American oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips has pledged to donate $1 million towards
the Queensland floods crisis, while Swiss miner Xstrata says it will double its

Dally M medallist Todd Carney is out of the NRL All Stars game after scans showed he
needs surgery on a groin injury.

World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki took a small step towards answering her critics when
she scored a reassuring win in the first round of the Australian Open.

Defending champion Roger Federer wasted little time and energy in safely progressing
to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.

The Cold Chisel bandmates of rock drummer and songwriter Steve Prestwich say they
are shattered by his death.

Less than 500 residents remain cut off by flooding in northern NSW as water levels
continue to recede.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) on Monday said there had been a "vast

Residents of the Darling Downs town of Condamine will be airlifted back to the
flood-devastated community on Wednesday, its mayor says.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has launched an independent Commission of Inquiry into
the state's unprecedented flood disaster as the death toll reached 20.

Up to 20 towns in addition to those already flooded or under threat are expected to
be hit by floodwaters in coming days, and tens of thousands of Victorians face the

Bob Dylan has announced a four-date Australian tour to tie in with his headline
appearances at the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival and the West Coast Blues and
Roots Festival.