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.

The Australian print media have been criticised for inaccurately reporting the carbon pricing mechanism (CPM), and in some instances for actively campaigning against the Gillard government.