GIULIANI WANTED LINE CLEAR, GOLISANO SAYS.(CAPITAL REGION)(Correction notice)

B. Thomas Golisano said Thursday that one of New York's most prominent Republicans, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, asked him several months ago to consider a gubernatorial run on the Liberal Party line and to leave the Independence Party line for Gov. George Pataki.

Golisano said he received the call from Giuliani in the spring, long before he announced he would try to wrest the Independence line from Pataki in a primary battle and bounce the governor off the Conservative line through a write-in campaign.

``He suggested I leave the Independence line alone and let the governor have it, and run on the Liberal line -- an interesting idea I didn't …

TOWN RECREATION FEES MAY JUMP IN WILTON.(Local)

Byline: Ken Thurman Staff writer

As part of its 1991 budget, the town is considering charging more to participate in Recreation Department programs. A recent boom of families with school-aged children moving into the area has caused the program to expand into one of the largest in Saratoga County, with more than 600 participants during the summer months.

Town Councilman Ray O'Conor

said the user fees may be needed to manage expansion better and to maintain safety and programmatic standards.

"The good news is that our Recreation Department programs are among the best in the county. The bad news is they are becoming increasingly expensive," …

`Twilight' among People's Choice Awards nominees

Nominees for the People's Choice Awards are out, and the people choose vampires.

"Twilight" and "True Blood" were among the top nominees announced Tuesday. Fans cast more than 18 million votes online to select the nominee slate and will also choose the winners in 35 categories.

"Twilight" is up for favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for its trio of stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Stewart and Pattinson were also nominated individually for favorite movie actress and actor, and Lautner is up for breakout movie actor.

"True Blood" was nominated for favorite TV obsession and …

Israel, Palestinians OK Gaza Cease-Fire

JERUSALEM - Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire Saturday to end a five-month Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into the Jewish state - a major step toward possibly reviving long-stalled peace talks.

The cease-fire was to go into effect at 6 a.m. Sunday (11 p.m. Saturday EST), both sides said.

The truce announcement was a significant achievement for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as he tries to put together a more moderate government to replace the one currently led by Islamic Hamas radicals. Abbas, a moderate from the Fatah Party, hopes a deal with Hamas will persuade the West and Israel to …

Tearing Into Traditional Markets.(synthetic paper market)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

DEMAND IN THE U.S. $200-MILLION synthetic paper market is expected to grow 8.4%/year, to 166 million lbs by 2005, says a Business Communications Co. (BCC; Norwalk, CT) study. Synthetic paper is made from either polyethylene (PE), polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene terepthalate combined with fillers such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, or silicas.

Synthetic papers are growing the fastest in niche markets where moisture or other contaminants can damage traditional papers, BCC says. Major producers include PPG; Oji-Yuka (Tokyo) subsidiary Yupo; Nan Ya Plastics; ExoonMobil; and Arjobex, a three-way joint venture of BP, Arjo Wiggins (London), and Appleton …

Gago Oganesyan.(trendsetters: Emerging Artists)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Gago Oganesyan developed an interest for drawing and painting at a young age. This childhood pastime soon became a passion. Gago graduated from the H. Kojoyan Art School and Terlemezian Art College in Yerevan, and in 1985 he received his master's degree in fine arts from the Art Academy of Yerevan.

After graduating, Gago traveled extensively throughout Europe. The rich cultural and artistic traditions he experienced abroad helped develop his inventive vision. He moved to the United States in 1991 and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Yelena Geodakyan, and their daughter, Sona.

Gago uses a broad …

DEMOCRATS TO RELEASE GOP FILES.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: Associated Press

The state Democratic Party said Monday that it would make public computerized records for New York's top GOP campaign committees.

The Democrats said they had computerized records that the Republican State Committee and Gov. George Pataki's campaign committee filed last week with the state Board of Elections.

Since early this year, the Democrats have made their own state committee financial filings available to the media on computer disks, but Republicans have not.

State Democratic Chairwoman Judith Hope said that until the Republicans did make their files available in such a format, the Democrats would continue to …

Obama: Feds will end cozy ties with oil drillers

President Barack Obama says he will end a cozy relationship that has existed between federal regulators and companies drilling offshore for oil and gas.

Obama said Friday that a lack of vigilant oversight contributed to the BP oil rig explosion that led to millions of gallons of oil pouring into the Gulf …

Kids' energy plus Bible study ignite camp

Tori Bossito, Benin

Sparks of energy from 115 wired children combined with the well-laid plans of the staff of La Casa Grande children's home to ignite passions for following Jesus during this year's summer camp in the West African village of Tori-Bossito. Campers gathered to learn, worship, play and discover the theme, "The secret of success lies in Jesus."

Based on the first six chapters of Joshua, the children were divided into six groups named for characteristics of spiritual success-certainty, firmness, hope, punctuality, sanctity and victory. They competed with an almost alarming intensity throughout the week to gain points in relay races, games, performances based …

Malema forked out R4.6m in cash for his two homes.(News)

BYLINE: ANGELIQUE SERRAO

Julius Malema, the ANC Youth League president, owns two multimillion-rand homes - both of which he bought for cash.

This disclosure, which adds to questions surrounding how Malema affords his lavish lifestyle, comes just a day after Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that targeted lifestyle audits would be conducted this year.

Malema bought his three-bedroom home in Sandown in Johannesburg for R3.6 million in December.

And, according to the deeds office, he owns two houses. The other is a house he bought in Polokwane in 2007 for R1m. Neither of the houses have bonds, they were paid for in cash.

The …

ANDREW F. CAPOCCIA.(BUSINESS)

Occupation: Attorney

Age: 57

Born: Rome, N.Y.

Education: Bachelor's in psychology from Utica College of Syracuse University. Master's in psychology from University of Akron. Law degree from Albany Law School.

Major disciplinary actions: In 1985, the Committee on Professional Standards for the Third Judicial Department in Albany suspended him from practicing law for six months after finding him guilty of improprieties in the handling of a divorce case. The same body censured him in 1988 for depositing checks owed to a client in his own escrow account, rather than with the Albany County clerk, as a court had directed.

…

Kenya may turn over election violence probe to ICC

Kenya said Friday it would ask the International Criminal Court to investigate the violence that erupted after its disputed 2007 elections if the country's Parliament cannot agree on prosecuting people suspected of crimes against humanity.

A high-level Kenyan delegation also agreed to immediately turn over details of its investigation to prosecutors in The Hague to allow them to begin "preliminary examinations," the court said in a statement.

"If there is no agreement from Parliament, and in accordance with the Kenyan commitment to end impunity of the most responsible of the most serious crimes, the government of Kenya will refer the …

Bremen's Lefts oppose deepening of Weser's riverbed.

(ADPnews) - May 13, 2011 - The Lefts in the parliament of Bremen will try to prevent the deepening of Weser's riverbed because of the related environmental damage, Klaus-Rainer Rupp from the Lefts' parliamentary group said.

According to the Bremen economic authority, the deepening is necessary so that ships of ever-increasing sizes will still be …

Allstate Life Insurance Co.(New Products and Services)(Brief Article)

Allstate Life Insurance Co. has re-launched its Advisor Variable Annuity to add several living benefits for additional charges. One of them, the Spousal Protection Benefit, is unusual in the industry in that it provides a death benefit to the surviving spouse when both own the contract. It is available only in individual retirement …

US Patent Issued to AT&T Intellectual Property I on May 10 for "Monitoring for Replica Placement and Request Distribution" (American, Italian Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 11 -- United States Patent no. 7,941,556, issued on May 10, was assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (Reno, Nev.).

"Monitoring for Replica Placement and Request Distribution" was invented by Claudia Canali (Modena, Italy), Alexandre Gerber (Madison, N.

J.), Stephen Fisher (Mountain View, Calif.), Michael Rabinovich (Solon, Ohio), Oliver Spatscheck (Randolph, N.

J.) and Zhen Xiao (Randolph, N.

J.).

According to the abstract released by the U.

S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A platform that may be used to dynamically reallocate resources to support an Internet application is disclosed. In an embodiment, the platform may include two layers of distribution, one at the domain name server (DNS) layer and one at an Internet data center layer. The platform may include a dynamic resource allocation manager that causes instances of applications to be initiated in Internet data centers in response to dynamic conditions and characteristics of the application. A monitoring system module may be provided to keep the dynamic resource allocation manager informed as the health and utilization of instances of the application."

The patent was filed on Nov. 30, 2005, under Application No. 11/290,137.

For further information please visit: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?

Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7941556&OS=7941556&RS=7941556

For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

NuPathe is the latest firm to price IPO.(MONDAY, AUG. 9)

It has been relatively busy recently for biotech and specialty pharmaceutical firms seeking to go public, as NuPathe Inc. became the latest such firm to price an initial public offering in what few would yet call a true IPO window. The Conshohocken, Pa.-based company estimates that its net proceeds from the offering will be about $43.2 million after selling 5 million shares of common stock priced at $10 per share. If underwriters Leerink Swann, Lazard Capital Markets and Needham & Co. fully exercise their overallotment option, net proceeds will be about $50.2 million, the company said in SEC documents. NuPathe hopes to use about $36 million of that to complete the clinical development of Zelrix (sumatriptan patch) for acute migraine, take it through the FDA regulatory approval process, initiate its commercial manufacture, and, if approved, launch the drug in the U.S. in the first half of 2012. The company successfully completed a pivotal Phase III trial for Zelrix in July 2009 and expects to submit a new drug application (NDA) in the fourth quarter of 2010. But before it can submit the NDA, NuPathe must complete two ongoing pharmacokinetic trials in healthy subjects and obtain interim data from two Phase III safety trials. If the drug is granted FDA approval, the company plans to build its own specialty sales force in the U.S. to launch Zelrix. Another $5 million would be used to continue preclinical and clinical development of NP201 for the continuous symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease and NP202 for the long-term treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, NuPathe said. The company is targeting an investigational new drug application filing for NP201 in the first half of 2011 and NP202 in 2012.

PlayStation Portable is amazing

I laughed when I heard that Sony's PlayStation Portable was goingto debut with a $249 price tag, which is as much as you'd pay for anyfull-size game console and more than you'd pay for some. I guess I'dplayed one too many hard-to-see games on other handhelds made bycompetitors.

But after seven days with a PSP unit, I'm not laughing. I'mseriously impressed.

And I'm not that easy to please.

This is not the handheld gaming device you're used to. It's theone you've wished someone would make.

The digital picture quality is as good as anything you'll seeanywhere. It is, frankly, amazing -- the details clear and crisp, thecolor outstanding, the games rendered in 3D. The picture's every bitas good as that of the PS2 hooked up to my television.

The sound quality is truly unexpected -- actual high-fidelitystereo quality. And although I have not yet viewed a movie on it,something that's possible thanks to releases in UMD format, I have nodoubt when I get around to doing so, it will be a pleasure.

The PSP Value Pack went on sale March 24 and is loaded withgoodies. Besides the unit itself, which includes a 32 MB Memory StickDuo, it includes headphones with remote control, battery pack, ACadaptor, case and cleaning cloth, and a movie, game and music videosampler with some non-interactive game demos. The first million unitsalso shipped with a UMD (more about this in a minute) video releaseof the movie Spider-Man 2 from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

There are some features I haven't even gotten around to checkingout, including the fact that it will let you display digital photosand it supports digital music playback in both MP3 and ATRAC formats.All this in a unit that's smaller than a day planner. That means youcan slip the equivalent of a full entertainment center into yourbackpack or purse and take it with you. It weights a mere .62 pounds.

But there's nothing scaled-down about the gaming experience itselfon PSP.

The technical details are listed in the news releases: A 4.3-inch, 16:9 wide screen TFT LCD that displays 16.77 million colors ona 480-by-272 pixel high-resolution screen. It has built-in stereospeakers, exterior headphone connector and input/output connectorsthat include a USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi wireless LAN so users can connect tothe Internet and play online on a wireless network, most likely withsome sort of wireless fee.

As many as 16 of the units can be connected to each other directlyin "ad-hoc mode" for wireless head-to-head competition. And thewireless capability will also allow software and data downloads thatcan be saved on the Memory Stick Duo.

As for UMD, it stands for Universal Media Disc and is a "newlydeveloped proprietary, compact but high-capacity optical disc." It'svery small, only 60 mm in diameter, and can store up to 1.8 gigabytesof digital data, which is three times the capacity of a CD-ROM. Thecopyright protection system uses a combination of a unique Disc ID,128-bit AES encryption keys for the media and an individual ID foreach PSP hardware unit.

The controls are simplicity itself, pretty much identical to whatyou find on the PS2 but smaller. That's not really a problem. Withina few minutes you'll scale down your movements. The only downside isa somewhat tired thumb from moving the analog stick. But you can getthat with the regular-size game unit, too.

PSP launched with 24 games available and a bunch more on the wayfrom an impressive number of game publishers and developers.

I checked out a few of the games and was pleased to find a widevariety, so there's bound to be something to please anyone. Mypersonal favorites from the early releases were Ubisoft's "LuminesPuzzle Fusion," which is a Tetris-like challenge, Sony ComputerEntertainment America's (SCEA) "Twisted Metal: Head On" and "Spider-Man 2" by Activision.

Sports lovers will undoubtedly be tickled to discover there's awide range of sports offerings. For instance, SCEA has published"Gretzky NHL," "MLB," "World Tour Soccer" and "NBA." Electronic Artshas several sports titles, including "MVP Baseball," "NBA StreetShowdown," "NFL Street 2 Unleashed" and "Tiger Woods PGA Tour."Activision's "Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix" is fun, too, althoughI haven't had much time to play it yet. The PS2 "Tony Hawk" was afavorite at our house.

For more details, you can check out this delightful new deviceonline at www.us.playstation.com Or you can take a leap of faithand just buy one. You won't be disappointed.

E-mail: lois@desnews.com

Vision of mum sparked my book of ghostly tales ; County's hauntings are examined by paranormal researcher

TWENTY-five years after ghost hunter Jason Day saw an apparitionof his dead mother - he has written a book exploring paranormalactivity in Essex.

As a 15 year-old growing up in Scunthorpe, he awoke to find amiddle-aged woman hovering, hands clasped in prayer, moving alongthe upstairs landing.

Dismissing it as a dream, he returned to the family home yearslater only to find, in an old tobacco box buried in the attic, a cut-out picture of his mother, hands clasped - the woman from hisvision.

This experience, coupled with his love of offbeat 1970s horrorfilms, sparked an interest in the paranormal, and he currently hostsa weekly internet radio show on the subject.

Haunted Now the Witham resident has delved into paranormalactivity in Essex - a county he describes as "the most haunted inEngland".

In his book, Paranormal Essex, he recounts the tale of theChelmsford Civic Theatre phantom, a spirit who shows audiencemembers to their seats but, when staff are asked about theirfriendly helper, they look confused and say they don't employ anusher.

The book also claims that Moot Hall, in Maldon, is haunted. Aformer police station and prison, tour guides often report seeingshadowy inmates glide from room to room, or have an uneasy feelingof being watched. But it's not all ghosts and ghouls. How about theBeast of Essex? A giant black 'puma' spotted across Essex since themid-90s.

Or what about the Spider of Stock? Spider An enormous Amazonianspider that awakes periodically to scare villagers. And then there'sthe case of Phyllis Newcombe, a 22-yearold who attended a dancehosted by Chelmsford City supporter's club in 1938, left with herfiance Henry, and then burst into flames.

So does the 39 year-old author really believe in the paranor mal?"Ever since I was a child I have wanted to find out if theparanormal was real or not. But the more I've got into it the moresceptical I've become - because nearly everything can be faked.

"But I've seen, heard, and experienced things I just can'texplain.

"I haven't got an agenda, you need to make your own mind up."

Paranormal Essex is published by The History Press and isavailable on Amazon.co.uk.

To join Jason on a ghost hunt visit www.phantomencounters.co.uk

Hoteliers suffer as room rates fall to five-year low

Bargains for tourists, but hotels struggle to break even as rateshit 2005 levels

The scale of the battle facing hotels is laid bare today by datashowing that average room rates will fall back to 2005 levels overthe next 12 months and the industry will not move into recovery modeuntil late next year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The accountant forecasts that the UK's average room rate (ARR)will fall by 8.1 per cent to 77.69 a night in 2009, down from 84.53last year - the biggest drop since 2002, when rates fell by almost 6per cent.

Robert Milburn, the UK hospitality and leisure leader at PwC,said: "While rate declines will slow at last, economic and travelfundamentals remain weak, and despite accelerating cost cuttingprogrammes, the evidence points to more savage trading at the end ofthe year." Next year, he said, consumers should find the ARR acrossthe country is 76, a similar rate to that of 2005.

While the rate of decline in room rates will ease in 2010, therewill be no growth in revenue per available room, or revpar - a keyperformance metric for hotels. PwC forecasts that revpar, whichaccounts for occupancy rates, will fall to 52.38 in 2010, down fromthe 53.67 forecast this year.

While the hotel sector has been hit by a myriad of problems,arguably the biggest problem facing the industry is businessescutting back on corporate travel.

Whitbread, the company behind the successful budget Premier Innbrand, has suffered from business customers staying for shorterperiods than last year. This month, the group, which also runs CostaCoffee shops and pub restaurants including Beefeater, said itsrevpar fell by 9.4 per cent in the 24 weeks to 13 August, and itslike-for-like sales were down by 7.7 per cent.

Alongside its half-year results in September, Alan Parker, thechief executive of Whitbread, said: "I am pleased with the tradingfigures that we announced last week. Premier Inn's total sales havebeen maintained in what is still a very challenging tradingenvironment. Evidence suggests that business travellers are tradingdown from three- and four-star hotels to find better value for theirmoney and our Premier Offers deal is attracting new price-consciousleisure customers to our hotels."

However, for smaller, independent hoteliers, falling revpar andARR can be a lethal cocktail, when combined with debts. StephenBroome, director of hospitality and leisure atPricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "My gut feeling is that there will bean increase in insolvencies in the industry [in 2010]." However, hepointed out that banks had been more lenient with hoteliers recentlyand the level of insolvencies in the sector was less severe than theearly 1990s.

In July, PwC said the number of hotel owners becoming insolventhad rocketed by 120 per cent since June 2008, but the rate ofcollapse in the second quarter actually declined as businesses werespared by banks.

Mr Broome said: "We expect lenders to focus more intensely onhotel debt levels this autumn. So far we have seen an inclination toseek alternative financial restructuring that is less likely tosimply result in further losses through debt writedowns."

But occupancy rates in London have fared better than the rest ofthe UK during the recession. PwC forecasts that occupancy rates willfall by just 1.2 per cent in 2009 in London, while they will tumbleby 6 per cent in the provinces.

Hhoteliers are more optimistic about the future than six monthsago. In March, PwC found all but one of its respondents werepessimistic in their outlook, but in today's survey 71 per cent ofthose surveyed say they are more optimistic than they were then.

PwC forecasts that UK revpars will increase slightly in the finaltwo quarters of 2010 to be down by just 2.7 per cent and 1.2 percent, respectively.

Independent operator feels the pinch as customers focus on price

Mark Bryant's family has owned The Swan Revived inBuckinghamshire for 25 years, but 2009 has been its toughest todate. Mr Bryant, the current owner, has been hit by a cocktail ofcost pressures, but falling average room rates is one of the biggestchallenges it faces.

While the recession has only added to the downward pressure onroom rates at The Swan Revived, an old coach house in the markettown of Newport Bagnall, the internet and proliferation of newhotels being built nearby has exacerbated the situation.

Mr Bryant said: "Business is very fragile and has been droppingconsiderably for the last couple of years, but it has really beenbad since January. However, we are starting to see light at the endof the tunnel."

He added: "The room rates have been decimated. Two years ago, Iwas selling them for 85 a night for a single room, includingbreakfast, but they are now about 50 to 60. This comes straight offthe top line, which affects the bottom line."

Hotel operators putting up a host of brand-spanking new hotels innearby Milton Keynes has not helped The Swan Revived - a 3-star, 40-room hotel, either.

But the internet has also driven down prices rapidly. Instead ofnegotiating on the phone with hotels, customers now just log on to aweb site and pick the cheapest price, Mr Bryant explained: "Peopleare not putting any value on the services... They are just lookingat the price. We cannot see how we are going to get room ratesback."

With a 25 per cent rise in energy bills over the last two years,maintenance costs for his hotel and red-tape associated with theever-changing labour and health and safety laws, it is easy to seehow small independent hoteliers are struggling.

Oly: AAP Olympic news list for Tuesday August 17

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2004
Oly: AAP Olympic news list for Tuesday August 17

AAP Olympic newslist for Tuesday August 17

ON FILE

ATHENS - Ian Thorpe tonight became Australia's greatest Olympian by winning the contest
dubbed the "race of the century". (Oly Aust Daylead)

ATHENS - Ian Thorpe turned the tables on defending champion Pieter van den Hoogenband
to win the 200m freestyle title in Athens and secure his fifth Olympic gold medal. (Oly
Swm Thorpe)

ATHENS - With his dream of winning seven gold medals sunk, Michael Phelps will be looking
to get back on the winner's podium in his favourite event at the Athens Olympics tomorrow.

(Oly Swm Phelps Daylead)

ATHENS - World recordholder Leisel Jones just can't seem to win when it counts. (Oly Swm Jones)

ATHENS - If you lose in elite level sport, you can do it well like Brooke Hanson and
Michael Phelps. (Oly Swim Losing)

ATHENS - The United States has challenged Australia's domination of the Athens Olympic
pool, Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Peirsol combining to win the 100m backstroke double.

(Oly Swim Daylead)

ATHENS - Australia collected its third bronze medal in diving at the Athens Olympics
tonight when Robert Newbery and Steven Barnett finished third in a sensational three metre
synchronised springboard event won by host country Greece. (Oly Div Aust Daylead)

ATHENS - Hosts Greece grabbed their first gold medal of the Athens Olympics today when
Nikolaos Siranidis and Thomas Bimis won the men's three-metre synchronised diving after
the Chinese pair suffered a no-dive. (Oly Div Greece)

ATHENS - Four years ago, Suzanne Balogh was told she was too old and too lacking in
talent to succeed in shooting. (Oly Sho Aust Nightlead )

SYDNEY - As a 12-year-old, Suzy Balogh missed her sporty father Steven. (Oly Sho Aust Family)

ATHENS - China's Zhu Qinan broke a world record to win their third gold medal of the
Olympic shooting competition today. (OLy Sho Men Nightlead)

ATHENS - Reigning Olympic archery champion Simon Fairweather fell victim to windy weather
today when he was bundled out in the first round of the men's individual competition in
Athens. (Oly Arc Aust Nightlead (Pix available))

ATHENS - The other half of the Opals' superstar double act, Penny Taylor, turned in
a five-star performance to power Australia to one of its most significant international
women's basketball victories. (Oly Bkb Aust Nightlead)

ATHENS - Australia's Kerri Pottharst said home crowd favouritism almost cost her and
Summer Lochowicz their Olympic beach volleyball match tonight. (Oly Bvo Daylead)

ATHENS - Not even Delta Goodrem could inspire Mark Philippoussis as he made a limp
exit from the Olympic Games overnight. (Oly Ten Aust Daylead)

ATHENS - World No 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland opened his Athens Olympic tennis campaign
with a surprisingly difficult three-set win over Nikolay Davydenko of Russia today. (Oly
Ten Nightlead)

ATHENS - Andy Roddick is watching his back with the Australian women's water-polo team
ready to pay $US500 ($A700) to the first girl who lands a kiss on the US Open champion
at the Athens Olympics. (Oly Ten Kiss)

ATHENS - Australian lightweight boxer Anthony Little won through to the second round
of the boxing after an assured win over Tunisian Taoufik Chobba. (Oly Box Aust Little)

ATHENS - Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou won a two-day reprieve
at the Athens Olympics today so they could appear in person at a disciplinary hearing
into their missed drugs tests and protest their innocence. (Oly Second Nightlead)

ATHENS - A Danish Olympic sailor was detained and questioned by Greek police overnight
after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car he was driving to a venue at the Athens
Games, the Danish delegation said. (Oly Sailor Arrest Nightlead)

ATHENS - Defending champion Venus Williams, playing with Chanda Rubin, crashed out
in the first round of the women's doubles at the Olympic tennis tournament here tonight.

(Oly Ten Venus)

ATHENS - World 100m champion Torri Edwards will learn tomorrow if she will be able
to compete in the Athens Olympics after a positive test for the stimulant nikethamide.

(Oly Ath Edwards)

ATHENS - Britain took a narrow lead in the Olympic equestrian three-day team event
after the dressage leg was completed today, opening the competition just in front of France
and Germany. (Oly Eqn)

ATHENS - Australia's equestrian eventing team, chasing a fourth consecutive gold medal,
finished the dressage stage in fifth place. (Oly Eqn Aust Daylead)

ATHENS - Japan revived memories of their glorious gymnastics past when they upstaged
favourites China and the United States to snatch the Olympic men's team gold for the first
time in 28 years. (Oly Gym Daylead)

ATHENS - Shi Zhiyong completed a golden day for China's weightlifters today, claiming
the 62kg men's Olympic title, but the cheers belonged to Leonidas Sampanis, who gave Greece
its first medal of the Athens Games. (Oly Wgt Men)

ATHENS - Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie might have to miss the Athens Olympics
due to injury, his representatives confirmed today. (Oly Ath )

ATHENS - Qatar's world 3,000m steeplechase champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen, formerly Kenya's
Stephen Cherono, will not be allowed to compete at the Athens Olympics, it was confirmed
here today. (Oly Ath Qatar)

ATHENS - Told to avoid inflaming anti-American sentiment, US athletes may have toned
down the bravado too much in the early days of the Athens Games. (Oly US)

ATHENS - The captain of the South Korean Olympic women's hockey team Mi Seong-lee was
badly injured today when she was struck by a ball in the temple. (Oly Hoc Korea)

ATHENS - Chen Yanqing put China back in charge of Olympic women's weightlifting today
when she claimed the 58kg gold medal with a record-setting effort. (Oly Wgt Women Nightlead)

ATHENS - World champion Lee Won-hee of South Korea added an Olympic judo crown to his
trophy cabinet by winning the men's under 73 kg category today. (Oly Jdo Nightlead)

ATHENS - Greek superstar Pyrros Dimas, who carried the host's flag at the Athens Games
opening ceremony, injured himself in training today and could miss his shot at a fourth
Olympic weightlifting gold. (Oly Wgt Dimas)

ATHENS - Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou face a criminal investigation
over missed drugs tests and their motorcycle accident, a judicial source told Reuters
today. (Oly Doping Kenderis)

ATHENS - Olympics Games chief Gianna Angelopoulos could be sued and also faces a Greek
prosecutor's investigation after her fireworks party for foreign dignitaries sparked off
a fire in a nearby park. (Oly Fire Lead)

TO COME

ATHENS - Ian Thorpe saw off the pretender to his throne and confirmed his pre-eminent
place in swimming with his second gold medal at the Athens Olympics. (Oly Aust Nightlead
800 words)



ATHENS - Ian Thorpe says it was his destiny. (Oly Swm Aust Nightlead 780 words)

ATHENS - Is Ian Thorpe the best middle distance freestyle swimmer in history?(Oly Swm
History 750 words)

ATHENS - Battler Brooke Hanson knows you can't always get what you want. (Oly Swn Breast
Nightlead 570 words)

ATHENS - Superfish Ian Thorpe will relish being the hunter instead of the hunted when
he steps out for the 100m freestyle at the Athens Olympics. (Oly Swm 100 415 words)

ATHENS - Don't discount Libby Lenton. (Oly Swm Lenton 540 words)

ATHENS - Petria Thomas' first coach never doubted. (Oly Swm Thomas profile 800 words)

OLYMPIA - No matter how far he hurls the shot tomorrow into the hot, dry air of south-western
Greece, Australian muscleman Justin Anlezark will be heaving his way into history when
the Olympics return to their ancestral home for the first time in 1,611 years. (Oly Ath
Olympia 420 words)

ATHENS - The Olympic rowers, archers and shooters are desperately hoping the wild Athens
wind will go away but Suzy Balogh wants it to keep blowing furiously. (Oly Sho Balogh
465 words)

ATHENS - Most Australian women dismiss shooting as the bastion of pig hunters and rednecks.

(Oly Sho Women 300 words)

ATHENS - A sensational combination of events led to host nation Greece winning its
first gold medal of the 2004 Olympic Games and Australia its third bronze in diving. (Oly
Div Aust Nightlead 550 words)

ATHENS - If Australia's softball team is to improve on its past two Olympic bronze
medals, veteran pitcher Tanya Harding might have to be entrusted with the starting job.

(Oly Soft Aust Nightlead 565 words)

ATHENS - Michael Rogers has ridden the Olympic time trial course a thousand times in
his head and 20 times on his bike. (Oly Cyc Nightlead 480 words)

ATHENS - An untimely case of tendonitis that undermined his Olympic campaign is threatening
Mark Philippoussis's assault on the US Open starting in 13 days. (Oly Ten Aust Nightlead
550 words)

ATHENS - World No 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland for once lost his cool as he opened
his Athens Olympic tennis campaign with a surprisingly difficult three set win over Nikolay
Davydenko of Russia. (Oly Ten Nightlead 470 words)

ATHENS - Russian gymnastics sank to a new low when the men's team failed get a medal
in the Olympic team competition for the first time in more than 50 years. (Oly Gym Russia
430 words)

ATHENS - Shi Zhiyong handed China their second weightlifting gold medal within four
hours tonight while Leonidas Sampanis got hosts Greece off the mark with a bronze amid
frenzied scenes of jubilation. (Oly Wgt NIghtlead 570 words))

ATHENS - France's Brice Guyart was not afraid to resort to the rough stuff on his way
to winning the men's individual foil Olympic gold 15-13 in a final which often resembled
a rugby match against Italian Salvatore Sanzo. (Oly Fen Nightlead 280 words)

ATHENS - A surreal doping scandal has left the Olympics in a similar situation to the
characters in a Samuel Beckett play - Waiting for Kenteris. (Oly Doping Backgrounder 760
words)

Routiners

Oly Quotes

Oly Briefs

Oly Brights

On This Day

Milestones

Daily Schedule

ATHENS SCHEDULE (All times AEST)

1530 - Archery

1600 - AOC team presser

1600 - Equestrian ind and team cross country.

1600 - Shooting - m50m pistol, double trap qual.

1630 - Water polo men Aust vs Italy

1700 - Swimming heats

1700 - Slalom canoe

1730 - Hockey men Aust vs Argentina

1815 - Basketball men Aust vs Angola

2100 - Volleyball men Aust vs Russia

2130 - Rowing repechages

0100 - Soccer women Aust vs US

0130 - Baseball Aust vs Italy.

0230 - Softball Aust vs Italy

0230 - Swimming finals

0330 - Soccer men Aust vs Argentina

0400- Gymnastics women team final.

AAP sp

KEYWORD: OLY NEWSLIST (ATTN EDITORS)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Greens Senator off to Iraq tomorrow on fact finding mission

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2004
Fed: Greens Senator off to Iraq tomorrow on fact finding mission

SYDNEY, April 8 AAP - Greens Senator Kerry Nettle will use a fact-finding mission to
Iraq to hear firsthand accounts from Iraqi people about experiences of military occupation
and hopes for self-determination.

Senator Nettle leaves tomorrow to spend six days in Baghdad with members of the European
Parliament, human rights activists and foreign policy analysts.

"We are interviewing Iraqis, hearing their story on the ground about the impact of
the US military occupation and also what their vision of a transition to democracy is,"

Senator Nettle told reporters.

"We'll be asking them about how that differs from the US process, hearing about the
level of US control in the transition to sovereignty and hearing about what the Iraqi
views are for the alternate processes that should occur."

The group will make a recommendation about whether the Iraqi transitional government,
due to take power on June 30, will be a genuine expression of Iraqi sovereignty.

Senator Nettle said the recent escalation in violence in parts of Iraq was targeted
at occupying forces and vindicated calls to withdraw Australian troops.

"The Greens say we should bring the troops home and provide assistance to Iraq on the
basis of humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, rather than being part of the US led
occupying force."

AAP smb/nf/cmc/br

KEYWORD: IRAQ NETTLE

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: PM understand irritation of payouts for failing bosses

AAP General News (Australia)
02-03-2004
Fed: PM understand irritation of payouts for failing bosses

CANBERRA, Feb 3 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today said he could understand community
irritation at big payouts to company bosses who had failed to perform.

But he still believed companies should be entitled to pay high salaries to attract
talented chief executives.

The multi-million dollar payout to former National Australia Bank chief executive Frank
Cicutto has sparked criticism after he resigned in the wake of a $360 million currency
trading scandal.

He will walk away with a termination payout of $3.27 million, plus …

NSW: Post mortem examination of body found in car

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2003
NSW: Post mortem examination of body found in car

A post mortem examination will be held today to establish the cause of death and identity
of a man whose body was found in a car in Sydney's southwest.

The body was found with extensive head injuries in a sedan at a carpark next to a playground
at Wiley Park, off King Georges Road, yesterday about 3pm (AEDT).

Police at the scene couldn't confirm reports that the man may have been dead for up to two days.

The suspicious death is being investigated by local police from Campsie and Lakemba
local area commands.

The car, parked near the Wiley Park Bicentennial Amphitheatre, was covered with tarpaulins
as police scoured surrounding parklands and playground equipment.

AAP RTV gmw/lma

KEYWORD: CAR (SYDNEY)

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: Wheat virus found in SA

00-00-0000
SA: Wheat virus found in SA

ADELAIDE, April 29 AAP - A devastating virus with the potential to slash wheat productionin Australia has been found in a wheat plant breeding centre in Adelaide.

The discovery of the wheat streak mosaic virus in crops at the South Australian Researchand Development Institute's Waite Campus has prompted government officials to place theentire area under quarantine.

It follows the discovery of the same virus in a CSIRO research laboratory in Canberraearlier this month.

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Paul Holloway said testing was continuingat the Waite Campus to determine how far the virus had spread.

He said the quarantine was in line with national protocols to manage the virus andwould affect only the movement of seeds, plants and plant material from within the precinct.

"Although we would expect any losses from the spread of the virus to be minor, thisnew incursion must be treated as a serious threat until more is known about its distributionand impact," Mr Holloway said.

Experts say the virus has the potential to cut wheat production from an infected areaby as much as 90 per cent.

However South Australia is thought to be at less risk because of its dry summer climate.

Areas with summer rain are considered more susceptible to the disease.

AAP tjd/wjf/bwl

KEYWORD: WHEAT

Fed; RMITcriticised for cancelling west Papuan conference

00-00-0000
Fed; RMITcriticised for cancelling west Papuan conference

Melbourne's RMIT University has cancelled a conference on West Papua in what has beendescribed as a cave-in to Indonesian pressure.

RMIT has defended its decision to withdraw official support for the conference on WestPapuan independence scheduled for later this month.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor NEIL FURLONG, says RMIT encourages debate but not whereit challenges another country's sovereignty.

Prof FURLONG says the conference was also cancelled out of consideration for the university'sIndonesian students.

RMIT expects to enrol almost 1,500 Indonesian students this year.

Greens Senator BOB BROWN says the RMIT's vice chancellor has told him Indonesian authoritieshave threatened to break off ties with RMIT if the event goes ahead.

AAP RTV ra/gfr/wz/sco X

KEYWORD: RMIT PAPUA (MELBOURNE)

NSW: Oppn accuse govt of holding onto Hexham report

00-00-0000
NSW: Oppn accuse govt of holding onto Hexham report

By Sheree Went

SYDNEY, Dec 15 AAP - The NSW opposition has accused the state government of plottingto hold back a report into the Hexham train crash until Christmas to avoid maximum publicexposure.

But NSW Transport Minister Carl Scully has hit back saying that as soon as he receivesit from the independent regulator, it will be made public.

Nine people were injured on July 12 when the passenger train they were in slammed intoa derailed coal train at Hexham, near Newcastle.

A warning system alerted a third train heading toward the derailment site, narrowlyavoiding a three way collision.

Opposition transport spokesman Peter Debnam today accused the government of sittingon the report.

"It was just a matter of luck no-one was killed or (seriously) injured in the Hexhamcrash and I understand the report reveals many of the problems identified in the Glenbrookcrash three years ago," Mr Debnam said.

"The government must release the report today - not during the Christmas New Year holidays."

An interim report was handed down on July 31 finding missing parts from a rusted-overtrack and a breakdown in communication had led to the crash.

However, Mr Scully said as soon as Rail Safety Regulator Kent Donaldson handed downhis report, it would be made public.

"When I receive it I think I should be given the opportunity of reading it," Mr Scully said.

"I would expect to release it within 24 hours of receiving it."

A spokesman for Mr Scully later confirmed the report would be in public hands before Christmas.

"This is a major accident investigation by an independent person. It needs to be donein a timely manner but it also needs to be done correctly," the spokesman said.

The exchange coincides with Mr Scully's official opening of a $16 million "missioncontrol" styled rail management centre at Sydney's Central Station.

The spokesman said Mr Debnam's outburst was just an attempt to divert attention fromthe new operational facility.

"We've opened a $16 million facility which will dramatically increase reliability andcoordination within State Rail and the Rail Infrastructure Corporation," he said.

"Peter knows we are going to deliver this Hexham report before Christmas but he isjust doing this because he doesn't like it when we actually do good things for the railsystem."

AAP swe/sco/de

KEYWORD: TRAINS

Fed: Democrats reject Murray's proposals

00-00-0000
Fed: Democrats reject Murray's proposals

CANBERRA, Aug 7 AAP - The Australian Democrats today rejected plans by rebel SenatorAndrew Murray to remain a backbencher.

Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja said Senator Murray needed to commit to beingpart of the Democrats party room.

MORE jg/was/sb

KEYWORD: DEMOCRATS REJECT

Qld: Jockey Lisa Francis still alive but critical

00-00-0000
Qld: Jockey Lisa Francis still alive but critical

BRISBANE, Feb 27 AAP - Jockey Lisa Francis was still in a coma more than 24 hours afterher life support machine was turned off, a spokeswoman for Toowoomba Hospital said today.

The spokeswoman said 35-year-old Ms Francis was breathing unassisted but remained unconscious.

…

NSW: Bushfires quiet ahead of anticipated horror day

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2001
NSW: Bushfires quiet ahead of anticipated horror day

Bushfires forming a ring around Sydney have become unusually quiet ahead of scorching
heat and strong winds expected later today and tomorrow.

A total fire ban is in force throughout New South Wales in anticipation of extreme
fire conditions.

Milder weather overnight and this morning has allowed fire crews to carry out extensive
backburning operations.

Rural Fire Service spokesman JOHN WINTER says they have put buffer zones in place around
properties considered to be most at risk.

About 100 fires continue to ravage the state, but Mr WINTER says fires are mostly burning
within containment lines.

But he says it's uncertain how well the containment lines will hold once the weather
deteriorates, particularly into tomorrow.







Mr WINTER says the fire service has to treat every single fire as being of maximum
risk, because of the potential for spot fires to develop into major fires very quickly.

The areas of most concern today are the Hawkesbury region north of Sydney, the Blue
Mountains to the west, and south of Sydney down to Wollongong.

The Rural Fire Service is also closely monitoring fires around Huskisson on the south
coast which have the potential to spread to other towns.

New South Wales Premier BOB CARR has arrived in Sydney after cutting short his holiday
in China, and will be briefed by fire chiefs later this morning.

AAP RTV sal/wjf

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW (SYDNEY)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Pathologists welcome ICAC report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2001
NSW: Pathologists welcome ICAC report

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - Pathologists have welcomed the findings of an inquiry into ethical
and criminal behaviour at one of Australia's biggest morgues.

Royal College of Pathologists president Professor David Davies said the Independent
Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) report released today made some valuable recommendations
at an important time in the restructuring of autopsy guidelines.

He welcomed the report's finding that pathologists had acted ethically while performing
autopsies at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Glebe.

The report also highlighted that legal infringements could have arisen as a consequence
of the complex relationships between the statutory laws that govern post-mortem examinations
- the Coroner's Act and the Human Tissue Act, he said.

"The report is extremely detailed, thoughtful and comprehensive and clearly recognises
the greater public good that forensic pathology and other associated disciplines provide,"

Prof Davies said.

"The inquiry and its findings make a useful contribution to the national review of
the Human Tissue Act and hopefully create an opportunity for the Coroner's Act to be similarly
reviewed."

AAP kp/nf/cd/bwl

KEYWORD: MORGUE PATHOLOGISTS

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: POlic interviewing children who saw man burn

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2001
Fed: POlic interviewing children who saw man burn

Police are interviewing a group of school children who witnessed a man setting himself
alight outside Parliament House in Canberra.

Australian Federal Police Detective Sergeant STEVE MULLINS says police have no clue
about the man's identity or motive.

He says the 47-year-old man is to be airlifted to Concorde Hospital in Sydney in a
critical condition.

Police were still interviewing the school children, but he had yet to confirm what
school they were from.

AAP RTV jb/kjp/wz/jn

KEYWORD: BURN (CANBERRA)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: CSIRO research shows trees make smog worse

AAP General News (Australia)
01-10-2001
Fed: CSIRO research shows trees make smog worse

Trees may be the lungs of the city, but new research shows native species add to the
smog problem in major Australian centres.

CSIRO researchers have discovered Australian trees and plants emit chemical compounds
which react with other pollutants, to make smog problem worse.

The research, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Authority, found that the
blue haze over places like the Dandenongs in Victoria …

NSW: Sanctions to remain until democracy restored

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2000
NSW: Sanctions to remain until democracy restored

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says Australia will maintain sanctions despite Fiji's
assurances democracy will be restored within two years.

Mr DOWNER says Fiji's interim Foreign Minister KALIOPATE TAVOLA has given a commitment
there will be a restoration of constitutional government and democracy in Fiji.

However, Mr DOWNER says sanctions will remain in place until a democratic government is returned.

Mr DOWNER reiterated the federal government's desire for the restoration of Fiji's
1997 constitution and the CHAUDHRY government during a meeting today in Sydney with his
Fijian counterpart.

But Mr DOWNER says it's clear from the meeting that Fiji has no intention of restoring
deposed prime minister MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY and his government.

Mr DOWNER says Mr TAVOLA has indicated it will be two years before a new election is held.

AAP RTV jo/nf

KEYWORD: FIJI DOWNER (SYDNEY)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Canberra should fight for CHOGM Lundy

AAP General News (Australia)
01-02-2000
Fed: Canberra should fight for CHOGM Lundy

An ACT Labor Senator says the national capital will keep fighting for the chance to
host the 2001 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Senator KATE LUNDY says the conference - known as CHOGM - has been handed to Brisbane
for no good reason.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD announced on New Year's Eve that Canberra lacked the facilities
- particularly accommodation - to host the huge gathering in October …

NSW: Police officer to face drugs charge in Sydney court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-1999
NSW: Police officer to face drugs charge in Sydney court

SYDNEY, Aug 19 AAP - A Sydney police officer is due to face court today charged with
conspiring to supply heroin.

The 30-year-old man was expected to appear in Burwood Local Court after being arrested and
refused bail by internal affairs detectives at Flemington in the western suburbs, a police
spokesman said.

He had been charged with conspiring to supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug,
namely heroin, and offering to supply a prohibited drug.

AAP jk/tsm

KEYWORD: POLICEMAN

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Drink driving article is satire, says student president

AAP General News (Australia)
02-26-1999
FED: Drink driving article is satire, says student president

CANBERRA, Feb 26 AAP - A student magazine article on avoiding being caught for drink
driving was a satirical piece designed to reinforce the seriousness of the issue, Australian
National University Students Association president Helen Stitt said today.

She said she was surprised by the reaction to the Woroni magazine article.

"By no means did we think that this would attract the attention that it did," Ms Stitt told
the Nine Network.

"It's an article that does not condone nor encourage drink driving.

"It's 300 words …

FED: Democrats propose means testing rebate

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1998
FED: Democrats propose means testing rebate

CANBERRA, Dec 8 AAP - The Australian Democrats today proposed means-testing the planned 30
per cent private health insurance rebate and spending the estimated $800 million savings on
public health.

Democrats leader Meg Lees unveiled the compromise today in an attempt to convince the
federal government to accept amendments to the controversial plan, which appears unlikely to
pass the Senate without changes.

Senator Lees said the government's proposal amounted to robbing the public system to put
money into a private insurance product.

"We are not going to support it in its current form," she told reporters.

"This is a compromise package where the government gets half of what it wants, going into
private health insurance, and we get half what we want, and that is money going directly into
the public system."

Under the Democrats plan, half of the estimated $1.6 billion cost of the rebate would go to
families on annual incomes up to $50,000 and singles on incomes up to $30,000.

These income levels are less generous than the existing rebate, but the Democrats say
no-one in receipt of a rebate will lose the benefit they now receive.

The rebate, though, would not cover ancillary services, such as dental care and payments
for sporting activities.

It would be subjected to an independent review in two years, and the private health funds
would have to meet performance outcomes negotiated with the government, addressing in
particular the matter of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by private insurance members.

MORE kaw/mfh/it/br

KEYWORD: INSURANCE LEES

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC:Baillieu puts brake on fundraisers

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2011
VIC:Baillieu puts brake on fundraisers

MELBOURNE, Feb 18 AAP - Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has ordered ministers not to
attend fundraising events until a new code of conduct is complete.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder and Planning Minister Matthew Guy recently came under
scrutiny after reports they had agreed to attend a $1500-a-head fundraiser scheduled for
next week.

The event was to be hosted and sponsored by accountancy firm Deloitte, which is conducting
a review of Victoria's Myki public transport ticketing system.

Mr Baillieu was also accused of hypocrisy recently after he and up to 10 ministers
attended a cocktail function hosted by the 500 Club, a Liberal Party fundraising group.

On Friday, Mr Baillieu said ministers would not be able to attend corporate functions
until a probity code had been developed.

He said the Liberal Party had put on hold any events with a corporate nature, such
as the Deloitte function, but the 500 Club's cocktail party was still allowed.

"The 500 Club was an annual event, it is a cocktail event, it wasn't a fundraising
event and in that sense I don't think there will be an issue," Mr Baillieu told reporters.

The premier did not specify when the guidelines would be released but said an awful
lot of work on them had already been undertaken.

AAP xlc/pmu/dep

KEYWORD: FUNDRAISERS

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC:Speed, drinking linked to male road deaths

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2011
VIC:Speed, drinking linked to male road deaths

A Victorian survey has found men are more likely than women to speed if they think
they can get away with it - and to rate the risk of accident from drink driving as low.

Transport Accident Commission boss JANET DORE says the research shows a serious change
of male attitudes in particular is needed to reduce the state's road toll.

More than 140 males have been killed on Victoria's roads this year, almost three times
the number of females.

AAP RTV xlc/gfr/jmt

KEYWORD: SPEEDING (MELBOURNE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Sorghum crop tipped to soar 80pc to record high, rice down 90pc

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2008
Fed: Sorghum crop tipped to soar 80pc to record high, rice down 90pc

Australia's sorghum crop is tipped to soar by 80 per cent to a record 2.5 million tonnes
in 2007-08.

But rice crops will be down a massive 90 per cent .. and cotton by 58 per cnet according
to the nation's chief commodities forecaster.

The sorghum boom follows average to above-average rain since October last year in parts
of Queensland and northern NSW.

PHILLIP GLYDE from Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics says recent
floods around Emerald damaged some of the sorghum crop.

But he says the increased yield in the southern regions will more than offset the losses.

ABARE's February report says the total summer crop should climb by almost 40 per cent
to 3.2 million tonnes .. well short of the record 5.3 million tonnes in 2000-01.

AAP RTV mj/rl/jec/bart

KEYWORD: ABARE (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA:Mentally ill veterans remembered

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2011
SA:Mentally ill veterans remembered

A large crowd has gathered for the annual Anzac Day march in Adelaide .. marked by
the first flyover by vintage military aircraft.

Earlier about 10-thousand people gathered at the war memorial under clear skies for
the dawn service .. where the crowd was urged to remember war veterans suffering with
mental illness .. especially those who have resorted to taking their own lives.

Meantime South Australian Premier MIKE RANN has announced the state government has
commissioned the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to prepare a major work to debut in 2015
.. the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli.

He says the Anzac requiem would draw its inspiration from the men and women of the
defence forces who stood and fought for values Australians continue to share and cherish.

AAP RTV tjd/sw

KEYWORD: ANZAC SA (ADELAIDE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA:WA Labor reshuffle expected

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2011
WA:WA Labor reshuffle expected

PERTH, Feb 10 AAP - West Australian Opposition Leader Eric Ripper is expected to announce
he has demoted corrective services spokesman Paul Papalia and given failed leadership
contender Ben Wyatt the education portfolio.

In a shadow cabinet reshuffle, Michelle Roberts, a senior minister in the Gallop government
and former ALP state president, is to be appointed shadow treasurer, ABC Radio and The
West Australian reported on Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ripper said the changes would be confirmed when a Labor Party
caucus meeting finished at about 11am (WST).

After My Wyatt withdrew from a bungled challenge to Mr Ripper's leadership last month,
he was sacked as shadow treasurer but Mr Ripper indicated at the time he wanted to retain
the 36-year-old on his front bench.

AAP ldj/jlw

KEYWORD: LABOR WA

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Coalition hits back in seat of Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2010
QLD:Coalition hits back in seat of Brisbane

The Liberal National Party's TERESA GAMBARO is moving closer to successfully wrestling
the seat of Brisbane off long-time Labor incumbent ARCH BEVIS.

While counting is continuing in the undecided seat .. the Australian Electoral Commission's
official tally website has moved the seat off its close-list after Ms GAMBARO almost doubled
her lead of 382 votes to 743.

With just over 12-thousand postal .. early .. absentee and provisional votes still
to be counted .. Mr BEVIS has not yet lost the seat .. however he will need the votes
to quickly swing back his way.

Ms GAMBARO .. meanwhile .. has told the Ten Network the vote increase is relieving
after the past three days had seen her slowly lose her lead.

AAP RTV djb/wz

KEYWORD: POLL10 BRISBANE (BRISBANE)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Man charged with mum's murder returns home

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2010
Qld: Man charged with mum's murder returns home

A man charged with murdering his mentally-ill elderly mother has returned to his north
Queensland home after going missing a week ago.

70-year-old COLIN WILSON of Mareeba disappeared last Tuesday .. a day after the case
came up for mention in the Cairns Supreme Court.

His wife called police last night to say he'd returned home .. tired and dirty.

At a bail hearing two years ago .. the court was told WILSON was a devoted son who
killed his mentally ill 92-year-old mother IDA .. to end her suffering.

AAP RTV ews/tnf

KEYWORD: WILSON (CAIRNS)

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Libs take early lead in Bradfield byelectiono

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2009
Fed: Libs take early lead in Bradfield byelectiono

Liberals candidate PAUL FLETCHER has taken an early lead in counting in the by-election
for the federal seat of Bradfield in Sydney's north.

At 7.20 pm (AEDT) .. Mr FLETCHER had gained 2,212 votes .. or 57 per cent .. of the
primary vote .. with just over four per cent of the vote counted.

His nearest challenger is Greens candidate SUSIE GEMMELL .. who has 992 votes .. or
25.7 per cent of the primary vote.

At this early stage .. there is a 14 per cent swing to the Greens and a seven per cent
swing against the Liberals .. though these figures are distorted by the ALP not standing
a candidate.

AAP RTV de/wz

KEYWORD: BRADFIELD COUNT (SYDNEY)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Don't be alarmed about pork: minister

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2009
Fed: Don't be alarmed about pork: minister

By Simon Jenkins

CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - Australians shouldn't be alarmist about pork amid the swine
flu outbreak, federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has said.

Mr Burke was asked on Tuesday if Australia would follow the lead of other countries
and stop importing pork as part of its response to swine flu.

"I don't think any of us should be alarmist about pig meat itself," he replied.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been quick to point out that people cannot
catch swine flu from eating pork.

"Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly
handled and prepared pork, or other products derived from pigs," WHO has said.

"The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160F/70C, corresponding
to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat."

But that advice has not stopped some countries from moving to halt pork imports.

Mr Burke, who spoke with the director of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
on Tuesday, said the government was doing everything it could to minimise any potential
spread of the disease to Australia.

"Everything that we're doing is completely in line with what the World Health Organisation
is recommending," he told reporters in Canberra.

AAP srj/rl/tnf

KEYWORD: FLU BURKE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Boy paralysed by viral infection will be home for Xmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2008
Qld: Boy paralysed by viral infection will be home for Xmas

By Petrina Berry

BRISBANE, Dec 23 AAP - A five-year-old Brisbane boy who was virtually paralysed after
contracting a viral infection is regaining movement in time to go home for Christmas.

Ethan Nicol had a cough initially mistaken for the common flu three weeks ago, but
it became apparent to his mother Sharon Power that something was seriously wrong when
her son was too weak to go to the toilet.

"He had a cough and that afternoon, his neck started to get sore," Ms Power said.

"He hadn't been to the toilet at all and he had a temperature and every time I picked
him up, he just felt weaker and weaker."

He was admitted to hospital the following morning.

"He was pretty much paralysed," Ms Power said.

"He had lost his speech, all movement and he couldn't even swallow."

Within 24 hours, he was diagnosed with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
after MRI scans.

ADEM damages the protective covering of nerve fibres, preventing electrical impulses
from travelling to the brain.

It affects fewer than one in 100,000 people a year - most of them children aged between
five and eight years old.

Paediatric trainee registrar Sonia Shah said Ethan's illness was only one of three
ADEM cases she had seen in the past eight years.

She said Ethan was able to move his arms and was slowly regaining full movement in his legs.

"We were worried about his ability to swallow and whether he would choke on just his
saliva," Dr Shah said.

"But now we are hoping he will be able to not only go home for Christmas Day but we
hope he will be able to stay there and come back as an outpatient for ongoing treatment."

She was optimistic Ethan would make a full recovery, and said between 60 to 90 per
cent of ADEM patients made a full recovery within six to eight weeks.

AAP peb/ews/jlw/srp

KEYWORD: NICOL (PIX AVAILABLE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Olympics shows China is not a democracy: Robb

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2008
Fed: Olympics shows China is not a democracy: Robb

Shadow Foreign Minister ANDREW ROBB says the Beijing Olympics has reminded the world
that China is NOT a democratic state.

Chinese authorities have cracked down on protests over Tibet .. and have attempted
to block international media organisations from sensitive material during the Olympics.

Mr ROBB's told the Ten Network the heavy-handed action has reminded the world China's
still an authoritarian state.

But he says it wasn't a mistake to allow China to host the Olympics .. because it's
put the international spotlight on the Chinese government and its actions.

AAP RTV sld/tm/

KEYWORD: OLY08 ROBB (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Investigation under way into helicopter crash landing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2008
Qld: Investigation under way into helicopter crash landing

BRISBANE, April 9 AAP - A pilot had to be cut free from the wreckage of his helicopter
after it crashed near Townsville while putting up a new powerline.

The pilot and his co-pilot were taken to Townsville Hospital for treatment after sustaining
neck and back injuries in today's crash in a vacant lot at Stuart, just south of Townsville,
around 10am (AEST).

The McDonnell Douglas 500 two-seater helicopter had been subcontracted to Downer EDI
Engineering to string a new powerline.

Both men on board, believed to be aged in their 40s, were conscious and breathing when
emergency services arrived.

An Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) spokesman said the co-pilot escaped the wreckage,
but then collapsed, and the pilot was trapped.

"The pilot was trapped for a short time and fire brigades had to use the jaws of life
to cut him out," the spokesman said.

"They cut away the joystick and control column to free him because he was actually
pinned in his seat."

A spokesman for Downer EDI said the men were employees of a helicopter charter company
subcontracted to Downer to string a powerline between the Townsville South and Townsville
East substations.

"Downer EDI Engineering, as principal contractor on the project, is working closely
with the appropriate authorities to respond to the incident," the spokesman said.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators were travelling to the scene today.

AAP rad/pjo/ldj/mn

KEYWORD: HELICOPTER NIGHTLEAD

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.