REPORTS Mel Gibson would flee the growing leaked tape-scandal in the U.S. for his native Australia were Sunday dismissed by his rep.

A 27-year-old backpacker from Northern Ireland has drowned while swimming in a remote part of northern Australia.

Fast bowler Clint McKay has been called into the Australia squad ahead of Wednesday's Test against Pakistan – with Ben Hilfenhaus an injury doubt.

The New Zealand dollar fell for a second day against the greenback as traders cut bets on the amount of interest-rate increases the central bank will make as the growth outlook worsens.

THE election advertising war is off and running with Labor and the Liberals offering rival visions of moving forward and standing up for Australia.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Thursday he had "productive talks" with Indonesia and East Timor about a regional detention center for refugees.

Former Fijian prime minister Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka has criticised Australia's ongoing travel bans on Fiji's military.

A PERTH butcher selling horse meat has been bombarded with "personal and nasty" emails, including death threats. But since most of the protests come from animal rights activists, waking up next to a horse head seems unlikely.

In replacing its Airbus A330s, Jetstar is eagerly await its 787s to allow it to venture into Europe and bring the first real taste of low cost long haul travel to the masses.

Lovely, crisp photo of the Darling Harbour area of Sydney at dusk.

A BROOME tourist is lucky to be alive after climbing into a crocodile enclosure and doing battle with a male 5m predator.

A man has been arrested on the New South Wales central coast after police allegedly found $90,000 worth of the drug methylamphetmine during a routine vehicle stop.