The tragedy of Ashby and Slipper: Act Five

Media figure and businessman John Singleton will form an alliance with mining magnate Gina Rinehart at Fairfax, after buying a small stake in the company.

from Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz

The powerful US gun rights lobby went on the offensive today arguing that schools should have armed guards, on a day that Americans remembered the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre with a moment of silence.

Economists are relieved the Federal Government is abandoning its push for a surplus, labelling it a sensible, pragmatic and realistic decision.

For months, they have been concerned the Government's penny-pinching to keep the surplus dream alive had the potential to slow growth and jobs.

The Federal Court has ruled that a meeting of Nine's creditors can go ahead, paving the way for a deal to save the company from receivership to be accepted.