Essendon will take on Carlton's vaunted midfield without key on-ballers Jobe Watson and Heath Hocking in Saturday night's AFL blockbuster at the MCG.

David Hicks will soon face an Australian court for the first time after commonwealth prosecutors moved to take the profits from his autobiography, released almost a year ago.

NRL chief executive David Gallop claimed there was still some way to go, despite rugby league's drawn out path to independence reaching a significant milestone with the naming of the members of the

The gold price could hit $US2,000 an ounce by the end of the year, some analysts say.

A man has allegedly used a social networking site to groom a 13-year-old girl for sex.
A Seven Hills man was arrested at Parramatta, in Sydney's west, about 3.10pm (AEST) on Thursday.

The federal government is being urged to follow the lead of Ireland and force priests to report confessions of child abuse to the authorities.

Sydney is bracing for the wettest July in more than 50 years as a severe weather warning is issued for coastal areas.

The federal government wants better privacy protection for Australians and the opposition is open to looking at the idea so long as it doesn't intimidate the media.

(ATTN: CORRECTS official's name in para 5)
By Lee Youkyung

Australian Opals' star Penny Taylor has been rewarded for her career-best start to the 2011 season by being selected in the WNBA All Star Game to be played on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas.