Essendon and Carlton dropped three players apiece as they face must-win games ahead
of the AFL mid-season break.

NSW star Jarryd Hayne has pre-empted a sweeping review of the Blues' State of Origin
disaster with a simple message: "We've tried everything."

The world's largest gold miner, Canada's Barrick Gold Corporation, says the Rudd
government's planned new mining tax is affecting its investment decisions in
Australia.

The family of Perth woman Millie Johnston are waiting on the formal identification
of a body found near the site where she went missing in Ecuador.

A woman working in a vineyard northeast of Melbourne was killed by a falling branch
as she ran for cover when a storm swept through the area on Thursday.

Defence has named a sailor missing believed drowned on Tonga as Leading Seaman
Combat Systems Operator Andrew Wakely, aged 28.

Australia's first national paid parental leave scheme has been officially passed by
federal parliament.

Timana Tahu should not return to training with Parramatta until he is ready
mentally, the NRL club's coach Daniel Anderson says.

The Wallabies' front row injury blight has struck again with more scrum woe looming
in Saturday's second Test against England after hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was ruled
out.

Suspended Fremantle forward Michael Johnson is being pushed "to the limit" at
training in an attempt to have him in prime condition for an immediate return to AFL
ranks if needed.