World News: Water splits town in two as Australian floods continue

Victoria state over the weekend became the latest section of Australia afflicted in a weeks-long flooding crisis that has left 30 people dead, caused once-a-century floods in many areas and could end as the country's costliest natural disaster.

Horsham in Victoria resembled a lake after the Wimmera River burst its banks today and bisected the community before starting to recede in the afternoon. About 500 homes in the city of 14,000 people were surrounded by water.

Across north-central Victoria state, more than 3500 people have evacuated their homes, with 51 towns and 1500 properties already affected by rising waters.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the formation of a business task force to assist with rebuilding devastated infrastructure in Queensland.

The price tag from Australia's relentless floods was already at 3.5 billion before muddy brown waters swamped Brisbane last week.

Red faces over missile mishap

Taiwan's president Ma Ying-jeou expressed his frustration today after an unusually public test firing of 19 surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles became a national embarrassment.

Nearly a third of the missiles missed their targets, incurring the wrath of Mr Ma.

Pirates hit hostage high

A WORLD maritime watchdog says pirates captured a record 1181 hostages in 2010 as ship hijackings in waters off Somalia escalated.

The International Maritime Bureau says attackers seized 53 vessels worldwide last year. All but four of them were off the coast of Somalia. Eight crew members were killed in the attacks.

Somali attacks accounted for 1016 hostages held for ransom. The pirates still had 28 vessels and 638 captives at the end of 2010.

Bank drops its pants diktat

Banking giant UBS is to revise its much-ridiculed 44-page dress code for Swiss staff. The code instructs employees on everything from their breath - no garlic or onions, please - to their underwear, which should be skin-coloured.

"We're reviewing what is important to us," UBS spokesman Andreas Kern said.

Daughter for star Kidman

Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban have added a second daughter to their family, born through a surrogate mother.

The couple announced the arrival of Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, born on December 28 at a Nashville, Tennessee, hospital.

Protest fury as old guard keep power

Tunisia faced more unrest as it promised to free political prisoners and open its government to opposition forces long shut out of power - but with the old guard still in key posts.

Demonstrators carrying signs reading "Get Out!" demanded that the former ruling party be banished altogether - a sign of more trouble for the new unity government as security forces struggle to contain violence three days after the president fled the country.