Nine chief executive and chairman Hugh Marks hits back at suggestions a merger between Fairfax and Nine will reduce media diversity and dismissed speculation shareholders could vote against the deal because there is no longer a price premium.

The competition regulator joins the chorus for a gas reservation policy on the east coast to keep a lid on prices and save key manufacturers from closure.

The corporate regulator has announced a review of school banking, following criticism that Commonwealth Bank's Dollarmites program "uses slick marketing to get at kids when they're young … turning them into customers for life".

Police are investigating a "vicious and cowardly" assault on a young girl who was randomly attacked by a man in a pedestrian tunnel under the Logan Motorway, south of Brisbane.

Aine McGrath was exchanging text messages with her boyfriend before losing control of her car on Perth's Mitchell Freeway, crossing four lanes of traffic and slamming into a car in a collision that killed her friend.

China is reportedly in the process of creating three "artificial moons" that would light up the south-western city of Chengdu, saving $240 million in annual electricity costs.

Police investigate the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, who they say was dragged into bushland and sexually assaulted after getting off her school bus.

What on earth were they thinking? A brain fade of epic proportions from Pakistan's Azhar Ali results in one of the most incredible run-outs you will ever see.

Australia reasserts its trans-Tasman netball dominance and locks away the Constellation Cup for a sixth straight year with a 58-47 dissection of the Silver Ferns.

For wounded veterans, physical activity and the Invictus Games are helping them out of the dark times and back into life.

Australia has its back to the wall against Pakistan, as the second Test continues on day three in Abu Dhabi. Follow all the action via our ScoreCentre.