Last night I caught a flight from Los Angeles to Oakland to visit the Carbos for the weekend. The kids were all asleep by the time I got here... but this morning we're all getting to know each other. My

PASSENGERS on board a Qantas plane involved in yesterday's mid-air ordeal have returned to Melbourne to emotional reunions with family and friends.

THE hero pilot who landed a stricken jumbo jet safely says basic training kicked in as soon as an explosion tore a hole in his Qantas plane.

THREE men have died on Queensland roads in two separate incidents.

VICTORIA is the reading capital of Australia, new research has revealed.

FORMER state premier Jeff Kennett has provoked a gay rights storm by backing a football club that sacked a trainer for being gay.

VICTORIA'S peak motoring body has backed a plan for discounted registration fees for buyers of green cars.

AT least one of the robbers still at large after a bank heist in Brisbane may be injured from his gang's own explosion, police say.

THE Australian Federal Police (AFP) said today it would not be responding to any "parallel" media inquiry, over allegations Gold Coast doctor Mohamed Haneef was repeatedly denied a lawyer during his first interview.

THE marriage between Queensland's Liberal and National parties is the biggest sham since homosexual pop star Elton John married a woman, the State Government has said.

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd today returned to his home town to unveil Nambour's Wall of Remembrance and celebrate the lives of those who sacrificed everything for Australia.

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has welcomed the merger of Queensland's Liberal and National parties, saying the move will enhance the prospect of overturning the state's Bligh Government.

THE number of drink-drivers has nearly doubled on WA roads in the past two years with one in every 75 tested blowing over the limit.

DISGRACED footballer Ben Cousins has rekindled a relationship with former flame Samantha Druce

QUEENSLAND'S new political party is being hailed as a "victory for grassroots democracy" and the force to end the state Labor government's 10-year rule.

AT least one of the robbers still at large after a bank heist in Brisbane may be injured from his gang's own explosion, police say.

ABORIGINAL unemployment has been slashed by one-third in just five years, according to a new report.

Defense Technology International - An ex-U.S. Navy destroyer was sunk for real (by an Australian sub) in the first-ever live test of the latest Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS heavyweight torpedo variant.

Passengers arrive in Melbourne after emergency Qantas plane had a history of corrosion Maintenance standards also questioned

TWO men were killed when their car went out of control and hit a metal pole on the Bruce Highway at Edmonton nears Carins in northern Queensland early today.