12:10:00 03/02/2012
There's heightened speculation today that Prime Minister Julia Gillard's leadership is in deep trouble, with a challenge possible before March. The World Today has spoken to some Labor MPs who say they're despondent about the level of leadership chatter, and there are also differing views about the level of support for Kevin Rudd. More
12:14:00 03/02/2012
A senior engineer has denied misleading Queensland's Floods Inquiry over the management of Brisbane's main water supply dam before last year's disaster. Counsel assisting the inquiry yesterday accused the flood engineer at Wivenhoe Dam of creating a fictitious report about the flood. More
12:18:00 03/02/2012
Cancer charities are calling for an overhaul of the $300 million research sector. The head of the Cancer Council of Australia says the attention on breast, cervical and ovarian cancers is at the expense of high mortality lung and pancreatic cancers. More
12:22:00 03/02/2012
The Tasmanian Govermment has released an independent study that shows the state's forest industry will have to adapt to new markets. The timber sector is one of Tasmania's biggest industries, but it's reliant on woodchip exports. Now that the woodchip trade to Japan has collapsed, and with new markets to China yet to emerge, the timber industry has been left in a precarious position.
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12:26:00 03/02/2012
Egyptians angered by the deaths of more than 70 people in yesterday's soccer riot have been involved in a series of running clashes with security forces near the headquarters of the Interior Ministry in the capital, Cairo. The security forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets, injuring dozens of people. The protesters are blaming the military-led government for failing to prevent yesterday's violence - the deadliest since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. More
12:30:00 03/02/2012
Days of heavy rainfall in New South Wales and southern Queensland has led to evacuations, military airlifts, and grim predictions of record floods. Several thousand people in the cotton capital of Moree in northern New South Wales are sheltering in evacuation centres because the swollen Mehi River is inundating low lying parts of the town. State and federal disaster assistance is being made available. More
12:34:00 03/02/2012
Qantas has announced fare increases to come into effect in July because of the price on carbon and increases in fuel costs. The ACCC says it will look at the price increase, and a flat-rate increase being imposed by Qantas' low-cost partner, Jetstar. At the same time, American Airlines has announced plans to cut 13,000 jobs and Singapore Airlines has revealed a 52 per cent slump in profits.
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12:38:00 03/02/2012
Pakistan's prime minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, is facing contempt charges in the country's Supreme Court over his refusal to pursue corruption cases against members of his own party. Pakistan analyst Christine Fair joins The World Today to discuss the possibility that Mr Gilani may be forced to sacrifice his own position, if he believes the move will ensure the survival of the government. More
12:42:00 03/02/2012
The Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, has gone on the attack in his presidential re-election campaign, as his support starts to wane. Opinion polls show his ranking as preferred president now stands at less than 50 per cent, which may force him into a second round run-off.
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12:46:00 03/02/2012
A two-week labour dispute in South Africa has resulted in the mass sacking of 17,000 miners. Some were sacked for taking part in an illegal strike, but the company, Impala Platinum, says it had no choice but to get rid of the others because they were refusing to negotiate with their union about returning to work. The Rustenburg mine is the country's economic capital, and mining provides a quarter of all jobs.
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12:50:00 03/02/2012
It's been revealed an extra 170,000 Australians took a 'sickie' the day after this year's Australia Day public holiday. Private researchers claim Australia has an unusually high number of sick days per employee. One academic says workplace stress is the main problem, and employers need to become better at managing individuals in the workplace. More
