DRAFT

After 2 y of the detention of 100s of people, no-one's sure how this
is going to end.
-- Leigh Sales, Guatmo, 15 Jul 2004.
   Many suspect it's going to involve a pound of flesh or 2.

this agreemeng could only have been negotiated by the howard govt
-- pm howard, 16 jul 2004.
   the aus/us fta has passed the house and senate.

this is a payoff... this is a payoff to australia for backing our iraq policy.
-- us senator, 15 jul 2004.
   in the us senate, voting was 5 to 1 in favour -- better than
   pm howard has expected.

the us occupation is the CAUSE of the escalting violence.
-- Ms Bennett, Inst of Security Studies, 15 Jul 2004.
any country under occupation will see a resistance
can't be crushed by milkitary means

It's a mistake, and it won't buy them immunity.
-- PM Howard, 16 Jul 2001.
    criticising phil withdrawal plan
   
----------------------------------------
Thu, 15 Jul 2004.

<<< OIL/MARKETS >>>
===
Crude oil prices surge on US markets
Crude oil prices on the rise.
xxx
Crude oil prices have jumped significantly higher overnight, with West
Texas crude futures traded in NY pushing above $US41/bbl.
That is a surge of around $1.50.
The reasons for the move have been variously given as technical buying
after the breaching of key resistance levels, or a delayed reaction to
US inventory data.
Govt  figures  show  US crude oil stocks declined by 2.1 mn
barrels last wk.
Analysts  say  the  market  remains  concerned  about supplies however
trading volumes have been reasonably light.
West Texas futures are now sitting at about $US40.98/bbl.
The oil price move looks to have impacted negatively on Wall Street.
There  has  also  been  a weak reading on retail activity in the US to
unsettle investors.
US  retail  sales have suffered their steepest decline in 16 m as
buyers deserted car showrooms.
Nat'l  retail  turnover  is down 1.1% for the m of June
and excluding vehicle sales, they are down 0.2%.
At   the   same   time,  computer  chip-maker  Intel  Corporation  has
disappointed the market with its earnings outlook.
On  the  NY Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones industrial average has
closed 39 points lower at 10,209.
Prices on the high-tech Nasdaq market are down 0.9% overall.
The Nasdaq composite index has dropped 17 points to 1,915.
A  rebound  on  the  Brit share market has been led by mobile phone
giant, Vodafone.
London's FT-100 index has regained 15 points to finish at 4,373.
The Aussie market yesterday suffered a sizeable loss.
The  Nat'l  AUS Bank was in the firing line after warning its
cash  earnings for the half-y to Sep could be down as much as
15%.
NAB shares slumped $2.13 to $28.85 and dampened sentiment on the other
major banks.
The All Ordinaries index fell 31 points to 3,524.
The  Share  Price  Index  200  contract on the SYD Futures Exchange
closed down one point at 3,516.
The 10-y bond contract is down 2.5 points at 94.27 with the implied
yield rising to 5.73%.
The  Aussie dollar is being quoted at 72.36 US cents which is down
one 6th of a cent on yesterday's local close.
On  the  cross rates, it is at 0.5843 euros, 78.96 Japanese yen, 38.96
pence sterling and against the NZ dollar it is at 1.108.
The gold price is at $US405.15/oz.

<<< DEATHS >>>
=== Belfast Telegraph.txt ===
Belfast Telegraph
7 mn threatened as floods cut off India and Bangladesh
Delhi
More than 7 mn people were in danger last night as the worst
floods in more than a decade spread across India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Entire villages have been swept away. More than 100 people have died in
India in the past few days alone, and the waters are still rising.
The scale of the disaster is immense. More than 2 mn people have
been left homeless in India's Assam state. Another mn are homeless in
nearby Bihar. Millions more are trapped in their homes. Many have been
forced to take their families on to the roofs.
North-east India was cut off from the rest of the country for a 2nd day
yesterday. Railway bridges were swept away. Roads were buried. The air
force sent helicopters to drop food and tarpaulins to those stranded on
rooftops.
The total death toll across S Asia since flooding began in June is
270, but mn are at risk from water-borne diseases. At least 12
people were buried alive in their homes yesterday by landslides triggered
by the flooding. Nineteen drowned.
"This is the worst flooding in recent memory," Tarun Gogoi, the chief
minister of Assam, said. Twenty-two of the state's 24 districts were under
water. "The high water current has washed away rows and rows of villages.
The condition of the people is really devastating."
The famous tea gardens of Assam are under water. The endangered Indian
one-horned rhino is in peril from the floods: a game reserve which
contains 1,600 rhinos has been flooded. Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime
Min, has approved 1.8 bn rupees [#21 mn] in emergency aid for Assam
alone.
The local authorities were issuing pleas for help yesterday. There is a
serious shortage of boats, and the continuing bad weather has made it hard
for emergency workers to reach some areas.
To imagine the scale of the flooding is hard unless you have seen the
landscape. North-east India and Bangladesh make up one of the largest
flood plains in the world. The Brahmaputra river, which has burst its
banks in Assam, is immense: its normal course is wider than a European
flood even when it is not overflowing.
The entire area is criss-crossed with tributaries, most of them twice as
wide as the Thames. When it floods here, it is on a biblical scale.
Scores of people die in monsoon floods almost every y in this area;
last y there were 100s of deaths. But, ominously, reports from the
region say these are the worst floods in more than a decade.
In the Bangladeshi city of Sylhet, which was cut off from the rest of the
country with parts of knee-deep in water, officials said the floods were
the worst since 1988, when 2/3 of the country was under water.
10 people drowned in Bangladesh yesterday, including a mother and her
young son. The worst-affected areas have been upstream in India and Nepal.
But in Nepal the waters are subsiding. Bangladesh is bracing itself as the
flood waters move down the Ganges and Brahmaputra and the heavy rains
continue.
In India, even as the North-east staggered under the onslaught, drought
warnings were issued for much of the rest of the country. While the
monsoon has been heavier than usual in the North-east, across much of
India there has been much less rain than expected. Delhi has had just a
single hour of rain, at a time of y when torrential downpours are the
norm. In the S state of Andhra Pradesh, nearly 3,000 farmers have
committed suicide over the past 6 y because drought has destroyed
their crops. At one end of India they are dying from floods, at the other
they are dying from drought.
The previous govt backed a scheme that was supposed to solve both
problems: a plan to link 30 rivers that would have amounted to diverting
the courses of the Ganges and Brahmaputra. Environmentalists said that it
would be an ecological disaster, and Bangladesh opposes any attempt to
divert the rivers.
That leaves India still needing to find a way to save half its people from
the water, and the other half from the lack of it.

===
Kenya warns of impending famine
By Africa correspondent Sally Sara
Kenyan Pres Mwai Kibaki has declared a nat'l state of disaster
amid warnings of severe food shortages.
More than 3 mn Kenyans need food aid.
The Kenyan Govt is appealing for internat'l help to deal with
the widespread food shortages.
The  Govt  says  up  to 60% of crops have failed in 5
provinces, including the normally fertile Rift Valley.
Pres  Mwai  Kibaki says drought is to blame for what he describes
as a nat'l disaster.
Mr  Kibaki  says  more  than 150,000 tonnes of maize is needed to feed
people in the worst-affected areas.
Kenya is frequently hit by drought.
In  2001,  more  than  4 mn people were in need of emergency food
aid.
The  Govt  has  been  criticised  in the past for failing to act
quickly to address the problem.

===
Californian wildfires force evacuations
Around 1,000 people were forced to flee their homes and campgrounds as
wildfires  coaxed  by  soaring  temperatures  ravaged  more than 6,800
hectares of S California.
5  fires  were raging through tinder-dry brushland in 4 counties
across  the  region  as  summer  temperatures  reached in excess of 38
degrees celsius, fire officials said.
One brush fire prompted the evacuation of about 80 homes or around 500
people  in  the Lake Hughes region N of LA, charring more
than 1,880 hectares of land, fire officers said.
The  evacuations  were  ordered  on  Tue,  but  120 homes remained
threatened  as  the  fire  ripped  through  undergrowth destroying two
outbuildings.
Some  1,057 firefighters backed by 87 fire engines, 7 helicopters,
eight  bulldozers  were  battling  the blaze that was just 46%
contained.
The  American  Red  Cross  set  up an evacuation centre to accommodate
those  made  temporarily  hNOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.3
omeless  by the latest in the annual summer
blazes.

<<< WMD >>>
<<< INTEL >>>
=== People's Daily Online -- Blix slams hyped Brit dossier on Iraq's WMD.txt ===
Xinhua
Blix slams "hyped" Brit dossier on Iraq's WMD
Former chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix on Wed slammed the
Brit govt's dossier on Iraqi WMD
(WMD), claiming that it was "hyped".
"I think they hyped the report, evidently," Blix said in an
interview with the BBC.
"I think it was a spin that was not acceptable. They put exclamation
marks where there had been question marks and I think that is
hyping, a spin, that leads the public to the wrong conclusions,"
Blix said.
Blix's comments comes as an independent inquiry into the Brit
govt's pre-war Iraq intel published its report.
According to the report by Lord Butler, who headed the inquiry,the
intel on Iraq's banned weapons used by the Brit govt
before the Iraq war was at times "seriously flawed" and"unreliable".
However, the report cleared Brit PM Tony Blair of
responsibility for the failings.
Blix last wk told the Brit Financial Times newspaper that he
had told the Butler inquiry that the intel used by Brit
and the US to underpin their justification for war on
Iraq was inaccurate and overstated the threat of WMD.
The Brit govt did not exercise sufficient critical
judgement in analyzing and presenting the intel it was given,
Blix told the paper.

=== Scotsman_com News -- Latest News -- Bush Accused of Lacking Blair's Courage over Iraq Failings.txt ===
Scotsman
Bush Accused of Lacking Blair's Courage over Iraq Failings
"PA"
Democratic Vice-Presid'l candidate John Edwards today
assailed Pres George W. Bush for lacking the courage of
PM Tony Blair, who took full responsibility for
the failures of intel that led both nations into war in
Iraq.
Speaking in the wake of reaction to the Butler Report, John
Kerry's running mate said: "Tony Blair didn't run from the
report, he didn't try to not acknowledge it. Instead, what
Tony Blair said was "I take full responsibility for the
mistakes... "
"What we need in the Whitehouse is somebody who has the
strength and courage and leadership to take full
responsibility and be accountable -- not only for what's good
but for what's bad. That's what John Kerry will be."
Mr Edwards said former Pres John F. Kennedy had taken
full responsibility for the failed CIA-led invasion of Cuba's
Bay of Pigs in the early 1960s -- and Pres Bush should do
the same for intel failures on Iraq.
Also comparing Bush to Blair was Sen Richard Durbin, an
Illinois Democrat, who said: "In stark contrast to this
Admin, today we saw PM Tony Blair take
responsibility...
"We know where the buck stops in London. We don't know where
the buck stops in Washington."
Steve Schmidt, a rep for the Bush-Cheney campaign, said
Mr Blair was actually echoing Pres Bush in telling the
House of Commons that he didn't regret pursuing Saddam Hussein
-- despite the intel failings -- and that the world was a
"better and safer place".
"It's amusing to watch the contortions the Kerry campaign will
go through to find a line of political attack with regard to
the war on terror," Mr Schmidt said.

=== Aljazeera_Net -- UK Iraq report labelled a 'whitewash'.txt ===
Aljazeera
UK Iraq report labelled a 'whitewash'
The threat was not misconceived, or the war unjustified,
says Blair.
Anti-war activists have reacted with anger to a report that
exonerated Tony Blair from any wrongdoing in the lead-up to last
year's invasion of Iraq.
They labelled the report by former top civil servant Lord Richard
Butler a "whitewash" and say it has left the Brit leader with
little credibility.
Released on Wed, the report found major holes in pre-war
intel but spared the Brit PM any personal
responsibility.
It was the 4th investigation in a y into the govt's
justification for war from which Blair has escaped with little more
than a slapped wrist.
The report concluded Iraq almost certainly did not possess
significant stocks of WMD before the
conflict, despite govt claims.
But it said Blair was not responsible for the failures of Brit
intel and did not intentionally lie to the Brit people.
Resignation call
Lindsey German, rep for the Stop the War Coalition, told
Aljazeera.net the govt had found itself "not guilty".
"All these reports seem to conclude that no one is responsible or to
blame for the illegal and unjustified invasion of Iraq which has
killed 1000s of people," she said.
Butler's report says Blair did not
intentionally mislead the public
"But no one should be surprised. The Butler committee was set up to
get the right result. This is the govt investigating itself
and then acquitting itself."
German said the report committee, which was appointed by the
govt, had too narrow a remit.
"We in the anti-war movement have been saying for 2 y that the
UK went to war on a false pretext and this report completely
vindicates us.
"But no one has ever gone to war solely on the basis of intel
because it is known that intel is never 100% certain.
This is the issue that needs to be addressed," German said.
"The Butler committee was set up to get the right result. This
is the govt investigating itself and then acquitting
itself"
Lindsey German,
Stop the War Coaltion
The Stop the War Coalition rep added: "Tony Blair should
resign immediately and make a full apology to the Brit and Iraqi
people. Troops should also be pulled out of Iraq. That is the only
way he can start atoning for this mess."
For his part, Ahmad al-Shaikh, president of the Muslim Association
of Brit, told Aljazeera.net that Tony Blair's political judgment
should have been the subject of the inquiry.
"Even if the PM did not intentionally lie, his political
judgment was lousy.
"Thousands of innocent people have been killed in Iraq and scores of
Brit troops have died there because of his misjudgment."
Blair defiant
Following the report's publication, Blair told parliament he
believed invading Iraq was the right thing to do.
"No one lied. No one made up the intel. No one inserted
things into the dossier against the advice of the intel
services," he said.
Polls had found the Brit public
overwhelmingly opposed to war
"Everyone genuinely tried to do their best in good faith for the
country in circumstances of acute difficulty. That issue of good
faith should now be at an end."
Blair said while it seems clear Saddam did not have chemical or
biological weapons ready to deploy, that did not mean the threat was
misconceived and the war unjustified.
"Iraq, the region, the wider world is a better and safer place
without Saddam," he said.
Trust in question
Political analysts say while the Labour leader's political career
has survived, the war has hammered his public trust ratings.
"Everyone genuinely tried to do their best in good faith for
the country in circumstances of acute difficulty. That issue
of good faith should now be at an end"
Brit PM Tony Blair
"It looks very much like the man they call Teflon Tony has come out
of this unscathed again," said John Benyon, politics professor at
the University of Leicester.
"But the trust issue is going to continue to be a problem."
And Colin Hay, politics professor at the University of Birmingham,
said the debate about the justification for war would not go away.
"The problem for the govt is that people are still talking
about this. What the govt wants to do is to close this issue
down and focus on other things.
"But in terms of the overall popularity of the govt, I
think the damage has already been done. In a way Butler merely
confirms what most people actually now think ... that the govt
has betrayed public confidence."

=== ABCNEWS_com  Excerpts of Brit Intel Report.txt ===
Excerpts of Brit intel report
(AP).
Excerpts of conclusions in Lord Butler's report on
the govt's use of intel on Iraqi weapons:
"The number of primary human intel sources (in Iraq before
the war) remained few. Other intel sources provided valuable
info on other activity, including overseas procurement
activity. They did not generally provide confirmation of the
intel received from human sources, but did contribute to the
picture of the continuing intention of the Iraqi regime to pursue
its prohibited weapons programs.
"Validation of human intel sources after the war has thrown
doubt on a high proportion of those sources and of their reports,
and hence on the quality of the intel assessments received by
ministers and officials in the period from summer 2002 to the
outbreak of hostilities. Of the main human intel sources:
"a. One SIS (Secret Intel Service) main source reported
authoritatively on some issues, but on others was passing on what he
had heard within his circle.
"b. Reporting from a sub-source to a 2nd SIS main source that was
important to JIC (Joint Intel Committee) assessments on Iraqi
possession of chemical and biological weapons must be open to doubt.
"c. Reports from a 3rd SIS main source have been withdrawn as
unreliable.
"d. Reports from 2 further SIS main sources continue to be
regarded as reliable, although it is notable that their reports were
less worrying than the rest about Iraqi chemical and biological
weapons capabilities.
"e. Reports received from a liaison service on Iraqi production of
biological agent were seriously flawed, so that the grounds for JIC
assessments drawing on those reports that Iraq had recently produced
stocks of biological agent no longer exist.
"We do not believe that over-reliance on dissident and emigre
sources was a major cause of subsequent weaknesses in the human
intel relied on by the UK."
"In general,we found that the original intel material was
correctly reported in JIC assessments. An exception was the
45-minute report. But this sort of example was rare.
"We should record in particular that we have found no evidence of
deliberate distortion or of culpable negligence.
"We found no evidence of JIC assessments and the judgments inside
them being pulled in any particular direction to meet the policy
concerns of snr officials on the JIC."
"The main vehicle for the Govt's use of intel in the
public presentation of policy was the dossier of Sep 2002 and
accompanying Minial statements. The dossier broke new ground in
three ways: the JIC had never previously produced a public document;
no govt case for any internat'l action had previously been
made to the Brit public through explicitly drawing on a JIC
publication; and the authority of the Brit intel
community, and the JIC in particular, had never been used in such a
public way. ...
"The govt wanted an unclassified document on which it could
draw in its advocacy of its policy. The JIC sought to offer a
dispassionate assessment of intel and other material on Iraqi
nuclear, biological, chemical and ballistic missile programs. The
JIC, with commendable motives, took responsibility for the dossier,
in order that its content should properly reflect the judgments of
the intel community. They did their utmost to ensure this
standard was met. But this will have put a strain on them in seeking
to maintain their normal standards of neutral and objective
assessment.
"Strenuous efforts were made to ensure that no individual statements
were made in the dossier which went beyond the judgments of the JIC.
But, in translating material from JIC assessments into the dossier,
warnings were lost about the limited intel base on which some
aspects of these assessments were being made. Language in the
dossier may have left with readers the impression that there was
fuller and firmer intel behind the judgments than was the
case: our view, having reviewed all of the material, is that
judgments in the dossier went to (although not beyond) the outer
limits of the intel available."
"Even now it would be premature to reach conclusions about Iraq's
prohibited weapons. Much potential evidence may have been destroyed
in the looting and disorder that followed the cessation of
hostilities. Other material may be hidden in the sand, including
stocks of agent or weapons. We believe that it would be a rash
person who asserted at this stage that evidence of Iraqi possession
of stocks of biological or chemical agents, or even of banned
missiles, does not exist or will never be found. But as a result of
our review, and taking into account the evidence which has been
found by the ISG and debriefing of Iraqi personnel, we have reached
the conclusion that prior to the war the Iraqi regime:
"a. Had the strategic intention of resuming the pursuit of
prohibited weapons programs, including if possible its nuclear
weapons program, when UN inspection regimes were relaxed
and sanctions were eroded or lifted.
"b. In support of that goal, was carrying out illicit research and
development and procurement activities to seek to sustain its
indigenous capabilities.
"c. Was developing ballistic missiles with a range longer than
permitted under relevant UN Sec Council
resolutions; but did not have significant, if any, stocks of
chemical or biological weapons in a state fit for deployment, or
developed plans for using them."
"The JIC made it clear that the al-Qaida-linked facilities in the
Kurdish Ansar al Islam area were involved in the production of
chemical and biological agents, but that they were beyond the
control of the Iraqi regime.
"The JIC made clear that,although there were contacts between the
Iraqi regime and Al Qaida, there was no evidence of co-operation."
"From our examination of the intel and other material on
Iraqi attempts to buy uranium from Africa, we have concluded that:
"a. It is accepted by all parties that Iraqi officials visited Niger
in 1999.
"b. The Brit Govt had intel from several different
sources indicating that this visit was for the purpose of acquiring
uranium. Since uranium constitutes almost 3/4 of Niger's
exports, the intel was credible.
"c. The evidence was not conclusive that Iraq actually purchased, as
opposed to having sought, uranium and the Brit Govt did not
claim this.
"d. The forged documents were not available to the Brit
Govt at the time its assessment was made,and so the fact of
the forgery does not undermine it."
"The JIC should not have included the 45 minute report in its
assessment and in the govt's dossier without stating what it
was believed to refer to. The fact that the reference in the
classified assessment was repeated in the dossier later led to
suspicions that it had been included because of its eye-catching
character."

=== Guardian Unlimited  Special reports  A litany of failure -- but no one to blame.txt ===
Iraq intel was flawed and misused -- but Blair comes smiling through
(Guardian).
Tony Blair was left damaged last night by the double-edged verdict of the
Butler committee which cleared him of personal blame but damned the
"seriously flawed" quality of MI6 intel on Iraq used by Downing
Street to bolster the case for war.
The report of the 5-member Butler inquiry, running to 196 pages, found
that "there was no deliberate attempt on the part of the govt to
mislead". However, it accused No 10 of placing the intel services
under such "strain" that their neutrality was compromised.
The report reveals new info about the way in which thin and at
times inaccurate intel was turned into PMial certainty.
In a devastating litany of mistakes, omissions and hyperbole, it says:
· Downing Street stretched the available intel to "the outer
limits".
· The claim that biological or chemical weapons could be deployed within
45 minutes should not have been included in the dossier, and led to
suspicions that it had been inserted "because of its eye-catching
character".
· The govt's Sep 2002 dossier setting out the case for war had
the "serious weakness" of omitting many crucial caveats about the dubious
nature and limitations of much of the intel. The language in the
dossier suggested the intel was "fuller and firmer" than it was.
· Brit had only a handful of "main sources" on Iraq and the quality of
much of their info has since been challenged by the intel
services themselves. Reports from a key source were withdrawn in July last
year as "unreliable".
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The Butler report blames no individual, focusing instead on "group think
- the development of a prevailing wisdom". Lord Butler specifically
insisted that John Scarlett, the chairman of the joint intel
committee responsible for drawing up the Iraq dossier, should not lose his
job as forthcoming head of MI6.
Mr Blair seized upon the lack of personal criticism in his statement to
the Commons. "There was no conspiracy, there was no impropriety. The
essential judgment and truth, as usual, does not lie in extremes,"
insisted the PM, who also told MPs: "No one lied, no one made
up intel." Yet in a combative and self-justifying defence of the
US-led war he accepted "full personal responsibility for the way the issue
was presented and therefore any errors made".
It fell short of the apology many had demanded. But the 4th major
inquiry since the war ended gave Mr Blair some comfort by highlighting the
wider case for tackling the terrorist threat. Labour loyalists, including
some anti-war MPs, believe that is enough to save his leadership as the
govt squares up to 2 crucial byelections today and the beckoning
general election.
But 2 Labour MPs broke ranks yesterday to call on Mr Blair to consider
his position. Geraldine Smith, who voted for the war, and Christine
McCafferty, who voted against, both complained that backbenchers were
misled last y.
The Tory leader, Michael Howard, said the issue was "the PM's
credibility. The question he must ask himself is, does he have any
credibility left?" Charles Kennedy, for the Liberal Democrats, said the
report had underlined "the need for a proper public inquiry into the
political judgments ... and how they were arrived at".
Lord Butler paints a picture of intel agencies under strong
pressure from the govt to come up with ammunition to back up the
tougher stance it adopted on Iraq in early 2002. The report discloses that
they did not come up with any info to back up the claim that Saddam
was continuing to breach UN resolutions. The joint intel committee
also made no attempt to check why UN inspectors had failed to find any
weapons in Iraq.
In one of his most memorable comments, Lord Butler yesterday was drawn to
say: "Iraq's a big place and there's lots of sand." His team included
Labour's Ann Taylor and Tory Michael Mates, both intel specialists,
along with former chief of defence staff Lord Inge and former N
Ireland permanent secretary Sir John Chilcot.
Greg Dyke, the director general of the BBC who resigned after strong
criticism from Lord Hutton, was scathing about the accent on group rather
than individual culpability. "I am fascinated by the concept that it is
now going to be collective responsibility by such a large collective that
no one needs to resign," he told Channel 4 News.
Other critics emerged, from Robin Cook, the ex-foreign secretary, who
dubbed Lord Butler "a wonderful specimen of the Brit establishment", to
Hans Blix, the UN weapons inspector, who said: "The whole point is that
armed force should only be used as a last resort. The Butler report
confirms that intel should have been reassessed, that the evidence
was very weak. If that had happened they would have concluded that
inspectors should have been given more time and that Saddam could have
been contained."

=== Guardian Unlimited  Special reports  The devil for Blair remains in the detail.txt ===
The devil for Blair remains in the detail
Omissions, exaggerations and distortions emerge from the report while Lord
Butler defends PM.
(Guardian).
Lord Butler cleared Tony Blair of any deliberate attempt to "mislead" the
country in the run-up to the war in Iraq. But the body of his report tells
a different story. Lord Hutton's inquiry last y, revealed the extent to
which Downing Street hardened up the case against Saddam Hussein in its
Sep 2002 dossier on alleged WMD that
prepared the way for war.
Lord Butler's report shows the gap between Mr Blair's conclusions and what
the intel services were saying was even bigger than emerged during
the Hutton inquiry.
He recognised this gap when he said the language of the dossier was
"fuller and firmer" than was the actual case.
Iraq under Saddam was a notoriously difficult country for W
intel services -- and the Brit's Secret Intel Service,
MI6, was no exception. It regularly admitted as much in the memos, known
as CX files, sent round to what it describes as its "customers" in
Whitehall containing bits of info from round the world, some of it
important, most of it trivial.
Brit had good intel on all Iraq's neighbours but what was going
on inside Baghdad remained, as one minister admitted at the time, "a black
hole".
The doubts and caveats about intel disappeared as the dossier was
compiled. Lord Butler chronicles this with a clarity rare in a govt
report. He concludes that the intel was "thin", "unclear' and
"uncertain".
The most damning passage is an admission by the intel service that
it had received almost no new intel from within Iraq about WMD
since 1998. That sits uneasily with Mr Blair's claim at the time that
Saddam had continued to pursue his ambitions to develop WMD and that the
threat posed was imminent and serious.
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The reality was, says the report, that "there was no recent intel
that would itself have given rise to a conclusion that Iraq was of more
immediate concern than the activities of some other countries".
In a telling phrase, Lord Butler said the intel was stretched by
the govt to the "outer limits".
His report included material on:
Sins of omission
The govt announced in the spring of 2002 that it would produce a
dossier. Public scepticism in Brit was high and the dossier was
designed to try to sway opinion. The dossier was a combination of Downing
Street and the joint intel committee, the body of snr
intel officials that sifts through the CX files to produce general
reports that are normally only seen by "customers". In this case the
report was to be made public.
Lord Butler noted the benefit to the govt in making clear that it
was the JIC rather than Downing Street that had ownership of the document:
"The advantage to the govt of associating the JIC's name with the
dossier was the badge of objectivity that it brought with it and the
credibility which this would give to the document."
JIC assessments, which its "customers", mainly Foreign Office diplomats,
receive every few wk contain many caveats about reliability and lack of
info. When the dossier was published by Downing Street on Sep
21, such caveats were missing.
A JIC draft assessment, less than a fortnight earlier on Sep 9, said
bluntly: "We have little intel on CBW (chemical, biological
weapons) doctrine and know little about Iraq's CBW work since late 1998."
This was missing from the final dossier, which instead contained a much
softer version: that while intel "rarely offers a complete account
of activities", taken together with what is already known from other
sources, "this intel builds our understanding of Iraq's
capabilities and adds significantly to the analysis already in the public
domain".
Lord Butler concluded that it was a "serious weakness" not to have
included normal JIC warnings.
Accuracy of the dossier
The JIC assessment of the threat posed by Saddam from chemical and
biological weapons was heavily caveated. Its assessment on Sep 9 was
that "production of sarin and VX would be heavily dependent on hidden
stocks of precursors".
When the dossier was produced there was no mention of this important
condition. Nor did the dossier refer to the JIC admission that there was
little evidence about locations for producing such chemical and biological
agents. The JIC assessment on Sep 9 said the former Habbaniyah
chemical weapons site could provNOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.5
ide a base for producing ricin, "although
there is no evidence that Iraq is currently doing so".
There is a further contrast, though oddly Lord Butler does not refer to
it. The JIC assessment on Sep 9 quoted by Lord Butler says
intel indicates that "Saddam has identified Bahrain, Jordan Qatar,
Israel, Kuwait as targets. Turkey could also be at risk." But in the
dossier this becomes Iraq possesses Scud ballistic missiles "capable of
reaching Cyprus, eastern Turkey, Tehran and Israel". The inclusion of
Cyprus, and its elevation to top of the list, was because of the need to
demonstrate a threat to Brit, which has an RAF base on Cyprus.
There are many other such contrasts between the JIC assessment and the
final dossier. Downing Street was keen to emphasise that Iraq could pose a
nuclear threat and this was reflected in the dossier as Iraq "continues to
work on developing nuclear weapons". Missing, also, was the JIC assessment
that "we have an unclear picture of the current status of Iraq's nuclear
programme".
The dossier claimed that Iraq was seeking aluminium tubes for use in its
nuclear programme. Lord Butler found "overwhelmingly" that the evidence
pointed to these being sought for use for rockets rather than the
centrifuges needed to produce weapons-grade uranium. He con cludes: "But
in transferring its judgments to the dossier, the JIC omitted the
important info about the need for substantial re-engineering of the
aluminium tubes to make them suitable for use as gas centrifuge rotors.
This omission had the effect of materially strengthening the impression
that they may have been intended for a gas centrifuge and hence for a
nuclear programme."
The 45-minute claim
The most spectacularly misleading of all the claims in the dossier was the
failure of Downing Street to make clear that the relevance of the warning
that Saddam could deploy chemical and biological weapons within 45
minutes. The positioning of the claim meant it could be read that Saddam
was capable of launching strategic missiles armed with chemical or
biological or nuclear weapons within 45 minutes at targets such as Israel
or Cyprus.
Lord Butler was critical of what he charitably refers to as an ambiguity
but said he had no evidence this was a deliberate distortion. The Hutton
inquiry showed it referred only to battlefield weapons.
Lord Butler makes it clear that the 45-minute claim was based on flaky
evidence and praised Brian Jones, from the Ministry of Defence
intel section, for expressing scepticism as the time.
The source of the 45-minute claim has not yet been identified. Lord Butler
said after publication of his report that the info was not even
secondhand but 3rd hand, and that the middle man in this trio had since
been discredited.
Intel sources
About 90%, and often much higher, of the intel sent to "customers"
is from the US intel agencies rather than Brit and is based on
listening posts rather than human intel. In the case of Iraq,
Brit was dependent on the US for what limited info was available
but it also had human sources of its own.
These sources provided the bulk of the intel for the more
contentious parts of the dossier. Lord Butler's report reveals the extent
to which these resources were flaky: one of them was last July deemed to
be unreliable and sacked.
Validation of sources
The inquiry finds attempts to explain why so many of the sources used by
Brit intel on Iraq proved, after the war, to have been flaky. A
particularly sharp conclusion was that in the haste to gather more
intel to use in the Sep 2002 dossier, agents were relied upon
who had not been properly vetted.
Agents were asked to provide info that went beyond their direct
knowledge, leading to speculative dispatches. Under pressure, agents drew
on untried sub-sources and sub-sub-sources, several of which have since
been found to have provided inaccurate info.
Language
Lord Butler is critical of the language in the dossier, which he says "may
have left with readers the impression that there was fuller and firmer
intel behind the judgements than was the case". He also said: "We
detected a tendency for assessments to be coloured by over-reaction to
previous errors." He added: "As a result, there was a risk of
over-cautious or worst case estimates, shorn of their caveats, becoming
the 'prevailing wisdom'."

===
Downer backs Blair Govt on Iraq
The  Howard  Govt  says  the Butler report into the UK's pre-war
intel  about  Iraq  shows  the  Blair  Govt acted in good
faith.
Foreign  Min  Alexander Downer says the Butler inquiry clears the
Blair Govt of "sexing up" the intel.
He says it is a sensible report which was balanced.
"It  also  reinforces  the  legality  of what in this case the Brit
Govt  and  what  the coalition did to overthrow Saddam Hussein's
regime," Mr Downer said.
The  report  found  Mr  Blair's  claim  that  Saddam Hussein could use
weapons  of  mass  destruction  within 45 minutes should not have been
used without clarification.
"That  was  a matter of judgment made by the Brit Govt and we
didn't use the 45 minute claim," Mr Downer said.
The  Flood  report  into  AUS's  security  agencies  and pre-war
intel  is due to be handed to the Govt by the end of next
week.
Labor's  foreign  affairs  rep, Kevin Rudd, says both the Butler
report  and the recent Senate inquiry in the US prove there
were no WMD in Iraq.

===
PM maintains Iraq war justified
PM  John  Howard  insists  the  war in Iraq was justified
despite  his  Brit counterpart Tony Blair's concession that weapons
of mass destruction might never be found.
A Brit inquiry found some pre-war intel was seriously flawed
and  unreliable  but it said the Blair Govt had not deliberately
'sexed up' info.
Mr  Howard  acknowledges there were serious flaws in Brit's pre-war
intel  but he does not back away from his decision to go to war
in Iraq.
"Sure  there  are  flaws,  nobody is denying that, but this allegation
that the intel was massaged by the Brit govt, that the
services were pressured, that's wrong," he said.
"My  position  remains  that we had strong intel to justify our
decision and nothing in the Butler report alters that.
"If  we'd  had  our  time  over  again  I  would  have  taken the same
decision."
Mr  Howard  also  says he agrees with the Butler report's finding that
only  "a rash person" would assert that no WMD
will be found in Iraq.
Opp'n  leader  Mark Latham insists Mr Howard should apologise for
sending troops to Iraq for reasons based on faulty intel.
"We're  still trying to get the apology from Mr Howard in this country
because he is one of the few world leaders who hasn't fessed up to the
fact that there are no WMD," Mr Latham said.
Labor's  foreign  affairs rep Kevin Rudd continued the attack on
the PM.
"John Howard seeks to dog responsibility for this," Mr Rudd said.
"It's  time  John Howard was man enough to simply front the Aussie
people and tell them he misled them."
Next  week,  AUS's independent inquiry into pre-war intel
will hand its findings to the Govt.

<<< MEDIA >>>
<<< TROOPS >>>
=== Aljazeera_Net -- Philippine-US ties strained over Iraq.txt ===
Aljazeera
Philippine-US ties strained over Iraq?
De la Cruz is said to have been released.
The Philippine decision to pull troops out of Iraq to save the life
of a Filipino captive could affect ties with the US, the State
Dept has indicated.
"I think we'll have to see," dept rep Richard
Boucher told reporters when asked whether bilateral relations would
be affected by the Philippine decision.
On Wed, a Philippine official in Baghdad said truck driver
Angelo de la Cruz, who had been threatened with execution, was "safe
and there is no more risk of him being executed".
Earlier, a purported Iraqi group calling itself the Khalid Ibn
al-Walid Brigade threatened to behead de la Cruz by Tue unless
Manila cave in to their demands for total troop withdrawal by 20
July.
The unconfirmed release of de la Cruz may have come as a result of
fierce 11th-hr negotiating between his captors and Philippine
delegates in Iraq.
On 13 July, Philippines Deputy For Min Rafael Sequis said
in a statement broadcast on Aljazeera that his govt would cave
in to the captors' demands.
"We are responding to your request and are to withdraw our
humanitarian contingent in Iraq as soon as possible," Sequis said.
Washington annoyed
Philippine For Sec Delia Albert confirmed on Wed
that Manila had started pulling its troops out of Iraq, suggesting
eight members of the 51-member contingent had already left the
war-torn country.
The purported withdrawal of Manila's
troops has irked Washington
Washington considers Manila's offer of early troop withdrawal as
running contrary to US policy and "giving in to terrorist demands".
Never the less,  Boucher said Manila had stood beside the US "as a
friend and an ally on many, many occasions in the decades past, and
so we look forward to continuing to work with the Philippines in all
the areas where we can productively do that."
Asked to elaborate on a possible review of US links with the
Philippines, a US govt official, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said "it's hard to speculate at this point.
"There is no indication of a change in policy across the board on
cooperation in fighting terrorism," he said.
Partners
The Philippines, facing a terrorism threat at its own backyard, was
among the 1st to support the so-called US-led global war on
terrorism after the Sep 11 2001 attacks in the US.
Among other forms of assistance, the US grants financial and
military aid to the Philippines, which was given the non-NATO ally
status by Washington last y to highlight their close defence
links.
Filipinos called on their govt
to pull troops from Iraq
The US military also helps train Philippine soldiers battling the
al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terror group in the country's troubled
south.
Boucher noted that the US and the Philippines had pledged to
continue the strong cooperation they have had in counterterrorism.
"We have worked closely with them on many other things around the
world, in terms of sharing info, law enforcement info,
training, a lot of different forms of cooperation -- all of which we
certainly would like to continue," he said.

=== EXPATI~1.TXT ===
US Marine leaves Germany after Iraq disappearance
RAMSTEIN (Expatica).
A US Marine who claimed he was held hostage
in Iraq was on his way back home to the US
from Ramstein air base in Germany Wed, according
to a rep at the base.
Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, 24, issued a brief
statement prior to departure saying he was "looking
forward" to being reunited with friends and families in
America.
Petra Day, the rep, said Hassoun was flown out
of the base Wed following a battery of medical
tests and de-briefing at Landstuhl military hospital.
"I am happy to have completed this phase of my
repatriation," the statement said. "The people here at
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center have treated me very
well, but I am excited to be going home. All thanks and
praises are due to God for my safety.
"I'm also very thankful for all those kind wishes,
support and prayers for me and my family from my fellow
Marines, all the people in the US, Lebanon and around
the world. I am in good health and spirits. I look
forward to my return home to friends and family. Semper
fidelis."
He claims he was kidnapped in Iraq on 27 June. An
announcement threatening to decapitate him was then
posted on an internet website.
He was reported released later on a website used by
extremists as he had allegedly promised to leave the
US military.
Hassoun somehow made his way to the US embassy in
Beirut, where he voluntarily entered the grounds.
In the days following his disappearance from a US base
in Iraq, Hassoun was listed as missing. There were
reports that he left voluntarily, and that the marines
were considering him as absent without leave. He had
last been seen on June 27.
Hassoun, who is of Lebanese extraction, had his status
changed to "captured" by the US military on 28 June.

===
Philippines under fire for troop pullout
Gloria Arroyo is facing criticism as her Govt prepares to pull
troops out of Iraq. 
(Reuters).
The  Philippines  Govt has come under attack from domestic media
outlets and foreign govts for its move to pull its troops out of
Iraq in response to hostage-taking militants.
Manila  says  it  has begun preparations to withdraw its 50 troops, in
line  with  the  demands  of  kidnappers who have threatened to behead
Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz.
The  hostage-takers  have  said  they  will  kill Mr de la Cruz unless
Filipino troops leave Iraq by July 20, a m ahead of schedule.
Aussie  Foreign  Min Alexander Downer has phoned the Filipino
ambassador  to AUS saying that while he sympathised with Manila,
giving in to hostage-takers would only strengthen their hand.
"If countries cave in to terrorists' demands then that only encourages
the  terrorists  to  become  more strident and more aggressive towards
other countries, as well as that country itself," Mr Downer said.
A  rep for Mr Downer added that the Min had "strongly urged
the  Philippines not to give into the demands of terrorists because we
will all pay a price if they do".
Washington  says  a  Filipino  pullout will send the wrong message and
points  out  that  other countries whose nat'ls have been kidnapped
refused to meet the hostage-takers' demands.
Wrong signal
US  State  Dept  rep  Richard Boucher said: "We think that
withdrawal  sends the wrong signal and that it is important for people
to stand up to terrorists and not allow them to change our behaviour.
"Our  general  stance  has  always  been  that  making  concessions to
hostage-takers and terrorists only encourages that behaviour."
Some  media  in  the Philippines said the Govt was sparing truck
driver  Mr de la Cruz only at the expense of Pres Gloria Arroyo's
reputation and possibly even ties with the US.
"The  withdrawal of Filipino troops ... impoverishes the leadership of
Pres Arroyo and the credibility of the Philippines in the world,"
the Manila Times said in an editorial.
It  noted  that  no  other  country  involved  in  Iraq had yielded to
hostage-takers,  an act it said would not make Filipinos or Iraqis any
safer.
Mr  Boucher says Washington and Manila want to continue cooperating in
the  war  on  terrorism but he left it open whether a withdrawal would
affect bilateral relations.
In Poland, which also has troops in Iraq, a Foreign Ministry rep
said:  "This move only encourages terrorists to increase such actions,
since they bring about desired effects."
South Korea, Japan, Bulgaria
Like  the  Philippines, S Korea and Japan are US allies who bucked
opp'n at home to contribute troops to Iraq.
They  endured  hostage  crises without changing policy but declined to
comment specifically on Manila's decision.
"There  is  no  change  to  our Govt's position," a S Korean
Govt official said.
South Korea plans to send 3,000 troops to Iraq next m.
Seoul  is  still  reeling from the beheading in June of a S Korean
interpreter by Islamic militants in Iraq, after it rejected demands to
scrap  the  deployment  and  pull out about 600 military engineers and
medics.
In  Tokyo,  Japanese  Foreign  Ministry  rep Hatsuhisa Takashima
said:  "We  have  heard  that  delicate  negotiations  are still being
conducted so there is nothing for us to comment on."
Iraqi  militants  captured  3  Japanese  civilians  in  Apr  and
threatened  to  kill  them  unless  Tokyo  withdrew its 550 non-combat
troops.
But  PM  Junichiro Koizumi refused to budge and the three
hostages, along with 2 others taken separately, were released.
Reports  about  Manila's plan to pull out its troops came after news a
Bulgarian  hostage in Iraq had been killed and another threatened with
death.
Bulgaria says it will not withdraw its 470 troops from Iraq.

===
Bulgaria awaits news on 2nd hostage
(Reuters).
Bulgaria  has  anxiously  watched  a  deadline  for the execution of a
Bulgarian  hostage  in  Iraq pass without news but is standing firm on
its pro-US policies and refusing to pull out its troops.
The  Balkan  country,  a  new member of NATO, was shocked by news that
militants had killed one of 2 Bulgarian truck drivers held hostage.
Al  Jazeera  television  said  on  Tue  night that a video of that
execution was too gruesome to air.
Bulgaria has fought a 5-day diplomatic battle to save the 2 truck
drivers,  whom  militants  had threatened to kill unless US-held Iraqi
prisoners were released.
Bulgarian  officials  would not disclose which of the 2 men -- Georgi
Lazov,  30,  or  Ivailo  Kepov, 32 -- had been killed, saying they were
waiting to see the full video from Al Jazeera.
However, Bulgarian media said the executed man was Mr Lazov.
The  militants  threatened  on Tue to execute the 2nd Bulgarian
hostage  within  24 hr unless the US complied with their
demands.
The  2  men were drivers transporting cars from Bulgaria to the city
of Mosul when they disappeared on June 27.

<<< ELECTION >>>
=== Bush loses gay marriage ban.txt ===
Bush loses gay marriage ban
(SA)
Washington 
The senate dealt an election-y defeat on
Wed to a US constitutional amendment banning
gay marriage, rejecting pleas from Pres George W Bush and
fellow conservatives that the measure was needed to safeguard
an institution that has flourished for 1000s of years.
The vote was 50-48, 10 short of the 60 needed to keep the
measure alive.
Sen Rick Santorum, a leader in the fight to approve the
measure, said: "I would argue that the future of our country
hangs in the balance because the future of marriage hangs in
the balance.
"Isn't that the ultimate homeland security, standing up and
defending marriage?"
But senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle said there was no
"urgent need" to amend the constitution.
"Marriage is a sacred union between men and women. That is
what the vast majority of Americans believe. It's what
virtually all S Dakotans believe. It's what I believe."
Vowed to renew their efforts
"In S Dakota, we've never had a single same-sex marriage
and we won't have any," he said.
"It's prohibited by S Dakota law as it is now in 38 other
states. There is no confusion. There is no ambiguity."
Supporters conceded in advance they would fail to win the
support needed to advance the measure, and vowed to renew
their efforts.
"I don't think it's going away after this vote," said senator
Jeff Sessions on Tue on the eve of the test vote. "I think
the issue will remain alive," he added.
Whatever its future in congress, there also were signs that
supporters of the amendment intended to use it in the campaign
already unfolding.
'Protecting the Republican majority'
"The institution of marriage is under fire from extremist
groups in Washington, politicians, even judges who have made
it clear that they are willing to run over any state law
defining marriage," said Republican senatorial candidate John
Thune says in a radio commercial airing in S Dakota.
"They have done it in Massachusetts and they can do it here,"
added Thune, who was challenging Daschle for his seat.
"Thune's ad suggests that some are using this amendment more
to protect the Republican majority than to protect marriage,"
said Dan Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for Daschle's campaign.

=== Fahrenheit breaks box office record.txt ===
Fahrenheit breaks box office record
(PAAIN).
Michael Moore's controversial film
Fahrenheit 9/11 has broken box office records in
the UK.
The movie has taken STG1.3 mn ($A3.34
mn) since its release on Fri -- the biggest
opening weekend for a documentary.
It now looks set to become the UK's highest
grossing documentary.
The record is currently held by mountaineering
film Touching the Void, which took STG2.58 mn
($A6.62 mn).
In the US, Fahrenheit 9/11 became the
first documentary to top the box office and has
taken $US80 mn ($A110.32 mn) dollars so
far.
In the UK, it opened on 132 screens and has been
greeted by standing ovations from cinema-goers.
The UK's previous highest opening weekend for a
documentary was set by Moore's last film, Bowling
for Columbine, which took STG158,000
($A405,700.35) in its 1st 3 days.
Fahrenheit 9/11 has also scored the highest opener
for a Palme d'Or winner, beating Pulp Fiction at
STG705,000. ($A1.81 mn) Moore's film is a
scathing attack on the Bush Admin and the
war in Iraq.
He portrays Pres Bush as a bumbling
incompetent who, prior to Sep 11, spent
almost as much time on holiday as he did on
running the country.
The film accuses Bush of using the Sep 11
attacks to justify going to war with Iraq.
Moore claims the real reason for going to war was
oil.
He exposes links between the Bush dynasty and the
Saudi royal family.
The maverick film-maker hopes Fahrenheit 9/11 will
lose Bush the presidential election in Nov.
Critical reaction has been largely positive but
some have been scathing about its partisan
content.
The conservative backlash in the US has already
begun.

===
Election likely before Nov: Anderson
Deputy  PM John Anderson has hinted that the election will
be held before Nov during a tour of N Qld.
Mr  Anderson has told local ABC radio he cannot predict when the Prime
Min  will call the election but says he expects it before the end
of Oct.
He says John Howard has not revealed the date to him.

<<< TERROR/SECURITY >>>
=== War may last a generation Downer.txt ===
War may last a generation: Downer
AAP 
The war on terrorism could last for another
generation and an attack on AUS was a
possibility, For Min Alexander Downer
said.
Launching the govt's white paper on
terrorism, Mr Downer said it might take many y
and $bns before al-Qaeda and other
terror groups were finally defeated.
"The Aussie govNOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.9
NOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.12
t is ready to confront
the terrorist threat but we cannot afford
complacency," Mr Downer said.
"An attack here is a possibility but one we will
do everything in our power to prevent."
Mr Downer said contemporary terrorism differed
from any threat previously faced by AUS and
could not be ignored.
"Far more civilians than soldiers have already
lost their lives," he said.
"Who knows what terrorist outrages, abroad and
even at home, may lie ahead, or how many bn
of dollars will have to be spent before we can
safely say that al-Qaeda and its henchmen have
been contained and eventually defeated?
"It may not happen for a generation."
The white paper outlines the nature and
internat'l dimensions of the evolving terrorist
threat to AUS.

===
CIA convinced terrorists planning 'something big'
CIA believes major terrorist attack is in the planning.
(AFP).
CIA  acting director John McLaughlin says warnings that terrorists are
plotting "something big" against the US are based on "very,
very solid" info.
Mc  McLaughlin  has  likened the threat reports to those that preceded
the Sep 11, 2001 attacks.
In  an  interview with Nat'l Public Radio, he said the US had ample
warning  of  an  attack  before  Sep  11 but no specifics on the
timing and targets.
"We  did  have  conviction  that  something  big was coming at us," Mr
McLaughlin said. "We have that same conviction now.
"The  reason  I say that it is serious is that I think the info
I've  seen  is  very,  very solid. We have very little doubt about the
info we have in terms of its sourcing and its authenticity."
Mr  McLaughlin  would  not  comment  on  whether the intel gave
specifics  but said the agency had developed much more intel on
Al Qaeda and its intentions since Sep 11.
Homeland  Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last wk that "credible
reports"  indicated Al Qaeda planned to carry out a large-scale attack
in the US to disrupt the US elections.
Mr  Ridge  said  precise  knowledge  of  the time, place and method of
attack was lacking.
But  he  said  security  was  being  stepped  up  at  the sites of the
Democratic and Republican nominating conventions this summer.
Asked whether Americans should cancel vacation plans or stay away from
Boston  and NY during the conventions, Mr McLaughlin said people
should go about their business.
"But  citizens  themselves need to keep their eyes open and be alert,"
he said.

<<< AIDS >>>
<<< HEALTH/DISEASE >>>
===
Older mums face lower ovarian cancer risk
(Reuters).
Women who have their last child after the age of 35 have a 58%
lower  risk  of  ovarian  cancer  compared  with women who never had a
child, US researchers have found.
Women  who  had  children earlier in life also had a lower risk but it
was  less  dramatic:  16% for women whose children were born
before  age  25  and  45%  for women whose children were born
before age 30.
Women  who had 4 or more children had a 64% lower risk than
women  who  had  never  given birth, Malcolm Pike of the University of
Southern California and colleagues reported in the latest issue of the
journal Fertility and Sterility.
Mr Pike's team interviewed 477 ovarian cancer patients and 660 healthy
women of similar race, ethnicity, age and area.
The  women  who had babies later in life were much less likely to have
had ovarian cancer, they found.
However, the number of children did not matter.
Earlier  studies  have  shown  that  having children late in life also
protects  against cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus,
Mr Pike said.
He believes that the surge in the hormone progesterone that is seen in
pregnancy may be a factor in both cancers.
"This  level of progestins might very well be fatal to early disease,"
he said.
In  addition,  the uterus is "cleaned out" with birth and the delivery
of  the placenta, perhaps taking away aging cells that are more likely
to become cancerous, Mr Pike said.
Mr  Pike  believes the findings could have implications for preventing
ovarian cancer, which is rare but deadly.

<<< POW >>>
===
Hicks, Habib informed of legal rights
Mamdouh Habib ... informed of chance to appeal. 
Guantanamo Bay (ABC, Leigh Sales).
The  majority  of  detainees  at Guantanamo Bay, including Aussies
David  Hicks  and Mamdouh Habib, have been informed they can challenge
their detentions.
The ABC was allowed into a cell block occupied by detainees to witness
them being issued with info about a review process.
A soldier read out details which were then translated by a linguist.
The detainees were told a military panel would review their cases with
a view to releasing them if they successfully argued they were wrongly
imprisoned.
The detainees the ABC saw today appeared to be in good health.
The  ABC  has  also been allowed to visit Camp Echo, where Mr Hicks is
housed.
He lives in a tiny cell inside a brown-coloured hut with only a sliver
of frosted glass so he can tell if it is night or day.
The cell is divided in 2 by a criss-crossed metal wall.
There  is  a  shower,  toilet  and  bed on one side and a table on the
other. Mr Hicks is not allowed to mix with other inmates.

<<< SADDAM >>>
<<< IRAQ >>>
=== Scotsman_com News -- Latest News -- Internat'l Support Essential for Another Iraq -- Greenstock.txt ===
Internat'l Support Essential for Another Iraq -- Greenstock
(PA/Scotsman).
Brit would be "extremely reluctant" to embark on an
Iraq-style war again without much wider internat'l and
UN support, a snr diplomat said today.
Sir Jeremy Greenstock, who was the UK's ambassador to the UN
ahead of the war and was until recently the UK's special envoy
to Iraq, made his comments during an appearance before the
Commons internat'l development select committee.
Asked what advice he would have for any govt facing a
similar scenario to Iraq in the future, Sir Jeremy said he
believed that broad-based internat'l support would be
essential if military action were being contemplated again.
Sir Jeremy told the committee: "I would have thought that the
Brit Govt, Parliament and people would be extremely
reluctant to get into this sort of situation again in the
first place, unless circumstances were different, and we had
much greater internat'l partnership and UN direct authority
and mandate to do this."

=== Fresh Iraq violence kills 22.txt ===
Fresh Iraq violence kills 22
(AFP).
A suicide car bomb killed 10 people outside
the Iraqi govt's compound in Baghdad while
more than a dozen others, including the governor
of Mosul, died as a fresh wave of violence swept
Iraq.
The Philippines govt and a Saudi company
meanwhile ceded to kidnappers' demands to save
hostages, a day after a Bulgarian truck driver was
beheaded by militants who had demanded the release
of Iraqi prisoners.
Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi, who was put
under a new death threat, the 2nd in less than
a month, called the car bombing "naked aggression
against the Iraqi people" and vowed to "bring
these criminals to justice".
US Pres George W Bush, campaigning for
re-election in the midwestern state of Wisconsin,
said he suspected al-Qaeda-linked terror chief Abu
Mussab al-Zarqawi was behind the attack.
"I suspect Zarqawi ordered it," said Bush. "I
don't know, but that's the nature of Zarqawi."
The morning rush hour blast detonated nr the
heavily guarded entrance to Iraq's main govt
offices in the central Baghdad compound known as
the Green Zone, which also houses the US embassy.
The attack, the bloodiest since the interim
govt took over from the US-led occupation in
June, killed 3 Iraqi nat'l guardsmen and
7 civilians and injured at least 40.
Iraqi Pres Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar called it
"random terrorism" and warned it may take up to a
year to restore security to the country.
"These people are like a cancer... that plagues
the Iraqi body," he said. "We will treat it the
proper way, God willing."
Governor Ussama Kachmula of the N city of
Mosul and 2 of his bodyguards were shot dead by
four attackers as they travelled from Mosul to
Baghdad.
"4 attackers in a car opened fire with
automatic weapons on the governor's convoy,
killing him and 2 of his bodyguards," said the
governor's rep, Hazem Jalawi.
He said a firefight ensued in which the 4
attackers were killed by guards.
In the flashpoint city of Ramadi, clashes between
insurgents and US marines left 5 Iraqis dead
and another 21 wounded, hospital and police
sources said.
Witness said a convoy of around 10 US military
vehicles was moving nr the entrance to the city
when attackers opened fire with Kalashnikov
assault rifles and RPGs.
The US military would not comment.

=== Taipei Times -- archives.txt ===
First post-handover car bombing kills 10 and injures 40 in Iraq
BAGHDAD (REUTERS/Taipei Times).
A suspected suicide car bombing killed 10 people and wounded 40
yesterday in the 1st big terror attack in Baghdad since an interim
Iraqi govt took over from US-led occupiers on June 28.
"This is naked aggression against the Iraqi people," said Prime
Min Iyad Allawi, standing by burnt-out vehicles nr a main
entrance to the heavily defended "Green Zone" compound.
"We will bring these criminals to justice," he vowed, adding that
7 Iraqi civilians and 3 Nat'l Guardsmen had been killed
and 40 people wounded.
Deafened passersby and a man with blood oozing from his chest
staggered from the site of the explosion.
"My God, my God," screamed one panicked woman among the scores of
workers, visitors and journalists lining up for security checks to
get into the US-defended area.
The blast occurred hours after news that Islamist militants led by
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had killed one of 2 Bulgarian truck drivers
held hostage in Iraq. They vowed to kill the 2nd within 24 hr
unless US-led forces freed prisoners.
Bulgaria said it would not pull its 470 troops out of Iraq despite
the killing of the driver and the plight of the other.
In stark contrast, the Philippines was preparing to withdraw its
troops early to save the life of a Filipino hostage, though the
military said it had yet to receive clear orders to leave.
"He is safe and there is no more risk of him being executed," said a
Foreign Ministry official in Manila, referring to kidnapped truck
driver Angelo de la Cruz.
The Baghdad blast occurred in a crowded area where cars queue for
access to the sprawling Green Zone beside the Tigris River. It
houses govt buildings, the US and Brit embassies, and the
offices of many foreign contractors.
The entrance has long been recognized as a potential target for
bombers, but despite elaborate fortifications, people forced to wait
just outside the zone have remained vulnerable.
"At 9.15 am this morning a vehicle pulled into the search lane and
tried to get into the control point and detonated," a US officer
said. "We're pretty sure it was a suicide bomber. The bomber never
got out of the vehicle."
Allawi said he wanted to "assure the internat'l community that we
are going forward in building democracy, peace and stability in
Iraq."
He said he believed the bomb attack was a response to a crackdown on
criminals, referring to police raids that have netted 100s of
suspects in Baghdad this wk.
The Green Zone is a favored target for rocket and mortar attacks. In
May, a suicide bomber killed the then head of Iraq's now-defunct
Governing Council as he entered the compound.

=== news.txt ===
Governor of Mosul gunned down
(AFP).
Mosul  governor  Ussama  Kachmula  and 2 of his bodyguards have been
gunned down by 4 attackers while travelling from the N Iraqi
city to Baghdad, a rep said.
In  an  exchange  of fire after Mr Kachmula's convoy was ambushed, the
four  assailants  were also shot dead, governor rep Hazem Jalawi
told AFP.
"4  attackers  in  a  car opened fire with automatic weapons on the
governor's  convoy,  killing him and 2 of his bodyguards," Mr Jalawi
said.
"Other guards shot back, slaughtering the assailants," he said, adding
that the ambush took place at about 5.30 pm local time.
The  governor  and the dead bodyguards were taken to a hospital in the
nearby city of Baiji, some 300 km N of Baghdad.
A  violent  insurgency that flared up during the US-led occupation has
mercilessly  attacked key symbols of Iraq's interim Govt such as
its police force, soldiers and community leaders.
Despite  the huge risks involved in becoming a prominent face in Iraq,
Mr  Kachmula  took  the  job  of  governor after it was turned down by
another snr figure in the restive city.

===
10 Iraqis killed in 2 cities
(AFP).
10  Iraqis  have  been  killed  in  separate  incidents in Ramadi and
Kirkuk.
In  Ramadi,  5 Iraqis were killed and another 21 wounded in clashes
between  insurgents  and  US Marines, according to hospital and police
sources.
Police  Maj  Ahmed  Rabiyeh confirmed the report, saying the clashed
occurred in an industrial zone.
He would not give any details on the identities of the casualties.
The  US  Marines  who  also patrol the area said they were attacked by
insurgents  during  the  afternoon in the "vicinity" of the flashpoint
city.
"In  repulsing  the  enemy  attack,  [Marines]...inflicted significant
casualties   upon   the   AIF  [anti-Iraqi  forces],"  said  rep
Lt Col TV Johnson.
"No  civilians  were  reported  injured or killed in the fighting," he
said, adding that no Marines were lost either.
In  Kirkuk,  5 Iraqis from one family including a child were killed
and  2  injured when 2 mortar rounds fell on their home, according
to police.
The attack happened at about 11.45 pm local time in the mostly Kurdish
Rahimao neighbourhood on the N edge of the city.
3  m  ago  7  policemen  were  killed in an attack on the
Rahimao station.
Kirkuk,  255  km  N  of  Baghdad, is the scene of frequent
violence among its Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen population.

<<< IRAN >>>
=== Yahoo! News -- Canada Recalls Ambassador to Iran.txt ===
Canada Recalls Ambassador to Iran
TEHRAN (AP).
Canada recalled its ambassador to Iran on Wed after
Tehran barred Canadian observers from the trial of an agent charged
with beating a Canadian journalist to death in a jail.
Intel Ministry agent Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi goes on
trial Sat, charged with "semi-premeditated murder" of Zahra
Kazemi, a Canadian freelance journalist of Iranian origin who died
July 10, 2003. Kazemi was detained for taking photographs outside a
Tehran prison during student-led protests against the ruling Islamic
establishment.
Canadian For Min Bill Graham asked Iran to allow foreign
observers to attend the trial, and on Wed he voiced his
"extreme outrage" at the Iranian decision.
"They had promised that we would have 3 observers. This is
completely unacceptable behavior on their part," Graham said.
"It's a complete rejection of the rule of law. ... Justice will not
be done behind closed doors in Iran."
A rep for Iran's Foreign Ministry defended the decision on
state television Wed.
"Iran has no obligation to accept the request for the presence of
Canadian observers in this trial," Hamid Reza Asefi said. "It is
unacceptable and contrary to all internat'l regulations."
But Graham said internat'l legal standards require the case to be
an open trial "with the right, certainly, of the family to be
present to assure that justice is done."
Iranian authorities initially denied that Kazemi was murdered,
claiming she died of a stroke. Later, however, a committee appointed
by the president found that Kazemi died of a fractured skull and
brain hemorrhage from a blow to the head.
The intel agent, Ahmadi, pleaded innocent in Oct to
charges of fatally beating Kazemi during interrogations.
Ahmadi's lawyer, Ghasem Shabani, said Kazemi received the head blow
while in the hands of judiciary agents before being turned over to
Intel Ministry agents.
The killing damaged Iranian-Canadian ties and led to a round of
finger-pointing between hard-liners and reformers within Iran's
ruling Islamic establishment.
Judiciary officials had indicated that Canadian diplomats may be
allowed to attend the trial but said they would not allow any
Canadian interference in the legal proceedings. The Canadian
ambassador to Tehran, Philip Mackinnon, attended court proceedings
last y.
Pres Mohammad Khatami  said Wed he
believed the intel agent was innocent.
"On the basis of the reports I've received, I believe he is not
guilty. I hope that the court, with accuracy and courage, will name
the person who committed (the crime)," Khatami said after a Cabinet
meeting.
The Intel Ministry says Kazemi complained in writing on June
24 that she was beaten on the day of her arrest by a prison
official, part of the hard-line judiciary.
Khatami's reformist Admin demanded that judiciary officials
named in the case be interrogated, but that demand has been ignored.
Iranian reformists have accused hard-line Tehran prosecutor Saeed
Mortazavi of illegally detaining Kazemi and then covering up facts
surrounding her death.
Canada has complained to Iran about the handling of her case. Graham
also implicated Mortazavi in the killing, saying agents would not
act without orders from above.
Ottawa recalled its ambassador to Iran, Philip MacKinnon, soon after
the murder but returned him when cooperation was promised.
Canada also criticized Iran for hastily burying Kazemi's body in
Iran against the wishes of her son, Stephan Hachemi, who lives in
Montreal.
Hachemi said Wed that Ottawa had not done enough to return his
mother's body to Canada. Also, Canadian officials have not helped
him obtain autopsy and other medical reports that will be crucial in
any legal bid for compensation, he told an Ottawa news conference.
"We cannot get, by ourselves, any of this evidence," Hachemi said.
"Basically, we've got nothing."

<<< AFGHANISTAN >>>
<<< KOREA >>>
<<< ISRAEL/PAL >>>
=== UN convoy caught in Gaza crossfire.txt ===
UN convoy caught in Gaza crossfire
(AP).
A gunfight between Israeli troops and
Palestinian gunmen briefly disrupted a UN convoy
delivering aid to a Gaza Strip town that has been
under Israeli siege for more than 2 wk, UN
officials and the army said.
A top local UN official and an Associated Press
photographer were among the people travelling in
the convoy. No injuries were reported.
The 25-minute gunfight broke out as the convoy,
which included 12 trucks carrying flour, rice,
milk, canned goods and medical supplies, entered
the town of Beit Hanoun, witnesses said.
The people in the convoy -- including Peter Hansen,
the head of the UN Relief and Works
Agency (UNRWA) -- were forced to take cover in a
nearby building, the witnesses said.
An UNRWA official in the convoy said the shooting
was random and that aid workers had taken cover in
a nearby building until the gunfire died down. The
official said the convoy had not been targeted.
The army said it had opened fire after being
attacked by Palestinian gunmen. The army said it
knew exactly where the UN convoy was travelling
and never fired at the convoy.
Israel raided Beit Hanoun earlier this m after
Palestinian militants fired rockets at the Israeli
town of Sderot, killing 2 people. It was the
first time in nearly 4 y of fighting that
Israelis were killed by Palestinian rocket fire.
The rocket fire threatens to complicate Israel's
plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

<<< SYRIA >>>
<<< INDIA/PAKI >>>
<<< SRI >>>
<<< INDON >>>
<<< TIMOR >>>
<<< ZIMBABW >>>
<<< PNG >>>
<<< INTERNAT >>>
=== CBC News Mixing poor and rich students helps Canada's literacy rates study.txt ===
Mixing poor and rich students helps Canada's literacy rates: study
OTTAWA (CBC News).
A literacy study released Wed by Statistics Canada shows
that 15-yo students in New Brunswick have the lowest literacy skills
while the same age group in Alberta scored the highest.
The new study, Variation in Literacy Skills among Canadian Provinces,
concludes that students who come from poorer families perform better if
they are schooled with students from wealthier families.
The study's author, Prof. Douglas Willms of the University of New
Brunswick, says there's a strong relationship between reading levels and
socio-economic background, but there are many cases of schools with large
poor populations that do exceptionally well in reading literacy.
Willms says the important factor is teaching children to read at an early
age. "What we know from this study and other studies is that there are
many children that fall off track in the early grades. Those early y
are important."
Cindy Easton of Literacy Alberta says being a "have" province makes a
difference for Alberta's students. "Children right now have a great
advantage over other children in provinces that may not be as rich as we
are," she said.
Canada's score of 534 was just over 500, the internat'l benchmark
number used to measure reading performance.
Alberta scored 16 points higher than the nat'l average, putting it on
par with Finland, and New Brunswick scored 33 points lower.
Ontario was one of 7 provinces with a literacy level below the
nat'l average.
The study analysed data from the 2000 Programme for Internat'l Student
Assessment (PISA), which interviewed 15-yo students in 32 countries.
About 30,000 15-yo students from more than 1,000 schools across
Canada took part in the study.
Student skills in reading, mathematics and science were assessed, and
questionnaires collected background info from students and
principals.
Measures of socio-economic background were derived from data on the
education levels attained and the occupations of the students' parents, as
well as the family's possessions.

=== Cambodia wants to deport Glitter.txt ===
Cambodia wants to deport Glitter
(AFP).
Cambodian govt officials said they
wanted to deport disgraced 1970s rocker Gary
Glitter but could not legally do so as they have
no evidence against him.
The ex-glam rock star, who has been convicted on
child pornography charges in Brit, is living in
Cambodia and is currently awaiting a hearing over
a complaint he filed alleging wrongful deportation
from the kingdom in 2002.
"We do not want him to be here because we fear
that maybe he will do something harmful to young
people," interior ministry rep Khieu Sopheak
told AFP.
"We have no evidence against him now so we cannot
legally send him out," he said, adding that he
must at least stay to have his complaint heard.
Cambodia has earned a reputation as a haven for
paedophiles due to lax law enforcement, corruption
in the courts and the easy availability of young
boys and girls who are lured into prostitution as
a way to escape poverty.
The judge who was supposed to hear Glitter's
complaint withdrew from the case last wk, saying
it was too complicated, and told AFP that no new
judge had been appointed.
Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, has been
kicked out of Cambodia twice, most recently last
Oct, following an uproar among women's and
child rights activists.
He was supposed to have been barred from
re-entering but he managed to return and purchase
property in a well-heeled suburb of the capital.
A local newspaper reported that people living nr
the property were refusing to let their children
go nr it.
Glitter was convicted in Brit for possessing
4,000 hardcore pornographic photos of boys and
girls and served 4 m in jail in 1999.

=== Yahoo! News -- Full Planes, Storms to Bring Many Delays.txt ===
Full Planes, Storms to Bring Many Delays
WASHINGTON (AP).
This summer is shaping up as the worst for flight
delays since 2000, when nearly one in every 4 planes was late.
The gloomy picture is due to the large number of people traveling --
passenger loads have returned to pre-Sept. 11, 2001, levels -- and a
weather pattern producing severe storms in some of the nation's most
congested airspace.
On Wed, storms delayed flights to NJ's Newark Liberty
Internat'l Airport by more than 3 hr. Other airports along
the E Coast -- in Baltimore, Washington, Boston, NY and
Philadelphia -- experienced delays up to an hour.
During the summer of 2000, severe thunderstorms coupled with large
passenger loads and work slowdowns led to massive delays. While few
experts expect this y's problems to be as pronounced, most agree
there will be significantly more delays than the previous 3
summers.
"Airplanes are going to be very full, airports are going to be
crowded, there are going to be long lines at security," said David
Swierenga, an airline economist and president of Vienna, Va.-based
AeroEcon.
Passengers know it already.
"The planes are really jammed and service seems to be suffering,"
said Ken Cahill, a traveler from Asheville, N.C, passing through
Reagan Washington Nat'l Airport.
Another traveler at the airport, Don Greenberg of Cincinnati, said
he'd seen problems from the increase in passengers and from lines at
security checkpoints. "I travel every other wk and sometimes 3
to 4 cities are delayed," he said.
Swierenga believes 2004 will top the record 666 mn airline
passengers in 2000. A rebounding economy and the lowest fares in a
decade have lured people back to the skies.
Through May, the percentage of late-arriving flights was up 27%
over the 1st 5 m of 2003, reversing steady
improvements in on-time performance since 2000. The Transportation
Dept reported about one in 5 flights arrived 15 minutes or
more behind schedule, the threshold for a flight to be considered
delayed. About 1/4 of all late flights were more than an
hour behind schedule.
Bad weather is the single biggest cause of delays. Unusual weather
patterns have caused a high number of severe thunderstorms in some
of the country's most congested areas -- from Chicago E through
the upper Midwest, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Bad weather at a
major airport has a cascading effect, causing delays throughout the
aviation system.
"This has been a level of thunderstorm activity that we haven't
experienced for a few years," said Fed Aviation Admin
 rep Greg Martin.
Exacerbating the problem is the larger number of planes in the air.
As airlines have sought to meet the increasing demand for direct
flights, they have replaced larger planes with smaller, more
efficient jets. The result is that it takes more planes to carry the
same number of people, creating a further burden for the air traffic
system.
The FAA  has taken steps to minimize delays. New
computer programs let pilots fly more direct routes and enable
controllers to track the paths of thunderstorms so planes can be
rerouted rather than delay takeoffs until a storm has passed.
Air traffic controllers also are holding some planes on the ground
longer if they're headed toward crowded airports. That way,
backed-up planes can get into the air more quickly when the weather
clears because the space over the airport will be less crowded.
Martin said the change disperses small delays throughout the
aviation system instead of creating substantial delays at one
airport.
The FAA earlier this y negotiated with 2 of the biggest
airlines -- United and American -- to reduce their schedules at
Chicago's O'Hare Internat'l Airport by 7.5% between noon
and 8 p.m. Delays at O'Hare can cause backups throughout the system
because so many flights connect through it.
Air Travelers Association Pres David Stempler advises calling
the airline before leaving for the airport. "Check on your specific
flight, because even though the airport itself may be on delay, it
may not affect your particular flight," he said.

===
China to clean up 3 Gorges Dam
China has announced a massive clean-up campaign to remove garbage from
the reservoir area of the controversial 3 Gorges Dam.
The  reservoir  gates  were  closed  last  y on the Yangtze River's
$multi-bn 3 Gorges Dam.
Floating  garbage  has  become  such a nuisance that local authorities
have announced a m long clean-up campaign.
Heavy  rain  has  pushed  a huge amount of rubbish, branches and weeds
into the main channel of the reservoir, affecting boats navigation.
State media reports there are belts of rubbish stretching for 100s
of metres.
A  team  of  300  people  using  70  boats have been given the task of
clearing the floating debris.

===
US gay marriage laws to stand
US  conservatives  have  failed  in  their  bid to change the American
Constitution to ban gay marriage.
Pres George W Bush had urged Congress to support a constitutional
amendment banning same-sex marriage after several states moved to make
it legal.
But the proposal failed to win enough support in the Senate.
The head of the human rights campaign, Cheryl Jacques, said: "Today we
saw  Pres  Bush  and  the Republican leadership attempt to divide
America and it backfired."
But Republican Sen Sam Brownback is not dropping the matter.
"You  will  see  this  issue  turning  and ultimately we will win this
fight," he said.
Republicans  have vowed to campaign on the issue in a bid to embarrass
Democrats in an election year.

<<< AUS >>>
===
Torres Strait locals cling to hope for missing trio
The Tamwoy family was travelling from Badu Island to Thu Island
when their boat capsized.
xxx
A  Torres  Strait  island  community  has  banded together to continue
searching for 3 people missing after a boating accident last wk.
3  children  from  the  family  of  6  survived after their boat
capsized nr Badu Island.
Ellis,  Steven  and Norita Nona spent several days marooned on a small
island before they were found on Mon.
The  official search for the children's parents and three-yo boy
has  been  called  off  but  family  rep Vicki Tamwoy says the
community has not given up hope.
"They are very bonded, very strong and very together," Mr Tamwoy said.
Community  rep  Manuel Namula says the community is proud of the
surviving children.
"I  am  amazed,"  Mr Namula said. "When I did look at the journey they
swam, I got into tears.
"I  just  couldn't  believe  it,  the  distance  they  covered and the
condition they're in, it's a miracle ... I've never seen anything like
it," he said.
A convoy of dinghies will continue scouring the water today.
Torres  Strait Islanders say boating tragedies could be avoided in the
region if local air travel were more affordable.
Mr  Nomoa  says  short-distance  air  travel is too expensive for most
families, so they rely on small dinghies to get between islands.
"I asked the Govt to have a look at that," he said.
"Dinghy  is  the cheapest way to get from Badu to cultural events so I
feel  that  this  can be avoided if the Govt really looks at the
issue about the transport cost here in the Torres Strait."
But  water  police  in  the Torres Strait say maritime safety is not a
problem in the region.
There  are 120 search and rescue incidents in the Strait each y but
Sgt Matthew Pegg says only 1% of those are serious.
He  says  enforcement  operations  and  education  campaigns mean most
people comply with safety requirements.
"Campaigns  cover  issues  like  the  distribution  of safety booklets
highlighting  the  required  safety  equipment in vessels, fuel charts
recommending  the  amount  of  fuel  to  be carried on certain voyages
between islands," Sgt Pegg said.
"There's been some exceptionally good promotional material, which just
reinforces boating safety."

===
Eadie gambles on last chance appeal
Sprint  cyclist  Sean  Eadie is vowing to fight a doping charge and be
reinstated  in  the Athens Olympics team, after the Aussie Olympic
Committee (AOC) dropped him in a surprise move on Wed.
The  AOC  said  it  would not accept Eadie's nomination to the Olympic
squad  after  it was revealed the 34-yo had allegedly trafficked
human growth hormone from the US back in 1999.
Eadie denies the allegations and his appeal against the charge will be
heard in the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Mon.
The  ABC  understands  Eadie is also at the centre of a 2nd customs
investigation  which  dates  back  to 1998, when he is alleged to have
received and then returned a package containing prohibited substances.
Cycling  AUS  (CA) has named Ben Kersten in his Eadie's place in
the Olympic team.
Eadie's  manager Kerry Ruffels said the former world champion had been
notified  of the decision to drop him from the team, which was made by
the AOC and by Cycling AUS.
"Sean's  received  advice  from Cycling AUS, on instruction from
the  Aussie  Olympic  Committee,  that  his  nomination  has  been
withdrawn from the Aussie team to compete in Athens," he said.
Mr  Ruffels  said  he  was confused that further action had been taken
before the hearing into the trafficking allegations.
"I'm  absolutely  bewildered  in  the  timing of this, considering how
close it is for this case to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,
where we expect Sean will have a successful outcome," he said.
Mr  Ruffels  said  an appeal against Eadie's exclusion from the Athens
team would be lodged tomorrow.
Meanwhile,  Aussie  head cycling coach Shayne Bannan said it could
be  a  while  before  the sport's reputation recovered from the recent
drugs controversy.
He said although most elite cyclists were drug tested at least twice a
month, there was no assurance that they all compete drug free.
"I  can't confidently, 100%, say that out of our 160 riders in
nat'l  programs,  that  every one of those 160 riders is clean," he
said.

===
Aust names new Solomons mission head
AUS  has  named  the  new  special  coordinator  of the Regional
Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
James Batley is to take over from Nick Warner in Honiara in Aug.
Mr  Warner  has  served  as special coordinator since the start of the
intervention in the Solomon Islands in July last y.
Foreign  Min  Alexander Downer says Mr Batley will be responsible
for  overseeing  a  unique operation involving civilians, military and
police  from  AUS  and  other  countries  of the Pacific Islands
Forum.
Mr Downer says RAMSI has transformed the Solomon Islands.
He  says  security  has been restored and Solomon Islanders can now go
about their lives free from intimidation and violence.
Almost 4,000 weapons have been confiscated or surrendered.
Mr  Downer  says  RAMSI's  focus  is  now shifting towards longer-term
issues   such   as   the   repair   and  strengthening  of  govt
institutions, the economy and reducing corruption.
Mr  Batley,  a  diplomat since 1984, has served at the Aussie High
Commissions  in  Port Vila and Port Moresby, at the Aussie Embassy
in  Jakarta, as High Commissioner to Solomon Islands from 1997-99, and
as AUS's 1st ambassador in the independent E Timor.

===
Pileggi fled Fiji training, tribunal hears
Aussie  weightlifter  Caroline Pileggi has told the Adminsitrative
Appeals  Tribunal  in  MEL that she panicked and fled a training
facility in Fiji when approached by 2 strangers last m.
Pileggi is appealing against the decision to drop her from AUS's
Olympic  squad  because  she  refused  to  give a urine sample to drug
testers.
Pileggi said she was preparing for training when she was approached by
two strangers who asked if her name was Caroline.
Pileggi admitted she said 'No', but could not say why.
When  asked  again  Pileggi  told  the  questioners  that her name was
Michelle.  She  then  ran  from  the room and drove away despite being
chased by the 2 people.
She  said  that at no stage had the pair identified themselves as drug
testers.
The tribunal hearing continues.

<<< AUS.market >>>
===
US House backs Aust free trade deal
Trade deal passes 1st hurdle in the US.
xxx
By John Shovelan in Washington and Reuters
The  United  States House of Representatives has passed the free trade
agreement with AUS, 314 votes to 109.
Debate  on  the  proposal  lasted  longer  than  expected  due to some
members'  concerns that the pact could hamper efforts to allow imports
of lower-priced medicine.
But many members saw the agreement as strongly in the US's favour.
"The  US-Aussie  FTA  is  among  the most pro-American, pro-worker
agreements that we've seen before this House," Republican Phil English
said.
Democrat  Jim  Moran agreed, saying: "I hesitate to use the term 'slam
dunk'  anymore  but  if  you  can't agree with this trade agreement, I
don't know what trade agreement you're ever going to agree with."
"On this day, we thank our mates Down Under," another member added.
The  agreement  was also seen as a reward for Aussie political and
military support.
House  Ways  and  Means  Committee  chairman Bill Thomas, a California
Republican,  said:  "[The pact] brings the US and AUS
closer together economically.
"No  2  countries in the world are closer in terms of their views of
the world, especially in terms of strategic military concernNOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.28
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s.
Troops
Another  member  added: "You might ask the question would we have this
agreement  before  us  if  AUS did not have troops in Iraq. It's
interesting that this is coming up at this particular moment."
However,  the  agreement  did not pass without criticism. Some members
expressed  concerned  about  a  gradual  increase  in  beef  and dairy
products  from  AUS  and  a  provision in the Bill that some say
could  halt  future  Congressional efforts to allow the importation of
prescription drugs from countries like Canada.
Farm  state  representatives  attacked the retention of the Aussie
Wheat Board.
The  US  Senate  is  expected  to  pass  the free trade agreement by a
similar  margin within the next few days. The deal would then go to US
Pres George W Bush for signing.
The  Aussie Parliament must also give the deal its approval before
it can come into force.
US  manufacturers  have  pushed  hard  for  the  agreement, which they
estimate  could  boost  their  exports  to  AUS by close to $2.7
bn in the 1st year.
More  than  90% of US exports to AUS are manufactured
goods  and  the  agreement  will  eliminate  nearly all of AUS's
tariffs on those products if it takes force on Jan 1, 2005.
Two-way  US  trade with AUS is worth about $38 bn annually,
with the US enjoying about a $12 bn trade surplus.
PM pleased
PM  John  Howard  has  welcomed  the agreement's passage,
saying it is a major step forward.
"[It's]  the  biggest  vote  in  the  House of Representatives ever in
favour of a trade deal," he told Sky News. "I now hope that it will go
through the Senate.
"We can then look forward to a decision from the Aussie Parliament
but  isn't  it  interesting that the only person who can't make up his
mind on this issue is [Opp'n leader Mark] Latham."
Mr  Latham  says  a  Senate  Committee  is examining the merits of the
agreement   and  the  Labor  Party  will  make  a  decision  when  the
recommendations are handed down next m.
"Is  this a plus for AUS or a negative and that is of course the
way the Labor Party judges it," he said.
"If  it's  a  plus  for  AUS we will pass it. If overall it is a
negative for AUS, we won't."

===
Maleny supermarket to go ahead
The  Maleny  community  in  Qld's Sunshine Coast hinterland has
lost its fight to stop a supermarket development.
Protests  have  delayed  work  on  the site for several m and the
developer, Cornerstone Properties, says it has run out of patience.
The  Caloundra  City Council had been in talks with a 3rd party that
was interested in buying the land.
But Cornerstone rep Andrew Harper says it is too late.
"We  made  an  express offer to the council to acquire it on behalf of
the  community  ...  for  a  set price for a fixed period of time," he
said.
"That opportunity has lapsed.
"We  have  a  contract  with  Woolworths  that  we  need  to deliver a
supermarket  on  that  site,  we  have approval to develop the land so
that's what we intend to do."

===
Qld citrus exports 'may soon resume'
The  Dept  of  Primary Industries says central Qld citrus
growers  may  be  able  to  resume  exporting overseas, but only under
strict conditions.
An  interstate  ban  remains  on  the  fruit  after  citrus canker was
discovered on a property nr Emerald.
DPI  rep  Chris  Adriaansen says if property inspections find no
further trace of the exotic disease, exports from the region should be
able to resume.
"Those growers will actually have to post-harvest treat their fruit in
the same way as we're proposing for the interstate movement," he said.
"Fruit will have to be packed into sealed trucks and those trucks will
come  by  a  defined route down to Bris, where they'll be repacked
into shipping containers which again will be sealed."

<<< AUS.interest >>>
<<< AUS.econ >>>
<<< AUS.jobs >>>
===
BHP criticised for mass sackings
BHP Billiton puts off contract workers at iron plant.
xxx
BHP  Billiton  has  been  condemned  for  sacking 100s of contract
workers  from  its  Port  Hedland  iron  plant  in W AUS's
NW.
Up to 50 locally based contractors and 250 fly-in fly-out workers have
been laid off by the company.
BHP  Billiton  says  longer  than  expected delays in investigating an
accident at the plant is the reason for the sackings.
The  plant has been shut down since an explosion at the plant killed a
worker in May.
The  Manufacturing  Workers Union's Jock Ferguson says workers and the
local community should not suffer for BHP's problems.
"It's  irresponsible in regards to the community and their obligations
to the community of Port Hedland," he said.
"They   have   got  obligations  to  the  workforce  and  they've  got
obligations to the people of W AUS."

===
ACCI against rise in employer super contributions
A  leading  business  lobby  group  has mounted a case against lifting
employer superannuation contributions.
An Aussie Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) survey has found
more  than  62% of small businesses believe an increase in the
compulsory  9% superannuation guarantee would be detrimental
for employment.
The  ACCI  says  the  survey of almost 1,700 enterprises indicates the
impact on jobs would be most acute in regional and rural areas.
The Aussie Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has outlined a long-term
ambition to see a lift in employer super contributions.
But  the ACCI says AUS's major political parties should rule out
seeking  an  increase in employer payments over the course of the next
parliamentary term.

<<< AUS.storm >>>
===
Roads closed after SYD fire
A  fire  in  Alexandria  in  SYD's inner W has destroyed a smash
repair  shop  causing  $mns in damage and has closed an
arterial road.
Botany  Road  between Bourke Street and Johnston Street is expected to
remain closed until midday as a result of the fire.
Superintendent  Ian Krimmer from the NSW Fire Brigade says
the fire will burn throughout most of the day.
"[It  is]  one  of our largest fires in SYD for several months," he
said.
"We've  had  to  respond with over 60 firefighters from 15 surrounding
stations.
"When   firefighters   arrived  they  were  confronted  with  numerous
explosions caused by gas tanks and petrol tanks and cars."
He  said  the  building was totally destroyed and a number of vehicles
were also destroyed.
No injuries were reported.

<<< AUS.road >>>
<<< AUS.water >>>
<<< AUS.climate >>>
<<< AUS.indig >>>
<<< AUS.immigration >>>
<<< AUS.telco >>>
<<< AUS.def >>>
===
Navy frigates to have $550 mn missile upgrade
The Fed Govt will spend $550 mn upgrading 4 frigates
to allow them to fire missiles, Defence Min Robert Hill said.
Mr Hill said the upgrade of the Adel class guided missile frigates
to  allow  them  to fire Raytheon's SM-2 missile would be completed by
early  2009  and significantly improve the air warfare capabilities of
the Royal Aussie Navy.
The ships to be upgraded include HMAS Darwin, MEL, Newcastle and
SYD.
"The  missile has an improved range to more than 50 nautical miles and
enhanced  performance against modern anti-ship missiles and aircraft,"
Mr Hill said.
"The  upgrade  will  significantly  extend  the  range of the area air
defence  region and provide greater potential for target intercept and
destruction  -- a major capability boost for the Navy and a great asset
for potential coalition operations."
The  project  covered  the  acquisition  of  SM-2  missiles  and their
integration  into  the  ships. All the equipment installation would be
carried out in AUS.
Yesterday,  Mr  Hill  announced that AUS's F/A-18 Hornet fighter
aircraft  would  be  equipped with state-of-the-art target designation
systems under a project worth more than $100 mn.

<<< AUS.terror >>>
<<< AUS.health >>>
NOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.42
===
Landmark childhood health study to be extended
Thousands  of Aussies who took part in a childhood health study 20
ya will undergo further testing.
The  study by MEL's Menzies Research Institute aims to determine
if  there  is a link between heart disease and diabetes, and childhood
health and fitness.
The  study  will  test 5,000 participants, currently aged in their 20s
and 30s who have agreed to be retested, now and again in 10 y.
The  institute's  Dr  Alison  Venn  says  the  landmark  study set the
nat'l benchmark for the last 2 decades for childhood health.
"Whatever problems our study participants are having, current children
could  be having even worse problems already because we know they tend
to  be  fatter  and  less active than children were back in 1985," she
said.

===
Aged-care nursing 'needs urgent attention'
The  Royal  College  of  Nursing says AUS's ageing population is
increasing the need for more nurses to be trained in aged care.
The  college's  executive  director,  Rosemary  Bryant, says the major
political   parties   need   to  consider  increasing  the  number  of
undergraduate scholarships in the aged care field.
She  says it is a pressing issue and university positions also have to
be increased to fill the demand.
"We  know  that the demand for those places far outweighs the supply,"
Ms Bryant said.
"We also know that in one of the predictions in the nat'l review of
nursing  education  was that we will be 40,000 nurses short by 2010 if
we don't do something to address the issue."
The  Royal  College  of  Nursing's  annual conference is being held in
Alice Springs today and tomorrow.

===
Victims push for James Hardie asbestos charges
Asbestos compensation debate continues.
Lawyers  representing  victims  of  asbestos  products have called for
criminal  charges  to  be  laid against snr executives of the James
Hardie company.
The  commissioner  overseeing  an inquiry into James Hardie's asbestos
liabilities  is  about  to  publish  sections  of  submissions  to the
inquiry.
His  order  to  keep the submissions confidential was lifted after the
company released some of its submission.
James  Hardie  says  it  would  make more payments if there were a new
compensation system which would effectively cap payouts to victims.
Lawyer Peter Gordon says that is blackmail.
"It  is  effectively saying to the govts of this country, 'we've
made  off  with this money, you can't catch us -- it doesn't matter how
dishonest  we've  been,  unless  you change the sovereign laws of this
country  exactly  as  it  suits us, or you'll never see us again',' Mr
Gordon said.
"Our  submission  alleges  fraud,  it  alleges  dishonesty, it alleges
misleading and deceptive conduct."
As  well as charging snr executives, the submission from unions and
victims argues James Hardie should be pursued for the money.

<<< AUS.green >>>
===
ACF warns Govt will revive nuclear dump plans
The  Aussie Conservation Foundation (ACF) says communities outside
SA will need to be wary of the Fed Govt's plans
to store radioactive waste.
While  the Commonwealth has abandoned plans for a nat'l radioactive
waste  dump in SA, the ACF says the Govt will still
be  looking  for  another location regardless of the impending fed
election.
Campaigner  David  Sweeney  says Commonwealth agencies produce most of
AUS's  radioactive  waste and he suspects the Fed Govt
will eventually revive plans for a nat'l repository.
"It's  also  very  important  that  people  in  all the other parts of
AUS that are still in the frame of an imposed and unwanted and a
politically  driven  fed  nuclear  waste  dump  learn  from  South
AUS," he said.

===
Irwin cleared over Antarctic antics
A  Fed Govt investigation has cleared Crocodile Hunter Steve
Irwin  over  allegations  that  he  came  too  close  to  wildlife  in
Antarctica.
Concerns  were  raised  about Mr Irwin's latest documentary, which saw
him come face-to-face with penguins, seals and whales.
An investigation was launched into whether he breached laws forbidding
interaction with Antarctic animals.
PM John Howard says the matter was examined thoroughly but
will go no further.
"I  have been told that no action of any kind is necessary," Mr Howard
told Sky News.
"The  detail  of  that decision will be announced and explained by the
environment people but that is the advice I received this morning."
Mr Howard says Irwin's celebrity had nothing to do with the decision.
"That  is  an  absurd  thing  to say," he said. "That is unfair to the
Environment Dept and it's unfair to Mr Irwin.
"The matter was examined properly and that was the conclusion."

===
MP claims nuclear waste is stored in bushland
The  fed  Member  for  Solomon  in  the  N  Territory  says
medium-level  nuclear  waste is being stored in containers in the bush
because there is no central nat'l storage facility.
MP  Dave  Tollner  says  the  material  poses a serious health risk to
anyone who accidentally approaches it.
Mr  Tollner  cannot identify the source of the material or where it is
being kept but says he has been told it is a major problem.
"I've been led to understand over the last couple of days that there's
waste  in  the  N  Territory  that people don't know what to do
with," he said.
"I've  also been led to understand that some of the waste is stored in
used in shipping containers and the like, no lead lining and that sort
of stuff, out in the bush."
But the NT's chief medical officer, Tarun Weeramanthri, says there are
only small amounts of medium-level radioactive waste in the Territory.
Dr   Weeramanthri   says   most  of  it  is  returned  direct  to  the
manufacturers.
"I can reassure the public we have a very strict safety regimen around
radiation," he said.
"We  issue licences for people who have to handle radioactive material
and we monitor and enforce the standards."

<<< AUS.edu >>>
<<< AUS.politics >>>
===
Man arrested during angry protest against PM
PM  John  Howard  was the target of an angry protest at a
function in MEL last night.
Demonstrators screamed abuse at Mr Howard as he arrived for a meeting.
The anger escalated when police arrested a man.
The  26-yo  is expected to be charged on summons with throwing a
missile.
Police  say  the  incident occurred at Federation Square shortly after
6.00 pm.
The  man  was  arrested  after  he  allegedly threw a metal cup at the
bonnet of Mr Howard's car.

===
Politicians eye Christian powerhouse
By Michael Brissenden for The 7.30 Report
A rocking religious worship album became the biggest selling CD in the
country  this  week,  leaping  over  big-label  pop  releases  on  the
mainstream chart.
It's  the  latest  outing  from  the  SYD-based  evangelical church
Hillsong, which also ships mn of CDs overseas.
The  church  is  fast  becoming  an  emerging  religious powerhouse in
AUS,  with  1000s  of  recruits and some influential figures
taking more than a passing interest.
It's no great political secret that govts these days are largely
won  or  lost  in  the handful of marginal seats on the outer edges of
AUS's capital cities.
Winning  the  hearts  and  minds of the 'aspirational voters' in those
areas  is  considered  the door to govt and it seems politicians
are starting to realise that God may hold some of the keys.
Hillsong  church  in  SYD's  NW is the rocking heartland of
AUS's booming evangelical Christian movement.
At  its  concerts,  there's  no  wayward  behaviour,  no bad-boy stage
antics,  no backstage atrocities, and no drugs -- these people are high
on God. But there is room for politics.
The Gospel according to Peter
Brian  Houston from Hillsong says the church invited Fed Treasurer
Peter Costello along one evening last wk.
During  the course of the evening, Mr Costello said: "I've addressed a
few audiences in my time but I don't think I've ever seen one with the
enthusiasm and the commitment of tonight's gathering."
In just 20 y, the Hillsong Church has gone from a small service in
a  school  hall  in the NW suburbs to a stadium-like weekly
"event".
"These  days,  every weekend over 17,500 people pass through the doors
from  Fri  night  through  to  Sun  night  and it's been quite a
miraculous story," Mr Houston said.
It is in fact the fastest-growing religious experience in the country.
The new Pentecostal preachers know it, the mainstream churches know it
and, increasingly, the nation's politicians know it, too.
Uniting  Church  minister  David  Millikan says Hillsong illustrates a
change in Aussie Christianity.
"What  we  see  at  Hillsong is the beginnings of a whole new shift in
Aussie Christianity," Dr Millikan said.
Churches  like  Hillsong  have  a  lot of money and they have a lot of
political power and Mr Costello urges a return to the Christian faith.
"We  need a return to faith and the values which have made our country
strong," he said.
Mr  Costello's  remarkably  passionate opening address to the Hillsong
conference  in  SYD last wk was public affirmation of the growing
political influence of this new spiritualism.
"The  editorial writers may not understand it but I want to say to you
-  more  lives have been transformed by faith in Christ than have been
transformed by the editorial writers," Mr Costello told the crowd.
Mr Costello, the son of a Baptist lay preacher, had been promising for
some  time  to  show  a more compassionate political face and it seems
it's  faith  that's  emerging  as  the  vehicle  to  help  broaden his
political image.
Not that that surprises many.
Destined by God
From  all corners of the church, the Treasurer's religious convictions
are well known.
"I  think  that  he  is a man of faith and he is a man of values and I
took  great encouragement from the fact he was courageous enough to be
so bold about those issues," Mr Houston said.
Dr  Millikan  says  the  Treasurer believes he is destined to be prime
minister.
"I actually think that he feels that he has been destined by God to be
the  prime  minister,"  he  said.  "I'm sure he feels that in his very
being."
What does surprise many, though, is Mr Costello's enthusiastic embrace
of  Hillsong. It's a long leap of faith from Baptist austerity to rock
'n'  roll  religion  but then, these days that could just as easily be
interpreted as simply smart and pragmatic politics.
This  is  the key to why the Hillsong church and churches like it have
become so successful and why the politicians in turn are becoming more
interested.
The  message  is a thoroughly modern one and one that sits neatly with
the  aspirations  of  people who live in suburbs like this. A powerful
part of that message is the gospel of prosperity.
If  you  believe  in  Jesus, the Church says, he'll reward you here on
earth as well as in heaven.
'The Howard Govt at prayer'
Mr  Houston  is  also the author of a book called You Need More Money.
It's  a  Christian  gospel that sits easily alongside today's dominant
political paradigm.
"The  church  isn't about money but I do believe it is about equipping
people to live lives that are bigger themselves," he said.
"And  if  we  have  nothing,  there's  nothing we can do. If we have a
little,  we can help a little. And if we've got a lot, there's a whole
lot we can do."
Dr Millikan says that is the message Hillsong promotes.
"Hillsong  says  that  if you come to Jesus, then Jesus offers you, in
fact  promises  you,  that  you will have a prosperous life, you'll be
healthy, you'll be wealthy, your marriage will flourish, you'll have a
good  sex  life,  your  business  will  flourish  and  you  will  be a
prosperous winner in this society," he said.
"Now,  that  is  the  religious  version  of  exactly  what the Howard
Govt  is saying to us, and what they are holding out as the idea
for Aussie society.
"So in that sense, Hillsong is the Howard Govt at prayer."
However  Opp'n  leader  Mark  Latham  might have something to say
about that.
The  fact  is  the aspirational suburbs, of course, are often the ones
sitting  on  the  closest  margins  and  both  the  preachers  and the
politicians want to win them over.
Louise  Markus is the Liberal candidate for the W SYD seat of
Greenway.
She's  campaigning hard and could be a real chance to win in what used
to be safe Labor territory.
But  the  demographics  here  are changing fast and, while she doesn't
want to make much of it, at least to us, the fact that she's an active
member of the Hillsong church won't actually do her any harm.
"I'm  not  here  to  talk  about  Hillsong church specifically, what's
important  to me is the people across the whole of this electorate and
what's important to them," Ms Markus said.
When  asked  if she thought being a member of the church gave her some
advantages,   she   said   the  values  candidates  represent  were  a
significant factor when voting.
Ms  Markus  says  her values are the values of the Liberal Party, with
family and individual responsibility at their heart.
Comfortable convergence
Religious activists like Dr Millikan say the 2 are a comfortable and
convenient mix.
"The mainline churches are more problematic," he said.
"The  mainline  churches  ask  questions  about  refugee policy, about
welfare  policy  and,  see,  the Howard Govt has a very troubled
relationship  with  people  who question or argue about the justice or
equity of what's happening in AUS.
"They'll never get that discussion from Hillsong."
The  Hillsong church says it hasn't deliberately set out on a partisan
political  path  but Mr Houston says his flock is naturally interested
in the direction the country's taking.
"I  gave Mr Latham an invitation to come this y and speak for a few
minutes  about  his vision for the country but maybe they're not quite
seeing this demographic as important as some in the Liberal Party have
seen it," he said.
"Maybe  Mr  Latham  should  rethink  -- Peter Costello's obviously onto
something here."
This week, the Hillsong worship album has topped the music charts.
"The  worship  of  Jesus Christ, this wk at least, is the number one
most popular music in the nation," Mr Houston said.
"So,  that's what I stand for. That's what we live for. It's certainly
a great moment."
It  is  certainly great marketing but then maybe that is what both the
preachers and the politicians have always been looking for.

===
Carr denies contact with Westfield chief
NSW  Prem  Bob Carr has spoken about the Govt's
involvement  in  the  closure  of a retail outlet in Liverpool and the
loss of 450 jobs.
The   Govt  is  under  pressure  over  accusations  the  Prem
intervened  on  behalf  of  Westfield,  a Labor donor, to close down a
retail competitor operating nearby.
The  retail  outlet  has  to  close  because the Govt refused to
rezone the site, after the development had gone ahead.
Speaking in MEL at a meeting with fed leader Mark Latham, Mr
Carr  says  the matter is subject to legal action but he denied acting
on  behalf  of  Westfield,  or  having any contact with its CEO, Frank
Lowry.
"If  someone  gets a development approval for a warehouse and turns it
into  a  retail  outlet  and  Govt  moves  in  with  a  planning
retro-fit,  then  anything  can go in any zoning and that is the vital
principal involved here, zoning is there for a reason," he said.

===
Latham talks schools, health with Labor leaders
Fed  Opp'n  leader  Mark  Latham  is  meeting  with state and
territory leaders in MEL.
Every state and territory is currently governed by Labor.
Pre-empting  a  possible election outcome, Mr Latham is talking to the
leaders  about  improving  relations  between the Commonwealth and the
states.
Mr Latham wants to reform the Council of Aussie Govts (COAG)
by  increasing  the  number  of times the premiers and chief ministers
meet with the Commonwealth from once a y to at least twice a year.
He would also take the meetings out of CBR and vary the locations
if he was to win the fed election.
State  and territory leaders have signed an agreement to work together
on the areas of health and education.
Mr  Latham says if elected, he would establish joint Medicare accounts
and increase investment in public education.
With  every  state  and  territory  in AUS currently governed by
Labor,  the  Howard  Govt  is warning against electing a Fed
Labor govt.
Mr LNOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.44
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NOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.48
atham says this would be a positive outcome.
"We're not here to say we're rubber stamping every single thing that's
done at the various levels of govt," he said.
"We're  not,  we're  here to say there is a better way forward, we can
move past the buck passing and blame shifting of the Howard era."

<<< AUS.av >>>
<<< AUS.police/courts >>>
===
Priest leaves school over abuse allegations
A  Catholic priest has stood aside from his position as principal of a
Port Pirie Catholic school in SA because of an allegation
of abuse made against him.
Catholic  Education  S  AUS  says  it  was made aware of the
allegation against Father Michael Aulsebrook 2 wk ago.
It says Fr Aulsebrook stood aside as principal of Saint Mark's College
immediately.
It  is  understood  the  allegation  relates  to  a  period  before Fr
Aulsebrook moved to Port Pirie.
The  matter  is  now  being  investigated  by  the  Catholic  Church's
Committee for Professional Standards.
The committee's executive director, Angela Ryan, says they are waiting
on whether the complainant will take the matter to the police.
"The 1st thing we do is encourage people to go to the police if it's
a criminal matter," she said.
Mrs  Ryan  says  if  the man does not go to police, the committee will
hire independent investigators to look into the matter.
It is understood Fr Aulsebrook has moved away from the city.
Staff  and  parents at the college received letters yesterday assuring
them that all proper processes are being followed.
Meanwhile, Catholic Education in the Port Pirie Diocese director Kathy
McEvoy  has  defended  the  time it has taken for the matter to become
public.
"Probably a 12-day gap. No I don't think it's been too long, it's been
necessary time to do this job properly," she said.
The  principal  of  St Joseph's School in Port Lincoln, David Mezinec,
has been appointed acting principal at St Mark's.

===
Aussies arrested in Peru over cocaine seizure
Forty-four  kgs  of  cocaine  has  been  seized in Peru after an
investigation involving Aussie authorities.
The  Aussie  Crime Commission says the cocaine was found in coffee
bags destined for AUS.
A  41-yo  SYD  man  and a 45-yo MEL man have been
detained by Peruvian authorities.
Aussie  Fed  Police,  Customs  and Qld police have been
involved in the investigation.

===
Vic may face Spencer St lawsuit
Court  action  could  be looming over MEL's $multi-mn 
Spencer Street railway station redevelopment.
Construction  giant  Leighton Holdings may attempt to seek mn of
dollars  in  compensation  from  the  Vicn  Govt  over  the
project.
In comments to a MEL newspaper, Leighton Holdings chief Wal King
blames Govt inaction for cost blow-outs and delays.
Deputy  Opp'n  leader Phil Honeywood says the dispute sends out a
bad message about doing business in Vic.
"It's  embarrassing  for  the Prem today who is hosting a summit of
all  Labor leaders and premiers around the country to now be shown not
to  have  the  confidence  of the business community yet again when it
comes  to  not  being  able  to  deliver  major projects on time or on
budget," he said.
But   Major   Projects  Min  Peter  Batchelor  is  confident  the
Govt is not exposed to any court action.
He  says  Govt  wants  to  work  with  Leighton Holdings and the
station  developer  Civic  Nexus,  to  try  to get the project back on
schedule.
"The  Govt  is  not  a  direct  contractual  party with Leighton
contractors, the contract is with Civic Nexus and we expect that Civic
Nexus and their builder Leighton will deliver the project," he said.
"The  contractual  arrangements  are  between those 2 parties and it
would be unusual if the state was dragged into a dispute between those
two parties."

===
Men face court over pub 'mice-chewing'
4 men have appeared in the Bris Magistrates Court on cruelty to
animal charges over an incident at a city pub earlier this y.
The  incident  allegedly  involved  2 of the men being encouraged to
chew mice as part of a promotion at the Exchange Hotel.
The other 2 men facing court were the competition's comperes.
The  men  were  not  required  to enter a plea and the matter has been
adjourned.

<<< AUS.general >>>
<<< GREEN >>>
<<< GLOBAL WARMING/CLIMATE >>>
<<< SCIENCE/TECH >>>
===
Infant blindness linked to musical ability
Stevie Wonder was blind virtually from birth. 
xxx
Infants  who  go  blind  at a very young age develop musical abilities
that  are  measurably  better than those who lose their sight later in
life or retain full vision, according to a new study.
It  has  long  been  known that blind people are far better than their
sighted counterparts at using sound to orient themselves.
But  now scientists at Canada's University of Montreal have found that
blind  people  are  also  up  to  10  times better at discerning pitch
changes than the sighted, but only when they went blind before the age
of two.
"This  research  confirms that blind people are indeed better at pitch
discrimination  than  normal,  sighted people," lead researcher Pascal
Belin said.
"It  is  well known that you have great musicians that are blind and a
lot of piano tuners are blind.
"But   until   this  study  there  was  no  quantifiable  evidence  to
demonstrate that blind people were indeed better," he added.
But  crucially, Mr Belin's team found there was no difference in pitch
change  detection  between  sighted people and those who went blind in
late infancy.
"We  found  that  the  superiority  was  correlated  with  the  age of
blindness," he said.
"Only  the  blind  subjects who had become blind before the age of two
had a clearly superior performance."
The  research, published in the science journal Nature, attributed the
clear  differences  in  performance to brain plasticity, the formative
period  when  the  infant brain is akin to a sponge and soaking up all
sorts of stimuli.
Mr  Belin  said  his  research  suggested  that deprived of input, the
section  of  the brain that would have processed images was reassigned
to enhance other sectors.
"When  these  people  became blind, the part of their brain that would
have  been used to process visual info reorganises to take over
other  functions  and  in  particular  auditory info," Mr Belin
said.
"The  earlier  this  reorganisation takes place, the more efficient it
is."
--Reuters

===
NASA head vows to examine all options to save Hubble
NASA   administrator  Sean  O'Keefe  has  assured  that  the  Nat'l
Aeronautics  and  Space  Admin  will  examine  all options to
extend  the life of the Hubble space telescope, but made no commitment
on a manned flight, a statement said.
Mr  O'Keefe  was  reacting  to a report by a panel of experts from the
Nat'l  Academy  of  Sciences  that said "NASA should take no action
that  would  preclude  a space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble
space telescope."
The  NASA  chief  in  Jan cancelled a shuttle flight scheduled for
2005  in  favor of a robotic mission that would allow the telescope to
function  until  2011,  when  it  is scheduled to be replaced by a new
observatory.
The  decision  stemmed  from new security criteria for shuttle flights
adopted  after  the  destruction  of  the shuttle Columbia in Feb
2003.
All future shuttle flights scheduled to resume in March 2005 will head
for  the Internat'l Space Station to allow astronauts to ensure the
spacecraft  was  not  damaged  during take-off as Columbia was, giving
them the option to chance to take refuge aboard the station in case of
a problem.
In  his  statement,  Mr  O'Keefe does not bring up the issue of manned
space flight but recalls that "the challenges of a robotic mission are
under  examination  and  we'll  continue our exhaustive and aggressive
efforts to assess innovative servicing options."
Mr  O'Keefe promised to "keep options open to assure the best possible
outcome" and said he agreed with the panel's view that Hubble was "the
most important telescope in history."
Hubble needs new batteries and gyroscopes.
A  decision  to  cancel  a  space  flight to service the telescope hasNOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.50
NOT FOUND: /tmp/sec.51

prompted  scientists  and  members  of  Congress  to launch a campaign
demanding that its life be extended.
If nothing is done, Hubble, built to last until the end of 2005, could
still survive until 2007.
Its  power  is used to maneuver the telescope to face various parts of
the  universe  astronomers  want to view, and to maintain the internal
temperature to prevent instruments from freezing.
--AFP

<<< ODD/MISC >>>
<<< BOT >>>
{{
Midnight.
NATO peackeepers in afghan say they were duped into helping
a freelance vigilante group
the 3 americans posed as a special unit and carried out
raids
the group was led by a former soldier
peakeepers were convinced by their us-style unfirmors and professional
approach
they accompanied the men on raids of houses, providing sniffer dogs

a bank takover in japan is about to form the world's largest bank
in terms of assets
2 banks are planning a merger 
UFJ is seeking a takeover of Tokyo Mitsubishi
further restructing of fin'l system
huge bank debt biggest restraint on system
UFJ has $36 bn in bad loans

0.22 am
ny dow down .2% 10215
london .1% 4352

russian authorities are keeping up pressure on yukos
$3.4 bn in back taxes
now part of its holding in cignet 4.5 bn to meeet tax arreers
a court in NE russia has impouned 15% of its stake --
a legacy of a merger attempt last y
yukos says it wants to pay its tax bill in 3 stages
ending in Jul 2006
total arrears could exceed $8 bn in total

0.35 am
Col John Hughes Wilson
25 y in intel
was the information wrong?
was the intel used for propaganda purposes?
did civil servants in the intel community conspire with No 10
to produce the propoganda to suit the govt's purposes?
the answer to all 3 must be yes, no matter what weasel words
are used by anyone to cover it over.

1.30 am
news just in
the gov of mosul has been killed in attack
grenade and small arms fired at convoy of vehicles
as he drove to baghdad

6 am
sharon has offered coal'n membership to an extreme othodox group
to bolster his govt

the fed govt is providing assistance in aboriginal
communities for familes receiving the $3,000 pre-election
family assistance package
prev there had been concern over the $600 baby bonus
with claims the lump sum payment was being spent in some communities
on cigarettes and alcohol
those concerns had been down-played by immig and indig min amandan vanstone

9 am
the bush admin has failed in a bid for const'l amendment
not got enough support in senate
same sex marriage

silvio berlusconi suffered a slap in the face
trying to hold coal'n govt together
christian dems censure motion over the board of rai
want the board sacked because they are berlusconi lackeys

NY and Boston have enough chem and bio weapons vaccines
in case of attack during the dem and rep conventions
normnally would not indicate which cities have vaccines

at least 5 people dead in clash in ramadi
2 assassinations folloed a blast in baghdad that killed at least 10
the gov of mosul was ambushed and he and 2 guard gunned down
was former prof at uni of ag
4 men who attacked also killed
in bag another ass
dir gen of ind miny shot dead outside house by unk assailants

abc in guatmo
hicks in brown hit with sliver of glass to tell whether night or day
3 by 3 m
[there were several other estimates of his cell size]
he's been kept in isolation from others while awaiting trial

dow down 39  10,209
nas down 17
ftse up 15 at 4373
aud 72.50
oil closed below just below $US41/bbl

good news for pm costello
analysts say the govt of the day is re-elected  in aus if consumer
confidence is up, and changed if down
at present -- it's at 10 y highs

9.15 am
2 perth teens dead after a suspected drag racing accident

fm downer has called on phil not to pull troops out of iraq
for sec says pull-out has begun with  8 police leaving iraq
downer called on phil govt not to give into terrorist demands
and would put aussies at risk

up to 5 familes moved from villawood in syd to baxter in outback sa
familes that left didn't want to go
immig min vanstone said the move was voluntary
lawyer lodged injunction in fed court
to stop further moves
rep for vanstone said no plans for more transfers

26 yo to be charged
crowd of protesters in federation square
man arrested after threw metal cup at car of pm's car

44 kg of cocaine seized in peru
found in coffee bag destined for aus
a 44 yo syd man and 48 yo mel man detained by police in peru

an indig council wants to know how many aboriginal people visit
alice springs
they believe up to 
3,000 indig people are in alice springs at any time
but the ABS says only 900 indig residents
visitors not incl
the council needs figures for planning purposes incl housing

victims still fleing swaped homes in N India
up to 4 mn displaced 
death toll in sassam climbed to 69
3 deaths o'night
109 across india
in nepal since mid jun
in bang media says 35 died from flooding
nepal reported 46

around 1000 forcedc to flee homes and camps
6,800 ha ravaged in s cal
fire official 5 fires rage through 3 counties
38 C
500 fire fighters battling on blze forced 80 homes evac

dispute over anti-war billboard in tiems square
headed to court
want it up in time for rep convention
objects to image of bomb on message
plan rejected even when offered to replace with a dove

a GAO report says the bush admin's war on AIDS  is rife with
chaos and restrictions over access to generic drugs
critics say much of the $20 bn pleged by Mr Bush to fighting aids
is used to buy expensive AIDS drugs produced by 4 drug companies 
that are big donors to the Bush re-election campaign

the US house of reps has unan passed the US/AUS FTA
debate lasted longer than expected
there were concerns over the failure to take an
opportunity to reduce drug prices in the US
passed 314 to 109
the US alreadu enjoys a $12 bn surplus in its trade with AUS
the FTA is expected to add another $3 bn

10 am
new resrearch at jap met agency
fallout from nuke tests in n hemi before 70s 
much higher than prev estimated
1.5 times the amt of fallout prev est
may need to review estimates that fallout created 10% of backg
in n hemi
past anal didn't correclty estimate fallout into the sea
more than 450 tests before 1970

hard-line conservative
dick cheney is trying to dispel speculation he may not stand
he says he's definitely running
when asked if there are any cisumstance he would step aside
he said he couldnt
cheney has stod by now-disputed  claims over iraq, al-qaeda
and niger uranium

us senate shows while americans dont like gay marriage they
dont like const changes more
the senate vote reflected that
the bush admin says it will battle on
in senate
11,000 attempts to change const
only 17 times successful 

richard armitage has personally apoligised to the indian
def min for his treatment in the us
the def min had claimed he was stripo searched twice on visits to us
armitage said he was "horrified" by the min's treatment, but denied
the fernandez was strip-searched

5 people have beel killed in kirkuk when mortar rounds fell on their house
it was naked aggressuoin against the iraqi people said allawi

Midday.
BHP   Billiton   is  under  scrutiny  again  with  a  deptal investigation  launched  into  an  accident  at the company's Port Hedland   operation,  which  saw  workers  inhale  chemical  dust.  

Brit's  pre-war  intel  on Iraq's armaments had "serious flaws"   but   PM  Tony  Blair  was  not  personally responsible, an inquiry found on Wed. 

Brit  PM  Tony  Blair  has told parliament that he "accepts"  the findings of an inquiry into Brit intel on Iraq's WMDs. 

A  suspected  suicide car bombing has killed 11 people and wounded 40  in  the 1st big guerrilla attack in Baghdad since an interim Iraqi  govt  took  over  from  US-led  occupiers on June 28.  

A  relative  of  3  children who survived nearly a wk in the Torres  Strait  after  their family's dinghy capsized has told how they  lived  off  a  few  shellfish,  coconuts  and  wongai fruit.  

no light at the end of the tunnel for the nab
after shock profit warning yesterday, continued to loose 
at 28.55
gold down 80 404.65
oil up 1.53 40.97

6.30 pm
the wave of killing continues
in past 10 mins
10 killed in car bomb of hadita, iraq

outside ramadi, a us fuel tanker has been destroyed
in a geurrla attack

insurgents have repeated their warning they are after pm allawi
he was lucky to escape a rocket attack on his house last m
and he will be  unable to find peace

fm downer said those who ignore the war against terror live in
a fools paradise
he was launching a govt whitepaper on the war
he said it was likely to be a long and costly process, and could
take generations
he said it was a struggle to the death, between those who want
democarcy and those who want a muslim superstate
downer said there is no intel that terrorism will disrupt the AUS
elections

in nz, 2 men have been jailed for 6 m 
after pleading guilty to unlawfully trying to obtaining NZ passports
helen clark said there were string resons to beleie the 2 were
acting on behalf of isral's intel services

rescuers are lookng for survivors from a boat
3 passengers drowned 
before us coast guard arrived
15 are missing
since oct 5,000 tried to flee domincian republic to peurto rico
nearly  40 died in the proces
state dept ads featuring sharks haven't done anything to stop the flow

in moscow
relatvies and friends said goodby the paul klebnikov, the editor
of the russian forbes magazine
in the past 4 y 40 journlaists have been murdered
observers say the russian media has been stripped of
uncontrolled voices
despite the protests of 1000s NTV was taken over by the govt
journlaists fled to Channel 6
within ms, that was taken off the air
most recently, the "Free Speech Show" was pulled from state-controlled TV
the guests were too unpredictable

7 pm
an aussie eightlifter is challenging her barring from the athens games
she told a mel court she didn't know who has approached her
while she was training at a fiji gym
she said she paniced, feared for her safety, and bolted for
her car
she was later booked for dangerous driving after she nearly hit
one official
she denies she heard the men ID themselves as anti-drug officials,
and call on her to take a drug test
witnesses say they saw the men jump on the bonnet of her car, and
bang on the windows

the custums service has revealed a cyclist that's been appealing his
ban from the oly games had been mailed 2 shipments of drugs
it had been revealed one shipment of banned human growth hormone had been
intercepted and desroyed 
but now AUS Customs says it intercepted another shipment of drugs 1 y earlier

opec has been pumping well above target
but the price hiked to 40.98 anyway
the all ords up 4 pts to 3528
nab down 40 to 28.45
the mud stuck on the other banks
aud down to 72.14

researchers say an aids vaccine trial in thailand should be stopped
and is a big flop
thailand's health dept has become media shy
volunteers have been receiving a cocktail of 2 vaccines that
had failed prev tests
in an article in Science researchers say the trial should never have
been started
in the SE prov public confidence appears to have collapsed
they wanted to receue 16,00 voluntees, but have onlyt managed 4,000 after
2 y of recuirting

11.30 pm
irai interm pm new security service to tackle 15 m insurgency
speaking in hadifa
10 killed 30 inj

nz has imposed idplomic sanctions on isral after 2 agents tried
to obtain passport
the Isreal expressed regret at the decision
but made no apology or explanation

25 killed in Bihar when boat capsized in floods 
100s of 1000s are marooned on rooftops and high ground

anglican church in kenya given nairbi brit amb in a row
about corruption
backed up by amb from other european countries

}}

----------------------------------------
Fri, 16 Jul 2004.

<<< TOP >>>
<<< OIL/MARKETS >>>
=== Guardian Unlimited  The Guardian  UK blocks US plans to spend oil fund on museum.txt ===
Guardian 
UK blocks US plans to spend oil fund on museum
Baghdad
The Guardian
Brit has blocked an American plan for a memorial museum in Baghdad to
document the atrocities of Saddam Hussein's regime.
US officials described the $10 mn (#5.4 mn) project as a special commitment by
Paul Bremer, the former US administrator of occupied Iraq.
The money was to come from Iraqi oil revenues deposited in the Development
Fund for Iraq which was set up under UN sanctions and maintained by the US
after it toppled Saddam.
Brit, alongside AUS, which also took part in last y's
invasion, had voting rights on the fund's review board, as well as
officials from 2 Iraqi ministries.
The US withdrew its request when AUS's official said that although
he supported the museum idea it should be left to the Iraqis to decide.
The US representative asked for the project to be approved at the board's
final meeting last m, shortly before the transfer of sovereignty.
The aim was to collect ideas from all over Iraq on how best to remember
Saddam's victims and document his regime's crimes, and also to seek
private funding for a museum.
It is not clear why Mr Bremer tried to rush the idea through rather than
leave it to the incoming Iraqi regime. He may have feared it might not get
off the ground, or wanted to leave his personal mark, analysts say.
The review board ended with the occupation. Iraqis now control the
development fund on their own.
Brit's representative, Dr Yusaf Samiullah, who heads the Iraq office of
the Dept for Internat'l Development (Dfid), said the project was
not an emergency.
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The Brit move was just one of several instances in which Dfid either
blocked or amended last-minute US attempts to spend Iraq's oil money
before the new govt took office.
Dr Samiullah said yesterday: "We had 2 motivations. It was a signal of
our respect for sovereignty and our awareness the new govt would
face unforeseen needs for which it would require money."
Brit rejected a US request for $41 mn at the same meeting of the board,
this time over a hazardous waste disposal facility consisting of landfill,
incineration and biodegradation, after the American official conceded he
did not know how much of the waste came from the occupation.
AUS's representative asked why Iraqis should pay to "clean up
coalition waste".
At meetings in May, Brit amended plans for a high-spending victims'
compensation fund for Iraqis who suffered under Saddam, as well as a fund
for claims arising over disputed property following the Arabisation
campaign which drove 100s of 1000s of Kurds out of their homes.
Brit approved the plan but had the draft changed so that a taskforce
would 1st study the complexities and stop money being paid to victims
until sovereignty was transferred.
Dr Samiullah said the two-m delay was insignificant but gave political
recognition to the new govt.
"Also, after decades of persecution, you don't want to rush to make the
first payments and then find, a y later, that you may feel you have
underpaid or overpaid."
Brit took issue with 2 huge projects -- a $500 mn plan to build up Iraqi
security forces and $315 mn for electricity investment. It questioned
whether Iraqi money was being spent to duplicate projects covered by US
aid grants and whether foreign companies could bid alongside US ones.
Backed by AUS, Brit won US agreement that no Iraqi oil money
could be used to cover cost over-runs on security projects that the US had
awarded without competitive bidding. On electricity, Dr Samiullah told the
board that every single project had over-run its target cost.
Asked if US officials were irritated by Brit objections, Dr Samiullah
said: "Professional development colleagues were relieved that others were
saying things that it would be difficult for them to say in their system.
"Dfid's independence gives us a degree of authority. US aid comes under
the state dept which may have its own political objectives."

=== The Aussie Weak controls over Iraq oil funds [July 16, 2004].txt ===
The Aussie
Weak controls over Iraq oil funds 
Washington
A UN-backed watchdog today reported weak controls over Iraqi oil
riches under the US-led coalition, including use of the money for a
no-bid Halliburton contract.
The Internat'l Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) released a
critical 1st audit of the Development Fund of Iraq, which holds
Iraqi oil income and the balance of frozen Iraqi assets and the UN
oil-for-food-program.
The audit by accountants KPMG found that from the establishment of
the fund in May last y to the end of 2003:
A lack of "metres" to measure Iraqi oil production, despite
repeated requests for them by the IAMB, made it impossible to say
how much Iraqi oil had been smuggled out of the country.
The US-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), which handed
over power to an interim Iraqi govt June 28, had inadequate
accounting systems and poor record keeping.
Iraqi spending ministries had insufficient accounting and payroll
records, and they strayed from rules requiring open, competitive
tenders for contracts funded with oil money.
Known oil proceeds, reported frozen assets and transfers from the UN
oil-for-food program had been properly and transparently accounted
for by the development fund, the KPMG audit said.
"The single qualification to the opinion was that an unknown
quantity of oil was smuggled out of Iraq following the war,
resulting in a loss of oil revenue," it said.
A review of the audit showed controls over the Iraqi oil industry
were insufficient to provide "reasonable assurance" for the
completeness of Iraqi oil sales, the IAMB found.
It also was impossible to be sure oil money was spent on the
purposes intended, said the IAMB, which has officials from the
UN, IMF, World Bank and Arab
Fund for Social and Economic Development.
The board raised particular concern over the use of Iraqi oil money
for "sole-sourced contracts," which had not been put out to
competitive tender.
The US-led coalition informed the IAMB that oil money had been used
for a $US1.4 bn ($1.94 bn), no-bid contract for
Halliburton, an oil services company, which was run by Vice
Pres Richard Cheney from 1995 to 2000.
Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, who represents the UN on the
board, said he wrote to Paul Bremer, then overseer of Iraq, to ask
for a copy of the audit into the Halliburton contract.
The board also requested a list of all the no-bid contracts paid for
with oil money, and access to the relevant audits, he said.
So far, it had heard nothing.
"There have been, we are told, other sole-source contracts (besides
Halliburton). To whom, and the amount, we are not aware," Mr
Halbwachs said.
"That is what we are trying to establish."
IAMB officials said they had been told that legal questions had to
be resolved before they could receive the documents.
The IAMB also had requested but not yet received a copy of a review
of controls in the Iraqi state oil marketing organisation, SOMO.
Since the creation of the Development Fund of Iraq, it has raked in
Iraqi oil export revenue amounting to $US11.1 bn, more than
half of the development fund's total cash income of $US20.6 bn.
The fund now holds about $US7.5 bn.
A UN Sec Council resolution endorsing Iraqi "full sovereignty"
still subjects oil revenues to the IAMB's oversight.
The IAMB said it would consider "over the next few weeks" whether
further special audits or investigations were needed.
A 2nd KPMG audit covering the 1st half of 2004 is already
underway.

=== tvnz_co_nz  NEWS  WORLD  Car bomb kills 10 in N Iraq.txt ===
Wheat group threatens withdrawal over Iraq debt stoush
The W Aussie Wheat Growers Association says farmers will not be
any worse off if the W Aussie Farmers Federation (WAFF) carries
out its threat to withdraw from the Aussie Grains Council.
Today is the deadline the WAFF set for Grains Council president Keith
Perrett to resign from handling the Fed Govt's decision to write
off $mns debt from Iraq.
It says if Mr Perrett does not step down, it will pull out of the council.
Mr Perrett says the WAFF would deny the state's growers a fed voice if
it withdraws from the council.
But Wheat Growers Association president Bob Iffla says there are other
nat'l bodies the state's farmers can deal with.
"Obviously, the Aussie Wheat Board would still talk with WA Farmers
Federation," he said.
"We produce 40% of the wheat across the nation, or probably 50 per
cent of the exports, so they would certainly be talking with them."

=== Yahoo! News -- Senate Approves dol12B Tobacco Farm Buyout.txt ===
Senate Approves $12B Tobacco Farm Buyout
WASHINGTON (AP).
The Senate approved a plan Thu to put new
restrictions on cigarette makers and pay tobacco farmers $12 bn
to give up fed quotas propping up their prices.
An unlikely alliance of anti-smoking advocates and tobacco-state
senators teamed up to secure the 78-15 vote to combine a 10-y
buyout for tobacco growers with new Food and Drug Admin
 powers.
The measure was added as an amendment to a corporate tax bill and
broke wk of deadlock over how to proceed with negotiations on
that bill. The Senate approved the tax bill by voice vote and sent
it to a House-Senate conference committee, where negotiators will
attempt to work out differences between the 2 chambers' versions
of the legislation.
Supporters had worked to get the buyout and new FDA  authority to regulate cigarettes attached to the tax bill so
talks could begin with the House on a compromise. The FDA would
regulate tobacco not as a drug but as an entirely separate product
category.
A bill the House passed last m included a smaller $9.6 bn
tobacco buyout over 5 y and no new FDA regulations on
manufacturing and marketing cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The Senate would make tobacco companies pay for the buyout through a
user fee that could be passed on to smokers. The House would spread
the cost of its version to all taxpayers.
"It's now time to end the tobacco program with a fair buyout, not on
the backs of taxpayers," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist,
R-Tenn.
As part of an appropriations bill this wk, House members also
voted to forbid the Agriculture Dept from carrying out a
buyout financed by general tax revenues, putting the House on record
as being on both sides of that issue.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, has opposed giving the FDA
authority to regulate cigarettes.
Sen Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, said, "I'm not a great fan of FDA
regulation today, but these 2 issues needed to be married here ...
if we're to get either one of them out of the Senate and on the way
down the legislative road toward some accomplishment."
The buyout would pay roughly 400,000 tobacco quota owners -- most of
them in the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia --
to give up fed allotments limiting how much they can sell each
year. With no quotas to keep prices up, about half of the roughly
100,000 active tobacco growers may give up the crop altogether, said
Keith Parrish, executive director of the Nat'l Tobacco Growers
Association.
Farmers have been clamoring for a buyout in recent y after
seeing the volume of leaf they can sell decline as more Americans
gave up smoking and cigarette makers turned to cheaper leaf from
abroad.
The Senate measure forbids the FDA from banning cigarettes. The
agency could restrict but not eliminate addictive nicotine in
tobacco products. It also could order the removal of certain
ingredients and force cigarette makers to disclose more details
about their product ingredients.
"Current law makes sure we know what's in products designed to help
people quit smoking, like the patch or Nicorette gum, but not the
very products that get people addicted in the 1st place to
cigarettes themselves," said Sen Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. "Isn't that
crazy?"
Marketing terms such as "light" and "ultra-light" would be
prohibited unless the FDA approved them. Studies have shown those
cigarettes haven't reduced health risks faced by smokers.
The FDA asserted authority over cigarettes in 1996, but the Supreme
Court later ruled that only Congress can give the FDA that power.
Philip Morris USA is the only major tobacco company to support FDA
regulation of cigarettes. Company executives say it could better
communicate with customers about new, safer products in a regulated
environment with clear, uniform rules.
The other major companies say the new advertising restrictions would
make it harder for them to gain new customers while ensuring that
Philip Morris retains its market share.
Tommy Payne, snr VP of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co,
called the FDA provisions of the Senate amendment "onerous."
Payne said he worried the FDA might order changes to cigarettes that
would make them unacceptable to consumers. "You may have an awful
cigarette that no one wants to buy," Payne said.

=== news.txt ===
iPod sales sweeten Apple profits
Apple  Computer's  quarterly  net income more than tripled, fuelled by
surging sales of its iPod digital music players.
Shipments  of its signature Macintosh computers also rose 14%,
the company said on Thu.
Apple  gave a forecast for its current quarter that was largely inline
with consensus Wall Street estimates.
It  was  a  relatively strong outlook given that many analysts had not
yet  factored  in  the  delay  of  the  next-generation  iMac personal
computer, disclosed earlier this m.
"Obviously, this quarter was solid," said Shannon Cross, an analyst at
Cross Research.
"Ipod sales were a bit above what I was expecting."
For  its  3rd quarter, California-based Apple said it had net income
of $US61 mn, up from $US19 mn.
Revenue rose 30% to $US2.01 bn from $US1.55 bn.
Demand
Peter  Oppenheimer,  Apple's  chief  financial  officer,  said  in  an
interview:  "In  the markets we're participating in, demand looks good
for us."
Excluding  restructuring  charges, Apple said it had a profit of $US67
mn.
On  a conference call with analysts, Mr Oppenheimer confirmed that the
next-generation  iMac,  which  will  use  the  G5  processor,  will be
available in Sep.
He  also  said  that  the  launch of what has been dubbed the H-Pod by
Hewlett-Packard  --  which  has agreed to resell Apple's market-leading
iPod under its own name -- was on track for later this y.
He also said that Internat'l Business Machines, which makes the G5,
has   had   manufacturing   problems  with  the  G5  processor,  which
constrained  revenue  and  profits  associated  with Apple's Power Mac
computers in the 3rd quarter.
"Based  on what they have told us, we expect the supply problems to be
behind  us  by the beginning" of Apple's quarter beginning in Oct,
Mr Oppenheimer said.
"The  big  issue which is plaguing Apple right now is IBM," analyst Mr
Cross said.
"Apple  said  they're  comfortable that IBM will be able to meet their
needs but there's obviously the chance that IBM won't."
Apple sold 860,000 iPods in the quarter, accounting for $US249 mn
in revenue, up from 304,000 iPods sold in the ya quarter.
The company sold 876,000 Macintosh computers in the period, accounting
for $US1.26 bn, an increase from 771,000 a y ago.
The company said recently it would begin internat'l shipments later
this   m   of  its  new  iPod  mini,  following  a  delay  due  to
stronger-than-expected US demand and tight supplies of the hard drive,
which is at the core of the digital music player.
--Reuters

===
Russia's richest man pleads innocent to fraud charges
The  head  of  Russia's  largest oil company has pleaded not guilty to
fraud and tax evasion charges.
Russian   state   prosecutors   opened   their  case  against  Mikhail
Khodorkovsky in Moscow today.
They  accused  him of leading a criminal group that plotted to acquire
shares in privatised companies fraudulently.
Mr  Khodorkovsky's  supporters,  who  include  many  prominent Russian
liberals,  have  argued  that  the  case  against  him  is politically
motivated.
--AFP/Reuters

===
Shares fall despite optimistic data
The Dow Jones lost nearly 50 points overnight.
xxx
New figures suggest the US economic recovery is still on track and the
spectre of inflation remains largely absent.
A  flurry  of  figures out overnight included the Philadelphia Fed
Reserve's   latest   reading  on  manufacturing  activity  in  the  US
mid-Atlantic region.
The  July survey shows a surge in activity, registering the 14th month
of growth in a row.
Measures of new orders, deliveries and employment are all up.
However,  other US-wide figures on industrial production show a dip in
output during June, albeit to a level still viewed as healthy.
American factories, mines and utilities cut combined production by 0.3%,
the 1st decline since March.
At  the same time, a gauge of wholesale inflation -- the Producer Price
Index -- is down 0.3% in June, the steepest fall in a year.
Excluding  the  volatile food and energy components, the PPI is up 0.2%.
On  the corporate front, the financial giant, Citigroup, has announced
a  slump  in  net  profits  to  just  over $1.1 bn for the second
quarter.
On  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  the Dow Jones industrial average
closed 46 points lower at 10,163.
Prices  on  the  high-tech  Nasdaq  market  are down just a touch. The
Nasdaq composite index slipped 2 points to 1,913.
There  has been a drop in prices on the Brit share market. London's
FT-100 index lost 32 points to finish at 4,341.
The  Aussie  market  yesterday managed only a small recovery after
the previous day's slide.
OneSteel  and  CSR  shares  rose as both companies released reasonably
encouraging profit projections.
But  the  Nat'l  AUS  Bank  lost  further ground to finish at
$28.45, a decline of 1.4% after this wk's profit warning.
The All Ordinaries index recouped 4 points to 3,528.
On  the  SYD  Futures Exchange overnight, the Share Price Index 200
contract has closed down 7 points at 3,522.
The  10-y  bond  contract  is  one  point  lower at 94.28, with the
implied yield rising to 5.72%.
About  7.30 am,  the  Aussie  dollar  was  being quoted at 72.27 US
cents, little changed from yesterday's local close.
It  was  at 0.5849 euros, 79.09 Japanese yen, 38.99 pence sterling and
$NZ1.112.
The gold price is at $US404.35/oz.
Oil  prices  have  settled back a little but remain relatively high on
concerns  about US stockpiles, another attack on an Iraqi pipeline and
the cancellation of an OPEC meeting for next wk.
West Texas crude is trading at about $US40.70/bbl.

===
US Senate approves free trade pact
Free trade deal moves a step closer.
xxx
The  United  States Senate has passed the free trade agreement between
the US and AUS.
The  80-16  vote  sends  the  pact  to Pres George W Bush, who is
expected to swiftly sign it into law.
Arizona  Republican  John  McCain  told  the Senate the deal was worth
passing but only just.
"It's often said around here that we should not let the perfect be the
enemy of the good," Sen McCain said.
"This  agreement  for  which we vote on implementing legislation today
passes the good test, but barely."
PM  John  Howard  says  the  free  trade agreement is the
biggest deal his Govt has done on the trade front.
"That is fantastic, that is terrific, this is a once in a generational
opportunity  to  lock  this  country  into  the biggest economy in the
world," Mr Howard told S Cross Radio.
"This  agreement  could  only  have  been  negotiated  by  the  Howard
Govt.  This  would  never  have  been  negotiated  by  a  Latham
govt,  I  doubt  it  would  have  been  negotiated  by  a  Labor
govt led by another person either."
Challenge
The  US  House  of  Representatives  passed  the  agreement yesterday,
meaning  it  now just needs Pres Bush's signature to pass into US
law.
The  Aussie  Parliament  must also approve the deal before it will
come  into  force  and  Mr  Howard  has  again  challenged  the  Labor
Opp'n to support the deal in the Aussie Senate.
But  Opp'n leader Mark Latham says Labor is still withholding its
judgment.
Mr  Latham  says  US  senators  obviously  believe  the deal is in the
interests  of  the  US and the challenge for the Aussie
Parliament is to work out whether it is in AUS's interest.
He  says finalisation of the deal is still 6 m away and he will
wait  for  a Senate committee report before deciding whether to accept
it.
"We're all waiting for the Senate report," Mr Latham said.
"It's  been  looking  at all the detail and of course once that Senate
report  is  available  and we can have a look at the future of our PBS
[Pharmaceutical  Benefits Scheme], the future of cultural content, the
future  of  intellectual property in AUS, of course then through
our Shadow Ministry and our Caucus, we can make a Labor Party decision
accordingly."
The  deal  is  the  US's  1st  free trade agreement with a developed
country since a 1989 pact with Canada.
Members  of  the  US  Congress  voted  for  the agreement because they
believe it will increase US manufactured exports to AUS and give
a boost to the ailing industry.
The  Aussie  Govt  says  the  deal  will give the Aussie
economy a $5.5 bn injection over the next decade.

<<< DEATHS >>>
===
Monsoon rains wreak havoc in S Asia
Severe  flooding across S Asia has left 100s dead and mns
homeless.
Monsoon  rains  have  been  lashing  India, Bangladesh and Nepal since
mid-June, causing rivers to burst their banks.
There have been landslides and buildings have collapsed.
So  far  more  than  200  people have died and mn have been left
homeless.
Soldiers  and  emergency teams are using boats and helicopters to rush
in  food,  medicine  and supplies to stranded people but officials say
continuous bad weather is making relief work slow.
Most  of  the  fatalities  have  occurred  in  India,  where many have
drowned, however landslides have also taken dozens of lives in Nepal.

<<< KENYA >>>
=== CNN_com -- Kenya food disaster dol100 mn sought -- Jul 15, 2004.txt ===
CNN
Kenya food disaster: $100 mn sought 
Pres Kibaki declaring the state of nat'l disaster.
NAIROBI (AP) 
Pres Mwai Kibaki has declared a nat'l
disaster in drought-stricken parts of Kenya, calling for nearly $100
mn in emergency aid from abroad to feed some 3.3 mn
Kenyans facing food shortages.
Widespread crop failures from the Rift Valley in central Kenya to
the Indian Ocean coast mean the country will need an estimated
156,000 metric tons (171,961 tons) of food aid in the next 6
months, Kibaki told diplomats and reporters Tue.
Large swaths of Kenya periodically experience droughts, and the
country last faced a severe food shortage after below average
rainfall during 2000 and 2001.
Kibaki said Kenya will need about $76 mn in food aid from
abroad to get through the latest drought.
"My govt is appealing to all our friends to come forward with
assistance to support our nat'l efforts," he said.
An additional $32 mn will be required to ensure adequate water
supplies and proper sanitation, health and education services for
those affected by the drought, Kibaki said.
A report by UN, Kenyan and internat'l aid officials obtained
Tue by The Associated Press said 1.8 mn Kenyans were in
need of food aid over the next 6 m. Kibaki did not say why
the govt's own estimates were significantly higher, but did
warn the country may face even greater food shortages if the next
rainy season fails.
"If the short rains expected in Oct-Dec fail, the country
will experience a more severe food shortage, and up to 4.3 mn
Kenyans -- including 1.5 mn school children -- will require
food assistance for another 6 m," Kibaki said.
Kenyan farmers rely on 2 rainy seasons to grow their crops -- the
"short rains" between Oct and Dec, and the "long rains"
from March to June.
"I am ... declaring the current drought situation in the country a
nat'l disaster," Kibaki said.
The nat'l disaster declaration gives the govt the legal
right to dip into state funds not earmarked for food aid and to
waive the 25% import duty levied on maize, a staple of the
Kenyan diet.

=== Yahoo! News -- Brit Calls Kenya Govt Corrupt and Greedy.txt ===
Brit Calls Kenya Govt Corrupt and Greedy
NAIROBI (Reuters) 
Kenya's govt is arrogant, greedy
and instead of fighting corruption "eats like a glutton," Brit's
ambassador said in a rare, blistering attack that led to him being
summoned by the foreign minister Wed.
Edward Clay, Brit high commissioner (ambassador) in Nairobi,
expressed outrage over what he termed "new corruption" since
Pres Mwai Kibaki came to power in Dec 2002 pledging an
all-out war on graft.
Corruption may account for $188 mn and donors were unlikely to
fund the 2004/2005 budget due to fresh graft, Clay said.
"Evidently the practitioners now in govt have the arrogance,
greed and perhaps a desperate sense of panic to lead them to eat
like gluttons," he said in the speech delivered at a private Brit
business lunch in Nairobi Tue.
"But they can hardly expect us not to care when their gluttony
causes them to vomit all over our shoes." Clay's speech was
published in full in the E Africa Standard Wed.
Asked about Clay's statement, a rep for the Brit Foreign
office said in London:
"The sentiment is our policy. What we're saying is that we've
followed with increasing concern the allegations of unsatisfactory
tendering and contracting procedures in which snr members of the
Kenyan govt are involved."
Kenya's FM Chirau Makwere summoned Clay to his office
and asked him to substantiate the comments.
"The high commissioner was here on my request on behalf of the
govt of Kenya to give facts and figures and to name names of
the people who took the money," Makwere told reporters.
The European Union, US and Japan last
week warned Kenya it could lose funding due to corruption but Clay's
speech was unusually strong language for a diplomat, analysts said.
Kenya gained independence from Brit in 1963.
Kibaki won elections in 2002 pledging to end graft that flourished
under former president Daniel arap Moi's 24-y rule and win back
foreign aid and investment. Donors restarted lending late last y
after a three-y gap.
Clay estimated corruption under Moi cost Kenya about $1 bn but
criticized Kibaki's govt for its handling of a
$multi-mn govt tender handled by Anglo Leasing, a
Europe-based company, for a new passport system meant to overcome
forgeries.
'WE'RE NOT GLUTTONS'
"We are not gluttons, we do not vomit on their shoes. This criticism
amounts to a personal attack on Kibaki," Makwere said.
"We take them as words from the Brit govt, and not his
personal statement. Whether it was a statement made by the high
commissioner as a person or not we need a justification."
Clay told Reuters: "You've seen the article. I don't think I have
anything to add to it really."
Political scientist Mutahi Ngunyi called the speech "an outrageous
attack" but said: "Maybe Clay knows something about the scandal that
we don't. It also shows that Kibaki may have lost the goodwill he
had with Brit by not firing those behind the scandal."
The govt has admitted to "serious irregularities" in the
tender process but no official has been charged.
Anglo Leasing's managing director Michel Gruring, based in
Switzerland, denied defrauding Kenya of any money in a letter to the
govt made public Wed.
Clay said it was now unlikely donors would support Kenya's 2004/05
budget, which banked on them to pay for about half of its
development projects.
Kenya's shilling fell by 30 Kenyan cents to a six-wk low against
the USD on Clay's comments.

<<< SUDAN >>>
===
Health catastrophe looms in Sudan: UN
The  World  Health  Organisation has warned a major health catastrophe
could  erupt  in  W  Sudan's  Darfur region if the needed funds,
personnel and supplies were not made available.
Hundreds  of 1000s of internal refugees are threatened by cholera,
dysentery   and  malaria,  2  snr  WHO  officials  told  a  press
conference.
"People   are   dying   now   because   they  are  living  in  totally
unsatisfactory  conditions,  but too many more could die in the coming
weeks unless we prevent the lack of sanitation, malnutrition, shortage
of  clean  water and the coming rains from combining into a recipe for
death," WHO Director Gen Lee Jong Wook said in a statement.
"We must work urgently to prevent a health catastrophe."
Dr  Lee  and  the  regional director for the eastern Mediterranean, Dr
Hussein Gezairy, were speaking following a tour of Darfur.
The  2 noted that some progress was made last m, thanks to joint
efforts   by  the  Sudanese  ministry  of  health,  UNICEF  and  other
organisations.
But  they  remarked  that  the gap between the needs and the available
relief is "all too evident".
"There  are  2 dimensions to the crisis in Sudan -- a political and a
humanitarian  one. Hundreds of 1000s of peoples' lives are hanging
in the balance and they need help now," Dr Lee said.
"We  strongly  appeal  for  more  external  assistance to fill the gap
between the needs and the available relief."
The statement said the 2 assessed the health situation at Kalma camp
outside  Nyala in S Darfur which hosts more than 50,000 people and
receives 300 newcomers every day.
They  concluded  that  as  the rainy season peaks in the coming weeks,
water  and mud would wash over the camp, making it "ripe for a cholera
outbreak".
Dr  Gezairy  told journalists his organisation and partners could work
to prevent that by prepositioning supplies and vaccinating susceptible
people.
"This  costs  money but is far outweighed by an outbreak of the deadly
disease," he said.
Health  Min  Ahmed  Bilal  Osman  declared  at  the  joint  press
conference  his  ministry's commitment to making available to each one
of  the  3  states  of  Darfur  100 mn Sudanese pounds (about
$US40,000) per m in support of the health services there.
NGOs  have  so  far offered about $US10 mn to back the health and
medical services to the needy people in Darfur, Mr Osman said.

<<< WMD >>>
===
Missing documents halt US nuclear arms research
(AFP).
Secret  work at a key US nuclear weapons facility, Los Alamos Nat'l
Laboratory,  was  halted  on Thu after a fresh security breach in
which classified data went missing, officials said.
The  extraordinary step was taken at the birthplace of the atomic bomb
after  2  classified  computer storage devices were reported missing
from  the  secret  laboratories  in the W state of New Mexico on
July 7.
The  suspension  of  secret  work  will allow for staff retraining and
other  measures  aimed  at  boosting  crucial security measures at the
facility,  where  several high-profile security breaches have occurred
in recent years.
The tough decision was announced after Los Alamos director Peter Nanos
appeared  before the board of regents of the University of California,
which has run the laboratory since it was founded during World War II.

<<< INTEL >>>
=== Labor flags Iraq intel probe.txt ===
Labor flags Iraq intel probe
AAP 
Labor says it will consider holding a Royal
Commission into AUS's intel agencies
if it wins govt at the fed election.
Opp'n foreign affairs rep Kevin Rudd
said Labor would consider the move depending on
the results of an impending report into
AUS's intel community.
The Flood report, ordered in the wake of the Iraq
war, is due to be handed to the govt this
month.
The inquiry would look at the coordination of
intel and resources between the Office of
Nat'l Assessments (ONA), Defence Intel
Organisation (DIO) and Aussie Security
Intel Organisation (ASIO).
Labor has expressed reservations about Mr Flood's
inquiry, saying it lacks the scope and powers of a
full Royal Commission.
Mr Rudd told ABC television's Lateline program
that Labor believed a Royal Commission was
necessary.
"We'll look at what Mr Flood says, but our
instincts say yes," he said.
"And the reason is it's virtually 20 y since
there has been a properly empowered Royal
Commission with terms of reference to not just
take public evidence, but to take it on oath and
to go into the depths of the intel material
which have been produced and with resources
necessary to do it.
He said the strategic environment had changed
since the mid-80s and a Royal Commission was
needed after intel failures on Bali, Iraq
and terror suspect Willie Brigitte.
"Well, in my discussions with (Labor leader) Mark
Latham, we actually think that this is absolutely
necessary," Mr Rudd told Lateline.
"The only caveat we attach to this is let's look
and see what Mr Flood has to got to say, but we
think he is operating in a severely hamstrung
environment because of the absence of powers.
"When it comes to his powers, that is the key
question, and he hasn't got the powers to examine
anything he likes and take evidence from whomever
he likes on oath, including ministers."
Mr Rudd said he expected the Flood report to find
ONA should get a "bucketload more resources, and
they deserve it".
"Because you can't cover the field, for this
govt in particular, given the 32 full-time
analysts they've got," he said.
"I imagine the other thing he'll have to say will
be how do we better coordinate the efforts between
the various arms of the intel agencies --
DIO, ONA and ASIO.

=== Guardian Unlimited Politics  Special Reports  Straw no regrets over Iraq dossier.txt ===
Guardian 
Straw: no regrets over Iraq dossier
Jack Straw today said he did not regret publication of the govt's
controversial Sep 2002 Iraq dossier, despite Lord Butler's
conclusion that it was based on "seriously flawed" intel.
But the foreign secretary conceded that in future, such documents should
have their contents questioned more closely and insisted that Tony Blair
and George Bush would have taken "yes for an answer" if Saddam Hussein had
agreed to comply with UN resolutions on weapons inspection.
His comments come the day after the publication of Lord Butler's report,
which found that "there was no deliberate attempt on the part of the
govt to mislead".
It did, however, accused No 10 of placing the intel services under
such "strain" that their neutrality was compromised, and of stretching the
available intel to the "outer limits".
Lord Butler concluded that the dossier had the "serious weakness" of
omitting crucial caveats about the dubious nature and limitations of much
of the intel, which was made to appear "fuller and firmer" by the
language used.
The Tory leader, Michael Howard, meanwhile stepped up his attack on Mr
Blair, accusing him of having "misled" the country over the threat from
Iraqi WMD, none of which have yet been found.
"When you have such a contrast, such a yawning gap, between the words used
by the PM and the actual intel on which his words were
meant to be based, then there is a very legitimate question to be asked,"
he told the BBC's Jeremy Vine show.
"I think he should have come clean with the people. I think he should have
told them exactly what the intel was. The evidence is that he
didn't do that, that he misled the country."
The Tories and Liberal Democrats are hoping that the controversial issue
of Iraq -- reignited by the Butler report -- will help them overtake Labour
in today's byelections in Leicester S and Birmingham Hodge Hill.
Guardian Unlimited has found, however, that few voters appear to have been
swung one way or the other by Lord Butler's findings.
One Labour voter who opposed the war said today that the report had not
told him anything he did not know, while another, who switched from Labour
to the Lib Dem in the European elections, said "we knew the WMD was
bullshit anyway".
The govt is hoping that the Butler report will bring "closure" to
the seemingly never-ending controversy over Iraq, and that a victory in at
least one of the byelections will quell speculation about Mr Blair's
future as PM.
Earlier today, Mr Blair's official rep accepted there were lessons
to be learned from the report, which also criticised the PM's
informal style of govt.
"Obviously there are implications within the Butler report which we will
have to reflect on, and the wider system will have to reflect on. We will
do so, but do so in a considered way rather than in any knee-jerk way."
The rep said, however, that there was no discussion of the report at
this morning's regular weekly cabinet meeting, but insisted that "cabinet
govt is alive and well".
"Nobody takes more seriously than the PM the loss of life --
whether it is military life or civilian life," he added. "Equally, the
PM continues to believe that the central reasons for going to
war remain as valid today as they were then."

===
Intel inquiry 'hamstrung', Rudd says
The Fed Opp'n says it believes a current Govt-appointed
inquiry   will  be  inadequate  to  address  problems  in  AUS's
intel agencies.
Philip  Flood,  a  former  diplomat and head of the Office of Nat'l
Assessments  (ONA),  is  due  to deliver the inquiry's findings to the
Govt within the next wk.
Labor's  foreign  affairs  rep, Kevin Rudd, says an inquiry with
the full powers of a royal commission is needed.
"My  discussions  with  [Labor  leader] Mark Latham, we actually think
this is absolutely neccesary," Mr Rudd told ABC TV's Lateline.
"The only caveat we attach is let's look and see what Mr Flood has got
to  say,  though  we  think  he  is  operating  in  a fairly hamstrung
environment because of the absence of powers."

<<< MEDIA >>>
<<< TROOPS >>>
=== Filipino hostage thanks govt for pulling troops out of Iraq.txt ===
Filipino hostage thanks govt for pulling troops out of Iraq
BAGHDAD 
The militant group holding a Filipino truck
driver hostage said they would release him when the last
Filipino soldier leaves Iraq, which should take place by the
end of the month, according to a statement read Thu on
Al-Jazeera.
The statement came just an hour after Al-Jazeera showed a
video of the captive, Angelo dela Cruz, saying he was coming
home soon and thanking his govt for agreeing to withdraw
peacekeepers from the country.
In the video, dela Cruz was no longer wearing the bright
orange garment he had worn previously. Other hostages killed
by insurgents had been wearing a similar garment in videos
showing their deaths.
The Iraqi Islamic Army-Khaled bin Al-Waleed Corps demanded the
Philippines withdraw its 51-member peacekeeping contingent by
July 20 or said it would kill him.
In the statement Thu, the militant group said it was
holding onto dela Cruz until the last soldier left, according
to Al-Jazeera. The group also extended the July 20 deadline
until the end of the month, according to the statement.
The govt at 1st refused but said Wed it was
coordinating a withdrawal and already had reduced its forces
to 43 members. It was unclear when the withdrawal would be
finished, though, and one Filipino newspaper called it a
"token pullout."
Dela Cruz told his family not to worry about him, pointing out
that he had changed clothing, an apparent sign that he was no
longer under threat of execution.
"Wait for me, I'm coming back to you," he reportedly said.
His voice was not audible on the Arab television station; the
newsreader narrated the video.
Dela Cruz also thanked Pres Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for
her decision and asked her to uphold it, according to
Al-Jazeera.
The Philippine govt had no immediate reaction. It has
been cautious after hopes for an imminent release on Sat
were dashed. The govt imposed a news blackout Tue
that left even foreign diplomats questioning Arroyo's
strategy.
Dela Cruz's brother, 38-yo Feliciano, also expressed
gratitude to the govt.
Family members and other supporters gathered in front of the
family's shack in a farming village in the N province
of Pampanga, praying for the release of the Filipino worker
and holding candles.
"I want to thank Pres Arroyo. Thank you very, very much.
She heard our prayers here in Pampanga," he told The
Associated Press.
He also thanked the hostage takers but added cautiously, "I
will be happier if we really see him."
The fate of dela Cruz, a 46-yo father of eight, has
gripped the Philippines since his kidnapping was 1st
revealed last wk.
The Philippine contingent had been scheduled to leave Aug. 20
and its apparent early withdrawal has drawn sharp condemnation
from allies worried that the move signals a capitulation to
terrorists.
"I think that it's disappointing to see a decision that sends
the wrong signal to terrorists," Whitehouse press secretary
Scott McClellan said Thu. "You cannot negotiate with
terrorists or make a separate peace with terrorists."
But, he asserted, "There is broadening internat'l support
for what is going on now."
"I think you've seen strong statements of support from a
number of countries that are in Iraq right now recognizing the
importance of going after the terrorists and helping the Iraqi
people address these security threats they face."
The Philippines' move appeared to have worked, with the
release of the video showing dela Cruz was safe. He appeared
less concerned than in the previous string of videos during
the crisis.
Just minutes before the video appeared, Iraqi interim PM
Iyad Allawi said he had called Arroyo and asked her
to rescind her decision on the troop withdrawal.
"Our policy is no negotiations with terrorists," Allawi said
during a news conference.

=== Internat'l News Article  Reuters_com.txt ===
Philippines Begins Iraq Pullout to Save Hostage
LONDON (Reuters) 
Tony Blair's Labour party lost one key parliamentary
by-election and narrowly avoided defeat in another Fri in the wake of a
damning report on Iraq.
The results may stir further speculation about the Brit prime
minister's grip on power with a general election expected in less than a
year.
The minority Liberal Democrats won the central England seat of Leicester
South by more than 1,600 votes from the ruling party, which held it with a
13,000-plus majority at the 2001 general election.
In the city of Birmingham, Labour just won the Hodge Hill seat by 460
seats from the Liberal Democrats, its 2001 majority of 11,000 all but
wiped out.
"The justification which Tony Blair gave for backing George Bush was
wrong," the Liberal Democrats' Parmjit Singh Gill said in his victory
speech in Leicester.
"The people of Leicester S have spoken for the people of Brit.
Their message is the PM has abused and lost their trust. He
should apologize and he should apologize now."
Both constituencies had large Muslim populations, making them prime
candidates for an anti-war backlash. The LibDems campaigned hard on Iraq
and have consistently opposed the war.
Blair's public trust ratings have plunged since he took Brit to war in
Iraq last y. Wed's report into intel failings on Iraq gave
his anti-war critics fresh ammunition.
Former cabinet secretary Lord Butler absolved Blair of distorting the
intel but said Baghdad had no significant stores of chemical or
biological weapons ready for use, flatly contradicting Blair's pre-war
claim that it did.
The losses make barely a dent in Blair's 161-seat House of Commons
majority but will deal a severe blow to the morale of Labour, still
reeling from internal turmoil created by the Iraq war, which many
supporters and members opposed.

===
Filipino hostage returning home: taped message
A  Filipino  hostage being held hostage in Iraq has told his family he
will be returning home soon.
In  a  videotaped message broadcast on the Arabic satellite channel Al
Jazeera, Angelo de la Cruz also thanked the Philippines govt for
its decision to withdraw its forces from Iraq.
Iraqi  insurgents  are  threatening  to  kill  the truck driver unless
Manila  withdraws  its  contingent  by the July 20, one m ahead of
schedule.
--Reuters

===
US says coalition still strong despite Philippines pullout
The  White  House  says  the  US-led  coalition in Iraq remains strong
despite the Philippines' decision to withdraw its 51 troops.
The  Bush  Admin has cited decisions to stay on by AUS,
Mongolia and El Salvador as evidence of that strength.
The Philippines military is awaiting orders to withdraw its troops.
White  House  rep Scott McClellan expressed the Admin's
displeasure  with the Philippines Govt, which agreed to withdraw
in the hope it might be able to save the life of a Filipino hostage.
But  Mr  McClellan pointed to countries including AUS which have
increased their commitment.
"AUS  has just recently made a commitment to expand their number
of  troops  that  they  have  in  Iraq.  You have a commitment from El
Salvador," he said.
Spain,  the  Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua have withdrawn
from  the 32-member coalition and another 4 countries including New
Zealand and the Philippines are scheduled to withdraw.

===
PM says Manila giving in to terrorism
John Howard says giving in to terrorists produces contempt.
Hard judgment ... John Howard says giving in to terrorists produces
contempt. 
xxx
PM  John  Howard  says  the  Philippines  has given in to
terrorism after deciding to pull at least some of its 51 troops out of
Iraq early.
Mr  Howard  has  revealed  he  has given thought to how his Govt
would  react  if  an  Aussie  were  taken hostage in Iraq and says
giving in to militants' demands would not provide immunity.
The  Philippines  Govt has agreed to withdraw troops in the hope
it  might  save  the  life  of  a  Filipino  held  hostage  by Islamic
militants.
They have threatened to behead the 46-yo unless Pres Gloria
Arroyo withdraws the military personnel by next wk.
Mr  Howard  says  it  is a hard judgment to make but he thinks it is a
mistake and giving in will not buy the Philippines immunity.
Mr  Howard says he has thought about what he would do if an Aussie
was taken hostage.
"You  ask  if  I've thought about that possibility -- of course I have,
and  my  colleagues  have  and we've discussed how we might react," Mr
Howard told S Cross Radio.
"We  can't,  [if] you give in, the game is over and they will increase
the intensity of the attacks. God forbid that it does happen."
Mr  Howard  says  giving  in  to  extremists  produces  contempt,  not
immunity.
"I  don't  want  to be harsh on a friend but ... it's a mistake and it
won't buy them immunity," he said.
"It's  a  hard  judgment  to  make and I can understand the anguish of
people  in  the Philippines Govt dealing with the families, this
poor man who is being held a hostage and the anguish of that family.
"It's  a  wretched state of affairs but if you give in, you won't stop
it  happening  it again. You'll invite people to do it with increasing
severity because they will know they succeed."


===
Philippines begins withdrawal of Iraq force
(AFP).
The  Philippines  says  it will withdraw the head of its force in Iraq
and 10 other members of the contingent on Fri as part of efforts to
secure the release of a Filipino hostage.
Foreign  Secretary  Delia  Albert  said  the  remaining members of the
51-strong  contingent  would  be withdrawn "shortly", although she did
not say whether the withdrawal would take place before the kidnappers'
July 20 deadline.
"The  Philippine  Govt  has  recalled the head of the Philippine
humanitarian  contingent  to  Iraq.  He  is leaving Iraq today with 10
members  of the Philippine humanitarian contingent," Ms Albert said in
a statement.
"The  rest  of  the  members  of  the  contingent  will be out of Iraq
shortly," Ms Albert added.

<<< ELECTION >>>
<<< TERROR/SECURITY >>>
=== Al-Qaeda threatens the EU.txt ===
Al-Qaeda threatens the EU
AFP 
A letter threatening EU institutions in
Brussels and The Hague was received at United
Nations HQ in NY a few days ago,
Dutch Int Min Johan Remkes said.
The Dutch news agency ANP said the letter was
signed by the al-Qaeda terror group, which claimed
responsibility for the Sep 11, 2001 attacks
in the US.
The letter is currently being examined by the
Dutch intel service, AIVD, Remkes told the
commercial RTL4 television station.
The Netherlands has held the rotating presidency
of the European Union since July 1. The Hague, the
country's seat of govt, is home to the
European police agency Europol and to the European
crime fighting organisation Eurojust.
Separately, Remkes told the nat'l ANP news
agency that officials have tightened security
around govt buildings, after getting
info last Fri about possible attacks
from inside the country and abroad.

=== 25 bn for iraq and afghan.txt ===
The News, Pak
US defence bill to have $25 bn for Iraq, Afghanistan
WASHINGTON
House-Senate bargainers agreed on a $417 bn defence bill
that includes $25 bn for US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The compromise measure, which is mostly for 2005, also has money for war
refugees in Sudan and American diplomats in Baghdad and Kabul. And it will
provide $25 mn each for buttressing security this summer in Boston
and NY as they host, respectively, the Democratic and Republican
presidential nominating conventions. Congress is expected to approve the
legislation next wk, lawmakers' last stretch of work before recessing
until Sep.
With troops under fire in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pres George W Bush
and members of both parties want the measure completed before the
political party gatherings. Speed is also a factor because lawmakers and
the Pentagon are not sure there would otherwise be enough cash to pay for
the 2 wars in the final wk of the govt's budget year, which
runs through Sept 30.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young and other lawmakers
said the legislation includes the $25 bn Bush requested in May for US
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The money will be available as soon as
the bill is enacted. The $25 bn is expected to be less than half what
will ultimately be needed for the 2 wars next y.
The Whitehouse initially said the money would be unnecessary until after
the Nov elections, but agreed to seek it sooner under pressure from
Congress. Bush requested the power to spend the $25 bn on virtually
any war needs he perceived. The compromise bill will limit his flexibility
to only about $2 bn, with the rest of the money provided to specific
accounts, said Rep John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat.
In an unusual move, the defence bill will also have $500 mn for
fighting this y's W wildfires, said a House Appropriations
Committee aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. That money was
initially included in a separate Interior Dept bill, but that
measure is bogged down so lawmakers are switching it to the fast-moving
defence legislation.
The aide said the measure also contains $95 mn to help Sudan's Darfur
region, where war has killed an estimated 30,000 people, uprooted 1
mn others and created widespread famine. It also has $685 mn to
finance US diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan next y, including the
costs of protecting them, the aide said.
The bill contains money to give troops a 3.5% pay raise requested
by Bush, and to start expanding the Army by 30,000 soldiers, Murtha said.
It also requires reports on the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American
troops and the US relationship with Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi, a
one-time ally accused of providing secret info to Iran, Murtha
said.

=== Man faces court on terror charges.txt ===
Man faces court on terror charges
An Iraqi man living in AUS made a brief
appearance in a Perth court charged with
conspiracy to murder members of Saddam Hussein's
former ruling Baath Party in Iraq .
Khairallah Al Bunajim was charged with conspiracy
to commit wilful murder in the republic of Iraq.
The 40-yo father of 6 appeared barefoot
before Magistrate Terence McIntyre at the Perth
Court of Petty Sessions. He was not required to
enter a plea and no application for bail was made.
Earlier, Aussie Fed Police (AFP)
commissioner Mick Keelty said Al Bunajim was
charged by the AFP following an investigation by
its counter-terrorism team in W AUS
and NSW, in conjunction with WA police.
The charges related to unnamed targets in Iraq,
connected to the former ruling Baath Party.
Mr Keelty said allegations related to activities
the man had undertaken in AUS for an offence
which would have occurred in Iraq.
It is believed Al Bunajim, who lives in the
southern Perth suburb of Maddington, is an
Aussie citizen.
He was remanded to reappear in court on Aug 9.
More tonight on Nat'l 9 News.

=== Terror war to cost bn Downer.txt ===
Terror war to cost $bns: Downer
AAP 
The war on terrorism could cost bn of
dollars and take another generation to win,
FM Alex Downer warned.
Launching the govt's white paper on
terrorism, Mr Downer said Aussies had to
realise that extremist Islamic fundamentalists
wanted to destroy the W world.
An attack on Aussie soil was possible and
no-one could afford to be complacent, he said.
"In time, every Aussie citizen is going to
have to come to terms with the fact that we are at
war," Mr Downer told the Nat'l Press Club.
"The sooner it's realised, the better people will
be able to deal with it.
"Who knows what terrorist outrages, abroad and
even at home, may lie ahead, or how many bn
of dollars will have to be spent before we can
safely say that al-Qaeda and its henchmen have
been contained and eventually defeated?
"It may not happen for a generation."
The white paper outlines the nature of the
terrorist threat facing AUS and the root
causes behind terrorist acts.
But opp'n foreign affairs rep Kevin
Rudd said the 110-page document contained no new
substantial anti-terrorism initiatives and did
nothing to deal with the intel failures on
Iraq, Bali and French terror suspect Willie
Brigitte.
"This is consistent with the govt's
political strategy: talk about nat'l security
all the time, but do not actually do anything
about nat'l security," Mr Rudd said.
Mr Downer rejected suggestions that poverty, lack
of education and chronic unemployment were the
underlying causes of terrorism recruitment.
He said the W world had not done anything to
deserve the terrorism attacks, blaming instead
Islamic idealogues who wanted to impose a brutally
repressive society upon the world.
"Our greatest allies will be those mainstream
Muslims and moderate Muslim leaders and
politicians best placed to assert orthodox values
in the face of fanaticism and stare down terrorist
sympathisers," he said.
Aussie Fed Police Commissioner Mick Keelty
urged Aussies to stay alert, saying
complacency could be the biggest danger.
"Unfortunately, the way the world is today, bad
news and sad news tends to pass very quickly," Mr
Keelty said.

=== Yahoo! News -- Spain Judge 1,000 in Morocco Pose Threat.txt ===
Spain Judge: 1,000 in Morocco Pose Threat
MADRID (AP).
Europe's biggest terrorist threat is Morocco --
seething with as many as 1,000 al-Qaida adherents capable of suicide
attacks and skilled at slipping through the continent's S
gateway, Spain's leading anti-terrorism judge testified Thu.
The impoverished kingdom just a short ferry ride across the Strait
of Gibraltar has about 100 al-Qaida-linked cells that raise money by
dealing hashish, fencing luxury cars and smuggling people into
Spain, Judge Baltasar Garzon told lawmakers investigating the Madrid
train bombings. Most of the 17 suspects jailed in the March 11
bombings, which killed 190 people, are Moroccan.
"They use every means and mechanism, and their activity can even be
initially perceived as ordinary delinquency," Garzon said of the
cells.
"In my opinion it is the gravest problem Europe faces today with
this kind of terrorism."
Garzon said his figures came from police and intel data.
Officials at the Moroccan Embassy could not be reached to respond to
Garzon's allegations. Morocco, too, has done its share of
finger-pointing at Spain since the train bombings, but both
countries have pledged to work more closely against terrorism.
Garzon said his 1st reaction to the train bombings was that
al-Qaida was responsible, not Basque separatists as initially
claimed by the govt. He cited the scale of the carnage and the
level of coordination -- 10 nearly simultaneous blasts from backpacks
full of dynamite and shrapnel.
"The spectacle was absolutely horrifying," Garzon said. "It is
probably the most shocking thing I have ever seen and I hope it is
the last."
Garzon said he had 2nd thoughts when police told him -- in error --
that the explosives were a brand favored by Basque separatists, but
he became convinced the attacks were linked to Islamic extremists
hours later after learning that a van containing detonators,
explosives and a tape with Quranic verses was found nr a rail
station.
"It was like a light bulb going on," Garzon said, referring
specifically to the tape. "I had no doubt whatsoever."
At that point the govt already blamed the Basque group ETA,
and even after disclosing the existence of the tape it continued to
insist ETA was the prime suspect.
Spain's then-conservative govt at 1st backed the US-led
Iraq  war despite fierce opp'n at home,
sending 1,300 troops after major combat ended. After the train
bombings, it feared that word of an Islamic link would doom it in
general elections due in 3 days.
Voters did punish the govt, electing Socialists who opposed
the war and quickly brought the soldiers home.
Garzon testified before the 16-member commission as an expert on
Islamic terrorism after investigating extremist groups in Spain
since 1989.
The Nat'l Court, where Garzon works, is conducting the main probe
of the bombings, but Garzon is not directly involved. The separate,
legislative inquiry is aimed at examining the govt's handling
of the massacre and whether it could have been averted through
warnings from intel agencies.
Last month, Garzon completed an eight-y investigation that led to
indictments against 41 al-Qaida suspects, including Osama bin Laden
, accusing him and a dozen others of preparing the
Sept. 11 attacks.
Morocco was hit by a string of terrorist bombings on May 16, 2003,
killing 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers. One of the main
targets was a Spanish restaurant and social club, and 4 of the
victims were Spaniards.
Moroccan authorities blamed al-Qaida and reacted with a crackdown on
fundamentalist suspects, arresting more than 5,000 people, although
most were released. But 700 remain behind bars and 17 face the death
penalty, which has not been imposed in Morocco since 1993.
After the Madrid bombings, Moroccan authorities insisted they had
warned Spain about one of the key suspects, a Moroccan named Jamal
Zougam.
There also is a recent history of ill will between the countries:
there have been disputes over fishing rights, illegal immigration
and territorial claims that nearly led to a military clash in 2002.
Garzon said Thu the Spanish govt's support for the Iraq
war was probably only one factor leading to the terrorist attack.
Islamic cells have been present in Spain since the early 1990s, and
Muslims in N Africa maintain a historic claim to the Spanish
territory that the Moors ruled for 800 y and called al-Andalus,
Garzon said.
Al-Qaida has struck other countries since Sept. 11, including
Indonesia and Turkey. For Spain, he said, "maybe it was just a
question of time."

===
Man faces Iraq 'terror' plot charge
Mick Keelty ... terrorism charge laid in Perth. 
xxx
An Aussie citizen of Iraqi descent living in Perth has appeared in
court on a charge of conspiracy to commit wilful murder in Iraq.
The  Perth  Magistrate Court was told 40-yo Khairallah Albunajim
had  made a financial transaction to Iraq to facilitate the murders of
a number of people, all members of the former ruling Baath Party.
WA  police allege that between Mon and Wed this wk, the man
and other people in Iraq plotted to commit the crimes.
Albunajim,  looking  tired and confused, was not required enter a plea
and  made  no  application  for  bail.  He  was remanded in custody to
reappear on Aug 9.
Aussie  Fed Police Commissioner Mick Keelty says Albunajim has
been living in AUS "for a number of years".
Commissioner  Keelty says the allegations relate to activities the man
has undertaken in AUS for an offence that would have occurred in
Iraq.
"He  ...  has been charged under the WA criminal code for
conspiracy to murder," Commissioner Keelty said.
"It's  an  unnamed  target  in Iraq to do with the former ruling Baath
Party  but  the important thing here is that the matter's now going to
go  before  the  courts,  so  I  really don't want to go into any more
detail than that."
PM John Howard says he cannot comment on the case but says
it  illustrates  AUS  cannot  be  complacent  when  it  comes to
terrorist threats.
"It  is  a reminder that the terrorist threat is alive and well and we
have  no  reason  to imagine that things of a serious nature could not
occur in AUS," Mr Howard told S Cross Radio.
"I've  said  that  repeatedly.  I hope I'm wrong, I hope it never does
happen,  we  all  hope  it  never  happens.  We  cannot  afford  to be
complacent."
The  man  was  arrested  in  a  three-agency  operation  overnight and
Commissioner    Keelty   has   praised   the   work   of   AUS's
counter-terrorism teams.
"It's  important  to  say that the work of the joint counter-terrorism
teams,  which  are located in each and every jurisdiction in AUS
between  the  AFP  and  the  state and territory police, continues and
continues to be quite successful," he said.
Fed  Police  and  the W Aussie Major Crime unit arrested
Albunajim at his home in the Perth suburb of Maddington last night and
also seized documents and a computer hard drive.
Neighbour, Joanne Clark, says Albunajim and his family were very quiet
and  kept  to themselves and she was very surprised when the house was
raided.
"About 6.30 pm [AWST] it started, I went to bed about 10 and they were
still here," she said.
"It's scary, very scary being so close. It's terrible isn't it."
Police also searched a home in a SYD suburb of Yagoona.

===
Aust, Indonesia probe Perth man's JI links
Aussie and Indonesian authorities are investigating a former Perth
man  accused  of  having  links to terror organisation Jemaah Islamiah
(JI).
Abdul  Rahim Ayub, who is a dual Aussie and Indonesian citizen, is
believed to have left AUS for Indonesia after his Perth home was
raided by ASIO.
It is understood he is one of several people still under investigation
by the Aussie Fed Police (AFP).
Reports  says  he  has  been  found  in  W  Java  and questioned by
Indonesian authorities.
AFP  Commissioner Mick Keelty could only say he was aware of Mr Ayub's
connections to Jemaah Islamiah.
"The  difficulty  we  have is that we have to prepare evidence against
these  people under mutual assistance treaties and seek extradition so
its important not to rule things in or to rule them out," he said.
"Simply to say that there are a number of on-going investigations that
we  continue  to  do  of  people  who  have lived in AUS who are
currently in Indonesia."
PM John Howard has said he is aware of the case but would
not comment further.
"According to the A-G, and I don't want to add to what he
said,  there has been a questioning of this man and investigations are
being pursued and at the moment," Mr Howard told S Cross Radio.
"We don't have anything more to say."

<<< AIDS >>>
<<< HEALTH/DISEASE >>>
===
More bird flu outbreaks in Vietnam
Bird  flu  is suspected of spreading to an eighth province in Vietnam,
but  officials have insisted fresh outbreaks of the disease were under
control.
Veterinary  officials  in the S coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung
Tau  said  100s  of  chickens  and  ducks  had  died since July 6,
particularly in and around the town of Vung Tau.
Blood  samples  from  the  dead  poultry  were  sent  last wk to the
southern  regional  veterinary  dept in Ho Chi Minh City to test
for the presence of the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu.
The results were yet to be released.
If  presence  of  the virus is confirmed, Ba Ria-Vung Tau would be the
eighth  province  to  be  affected  by bird flu after the govt's
highly  criticised  March  30 declaration that the country was free of
the disease.
The  announcement,  which  came just 15 days after the disease claimed
its 16th fatality, prompted charges from internat'l disease control
experts that Hanoi was acting prematurely and recklessly.
The  World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned it could take y to
eliminate the virus from the environment.
New  outbreaks  have  also  been reported in the S Mekong Delta
province  of  Tra  Vinh,  one  of the 7 provinces confirmed by the
govt to be facing a recurrence of the disease.
Local veterinary officials said 1000s of quails had died since the
end of June, with the Cang Long district among the worst affected.
3  districts  in  Can  Tho province, also in the Delta region, are
also tackling fresh outbreaks.
Provincial  authorities have ordered the setting up of isolation zones
around  the  areas  of  infection,  the  state-run  Quan  Doi Nhan Dan
newspaper reported.
According  to  the  latest report from the Min of Ag and
Rural  Development,  more  than  35,000  chickens and ducks and 13,000
quails  have  been  infected,  culled  or have died as a result of the
virus since Apr.
However,  ministry  rep  Bui Quang Anhinsisted the situation was
under control.
"Vietnam  is  able to control the return of the bird flu epidemic," he
told the Tuoi Tre newspaper.
Besides Vietnam, Thailand and China have also reported fresh outbreaks
in recent weeks.
--AFP

===
Toddler resuscitated after 5 hours
By Kirsten Aiken in London
A  Brit  hospital  has brought a two-yo boy back to life more
than 5 hours after his heart stopped.
The  operation  on  the  toddler  who  was found unconscious in a pond
lasted 7 hr and is Brit's longest successful resuscitation.
It  has  been revealed the two-yo fell into a pond during the UK
winter last Dec.
The seasonal conditions have been credited for his survival.
Doctors  say  the  cold  water  prompted his body temperature to drop,
freezing  his  vital  organs  and  preventing him from suffering brain
damage.
The boy's father says he is more lively now than before the accident.

<<< POW >>>
=== People's Daily Online -- Captors give Saudi firm 48 hr to leave Iraq.txt ===
Captors give Saudi firm 48 hr to leave Iraq
People's Daily
Kidnappers of an Egyptian truck driver gave his Saudi firm 48 hr
to leave Iraq or face the execution of the hostage, pan-Arab
al-Jazeera satellite TV said Thu.
"They said they would give another 48 hr in order to be sure (of
the company's leaving) before carrying out the execution,"
al-Jazeera quoted a statement from the Nat'l Islamic Resistance
as saying.
The Saudi firm, called Faisal bin Ali al-Nuheit, said Wed it
was ready to evacuate Iraq to save the life of its Egyptian
employee.
Mohammed Gharabawi, 42, who has worked for the firm for 8 y,
was abducted while transporting fuel to Iraq about 2 wk ago.
The Saudi firm said Sun it had offered 15,000 USDs in
ransom for the release of Gharabawi instead of 1 mn dollars
demanded by the kidnappers.

=== KRT Wire  07-15-2004  U_S_ soldier details Afghanistan interrogation tactics.txt ===
KRT 
US soldier details Afghanistan interrogation tactics
WASHINGTON 
Soon after he arrived at Afghanistan's Kandahar
Airfield in Dec 2001, Army Sgt. 1st Class Chris Mackey
discovered that the training he and his fellow interrogators had
received at the army's top intel school was useless in
persuading supporters of al-Qaida and the Taliban to talk.
The captives easily rebuffed the textbook approaches taught at Fort
Huachuca, Ariz. Confident that Americans would treat them with
restraint, 100s of prisoners simply repeated the same
implausible cover stories. They'd come to Afghanistan to live a
purer Islamic life. They were looking for a good Muslim bride. They
were studying the Koran.
They said they couldn't remember names, dates or places.
The creative use of props and psychological ploys yielded some
breakthroughs. But as the m wore on, the men and women of Task
Force 500 were forced to acknowledge an ugly reality.
"The harder we were on the prisoners, the more likely they were to
tell the truth," recalled Mackey, a 30-yo tax accountant who
ended up supervising interrogations at Kandahar and at the Bagram
airfield outside the Afghan capital of Kabul while serving as a
reservist during the 1st half of 2002.
Citing ongoing investigations, the Army has refused to discuss the
role its interrogators played in the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison
in Baghdad or the deaths of 2 detainees at Bagram after Mackey's
group left.
Mackey's account of his 7 m in Afghanistan provides a rare
insider's look at how US interrogators struggled to balance humane
treatment of prisoners with demands from Pentagon officials to
produce intel that could prevent another terrorist attack or
help soldiers on the battlefield.
While Mackey insists that no prisoner was ever mistreated, he admits
Task Force 500 gradually embraced methods such as sleep deprivation
and stress positions that have been condemned by human rights
organizations and the US State Dept.
The interrogators who replaced Mackey's team at Bagram went even
further.
"What was an ending point for us, was a starting point for them,"
Mackey writes in "The Interrogators: Inside the Secret War Against
Al Qaeda," a 484-page memoir of America's Afghanistan war that he
co-authored with Greg Miller, a LA Times reporter who spent
two wk with the task force at the Bagram.
(Mackey is a pseudonym. The authors said they didn't use real names
of soldiers and prisoners.)
Most members of Task Force 500 left Afghanistan by the end of Aug
2002 after they'd trained replacements from the 519th Military
Intel Battalion (Airborne) from Fort Bragg, N.C. Members of
the 519th were later sent to Abu Ghraib.
Capt. Carolyn A. Wood, who succeeded Mackey at Bagram, went on to
supervise interrogators at the Iraqi prison. Army officials said she
introduced the same rules of engagement for interrogators in Iraq
that she'd used in Afghanistan.
Mackey said he doesn't believe that the use of "monstering" -- or
sleep deprivation -- by interrogators at Bagram "in any way presaged
the behavior of the MPs at Abu Ghraib." Those MPs, military
policemen, "truly were monsters," he wrote. Since the scandal broke
in May, 7 military policemen who served at Abu Ghraib have been
charged with abuse and other crimes.
But Mackey acknowledged that interrogators and military policemen in
US-controlled prisons in Afghanistan and Iraq found themselves
subject to "the gravitational laws of human behavior" that take hold
when one group is given absolute control over another. "Every
impulse," he wrote, "tugs downward."
Mackey said he and other interrogators resisted adopting more
abusive methods because they were afraid of the consequences of
violating the Geneva Conventions. The conventions prohibit violence,
torture and cruel, degrading or humiliating treatment.
Even after Pres Bush announced in Feb 2002 that the
conventions would not apply to captured members of al-Qaida, the
interrogators continued to regard the rules as "sacrosanct," Mackey
said.
Soon after the group's arrival at Kandahar, a sergeant was
reprimanded for making a prisoner kneel in a "stress position" with
his arms outstretched in front of him.
But as wk went by and prisoners continued to stick to outlandish
stories, the interrogators increasingly felt like dupes, Mackey
said.
In mid-Feb, he said, soldiers uncovered an instruction manual
from one of al-Qaida's training camps for resisting interrogation.
While the manual warned fighters of the torture techniques they
could expect in countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, it
advised them to bait American captors into a physical confrontation
so they could complain of mistreatment.
The interrogators fought back with their own deceptions. They
dangled the possibility of release, or, conversely, threatened to
turn a prisoner over to the Afghan govt or another regime
known for abuse. When Mackey and other interrogators were
transferred to Bagram in May 2002, they became adept at spreading
rumors among the local population. At one point, an interrogator who
spoke impeccable Arabic pretended to be an Arab colonel from a Gulf
country known for torture who was accepting custody of some of the
prisoners.
But while some prisoners succumbed to such ruses, others continued
to resist. Interrogators tried to manipulate their meal times and
sought other methods.
"One of the MPs came up with the idea, 'Hey these Arabs are
terrified of dogs, you should bring in some dogs'," Mackey recalled.
He vetoed the idea, but finally decided to use sleep deprivation --
provided that the interrogator assigned to the prisoner wasn't
sleeping, either. He also approved stress positions as a form of
discipline for misbehavior, but not for non-cooperation with
interrogators, a distinction he believes kept the group in accord
with the Geneva Conventions.
John Sifton, a researcher from Human Rights Watch, said he believes
the treatment at Kandahar and Bagram was worse than Mackey admitted.
"Many of the detainees we interviewed had credible and consistent
testimony about being beaten during interrogation," Sifton said.
Human Rights Watch published some of those accounts in a report last
March.
Miller, the co-author, said he quizzed Mackey and other
interrogators about the allegations. "They all strenuously deny that
those things happened while they were there," he said.
It's clear from testimony before Congress that interrogators who
followed Mackey in Afghanistan made even more aggressive use of
sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation and environmental
manipulation. But how far they went remains unknown.

===
Bulgaria scrambles for news on hostages in Iraq
(Reuters).
Bulgaria is desperately seeking to identify a Bulgarian hostage killed
by militants in Iraq and to establish the fate of a 2nd man after a
deadline for his threatened execution expired overnight without news.
A  US  military rep in Baghdad said a headless body dressed in
an  orange jumpsuit had been found in the Tigris River, but it had not
yet been identified.
Video  tapes of foreign hostages in Iraq have often shown them wearing
orange  jumpsuits, which are typical of US jails and associated around
the world with images of Muslims detained at Guantanamo Bay.
FM  Solomon  Passy  told  reporters: "We are trying (to
identify   the   body)  by  all  possible  means,  by  DNA  tests  and
fingerprints etc. The moment we have info we will inform you".
His  deputy,  Gergana  Grancharova, told Reuters fingerprints from the
body were being sent to Bulgaria.
Mr Passy was deeply pessimistic about chances for the 2nd kidnapped
Bulgarian.
Both  men  were  driving  trucks delivering cars to the N Iraqi
city of Mosul when they were abducted on June 27.
"The  chances  for  the  salvation of the 2nd Bulgarian hostage are
diminishing with every minute," the minister said without elaborating.
Bulgaria,  which  has  stood  firm  in  its pro-US policy on Iraq, was
shocked by news that one of the 2 captives had been killed.
Al Jazeera television said on Tue a video of his execution was too
gruesome to air.
The  Arab  TV  refused  to  hand  over the material but said Bulgarian
officials  were  welcome to come to the station's offices and view the
tape.
"We  cannot  for  professional and legal reasons hand over the tape or
copy  of  raw  material  we  did  not  use on our screens," Al Jazeera
rep Jihad Ballout said.
The  group  of  kidnappers  led  by  suspected Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi  said  last  Thu  they would kill the 2 men -- Georgi
Lazov,  30, and Ivailo Kepov, 32 -- unless US-led forces released Iraqi
prisoners.
After  the  demand  was made, Bulgaria launched a desperate diplomatic
battle to rescue the men, contacting Arab leaders and appealing to the
militants through Arab channels.
But  the  new  NATO  member  held its ground on policy, saying its 470
troops in Iraq would stay as long as they were needed.

===
More abuse cases uncovered in Iraq
More evidence of abuse is emerging, according to a US Sen. 
(AFP).
A snr US Sen says new cases of alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners
by  US  soldiers  have  been  uncovered,  3  m after US media
broadcast  photos  of  detainees  being  sexually  humiliated  at  the
infamous Abu Ghraib prison.
"We're  still  uncovering,  as  late as this morning, other incidents,
other  cases  that  will be promptly investigated by the Dept of
Defence,"  Senate  Armed  Services Committee chairman John Warner said
after  his  panel  was  briefed by Pentagon officials in a closed-door
meeting.
Sen  Warner,  a  Virginia  Republican,  said  there  were possible
violations  of  the Geneva Convention and Defence Dept rules and
regulations on prisoners.
However,  a  Republican  congressional source speaking on condition of
anonymity  said  the  Pentagon  was  "dragging its feet and intends to
postpone   any  hearing  until  after"  the  Nov  2  presidential
election.
"There's a lot of frustration over here," the source told AFP.
Sen Warner said the Pentagon officials briefing the committee also
showed  the  senators 24 confidential documents from the Internat'l
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The  papers  are part of an ICRC report on prisoner treatment in Iraqi
jails  written  before  the  scandal  broke  in  Apr,  when US media
released photos of abuse committed at Abu Ghraib.
Sen  Warner  has  held  3  hearings  on Abu Ghraib and Defence
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has testified before the committee.
The  Sen  said  his  panel's next public hearings would be held in
Sep at the earliest.

<<< SADDAM >>>
<<< IRAQ >>>
=== Boston_com -- News -- World -- BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) Iraq's interim PM said Thu he__.txt ===
xxx
Boston Globe
BAGHDAD (AP) 
Iraq's interim PM said Thu he expects
insurgents to strike harder in the coming wk and announced the creation
of an intel service designed to combat terrorism.
PM Iyad Allawi's comments to The Associated Press came amid a
spate of new violence, including a car bomb Thu that killed 10 people
and wounded 40 others. Also, a decapitated body wearing an orange jumpsuit
was found in the Tigris River, possibly that of a foreigner taken hostage.
Allawi said militants aiming to undermine Iraq's new govt are
determined not only to kill civilians and soldiers but also to destroy the
nation's infrastructure in a campaign of sabotage.
"Whether it's electricity, oil, water, hospitals, roads, bridges, this is
a clear sign that the terrorists are so evil that they are not only
satisfied by hitting the targets, and killing and inflicting loss of life,
but also (causing) destruction," he said.
Iraq's new govt has talked increasingly tough about cracking down on
insurgents. It passed emergency laws giving Allawi broad powers to combat
violence; police have conducted sweeps of terror suspects in Baghdad and
other cities.
Those actions may have spurred militants to launch their series of attacks
in recent days, Allawi said.
"They know that they should not give us a chance to rebuild our
capabilities security, police and the army. So they want to undermine our
efforts," he told AP, sitting in front of the red, green and white Iraqi
flag.
They will "hit harder in the wk ahead, and maybe even m ahead."
Scores of people have been killed in suicide bombings, shootings and
roadside assaults since the transfer of sovereignty from US occupation
officials to the interim govt June 28. At least 71 Iraqis and 38
US troops have been killed since the handover.
Militant groups also have taken several foreign contractors hostage,
threatening to kill them if their govts did not withdraw troops or
meet other demands. Several hostages have been beheaded, including US
businessman Nicholas Berg.
The headless body that Iraqi police found Thu in N Iraq had
not been identified. US and Bulgarian officials were investigating
whether it belonged to a Bulgarian hostage that militants affiliated with
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said they killed Wed.
Allawi accused insurgents of trying to push the internat'l community
out of Iraq and appealed to foreign govts to stand fast. Iraq's
fledgling security force is deeply dependent on 160,000 US-led
multinat'l troops for help maintaining order.
"We hope and wish that all civilized countries and the internat'l
community, our neighbors and brothers in the Islamic world, close ranks
really to fight terrorism, because God forbid any place they gain or they
win is a disaster for the world on a global level," Allawi said.
He added that sabotage against oil installations and pipelines has cost
Iraq $1 bn over 10 days, funds needed for rebuilding from the
devastation of war and y of sanctions.
As he lashed out at insurgents, Allawi also mentioned his efforts to win
over ordinary Iraqis. He said he met with tribes and resistance fighters
from the restive city of Fallujah on several occasions.
"We spoke very openly to them, and we told them that there is one thing
that is going to prevail in Iraq and that is the rule of law. And we are
not going to tolerate any problem that is going to touch the lives of the
Iraqi people," Allawi said, speaking English in the interview with
Associated Press Television News.
About 150 militants fled Fallujah in recent days after people there let
them know they were no longer welcome, he said. "We hope other people
will do the same."
At a press conference earlier Thu, Allawi announced the creation of a
new intel service the General Security Directorate dedicated to
defeating the insurgency.
It "will annihilate those terrorist groups, God willing," he said.
Allawi provided few details but said the new service would not rely on
"elements" of Saddam Hussein's feared intel agency. He left open
the door to call on former officials not responsible for grievous crimes
under Saddam.
The creation of such an intel unit was a logical step for the new
govt to succeed, said Anthony Cordesman, an Iraq expert with the
US-based Center for Strategic and Internat'l Studies.
"If it cannot create such capabilities, it cannot act as a govt,"
he said.
But Jeremy Binnie, Middle E editor for Jane's Sentinel Security
Assessments magazine in London, dismissed Allawi's announcement as
"rhetoric to boost his standing with Iraqis, and also the US public, to
demonstrate he is the right man for the job and he's the right man to
stabilize Iraq."
Allawi said an expected amnesty for insurgents would be announced next
week. He reiterated his govt's plans to restore the death penalty
suspended during the US occupation to punish militants.
"We need some sanctions that are up to the scale of those crimes,"
Allawi said in his govt's defense.
The PM also announced that he would make his 1st foreign
tour as PM to nearby Arab countries, including Egypt and Saudi
Arabia.
Allawi spoke amid an intense wave of violence, some of it targeting his
17-day-old govt.
A car bombing nr police and govt buildings in the W city of
Haditha killed 10 people and wounded 40 Thu morning. The attack came
a day after a bombing in Baghdad nr the area housing govt offices
and the US Embassy killed at least 10 people.
Also Thu, Gunmen opened fire on a car belonging to Iraqi FM
Hoshyar Zebari, killing one official and wounding 2 others.
Zebari was not in the vehicle. A day earlier, insurgents ambushed a convoy
transporting provincial Gov. Osama Youssef Kashmoula, killing him and 2
guards.
Int Min Falah Hassan al-Naqib, with Allawi at the news
conference, said the govt had arrested terrorists and criminals in
the cities of Mosul and Baghdad in recent days.
Iraq's sparsely patrolled borders, which foreign fighters are accused of
exploiting to enter the country, have not yet been secured, but the
govt was working with the armed forces to change that, he said.
"We have organized crime and we have terrorism. We are working against
the two," he said. "You will seem some great results soon."
Al-Naqib said at least 15 al-Qaida linked operatives had been arrested and
were being questioned by police.

=== BBC NEWS  Middle E  Iraqi PM vows to crush insurgents.txt ===
Iraqi PM vows to crush insurgents
BBC 
Allawi has made restoring security his priority
Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi has vowed to destroy insurgents
behind a wave of deadly attacks in Iraq.
Mr Allawi unveiled plans for a new intel unit, which he said
would "annihilate those terrorist groups".
Hours earlier, a car bomb exploded nr the main police station and
govt offices in the Iraqi town of Haditha, killing at least 10
people.
Police apparently thwarted a 2nd car bomb in Karbala, while
northern and S pipelines were attacked.
Security measures
The PM announced the new intel unit, the General
Security Directorate, at a news conference in Baghdad.
"We are determined to bring down all the hurdles that stand in the
way of our democracy... terrorism will be terminated," he said.
The formation of the unit is the latest in a series of steps aimed
at wiping out militants behind attacks that have killed 100s of
Iraqis in recent months.
Last week, Iraq announced tough new security measures, including the
right to impose martial law and curfews, set up checkpoints and
detain suspects.
On Wed, at least 10 people were killed and about 40 were
injured when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad -- the deadliest attack
since the new Iraqi govt took office just over 2 wk ago.
Mr Allawi said he suspected the blast was in retaliation for his
govt's security measures.
The BBC's Middle E analyst Roger Hardy says the PM
has been quick to try to assert his authority and convince Iraqis
that security is his top priority.
Mr Allawi said he would begin a tour of the Middle E next wk to
open a "new chapter" in relations between Iraq and its neighbours.
Car chase
The bombing in Haditha appeared to have targeted the police station,
with at least 3 officers among the dead, officials said.
The blast damaged several buildings in the town, which lies 200 km
NW of Baghdad on the main road from the Iraqi
capital to the Syrian border.
Violence has also flared in other parts of the country.
Police in the S city of Karbala said a car bomb exploded
overnight about 500 mn from a base where Bulgarian soldiers are
garrisoned.
Officers said they chased the vehicle after receiving a tip-off that
it was carrying explosives. The occupants detonated the charges when
they realised they were surrounded.
Bulgaria is awaiting news of a Bulgarian hostage after a deadline
for his execution passed. Militants beheaded the man's colleague on
Mon.
A rocket attack in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the N killed
four people, believed to be members of the same family, while
reports from Ramadi, W of Baghdad, say 5 Iraqis died in a
gunfight with US forces.
The pipeline running from Kirkuk to the Turkish port of Ceyhan has
been set ablaze, halting exports, officials said.
Police in the S reported that saboteurs had drilled holes in a
key pipeline nr Basra.

=== Gulf Daily News.txt ===
60,000 Iraqis 'employed in rebuilding projects'
BAGHDAD
Gulf Daily News
Nearly 60,000 Iraqis are working on 100s of US
reconstruction projects as part of the $18.4 bn package
appropriated last y to rebuild war-ravaged Iraq, a snr
US official said Tue.
"People do not see the construction work easily, but it is
happening with nearly 30,000 to 60,000 Iraqis working everyday
on reconstruction projects," said Admiral David Nash, director
of the Project and Contracting Office (PCO) which is executing
the reconstruction package.
"We have about 1,200 projects already underway of the total
2,300 projects." Nash was touring a large waste treatment
project yesterday being executed under the supervision of the
US army.
"We are reworking our plan on such projects so that large
numbers of Iraqis can be employed helping them to stand on
their feet economically," said Nash, who was welcomed by
nearly 2,000 Iraqi labourers.
"Wherever possible we are using large manpower rather than
heavy machinery so that more Iraqis are employed," he said.
The waste treatment project itself was estimated to cost
around $22 mn.
Brushing aside criticism that the PCO office was moving too
slowly, Nash said the complexities of nearly 2,300 projects
will take sometime before work becomes visible.
"I do not agree to this criticism. These are complex things
and executing 2,300 projects is a complex task. We are moving
as fast as we can and our goal is to help the people of Iraq,"
he added.
The US has already signed commercial contracts
worth more than $6 bn through June out of the $18.4 bn package
appropriated last y.

===
Iraqi FM security chief killed in attack
(AFP).
The  head  of  security  at Iraq's FM'y was killed and two
other  officials  wounded when gunmen attacked their convoy travelling
north  on  the  road from Baghdad to Kirkuk, a snr Kurdish official
said.
The  ambush  occurred  at about 3.30 pm local time close to the town of
Al-Audhaim, 130 km N of Baghdad, as unidentified gunmen in
a  grey  Opel  sprayed  the  convoy  with  bullets, Kamal Karkukli, an
official with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said.
He  said  Idris  Karim  Ramadan  was  killed  and  2 others injured,
including a cousin of FM Hoshyar Zebari.
The officials were on their way to Arbil, the KDP's stronghold.
"This  a  cowardly  act  by elements of the former regime to liquidate
Kurdish officials," Mr Karkukli said.
Mosul  governor  Ussama Kachmula and 2 of his bodyguards were gunned
down  by  4  attackers  on  Wed while traveling from Mosul to
Baghdad.

<<< IRAN >>>
<<< AFGHANISTAN >>>
<<< KOREA >>>
=== More N_ Korean Bombs Likely, U_S_ Official Says (washingtonpost_com).txt ===
More N Korean Bombs Likely, US Official Says 
washingtonpost
North Korea is likely to be producing nuclear bombs even as it
conducts negotiations with the US and 4 other
countries on ending its weapons programs, the snr US official
responsible for those talks told Congress yesterday.
"Time is certainly a valid factor in this," said James A. Kelly, the
assistant secretary of state for E Asian affairs, during
testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We don't
know the details, but it's quite possible that N Korea is
proceeding along, developing additional fissionable material and
possibly additional nuclear weapons."
Although N Korea has asserted that it has produced weapons-grade
plutonium since the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear programs began
20 m ago -- and though US intel analysts broadly
believe that the number of nuclear weapons held by N Korea has
increased from 2 to at least 8 during this period -- it is
highly unusual for a snr Admin official to concede
publicly that N Korea's stockpile may be growing.
After 4 negotiating sessions with N Korea and its neighbors
since Apr 2003, Kelly said, it "is clear we are still far from
agreement." The 1st round included China and later expanded to
involve S Korea, Japan and Russia.
Democrats on the committee scolded the Admin for waiting
too long to present N Korea with a detailed proposal for ending
the crisis. At the most recent six-nation talks, held in Beijing
last m, the Admin proposed that once N Korea
declares it would end its programs, US allies such as S Korea
could provide immediate energy assistance.
North Korea then would have 3 m to disclose its programs
and have its claims verified by US intel. After that, the
US would join in providing Pyongyang with written
security assurances and participate in a process that might
ultimately result in the normalization of relations.
"The bottom line is that we now confront a much more dangerous
adversary than we did in 2001," said Sen Joseph R. Biden Jr
(Del.), the ranking Democrat on the panel. He accused the
Admin of adopting a policy of "benign neglect" even after
learning that Pyongyang had a clandestine nuclear effort, and then
taking "more than 2 y to resolve its internal divisions and
settle on an approach for dealing with N Korea."
Under questioning, Kelly made it clear that improving relations with
North Korea would take much more than the dismantling of its nuclear
programs. In particular, he said, N Korea would need to improve
its human rights record.
"We're not looking to bribe N Korea to end its nuclear weapons
state," Kelly said. "We see this as a very important objective, but
then we have made clear that normalization of our relations would
have to follow these other important issues. And human rights is
co-equal in importance, perhaps even more important, than
conventional forces, chemical weapons, ballistic missiles, matters
of that sort."
In response to the Admin's proposal, N Korea has
demanded immediate assistance from the US once it freezes
its programs. Kelly said the Admin is still studying the
North Korean proposal, which he called vague.
He told lawmakers that the Admin does not consider the
security assurances a "reward" or a benefit that could be claimed by
North Korea as a US concession.

<<< ISRAEL/PAL >>>
=== Israel announces barrier changes.txt ===
Israel announces barrier changes
AP 
Israel will spend $US11.1 mn ($A15.36
mn) to change completed portions of its W
Bank barrier, building new roads, underpasses and
tunnels in an effort to ease Palestinian
conditions, Def Min officials said.
The planned alterations come after 2 legal
setbacks for the barrier. Last week, the
Internat'l Court of Justice in the Hague,
Netherlands, declared the barrier to be illegal
and recommended that it be dismantled.
A wk earlier, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered
the army to change the route of the barrier in a
30 km stretch nr Jerusalem, saying it was causing
too much hardship on the local Palestinian
population.
Israeli officials said this wk that they would
be rerouting the planned 680 km barrier to adhere
to the Supreme Court ruling. The changes announced
by the Def Min are part of that effort.
Israel has refused to recognise the Hague ruling,
saying the court has no authority to deal with the
issue.
Israel began building the barrier -- a complex of
walls, trenches and razor wire -- 2 y ago. It
is about 1/4 complete. The total cost of
the project, set for completion next y, is
estimated at more than $US1 bn ($A1.38
bn).
Israel says the structure is needed to keep
Palestinian militants from entering Israel. But
the barrier dips into the W Bank, cutting off
farmers from their lands, hindering travel between
towns and drawing Palestinian accusations that
Israel is trying to redraw its borders.
Israel captured the W Bank in 1967. The
Palestinians hope to establish an independent
state in the W Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Def Min'y officials, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said there are no plans to
remove existing portions of the barrier. Instead,
it will build new roads, tunnels and underpasses
to facilitate Palestinian travel. The officials
did not say when the changes would be completed.
Near the W Bank town of Tulkarem, Palestinians
have to travel through a large, tedious checkpoint
that can hold people up for hours. A new road that
will run under the barrier will lead to the
elimination of the checkpoint, the officials said.
In addition, the ministry plans to invest more
money in buses for children who have been cut off
from their schools by the barrier and rely on
Israeli-funded transportation to get to and from
school, the officials said.
As new portions are built, the Def Min'y is
making sure that Palestinians are not cut off from
lands, fields and nearby towns, the officials
said.
Cartographers are currently remapping the unbuilt
portion of the barrier to bring it closer to the
so-called "Green Line", the unofficial frontier
that existed between Israel and the W Bank
before the 1967 Mideast war.
The barrier is a crucial part of PM
Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from all Gaza
Strip and 4 W Bank settlements. Sharon hopes
to complete the pullout next y.
The army has arrested 2 female Palestinians in
the W Bank town of Jenin. The army did not say
why the arrests were made.

=== NPR People -- Eric Westervelt.txt ===
NZ unsatisfied with Israel's spy row response
2 Israeli men jailed for passport fraud. 
(AFP).
NZ PM Helen Clark says she is not satisfied with
Israel's response in a diplomatic row over 2 alleged Israeli spies,
despite the Jewish state saying it will do all it can to restore
relations.
Yesterday, Ms Clark suspended high-level and foreign ministry contacts
with Israel and blocked a visit by Pres Moshe Katsav scheduled for
Aug.
She told public radio that comments by Israeli FM Silvan
Shalom on the searing dispute had been conciliatory in tone but fell short
of the apology her Govt has demanded.
"The quote I just heard said they were very sorry about the decision we
have taken, which of course falls somewhat short from saying that you're
sorry for what you did," she said.
She earlier said she had no doubt the 2 men were spies, but they had not
been charged with espionage because it would have been difficult to supply
sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Uriel Zoshe Kelman and Eli Cara were arrested on March 23 and pleaded
guilty last m to charges including fraudulently attempting to obtain a
NZ passport as well as being part of an organised criminal gang.
Auckland's High Court sentenced them to 6 m in jail and ordered
them both to pay $NZ50,000 to charity.
Mr Shalom said that Israel regretted the decision by Wellington to block
high-level contacts.
"Israel has a long tradition of excellent relations with NZ, and
we will do everything necessary -- together with the NZ Govt
- to restore relations," he said.
"Of course, we regret this response, but we think this decision is a
decision that can be fixed."
He did not confirm or deny that the 2 arrested men were agents of
Israel's Mossad spy agency.
Lawyers Stuart Grieve and Grant Illingworth, who acted for the two,
claimed there had been a Govt-backed campaign to portray the men as
spies, at the same time as they were facing charges in court.
"What we have faced is something absolutely unprecedented in the history
of our legal system," Mr Illingworth said.
"There has been a complete media circus, fuelled by allegations by some
nameless, faceless Govt officials who in my view have deliberately
tried to prejudice the whole judicial system."
Mr Grieve added: "The primary plank was that these people are Mossad
agents, there was no way we would have got a fair trial."
FM Phil Goff denied this.
"It was vitally important that we kept out of the story until after the
sentencing," he said.
He said the evidence of guilt had been overwhelming: "For heaven's sake,
they pleaded guilty".
Meanwhile, vandals smashed 16 Jewish headstones in Wellington's Bolton
Street cemetery and smeared a swastika on the ground.
NZ Jewish Council president David Zwart said the attack was
linked to the row.
"I think there is a direct connection between the very strong expressions
against Israel and people here feeling they can take it out on Jews, it
seems to me it is Israel bashing one day, Jew bashing the next."

===
Israel hopes to resume NZ ties
2 Israeli men have been jailed for passport fraud in NZ.
xxx
By Mark Willacy in Jerusalem and agencies
Israel's   FM   says   his  country  will  attempt  to
re-establish diplomatic ties with NZ.
New  Zealand  has  imposed  diplomatic  sanctions  on Israel after two
alleged Mossad agents were jailed in Auckland.
An  Auckland  court jailed Uriel Kelman and Elisha Cara for 6 m
for trying to fraudulently obtain a NZ passport.
Both men deny any links with Israel's spy agency Mossad.
In  response  to  the case, NZ PM Helen Clark has
announced the suspension of diplomatic ties with Israel.
Ms Clark says she wants an explanation and apology.
She  also says there are strong reasons to believe the men were acting
on behalf of Israel's intel services.
Israel's  FM, Silvan Shalom, has described NZ's
move as regrettable, saying he will do everything necessary to restore
relations.
"Israel has a long tradition of excellent relations with NZ,"
he told public radio. "We will do everything necessary -- together with
the NZ Govt -- to restore relations.
"Of  course  we  regret  this response but we think this decision is a
decision that can be fixed."
Ms  Clark says it is a sorry indictment on Israel that it has breached
its relationship with a friendly country.
"We  regard  it  as totally unacceptable that a country with which New
Zealand has long had friendly relations would attempt to undermine our
law and sovereignty in this way," she said.
She  says the case represents "far more than simple criminal behaviour
by 2 individuals".
She  adds that the activity "seriously strained our relationship" with
Israel and warns "no approach by Israel to intervene in the sentences"
would be entertained.
The  row  has  ended  any  prospect  of Israeli Pres Moshe Katsav
visiting NZ as planned next m.

===
Labor says 'friendly' spy talks crucial
2 Israeli men have been jailed for passport fraud in NZ.
xxx
The  Fed  Opp'n says the apparent unmasking of Israeli secret
service  operatives  in  New  Zealand highlights the need for a proper
exchange  of  info  between  the  intel organisations of
friendly nations.
2  alleged  Mossad  agents  were  jailed  for 6 m in Auckland
yesterday for attempting to fraudulently obtain a passport.
Labor's  rep  for homeland security, Robert McCLelland, says the
Opp'n  will seek a briefing from the Govt on what inquiries
have  been  made  about  the  issue  in  AUS  and what they have
revealed.
Mr   McCLelland  says  he  expects  that  Foreign  Affairs  Dept
officials  have  spoken  to  the  Israeli ambassador on a confidential
basis.
"I  know no admissions are being made as to whether these fellows were
or  weren't  Mossad  agents but nonetheless at least on a confidential
basis such briefings should be occurring," he said.
"All  countries  are entitled to be reassured that no attempts will be
made to breach our own security, in particular passport systems."

===
Jewish headstones smashed in NZ
By NZ correspondent Gillian Bradford
A  day  after  NZ downgraded its diplomatic ties with Israel,
vandals  have  smashed  a  group  of Jewish headstones in a Wellington
cemetery.
Jewish leaders believe the events are linked.
The  marble  headstones  were  in  an  isolated  part of an inner-city
cemetery.
16 have been smashed and staff say they are not able to fix them.
The vandals also painted swastikas on the ground.
New  Zealand's  Jewish  Council  president,  David Swart, believes the
vandalism is linked to the jailing of 2 Israeli spies.
Mr Swart says Israel-bashing one day turns into Jew-bashing the next.

===
Hamas militant killed in shoot-out
A  local  cmdr  of  the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been
killed  by  Israeli troops in the W Bank city of Hebron Palestinian
security sources said.
Malek  Nasser  Eddin, 35, was killed in the house where he was hiding,
the sources said.
The  Israeli  Army confirmed that its troops had killed a wanted Hamas
militant in Hebron.
He  had  engaged  troops  in a gun battle lasting more than 2 hr,
before being killed as he attempted to flee, the military said.

<<< SYRIA >>>
<<< KASHMIR >>>
=== 1 -- Number One News Resource of Pakistan -- The News -- Jang Group.txt ===
Violence in held Kashmir must stop: Armitage
Says no pressure on Pakistan to send troops to Iraq;
hints at selling hi-tech equipment to Islamabad
ISLAMABAD
The News, Pak
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has emphasised
that all kinds of violence should be stopped in held Kashmir so that the
people of the area can live peacefully and that is the US policy.
The visiting US official made this observation while addressing a joint
press conference along with For Sec Riaz Khokhar here Thu.
Responding to a query about his statement in New Delhi that Pakistan has
still not dismantled terrorist camps in Azad Kashmir and how he viewed the
state of human rights in held Kashmir, Armitage replied: "I was correctly
quoted yesterday, when I just noted that all terrorist camps have not been
dismantled" in Pakistan. But it has to be noted that there are lots of
different kinds of violence, some across the LoC, other indigenous. It all
must be stopped so the people of Jammu and Kashmir can have a prosperous
life and prosperous future and that is US policy," he said.
Specifically on the condition of human rights in held Kashmir, the
secretary replied: "There is absolutely no question that there is violence
and violation of human rights in Kashmir. We have discussed this with our
Indian friends". Islamabad, however, maintains that even during the talks
between the 2 sides, it apprised Armitage that the view about the camps
was an Indian one and that no such camps existed today.
Armitage said Washington has made no requests to Islamabad to send its
troops to Iraq. He said the appointment of Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir
Qazi, as the UN Special Representative to Iraq did not signify that
Pakistan would be compelled to send its troops to Baghdad. "It is for
Pakistan to decide. I will have to say that the appointment of Ashraf Qazi
is a great tribute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he observed. Riaz
Khokhar said there was no pressure on Pakistan to send its troops to Iraq,
as there had been no request to do so.
The US deputy secretary made it clear that unlike in the past, when Pak-US
cooperation was based on a 3rd party, this time this relation would
certainly move forward. In this regard he said that during his talks with
Riaz Khokhar it had been pointed out that Pakistan wanted the US to speed
up the process of giving it equipment so that it was better placed to
fight the war against terror. "We will look into it and only recently we
have delivered some helicopters. We will step up the gap and help as much
as we can to take care of the security situation in Pakistan," he said.
However, when asked specifically as to what more Washington was prepared
to do in this regard, he replied that he could not remember all the items
requested by Islamabad. "We were provided a list by Pakistan and my
colleagues are reviewing it. The secretary in our talks has asked us to
speed this up and we are looking into it," he added.
When asked whether the US would sell Pakistan advanced weapon system, he
said it depended on what the needs of the Pakistan military were. "We will
consider such a request from Pakistan Army but I have not come here with
any decision", he replied.
Armitage described Pakistan as a great friend. He said: "Our relationships
are enduring... now our relationship is not temporary." About his apology
to former Indian Def Min George Fernandes, who had been
strip-searched twice by US immigration officials, Armitage stopped short
of a sincere apology to the same abuses dealt to Pakistani officials, some
even travelling with Pres Pervez Musharraf on an official trip.
However, he was apologetic about any inconvenience caused to any
distinguished guest from Pakistan, adding that the US was trying its best
to make its borders more open but secure.
Armitage said that the US was busy in trying to send back prisoners at
Guantanamo Bay to their countries of origin. He was asked whether the US
needed help from its partners in the war against terror to speed up the
process of interrogation so that Pakistani prisoners in Guantanamo Bay
could return home. In this regard, he said some Pakistanis had returned.
He said the US was doing the best it could and those people who did not
have any great deal of info would return soon.
Armitage said the State Dept had not given a licence to its
ambassador in Kabul to continue hurling allegations against Pakistan. "We
have given no licence to anyone. The ambassador's responsibilities are in
Kabul and he looks at the situation in a very narrow way while we see the
total view," he clarified.

<<< INDIA/PAKI >>>
<<< SRI >>>
<<< INDON >>>
<<< TIMOR >>>
<<< ZIMBABW >>>
<<< PNG >>>
<<< INTERNAT >>>
=== Yahoo! News -- Canada's Yukon allows gays to marry.txt ===
Canada's Yukon allows gays to marry
The Supreme Court in the Canada's Yukon Territory ruled
that the common-law definition of marriage limited to a man and a
woman is "wrong and discriminatory."
Another Canadian jurisdiction said 'yes' on Wed to marriage
for same-sex couples. The Supreme Court in the Yukon Territory ruled
that the common-law definition of marriage limited to a man and a
woman is, according to Judge Peter MacIntyre, "wrong and
discriminatory."
Judge MacIntyre ordered the Yukon govt to change the
definition of marriage to "the voluntary union for life of 2
persons, to the exclusion of all others."
The judge read his decision to a packed courtroom. The couple
contesting the old law, Stephen Dunbar and Rob Edge, have been
fighting to marry since Jan, when they 1st applied for the
license at the vital statistics office.
When that office turned the couple down, Dunbar and Edge appealed to
the Yukon Human Rights Commission, and in June took their case to
court. Through the A-G, the Fed Govt had
recommended that the couple go ahead with the church wedding, but
get the marriage license retroactively once Parliament passed a
fed marriage amendment. Legal analysts said that process could
have taken up to 2 y. Justice MacIntyre ruled that it was
"legally unacceptable" to delay the license. The couple said getting
a license retroactively didn't feel right.
"It would have felt like a hollow marriage," Dunbar said in a press
conference after court. He told the press he and his partner will be
legally married this Sat.
"Our wedding this Sat will be one of the most important days of
our lives, symbolic of the commitment we feel for each other and
wish to demonstrate to our friends, our family and our community,"
Rob Edge said. "It's an odd feeling to be explaining that to others.
Hopefully someday nobody will question why same-sex couples want to
marry."
Brit Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and now the Yukon all allow gay
couples to marry. The Fed Govt has asked the Supreme Court
of Canada for an opinion on the proposed fed legislation to
legalize marriage for gay couples across Canada. In this past
election, PM Paul Martin pledged his support for the
fed legislation.
Advocates for marriage equality, like Laurie Aaron, the director of
advocacy for Egale Canada, said this latest ruling should put the
rest of Canada on notice and that marriage for all of Canada's gay
couples should be legal.
"This ruling sends a message that govts across the country
must now accept the Charter right of same-sex couples to marry in a
civil ceremony," said Arron. "It is simply unacceptable to maintain
the fiction that capacity to marry, which is fed law, is
different from one province or territory to the next."
If you'd like to know more, you can find stories related to Canada's
Yukon allows gays to marry.

===
Woman to stand trial over invented anti-Semitic attack
A  French  woman  who  falsely  claimed  she  was  the  victim  of  an
anti-Semitic  attack  has been ordered to stand trial for reporting an
imaginary offence.
The  23-yo  woman  prompted  anger  throughout  France  when she
reported she was attacked by a group of Africans while travelling on a
Paris train.
She  claimed the 6 men cut her hair and her shirt, drew swastikas on
her stomach and accused her of being Jewish before pushing her and her
child over.
Pres  Jacques  Chirac  said  he  was  horrified by the attack and
announced new measures to combat racism.
But  the woman known as Marie admitted inventing the story when police
quizzed her about why no witnesses had come forward.
She will face court this m for reporting an imaginary offence.

===
Doco exposes racial hatred in Brit far-right party
A  BBC  documentary  has  exposed  violence  and  racial hatred in the
far-right Brit Nat'l Party.
The  program  has  undercut  the  party's attempts to cultivate a more
moderate image.
The  BBC program shows one BNP candidate describing how he assaulted a
man  during  the Bradford Riots 3 y ago -- kicking and punching
him and then leaving him bleeding on the ground.
It  shows  another  telling  the  room how all he wants to do is "kill
Pakis".
And  BNP leader Nick Griffin is filmed addressing the meeting of party
candidates  at  last m's local elections, telling them to stand up
to the wicked vicious faith of Islam.
In  recent  years,  the  BNP  has  switched  from racist rhetoric to a
platform  of  law and order and family values and its vote has been on
the rise.
Nick  Griffin  says he has been selectively edited in the documentary,
but  the program is now being examined by the W Yorkshire police to
determine if any offences have occurred.

===
China bans abortion based on baby's gender
(AFP).
China  says it will strictly ban selective abortion of female foetuses
in  an  attempt  to  reverse  a  disastrous  imbalance in the ratio of
newborn boys to girls.
The  latest  statistics in China show that 119 boys are born for every
100 girls, the official Xinhua news agency reports.
A normal newborn sex ratio is 103 to 107 boys for 100 girls.
Senior  family  planning official Zhao Baige says the Govt plans
to reverse the imbalance by 2010 by banning sex-selective abortion and
launching  campaigns  to  end  the tradition of valuing boys more than
girls.
"Any individual or medical organisation offering illegal sex-selective
abortion  services  will take legal responsibility," Xinhua quoted her
as saying.
Dr  Zhao  blamed the imbalance on the traditional preference for boys,
which  remains strong in the countryside despite campaigns emphasising
sex  equality,  and  a  poor rural social security system which forces
people to become dependent on their children in old age.
Pres  Hu  Jintao this y said that bringing China's newborn sex
ratio back to a normal level had become one of the country's important
goals in the coming 10 y, Xinhua reported.
The  arrival  of new technologies, especially ultrasound scanning, has
made  it  possible for Chinese couples to know the sex of their unborn
baby and, in many cases, have an abortion if it it a girl.
Strict  population  policies  have  made matters worse, as couples are
usually  allowed  to  have only one child, or 2 at the most in rural
areas.
The  gender imbalance has led to warnings that mn of Chinese men
will  be  unable to find partners in coming decades and led to a major
problem with trafficking in women and children.

<<< AUS >>>
===
Fed MP to lead Liverpool shops protest
Fed Labor MP Julia Irwin will lead a protest against the New South
Wales  Govt  today,  over  the state's refusal to allow a retail
centre in Liverpool to remain open to save 450 jobs.
Prem  Bob  Carr yesterday ruled out changing planning laws to allow
the  Orange  Grove  Centre  to  stay  open,  saying it would set a bad
precedent.
But  Ms  Irwin,  who  is  the  Labor  MP  for  Liverpool, says the NSW
Govt has done it before.
"I've  lived  in the area for many years, the people know what I stand
for," she said.
"When  I  feel  they're getting the raw prawn, as we say in Aussie
terms, I will stand up for my people."
The  62  businesses  in  the  centre  are  preparing  to sue Liverpool
Council,  alleging  it  wrongly  approved the development in the first
place.
They  say  they  are  facing  losses  of up to $20 mn and a class
action is being prepared if the Govt does not change its mind.

<<< AUS.market >>>
===
'Don't panic' over prices, home owners told
Property prices have dropped in SYD and MEL.
xxx
The  Housing  Industry  Association  says  home  owners  need  not  be
concerned about the latest figures showing a drop in house prices.
The Reserve Bank says data from a number of industry sources indicates
house  prices fell nationwide in the 1st and 2nd quarters of this
year.
The  drop follows quarter point interest rate rises in both
Nov and Dec, taking rates to 5.25%.
The RBA has looked at data from a variety of industry sources and says
house  and  apartment prices have fallen nationwide since the Dec
quarter.
The  biggest  falls  have  been  in  SYD and MEL, while other
capital cities have shown mixed results.
Bris  has  seen  a  smaller  price  fall, while data for Adel,
CBR  and  Perth  suggest  price  rises  but they were modest ones
compared with the strong increases seen until late last y.
Housing Industry Association economist Simon Tennent says while prices
on the whole have turned, the market is still very segmented.
"Most  of  the  falls  at  the  moment are concentrated in very select
markets in SYD and MEL," he said.
"If  we get out of those 2 large cities, we can see continued growth
in  regional  AUS  and  we  certainly  see  continued  growth in
Adel and Perth.
"It's still a 'don't panic' thing for consumers. They've enjoyed three
years of plus 20% growth, so clearly the forecasts are not for
a house price crash but for a house price cooling."
The  Real  Estate  Institute of AUS blames says the high cost of
construction facing renovators is the main reason for the price drops.
Ian  Wells  from  the institute in NSW says buyers who are
purchasing  to  renovate  are  faced with high costs from builders and
other tradesmen, turning them away from the market.
Mr  Wells  says  a number of other factors are also at play, including
seasonal   influences   like  the  cooler  climate,  when  prices  are
traditionally weaker.
He  says  the  falls  are concerning as the economy is very strong but
says the institute expects housing prices to pick up in spring.
Analysts  expect  the  RBA  to  lift rates again before the end of the
year.

===
PBS secure despite trade deal: Vaile
Trade  Min  Mark  Vaile  says  the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS)  remains  secure  despite concerns about a review mechanism that
has  been  put  in  place as part of the free trade agreement with the
US.
Mr  Vaile  has welcomed the US Senate's passing of the agreement by an
overwhelming majority vote.
He  says the review mechanism for medicines that are rejected from the
scheme will not be an appeal process.
Mr  Vaile  says  it is impossible for US drug companies to pump up the
prices of medicines on the Aussie market.
"The pharmaceutical industry is a big and powerful lobby in the United
States, it is a big and powerful lobby in AUS," he said.
"We  resisted  a  lot  of  those  pressures  during  the course of the
negotiations,  so  we  can maintain the very well structured system we
have in AUS."

<<< AUS.interest >>>
<<< AUS.econ >>>
<<< AUS.jobs >>>
<<< AUS.storm >>>
<<< AUS.road >>>
<<< AUS.water >>>
<<< AUS.climate >>>
<<< AUS.indig >>>
<<< AUS.immigration >>>
<<< AUS.telco >>>
<<< AUS.def >>>
=== Navy missile upgrade approved.txt ===
Navy missile upgrade approved
AAP 
A $550 mn missile upgrade for 4 RAN
frigates was approved by the fed govt.
Def Min Robert Hill said under the
upgrade AUS's Adel-class frigates would
be fitted with longer-range area air defence
missile systems.
The outmoded missile systems on HMAS Darwin,
MEL, Newcastle and SYD will be upgraded
with SM-2 missiles.
Sen Hill said the high-tech missiles had a
range of more than 50 nm [90 km] and performed
better against anti-ship missiles and aircraft.
He said the SM-2 missile, or its derivative, would
also be incorporated into AUS's future air
warfare destroyers.
"The upgrade will significantly extend the range
of the area air defence region and provide greater
potential for target intercept and destruction -- a
major capability boost for the Navy and a great
asset for potential coalition operations," Sen
Hill said.
The equipment, which went through a stringent test
program with the help of the US Navy, will be
installed in AUS.
Sen Hill said the dept was also pursuing
Aussie industry involvement in the equipment's
repair and maintenance and the making of
components.

<<< AUS.terror >>>
<<< AUS.health >>>
===
NSW Health defends girl's surgery cancellations
There  are  claims this morning that the NSW public health
system in the state's SE has failed a 10-yo girl.
Towamba woman Sheryl Kirby says her daughter Emily was scheduled for a
uretic  transplant  operation  at  the  Bega  District Hospital on six
separate occasions over the past 4 y.
But she says on each occasion the surgery was cancelled.
She  says her daughter has lived with the pain and scarring of urinary
tract  infections  and  she is not sure what permanent damage may have
been caused.
Ms  Kirby  claims she did not make a fuss because she felt intimidated
and bullied by medical staff.
"The  excuses  I  were  given range from the doctor was on holidays to
other  times when I called to be told that Emily's been taken off that
particular   surgery  schedule  because  cancer  patients  have  taken
priority over her," she said.
"I  was  told  --  pretty  much  bullied  I  believe -- I felt very much
intimidated,  I'd  get off the phone feeling, you know, that I'd got a
slap on the wrist."
But  S  Area Health rep John Mortimer, who is the medical
administrator   for  the  Bega  Valley,  says  Emily's  operation  was
cancelled just 4 times.
He says this was because of cancer patients having a higher priority.
"18  m  on  the  waiting  list for Emily Ann's condition is
clinically inappropriate and she shouldn't have to wait that long," he
said.
"The  difficulty  for  Bega  Hospital is that they only have a certain
amount  of  operating  time and resources to manage such patients, and
waiting time has exceeded 12 m for many patients."

<<< AUS.green >>>
===
Work begins to eradicate yellow crazy ants
The  CSIRO  and  the  N  Land  Council  have  begun  efforts to
eradicate the yellow crazy ant from Arnhem Land.
The  ants  can  spray formic acid which is capable of blinding animals
and people can get it on their hands and then rub it into their eyes.
They are also an environmental and agricultural pest.
The CSIRO says they are one of the world's worst invasive species.
Colonies have already wreaked environmental havoc on Christmas Island,
leading  to  a  decline  of  30% in the island's famous crab
population and threatening a number of other species.
The  CSIRO  wants  to  stop  that  from  happening  again by spreading
environmentally  sensitive baits across 3 quarters of the affected
areas within a year.
The leader of the eradication team, Ben Hoffman, says the project will
depend on the efforts of traditional owners.
Mr  Hoffmann  says  the  local knowledge of traditional owners will be
vital when searching for ant strongholds.
"The  project  would  not  be  proceeding  without the approval of the
traditional owners and the local Yolngu people," he said.
"It  is  the Yolngu people who are conducting the majority of the work
out there and not individual govt organisations."

===
Talks aim to resolve roo cull stand-off
Animal  Liberation and Enviroment ACT are in talks this morning to end
the dispute over a planned cull of 800 kangaroos.
Animal  Liberation  has questioned the Govt's motivation for the
cull of 800 roos along the foreshore of Googong Dam.
After  seeking expert advice, the activists believe it is unrelated to
protecting water quality during the drought.
But  Environment  ACT says the cull is needed to stop pollution of the
catchment.
It  says  there is no grass around the foreshore and the kangaroos are
kicking up dust.
Protesters  disrupted  shooting  on  Tue  night  and  the cull was
postponed for 2 days.
Animal  Liberation  president  Simone Gray says if the talks fail, the
activists are prepared to take direct action.
"We  will  again be at Googong, making sure that no kangaroos or joeys
will be shot," she said.
She says further community consultation will be needed.

===
Democrats say NT more likely for nuclear dump
The  Aussie  Democrats  believe  that the N Territory could
become the home of a low-level radioactive waste repository by default
if the states keep refusing to cooperate with the Commonwealth.
The  Fed Govt has abandoned plans to build the repository in
SA and has told the states and territories they will need
to look after their own waste.
Democrats  Sen  Andrew  Bartlett  says  the  N Territory is
politically  weaker  than  other  jurisdictions and could still be the
site for a nat'l dump.
"I think the territory in particular is especially vulnerable not just
because there's always the prospect of being overridden by CBR in
the  territory,  that  doesn't  apply  in  the  states,  but  also the
territory is politically vulnerable," he said.
"So if all of the states take an attitude which they are at the moment
of  just,  well  we  all  support a nat'l repository but not in our
backyard,  then  the  territory's really at risk of being the one left
holding the garbage."

<<< AUS.edu >>>
<<< AUS.politics >>>
===
Howard 'lies' website denies Labor ties
Political website sparks debate.
xxx
The  anti-Govt  website www.johnhowardlies.com has no connection
with the Labor Party, according to the man whose company hosts it.
Former  state  and  fed  Labor  staffer  Tim Grau says the site is
operating  again  this morning after being taken down yesterday for an
upgrade.
His  public  relations  company, Springboard AUS, has authorised
the site under electoral rules but Mr Grau says it is a project he has
taken on for a group of people who approached him to set it up.
He has denied the site has any connection with the Labor Party.
"The  Labor  Party  has  no involvement in the site," Mr Grau said. "I
have  not  had  any  discussions with anybody in any political parties
about the site, at a staffers' level or at an official level.
"We  were  as  surprised  as anybody that the ALP sent it out in their
newsletter as we were that the Greens have linked it on their site.
"There  is  definitely  no  involvement  of  the Labor Party at all. I
myself  am  not a member of the Labor Party and have not been for many
years."
Mr  Grau  says  that  while his company has electorally authorised the
site, he will not reveal who is behind it.
"That's a relationship between me and the clients," he said.
A  statement  on  the  website also says those behind it have no links
with the Labor Party.
"Contrary  to recent suggestions the site is not run or managed by any
political party," the statement said.
"Nor  have  there  been  any discussion with staff or officials of any
political party about the site.
"Just  like  www.moveon.org and other grassroots Internet sites in the
United  States, we are a growing movement of Aussies saying enough
is enough," it said.
The  statement says Springboard AUS agreed to authorise the site
after  concerns  were  raised  that it could be in breach of electoral
rules, despite initial advice that the authorisation was not required.
The  Special  Min of State, Eric Abetz, says that if Labor has no
connection with the site, it should remove links to it included in its
latest electronic newsletter.
Sen  Abetz says he believes the site may be in breach of electoral
laws.

===
Inquiry examines Vic MPs' travel claims
Upper  House  Vicn  MPs are under investigation over their claims
for travel and other allowances.
Upper  House  president  Monica Gould has ordered a review of payments
made over the past 18 m.
The move was prompted by concerns about travel allowance payments made
to disgraced Liberal MP Andrew Olexander.
He  stepped down from his frontbench portfolios this wk because of a
drink-driving  episode  which also raised questions about his place of
residence.
MPs   whose  principal  place  of  residence  is  28  km  from
MEL's GPO receive an overnight allowance of $107.
Ms Gould is expecting a report on the review next wk.
"I  have released a statement that as a result of recent concerns that
have  been  expressed  about the payment of allowances I have asked my
staff to examine our procedures to ensure that they have been properly
administered," she said.
"In  that  statement I have set out quite clearly the regulation under
which  members  of Parliament are entitled to travelling allowance and
overnight travelling allowance."
Opp'n  leader Robert Doyle believes the review will not highlight
any irregularities involving Liberal politicians.
Mr  Doyle says he has accepted the Mr Olexander's assurances about his
place of resident.
"One  of  the  questions I asked Andrew directly was to assure me that
his primary residence was E Ringwood," he said. "He assures me that
is so.
"That  would mean that he would be eligible to claim such an allowance
in  the  Parliament  but  this  is  something that Parliament actually
offers.  You  don't  even  apply  for  this  -- it is something that is
Parliament's  business  and I would expect all of my members to comply
with the rules."

===
Labor promises extra MRIs for hospitals
The  Fed  Opp'n has promised to provide Medicare licences for
10 new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines in AUS's public
hospitals if it wins the election.
The  Commonwealth  will pay for the services provided by the machines,
while  the  states  will  fund  the equipment, facilities and staffing
needs.
Shadow Health Min Julia Gillard says the machines will be located
where they will strengthen the public hospital system.
"The  difference  between  us and the Howard Govt is where these
machines  are being located and how the sites are being selected," she
said.
"We  believe that they should be located where they can strengthen the
public hospital system, and provide free point of access to people who
need scans.

<<< AUS.av >>>
<<< AUS.police/courts >>>
===
Crown prosecutors visit NT 'e-court'
Crown  prosecutors from around AUS have paid a visit to Darwin's
new "e-court" as part of a conference being held in the Top End.
The  Aussie  Association of Crown Prosecutors is meeting in Darwin
for a two-day conference called "Surviving the Difficult Trial".
Association  president  Mark Tedeschi QC says the N Territory's
prime  example,  of the Falconio case, cannot be discussed because the
committal is still before the courts.
But  he  says  the  delegates  have  visited  the  courtroom which was
modified especially for the case.
"We had a tour through the e-court here in Darwin," he said.
"It's  a  very  impressive  court  system  and  all of the most recent
advances  associated  with  e-courts  that are being introduced around
AUS."

===
Police unsure if girl set on fire
Police were called to Surgeon Park at Minto by witnesses who found a
nine-yo girl with her clothes on fire. 
xxx
Police  say  they are unsure whether a nine-yo girl who suffered
serious  burns  in  an  incident in a SYD park yesterday was set on
fire deliberately or it was an accident.
Police  are searching for 2 teenagers who were seen leaving the park
at Minto in SYD's W at the time, possibly wearing masks.
Witnesses say they heard a girl screaming in Surgeon Park about 2.30 pm
yesterday and then saw that the nine-yo was on fire.
Police  say  2  women  put out the flames and administered 1st aid
until ambulance officers arrived.
The  girl  remains  in Westmead Hospital this morning in a serious but
stable condition, after suffering burns to 40% of her body.
Police  say they have interviewed 5 witnesses but they are not sure
whether the girl was set alight deliberately.
Officers  are searching for the 2 teenagers, who they believe may be
able to shed light on how the girl caught alight.
Some witnesses told police the teenagers were wearing masks.

<<< AUS.general >>>
<<< GREEN >>>
<<< GLOBAL WARMING/CLIMATE >>>
<<< SCIENCE/TECH >>>
=== Yahoo! News -- Hawking Changes His Mind on Black Holes.txt ===
Hawking Changes His Mind on Black Holes
LONDON (AP).
After almost 30 y of arguing that a black hole swallows
up everything that falls into it, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking
backpedaled Thu. In doing so, he lost one of the most famous
bets in recent scientific history.
The world-famous author of a "Brief History of Time" said he and
other scientists had gotten it wrong -- the galactic traps may in
fact allow info to escape.
"I've been thinking about this problem for the last 30 y, and I
think I now have the answer to it," Hawking told the Brit
Broadcasting Corp's "Newsnight" program.
"A black hole only appears to form but later opens up and releases
info about what fell inside. So we can be sure of the past
and predict the future."
The findings, which Hawking is due to present at the 17th
Internat'l Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation in
Dublin, Ireland, on July 21, could help solve the "black hole
info paradox," which is a crucial puzzle of modern physics.
Exactly what happens in a black hole -- a region in space where
matter is compressed to such an extent that not even light can
escape from its immense gravitational pull -- has long puzzled
scientists.
Black holes occur when a massive star burns up its nuclear fuel and
gravity forces it to collapse in on itself, and the enormous weight
of the star's outer layers implodes its core. The crushing force of
gravity prohibits nearly all light from escaping and nothing inside
can be glimpsed from the outside.
The star virtually disappears from the universe into a point of
infinite density, a place where the laws of general relativity that
govern space and time break down.
Hawking has devoted most of his life to studying these questions.
Initially, cosmologists believed the holes were like a cosmic vacuum
cleaner, sucking up everything in their path.
Hawking revolutionized the study of the holes when he demonstrated
in 1976 that, under the strange rules of quantum physics, once black
holes form they start to "evaporate" away, radiating energy and
losing mass in the process.
Under this theory, black holes are not totally "black" because the
vacuum of the imploding star lets out very tiny amounts of matter
and energy in the form of photons, neutrinos and other subparticles.
By conjuring up this so-called "Hawking radiation," the Cambridge
mathematician, who is paralyzed by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
also created one of the biggest conundrums in physics.
These particles, he said, contained no info about what has
been occurring inside the black hole, or how it formed. Under his
theory, once the black hole evaporates, all the info within
would be lost.
But now, according to his latest revision, Hawking argues that
eventually some of the info about the black hole can be
determined from what it emits.
The info has important philosophical and practical
consequences.
"We can never be sure of the past or predict the future precisely,"
he said. "A lot of people wanted to believe that info escaped
from black holes but they didn't know how it could get out."
Hawking did not elaborate on the BBC program how the info
could be extracted from the black hole.
Curt Cutler, from the Albert Einstein Institute in Golm, Germany,
which is chairing the meeting in Dublin, told New Scientist magazine
that Hawking asked at the last minute for permission to address the
conference.
"He sent a note saying 'I have solved the black hole info
paradox and I want to talk about it,'" Cutler said.
If Hawking succeeds in making his case, he will lose a bet that he
and theoretical physicist Kip Thorne of the California Institute of
Technology made with John Preskill, also of Caltech.
The terms of the bet were that "info swallowed by a black
hole is forever hidden and can never be revealed."
Preskill bet against that theory.
The forfeit is an encyclopedia, from which Preskill can recover
info at will.

===
Hawking in black hole backflip
(Reuters).
Cosmologist  Stephen  Hawking  has  had  a change of heart about black
holes,  saying the galactic traps from which not even light can escape
may not be quite so terminally destructive after all.
The  author of A Brief History of Time now believes some "info"
sucked  into  black holes escapes over time, contradicting some of his
most famous work on the phenomenon.
Professor  Hawking  will  present  his latest findings at a scientific
conference  in  Ireland  next wk, New Scientist magazine says, after
asking at the last minute to speak.
Black  holes  are  formed  when  massive stars collapse from their own
gravity.  The  black holes' pull was then thought to be so strong that
nothing could escape.
The  idea  has  fascinated  astronomers  since  the late 18th century,
bringing  to  life  images  of  unimaginably  strong cosmic whirlpools
sucking up space matter and consigning it to oblivion.
In  the 1970s, Professor Hawking said that once a black hole formed it
lost  mass  by  radiating energy, known as "Hawking radiation", but it
contained  no  info  about  the inside matter and once the hole
evaporated, all info was lost.
This  however,  created  a  paradox, since the laws of quantum physics
assert that such info can never be completely wiped out.
Professor Hawking responded that the gravitational pull of black holes
was so strong that it unravelled the laws of quantum physics.
But  that  argument  failed  to  convince  sceptics  in the scientific
community.
He will now argue that the black holes never quite shut themselves off
completely  and,  as  they emit more heat, they eventually open up and
release info.
The  possible  solution  to  the  paradox has sent waves of excitement
through the physics community.
"[Hawking]  sent  a  note  saying:  'I  have  solved  the  black  hole
info  paradox  and  I  want  to  talk  about  it,'"  conference
organiser and physicist Curt Cutler told New Scientist.
"I  haven't  seen a preprint [of the paper]. To be quite honest I went
on Hawking's reputation."
Gary Gibbons, an expert on black holes, attended a recent seminar held
by Professor Hawking at Cambridge University where he outlined his new
findings.
"It's  possible  that what he presented in the seminar is a solution,"
Gibbons told New Scientist.
"But I think you have to say the jury is still out."
Professor  Hawking, who is almost entirely paralysed and confined to a
wheelchair  as a result of motor neurone disease, made his name with A
Brief  History  of  Time,  which  has  sold more than 5 mn copies
worldwide.

<<< ODD/MISC >>>
<<< BOT >>>
{{
1 am
a court in taliy has ruled part of Ital'y immigration laws
violate human rights
the law intro'd last y allow judges to expel immigrants from
Italy without appeal

un undercover investigation has found the brit nat'l party
is full of racists
video recordings  of men  who had stood
in local elections for the BNP
admitted beating up asians
in the bradford race rioyts
and others saying the wanted to kill muslims
the party says the men will be dismissed and face an internal tribunal
under race hate laws some of the men could face 7 y in jail
while party reps denie racism, they complain you shouldn't be
put in jail in Brit for speaking the truth

mikhail khodorkovsky has appeared again in court
he and a co-defendant face charges of setting up
a phoney company to fraudulently obtaining  shares
during the privatisation of Russia's oil resources
pentaly 10 y jail term

9 am
a 40 yo perth man faces terrorism charges
he allegedly planned a terroist attack in iraq
to kill members of the old saddam regime
he arrived from iraq several y ago
police raided his home and seized documents and a computer hard drive

won't say what's missing 
but clearly sensitive
work has stopped at los alamos labs after top secret data went missing
leading centre for nuke research
beleived to be first time such work suspended
2 storaged devices reported missing last wk from
from "weapons physics directorate"
beleived to be CD's
UCal says investigation is on-going
now conducting detailed inventory
will take several days
staff allowed into plant under escort only
a rep said from now on
all electronic media will be moved to secure libraries ASAP
60 y to the day after the US exploded the first atomic bomb
close to the site of the labs in NM
2 m ago classified material disappeared
later officials say they belived it had been destroyed
after a series of embarassments, the management of the lab 
has been put up to open bidding

Midday
The  Philippines  says  it  will withdraw the head of its force in Iraq  and  10 other members of the contingent on Fri as part of efforts  to  secure  the  release of a Filipino hostage. 

The  White  House says the US-led coalition in Iraq remains strong despite  the  Philippines'  decision  to  withdraw  its 51 troops.  

Israel's  FM  says  his  country  will  attempt  to re-establish diplomatic ties with NZ. 

A  day  after  New  Zealand  downgraded  its  diplomatic ties with Israel,  vandals  have  smashed  a group of Jewish headstones in a Wellington cemetery. 

brit labour has been hit by a voter backlash in 2 by-elections
labour has lost the liecster election
held by labour for much of last 50 y
in the 2nd in birmingham
labour won, but with hugely reduced maj
won by 560 votes
fpormerly 4000
urban and asian popn should be safe labour
both had comfortable maj in last election
iraq seems to have been a factor
lib dems have come from 3rd place last time
they made much of their oppn to the war
and the intel report
tories did even worse than labour in both
slumping to 3rd place behind Labour and Lib Dems

40 yo man due to appear in perth court on terroism charges
arersted 7 pm last night perth time
he was invoilved in financial transaction this wk
to provide money to people in iraq to do murders
unvestigations into victims
beleived to be members of baath party
mick keelty says offense in aus for crimes to be performed in iraq
charges laid under wa law
not under fed terrorism law

oil pipeline hit
300,000 bpd to turkey

headless body found in a street beleived to be an executed hostage

pm allwai vowed to crush the forces of evil
new security dirtectory would infiltrate and anahillate the insurgents
they would respect human rights and not make arrests without a judge

a car bomb was intercepted by police in karbalah
it exploded, but only the bombers were killed

guatmo
officials denie either aussie was abused
they say the prison complex is nothing like abu grahib
it's not a combat zone, and the guards have better training
the head interrogator 
steve rodriguez
says the prison sticks to the gudless
set down by the sec of def
but rummy has allowec for sleep deprivation and other "stress techniques"
[of course, the claims included the ausitralians being handed over
by us authorities to other parties for interrogation before
they arrived at guatmo. habib was reportedly interrogated in egypt,
and hicks at baghram AFB, afghanistan].

LCD screens are set to fall 20%  after a deal between
Sumsung -- the largest producer of LCD screens -- and SOny
50,000 panels pm
40 in or larger
produced by both companies
tooling up to meet demand
will become standard
FLCD reps say the final target is $US10 each -- 10% of the present cost

beijing considering rationing electricity
staff use stairs instead of lifts
controlled blackouts
factories ordeed to close at peak times
the 3 gorges only in early stages of development

negative start
all ords
nab buying after 2 days of loses
shares come back a little 28.45
other banks lower
copper miners up after jump on wall st after mexico strike
all ords up 7 3535
profit warning from pfizer
dow down 1.2%
nokia warning down 2 pts
ftse down 32
nikkei down 83 tech worries
hs up 5
aud 72.12 lost ground against most
gold down slightly
oil unchanged

a pal boy who was suicide bombber
15 yo
isr solderis ordered him to remove bomb
now, 4 m on
he's in high security prison
i become a martyr and go to my god
better than being a singer or footballer
one reason was my friend was killed
the would-be killer says he did it partly to get out of school
my parents forced me, and i didn't fell like going
his mother says people who gave hime the bomb took advantage of
him becauyse he was young and weak
he will spend several y in jail
and then wants to go back to work in his father's shoip

in thialnad
bird flu has shown up in 9 provs
the pm says it's all from the original re-emegence last m
40,000 birds already culled 

1 pm
the netherlands has gone onto orange alert
the govt says it's in response to threats from OBL
against countries with troops in Iraq and arab countries
but no-one seems to know what the alert system means
Dutch police are mystified
they say they found out about it in the newspoapers
and aren't sure what they're required to do 
they can't ID terrorists coming at the aiport simply by sight, reps say
the govt has called on the population to be aware and alert
but experts say the public should generally stay just stay calm
and not try to help

a senate report finds
a wash based bank helped pinochet hide $8 mn
and assets after he was arrested on crimes against humanity
hid name of account holder
1.6 mn trasferred from london to us
bank also hid accounts from investigators for 2 y

un says will seek custody of us soldier said to have deserted to
nk more than 30 y ago

6 pm
phil has recalled head of mil from iraq
after a nbew tape, the phil govt announced it has speeded
up its withdrawl
it send the wrong signal to terrorists said whitehouse mouth
pm howard said it was a mistake he wouldnt repeat even if
an australia was held hostage
they would incr the intensity of attacks, said the pm
bulgaria govt refused to withdraw
despitre groiwng pressure at home 
after body discovered nr mosul
bulgerian turckdriver

allawi called for neighbours and bothers to close ranks and fight terrorism
so far only malaysia has replied
it said it might send aid if the sitn becomes more stable

6.30 pm
with 87% of vote counted
SBY has 34%
7% clear of megawti
wiranto 4 further back
only 500 polling stns yet to report
megawti and wiraton now face each other in runoff

attempt by isr agents to get false nz passports
priot to arrest in nz one lived in SYD n shore for several y
jewish leaders say it's taken toll in nz
attack on jewish graves in nz is related to
clarke rejects allegstions her comments went too far
we have to take a stand on that
[breaching nat'l soverinty], no matter who the country is said clark

AIDS forum wrapped up in Bangkok
calling for $1 from everyone in world to fight AIDS
sonia gandhi told the conf more needed to be done

leader of BNP says doesn't back away from racist comments
said isalm is wicket and baseless faith
police now investigating whether charges should be bought
after filmed secretly by bbc
he told the cameras he could get 7 y for the comments he was making
nick griffin says the law is an ass
restcitions on free speech
facing the destruction of our civiliation within next few decades

fires burning
10 western us states
as well as  florida
16 homes and business destroyed
500 others threatened
5 firefighters and journalists injured
1 mn fires in alaska
record-breaking dorught is a factor in fire outbreak

worst monsson flooding in se asia for 20 y
n bang
s nepal
and bihar and assam areas of india
many complaining about slowness of govt response
indian mil says gearing up
snakebits claiming lives as well as mudflows and floods
up to 3 mn currently stranded
more rain is forecast

all ords up 6 3533
news corp up .15
nab down .11 to 28.34
at least the pace of decline slowed
other banks also down
NAB down 8.1% over the wk and no buy recommends
marriage counsellors calling for divorce
nik up 29
72.30 aud
wall st becalmed o'night
us economy
good: 2 surveys better than expected improvments
bad: weaker wholeslae prices and manuf production
gold 404.70
oil 40.70
lamb yardings up 19%

aussie weightlifter has lost her appeal
after dodging drug-testers at her gym
she said she fled because they didn't ID themselves and feared for
her safety
should could face a ban up to 2 y
her lawyers said they will appeal

on the day NASA announced the Messenger mission to Mercury
590 mn mission
Aug 2
get there 2011
Mariner 10 went there 30 y ago
Hawkin around then raised the idea that black holes dont let anuthing out
now he says black holes open up and release info
his new theory will be released in full at the end of the m

7 pm
a man has been carhged over the thefgt of rad material from RMIT univ
safe containing rad material
taken from bundoora in break-in on science building
29 yo reservoir man
charged with 2 counts of burg and 2 of theft
will appear in court in sep

hmas brisbane
last of old destroyers
us build ship decomissioned 3 y ago
caught in batlle bewteen qld and fed govt
qld took poss last wed
saw action in 2 wars
2 tours in viet and 1 in gulf war
to be sunk in 200 m of water n of bris

8 pm
PTI is reporting
75 students and teachers killed 100 injure
school
in tamil nadu state
fire broke out in kicthen and spread to thatched classrooms

9 pm
iraq police 2nd corpse
throat slit in organge jumsuit
from r nr mosul
not ID-ed
only say it's westerner

thilanmd has confirmed
PM saus bird flu has reaxchedbangkok
6 more prov
total 15
ruled out vacc campaignm on fears virus could mutate

9.30 pm
ftse up 7
403.50/oz

}}