Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke says he's saddened that a chat he had about Kevin
Rudd was overheard, "twisted", and fed to reporters as leadership speculation.

Liberal senators have clashed with a fire ecology expert over the merits of hazard
reduction burns to combat bushfires.

A calf injury will keep Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson out of Saturday night's
AFL game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Telstra's loss appears to be Optus' gain as Australia's number two telco reported a
16 per cent rise in annual net profit due to growth in its mobile phone business.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admits Monday night's AFL loss to Carlton has presented a
major challenge to his team.

Geelong have put another harpoon in the hopes of the Gold Coast luring a big fish
north with star AFL midfielder Joel Selwood ready to sign a new contract.

Westpac Banking Corporation's review of exception fees did not prevent Matthew
Burgess from struggling to meet rent payments after he was slugged by the bank for

Champion goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will battle to come to terms with one of the most
crushing defeats of his career before starting Socceroos' World Cup preparations.

Four Australian peacekeepers, who found themselves in the thick of fighting during
the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, are now eligible for the Australian Active Service
Medal (AASM).

NSW will use the secret weapon which inspired their State of Origin III upset last
year when they seek to stop Queensland notching a fifth straight series win.