Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pitched to regional leaders his ambitious plan for a
new Asia-Pacific political and economic bloc, but his idea is facing competition

The federal government is set to boost assistance to two key international refugee
agencies to meet the challenge of a surge in asylum seekers across the region.

A depleted Brisbane Roar put in a mighty effort under new coach Ange Postecoglou but
could not stop Sydney FC returning to the top of the A-League with a heart-stopping

Inflation figures out on Wednesday are likely to be a sign post to what action the
Reserve Bank of Australia will take on interest rates at its Melbourne Cup Day
meeting.

Tobacco worth millions of dollars has been seized from a factory in Sydney's west,
police say.

The kookaburra sits in the old gum tree ... or so the song goes.
But with research showing more than 80 species of birds are in decline in Victoria,

Australian rugby league coach Tim Sheens knows the score - populate the trophy
cabinet or perish.

Trade ministers from the Pacific region have confirmed a trade office will be
established in Vanuatu as part of a new economic agreement.

Revelations that one in five childcare centres are in breach of health and safety
laws highlight the need to overhaul the sector, the union representing childcare
workers says.

Bart Cummings has done it again.
The maestro trainer won his third Group One race in as many weeks when