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Thieves have stolen a gigantic collection of ecstasy which was gathered by an enthusiast over two decades and carefully stored in display albums, police said.

France will follow the United Kingdom by imposing a new super tax on bonuses paid to its country's bankers.

In a massive blow to anti-whaling activists, Japan's new centre-left government has vowed to continue its policy of scientific research whaling.

The hostage negotiator who helped release Australian photographer Nigel Brennan and his Canadian colleague says their Somali kidnappers were paid a ransom of $US500,000 ($545,000).

News that Russia's latest nuclear-capable missile has suffered another failed test launch has solved the mystery of a spectacular plume of white light that appeared over Norway.

US President Barack Obama has confronted the paradox of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize while serving as a war president.

The Federal Opposition and the Greens have criticised a proposal to accommodate asylum seekers in tents on Christmas Island.

Armed mountain tribesmen have raided an elementary school and nearby homes in the troubled southern Philippines and are holding at least 57 people hostage to keep police at bay, authorities said.

The Rudd Government is continuing efforts to try to allay fears over its foreign investment rules.

US President Barack Obama has received the gold Nobel Peace Prize medal and diploma in a lavish ceremony in Norway.

The Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has played down tensions at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen.

Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout is home in Alberta, two weeks after she and her Australian colleague Nigel Brennan were freed from captivity in Somalia.

A Palestinian shopkeeper who was portrayed as a terrorist in the movie Bruno is suing Sacha Baron Cohen, US show host David Letterman and others for libel and slander.

Farah Jama is trying to get his life back on track after 16 months in prison for a rape he did not commit.

Anti-whaling conservationists say they are again intent on disrupting Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean and are concerned humpbacks may be included in the hunt this season, for the first time.

Firefighters are continuing to battle around 100 fires across New South Wales tonight.

While China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, it has also been applauded by green groups for rolling out renewable energy on an unparalleled scale.

Police have found a Melbourne comedian who was reported missing from his Cheltenham home early this morning.

A northern Victorian fruit and vegetable grower has been sentenced to 11-and-a-half years jail over campaigns of violence and intimidation against rivals.

A day after Victoria Police announced they can no longer rely enough on DNA evidence to use it in court, a report from the state ombudsman has raised serious doubts about the handling of evidence in drug cases.