LibraryThing, of which I am a member runs a program where members are shipped early copies of books for free, with the preference for them writing a review when they're done reading the book. The books are shipped by the

INDOPHIL Resources says Swiss mining giant Xstrata will be unsuccessful in its $503 million takeover bid because it had low acceptances with only a week left until its offer closes, leaving the door open for a rival bid to succeed.

ANZ says it will pass on any official rate cut RBA is expected to start lowering interest rates In-depth: The latest interest rates news and features

INTEGRATED industrial property giant Goodman Group expects earnings per security (EPS) growth of 6 per cent in the current financial year but says market conditions are the worst for some time.

FORD Australia took another hit today when its President Bill Osborne resigned, soon after the car giant's announcement that 350 jobs would be lost at Victorian plants.

QANTAS will inevitably merge with another major carrier and it will be sooner rather than later, the departing chief executive says.

INSURANCE Australian Group (IAG) said it would progressively roll out premium price increases on its local personal motor and home insurance products throughout the year.

FOSTER'S is turning to its European and US wine brands to exploit a growing thirst among Australians for foreign tipples.

THE competition watchdog has called for further comment on BHP Billiton's proposed takeover of Rio Tinto after concerns over competition and pricing power for iron ore were raised.

A MAN has died in a house fire so intense it spread to nearby bush.

A 10-YEAR-old boy told police he knew his mother and her boyfriend were cooking up methamphetamine at home because he'd seen it on TV, a court was told.

A CAT taking a nap on the roof of an ambulance woke to find itself going along on an emergency callout at speeds of up to 100km/h.

A SERIAL child sex offender with a preference for young boys will live in the community under a supervision order, a court has ruled.

QUEENSLAND'S Court of Appeal has upheld the validity of the State's sex offender legislation.

BUDGET rental company Wicked is under fresh attack over an offensive slogan written in Japanese and plastered over one of its vans.

A TEENAGE hoon yesterday had his beloved motor vehicle confiscated permanently because he had a hankering for hot chips.

AN Australian researcher has won an international prize for her plan to wrap a giant asteroid with reflective sheeting to stop it colliding with the earth and destroying all life.

THE battle of the sexes is hotting up in Mount Isa, where blokes want romance and women just want them to change their clothes.

THE Queensland Government has pledged to assist authorities investigating claims poor Indian children have been kidnapped and adopted out to Australian families.