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US police still studying Cousins case

9:14am | US detectives probing Ben Cousins' alleged cocaine binge in Los Angeles are not expected to announce until early next week if he will be charged.

Kemble's Kiwi coach position assured

9:14am | New Zealand rugby league coach Gary Kemble has been assured his job is safe regardless of the Kiwis' result against France on Sunday.

Crean backs Rudd against Labor factions

9:09am | Former Labor leader Simon Crean, whose leadership of the party was plagued by factional resistance, has backed Kevin Rudd's bid to take on the factions.

NZ man compensated over smoking saga

9:04am | A New Zealand man who was sacked because his boss thought he was smoking cannabis at work has been awarded $NZ14,000 ($A11,960).

Crean defends Combet's Newcastle move

8:44am | Opposition frontbencher Simon Crean has defended former ACTU leader Greg Combet's decision to live outside the electorate he hopes to represent.

New Zealander arrested over G20 riots

8:14am | A New Zealand man has been arrested in Sydney over his involvement in last year's G20 riots in Melbourne.

PM must explain regional rorting: Labor

7:59am | A federal Labor government would retain the controversial regional partnerships program while tightening transparency to prevent political abuse of the scheme.

Bernie Banton is gravely ill, says wife

7:59am | Asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton is so ill he may not survive until his court case against James Hardie has been completed.

Market expected to open lower

7:59am | The Australian share market is expected to open lower today dragged down by lower metals and a weak lead from Wall Street.

Rossi unsure about his MotoGP future

7:55am | Valentino Rossi is unsure how long he will continue riding in MotoGP, the former world champion said on Thursday.

Girl, 13, charged over armed robbery

7:39am | A 13-year-old girl and a 32-year-old woman have been charged with the attempted armed robbery of a Sydney florist.

Bonus payments for taxi wheelchair fares

7:24am | Taxi drivers who pick up wheelchair passengers are in line for a bonus payment, the NSW government says.

IOC urge full doping code compliance

7:19am | The IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency have urged governments and international federations to do more to comply with an anti-doping code.

Election still winnable, insists Abbott

6:59am | Health Minister Tony Abbott says he remains confident the government can still win next week's election, despite a new poll showing Labor still well ahead.

Greenpeace blocks shipment in Indonesia

6:59am | Greenpeace has blocked a tanker carrying more than 30,000 tonnes of palm oil from leaving an Indonesian port, the environmental group said.

Germany battles worst-ever rail strike

6:54am | The longest and most widespread strike in the history of German rail has severely affected goods and passenger traffic throughout the country.

Train strikes continue in France

6:49am | Transport workers shut down most rail traffic in France for a second full day on Thursday.

Georgia to lift state of emergency

6:39am | A nationwide state of emergency imposed amid a police crackdown on opposition protests is to end on Friday under a measure approved by Georgia's parliament.

Muslim cleric faces extradition to US

6:34am | A British court has cleared the way for a radical Muslim cleric linked to the killing of an Australian hostage to be extradited to the United States.

UK hits back over 2012 Olympic critics

5:54am | The British government has defended itself against accusations that the initial budget for the London 2012 Olympics was grossly underestimated.

• 5:49am | Hungarian ex-Olympian cleared of doping
• 5:49am | IOC set to rule on Marion Jones' medals
• 5:49am | Williams sisters aiming for Olympic gold
• 5:44am | Schwarzer backs Southgate as Boro boss
• 2:34am | NSW coroner to hand down Balibo findings
• 2:34am | Child murderer dad faces judgment day
• 2:34am | US panel warn about Chinese spying
• 11:49pm | Russia sect awaits the end of the world
• 11:24pm | BridgeClimb takes tourism awards
• 11:19pm | Abbott says job protections lost
• 11:14pm | Cahill to miss Socceroos' Nigeria match
• 11:09pm | Downer says Rudd hiding $6b aid increase
• 11:04pm | Taliban kill boy for teaching English
• 10:29pm | Korean Choi takes charge in Hong Kong
• 10:29pm | Nadal stays alive in Masters Cup
• 9:35pm | Philippine govt, rebels reach deal
• 9:29pm | Buildings razed for Three Gorges dam
• 9:24pm | Indon airlines sign air safety agreement
• 9:14pm | Labor's Newhouse pulls out of debate
• 9:10pm | Hawke hopes Rudd wins in a landslide
• 9:04pm | Forecasters North Qld cyclone
• 8:39pm | Mason now wants to be a Rooster for life
• 8:25pm | Business urges emissions trading clarity
• 8:25pm | Silver Ferns through to semis
• 8:19pm | Loeb needs to beat Gronholm in Ireland
• 8:14pm | E Timor holds talks with sacked troops
• 8:14pm | Breakers crush the Hawks 121-100
• 7:59pm | Prosecutor 'fell short' in Mallard case
• 7:54pm | NZ batsmen out to defy odds in S Africa
• 7:44pm | Appleby Vic's Australian of the Year
• 7:39pm | Carl Williams' dad gets jail sentence
• 7:34pm | Work Choices 'weakening' women's pay
• 7:29pm | Match fixing not a big problem: McNamee
• 7:29pm | Wesfarmers gets nod to lift pay pool
• 7:24pm | Port willing to take 30-year-old Cousins
• 7:24pm | Drugs had street value up to $75m: court
• 6:59pm | Report on controversial pipeline issued
• 6:44pm | Motorist crushed by his own car
• 6:39pm | Iraqis gathering support in Gosford
• 6:34pm | Bogut's big night boosts the Bucks
• 6:25pm | WA moves to ban nuclear power plants
• 6:25pm | Rudd commits $15 million for ethanol
• 6:25pm | Man held over child protection breach
• 6:25pm | Harbour Bridge crash slows traffic
• 6:04pm | CFMEU, Woolies clash over toilet paper
• 5:59pm | PM pledges to boost aged care funding
• 5:40pm | All Blacks job opened to other hopefuls
• 5:40pm | Former Solomons PM struggling for power
• 5:34pm | Tander chasing third Tassie win
• 5:24pm | Healthlinx's cancer test on market soon
• 5:24pm | Teenager Hughes to make his Blues debut
• 5:24pm | Labor to ramp up anti-whaling campaign
• Previous breaking news