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Reserch Senter(*)
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Selecting latest news stories and other data for you...
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Everyone's so eager to get the story before, in fact, the story's
there that the world is constantly being fed things that haven't happened.
	-- US Def Sec Don Rumsfeld, complaining it's the US *media*
	   that's lying to Americans, 03 Mar 2003.

-------------------------------------------------
Mon, 03 Mar 2003.

Gaza City.  INCURSION KILLS 7! Palestinian sources say 7 people, incl
a woman and 9 yo child, have been killed and 25 other people wounded
in an Israeli army incursion into the Gaza Strip.  A 7-story block of
flats, the home of 50 people, was demolished by the army, said the
sources.  The army said the building had been used as cover to fire on
soldiers.  3 other houses were also demolished. A woman and a young
boy were crushed in one operation.  The action follows an Israeli
warning of "tough action" against militants and their sympathisers.  A
security source says around 40 Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles
accompanying soldiers have moved into the El Bureij refugee camp S of
Gaza City, meeting with stiff resistance.

Arezzo.  SHOOTOUT! Italian authorities have arrested a suspected
guerrilla after a deadly gunfight aboard a moving train.  Transport
police captured Desdemona Lioce -- a suspected member of the so-called
New Red Brigades -- on a Florence-bound train after the shootout in
which an officer died and another was seriously injured.  Lioce was
named as an accomplice in the investigation into the 1999 murder of
Massimo D'Antonia an adviser to the labour ministry who was gunned
down outside his Rome home.

Italian 'reds' trigger train shootout
Rome (AP).  2 Red Brigades terrorists, apparently fearing they were
about to be arrested, triggered a shootout yesterday on a
Florence-bound train, leaving a policeman dead and one of the
terrorists fatally wounded, authorities said.  The shootout began
after 2 policemen asked to see the ID papers of 2 passengers, a man
and woman, witnesses and authorities said.  Italian state radio
reported early today that the male passenger, who witnesses said put a
pistol to the head of a policeman and fired a fatal shot, and was then
himself shot by a 3rd policeman rushing to his fellow officers' aid,
died in a hospital in Arezzo, Tuscany.  The woman passenger, state TV
reported, immediately refused to answer investigators' questions after
she was arrested and taken off the train, declaring only that she was
a "political prisoner," a throwback to the belligerent stance of
members of the extreme-left Red Brigades gang, which terrorised Italy
in the 1970s and 1980s with kidnappings and assassinations.

Caracas. BIKERS PROTEST BOMBINGS!  100s of bikers rode today to
protest 3 recent bombings in Venezuela that have injured about a dozen
people.  The govt and opp'n are blaming each other for the incidents,
that come after a general strike has crippled the country's economy.
Meanwhile, another bomb exploded, injuring several more people.

3 Arab nations call for Saddam to resign
Dubai (AP).  The UAE won support Sun from several
Persian Gulf nations in its call for Saddam Hussein to quit power to
avert a war, while Iraq poured scorn on the Emirates, calling it a
tool of Israel.
The king of Bahrain said he backs the call for Saddam to go, according
to the Emirates state news agency. Kuwait's Cabinet also backed the
measure, the official Kuwaiti news agency said.  Kuwait has allowed
tens of 1000s of US troops to deploy in its territory ahead of a
possible invasion of neighbouring Iraq. The tiny Gulf island of Bahrain
also is a key US ally, hosting the base of the American 5th Fleet.
The Emirates' proposal -- 1st made Sat at an Arab summit -- further
highlighted the deep divisions in the Arab world over how to deal with
the Iraq crisis and US threats of war.  Arab leaders Sat refused to
discuss the proposal, which was the first open call by an Arab nation
for Saddam to go into exile.
The Emirates on Sun sought backing among its fellow Gulf nations, the
most receptive audience in the Arab world for the Iraqi leader's
removal. Other Arab nations, however, have rejected the idea of
pressuring Saddam to quit, saying they cannot interfere in Iraq's
domestic affairs.
Several nations, led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, want to press Iraq to
comply with UN disarmament demands; another bloc, led by Syria, wants
to express staunch support for Iraq and reject any war.  The Emirates
insisted Sun that pressuring Saddam to leave Iraq was the only way to
avert military action.
Iraq -- which has repeatedly said Saddam will not step down -- derided
the Emirates.  Iraqi For Min Naji Sabri said Sheik Zayed's proposal
must have originated from Israeli leader Ariel Sharon.  The proposal
"found its way quickly to the garbage pail," Sabri said Sat.
At the Sharm el-Sheik summit, Arab leaders rejected a war on Iraq and
decided to send diplomats to the UN and to Baghdad to lay out the Arab
position.  Arab League Sec-Gen Amr Moussa said Sun he was working to
settle the makeup of those delegations, which will leave "within
days." But diplomats said questions still remained over what message
the delegates would take to Baghdad.
Arab diplomats said the delegation 1st would go to NY. The Baghdad
mission will be more difficult, the diplomats said, speaking on
condition of anonymity. The Arabs were divided over the purpose of a
Baghdad visit or even whether to make one.
Syria, Lebanon and Yemen proposed that a delegation head only to
Washington with a firm anti-war message. But other Arab League members
wanted a delegation to go to Baghdad to urge Saddam to cooperate with
UN weapons inspectors or advise him to step down.

Washington (Media Watch). IT'S NOT JUST SHANE'S MUM!  A psychiatrist
has told a Washington newspaper that rejection by his mother at an
early are was responsible for turning Saddam Hussein into a murderous tyrant.

Baghdad. ANTHRAX!  Significant traces of anthrax and the VX nerve agent
have turned up during excavations as Iraq steps up its disarmament
effort, saying it's doing all it can to avert a US-led war.  The UN
is investigating sites where Iraq says it destroyed all its bio and
chem weapons in the 1990s.  At the same time the US-Brit alliance is
grappling with miliary and diplomatic setbacks.  Turkey's ruling party
has been stunned by parliament's refusal to allow US troops to use
Turkey as a base to attack N Iraq. Conflicting reports say the govt
will or will not consider a new vote on the decision early next wk.

Baghdad.  UN IS CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO WAR! Iraq has called on America
to settle the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over the
occupied territories as a cheap way to quell international terrorism.
Gen Amer al-Saadi says the war being pushed by US Pres Bush Jr and
Brit PM Tony Blair would cost American taxpayers $US80 bn, but the UN
inspection process was a much cheaper alternative to achieve Iraqi
disarmament.  He went on to say dealing with the Israeli occupation of
the territories would cost the US neither blood nor money, but would
combat global terrorism. Gen Amer also said if it seemed the US was
not "going the legal way" Iraq would cease co-operation with UN
inspectors.

US begins screening all travellers for nuclear material
Washington (NY Times).  All travellers arriving in the US will now be
screened by border inspectors for radiological materials.  The extra
scrutiny, launched at the weekend, is designed to stop terrorists
bringing into the country nuclear material that could be used to make
a dirty bomb.  The US Customs commissioner, Robert Bonner, said every
person entering the country -- about 1/2 mn per day -- would be
screened by at least one inspector carrying a radiation detector.
The move heads a series of counter-terrorism measures introduced after
the Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service and 18
other fed agencies merged into the new Dept of Homeland Sec on Sat.
The expanded screenings are not expected to cause delays at borders.
Officials said all trucks entering the US would also be screened for
radiation.  Cargo sent by sea and air would continue to be screened
only on a selective basis, although officials said the Homeland
Sec Dept planned to have complete radiation screening of such
cargo within a y.

Rumsfeld accuses US media of misleading the public
Washington.  US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld has criticised the American
media for producing misinformation.  At a briefing at the Pentagon in
Washington, the Def Sec came under heavy questioning about the safety
of US troops who are helping deal with rebels in the S Philippines.
Mr Rumsfeld accused one journalist of trying to stir up trouble and
told the assembled group of reporters that, generally, they are
feeding the world wrong info.  "You get told things every day that
don't happen, it doesn't seem to bother people, it gets printed in the
press, the world thinks all these things happen, they never happen,"
he said.  "Everyone's so eager to get the story before, in fact, the
story's there that the world is constantly being fed things that
haven't happened."

US accused of spying on Sec Council delegates
London.  America's top spy agency is reportedly conducting a secret
surveillance campaign against UN Sec Council delegations as part
of its push to gain support for war against Iraq.  The op, which
involves intercepting home and office telephones and the emails of UN
delegates in NY, has been reported in London's Observer.
The countries targeted are Angola, Cameroon, Chile, Bulgaria, Guinea
and Pakistan, whose votes will be crucial to the passing of a 2nd
British and US-sponsored UN res authorising force against Iraq.
The details were in a memo, leaked to the paper, written by Frank
Koza, a top official at the National Sec Agency, America's key
and highly secretive intel agency.  The memo has been circulated to
snr NSA agents and to a friendly foreign intel agency, believed to be
Brit, asking for its input.
It refers to surveillance ops directed at UN Sec Council members
"to provide up-to-the-minute intel for Bush officials on the voting
intentions of UN members regarding the issue of Iraq".  The memo
advises NSA officials that the agency is "mounting a surge" aimed at
gleaning info on how delegations on the Sec Council will vote on
any 2nd res on Iraq and on policies, negotiating positions,
alliances and dependencies.
The agency wants any info "that could give US policy makers an edge in
obtaining results favourable to US goals or to head off surprises",
the memo reportedly says.
Since the memo was written on Jan 31, Bulgaria has joined the US,
Brit and Spain in supporting a 2nd res.
The existence of Mr Koza's memo highlights the intense pressure on
undecided delegations at the 15-member Sec Council as the US and
Brit attempt to counter opp'n to the war by France, Germany, Russia
and China.
The NSA's surveillance op is believed to have been requested by Pres
Bush's National Sec Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and reveals the
scope and intensity of spy op against supposedly friendly nations at
the Sec Council.
Mr Koza, the chief of staff of the agency's regional-targets section,
asked the foreign agency to get "word to your analysts who might have
similar more indirect access to valuable info from accesses in your
product lines (ie, intel sources)".
Diplomats from the targeted countries have recently been complaining
about America's aggressive tactics ahead of a crucial UN Sec
Council vote on the US-British res.

US Iraq mission riskier without Turkey
Washington.  Without Turkish bases to open a N front against Iraq, the
US military still could take Baghdad, but with more difficulty and
risk, officials and analysts said Sun.  The US war plan calls for
attacks on Iraq from 2 directions, Kuwait in the south and Turkey in
the N. That approach would complicate Iraq's defence planning and ease
US logistical problems.
In a weekend move that surprised US officials, however, the Turkish
Parl rejected a motion that would have granted a US request to
position tens of 1000s of ground forces for the assault into N Iraq
and to station about 200 additional strike aircraft at 2 other bases.
Def officials, speaking Sun on condition of anonymity, said Gen Tommy
Franks, who would command a US war in Iraq, had not yet decided to
give up on Turkey. Franks said in an Associated Press interview last
wk that his war plans are flexible and take into account such
problems.  If Turkish bases were not available to US ground forces,
Franks could opt to airlift a force into N Iraq from Kuwait or
elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. Instead of having the Army's 4th
Infantry Division -- a heavily armoured force -- roll into N Iraq from
Turkey, Franks might choose to use the 101st Airborne Division, a
lighter, air mobile force.
It was not clear whether that was Turkey's last word on the matter.
Reconsideration could come as early as Tue, but the head of Turkey's
ruling party said Sun there are no plans in the "foreseeable future"
to seek another parl vote.  Still, a snr US official said the
administration was evaluating the situation but did not regard the
vote as necessarily final.  Another official said the Turkish vote was
a disappointment and that the US ambassador to Turkey was seeking
clarification from Ankara.
The most pressing decision now for Franks, in consultation with Def
Sec Donald H Rumsfeld and other administration officials, is whether
to abandon the plan to position the 4th Infantry Division in Turkey.
The Fort Hood, Texas-based division's tanks and other weaponry and
supplies are aboard more than 3 dozen ships waiting off the coast
of Turkey. The soldiers remain at Fort Hood. If they cannot go to
Turkey, they most likely would be flown to Kuwait.

Ankara. COST OF INDECISION!  After the shock news of Turkey's failure
to accept US forces for an attack on Iraq, the local market dived 11%
and there are there is reportedly a threatened run on the banks.

Philippine false start for US combatants
Singapore.  The US has been forced into another retreat over plans to
deploy more than 1,700 troops against Islamic terrorists in the S
Philippines after a fierce local political backlash.  The deployment
was shelved indefinitely after the US Def Sec, Donald Rumsfeld, and
his Philippine counterpart, Gen Angelo Reyes, failed to agree on a
legal definition to circumvent a Philippine const'l prohibition on
domestic combat ops by foreign forces.
A Pentagon announcement 10 days ago that US troops would take an
active role in fresh joint ops against Abu Sayyaf rebels in Mindanao
province sparked an outcry from Philippine nationalists and opp'n
politicians.
Washington is reported to have resisted pressure from Philippine
officials to describe its involvement as a training exercise because
its troops would be in a combat zone and likely to come under fire.
After meeting Gen Reyes in Washington at the weekend, Mr Rumsfeld
conceded they had failed to resolve the issue and he could not say
when US forces would be deployed.
The backdown is a humiliating reversal for the US, which believed a
deal was in place. About 1000 marines were reported to have boarded
ships in Okinawa last wk for the voyage to the Philippines, and 350
special forces troops were preparing for jungle combat.  Pres Gloria
Arroyo last wk gave the Philippine military a 90-day deadline to crush
the Abu Sayyaf, linked by Washington and Manila to al-Qaeda and blamed
for a spate of murders and kidnappings over the past few y.
During last y's ops, several hundred US troops were confined to
advisory and support roles and permitted to fire only in
self-defence. It is unclear what the Pentagon believed had changed in
the latest deployment.
Moves by Mrs Arroyo to build a closer military relationship with the
US have sparked controversy in the Philippines, where popular unrest
forced the closure of 2 big US bases a decade ago.

Tokyo. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, SEND IN THE OLD COMMUNISTS! Japan
has asked Fidel Castro to use his influence in P'yongyang to help head
off the Korean nuclear crisis.  Japan's PM Junichiro Koizumi
personally asked the Cuban Pres to intercede and persuade North Korean
authorities not to go ahead and restart their nuclear weapons program.
Japan was the last stop on Castro's 3-day 4-country Asian tour, which
took in the NAM summit last wk.

North Korea waiting for Iraq attack
Washington (NY Times).  The Bush Administration's experts on N
Korea and intel officials have told Pres George Bush they expect that
the N will turn on the reprocessing plant that can produce
weapons-grade plutonium in the next few weeks.  The officials say they
believe that N Korea may time the bomb-making to coincide with the
start of military action against Iraq, a moment when N Korea may
think that the US is distracted.  Officials with access to the intel
said spy satellites showed a steady stream of activity around the
reprocessing plant, and detected a test last m of the power system
that would have to be activated before the country's stockpile of
8,000 spent fuel rods could be turned into plutonium.
The Dep Sec of State, Richard Armitage, warned Congress last m that
after N Korea had enough Pu to create what it considered a
credible nuclear threat it could sell it to a "rogue state".  The
director of the Def Intel Agency, Adml Lowell Jacoby, said this could
be "the most serious challenge to US interests in the north-east Asia
area in a generation".
The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, has said restarting the
reprocessing plant would be a disaster, allowing N Korea to
"produce several atomic bombs in half a year".  An internat'l
consortium overseeing the construction of 2 nuclear reactors in
N Korea has agreed to slow the pace of the project, Kyodo news
agency quoted Japanese Govt sources as saying. The decision, if
confirmed, is bound to anger power-starved N Korea.

Iraq threatens to stop missile destruction
Baghdad.  Iraq has threatened to stop destroying its banned Al Samoud
2 missiles if Washington presses ahead with plans to invade outside
the authority of the UN.  Iraq has so far destroyed 10 missiles over
the past 2 days in line with demands from chief weapons inspector
Hans Blix.  Speaking at a press conference Iraq's chief scientific
advisor Gen Amer al-Saadi has warned that Baghdad will review the
dismantling of its missile program if Washington's war rhetoric
persists.  Asked whether the destruction of the missiles would
seriously weaken Iraq's military capability he said the sacrifice was
a calculated op.

Pakistani protesters march against war
Karachi.  In Pakistan tens of 1000s of protesters have marched through
the city of Karachi in opp'n to a possible US-led war in Iraq.  An
estimated 100,000 protesters brandished posters of Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein while effigies of US Pres George W Bush and British Prime Min
Tony Blair were burnt.  The rally was called by a coalition of Islamic
parties who have made strong political gains on the back of anti-US
sentiment initially stirred by Washington's military intervention in
neighbouring Afghanistan.

US says Al Qaeda shaken by arrest
Washington.  Key members of the US Congress claim the arrest of
alleged Al Qaeda mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed will curb the
terrorist group's planned spring offensive in Afghanistan.  Republican
Party members say the arrest shows the US's campaign against terrorism
is producing results.  Senate intel committee chairman Pat Roberts
says Mohammed's arrest will have a profound impact on Al Qaeda.  "It's
a giant step backwards for Al Qaeda who is mounting a spring offensive
for use in Afghanistan," he said.  "Now their operations commander is
simply out of operation."  There are reports that FBI and CIA agents
are already tracking down people believed to be Al Qaeda members as a
result of the arrest.

Terrorist arrest throws light on JI
Karachi.  The capture of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed not only casts new
light on the Sep 11 attacks on the US, it offers SE Asian police
potentially their best insight yet into al-Qa'ida's regional ops,
especially by Jemaah Islamiah.
Khalid has some of the clearest links of any snr terrorist agent to
JI, the group blamed for the Bali bombings.  But compared with his
regional al-Qa'ida cohorts, Hambali and Mohammed Mansour Jabarrah, he
has remained a background player more often mentioned for his role in
the attacks on NY and Washington.
However, his name and reputation are just as well known in Singapore
where, if not for a few false moves by his operatives, Khalid would
have executed a terrorist spectacular 6 y earlier -- sending 11
hijacked jetliners into the Pacific.  Khalid was also the key
controller of a foiled plan by JI to bomb W embassies, including the
AUS high commission, in Singapore in late 2001.
He dispatched key lieutenant Jabarrah with funds to the region on Sep
10, 2001, to develop the suicide-bomber plan.  Other operatives
already arrested have named Khalid as the key mastermind, and
Singapore's Internal Sec Dept claims to be holding strong
evidence the plan was his.
AUS and Indonesian authorities hope Khalid's de-briefings will offer
more insights into al-Qa'ida's involvement in the Bali atrocity and
JI's activities elsewhere in the region.  As head of al-Qa'ida's
military division he was likely to have been the point man for the
terrorist group's main man in southeast Asia -- Hambali, who is
believed to have fled to Pakistan.

Algiers. FRIENDSHIP TREATY! France and Algeria look set to kick off a
new era of co-operation as French Pres Jacques Chirac arrived on a
friendship tour today. It was the first state visit from a French Pres
since the country's indep 40 ya.  Although the relationship between
the 2 countries has been "prickly" since indep, at least 1 mn cheering
citizens turned out today to see the French Pres.  Chirac and Pres
Bouteflika later signed a friendship treaty, to support Algerian
economic reforms, fight terrorism, and improve the bi-lateral dialogue.

Manila. QUAKE! A moderate quake has shaken the city of Manila in the
Philippines.  Officials say there are no reports of damage or
casualties.  The Philippines Inst of Vol and Seis says tremors have
also been felt in the cities of Tarlac, Palayan, Baler, and Angelse, N
of Manila.  The epicentre of the quake was about 120 km NE of the capital.

Taipei. QUAKES! 2 earthquakes measuring 4.2 and 4.0 on the Richter
scale have shaken Taiwan.  There are no immediate reports of
casualties or damage.  Seismologists say the first quake struck at
7.37 am with its epicentre 10.1 km E of the E city of Ilan and
originated 18 km below sea level.  The 2nd quake hit at 11.12 am from
an epicentre 8.8 km NE of Tsoshan in the S city of Chiayi.  Its
origins were 6.1 km below the earth's crust.

Catania. VOLCANO! Scientists believe Mt Etna could be brewing up for
more frequent and dangerous eruptions in the nr future.  The Sicilian
volcano, 1 of the most active on earth, has ended a major period of
eruption.  According to Italian vulcanologists more explosive trouble
could be on the way.  The team, led by Domenico Patane from the Nat'l
Geophysical and Vul'y Inst in Catania, has analysed 647 earthquakes
that originated nr Etna between 1994 and 2001.

New regulations force companies to disclose golden handshakes
Sydney.  The ASX will force listed companies to disclose the salary
and termination packages of execs under new regulations being drafted.
The ASX Corporate Governance Council has been working on the
guidelines since late last y with shareholders groups and the Fed
Govt.  The guidelines aim to increase the transparency of companies in
relation to exec salaries and auditing procedures.  ASX chairman Ted
Rofe says the regulations will make companies more answerable to
shareholders.  "Remuneration should bear a reasonable relationship to
company performance," he said.  "What's been of particular concern to
shareholders, I think, in the last y or so are very high
termination payments which have been made to chief execs and other
senior execs who've obviously failed to do their job."

ACT bushfire inquiry opens
Canberra.  An inquiry has started into the response of emergency
services to the ACT bushfires.  The Jan fires claimed 4 lives and
destroyed almost 500 homes.  Former Commonwealth ombudsman Ron McLeod
has begun work on the independent inquiry set up by the ACT Govt soon
after the devastating fires.  Public submissions have been called for
and it is expected Mr McLeod will report by the end of July.  His
review is separate from a coronial inquest into the 4 deaths.  The
ACT Opp'n this wk will table a private member's bill to give legal
protection to witnesses before the inquiry - something the Govt has
indicated it is willing to support.

Carr happy to accept Greens preferences
Sydney.  NSW Prem Bob Carr says he is happy to accept the preferences
of the Greens at the coming state election.  The state Coalition has
challenged Mr Carr to follow their lead and rule out any preference
deals with the Greens in protest against the minor party's drug
policy.  But Mr Carr says while he will leave it to the ALP head
office to decide the party's preference strategy, he is happy to
accept Green preferences.  Mr Carr and Opp'n leader John Brogden have
both condemned the Greens proposal to decriminalise illegal drugs such
as amphetamines and marijuana.  Under the Greens' plan, ecstasy,
cannabis, heroin and other drugs would be distributed to registered
addicts from state regulated health clinics.  The use of such drugs
would also be de-criminalised.  Mr Carr is strongly opposed to the
proposal.  "I don't want us to be a pill-popping society with
youngsters boiling their brains on amphetamines and marijuana," he
said.  Mr Brogden has refused to negotiate preference deals with the
Greens because of their stance and wants the Prem to do the same.
However with the Greens tipped to poll strongly the distribution of
their preferences in several marginal seats may be crucial.

Adelaide. HANDY-CAMS SHOOTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS!  The handycam, mobile,
cheap and easily hidden, has risen above its home-video origins to
become a powerful human rights weapon. The hand-held video camera went
on the market 17 y ago as a plaything for enthusiasts to record
childhood moments and family weddings.  Since then, 150 mn have been
sold and human rights activists such as the London-based Witness
organisation have begun distributing them as a protection against
human rights abuses.
In Seeing is Believing, a documentary about the politicisation of the
handycam showing at the Adel Internat'l Film Festival, which opened on
Fri, Canadian filmmaker Peter Wintonick records the 1st significant
moment when an amateur video influenced public debate. In 1991 in the
US, amateur cameraman George Holliday filmed white Los Angeles police
officers brutally bashing a black American, Rodney King.  Since then,
amateur video use has become so widespread that almost all news
events, including Sep 11 and the recent destruction of the Columbia
space shuttle, were captured initially by people who were videoing at
the time.
Much of his film is devoted to the unheralded work of video activist
Joey Lozano, who works with a vulnerable group of villagers in the S
Philippines trying to reclaim the land taken from them by the cronies
of former president Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos has gone, but his
powerful friends have held onto their riches, using paid militias to
kill anyone trying to take their land back.
The 1st Adel Internat'l Film Festival runs until March 7.

The story of the rogue cop of Tulia, Texas
Tulia, TX.  You'll find it on Route 27, at the end of a flat and
featureless landscape south of Amarillo, a small town famous for
nothing until suddenly notoriety blew in like a dust storm.
Tulia, Texas: bypassed by time, population 5,000 and falling, some
agriculture, some cattle, but where depressed wheat and beef prices
and a vanishing water-table have left the community facing hard times.
29 churches.
On July 23, 1999, one-tenth of Tulia's black population was arrested
in a much publicised pre-dawn raid. 46 people, 39 of them black, were
hauled off - half-dressed and unkempt as one tends to be at 4 am - to
the local jail.  They were charged with numerous drug-dealing
offences, most involving dealing in expensive powdered cocaine.
Curiously for such a huge drugs bust, no cash, drugs or firearms were
uncovered by the ski-masked cops who turned over the defendants'
modest homes and shacks.
One wk later, the local newspaper, the Tulia Sentinel, celebrated the
arrests with unambiguity: "We do not like these scumbags doing
business in our town. (They are) a cancer in our community, it's time
to give them a major dose of chemotherapy behind bars." And the
headline the following week? "Tulia's Streets Cleared of Garbage."
The jury in the trials comprised all white (bar one man) Tulia
residents, all of whom presumably read the Tulia Sentinel. Everything
was now set for the appearance of the hero of the hour - Tom Coleman,
the undercover narcotics cops who ran the whole sting op
single-handedly.
Coleman used an unusual modus operandi for an undercover narcotics
cop. He worked without a partner, without a wire, without video
surveillance, without fingerprint evidence and without a notebook. He
wrote notes on his leg.  The entire weight of evidence against all the
suspects was based on his honesty and integrity, and the bags of
cocaine (known on the street as "eightballs") he allegedly bought from
the defendants.
The 1st prison sentences handed down were so punishing that many
defendants knowing only too well what happened to a black drug dealer
in a white Texan town, changed their pleas and bargained for the best
they could get. The judge handed out a total of 800 y in prison and
100 y on probation.
Tulia rejoiced, Coleman's back was sore from the slaps, and he was
nominated and awarded Texas Lawman of the Year.  Then, a few little
cracks appeared in the walls of certainty that surrounded the affair.
It turned out that the judge in all the cases had refused to allow the
defence lawyers to inform the jury that Coleman's work record was, in
his own words "a little spotty". He was, in fact, what Texans call a
"Gypsy Cop", freelance paladins who ride from county to county taking
short-term contracts with small impoverished sheriffs' depts, then
moving on and out.
5 of Coleman's cases have now unravelled. Tania White faced a 99-y
prison sentence for selling Coleman cocaine. But there was a
problem. Her lawyer, Jeff Blackburn, proved that she was 100s of
kilometres away at the time, in Oklahoma City cashing a cheque. Case
dismissed.
Ramona Strickland was charged with selling Coleman $100 worth of
cocaine.  Coleman's official report had something scratched out. When
the lawyers examined it under special lights, they discovered Coleman
had originally described Strickland as 6-m pregnant. But she
wasn't. Case dismissed.
Yul Bryant was described by Coleman as a tall black male with bushy
hair.  Bryant is short and bald. Case dismissed.
Billy Don Wafer's workmates proved through time sheets that he was at
work when he was allegedly selling Coleman cocaine. Case dismissed.
But even if Coleman's overall credibility and integrity had taken tiny
knocks there remained the indisputable evidence of the eightballs that
he turned in to his bosses at Amarillo. They were, after all, bags of
cocaine. Yes?
Well not quite.  A police forensic expert confirmed there was some
cocaine in each bag Coleman allegedly bought, but the quantity had
never been revealed.
In London and SYD, the average quantity of cocaine in a bag sold on
the street is 85 to 90% pure. When some of Coleman's bags were
subsequently tested for cocaine content, the results were astonishing.
They ranged from a high of 11.8% to a low of 2.9%. That's insufficient 
to intoxicate a prairie rabbit.
The next oddity in the case came from knocking on endless doors in
Tulia.  There is no powdered cocaine in Tulia. The reason is that it
is far too expensive for the poor. The recreational drugs of choice
are marijuana and some crack.  It's strange that there was a sudden
outbreak of this drug when Coleman arrived to start his undercover sting.
There is one final piece to this jigsaw. I have in my possession the
confidential ex-parte application made by one of the lawyers
representing several defendants. It was presented to the judge in
chambers. One section states: "Counsel will also be able to present
testimony that Coleman purchased large amounts of cocaine in Amarillo
while this investigation was under way."  If this is true, and it does
remain unsubstantiated, then it is odd that no one has been charged
with selling Coleman cocaine in Amarillo.
I have spoken to a lawyer involved in the ex-parte application. He has
given me the name of one of his clients, already in prison for
drug-related offences, as the man who sold Coleman cocaine in
Amarillo. It appears that the cocaine has never been accounted for.
When Coleman turned in his eightballs to the Regional Task Force in
Amarillo, he was given the street price per bag so that he could go
back to Tulia and buy another bag. It has been calculated that he
received several thousand dollars in official police buy money for his
purchases.  At the conclusion of the case everyone seemed happy.
Coleman even managed to pay off $7,000 in debts with money he says he
got from his mother.
Meanwhile, the FBI and the Texas state attorney's office are
investigating Coleman's operation.
After he left Tulia, Coleman took another gypsy cop assignment in
another county. He was fired on the spot following allegations of
sexual impropriety and lying. He now works as a gas pipe
inspector. But 16 defendants remain in prison for long terms.

AUS joins foot and mouth fight
Melbourne.  AUS has joined a project by 15 southeast Asian countries,
to eradicate foot and mouth disease from their region.  Delegates from
the 15 countries met at the Animal Health Laboratories in Geelong this
week, and were told that a new super-vaccine for FMD could be
available in 5 y.  The dir of the Laboratories, Dr Martyn Jeggo is
hopeful of eradicating FMD within the next decade. "Science has moved
on a great deal in the last few y and the current vaccines are based
on technology which is 20-30 y old. There's a real opportunity now to
bring in the new gene-based technologies, to engineer new vaccines."

Sydney.  SNOW SEASON IN NSW! Cold conditions caused light snow falls
around the Thredbo area and Perisher Valley in NSW last night.  The
Weather Bureau says snow showers were recorded above 1,500 but they
cleared overnight.

NZ anger grows at Howard visit
Wellington.  Opposition is mounting in New Zealand to next weekend's
visit by John Howard, whose stand on war with Iraq and recent comments
about joining the US missile defence system are seen by many as
endangering the region.
Anti-war protesters are planning demos outside Mr Howard's public
engagements in Auckland and Wellington over the weekend, and even PM
Helen Clark, who is usually careful to avoid criticising AUS policy,
said joining the missile defence program would encourage the use of
nuclear weapons.  New Zealand does not allow any nuclear testing or
visits to its ports by warships carrying nuclear warheads.
The small but vocal Greens party has been outspoken in its opp'n to Mr
Howard's position on Iraq and missile defence and has demanded his
invitation be revoked.  The protests are expected to culminate with a
demo outside the Beehive parl in Wellington next Mon, when Mr Howard
addresses a state luncheon.

Canberra. MISSILE DEF SYS STILL THE GO!  Speaking to the Nine Network
yesterday, Mr Howard continued to promote the contentious decision to
consider a missile shield, rejecting Labor claims the plan was
impractical and that he was scare-mongering for political purposes.
"North Korea is a huge problem . . . but I don't at the moment see
North Korea as about to launch a missile attack on AUS," Mr Howard
said. "We are in a different world and North Korea is behaving in a
very reckless fashion, and all I'm saying to the AUS people is let us
examine all the options."
Opp'n Leader Simon Crean said the floating of plans for a defensive
system on AUS soil sent mixed messages to the region.  "What [Mr
Howard] has done is to again raise the fear of an attack from North
Korea, at the same time as his For Min is up there telling North
Korea, 'Don't be frightened of an attack from the US'," Mr Crean said.
"It's the PM wanting to raise fear in the domestic economy."
Mr Howard has said non-nuclear missiles and laser weapons could be
deployed on AUS soil if the Govt enlisted in a US-backed missile
defence scheme. "We have a prime minister who has moved from Darth
Vader to Dr Evil," Mr Crean said.

NRMA boss resigns as loss hits $60m
Sydney (AAP).  Motoring organisation NRMA today announced that Rob
Carter has resigned as CEO.  NRMA president Ross Turnbull also said
the motoring organisation expected a loss for the current fiscal y of
around $60 million.  Mr Turnbull said Mr Carter left on amicable terms
with a final payment of $888,950, comprising salary and leave
entitlements.  The NRMA board has commenced a search for an
appropriate successor with COO Peter Steele appointed as interim chief exec.
Mr Turnbull said that in light of the deteriorating financial position
of the NRMA the new board had resolved to examine ways to cut costs
and increase revenue to ensure its ongoing viability.  He highlighted
that NRMA had an investment portfolio valued at around $500 million.
He said however it was clear that it would not support the covering of
costs by selling these investments.  NRMA said that the expected $60
mn loss for the current financial y would almost treble the previous
y's loss of $23 million.

Sydney. MARKETS!  The markets were un-phased by a raft of bad news
today, with the All Ords closing up 13 pts to 2792.  The AUD was also
trading higher at 60.80 US cents.  The ABS released record BOP numbers
today, showing a current account deficit up 40% over the prev Q to
$11.5 bn, 6% of GDP.  Exports fell by 2.4% over the Q, a decline not
seen since 1957.  Foreign debt was also at record levels of $354 bn.
Inventories unexpectedly fell 0.4% in Jan. But on the other hand, new
housing starts were up 23%, leaving experts wondering when that bubble
will burst.  In Parliament, Treas Peter Costello compared the current
account favourably with AUS's record recession of the 90s under PM
Keating.  The PM said govt debt under the Opp'n had been at 49% of
GDP. He might have meant $A49 bn.  That's why he isn't the Treas.

Africa. CRICKET!  That Canadian, Davison, was at it again today.
Playing in the World Cup for what commentators charitably called
"cricket minnows", the guy was knocking them out of the ball
park... er... oval.  He scored 75 of the Canadian total 196 in their
game against NZ. The Kiwis won by 5 wkts.

-------------------------------------------------
Tue, 04 Mar 2003.

Sydney (7 am). MARKETS!  After trading in pos territory most of the
day, the Dow Jones slumped 53 pts to 7837.  The Nasdaq was also
down 16 pts to 1326. Oil was also down to $US35.67/bbl.  But the AUD
has shattered the 61 US cent barrier o'night as the greenback came
under renewed pressure.  At 7 am the AUD was 61.51 US cents.

Washington. INTERCEPTION!  The situation has gone from "not a crisis"
to critical.  A Pentagon rep says 4 North Korean fighter jets
intercepted a US surveillance plane and locked onto it with targeting
radar over the weekend.  The rep says the USAF RC-135S was about 240
km off the NK coast when it was intercepted by NK MiG's that came
within 125 m (ABC says 15 m).  Lt Cmdr Jeff Davis says the planes were
armed and shadowed the US aircraft for 22 mins. It was the most
significant incident between the US and NK since the nuclear stand-off
began last y.  It was also the first air incident in 30 years. The
last time, a US aircraft was shot down by NK warplanes, killing more
than a dozen crew on board.  NK TV says the presence of US spy planes
and the announcement of joint US/SK war games are signs of an
impending attack.  Countries in the region are now urging the US to
hold direct talks with the communist country to head of a crisis.

Washington. FIGHTER ESCORTS! The US has escalated the standoff with
NK, indicating future spy flights off the NK coast will be escorted by
US fighter jets.

Beijing. QUAKE!  A strong mag 5.2 aftershock has hit NW China, where
1000s are still homeless after a mag 6.8 last wk.  State media says
the aftershock rattled Bachu county in the Xinjiang region bordering
Kyrgyzstan.  Bachu and neighbouring Jiashi county were the worst-hit
areas in last wk's strong quake that razed 8,000 buildings and left at
least 260 people dead.

Kano.  80 MISSING! A state rep says more than 80 people are still
missing 2 days after a boat sank crossing the Niger R in N Nigeria.
Kebbi State rep Abdullahi Zuru says 9 bodies and 5 survivors have been
recovered from the boat, said to have been carrying 100 passengers on
Sat when it hit a rock and capsized.  He says it's too early to know
the number of people who died in the mishap, but survivors from the
wreck say the boat was carrying about 100 people to a local market.

Qatar. EXILE OFFER REJECTED!  The UAE proposal to ask Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein to step down has been rejected by the Arab League in a
meeting in Qatar o'night.

Baghdad. ATTACK! Iraq says US and Brit warplanes have killed 6
civilians and wounded another 15 in raids on the S province of Basra.
Washington says the jets attacked military targets after coming under
AAA fire.  An military rep for Baghdad says the planes patrolling the
US-imposed S no-fly zone entered Iraqi airspace late on Sun and
targeted civilian areas in Basra.  In a statement on the state Iraqi
News Agency, he said Iraqi AAA units fired at the planes which
returned to bases in Kuwait.

Banda Aceh. RAMPAGING MOB! Officials say a mob has torched an office
housing international monitors overseeing a peace deal between
separatist rebels and the govt in Aceh province.  Human rights worker
David Gorman says 2 local monitors from the Henri Dunant Centre for
Humanitarian Dialogue were slightly injured in the incident in
Takegon, about 300 km S of the prov'l capital Banda Aceh. The Centre
brokered a recently-signed peace deal.

Gaza City. INCURSION! Up to 8 people, incl a 9-m pregnant woman and a
child, have been killed in an Israeli army incursion into the Gaza
Strip early today.  The army was responding to the deaths of 4
soldiers in an ambush last wk, and Israeli govt directives to end the
firing of home-made rockets into Jewish settlements in the region.
The latest incursion came as Israel's new right-wing govt followed
through on threats to crack down on Islamic militants in their S
stronghold.  Hardliners from the Islamic group Hamas responded to the
attacks by firing more home-made rockets at a town near the Gaza
border. Elsewhere, a man died in the West Bank after he was shot in
the leg by Israeli troops.

Baghdad. IRAQ DISARMAMENT!  Iraq is continuing last-ditch efforts to
avert a US-led attack with the destruction of more banned missiles.
Overnight 6 more Al-Samoud 2 missiles were broken up under UN
supervision, bringing the total to 10.  Meanwhile, Pope JP II has
announced he'll address the UN Sec Council in person if his message to
Pres George Bush Jr fails to avert Washington's war plans.  Elsewhere,
French Pres Chirac -- another key figure in the anti-war campaign --
has pressed Iraq to do more to meet UN demands, as Brit says the
current disarmament measures aren't enough to halt an impending war.
French Pres J Chirac also says Iraq must do more to help inspectors
account for WMD.

Baghdad. HAS THE WAR STARTED?  Some observers say the US and Brit are
sliding into war, rather than launching an all-out attack.  The number
of air strikes has doubled in the last 10 days.  Today Iraq claimed 6
civilians were killed and 15 others injured in attacks on civilian
areas in the US-declared no fly zone in S Iraq, nr the city of Basra.  
Observers say the increasing attacks look suspiciously like softening-up
operations, but the US and Brit have denied this.  The Telegraph says
several 1000s special forces, incl AUS troops, are already operating
in N Iraq. But that has been denied by CBR, as late as today.
[If AUS troops were already operating in Iraqi sovereign territory,
it would indicate war with Baghdad was "inevitable", something
PM John Howard and even Brit Tony Blair has repeatedly rejected].
Brit says it attacked 5 sites in self defence after jets on routine
patrol over the S no-fly zone came under attacked from the ground.  
But observers say US/Brit jets are now routinely targeting specific
military centres and equipment near the Kuwait border in preparation
for an all-out US invasion. Over recent days Coal'n aircraft have
attacked missiles they claim could carry chem or bio weapons, and are
threaten their troops in N Kuwait.
The US admits it has "expanded operations" but is targeting specific
sites in response to efforts to attack Coal'n aircraft.  
The Brit Opp'n says an "undeclared war" has already started, but PM
Tony Blair says there hasn't been any shift in his govt's policy.
Answering a different question from the one asked!  
Brit Def Min Hoon told Parliament all Brit operations are "in accord
with international law" and "entirely in self-defence".  Critics
question the legality of preemptively attacking sites such as
surface-to-surface missiles that Iraq has set up to defend against an invasion.
Elsewhere, more B-52's have arrived in Brit.  14 of the long-range
bombers will now be stationed at RAF Fairford, a shared NATO base in
the N Eng.  The aircraft have a range of 12,000 km without refuelling,
and will probably be used to launch salvos of cruise missiles
targeting installations in and around Baghdad.  
The US also ordered another 60,000 troops (ABC says 35,000) to the Gulf today.
Meanwhile, experts say the US is preparing to cut its political losses
at the UN and will probably launch an attack on Iraq next wk.  The
final signal will come when the US/Brit give a warning to aid workers
in Iraq they have 3 days to quit the country.  
In other reports, some of the "human shields" have started to leave
Iraq, complaining Baghdad was using them to shield electric and water
plants.  But yet more are still arriving, from AUS, saying they are
more determined than ever to try to stop American bombing.

Baghdad. NO, NOT THE OIL!  With petrol prices in AUS headed for record
levels, reporters say oil is seen as a mixed blessing in Iraq.  While
gasoline sells for 4 c/L in Baghdad, most citizens think the country's
massive supplies have made them a target for another US-led war.  Iraq
has the 2nd-largest proven reserves of oil in the world.  Normally its
main refinery would pump 100,000 bbl a day. But under UN sanctions
following the 1991 Gulf War that's been reduced by 25%.  Oil can only
be sold on world markets in exchange for a restricted list of goods,
incl food and medicine.  While the US has announced plans to secure
the country's oil fields as a priority to "protect" them from Iraqi
sabotage, Saddam has ordered in troops to guard the country's number
one asset against American attack.  The main refinery took 12 direct
hits in 1991.  Managers say "all parts" of the complex were hit during
Gulf War I.

Athens. TERRORISTS ON TRIAL!  Suspected members of Greek guerrilla
group November 17 have on on trial charged with a string of attacks
and political assassinations during a 3-decade long campaign of
terrorism.  Alleged ringleader Alexandros Yiotopoulos and 18 others
were led into the crowded courtroom under unusually heavy security.
The case -- dubbed the trial of the century -- is the highest-profile
in Greece since the former military junta went on trial in 1975, and
is likely to last 6 m or more.

Islamabad. MASTERMIND IN US CUSTODY!  A US official says suspected
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad is in US custody today, and is
expected to be questioned on details of planning Al Qaeda attacks
after his weekend capture.  Analysts say Mohammad's interrogators
would also be hoping for leads to the world's most wanted man, Osama
bin Laden.  The US official says Khalid's been taken out of Pakistan
to an undisclosed location for interrogation after his capture with 2
other suspects.

Islamabad.  ARREST AFTERMATH! A Telegraph correspondent says Al Qaeda
#3 mastermind Khalid is now outside Pakistan, despite claims by the
Pakistan govt that he's being interrogated by a joint US/Pakistan team
inside the country.  The info the Khalid has in his head, or has been
uncovered on the raid on his home yesterday, is time-critical.  With
the terrorist network likely to change its plans and organisation very
quickly now Khalid is in custody, experts say the Al Qaeda chief will
be "put under pressure" to reveal what he knows, perhaps by
interviewers in Afghanistan.  It's believed a lot of groups now in the
West will scatter, or at least go underground.  Officials say notebook
computers found during the raid have plans to assassinate the Pope and
then-Pres Bill Clinton. There are also plans to fly passenger jets
into the US Navy's bases at Pearl Harbour.  Experts also predict the
network is likely to retaliate for the arrest, possibly on "soft
targets" in SE Asia and AUS.  It's also been revealed the Orange Alert
in the US in Feb and the parallel alert in London was related to intel
Khalid was "plotting something".  They say there is danger that
terrorist cells may now want to carry those plans out.

Nairobi. NEW US EMBASSY!  A new US embassy complex has been
inaugurated in Nairobi, replacing the building destroyed in a
terrorist bombing in 1998 that claimed the lives of 213 people.  US
under-Sec for Mgt, Grant Green, and Kenyan Min of For Af, Kalonzo
Musyoka, have led the ceremony, which began with the laying of a
wreath on a memorial to the 44 embassy employees, both Kenyan and
American, killed in the attack.  Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for
the bombing, with recently-captured Khilad Sheikh Mohammad believed
responsible for its planning and organisation.

Fairbanks. IDITAROD!  64 dog-teams have pushed off on the 31st Trail
Sled Dog Race along a new route drawn up because Alaska's
unusually-warm winter has made snow harder to find.  Amid the din of
barking doggies, several 1000 fans turned out to witness the
Iditarod's first appearance in Fairbanks, more than 400 km N of
Anchorage.  An unusually warm season and lack of snow has created the
oddest race since the 1,770 km race to Nome began in 1973.

Canberra. TRADE DEFICIT! New figures show AUS's m'ly trade deficit has
fallen from a record high in Dec to $1.4 bn in Jan. It marks the 14th
straight months of deficits. The ABS says exports of goods and
services rose $701 mn in Jan, an 11% increase in non-farm exports
offsetting a 5% decline in rural exports.  The improvements come after
rising imports and shrinking exports blew the current account out to
its highest-ever Q'ly deficit in Dec of $11.6 bn.

Canberra. RURAL TRADE DOWN!  AUS's chief commodities forecaster says
rural commodities have taken a blow because of the record
drought. What record?  It says they should bounce back in coming m.
The ABARE says commodity exports will slip 4% to $87 bn this y and
will remain at that level in 2003/4.  Good autumn rains are expected
to help farmers plant this y's major cereal crops.

Canberra. INT RATES! Australia's Reserve Bank meets today to consider
int rates. Economists say they don't expect any change, despite
yesterday's record blow-out in the current account. Homeowners won't
find out if rates are to rise until Wed morning when its decision is
announced to the markets. The current account rocketed to a record $11
bn in 2002Q4 as high imports continued its domination of a record
decline in exports.  Claiming the AUS economy is at an all-time high,
and at the same point as during the post-WWII boom, the fed govt
yesterday laid the blame at the foot of the record drought and
world-wide slowdown following the 9/11 attacks.

Canberra. MEDICARE TO UNDERGO RADICAL SURGERY!  Opp'n Health rep
Stephen Smith says PM John Howard had admitted Medicate bulk-billing
is essentially dead for average Aussie families.  Mr Howard told Parl
yesterday bulk-billing was designed for the disadvantaged and elderly,
and was not intended to be universally available nor was it possible
for his govt to make it available to everyone.  Opinion polls show
more than 90% of Aussies want it.  Despite also claiming AUS was in a
stronger financial position than at any time since WWII, the PM said
the best the govt can now do is maintain a high-availability of
bulk-billing for low-income earners and other disadvantaged groups.
Bulk-billing fell below 70% last m, to their lowest levels in a
decade. It has been operating since 1983 when the then Labor govt
intro'd it as part of universal medical coverage.  Nasty TV channels
have aired sound-bites going back as far as 1995, when 80% of doctors'
consulations were free, where John Howard repeatedly promises to
maintain universal health coverage, specifically promises to keep
bulk-billing, won't change Medicare, and will keep the system "lock,
stock and barrel", and where former Lib Health Mins say that universal
bulk-billing was a pillar of their health policy.

Canberra. COST OF WAR! Treas Peter Costello has announced the cost to
taxpayers of sending troops to the Gulf to support a US war against
Iraq will be $100s of mn.  He says he presently has no exact figure on
the cost because war hasn't started yet and he hopes it doesn't.  Mr
Costello says AUS currently has Hornet fighter planes, amphibious
ships and special forces in the Gulf.  He told radio 2GB the cost of that 
deployment will be $100s of mns and it'll have to come out of the Budget.

Melbourne. DODGY COMPANY SLIPS UP!  A dodgy group that's become
notorious for its mail offers to buy shares at below market value has
slipped up.  The mail-outs normally target people that may not be
aware of the true market value of the shares they own, and typically
offer to buy all the owner's shares for 20% or more below current
market value.  But Ch 7 revealed this morning the company slipped up
trying to buy AMP shares, which have been nose-diving after announcing
huge losses and problems with the AMP's management last wk.  A letter
was mailed out offering to buy AMP shares at 20% ABOVE market prices,
and was immediately snapped up by some savvy "targets". But the
company is now trying to back out of the deal, claiming a technical
problem with the acceptance from the "clients".  Ch 7 reports are
trying to pull strings with consumer and govt groups to get the deals
pushed through.

Sydney. WAR SUPPORT INCREASES MARGINALLY!  A new poll shows support
for Aussie involvement in unilateral military action against Iraq when
up slightly last m.  The latest Newspoll, in today's The Australian,
shows the number against involvement without UN support fell from 76%
at the start of Feb to 71% on the weekend.  Those in favour of an
attack rose from 18% to 22% over the same period.

Melbourne. SNAKES IN VIDEO!  2 deadly snakes have been found inside a
video, not on it, at the MEL internat'l mail clearing centre.  A live
Mexican red diamond back rattlesnake was apparently posted from Sweden
to a rural property in Vic.  A 2nd snake in the cassette had died in
transit.  Workers found the surprise package using new colour imaging
x-ray machines that now scan all 160,000 in-coming items each day.
Quarantine and customs officials were called in to handle the illegal
items after they were spotted last Sat.  Officials say the delivery
address and an enclosed letter will help find the culprits in AUS and
Sweden.  They say they are finding many more smuggled items now the
new equipment is on-line, but these are the first snakes they can
remember. The smugglers face a fine of $25,000 and/or 10 y jail.  The
fate of the remaining rattlesnake is even more grim, it will be
destroyed, say officials.

Canberra. DOUBLE DISSOLUTION TRIGGERS!  The govt has moved to set up a
double-dissolution election trigger when it re-intro's its
controversial unfair dismissal laws.  The govt has also foreshadowed 2
extra potential election bills -- to protect small business from
sympathy strikes, and to increase the price of subsidised drugs --
would be re-intro'd to the Senate. If any of the laws are rejected of
blocked again, the govt could call an early election of both Houses of
Parl on the grounds it can't govern. Observers say the PM is very
unlikely to use the triggers.

Canberra. PM LEADS OPP'N LEADER!  PM John Howard has maintained his
lead over Opp'n leader Simon Crean in the latest Newspoll.  About 55%
of respondents were dissatisfied with Mr Crean's performance (down
2), while 29% were not satisfied with John Howard (also down 2).

Canberra. BLOODY OPPOSITION! PM John Howard has accused the Labor opp'n
and minor parties of stifling reform, saying that medicines could
become un-affordable unless his govt is allowed to raise the prices and
make other changes to the drugs subsidy scheme that's been working
since the 1940s. Labor continues to oppose govt plan for the 30% hike
in co-payments for drugs under the PBS. Labor leader Simon Crean has
warned that the opp'n will not buckle over the measure, despite the
threat of a DD election.

Melbourne. AIR RAGE RAGE!  The security guards' union has called for
air rage and airport rage offenders to be permanently banned from
flying.  The call follows an overnight walkout by airport screeners
and security staff at MEL Airport to highlight the increasing
incidents of air range.  Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers
Union security div asst state sec Terry Breheny says anyone in a
violent airport or aircraft incident shouldn't be tolerated on an
Aussie plane.

Melbourne. GUARDS REFUSE GUNS!  Prison guards in Vic say they will no
longer carry firearms.  The announcement comes 3 days before an
officer goes on trial for shooting a prisoner dead who tried to escape
from a city hospital.  It's understood the guard will be charged with
either murder or manslaughter. Since then police have been guarding
prisoners outside the state's jails.

Sydney. CRIME STATS DOWN!  Ahead of a state election, new NSW crime
numbers show crime has reportedly fallen in 6 major categories over
the past 2 y. The NSW Bur of Crime State and Research says shoplifting 
is the only category to record an increase in the 2 y to Dec 2002, jumping 
8%.  The report outlines trends in 16 crimes such as murder, assault, 
robbery and stealing, committed in SYD and regional areas.

London. A POLICEMAN'S LOT!
A missing Police Const and his 15 yo girlfriend have
finally located in Scotland after being missing for 4 days.
The family of the girl was worried after
police found the PC's car located 1/2-submerged on lake shore.
But then CCTV at W Midlands mall showed the 2 shopping.
The pair was finally located 
by a journo. They were strolling arm-in-arm down a round,
apparently unconcerned  by the manhunt.
Police say the 2 
had been sleeping rough for the past few days in some of worst 
countryside in Eng.
Police will now be questioning
their compatriot about the exact nature of his relationship
with the girl.

Melbourne. FIRES NEARLY UNDER CONTROL!  The bushfires that have
claimed 1 life and ravaged more than 1 mn ha of E Vic are reportedly
nearly under control.  Just 1.5 ha of the blaze in the Snowy R Nat'l
Park remains out of control, but fire authorities expect to contain
it within the next 5 days. As anticipated, it was rain which finally
ended the battle against the fires, sparked by lighting 56 days ago.
Dept of Sust'y and Env state fire co-ordinator John Lloyd says the
fire is now 98% contained.

Canberra. FAKE AUSSIE DEGREES!  The issue of fake degrees and a
proliferation of bogus institutions has driven AUS unis to crackdown
to protect their integrity.  The AUS VC's Committee says their unis
will participate in a nation-wide survey of their policies and
procedures to protect uni titles and awards.  The survey seeks a
clearer picture of individual uni policies that protect titles and
awards, and the assoc issue of plagiarism and cheating.

Sydney (5 pm). MARKETS!  The All Ords closed down about 4 pts.  Gold
was up at $US350.75/oz.  The AUD is still above 61 US cents at 61.43,
its highest levels in 3 y.  For once AMP shares closed up 9 c to
$A6.90 after the former chief Wallis said he'd forgo his $1.6 mn
golden handshake, saying the "time wasn't right" to accept it.  The
OECD has downgraded world growth to 2.2% this y, but marked the AUS
economy as strong by world stds at 3.3% (down 0.4 pts). The real GDP
numbers are due out from the ABS tomorrow. Experts are tipping a
bigger-than-expected slowdown.

Canberra. GDP GROWTH DOWN!
Markets had expected a 
GDP growth of 3.1% for the 12 m to Dec.
But ABS data out today showed Dec Q growth was just 0.4%, 
one of the weakest numbers in a decade.
It was also 1/2 the prev Q.
The annual growth was just 3%, compared with 4.5% 1 ya.
The OECD had projected a GDP growth of 3.3%.
The ABS says the drought has taken 0.9% off the annual figure,
but that leaves another 0.6 pts for the govt to explain.
Considering the new evidence of an economic
slow-down, the RBA has left official int rates at 4.75%.

-------------------------------------------------
Wed, 05 Mar 2003.

Sydney (7 am). MARKETS!  A bomb blast in the Philippines has dragged
the Dow into the red.  At 7 am the DJIA was down 92 pts to 7745, and
the Nasdaq was down 7 to 1312.  Also weighing heavily on the US
markets was a report marking 2 of the 3 major US auto makers down.
Due to war fears and the blizzard GM sales were down 19% in Jan.  Gold
was up to $US352/oz.  Oil was also up more than a $US1 to just under
$US37/bbl.  The AUD was down 1/4 c to 61.35.

Davao. BOMB ATTACKS! Officials say 19 people were killed and more than
100 others injured when a powerful bomb went off at the busiest
airport in the rebellion-torn S Philippines.  1 American aid worker is
reportedly among the dead.  About 1 hr later a 2nd bomb went off
outside a nearby govt building, hurting several people (some reports
say no-one was hurt).  The first blast pulverised an unguarded shed
outside the Davao airport terminal amid a backdrop of increased Muslim
guerrilla activity in the region ahead of a planned deployment of US
anti-terrorism troops.  It's the deadliest terrorist attack in recent
y in the country's S, where Muslim groups are seeking an indep state
and a small number of US troops are providing "training".

Davao (Ch 7).  A bomb blast in the Philippines has killed 19, incl 1
US aid worker.  Local hospitals report 114 people have been injured in
the blast.  A giant bomb inside waiting shed in a terminal building at
the local airport tore a hole in the roof overnight.  There were 100s
of people waiting at the airport at the time.  A 2nd bomb went off 1
hr later outside a nearby govt building, hurting several people.
Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, local
officials are blaming a Muslims separatist group "with possible links
to Al Qaeda".  Phil Pres Arroyo has called it "a brazen act of
terrorism".  Experts say the attack is possible the first of a number
as Al Qaeda cells pop up after the arrest of the network's #3 in
Pakistan yesterday.

Washington. PROTEST!  The US has labelled North Korea "reckless" for
its interception of a US spy plane in international airspace
yesterday.  It says it plans to protest formally over the incident.

Sydney. STUDENT PROTEST!  Up to 15,000 high school students around AUS
are set to protest against the up-coming Iraq war today.  The protest
has been supported by parents and some teachers' groups as a "wag
against war".  The protest is being organised by the Youth and
Students Coal'n Against War.  Similar student protests are also taking
place in the US.

NY (CNN). STUDENT PEACENIK!  The peace protest of a NY student has
sparked a national furore, some saying it amounts to treason.  As a
form of protest against the US' position on the Iraq war, high school
student Toni Smith from NY's upper W side turned her back on the US
flag during a sports ceremony 2 wks ago.  Then the story went
national.  Toni says people blindly salute the flag without knowing
what it means.  She says the values Americans fought and died to
protect are now being threatened by the govt's plan to launch an
attack to regime-change Iraq. And a significant part of the "problem"
is the rhetoric coming out of the govt seeking to support that agenda.
Last Sun Toni was confronted by an opponent, a Vietnam Vet who tried
to force her to salute the US flag.  He said Toni had not "earned the
right" to disrespect the flag.  It stood for "blood sweat and tears",
he said.  But Toni says her protest has nothing to do with disrespect
of the flag or war veterans.  She has the support of at least some of
her teammates although, as in the best traditions of the USA, they
don't all agree with her.

Washington. KHALID IN AFGHANISTAN!  The US has confirmed earlier
speculation that Al Qaeda #3, Khalid, has been flown to Afghanistan
for "questioning".  While reports are mixed, US officials say Khalid
has so far told them little, preferring to recite passages from the
Koran.  In the US, a public debate is now in progress about the use of
"stress" and other forms of torture that may be applied to terrorist
suspects to get them to talk.  Some lawyers advocate the US setting
the bounds of what will and won't be permitted under US law, even when
suspects are handed over to third parties for "questioning" in order
that the US can claim a "clean hands" situation.  US officials have
indicated questioning of suspects at Camp X-Ray include prisoners
being strapped down and subjected to non-stop noise and flashing
lights to soften them up for questioning.  Opponents say that no kind
of torture should be outlined in US law, as that would set a bad
example to the rest of the world by lending legitimacy to the
practice.  Viva la status quo!

Baghdad. WAR OF WORDS!  In a classic case of pot calling kettle black,
Saddam has labelled Pres George Bush Jr as the "despot of the
century".  The personal attack was delivered on Iraq TV when a letter
from Saddam was read out to mark the Islamic new year.  
There has been no direct response yet from the despot of the century.  But
with the latest 60,000 troops ordered up by the Pentagon, US forces in
the region are approaching the "magic number" of 250,000 -- the level
the Pentagon has flagged it needs for an attack on Baghdad.  
Pres Bush has issued another warning to Baghdad, saying there was "not
much time left".  But the US Pres and officials continue to maintain
the fiction the Pres hasn't made his final decision to attack Saddam.
Meanwhile, the US is lobbying hard at the UN, but it still has only 4
votes to support a 2nd res authorising force against Iraq.  The next
key date is Fri, when chief weapons insp Hans Blix makes his next
report on Iraqi disarmament.  Following some latest developments, with
chem and bio agents found in the soil at sites Iraq says were the
locations where it destroyed its WMD in the 1990s, and the destruction
of banned missiles, some observers expect the report to have some
positive things to say about Iraqi compliance.  
The US has indicated it wants a vote on a new Resolution within 7
days, but if Russia and France still threaten a veto it's expected the
US will not even bother to put it up. The US has indicated it feels it
can attack under the provisions of Resolution 1441.  Brit has
indicated again overnight it also doesn't need a 2nd res to use
military action against Saddam.  
Russia indicated again yesterday it would not abstain in the Sec
Council vote, but would veto any move toward war with Iraq.  
Other reports say the Pentagon is about to issue a 10 notice for
everyone to get out of Baghdad.

Baghdad. MISSILES CRUNCHED!  The UN says 3 more Al-Samoud 2 missiles
have been trashed, bringing the total number destroyed in the past few
days to 19.

London. UNDECLARED WAR!  The Brit govt is still under pressure over
the so-called "undeclared war" in N Iraq.  More reports say the SAS is
operating in the N of the country, with some Coal'n forces seen by TV
reporters.  The Telegraph says 300 Brit SAS troops have been going in
& out of N Iraq "at will".  The Brit troops are reportedly looking for
oilfields and minefields, and laying out large areas as holding pens
for surrendering Iraqi troops.  O'night the AUS govt again denied any
Aussies are involved in an undeclared war.

Canberra. NO SAS TROOPS IN IRAQ!  The federal govt continued to deny
overnight that any Aussie SAS commandos were already operating in
Iraq, scouring the desert for Scud missile launchers.  News reports in
Brit say several 1000s allied special forces, incl Aussie SAS soldiers
and more than 300 elite Brit commandos, are already operating in N
Iraq.  The London-based Daily Telegraph says the troops are part of
joint special ops, which incl more than 4,000 American and Aussie
special forces.  Commentators say if the AUS govt admits to the
operations it would contradict the PM's continued claims Aussie troops
are not effectively committed to a US-led war on Iraq.

Sydney. IRAQI WAR IS IMMORAL AND STUPID!  Former PM Bob Hawke says the
up-coming Iraq war is both stupid and immoral.  Mr Hawke was PM in
1991, when he sent Aussie soldiers into Gulf War I.  Appearing on
ABC's 7.30 Report last night, Mr Hawke said he was "appalled" at PM
John Howard's pre-deployment of troops to the Gulf.  He said the
proposed Gulf War II is immoral because Iraq is not threatening any
other country, and is substantially weaker than it was in 1991.  Mr
Hawke said the action was stupid because it ran against the best
interests of those countries calling for it. A new Iraqi war will
increase terrorism against the US, he said.  It would play into hands
of OBL, said Mr Hawke.  The former PM bristled at a question about his
own actions in 1991.  The situation now and in 1991 were not
comparable, he said.  In 1991 Iraq was being thrown out of Kuwait, and
there was then no question of going on to Iraq to regime-change
Saddam.

Geneva. WORLD TRADE HITS GRIDLOCK! WTO chief Supachai Panitchpakdi has
warned the body's 145 members that the year-old Doha round of
free-trade talks is running into gridlock.  Supachai, a former chief
Dep PM of Thailand, told a meeting of the Round's supervising trade
negotiations committee that although agriculture was the main problem,
wide differences on other issues also have to be overcome.  He says
the trade talks are facing imminent gridlock unless negotiators move
urgently to avoid it.

Tel Aviv. PATRIOTS ON STATION!  Patriot missiles are taking up
positions around Israel.  New batteries are in place around Tel Aviv,
ready "just in case" Saddam fires off an attack during the expected
conflict with the US.  The missile has a mixed rep.  During Gulf War I
39 Iraqi Scuds got through the Patriots to inflict a lot of property
damage in Israel.  But the govt says only 2 citizens were killed.  A
review by indep groups at MIT and elsewhere in the 1990s found the
Patriot itself caused some of the damage, and the few that hit their
in-coming targets were just lucky shots.  The makers say the s/w has
been upgraded since then and the new weapon works a lot better as an
anti-missile.  The missile had not been originally designed to shoot
down other missiles, it was just found by experiment in the 1980s that
it was possible.  But Israel it not relying just on the US-made
Patriot batteries. It has a 2nd string to that bow -- the Arrow system
is also operational.  The new system is 1/2-funded by the US and can
reportedly intercept incoming missiles at altitudes up to 30 km.  Many
Israelis hope the new system doesn't need to be tested in the coming m.

Kurdistan. GUNS, GUNS, GUNS!  Kurds in N Iraq are arming themselves.
But it's not to fight Saddam, they say, but to fight the Turks.
Locals think Turkey will use the cover of the US war on Baghdad to
invade and occupy large parts of N Iraq -- AKA Kurdistan.  A popular
item in local weapons markets is the Hungarian-made AK-47 assault
rifle.  At present buyers need a permit from local authorities, a
requirement everyone believes will be dropped when the fighting
breaks out.  The money markets are also doing well.  The currency of
choice is the Baghdad-printed Iraqi dinar. The money changers say the
currency is bound to appreciate against the USD once Saddam is ousted.
It doesn't matter whose face is on the notes.

Moscow. TROOP WITHDRAWAL! Russia has withdrawn 1,270 service personnel
and some 200 items of military hardware from Chechnya within the next
few days.  Def Min Sergei Ivanon says Russia believes the pull-out
will have no impact on the security sit'n in the rebel province. A
withdrawal of more than 1,000 troops from the war-torn republic was
announced by the defence ministry yesterday.  Russia, which is
estimated to have around 80,000 troops in Chechnya, has been seeking
to convey a sense of an improved atm in the Republic.

Sydney.  BULK-BILLING RESCUE PLAN! The govt is reportedly planning to
inject around $1 bn into the training of 100s of extra doctors and the
treatment of the poor and elderly under a bulk-billing rescue package.
PM Howard said yesterday it was never his intention to make
bulk-billing universal. With free calls to the doctor falling from 80
to 70% under his stewardship, details of the new "rescue plan" are
emerging slowly after continued attacks by the Labor opp'n over the
falling rates. The Australian newspaper has reported snr govt sources
saying the health package would soon be considered by fed cabinet and
is expected to be the centrepiece of the May health budget. ALP rep's
maintain the fed govt is planning to dismantle Medicare and make it
into the 2nd and inferior level of a US-style 2-level health system.

Sydney. HAWKE ON MEDICARE!  On the ABC 7.30 Report last night, former
PM Bob Hawke criticised the Howard govt for trying to dismantle
Medicare.  Contrary to comments from Mr Howard and Treas Peter
Costello, Mr Hawke said it was always the intention that health care
and bulk billing be universal.  And bulk-billing was never meant to be
means-tested.  Medicare was intro'd in 1983 by the then Hawke federal
govt.  Yesterday PM Howard indicated bulk billing was never intended
to be universal.  Today Mr Howard appeared to resile from his earlier
comments, announcing a $1 bn scheme to fix what he says it the basic
problem with flagging bulk-billing levels -- doctor numbers.  He said
the money would be used to train more doctors, especially for the bush
and outer metro areas where GP's are scarce.  The opp'n says Mr Howard
still wants to make Medicare a 2nd class safety net.  Today Mr Crean
announced the ALP's policy on reviving the Medicare system.  He said
the opp'n would bite the bullet and increase the common fee -- the
money paid by the Medicare system to doctors for a consultation.  Over
the years the Howard govt has allowed the fee to remain fixed.
Doctors complain a consultation costs them about twice the fee paid by
Medicare.  The govt says to raise doctors fee to the level suggested
by the AMA would cost $2.7 bn in the 1st y alone.

Canberra.  UN PEACE MISSION!  Pres of the UN Gen Ass'y, Jan Kavan, is
on a peace mission to AUS.  Kavan is due to lecture at the UNSW. While
he says he doesn't want to meddle in the internal politics of AUS,
he's determined to convince the govt the UN isn't irrelevant, even if
the Sec Council votes down authorisation for war against Iraq.  Kavan
says the UN runs programs helping people all over world, regardless of
what the Sec Council decides.  And he doesn't share the view that not
backing the US will render the body irrelevant.  Kavan says the UN was
created in 1945 to avoid war, and it was now behaving in accord with
its const'n -- which is to avoid war.  He said the UN was also
fulfilling is obligations to fight international terrorism, by not
creating more terrorists.  Kavan argues fear is the outcome of war,
especially wars that are not seen as "legitimate".  He says only the
Sec Council can give the go-ahead of military conflict.  While it's
not his position to meddle in the internal politics of AUS, Kavan
says, he wants to convey the the AUS govt the majority of the states
that make up the UN do not want war with Iraq.  Kavan says the
majority view is to give UN inspectors more time, and to exhaust all
diplomatic and political avenues before the world is forced to use
military action against any country.  War is only a last resort, he
said.  But Kavan admits the likelihood of war is now high.

NZ. CYANIDE!  Another letter threatening a cyanide campaign in
connection with a war on Iraq has turned up at a NZ newspaper.  It
follows 3 letters discovered last wk, at least one laced with the
poison.  Those letters had threatened an attack on the America's cup,
which has just ended.  Police say it's not clear if the incidents are
related.

Canberra. DD TRIGGER!  The AUS Senate has again rejected the proposed
govt increase in co-payments for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Despite the threat of a DD election, the 30% hike in charges is too
bitter a pill to swallow for Labor, the Democrats, Greens and
independents and it was voted down 36 to 31.  Health Min Kay Patterson
says their actions are "irresponsible" and will lead to a blow-out in
the PBS budget.

Canberra. TERROR KITS!  The federal opp'n wants to know how many
terror kits have been returned from the govt's $15 mn campaign to
"inform the public" about suspicious activities they should report to
the Howard Hotline.  But in Parliament yesterday the govt announced
some returned kits had contained a "white powder" and it has therefore
ordered all returned kits destroyed.  Reports say 1000s of fridge
magnets have been burned.  Chris Ellison in parl yesterday said there
was an "irresponsible campaign" that saw various kinds of white power
being included in returned kits, and there was a health threat to mail
handlers.  Mail unions say this is the first they've heard of the
problem, and have threatened to stop picking up mail from street
letter boxes.  Today the govt says mail workers were already told about
the "risk".  The federal Opp'n says it's all a govt plot to cover up
the embarrassment of just how many of kits have been returned in
protest at the govt's "scare mongering campaign".  Reps say the new
"health scare" is just an excuse to destroy returned kits and claim
it's due to reasons of worker health. But not to count them.

Sydney. MANHUNT!  At least one Chinese immigrant has escape from the
Villawood foreigners' prison in SYD overnight.  The bloodhounds are
tracking them through the suburbs and the RAF has been alerted for an
air strike.

Sydney. MEAT UP!  The wholesale price of meat jumped 20% last wk, and
retail prices are expected to follow this wk.  Retailers are blaming
the drought, saying the sheep kill is down 25%, with beef slaughtering
also down.

========================================

(*) Who is responcible for W.A.R.S?  A small group of dedicated
sandgrubbers, bannana-lickers and 5th columnists on the run from
support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention
us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers!

All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek.

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