AUSSIE dollar almost half a US cent higher on growing market optimism over Japanese economy and state of the Libyan insurgency.

THE federal government is urging dozens of Australians in strife-torn Yemen to get out while they can.

POLICE in far north Queensland have no leads regarding the disappearance of Cairns teenager Declan Crouch and describe efforts to find him as "increasingly grave".

THE federal government's $1.8 billion flood levy has been passed by parliament.

THE Australian share market finished flat as profit takers swooped on the energy sector.

WEST Australian police are cracking down on teenagers sending sexually explicit images of themselves via the internet and mobile phones.

UP to 9000 Qantas workers are ready to strike if the airline fails to guarantee job security.

FEDERAL police have arrested two men believed to be escapees from the Christmas Island detention centre following mass breakouts and riots at the troubled facility.

A BUSINESSMAN who lived in a shipping container and four former Sydney Water employees should be considered for possible criminal charges, the corruption watchdog says.

QUEENSLAND Health has declared a new outbreak of dengue fever in Cairns after two residents tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease.

SAMOA'S newly re-elected PM upsets women by claiming one female MP in his cabinet is "more than enough".

TWO P-platers were racing at speeds of up to 150km/h on a freeway before one of the cars crashed, killing four, jury hears.

SMOKE and steam again rose from damaged reactors today at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant.

MAN chases home invader almost 200 metres down the street and crash tackles him to the ground - stark naked.

FEDERAL police say they cannot be sure all detainees are back inside the Christmas Island detention centre after recent escapes.

A MAN'S body has been found near a vehicle apparently swept off a causeway near Gladstone.

THE dollar was higher at noon, as Japan's central bank pumped more cash into the currency market.

THE share market lost some steam by noon today, trading off its highs of the session as profit takers struck the oil sector.

RADIATION levels as far as 20km away from the Fukushima nuclear plant recorded at levels 1600 times higher than normal.

A WET few months are ahead for Queensland, with temperatures expected to be cooler than usual.