor MP Warren Snowdon will be listed last in the seat of Lingiari.

• Goodwin, McLeod future unclear: Craig
  

  Adelaide coach Neil Craig doesn't know if his AFL superstars Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin will play again.

• Dog trainer killer guilty of contempt
  

  Murderer Wayne Rocky Coombes has been sentenced to one year in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify at a co-accused's murder trial.

• Australia support Kiwi bid for ICC
  

  Cricket Australia tried to make a strong political statement by declining to name a replacement for John Howard as ICC vice-presidential nominee.

• Surgery ends Dick's season
  

  Collingwood small forward Brad Dick will miss the rest of the AFL season because of a shoulder reconstruction.

• Folau's Tongan farewell unlikely: Carr
  

  ARL chief executive Geoff Carr has poured cold water on Israel Folau's bid to switch allegiances and play for Tonga in his farewell to rugby league.

• McLeod threatens to walk from Crows
  

  Andrew McLeod has told his Adelaide teammates he'll quit if his tell-all book damages his AFL club.

• Homeowner shortfall to worsen by 2020
  

  A chronic national housing shortage means the dream of home ownership is slipping further out of reach for ordinary Australians.

• No rift, but more MPs may go, Keneally
  

  The NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has hosed down reports of factional war, but says more MPs may quit before the state election.

• Ekka gets fresh, goes bananas
  

  Brisbane's Ekka will offer a fresh fruit showbag as part of a move away from the traditional dagwood dog, chips and fairy floss.

• Uni SA staff to take industrial action
  

  Rolling stoppages will affect classes at the University of South Australia next week as staff seek new concessions over working conditions.

• Goodes says interchange cap 'silly'
  

  Sydney skipper Adam Goodes says the AFL would be "silly" if it capped the number of interchanges allowed per game.

• Optus guidance reaffirmed
  

  SingTel reaffirms annual guidance for Australian subsidiary Optus.

• Solar centre powers on despite $20M hit
  

  A celebrated NSW solar research centre's loss of $20 million in federal funding sends a poor message on renewable energy, critics say.

• Changes in shareholdings
  

  Changes in shareholdings.

• Qld police issue abduction alert
  

  Queensland police are appealing for public help to find two children who may be at risk after being taken by a man in far north Queensland on Thursday night.

• Rates tipped to stay on hold - for now
  

  Borrowers will be spared an interest rate rise on Tuesday and it's unlikely that there will be another rate rise until the end of the year.

• No Blake but Mummy to give Cats a shake
  

  Mark Blake's absence means Sydney's ex-Cat Shane Mumford will have to take out his aggression on Brad Ottens in the ruck contests.

• Aussies are branching out into history
  

  There has been a resurgence of interest in family history in Australia.

• Inquest into Dingle death
  

  A coroner has found that "misinformation and poor science" led to the death of a Perth woman who refused conventional treatment for her cancer.

• Ban on flu vaccine for young kids lifted
  

  Australia's chief medical officer has lifted his ban on children under five receiving flu vaccine.

• Judge says child porn a social evil
  

  A judge says child porn viewers share responsibility with those behind the trade in "social evil".

• Couple jailed for son's manslaughter
  

  Parents of a baby boy have been jailed for his manslaughter after the mother tipped the infant's cot over and he fell out, fracturing his skull.

• Sundance on track despite setbacks
  

  Iron ore explorer Sundance Resources has reiterated it is on track to complete a feasibility study for its Cameroon project by the end of the year.

• Kevin Rudd in hospital for operation
  

  Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has been admitted to hospital for a gall bladder operation, and he says he wants to campaign at a national level.

• New control tower at Adelaide Airport
  

  Crews have broken ground for a new airport control tower to bring Adelaide Airport up to speed with modern air traffic technology.

• Journeyman Norrie commits to Storm
  

  Melbourne Storm have re-signed journeyman Bryan Norrie and given him a pay rise after his transformation from reject to matchwinner.

• Della Bosca denies parting shot at PM
  

  Outgoing NSW Labor MP John Della Bosca says the PM is a leader of conviction, and not too influenced by polls.

• NFF asks when farmers will get NBN
  

  Farmers are demanding Labor indicate when rural areas not earmarked for fibre optic internet access will receive an alternative broadband service.

• Good reception for iPhone across nation
  

  There was nothing wrong with the reception for the latest iPhone despite problems plaguing its antenna.

• Kerang crash brother wins payout
  

  The brother of a Kerange rail disaster victim has reached a six-figure settlement with the insurer of truck driver Christian Scholl.

• New tablet for type 2 diabetics
  

  A new tablet for people with type 2 diabetes promises to lower blood glucose levels without the side effects of other medications, doctors say.

• Climate Sceptics top SA senate ticket
  

  The Climate Sceptics are delighted to be in first place on the South Australian Senate ticket.

• Heart coach confident of title challenge
  

  Melbourne Heart coach John van 't Schip is confident his new team will challenge for the A-League title provided it can embrace the game he has in mind.

• Dockers, Eagles cry poor over tax
  

  WA football has been boosted be a 10-year multi-million dollar sponsorship deal.

• Saturday now cheapest for petrol: NRMA
  

  The NRMA says Saturday is now the cheapest day of the week to buy petrol, but it won't stay that way for long.

• Three girls approached by men in Sydney
  

  Three girls have been approached by men who tried to entice them into their cars in separate incidents in Sydney's outer west.

• Wild rivers declaration delays mine
  

  A decision on the future of a Cape York mining project has been delayed for one year because of a controversial wild rivers declaration

• Gillard unveils bigger broadband plan
  

  Julia Gillard has pledged to expand the National Broadband Network and promised to fix roads in Perth.

• SA man on child porn charges
  

  A judge has expressed concern at the number of child pornography cases coming before the South Australian courts.

• Lifesaver killer's appeal dismissed
  

  A man who beat to death a popular lifesaver outside a Sunshine Coast nightclub has had his appeal against his manslaughter conviction dismissed.

• Lib's environment commissioner 'weak'
  

  Appointing an independent environment commissioner won't do anything to tackle climate change, Greenpeace says.

• Rhiannon welcomes Kernot bid
  

  Greens Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon says Cheryl Kernot will "lift the tenor" of debate.

• Bingo draw for Vic Senate seats
  

  A blindfolded woman has drawn numbered wooden balls from a metal basket to determine candidates' positions on the Victorian senate ballot paper.

• Man to plead guilty in dog-napping case
  

  A South Australian man will plead guilty to a contempt charge after allegedly fleeing with his pet dog to prevent the animal being put down.

• Billions of benefits in sport: expert
  

  If more Australians played sport, our economy could be $13 billion a year better off, a national conference has been told.

• Senate committee slams rent tax
  

  A Senate inquiry into the federal government's proposed mineral resources rent tax has slammed the measure, recommending it be scrapped immediately.

• Internet date led to sex, then rape
  

  A man who "horribly" raped a woman he met on an internet dating site has been jailed for three years.

• Lost cat turns up 1300km away
  

  The family of a Brisbane cat who disappeared a year ago were stunned when he turned up alive and well 1300km away.

• Keneally China trip costs $105,000
  

  NSW taxpayers spent over $105,000 on a week-long trade trip to China for Premier Kristina Keneally.

• Buderim expects results to improve
  

  Agribusiness Buderim Ginger Ltd expects its trading results for the first half of 2010 to show significant improvement from the same period last year.

• Abbott told of refugees' boat experience
  

  Huan Luong, 12, has told Opposition Leader Tony Abbott how his parents arrived from Vietnam after their boat was stranded at sea.

• Main parties low on NSW Senate ballot
  

  An anti-Muslim immigration candidate and a former political turncoat are among a field of 84 running for the six seats up for grabs in NSW.

• Remember Vic fire victims: survivors
  

  Bushfire survivors say everyone must remember the victims of Black Saturday above the politics that may dominate discussion of the commission's final report.

• Origin says sales revenue is up
  

  Origin Energy says annual sales revenues at its exploration and production business are up.

• Jail for 'horrible' rape of net lover
  

  A Melbourne man who raped a woman he met on an internet dating site in a "horrible" way has been jailed for three years.

• Tigers coach Sheens rings Shark alarm
  

  Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says his team's loss to Manly should be the wake-up call they need before taking on lowly Cronulla in Saturday's NRL clash.

• Tigers coach expects more English stars
  

  Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says he expects more English players to join the NRL after the successful arrivals of Gareth Ellis, Sam Burgess and Mark Flanagan.

• Lions coach Voss backs Fevola
  

  Brisbane coach Michael Voss wants the criticism of his controversial spearhead Brendan Fevola to cease.

• Port coach wants Krakouer to stay
  

  Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus hopes creative defender Nathan Krakouer's appearance against Hawthorn isn't among his last for the AFL club.

• Pies star Davis 'ready to deliver'
  

  Collingwood veteran Leon Davis feels primed to deliver his best form in the upcoming AFL finals, admitting some of his past performances have been below par.

• Phoenix sign Socceroos stopper North
  

  Wellington Phoenix have bolstered their A-League title aspirations with the signing of Socceroos centre-half Jade North.

• Help for bushfire survivors
  

  Victorians are being reminded that Black Saturday survivors have had their lives upturned and will need support when the Royal Commission findings are released.

• Kimberley dolphins in trouble off Broome
  

  A little-known species of dolphin found only in Australia is taking a battering from boats and lost fishing gear off the tourist town of Broome.

• Abbott attacks Labor over new leak
  

  Claims that Prime Minister Julia Gillard has not spoken to China's leaders is further evidence of Labor disintegration, opposition says.

• Greens braced for attacks: Rhiannon
  

  The Greens are bracing for further attacks from Labor and the Coalition in what will be a tough election for the party, NSW candidate Lee Rhiannon says.

• Managers announced for QR National float
  

  The Queensland government has taken another step towards the public floating of its bulk coal rail company, appointing managers for the project.