The string quartet equivalent of The Beatles hits Hamilton in October to play at the University of Waikato.

One gets the impression he really doesn't like Palin. Hee.)

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has confirmed varroa bee mite in hives outside of the current South Island Controlled Area."Yesterday a hobbyist beekeeper in North Canterbury reported a suspected varroa infestation to MAFBNZ and this morning our laboratory has confirmed

Agribusiness AWB has been accredited to export bulk wheat.

CONSUMER inflationary expectations have fallen to a five-month low following a fall in fuel costs, a survey shows.

THE Australian dollar has closed below $US0.8000 for the first time in more than a year as a surprise drop in the jobless rate failed to give the currency a sustained boost.

OZ Minerals has temporarily shut down its Prominent Hill site in South Australia after an employee of a contracting firm engaged by the company was killed.

DEMAND for executives has fallen for the third straight month, contributing to a 22 per cent fall in executive positions in the past year, research shows.

A SURPRISE drop in Australia's jobless rate lessens the chance of an October interest rate cut, economists say.

CONSUMERS' enthusiasm for iPhones and wide-screen TVs helped the retail sector deliver a sliver of sales growth in the new financial year but shoppers continue to cut spending on new clothing and restaurants, which make up almost a third of

ANZ is dropping its fixed interest rate home loans for the third time since August 9, cutting up to 0.2 percentage points from Monday.

THE share market has closed sharply lower on weaker commodity prices and renewed concerns about the US financial system following Lehman Brothers woes.

RIO Tinto, the world's second largest iron ore producer, will have further discussions with the government of Guinea to resolve issues threatening its Simandou mining concession.

VICTORIA'S police watchdog has recommended charges be laid against former policeman Paul Dale.

HUNDREDS of Melbourne residents could be homeless for at least a year after authorities pleaded with them to flee because of explosive levels of methane gas in a neighbouring landfill.

THE RSPCA has launched a nationwide hunt for a youth shown beating a kangaroo unconscious, and possibly killing it, in an online video.

RESIDENTS of a Melbourne housing estate have been told they may have to leave their homes because dangerous levels of methane gas leaking from a nearby landfill could cause explosions.

MELBOURNE'S Crown casino is paying just $1 a year in rent for the site of the Southbank gambling mecca.

METHANE gas leaking from a closed landfill into neighbouring houses in Melbourne is a problem almost without precedent on a world scale, fire authorities have told a public meeting tonight.

MARK Wilhelm will be charged with the manslaughter of Dianne Brimble, who died on the P&O cruise ship Pacific Sky in 2002.