Vic: Arsonists could face murder charge: police

AAP General News (Australia)
02-08-2009
Vic: Arsonists could face murder charge: police

Police say arsonists charged over Victoria's bushfires could face murder or manslaughter charges.

Thirty-six people are already confirmed to have died in the fires this weekend.

Police have warned to expect more …

Mentoring tomorrow's Mideast youth movement

Felice Friedson
Jerusalem Post
06-23-2011
Mentoring tomorrow's Mideast youth movement
Byline: Felice Friedson
Edition: Daily
Section: Opinion
Type: Editorial

The often-heard lament that the Middle East is lacking in leadership has in recent months given way to a presumption at once euphoric and almost axiomatic that the region's youth, having surged to the fore, are collectively claiming that very leadership role. A timely effort if true, with an under-24 population of 100 million projected for the year 2030.

Beyond the not insignificant question of whether the belief is actually true, the very concept begs a look at what the emerging generation brings to the mix that the older generation lacked, and what wisdom and experience the older generation will impart to its successors. Stated alternatively, whether generation-last will meet the challenge of sharing its experiential wisdom with its heirs; and whether generation-next will open its collective mind in recognition of the wealth it stands to inherit.
IRAN'S HISTORY of student-led unrest offers an instructional starting point. According to Dr. Trita Parsi, in 1999, Iranian youth didn't have support from the general population when they held student protests. Parsi, who heads the National Iranian American Council, told The Media Line that, "Today's scenario is very different. The older generation opened up their homes, hid protestors and shop owners, too, helped."

According to Parsi, it's not just the attitude of the elders to the younger generation that has changed, but the acumen and vision of those young people on the streets is qualitatively different. "Today, unlike in Egypt where the focus was in bringing down Mubarak, Iranian youth are more sophisticated. They are not just focused on bringing down the government, but on who will lead the next government."

Just as the generation of Iranians that lived through past youth movements have become more active in supporting the new generation's aspirations, many believe that in order for youth movements to carry the day in effecting change in the Middle East, it is incumbent upon the past generation to nurture, teach and empower its inheritors, providing the tools with which to accomplish their mission.

Ironically, those tools are sometimes denied, albeit for good intentions. Echoing a criticism Rezi Pahlavi, son of the late Shah of Iran, told The Media Line in a previous interview, sanctions aimed at punishing an oppressive regime can work against the newly- cast "good guys."

According to Dr. Parsi, today's activist Iranians desperately wish they had Internet tools like Skype - denied by the American sanctions - that could bypass the regime's manipulation of the communications infrastructure.

Similarly, although the creation of new satellite Internet channels are touted as an insuppressible means of end-running the regime's strict controls, Iranians may not be able to obtain the hardware necessary to access these new channels also because of the American sanctions, and might not have Internet at all.

Conferences popping up throughout the Middle East, sponsored by the United Nations and independent organizations, have emerged as vehicles for the last generation to mentor the next.

EMPOWER2011 IN Qatar was part of a youth development program to equip young leadership with a platform to express a concerted voice on local and global issues including poverty, environmental awareness, international education and peace building.

Yemen, the poorest of the regional populations fighting to overthrow a long-time ruler - where 75% of its population is under the age of 25 and encouraging programs directed at the youth are plentiful and in demand - is an example of the need for the indigenous last generation to take the lead in preparing its own next line of leadership.

In December, I visited Sana'a and witnessed first-hand civil society education in motion and watched as young Yemenis were organizing projects - specifically projects that they were able to build in their own communities for the benefit of their own communities. It's a concept foreign to their day-to-day lives and the Yemeni experience. Nadia Al-Sakkaf, editor-in-chief of The Yemen Times, told The Media Line that the problem with many initiatives imported with the intention of empowering Yemen's youth is that they don't feature home-grown solutions. "The issues of authenticity and sustainability are hardly there," she said. "This is why many projects fail once the donor is out and what has been created is merely a superficial culture of civil society activism."

Israel, which is considered the most Western among Middle Eastern nations, has apparently realized the benefits of a confluence of the old and new in the drive for social entrepreneurialism and the importance of civil society. Last week's ROI Summit, sponsored by The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, brought 150 young innovators together for the sixth time, extolling the need for the last generation to provide the tools for the next generation to "create and connect" in order to "make the world a better place."

This week, the annual "Tomorrow" conference organized in the name of Israel's president featured a unique session that featured father and son teams that are arguably symbols of generational baton- passing. President Shimon Peres and his venture capitalist son, Chemi; Prof. Stanley Fischer, governor of the Bank of Israel with his son, David, Facebook's vice president for Advertising and Global Operations; and noted biologist Prof. Howard Cedar and his son, Joseph, an award-winning director; served as cases-in-point.

Innovative ideas need to converge from all generations. The youth need to be included, listened-to, and given the sustaining tools and strategic goals in order to become global citizens. But youth also need the guidance of the past - the successes and failures - to groom them for tomorrow's leadership.

The writer, president and CEO of The Media Line news agency, is the founder of The Mideast Press Club and Women in Mideast Media, initiatives that provide support and empowerment for classical journalism in the region. She can be reached at Felice@themedialine.org.(c) Copyright Jerusalem Post. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2011 The Jerusalem Post)

FED:Govt feud blamed for botched tender

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2011
FED:Govt feud blamed for botched tender

The federal opposition has blamed bitter antagonism between Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD
and her predecessor KEVIN RUDD for the botched Australia Network tender.

Last night the government announced it would permanently award the 10-year, 223 million
dollar contract to the ABC, ending a bid by Sky News.

The commercial broadcaster has now flagged it will seek compensation.

Opposition communications spokesman MALCOLM TURNBULL has been scathing of the tender
process, saying the labor government couldn't run a chook raffle.

He's told ABC Radio this is a government with poison at its core because of the deep
bitter antagonism between Mr RUDD and Prime Minister GILLARD.

The way the tender was handled is being investigated by the Commonwealth auditor-general
while Australian Federal Police is investigating leaks the government blamed for the process
being abandoned.

AAP RTV lpm/rl/sw

KEYWORD: NETWORK (CANBERRA)

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

FED:Abbott says Labor-Greens fight 'fake'

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2011
FED:Abbott says Labor-Greens fight 'fake'

CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the prime minister is "faking"

a fight with the Greens.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday night said the Greens - with whom she has
an agreement to form minority government - were a "party of protest" and did not share
the values of everyday Australians.

It is the second time in two weeks the Labor leader has taken a shot at the Greens
in a bid to differentiate her party from that of veteran environmentalist Senator Bob
Brown.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Brisbane Ms Gillard was merely putting on a show.

"If they are so extreme why did she form a government with them?" Mr Abbott said.

"What we are really seeing is just a fake fight, a phony lovers' tiff.

"The fact is Labor is in office but the Greens are in power."

With the federal budget due to be delivered in five weeks, Mr Abbott said he expected
the government to "wimp out" on hard decisions.

Ms Gillard has described the coming budget as "tough".

"We do need some tough decisions and the toughest decision this government should make
is to dump the national broadband network ... it's going to be an expensive white elephant,"

Mr Abbott said.

AAP pjo/sb/nb

KEYWORD: LABOR ABBOTT

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

QLD:MyHospitals website could go further, QAMA

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2010
QLD:MyHospitals website could go further, QAMA

BRISBANE, Dec 10 AAP - The Queensland Australian Medical Association says the federal
government's new MyHospitals website doesn't go far enough.

The federal government's MyHospitals website, which includes information on 922 public
and private hospitals around the country, went live at 11am (AEDT) on Friday.

It gives nationally-consistent performance data for almost 1000 Australian hospitals
online for the first time.

QAMA president Dr Gino Pecoraro told AAP it would help the public make decisions.

"We think anything that gives information to patients about what is happening with
their hospitals ... is a great idea," he said.

But Dr Pecoraro said the site could go further to compare bed numbers, occupancy rates,
waiting times for outpatients, and waiting times for the waiting list for elective surgery.

"The federal government should be able to access huge amounts of data from the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare," he said.

"We think it would value add to the website.

"They're useful pieces of information that patients should have access to."

Australians will be able to search for hospitals by name or use an interactive map
to bring up what services are available at each institution and how long it takes to access
them.

Emergency department waiting times for 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be compared to national
averages, while 2008-09 admissions and outpatients information will be updated early next
year to reflect more recent statistics.

Meanwhile, Dr Pecoraro said one issue that could arise with the site in the future
was keeping the site up-to-date.

"When you get a report from a government department it can frequently run into hundreds,
if not thousands of pages filled with bureaucracy speak," he said.

"For information to be useful to somebody, it needs to be accurate, it needs to be
easily understood and it needs to be timely."

AAP ka/gd/dep

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS QAMA

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

FED:Farmers praise coalition on trade focus

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2010
FED:Farmers praise coalition on trade focus

CANBERRA, Aug 3 AAP - The national farming lobby has welcomed a coalition commitment
to renew efforts in global trade and return a dedicated trade minister in government.

Opposition trade spokesman Warren Truss on Tuesday told an Australian Institute of
Export function that Labor had treated the portfolio with "disdain".

The decision to give Foreign Minister Stephen Smith responsibility for trade in the
small re-shuffle forced by the ousting of Kevin Rudd showed where the portfolio was in
government priorities, he said.

Mr Truss announced a coalition government would increase funding to the Export Market
Development Grants scheme by $50 million - giving it a $200 million cap from July 1, 2011.

Under the scheme, exporters are reimbursed for the cost of promoting their businesses,
but Labor cuts had been an unfair disadvantage, he said.

"Furthermore, in government the coalition will examine the merits of removing the cap
altogether, provided payments could be kept in reasonable bounds," Mr Truss told the Brisbane
audience.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) said the commitment was reassuring for a sector
that exports more than 60 per cent of what it produces.

NFF president David Crombie said a dedicated trade minister was essential if Australia
was to foster existing partnerships and crack new markets.

"Some have suggested Australia should throw in the towel and carve out sensitive sectors,
such as agriculture, from future trade negotiations," he said.

"Such a weak-kneed approach ... would send a signal to our trading partners that they
can undermine Australia's $32 billion-a-year farm exports."

The coalition would also appoint an ambassador for trade reform to promote global trade
reform and re-establish the Trade Advisory Council abolished by Labor, Mr Truss said.

It would continue funding for the position of trade representative for agricultural
industries and establish two new positions, covering the manufacturing and service industries.

Mr Truss said the coalition's highest trade priority would be the Doha round of negotiations
towards freer world trade and it would vigorously pursue free trade agreements with China,
Japan, Malaysia, the Gulf Co-operation Council, South Korea and Indonesia.

AAP gd/sb/jel

KEYWORD: POLL10 TRADE UPDATE

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Dec 21 = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2009
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Dec 21 = 2

AUCKLAND - Two young Sydney men are lucky to be alive after a slip of the foot sent
them both careering 200 metres down a cliff in New Zealand's notorious Mount Cook National
Park. (NZ Fall)



AUCKLAND - Like a scene from The Shawshank Redemption, a Kiwi prisoner has cut his
way to freedom with an angle grinder, leaving police with the taunt: "Catch me if u can."

(NZ Note to come)



LONDON - Home and Away stalwart Ray Meagher is forecasting a return to the Australian
soap's core values in 2010. (UK Meagher)



CANBERRA - Terminal illness such as cancer can be cured by prayer, the head of the
Catholic Church in Australia says. (MacKillop Prayer)



BRISBANE - Qantas has announced it will increase services on its domestic routes as
a result of improved demand. (Qantas)

CANBERRA - The pilots' union will take legal action against Qantas in a bid to get
better pay and conditions for employees of its subsidiary company, JetConnect. (JetConnect)



CANBERRA - The government has denied reports that more asylum seekers are turning up
in northern waters ahead of January cyclones. (Boat)



CANBERRA - A little known Labor senator has confused Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd after
calling for Mr Abbott to clarify his position on Bible studies in schools. (Lundy)



CANBERRA - There are 71 recommendations to government in the first review of the Environment
Act, released on Monday.(Environment to come)



SYDNEY - Victoria's John Brumby has toppled South Australia's Mike Rann as the country's
most popular Labor premier and has retained a big lead over his Coalition opponents. (Premiers)



SYDNEY - NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell comment
on the desalination plant. (Desal to come)



SYDNEY - A campaign that aims to crack down on the supply of alcohol to minors is needed
to change community attitudes towards drinking, police say. (Alcohol Wrap)



SYDNEY - An Italian national with a "total disregard" for road safety has been booked
for speeding three times in a day, police say. (Speeding)



SYDNEY - Protesters are sitting in a sacred tree on the NSW mid-north coast to prevent
it from being destroyed to make way for a highway upgrade. (Guardian)



SYDNEY - The Fred Hollows Foundation has denied a report that it lost $2 million in
investments that went bad in the global financial crisis. (Hollows)



SYDNEY - A family has been taken to hospital following a house fire in Sydney's north. (House)



MELBOURNE - The family of a Melbourne boy shot dead by police will boycott an inquest
into his death until they are satisfied "amateurish" investigations have improved. (Cassidy)



MELBOURNE - Bail application by man jailed for allegedly killing his three children
by driving them into a dam - conviction last week quashed and new trial ordered. (Farquharson
to come)



MELBOURNE - Family violence spiked dramatically during the Christmas holiday period
last year, new Victoria Police data shows. (Domestic)



MELBOURNE - It doesn't matter where you put your hands, how hard you push or whether
you've been shown how to do it. (Heart)



MELBOURNE - A Melbourne man has been slashed in the arm after a fight over a cigarette. (Slash)



BRISBANE - A second pre-inquest hearing into the death of Aboriginal man Mulrunji Doomadgee
in custody has been set for February. (Doomadgee to come)



BRISBANE - Swimming champion Susie O'Neil has taken up the challenge of inspiring Queenslanders
to do more exercise. (O'Neil to come)



BRISBANE - Farmers have delivered sacks of coal to the Queensland premier's office,
as they lobby for agricultural land to be protected from mining. (Mining to come)



BRISBANE - A woman was encouraging her son to speed when both were charged with dangerous
driving on a busy Gold Coast road, police say. (Mother)



BRISBANE - A man with a distinctive arm tattoo is being sought by police for assaulting
a taxi driver on the Gold Coast. (Taxi)



BRISBANE - Forty Queensland government staff have been told their jobs are "low priority",
but they will not be sacked, Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says. (Primary)



BRISBANE - Airline passengers are urged to allow extra time for queuing as Brisbane
Airport heads into its busiest ever Christmas period. (Airport)



BRISBANE - A woman is in a critical condition after she was hit by two cars while crossing
a road south of Brisbane. (Hit)



BRISBANE - Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault on the Sunshine Coast that
has left a 52-year-old man in a serious condition. (Assault)



ADELAIDE - The husband of celebrated children's author Mem Fox had appeared in an Adelaide
court charged with child sex offences. (Fox to come)



ADELAIDE - South Australia has launched a new phone-based bushfire and emergency warning
system capable of sending up to 1,000 voice messages every minute and 300 texts every
second. (Alert)



ADELAIDE - A 46-year-old woman has been arrested and is expected to be charged with
murder after the death of a man on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula. (Woman)



PERTH - A 42-year-old West Australian woman has been charged with animal cruelty for
brutally killing a family's elderly dog. (Pet)



DARWIN - A man who was nearly eight times the legal blood alcohol limit was having
trouble standing when he was caught drink-driving, police say. (Drink)



KINGS CANYON, NT - Inguwa inturtai! Nuarta tharrala. (Xmas NT)

AAP apm

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 2 SYDNEY

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

Fed: Wreckage of plane found: report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
Fed: Wreckage of plane found: report

BRISBANE, Aug 12 AAP - A rescue chopper has found the wreckage of a charter plane that
went missing on route to the Kokoda track with 13 people on board, Papua New Guinea authorities
say.

Papua New Guinea Civil Aviation Authority head Joseph Kintau told ABC Radio he had
just left a briefing where he learned the news.

"They've located the wreckage," he said.

"I don't have any specific details at this point in time but I have just been told
it has been located."

MORE gd/de

KEYWORD: PNG PLANE WRECKAGE

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

SA: Man goes beserk in Snowtown; four injured

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2009
SA: Man goes beserk in Snowtown; four injured

Police in South Australia say they've charged a man with attempted murder after he
allegedly went on a rampage .. randomly stabbing two women and running two men down in
his four-wheel drive.

News Limited newspapers report the man was a transient .. who'd been staying in a caravan
park at Snowtown with his dog after arriving in town a few weeks ago.

Police say the 42-year-old allegedly ran down a truck driver who was standing next
to his vehicle about 1.15 pm (CDT) .. before ramming the rear of another vehicle which
had two women sitting in it.

When they got out to investigate .. the man allegedly stabbed both of them in the neck
with a knife before getting back into his Toyota Hilux and running over a pedestrian who
was pushing another man in a wheelchair.

He was subdued by three police officers.

The papers report a man in his 40s has been airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital
with pelvic injuries and internal bleeding .. together with an 81-year-old woman with
severe lacerations to the neck.

Locals have told News Limited the man was a loner .. who kept to himself.

AAP RTV tm

KEYWORD: TRANSIENT (ADELAIDE)

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

AAP Backgrounders and Analyses for the weekend of Aug 30/31

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
AAP Backgrounders and Analyses for the weekend of Aug 30/31
AAP BACKGROUNDERS AND ANALYSES FOR THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 30/31
For further information please contact Newseds Joanne Williamson on (02) 93228611 or Nalita
Ferraz on (02) 93228610.

CANBERRA - Federal Newscope, by Sandra O'Malley, about 780 words, on file)

CANBERRA - An era marked by unity and adherence to the common law ends when Murray Gleeson
retires as Australia's chief justice today. (Gleeson Newsfeature, by Don Woolford, 1,004
words with file pix, on file)

PERTH - Should Labor retain government at the September 6 West Australian election, it
may be indebted to the state's electoral redistribution under its own "one vote-one value"

laws. (Newscope WA, by Jo Prichard, about 1,000 words, on file)

SYDNEY - The $25 billion power sale in NSW might be off for now, but the power struggle
on both sides of politics has only just begun. (Power Newsfeature, by Nick Ralston, about
900 words with pix, on file)

BRISBANE - A vital missing piece in the puzzle that is organised crime in Australia was
shifted into place this week. (Tapping, AAP Newsfeature, 850 words, by Paul Osborne, on
file)

BRISBANE - The Queensland and South Australian governments are poised to take the national
lead on what many see as the key to fighting a childhood obesity epidemic - TV advertising
of junk food. (Junk Newsfeature, by Paul Osborne, about 800 words, on file)

MELBOURNE - From a priest who works with street kids to a TV gardener and the inevitable
sportsmen, almost 2,000 nominees will be vying to be named Australian of the Year for
2009. (Year Newsfeature, by Edwina Scott, about 900 words, on file)

SYDNEY - In the extreme sport of BASE jumping, "safe" is a fluid concept. (BASE Newsfeature,
by Katelyn John, about 900 words, on file)

SYDNEY - Brian Corrigan talks about his experiences in helping a Canadian woman reclaim
her children after they were abducted by her Australian husband. (Corrigan Newsfeature,
by Vincent Morello, about 800 words, still to come. ETA about 1530-1600).

SYDNEY - US Navy captain John Banigan is absurdly matter-of-fact as he tells how he has
never seen his little boy walk or talk. (Sailor Newsfeature, by Caroline Berdon, 1,174
words with pix, on file)

BRISBANE - The visionary behind a plan to revolutionise world steel-making in northern
Australia says it's just primary school logic as he explains how to spend $49 billion.

(Steel Newsfeature, by Steve Gray, about 800 words, on file)

DARWIN - No-one will know the exact time Janie Norman died. (Djana, backgrounder, by Tara
Ravens, about 1200 words, on file).

INTERNATIONAL:
LONDON - Could style queens Trinny and Susannah be going out of fashion? (UK Fashion Newsfeature,
by Belinda Tasker, about 950 words, on file)

ENTERTAINMENT:
SYDNEY - Aussie actor Luke Ford earned himself a nickname on the set of The Mummy: Tomb
of the Dragon Emperor - hairy tongue. (Ford Film Feature, by Alyssa Braithwaite, about
750 words with pix, on file)
LOS ANGELES - Guillermo del Toro is known for lavish sets seemingly pulled from a Salvador
Dali painting, disturbing-looking creatures in intricate costumes and rich performances
from his actors. (US Toro Feature, by Peter Mitchell, about 970 words, on file).

SPORT:
DURBAN - From the stunning wildlife of the game parks to Nelson Mandela's prison cell
on Robben Island and the colossal stadiums that sat empty during the apartheid era boycotts.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans can't get enough of South Africa. (Tri Aust Deans Sportsfeature,
by David Beniuk, about 1,100 words, on file)

HOBART - The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one, they say in the
War of the Worlds musical. (AFL Tas Newsfeature, by Paul Carter, 476 words with pix, on
file)

SEE ALSO ROUTINERS TO COME:
* Quotes
* Milestones
* Oddities
* Checkup

AAP nf/mn

KEYWORD: WEEKEND READS

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

SA: Fire bans to extend almost to winter on Kangaroo Island

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
SA: Fire bans to extend almost to winter on Kangaroo Island

ADELAIDE, April 24 AAP - The fire season on South Australia's Kangaroo Island will
stretch almost to winter this year after a series of devastating bushfires over summer.

The Country Fire Service (CFS) said it had extended the fire season by two weeks to May 14.

The move was in response to the very dry conditions across the island.

"The soil dryness and fuel hazard in remnant native vegetation remains a major concern,"

said CFS regional commander Mark Thomason.

"Although the western part of the island has started to green, other areas continue
to represent a serious fire danger risk.

"It's better to be cautious and wait a bit longer before lifting the restrictions,
especially after the devastating fires on the island last December."

Over a two-week period bushfires destroyed almost 100,000 hectares of scrub, about
17 per cent of the island.

At one stage up to 700 firefighters from five states were battling the fires. Three
separate blazes were of most concern, one in the Flinders Chase National Park, one at
Western River on the north coast and one at D'Estrees Bay on the south coast.

As well as causing major damage, the fires claimed one life, with the body of 22-year-old
Joel Riley found in his burnt out truck near Vivonne Bay on December 6, the day the fires
broke out.

The CFS said the fire danger season had ended in nine of South Australia's 15 fire ban districts.

In the remaining five districts, it would close on April 30.

AAP tjd/bwl

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES SA

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

NSW: Soldier accused helping sell rocket launchers out on bail

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
NSW: Soldier accused helping sell rocket launchers out on bail

SYDNEY, Dec 20 AAP - A former soldier accused of playing a role in the sale of stolen
army rocket launchers has been released on bail by a Sydney court.

Justice Ian Harrison, in the NSW Supreme Court, today ruled that Dean Steven Taylor,
39, of Mount Annan in Sydney, did not pose a threat to a key witness, named only as Mr
Harrington.

"The evidence against the applicant is likely to consist of that of Mr Harrington ...

(who) will give evidence he was the person to whom the items were delivered," Justice
Harrison said today.

"In my opinion I am ... satisfied that he does not pose a threat to the community at
large or to Mr Harrington."

This was despite a transcript of a secretly recorded conversation tendered to the court
in which Taylor appeared to state he would "nail" anyone who contacted authorities.

Justice Harrison said this was only "one reading" of the conversation and he said Taylor
would be implicated immediately if any foul play were to meet Mr Harrington.

Taylor's partner also offered a $30,000 surety to be forfeited if he breached his bail
conditions.

Taylor's bail application followed his committal to stand trial on April 7 for his
role in the distribution of 10 rocket launchers, stolen from the Australian Defence Force
in 2002.

Taylor, a former infantry corporal, allegedly received two rocket launchers, two rockets
and five hand grenades from his former brother-in-law, army captain Shane Della-Vedova.

Della-Vedova is accused of stealing the weapons during his time as an armaments destruction
specialist in the army.

Both men allegedly conspired with the man known as Mr Harrington to on-sell the weapons
to criminals for up to $12,000 each.

Mr Harrington knew the soldiers through Taylor's wife, and turned informant on the
scam earlier this year, wearing a wire to a meeting with the pair in March.

AAP dr/bd/was/sp

KEYWORD: TAYLOR

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: NRL footballer rape case adjourned

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2007
FED: NRL footballer rape case adjourned

The rape case against Gold Coast rugby league star ANTHONY LAFFRANCHI has been adjourned
in a Sydney court.

The 26-year-old has been excused from appearing in Burwood Local Court today .. on
a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.

LAFFRANCHI has strenuously protested his innocence.

Representing the Titans forward .. solicitor JOHN BYRNES has told Magistrate JANE MOTTLEY
all evidence has been served.

Ms MOTTLEY's continued LAFFRANCHI's bail and excused him from appearing when the case
returns to the same court for mention on September 12.







The charge relates to an incident after premiership celebrations in Sydney last September
.. involving LAFFRANCHI and other members of his then club Wests Tigers.

A 26-year-old woman met the footballers at a Kings Cross nightclub and returned to
one of their apartments.

She claims she was drugged and sexually interfered with.

AAP RTV ajc/wjf/tm/bart

KEYWORD: LAFFRANCHI (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Man still critical following Valentine's Day murder

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2007
NSW: Man still critical following Valentine's Day murder

A man .. who's acccused of killing his ex-wife's lover on Valentine's Day .. remains
in a critical condition in a Sydney hospital under police guard.

Last night 48-year-old TONY RILEY was airlifted from Mudgee Hospital to Westmead Hospital
by NRMA Careflight.

The body of DAVID GLENN NICHOLS was found yesterday morning in Gulgong .. near Mudgee
in central New South Wales.

Mr RILEY was found yesterday afternoon in the office of his Mudgee branch .. with a
gunshot wound in his head.

AAP RTV nr/klw/ibw/rt

KEYWORD: SHOOTING (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Senator Fielding expresses shock at Chipp's death

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
Fed: Senator Fielding expresses shock at Chipp's death

Family First Senator STEVE FIELDING says he's shocked at the death of Australian Democrats
founder DON CHIPP .. who influenced his decision to enter politics.

Senator FIELDING says Mr CHIPP .. who died yesterday at the age of 81 .. was a mentor
.. a role model and a friend.

He says it was a meeting with Mr CHIPP during the 2004 election campaign .. that helped
him decide to have a shot at federal politics.

AAP RTV rp/so/wjf/bart

KEYWORD: CHIPP FIELDING (CANBERRA)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Ageing vets refuse offer to shorten march

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2006
Vic: Ageing vets refuse offer to shorten march

Second World War veterans .. many into their 80s .. have refused an offer by organisers
to shorten Melbourne's Anzac Day parade.

DAVID MCLACHLAN .. Victoria's RSL president .. says last year's march was shortened
to help the aging veterans.

But older veterans say they'd prefer to join the parade as it nears the Shrine of the
Remembrance where the commemoration service is held .. if they can't make the entire march.

Major-General MCLACHLAN says their spirit is incredible .. but the march is very physically
demanding.

Up to seven-thousand-500 Second World War World veterans are expected to take part
in this year's commemoration in Melbourne .. joining veterans of wars in Korea .. Vietnam
.. Iraq and Afghanistan .. and former members of overseas peacekeeping forces.

AAP RTV jmw/cp

KEYWORD: ANZAC MELBOURNE (MELBOURNE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Rrestaurant diner robbed at gunpoint

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2005
NSW: Rrestaurant diner robbed at gunpoint

SYDNEY, April 15 AAP - A diner at a restaurant in south-western Sydney was forced to
hand over his wallets at gunpoint last night after robbers fired a shot above his head.

NSW Police said two men approached diners sitting outside a pizza restaurant in St
Johns Park about 7.40pm and fired a shot into the awning.

One man handed over his wallet and the robbers fled.

AAP kjd/lb

KEYWORD: PIZZA

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

GIVE THAT GRAY MATTER A WORKOUT

Work a grind? The day-to-day minutia of the job starting to turn that once brilliant mind of yours into mush?Well, don't let it happen.

Exercise that out-of-shape gray matter.

Mind Gym: Simon & Schuster Interactive, 486DX-66 or higher, Windows 3.1/95/98, 8MB of RAM (16MB recommended for Windows 95/98), 4X CD-ROM. www.ssinteractive.com

Keeping the creative spark going can be tough under the burdens of work, raising a family, paying taxes, etc.

If you're feeling flat, Simon & Schuster offers a mental workout to make your mind nimble once again.

Mind Gym starts out in the changing room.

There, users undergo a series of amusing and thought-provoking exercises designed to create a personality assessment.

Once completed, users can save their work so that the changing room process doesn't have to be repeated.

Of course, you can redo the session (I can't be that boring and straight-laced, can I?)

Mind Gym then offers three areas to explore and expand your mind.

The Game Room is just that, a place to challenge yourself with brief games designed to develop quick-thinking, mathematics, word and memory skills.

In the Spy Simulator, users hide spy gadgets in everyday objects.

Then, enemy agents appear and users must quickly retrieve the gadget needed to eliminate them.

For math fans, the Big Kahuna Burger can be a real challenge.

Players build a burger of a certain calorie count by adding ingredients and applying condiments.

Each condiment is a different function: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

This proves trickier than in sounds in that each ingredient must be followed by a condiment.

And, you've only got 30 seconds.

Gridlock is a version of Hangman in which users select letters to complete phrases.

Mind Gym's other two areas offer similar exercises, but with a different focus.

Users will maneuver through mazes, work drop-and-divert puzzles and more.

The activities in the Pool of Ideas are designed to boost creative thinking.

In the Think Tank, users will work on making their ideas a reality.

If you're feeling a little stale, Mind Gym's offbeat humor and mental gymnastics will help.

Maybe this program should be on every PC in the office.

It's more stimulating than a coffee break.

Gizmos 98: Play Inc. ($49.95), www.play.com

Windows 98 surely is a big improvement over prior versions, but it's not perfect.

With Gizmos 98, Play Inc. offers a suite of utilities to fill the gaps in Windows' offerings.

Users can install all or some of the programs, which fall in four areas. All the features are in the Gizmos 98 launch pad, which can be minimized or turned off.

With Performer 98, users can attach photos to e-mail or create their own video shows, complete with photos, sound effects and narration.

Performer 98 will prove particularly useful for business presentations.

Performer 98 takes a slide show-style program and applies video and sound effects for a truly professional look.

Picture management also includes Picture Explorer, which finds all pictures on a hard drive and displays them on one screen.

There also is the ability to use photos to create personalized calendars.

Among the desktop accessories are a CD player and four calculators designed for scientific or business purposes.

Also featured are atomic clocks, which can be automatically synchronized via the Internet.

On the security side, the Shredder allows users to permanently dispose of files, while the Vault provides for password protection of sensitive files.

Gizmos 98 isn't all work and no play.

The entertainment side includes attractive screen savers, desktop themes, six 3-D card games and a picture puzzler.

The video cube offers a variety of backgrounds upon which a cube, comprised of photos you pick, spins.

With Gizmos 98, life with Windows gets a whole lot better. Upgrade advice

A new study by the ZD Testing and Analysis Group reports that adding RAM will provide a bigger performance boost for most PC owners over upgrading the processor.

Usually this also means a lower cost, too.

For more information on the testing, check out the Web site at www.rammatters.com/proof.

After Nov. 1, the site also should have a RAM calculator to help PC users determine how much RAM their PC needs.