2:14 PM AEDT | The Rudd Government may create its own ''bank'' to funnel billions of dollars in loans to the states and avoid the budget going into the red.

1:37 PM AEDT | A Labor backbencher has apologised for photographing a man who threatened to torch himself and for selling the photographs to the media.

1:39 PM AEDT | The Federal Government says Qantas must remain Australian as the airline embarks on merger talks with British Airways.

1:54 PM AEDT | Former Kangaroos back-rower Reni Maitua is poised to become the NRL's latest serial offender to trade his wares overseas after being sacked by the Bulldogs.

1:50 PM AEDT | ACT Cricket chief executive Mark Vergano remains hopeful that either Adam Gilchrist or Glenn McGrath or both will play in the the Prime Minister's XI clash against New Zealand next month.