THE number of Irish people aged between 18 and 30 granted working holiday visas to Australia has surged by almost 50% since last year.

Zimbabwean officials tonight defied a judge’s order to release two British journalists on bail, two weeks after they were detained near a polling station during Zimbabwe’s parliamentary election.

Eminem's rap collective D12 underwent behavioural lessons ahead of a gig in Australia, so they wouldn't upset the audience.

Officials in Australia today said they had treated four asylum seekers at an Outback detention centre, including a child, after they tried to harm themselves in what is believed to be a group suicide attempt.

Terrorists could sneak into Australia among boatloads of asylum seekers, prime minister John Howard hinted today, as both the government and the opposition faced growing criticism over their harsh stance on refugees.

A dramatic increase in the number of asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat in recent months is proof that the government’s tough new measures to fight the problem are not working, the opposition Labour Party said today.