FEAR pushed Australia's market to its second worst one-day performance, analysts say - and falls overnight will do little to alleviate it.

GEORGE W. Bush warns against the growing anxiety that decimated the Aussie market as Wall St goes from bad to worse, then eases up.

AS many as 200 children could have pieces of wire lodged near their hearts after a failure with surgical equipment, Queensland health authorities say.

QUEENSLAND wildlife officials are investigating reports of a 4.8-metre crocodile in Hervey Bay in the state's southeast.

A MAN died after his two new "friends" tied him up and beat him because he was being annoying and had urinated on their wall, a Brisbane court has been told.

QUEENSLAND parents who supply their children with alcohol are the targets of a hard-hitting TV advertising campaign which the Government warns will be hard to watch.

BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown today condemned Iceland's position on the freezing of bank accounts held by British savers, saying it was "effectively illegal action".

Asian markets plunged on the back of steep falls on Wall Street overnight,as Japan halts some trading.

The market crisis can only be compared to 1929 - but is twice as bad, explains economics Professor Steve Keen.

THE National Australia Bank says it will vigorously defend itself against a shareholder move to dump a senior board member over claims of poor risk oversight related to $4.5 billion of toxic assets.

PERTH'S Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey has issued a defamation writ against the West Australian newspaper for being labelled a hypocrite over his stance on women.

GOLD bullion dealers report spectacular sales as investors flock from traditional investments into the havens of gold and silver.

THIRTY of South Australia's most hardened criminals are refusing to surrender to police after rioting inside a jail.

THIRTY of South Australia's most hardened criminals have surrendered to police after rioting inside a jail.

INVESTORS have been warned off the junior and mid-cap pure-play iron ore miners, as further bad news from China is anticipated.

A COUPLE who wanted a girl are suing an IVF clinic after the woman gave birth to a boy with haemophilia.

ABORTION in Victoria has been decriminalised with a third and final vote passed in parliament's upper house tonight, 23 votes to 17.

A BODY found off the coast of Dubrovnik is that of missing Australian backpacker Britt Lapthorne.

After hours of debate, speeches, arguments and even tears, abortion has been decriminalised by the Victorian parliament.

DINERS at a suburban Melbourne restaurant had an abrupt end to their meal tonight when a gas bottle exploded, injuring several staff members.