The World

Obama turns to the fight at home

Brad Norington, Washington correspondent BARACK Obama has linked the official end of a combat role for troops in Iraq to his domestic need to shift attention to the US economy.

Four Israelis shot dead in West Bank by Hamas

John Lyons, Middle East correspondent VIOLENCE in the West Bank escalated yesterday after Palestinian militant group Hamas shot dead four Israeli civilians.

Bloodgate doctor back at work

The MATCHDAY doctor at the centre of the so-called Bloodgate scandal has been told she is free to practise medicine again.

Anxious Iraqis now sorry to see the occupiers leave

Oliver August, Baghdad FOR years, most Iraqis viewed US soldiers as unwelcome occupiers and suspected them of trying to steal their oil.

President gets comfy in the Oval Office

Giles Whittell, Washington GONE is the Laura Bush sunburst. In its place: a study in rug restraint decorated only with the requisite bald eagle.

Pre-emptive surgery to beat cancer

WOMEN with a genetic predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer can dramatically reduce their risk of developing either by having preventative surgeries.

Cancer fight is on, says Douglas

MICHAEL Douglas says he faces an "eight-week struggle" against throat cancer but is optimistic about his chances for recovery.

Barack's speech goes easy on Bush

Brad Norington, Washington correspondent WHEN Barack Obama announced an end to combat operations in Iraq yesterday, he did not spare George W. Bush from criticism.

'Kickboxing turkey' ruled over Romania

THE fossil of a stocky new dinosaur has given researchers a window into what European predators looked like in the final years of the age of dinosaurs.

Japan's leadership race begins with a gibe

Rick Wallace, Tokyo correspondent JAPANESE PM Naoto Kan has refused to walk away from plans to increase consumption tax and pledged to focus on "clean politics".

Number's up for phone thief

A MAN who bought a mobile phone online, only to find it was the same one that was stolen from his car, tipped off police, who arrested a man.

Flue kills be-sooted woman

POLICE say a California doctor apparently tried to get into the home of the man she had been dating by sliding down the chimney. Her decomposing body was found there days later.

Roadside bombs take a heavy toll

Mark Dodd ROADSIDE bombs accounted for 38 out of 49 Diggers wounded in action in Afghanistan this year.

Choice takes a stand on BPA risk to babies

Adam Cresswell THREE-QUARTERS of popular canned foods - including baby foods -contain levels of the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A

Rug rules as Obama refits Oval Office

4:53PM BARACK Obama has followed the tradition of US presidents and put his own design stamp on the Oval Office.

Footballer's hair insured for $US1m

1:20PM James Bone IN its 322-year history, Lloyd's of London has insured everything from the Titanic to Grable's legs. Now it has a policy for an American footballer's hair.

Blair memoirs lash 'disaster' Brown

12:15PM TONY Blair has lashed his successor in his memoirs, saying Gordon Brown's reign as prime minister was "a disaster" that was "never going to work".

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Middle East deal in a year 'realistic'

11:34AM A ONE-YEAR timeframe to seal a Middle East peace deal is realistic, the lead US envoy has insisted, despite a deadly Hamas attack on Israelis last night.

Catastrophic failure on Qantas US flight

11:31AM Steve Creedy, Aviation writer QANTAS will fly a new engine and engineers to San Francisco after a "catastrophic failure" on a jumbo bound for Australia early today.

Obama calls on Iraqis to take control

11:12AM Brad Norington, Washington correspondent BARACK Obama has hailed the official end of a combat role for US troops in Iraq as a “milestone” after seven years of war.

Key trio may not decide until Tuesday

9:27AM James Massola and Samantha Maiden AUSTRALIA'S political limbo may drag into a third week, with Tony Windsor, Bob Katter and Rob Oakeshott saying they may not decide who to back until Tuesday.

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Netanyahu vows to hunt down killers

9:07AM BENJAMIN Netanyahu has vowed to hunt down "without diplomatic restraint" the killers of four Israelis who were gunned down in the West Bank overnight.

Obama calls time on Iraq 'chapter'

8:56AM BARACK Obama today declared that the US had met its “responsibility” in Iraq as he formally called an end to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Three Aussies killed in PNG crash

Mark Dodd and Lanai Vasek THREE Australians were killed after their small jet overshot a runway and crashed yesterday on Misima Island off the east of Papua New Guinea.

Obama ends Iraq combat role

Brad Norington, Washington correspondent THE White House is anxious to avoid a "mission accomplished" moment for Barack Obama as he today marks the official end of the combat role for US forces in Iraq.

Obama pledges extra help as economic growth slows

Brad Norington, Washington correspondent UNCERTAINTY over the US economy has prompted Barack Obama to pledge that "additional measures" are in the works to help boost business and create jobs.