Stories by: Sarah Keegan

What sports a red hat, a white beard and a mining tool? Just ask any Frenchman: The answer is a garden gnome. France has long had a love affair with gnomes, with an estimated 12 million plastic and terra-cotta varieties decorating lawns and flower-beds around the country. Today, the wacky little creatures are the subject of international controversy that's making its way onto the Web.

Some of Australia's biggest radio personalities are going online at BigFatRadio.com (BFR), the first in a series of interactive web/radio channels managed by InterActive Media Networks.

Aimed at providing free entertainment via the internet, The Internet Amusements Group (TIAG) has launched an online scratch and win game.

An alliance between AMI subsidiary, Thingstodo, and Hema Maps will see Hema's products available through an online store on the Thingstodo website.

Red Sheriff, currently providing its specialist range of internet reporting services in 10 countries, aims to expand its operations in Asia by opening new offices in Singapore and New Zealand.

Online music leader forges innovative alliance with retail heavyweight

Following its $100 million purchase in January by 24/7 Media, Sabela yesterday announced a new operating name and newly branded combined services.

With two weeks to go before new tax laws come into effect, an interactive website has been launched to educate the public on the ins and outs of the GST and new tax system.

For the first time, according to the Media Metrix Audience Ratings Report for April, a non-US digital media property has achieved an audience "reach" of more than 70 per cent.

The Australian Taxation Office expects four times as many people to lodge their tax returns electronically this year than in 1999.

The introduction of the GST on July 1 has prompted tertiary students to converge on Railway Square in Central Sydney last Monday and Tuesday, in a somewhat misplaced protest.