Sydney  - Australia and Japan are in talks that would see more whales killed in the North Pacific in return for fewer being taken in the Antarctic, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Tuesday.

The negotiations, held under the auspices of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), are at a preliminary stage, he told national broadcaster ABC.

"It's quite clear from reports that we've seen coming out of the IWC that suggestions of this nature have been made at officials' level," Smith said.

Melbourne, Jan 26 : It looks like Aussie singer Kylie Minogue has finally found true love with Spanish supermodel Andres Velencoso Segura.

Segura is reportedly on the hunt for a flat in London so he can be close to the singer.

Minogue, 40, and Segura, have been dating since October (08), and the model wants to be able to spend more time with the Australian star.

Adelaide, Jan. 26 : The Australian cricket team''s hype around Australia Day came to nought on Monday with South Africa registering an eight wicket victory against them in the fourth one-day international played here.

South Africa spearheaded themselves to a series victory (three games to one), by scoring the required 223 runs, thanks to telling knocks of 82 not out and 80 not out by batsmen A. B. de Villiers and Hashim Amla. Earlier, Australia had scored 222. Skipper Ricky Ponting top scored for the hosts with 63. South African fast bowler Dale Steyn snared three wickets for 49 runs.

Melbourne, January 26 : Pop singer Jess Origliasso will bare it all for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Jess, who formed the pop-rock band `The Veronicas' with her twin sister Lisa in 2005, was spotted sporting a faux fur jacket, bearing "F. . . FUR" message painted on the back, by a PETA member.

A spokeswoman for the non-profit organisation revealed that the group had sent their new young ambassador and her sister a bouquet for their "compassion and boldness".

And Jess revealed that she was too happy to discourage the use of fur, and raise her voice against the torture inflicted on animals under the name of fashion.

Brisbane, Jan. 26 : Under fire Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been selected to play for Queensland in their match against Western Australia at the Gabba later this week.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Symonds will bat at number four in a match that is being seen as his one and only chance to prove his fitness and form before the selectors sit down to name their Australian squad for next month''s three-Test tour of South Africa.

Despite the high stakes of the Shield match, the Queensland selectors aren''t about to make any concessions for Symonds, who has struggled up the order early this season.

Melbourne - Gilles Simon broke through on Monday to earn the first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career, a victory blighted by the retirement of opponent Gael Monfils.

Sixth seed Simon took a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win when his fellow Frenchman and frequent practise partner had to retire trailing two sets to one on the Australia Day holiday.

"Of course I didn't want to win like this," said Simon, who will face the winner from the match between top seed Rafael Nadal and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez. "I'm sorry, but that is tennis."