Australia, the host with the most

FORGET about how it would provide a "stimulus for the game in Australia". Forget about increasing our "global profile" or forging new trade links with Burkina Faso. Forget about the smile - OK then, barely perceptible grin - it would bring to the face of the laudably stoic Les Murray.

Cougar cries foul at forced closure over traces of benzene and toluene

COUGAR ENERGY has told shareholders that it is considering taking legal action after it was forced to shut down its Kingaroy underground coal gasification project in Queensland following traces of cancer-causing agents in groundwater.

Korean impasse needs a game-changer

KEVIN RUDD has had all his ambassadors from east Asia down in Canberra this week for a confab, and hosted the Japanese foreign minister as well, but it's a fair bet that no bold ideas will emerge for breaking the region's chronic strategic stalemate.

Starvation breeds aggression

The attack propped up a creaking military, writes John Garnaut.

The holiday is over

Tourism in Australia is flagging but the industry has grand plans for a revival, writes Clive Dorman.