Canberra, June 12 (AAP) - Australia will provide another $250 million to help rebuild Afghanistan but has no plans to send more troops to the war-torn nation.

Two federal government ministers will meet with the Dalai Lama during his Australian tour but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will not.

A million dollar Sydney drugs trial has been aborted after it was found jurors were playing the puzzle game sudoku while evidence was being given.

Grants from the $500 million green car fund could be made available before its 2011 start date to speed up production of an Australian hybrid car, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

Canberra, June 9 (AAP) - Conclusive proof has been unearthed that the remains of Australian soldiers are among those found at a mass grave site in France.

Canberra, June 9 (APP) - The Department of Defence is investigating claims that sailors sabotaged a patrol boat and bribed contractors so they could return to Darwin.

Canberra, June 9 (AAP) - NSW are fearing an Origin II backlash from out of form Queensland half Johnathan Thurston - the man dubbed the best player in the game just a year ago.

Canberra, June 6 (AAP) - Local investors will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of trading on Wall Street on Monday night after US stocks plunged more than three per cent on Friday.

Australia appears to be backing off on threats to take Japan to court over its whaling program. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says diplomacy will be the first course of action.

The Rudd government has not yet decided on whether to overturn a ban on providing funds to overseas aid programs giving advice on abortion.