A deal negotiated with the Japanese resulted in a suspended sentence for anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune, but means he won't be on the next Sea Shepherd protest.

The high-profile lawyer who helped broker the safe return of the stolen war medals is fighting for his legal career.

High-profile lawyer Chris Comeskey may be struck off after pleading guilty to three professional misconduct charges today.

An American geologist detained and tortured by China's state security agents was jailed for eight years today.

The Government is moving to increase maximum sentences for knife-related offences while beefing up education and placing restrictions on the sale of knives.

A former detective on the Crewe double murder inquiry is backing calls for the unsolved case to be reopened.

Police have launched an investigation into the prison guards' union with a raid on the organisation's offices.

The solicitor-general is to appeal the sentence imposed on Isaiah Tai for killing Bay of Plenty regional councillor Hawea Vercoe.

New on-the-spot orders will allow police to remove an alleged offender from a home for up to five days to "calm things down".

Two security guards won't face charges over the heat stroke death of a West Australian Aboriginal elder in a prison van.