Scrafton alleges abuse and threats

[3:21pm] Former defence adviser Mike Scrafton today said he was abused and threatened by former top public servant Max Moore-Wilton. more

• Inquiry told Howard misled Australians

No rush to release tax policy

[2:47pm] Labor would release its tax policy when leader Mark Latham chose to, ALP treasury spokesman Simon Crean said today. more

• No hospital bail-out for states
• Stop toying with tax, Costello tells ALP
• PM seeks advice over rodent comment
• Senior Lib denies 'lying rodent' slur
• Making politics cool: Your Say
• Election issues Vote now

Stepfather charged with baby's manslaughter

[3:29pm] Murder charges have been dropped against a Melbourne man accused of killing his infant stepdaughter. more

Sydney bank robbers escape

[3:50pm] At least two armed bank robbers have escaped an apparent hostage situation at a bank on Sydney's north shore. more

• Siege: Bank hold up

France races to save Iraq hostages

[2:48pm] A 24-hour deadline set by kidnappers of two French journalists in Iraq expired with no word on their fate. more

• Nepal mourns murdered hostages
• Charges dropped in US terror trial
• Suicide bomb blasts Moscow subway
• Bus bomb: Twin blasts kill, maim Israelis

• France: Muslim call to free hostages
• Welfare changes: Germans step up protests

AFL magazine bans asbestos ad

[12:51pm] An advertisement attacking James Hardie's treatment of asbestos victims has been refused publication in the AFL's matchday magazine. more

• Dutch treaty for Hardie victims

• Education: RMIT appoints new head
• Canberra: SA director gets gallery post

Men's hockey team applauded

[12:50pm] The boss of Australia's Olympic team today credited the men's hockey squad for its boosting win that lead to a national record gold medal haul. more

• Exhausted Hackett back home
• Aussie athletes arrive home

Three Aussie women in Open wins

[New York 10:01am] Nicole Pratt joined fellow Australians Alicia Molik and Samantha Stosur in the second round of the US Open today with a 3-6 6-1 6-3 win over Colombian Catalina Castano. more

• Motorsport: Rumours of Schumacher's retirement mount
• Horse Racing: Freedman loses his great white hope

Past window dressing

She made her name in fashion, but Prue Acton's art has a beauty that speaks for itself. more

• Taking flight from fame
• Review: Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia

• Music: Half bent
• Film: King Kong stars in awe of NZ

Spending boosts strong economy

[1:05pm] Australia's economy picked up the pace in the June quarter, new figures showed today, despite a surprise slump in the farm sector. more

• Growth won't ease inflation fears

• Resources: Gwalia's old board under scrutiny
• Reporting season: D-day draws out the red brigade

Optus cuts overseas call costs by 50-80%

[Sydney] Optus has upped the ante in the fixed line battle with Telstra by cutting international rates to popular countries by 50-85 per cent. more

• Launch: Apple unveils super-thin iMac in Paris
• Telecommunications: Telstra wins $15.6m mobile contract