IT'S official: women are better drivers than blokes, at least according to one survey.

SYDNEY, May 1 (Reuters) - St George Bank Ltd. SGB.AX, Australia's fifth-biggest lender, met expectations with a record first-half profit on Tuesday on strong loan growth and a booming wealth management business, and upgraded its full-year forecasts.

The ACT Government has extended the deadline for public comments on its draft parking strategy.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has welcomed a & #36;1 million deal to have more overseas airline crews trained in Brisbane.

St George Bank has posted 14 per cent lift in first half earnings and increased its guidance for the full year.

PRIME Minister John Howard said Labor is using "bully boy" tactics against the business community following the business backlash against Labor's new industrial relations policy.

AUSTRALIA has been praised in a new US government report for its effort to combat terrorism domestically and in South East Asia, while Iran and Indonesia have been criticised.

A LOCATION team has arrived in Darwin to scour the Australian outback for a place to film a new UK television series in which obese teenagers will have to hunt for food if they want to eat.

PRIME Minister John Howard today promised next week's budget would be economically responsible and maintain a strong surplus.

THE overwhelming majority of young Australians aged 18 to 24 are happy with their lives, satisfied with their education and confident about the future.

AUSTRALIA has been told to brace itself for an influenza disaster, with the world "never before ... as overdue but under-prepared for a recurring natural disaster".

Deputy Opposition leader Julia Gillard says Labor and BHP Billiton have agreed to disagree on industrial relations.

Texas Pacific Group and partners have earmarked five billion euros ( & #36;A8.25 billion) to buy Alitalia, an Italian newspaper says.

Investors should not commit money to private equity now because the industry is heading for a correction, one of the world's biggest fund managers says.

Euro zone inflation slowed in April but the market still expects more rate rises by the European Central Bank.

RINKER may have played a little hard to get, but Juan Pablo San Agustin, senior vice-president of Mexican predator Cemex, is confident of winning over major shareholders with a sweetened $18 billion takeover offer.

SYDNEY, May 1 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set for a weaker open on Tuesday, weighed down by a fall on Wall Street, though steady base metal prices may support mining firms.

CANBERRA airport officials are predicting big increases in aircraft noise over the nation's capital after NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor endorsed a land-release plan that will put 2000 new homes under a major flight path.

THE wife of multi-millionaire Bob Jane secretly ran up credit card debts of $500,000 and tried to siphon money out of his accounts days after he suffered a stroke, it was alleged in court documents.