From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia Reserch Senter(*) OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS #44 =============================== In the Run-Up to World War III, Reliably Reporting the News Relevant to Extreme Right-Wing Democratic Socialists Everywhere (validated for RiteThink(tm) by the Office of Our Man in Can-berra). Visit Our Home Page At: http://www.chickenhead.com/loserscopes/ See the Undeniable Evidence At: http://www.evil-doers.org/evidence This Stuff Blogged At: http://kymhorsell.blogspot.com/ Also Kindly Archived At: http://www.kymhorsell.com/OIL/ [If the 3rd choice doesn't work for you, please whinge on a public forum!] Iraqi Body Count: http://www.iraqbodycount.net/ [3,760+ as at 14 May 2003]. ------------------------------------------------------------ Selecting latest news stories and other data for you... ------------------------------------------------------------ Wed, 14 May 2003. Markets US pulling out of Saudi Conflicting reports over Saudi bomb toll Govt vows Saudi bombers will be brought to justice Saudis link al-Qaida team to attacks Stocks Fall on Worries Over Saudi Attack Israeli soldiers reportedly kill 3 Palestinians US captures another senior Iraqi figure -- report Pyongyang has dozens of nukes, top defector says Amnesty calls for release of children from detention centres Tories turn backs on Thatcher materialism US leads fight against GM ban at WTO CSIRO staff concerned despite $20m funding boost First criminal charges of Internet piracy Torrential rain his SYD for 2nd day Parts of SYD declared "natural disaster area" Teen in custody after school siege Teen forced to pay cop for calling him "fat" Rampaging badger's reign of terror TV so dull, even young avoid it NAB won't deny possible AMP takeover Tourists freed Tankers collide off Korea New fungus threatens Aussie crops Croatian pension, anyone? Crash test dummies No money for maternity leave Fishing spots off limits Unions hit Qld ambo levy Sydney. MARKETS! The ASX lost ground today despite good performances from market heavyweights News Corp and NAB. AMP sank to a new low. At the close the All Ords was down 9 pts to 2,943. Riyadh. US PULLING OUT OF SAUDI! The US has ordered a reduction in its diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia following a suicide attack that killed at least 29 people. US Pres Bush has vowed a relentless campaign to hunt the terrorists down and regime-change their country of birth. He has called a jihad to stamp out any groups such as al-Qaeda, which is blamed for Mon's multiple bombings at housing compounds for foreign workers. The attacks are the first major move on US-related targets since the war in Iraq. Bush says the incident shows Americans they still have a war to fight, and they will fight it and win it. Conflicting reports over Saudi bomb toll Riyadh. A day after the triple suicide bombing in Saudi Arabia, there are conflicting reports about the death toll. US VP Dick Cheney told an audience in California that 91 people were killed in the attacks on 3 compounds housing expatriates in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but US officials were unable to explain how he arrived at the figure. Saudi officials say at least 29 have been killed and more than 200 hundred injured. A SYD man was among the dead while another AUS has been injured. UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan has condemned the attack, and one earlier this wk in Chechnya, saying they are simply vicious acts against religion. A total of 54 people died when suicide bombers blew up a truck packed with explosives outside a pro-Russian govt building in the Chechen village of Znamenskoye. A message received by a Saudi weekly newspaper implied Al Qaeda carried out the bombings in Riyadh, which had been planned for a long time, despite Saudi authorities recently seizing large amounts of arms and explosives. Amid high anti-US sentiment, Riyadh and Washington announced last m they were ending the presence 10,000 US troops, one of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's main demands. Govt vows Saudi bombers will be brought to justice Canberra. The Fed Govt has vowed those who planned this wk's suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia will be brought to justice. At least 29 people were killed in the attacks in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, including a 39-yo man from SYD. The Foreign Affairs Dept says a 28-yo man, also from SYD, was wounded but does not have life threatening injuries. Acting Min for Foreign Affairs, Mark Vaile, says the bombings have all the hallmarks of the Al Qaeda terrorist network, and there are concerns about further attacks. "We have always said that the fight against terrorism would be a long and difficult one, but it is a fight we must be determined to win," he said. "The AUS Embassy in Riyadh is urgently investigating whether other Aussies have been caught up in attack to provide consular assistance to those other Aussies if necessary." Saudis link al-Qaida team to attacks Riyadh (AP). Saudi authorities linked a 19-member al-Qaida team Tue to carnage at 3 foreign compounds in the capital — multiple, simultaneous car bombings that killed at least 30 people, including 8 Americans. 9 attackers were among the dead. Another 194 people were wounded, most of them not seriously, according to Saudi officials; 40 were said to be Americans. In a statement posted on the Saudi Press Agency Web site, the Interior Ministry described the attacks as "suicide operations" and said the 9 bodies found in the location of the explosions were those of "the terrorists." The FBI said it would send agents to join the investigation. Though no one claimed responsibility for the attacks, Sec of State Colin Powell, who arrived in Saudi Arabia for an official visit hours after the blasts, said they had "the fingerprints of al-Qaida." Saudi authorities made a direct connection between the attacks and a May 6 gunfight between police and 19 al-Qaida operatives in the same part of Riyadh where the bombings occurred. The 19 escaped. Among them were 17 Saudis, a Yemeni, and an Iraqi with Kuwaiti and Canadian citizenship. The interior minister, Prince Nayef, said they were believed to take orders directly from Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Authorities confiscated their cache -- hand grenades, 5 suitcases of explosives, rifles and ammunition, as well as computers, communications equipment and cash. At that time, Nayef said al-Qaida was "weak and almost nonexistent." If Mon's bombings were the work of al-Qaida, it would mean that a terrorist organisation that bore the brunt of American military might in Afghanistan is still capable of mounting coordinated attacks, even in one of the world's most tightly policed countries. Nayef, speaking to the daily Okaz, did not rule out the possibility of more attacks. On Mon night, it took the bombers 30 seconds to a minute to get through an iron gate, drive up to the building and detonate explosives, said a snr admin official on the plane of Sec of State Colin Powell. After killing the sentries, the bombers pushed the button that opened the iron gate to the compound. The al-Hamra, Jadawal and Vinnell compounds -- all within 10 miles of each other in NE Riyadh, the last 2 a half-mile apart -- house business executives, oil industry professionals and teachers. Behind their 20-foot walls women need not wear enveloping robes, American and European children ride their bikes in the street, backyard barbecues are common and houses are decorated for Christmas and Halloween. At around 11.30 pm Mon, witnesses reported, there was gunfire and a series of explosions. One witness said he heard 3 explosions: One loud one from al-Hamra and others more faintly from the 2 other compounds. They "went off within 3 seconds, less than 3 seconds, as if it were an echo," he said. It was not clear how many cars were used. A guard at one of the housing compounds told al-Watan newspaper that 7 cars exploded there, all apparently carrying suicide bombers. Facades of 5- and 4- story buildings were sheared off, revealing apartment interiors, their contents swept out by the blasts. One explosion nr al-Hamra's recreation facility left a crater 6 m across. Several cars and 6 or 7 single-family homes within 50 m of the blast were destroyed and debris -- shredded, charred shreds of cars and furniture, melted patio chairs, uprooted palm trees -- was scattered another 25 or 30 m. 7 Saudis were listed among the dead, including Mohammed Abdullah al-Blaihed, a son of Riyadh's deputy governor Abdullah al-Blaihed. The elder al-Blaihed owned the al-Hamra compound. The Saudis said the others who died included 2 Jordanians, 2 Filipinos, one Lebanese and one Swiss. Saudi Arabia has a large population of expatriate workers, including about 35,000 Americans. Late Tue the State Dept said 8 Americans had died in the attacks. 7 American victims lived in a single, 4-story building. Details on the location of the 8th victim were not given. 70 Americans who worked for the Vinnell Corp, a Virginia company with a contract to train Saudi military and civilian officials, lived there; by chance, 50 were away on a training exercise. The 8 deaths are the highest American death toll in terror attacks since Sep 11. 7 Americans were among the more than 200 people killed last Oct in twin bombings in Bali, Indonesia. In a series of e-mails Sat and Sun, a man who said he was the head of an al-Qaida training camp, Abu Mohammed Al-Ablaj, or Mullah Seif el Din, told the Arabic weekly Al Majalla that the group was planning an attack in the Persian Gulf using weapons and ammunition stored there. The operative is also known as Abu Bakr, and his real name is Ali Abd al-Rahman al-Faqasi al-Ghamdi, US officials said. He is a Saudi who is active in al-Qaida's operations in that country. This came after the seizure of the weapons cache in Riyadh. Nayef, the interior minister, said those weapons were to be used to attack the Saudi royal family and American and Brit interests. He told al-Watan that one suspect surrendered in connection with the weapons -- it was unclear when -- and was being interrogated about Mon's explosions. So far he had offered "limited info," Nayef said. Saudi officials almost immediately gave the FBI team permission to participate in the investigation into the bombings. But there has been friction between Saudi and American law enforcement in the past -- in the aftermath of the 1996 Khobar Tower bombings that killed 19 US servicemen, Saudi police would not allow FBI agents to interrogate suspects. There were fears that Mon's attacks were a prelude to more violence. State Dept officials said the American school in Riyadh would be closed and advised Americans to remain at home. Brit advised its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia unless absolutely necessary. In a statement posted on its Web site, the Foreign Office said there remained a "high threat" of further strikes and warned of the possibility of chemical and biological attacks. Stocks Fall on Worries Over Saudi Attack NY (Reuters). Stocks sagged on Tue after deadly bombing attacks aimed at Westerners in Saudi Arabia put investors on guard, putting the brakes on the market following a powerful 2-m stock-buying spree. Just a day earlier, the broad Standard & Poor's 500 index had roared to its highest close since Aug. A downgrade of several semiconductor companies by Merrill Lynch also dampened the mood. But strength in the Internet sector helped stanch the market's losses as some investors, fearful of falling behind, snapped up shares like Amazon.com. The Nasdaq composite index dropped 1.72 points, or 0.11%, to 1,539.68. A day earlier, the tech-packed index hit its highest close since June. The blue-chip DJIA lost 47.48 points, or 0.54%, to 8,679.25. Decliners narrowly outnumbered advancers on the NY Stock Exchange, while on the Nasdaq, advancers beat decliners by a ratio of 16 to 15. About 1.4 bn shares changed hands on the Big Board and more than 1.8 bn were traded on Nasdaq in moderate trade. Israeli soldiers reportedly kill 3 Palestinians Gaza. Israeli forces have reportedly killed 3 members of a Palestinian security service at their post south of Gaza City. 2 others were wounded. Earlier, Palestinian security sources said at least 20 people were wounded during an Israeli incursion into the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Armoured vehicles entered the camp and a nearby village for several hours before withdrawing. US captures another senior Iraqi figure -- report Baghadd. US forces in Iraq have reportedly captured a senior figure in Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. Fedil Mahmud Gharib is number 28 on the Americans' most wanted list of 55 members of the former Iraqi regime. In Washington's deck of most wanted playing cards, Gharib was listed as the 3 of Hearts. Gharib, also known as Gharib Muhammad Fazel, was the Baath Party chairman for Babil District. Coalition forces have now captured 20 of the 55 most wanted. Pyongyang has dozens of nukes, top defector says Tokyo (AFP). A man claiming to be a former N Korean People's Army general who fled the impoverished state last y has told a Japanese publication that Pyongyang secretly imported nuclear bombs from the former Soviet Union and developed dozens of its own weapons. The claims were among details about the Stalinist state's military command and its leader Kim Jong-Il contained in an article in the June edition of the respected Gekkan Gendai (Modern Times Monthly), based on an interview. The general told the magazine that N Korea secretly imported nuclear bombs from the former Soviet Union in 1983 and now has 4 Soviet-made nuclear missiles which, with a range of 8,000 kilometres, could reach the west coast of the US. "The N Korean army even has tens of nuclear weapons it has developed itself in addition to those made by the former Soviet Union," the general was quoted as saying. The 4 nuclear-tipped missiles are stored at an underground site in Potaeri, in Samjiyon district at the foot of Mount Paekdu on the border with China, he said. The article said the general was the "highest ranked" N Korean defector since Hwang Jang-Yop, top ideologue and secretary of the ruling Workers Party, was granted political asylum in S Korea in 1997. The magazine withheld the man's name, rank and other details at his request, using the pseudonym, An Yong-Chol. A Gendai editor told AFP the general was aged around 60 and lives in an Asian country, and that the interview was held in mid-Apr. He declined to say where the interview took place. An claimed to have served in the army for more than 30 y, the last 10 y close to Kim Jong-Il, and had met the supreme leader many times. He told the magazine his former position meant that he continued to get info from N Korea's elite, adding, "I maintain channels with the Kim Jong-Il family." Kim has an "operation team" made up some 120 top cadres from the Korean People's Army and the Korean Workers Party, An said. It is headed by Gen Kim Tu-Nam and includes Vice Marshal Jo Myong-Rok, director of the army's general political dept and Vice Marshal Kim Yong-Chun, chief of general staff. An also said Kim Jong-Il bought more than 20 sophisticated MiG-31 fighters and deployed them nr Pyongyang in 2000. But An's revelations met with a cautious response from analysts here, who said defectors are often keen to inflate their value or distort info for various purposes. Pyon Jin-Il, editor of the Korea Report newsletter, said he could not believe MiG planes had been sold without being detected by S Korea or the US, and with Vladmir Putin in charge in Moscow. Amnesty calls for release of children from detention centres Canberra. Human rights group Amnesty Internat'l is pressuring the Fed Govt to immediately release children from detention centres in the wake of the latest report on detainee children. NSW psychiatrists found that each of 20 detainee children they surveyed had witnessed self-harm in their facility and showed signs of a mental disturbance. Amnesty refugee case worker Alistair Geesays he is not surprised by the findings because Amnesty has documented similar info. "The response we'd like to see is the same as we've been calling for for many years," Mr Gee said. "That children be released from detention immediately within their rights under the convention of the rights of the child and that this be done within their best interests. "Where a few children have been released, there are still over one hundred children in detention." Tories turn backs on Thatcher materialism London (The Guardian). Iain Duncan Smith attempted to bury the Tories' image as the nasty party yesterday when he rejected the 80s "loadsamoney" culture. Casting himself as a post-Thatcherite Tory, Mr Duncan Smith declared that the narrow pursuit of materialism "is not enough" because people have a "shared purpose" to improve the quality of life. Distancing himself from his political heroine, who notoriously declared that there was no such thing as society, the Tory leader said: "Fulfilment of potential is about much more than personal wealth. Lasting fulfilment stems from shared purpose -- building community, raising the next generation and public service. Ultimately, materialism is not enough." Mr Duncan Smith's remarks formed the core of a speech in which he launched a new Tory pledge to deliver "a fair deal for all". Underlining his determination to rebuild Brit "as one nation", Mr Duncan Smith said that a future Tory govt would champion both the vulnerable, who have been "left behind" by Labour, and the middle classes, who have been "held back". But the Tory leader concentrated most of his speech on the middle classes -- the "backbone" of Brit -- as he intensifies his campaign to win back middle Brit voters who have abandoned the party in the past decade. Such voters, "who play by the rules", have been hit by rising taxes and by an ever more powerful state that takes the "easy" option of penalising law-abiding motorists rather than pursuing hardened criminals. Realising people's ambitions will not be achieved "with easy gestures", he added, because Brit needs a totally different kind of govt which combines an enterprising economy with a commitment to excellence in public services. "Just as the creation of wealth is at the root of social security, so prosperity and public services must be placed side by side in harness -- driving Brit forward." Mr Duncan Smith's speech prompted speculation that Tory modernisers had won out over traditionalists who want him to concentrate solely on tax cuts. This was rejected as "sterile" by David Willetts, the shadow work and pensions secretary. "It is the Conservative party doing what it has always done, namely applying our principles to tackle the problems of today," he told Radio 4. "In 1940, it was Brit facing the challenge of Germany. In 1979, it was above all Brit as the economic weak man of Europe. " US leads fight against GM ban at WTO Washington. The US is leading 12 countries, including AUS, into a battle at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), to overturn a European ban on genetically-modified (GM) foods. Washington is complaining that European Union countries have halted approvals of new genetically-modified crops since late 1998, effectively excluding a growing portion of US farm trade. The US Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick, says he believes the EU's moratorium violates WTO rules. Argentina, Canada, and Egypt have joined in filing the case at the WTO. Others supporting as 3rd parties include AUS, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and Uruguay. CSIRO staff concerned despite $20m funding boost Canberra. The organisation representing staff at the CSIRO will be watching closely after a one-off funding boost in the latest Fed Budget. A total of $20 mn has been announced for the research organisation's flagship programs. The CSIRO staff association's secretary Sandy Ross says the one-off payment is welcome, but it does little to ease job security problems for top researchers. "The on-going funding decline and pressures on the organisation aren't going away and there's a need for some real delivery in the next broad statement on research funding, which is going to be coming sometime in the next 6 months," he said. First criminal charges of Internet piracy Sydney. 3 SYD students have become the 1st people in the world to appear in court facing criminal charges over Internet music piracy. Tommy Lee, 21, Charles Cok-Hau Ng, 20, and Peter Tran, 20, are accused under the Copyright Act of running a Napster-like website, Mp3 WMA land, that allowed millions of web users to swap pirated music. Record companies claim they have lost $60 mn worth of sales because of the site. The 3 men did not enter pleas yesterday at the Downing Centre Local Court and the case was adjourned until July 8. If found guilty, the students may face up to 5 y in jail or a $60,500 fine per infringement. Michael Speck, of the industry lobby group Music Industry Privacy Investigations, said the move to criminal action, rather than the civil action used in all previous internat'l music piracy cases, was a reflection of a toughening in attitudes to Internet-related offences. "Internet infringers have relied on the soft option of civil action being taken, but the tide has turned," he said. Mr Speck said German authorities had also filed their 1st criminal charge against a music-swapping site in the past wk. 4 US students who agreed to pay the Recording Industry Association of America between $US12,000 and $17,500 in settlement of a similar case have started taking donations from online music fans. Following scores of messages of support, 2 of the students have opened accounts for well-wishers to help pay off their debts. In the 1st 6 days, one student raised almost $US1500. Asked if record labels risked alienating some of their best customers by pursuing students, Mr Speck said: "We are targeting individuals who have been involved in a $60 mn Internet scam. Their occupation is immaterial." In another case, 3 AUS universities have been taken to court by the record companies Sony, Universal Music and EMI over allegations that their networks have been used for illegal file swapping. A judgement is expected in 2 wk. Sydney. TORRENTIAL RAIN HIS SYD FOR 2ND DAY! Torrential rain across SYD has forced road closures for the 2nd consecutive day as local flooding disrupted peak-hr traffic. A Roads and Traffic Auth'y rep says Parramatta Rd has just been reopened in N Strathfield in the inner-W. He says E-bound traffic on Parramatta Rd at the intersection with Shaftesbury Rd in Burwood has been reduced to 1 lane. Flooding has also closed the Pacific Hgwy at Tuggerah on the C coast and Bertam Stevens Drv at Audley Weir in Audley, S of SYD. Parts of SYD declared "natural disaster area" Sydney. The NSW Government has declared parts of SYD's S a natural disaster area as the cleanup from yesterday's flash floods continues. NSW emergency services remain on high alert with more storms forecast to hit SYD in the coming days. The declaration means local councils, small businesses and residents in the Sutherland Shire are entitled to financial assistance in the form of low interest loans and govt grants. The area is one of the worst affected, with torrential rain leaving many homes and businesses inundated with water. The Min for Emergency Services, Tony Kelly, says the Sutherland Shire is the only council at this stage seeking assistance. "We've had a request from the Sutherland Shire Council, because of the damage that they've occasioned here, to declare it a natural disaster area, and the Treasurer has now signed off on that," he said. Mr Kelly has paid tribute to the state's volunteer emergency workers, who have responded to more than 700 calls for help. Teen in custody after school siege Sydney. Police have taken a 16-yo into custody following a siege at the Tweed River High School at S Tweed Heads on the far north coast of New South Wales. Armed with a large kitchen knife, the teenager entered the quadrangle at the school around 8.30 am today. The school was evacuated as police negotiators attempted to talk to him. After 2 hours the boy surrendered to police. He is now being questioned at the Tweed Heads police station. Teen forced to pay cop for calling him "fat" London (Reuters). Judges ordered a Brit teenager to pay $160 to a policeman for "mental anguish" after calling him "fat," the Daily Telegraph reported Tue. The newspaper said policeman Jack Montague was on foot patrol with a colleague in Ulverston in NW England when a drunken 17-yo insulted him. Magistrates found the youth guilty of abusive behaviour. "Coppers have feelings too, and I'm glad that the magistrates have taken the unusual step of recognising that," the paper quoted the police officer as saying. The 5-foot, 8-inch officer weighs 196 pounds, the paper said. "Sure, I enjoy the odd curry and a pint or 2, but I am not fat at all. That's unfair," he said. "I play cricket for my local club and coach junior football, so if anything, I think I am quite sporty." Rampaging badger's reign of terror Evesham (The Guardian). A badger named Boris went on a 2-day rampage, attacking 5 people and leaving one man needing surgery for his bites, it emerged yesterday. He launched his attacks in Evesham, Worcestershire, after being set free from a wildlife park. His final victim, Michael Fitzgerald, 67, suffered the most serious injuries. He was transferred to a hospital in Birmingham and needed 2 skin graft operations to wounds on his forearm and legs. During Boris's reign of terror, he also forced 2 police officers who were trying to catch him to retreat to the safety of their patrol car. Badger experts say Boris had been inappropriately hand-reared and had too much contact with humans. Consequently, he had lost his natural fear of people -- attacking them instead of running away. The one-yo badger had been hand-reared before he was taken in by Vale Wildlife Rescue. Staff there said he had never displayed any signs of aggression. He was stolen, or deliberately released, from the centre last wk. Boris bit 2 young men on their way home from a pub last Thu. On Fri, he attacked a woman walking her dog in Evesham, and another man went to hospital after he was bitten. Later that night, the badger became trapped in Mr Fitzgerald's garage. His wife, Pam, said the attack was like a "bizarre horror movie". She said the animal slowly walked towards her husband and attacked him. "It caught him on his arm ... he has lost quite a lot of skin on his arm and some of the flesh. He is very badly shaken up and he's going to be permanently scarred. "To hear your husband screaming and shouting in such pain, it was horrifying." Mike Weaver, chairman of the Worcestershire Badger Society, was called out by police to capture Boris, who was later put down by a vet. Mr Weaver said: "Badgers are fiercely territorial in the wild. They will attack other groups of badgers. Boris was in an alien environment, confused and probably hungry and was just acting instinctively. This tragedy shows the folly to keep wild animals as pets." Elaine King, chief executive of the Nat'l Federation of Badger Groups, said: "Badgers are powerful animals and we strongly advise against their domestication. Boris's behaviour was quite unlike that of a wild badger, which would have an instinctive fear of humans." The Nat'l Federation of Badger Groups said it had no records of wild badgers biting people -- except when they were injured or trapped. TV so dull, even young avoid it Sydney (SMH). Young people are switching off their TV's, having lost interest in programs that have been around for y and uninspired by new shows that have failed to become hits. An analysis of the official ratings period so far this y -- from Feb to last wk -- shows the number of commercial TV viewers aged 16 to 39 has dropped 8.2% compared with last y. It is even more dramatic for 16- to 24-yos, where audiences have fallen 15.4%. Media analysts are blaming a run of ageing programs such as Friends, Becker and Everyone Loves Raymond -- whose ratings have dropped -- and the absence of hit programs. The ABC and SBS have maintained their younger audiences, but only a few of their programs regularly appear in the top 100 shows for 16- to 39-yos. Viewers older than 40 are watching more TV, however, with an increase of almost 8% this y, Mr Sintras said. The over-40s are tuning in to lifestyle programs and dramas. While Channel Ten has suffered the most with younger audiences, down 21 per cent for 16- to 24-yos, Nine is also down 14% and Seven 7.5%. Ten's Big Brother started later this y but is only a small factor, Mr Sintras said. It has not performed as well so far this y anyway. The fall is particularly concerning for Ten, as it has positioned itself as a youth network to its advertisers. The station's general manager of network research, Doug Peiffer, said the fall-off in younger viewers began after the end of the 2nd Big Brother series last y. But Ten expects ratings to be boosted by a new series, AUS Idol, in Jul. With access to the Internet, DVDs, video games and mobile phones, young people will not watch TV simply to alleviate boredom but need to be attracted to it, said Harold Mitchell, another media buyer. They are not watching more pay TV, however, as its overall ratings are steady. NAB won't deny possible AMP takeover Sydney. The head of AUS's biggest bank has refused to say if it is considering a hostile takeover of troubled insurer AMP. The Nat'l AUS Bank has reported a net profit of $1.87 bn for the 6 m to March. The NAB has described the half-y results as satisfactory despite a 17 per cent slump in profits. The downturn follows a $205 mn write-down on the value of the bank's wealth management business, but was partly offset by an 11% boost to cash earnings by the core banking operations. The NAB made a bid for AMP at $21 a share nearly 4 y ago but managing director Frank Ciccuto will not say if a 2nd bid is on the cards. NAB shareholders will receive a higher fully franked interim dividend of 80 cents a share. Meanwhile, shares in AMP have lost ground after ratings agency, Standard and Poor's, lowered a number of its key credit ratings. Standard and Poor's has downgraded the credit ratings of AMP Life, AMP Group Holdings and AMP Bank on the eve of what is expected to be a fiery annual general meeting of the company in SYD. The ratings agency says the credit outlook for the group is negative given the uncertainty about its de-merger plans and capital raising and an overall weakening in AMP's financial strength. Chief executive Andrew Mohl is confident the de-merger will create 2 strong companies and is the best long-term solution for shareholders. AMP stocks were worth more than $20 when 1st listed in 1998. Just ahead of today's close, they were changing hands 7 cents lower than yesterday at $5.14. Berlin. TOURISTS FREED! 10 Austrian nat'ls and 6 Germans missing in the Sahara desert since Feb have been freed. However, the German foreign min'y is unable to give details over the fate of 10 other German tourists missing in the same area. The 10 Austrians represent all of Vienna's nat'ls who were missing in the Algerian desert. Up to 32 European tourists have been missing in the vast swathe of the Sahara, some since early Feb, incl 16 Germans, the 10 Australians, 4 Swiss, 1 Dutch and a Swede. Seoul. TANKERS COLLIDE OFF KOREA! A police officials says 2 Korean oil tankers have collided off the SE port of Pusan, spilling about 20 kt of fuel oil into the sea. The official at the Pusan Nat'l Maritime Police stn says tides are speeding the spread of the leak. An estimated 200 kt of oil has already leaked into waters in the nearby pier and beach, despite efforts by marine police to contain the spill. No casualties have been reported so far. Canberra. NEW FUNGUS THREATENS AUSSIE CROPS! First it was the wheat streak bug, now a fungus that could attack the nation's legume crops has escaped CSIRO quarantine in Canberra. A number of Broom Gall Mites -- which carry the fungus -- have escaped their sealed area at the CSIRO's Black Mtn facility. A rep for Ag Min Truss confirmed the breach, saying the mites were brought into the country as part of research into ways to kill Scotch broom, a noxious weed. Canberra. CROATIAN PENSION, ANYONE? In more of this multi-cultural stuff that makes Mosley sweat, Aussies who have worked in Croatia may be eligible for a Croatian pension under a new agreement between the 2 countries. AUS and Croatia have signed a social security deal in Zagreb overnight. Family and Comm'y Af Min Amanda "$4 is only a pittance" Vanstone says the agreement represents an important extension of the social safety net helping people in AUS, who have also worked in Croatia, receive a Croatian pension. Now THIS is why I vote Tory! Adelaide. CRASH TEST DUMMIES! At last! Something Aussies are good at making. Cars that crash good! 2 Aussie-made cars have scored 4-star ratings for the 1st time in the latest series of crash tests. The AUS New Car Assessment Program says the Holden YV Commodore, the Ford BA Falcon, and the latest Toyota Camry have all achieved the high results. The Toyota Avalon, also build in AUS, has been awarded 3 stars. The top-scoring vehicles were all fitted with passenger and driver airbags. However the car companies also made improvements in the overall crash worthiness of the vehicles. Now for the street tests! Canberra. NO MONEY FOR MATERNITY LEAVE! $2 bn for the military, $2 bn for tax cuts, but no money for paid maternity leave. The idea has effectively been shelved. 2 m ago PM Howard denied he'd dumped plans for paid maternity leave amid demands from unions to fund it in the Budget. At the time, the PM said Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward's proposal for a minimum 3 m paid maternity leave was still under consideration. But it wasn't a core promise. Brisbane. FISHING SPOTS OFF LIMITS! Some of Qld's most popular recreational fishing spots will be closed to commercial fishing under changes proposed in state parliament. Prim Ind Min Henry Palaszczuk says the proposed reforms will help prevent the disappearance of popular fish from Qld waterways. The changes incl a y-round ban on commercial netting for tailor on Fraser Is, and 8 m per y ban on commercial netting on some N Stradbroke Is beaches, and a weekend ban on commercial netting t'out C Qld's Fitzroy R and Casuarina Ck. Brisbane. UNIONS HIT QLD AMBO LEVY! The Qld govt's ambulance levy has hit a snag, with unions refusing to process it when it comes into force on Jul 1. The Qld Services Union has voted to boycott the processing of electricity bills on which the $88 pa levy will be imposed. Electrical Trade Union members will refuse to disconnect anyone who is penalised for not paying their levy. Rep Peter Simpson says the move's targeted at govt-owned corporation Energex to secure a better superannuation deal for members, and it isn't a criticism of the ambulance levy. {{ 11 pm Brisbane. 100s of mourners attended the funeral of 3 slain children. The children's father was almost unrecognisable, having shaved hair and beard according to Hindu custom. Several detectives quietly asked one guest to leave. Police say the family of the murdered children had told a former family friend he was not welcome. Reports say he'd been the one that claimed he'd found the bodies of the 2 boys and young woman, ages ranging from 12 to 25, in the upstairs spa of their Bris home. He left the funeral without objection. The police gave no explanation for the incident. [You are invited to read between the lines]. They say 30 police are working around the clock on the triple homicide. }} ---------------------------------------- Thu, 15 May 2003. WATCH OUT! A Japanese sect has predicted the world will end today. They also believe their white uniforms protect them against "communist radiation". Why they are worried about radiation when the world is about to end... well... they aren't explaining. Dollar subdued, markets nervous 35 die in train fire 17 die in immigration attempt 14 killed in suicide bombing 10 dead in E Congo fighting Up to 10 dead in Congo fighting 6 children killed by UXB 9 Iraqi children killed in explosion Saudi admits some responsibility for attack Aussie bled to death in Riyadh attack Saudi bombings will strengthen resolve: Blair AFP discussing inclusion in Saudi bomb investigation AFP to join FBI in RIYADH Tanks roll into N Gaza US fails to get Russian backing US pushes for UN vote to gain control of Iraq oil money Mass graves' forensic evidence must be saved: Blair WA scholarships to aid Iraq's reconstruction Bush, Roh hold talks over N Korean impasse Russia ratifies nuclear arms pact with US Pentagon to research nuclear bunker-buster: Rumsfeld More terror attacks threatened India warns against rebel attacks Indon rebels will talk Indonesia gives Aceh rebels 2 more days China threatens SARS penalties WHO takes Canada off SARS list: PM Bio-security to be reviewed in wake of wheat virus outbreak CASA to investigate aborted landing of Qantas flight Ireland records record asylum apps Polys to raise awareness of refugees Brits oppose the euro SYD deluge to continue Venice project... er... launched Rainman will not be pleased Growth industry AMP AGM Wrong business, wrong place, wrong time: AMP Markets Dollar subdued, markets nervous Sydney (8 am). It has been a more subdued night for the AUD, but global FX markets have been hostage to rumour and fear. Currency traders have been paying close attention to new security moves in Brit in response to the suicide car bombings in Saudi Arabia. At the same time, Middle Eastern names have been rumoured to be behind four big orders for the euro overnight, which have lifted the currency off the night's lows. The euro gained further impetus against the US dollar when figures out of Washington showed a surprise fall in retail sales during Apr. Turnover in the m slipped 0.1%. The AUD has been a beneficiary of both greenback weakness and gold-price strength. The high for the night has been 64.83 US cents. Around 7.30 am the dollar was being quoted at 64.71 US cents, still up 0.25 of a cent since yesterday's local close. On Wall Street the weak retail figures have caused some concern, and there has been a degree of profit-taking. Worries about economic recovery prospects have been reinforced by a cautious outlook statement from the leading maker of equipment for computer chip manufacturing, Applied Materials. Trade on the NY Stock Exchange has now closed with the Dow Jones industrial average down 31 points at 8,648. The high-tech Nasdaq composite index has finished 5 points lower at 1,535. Profit-taking has also been the order of the day on the Brit sharemarket, where the losses have been somewhat limited by gains for the big miner, Xstrata, and chemical giant, ICI. London's FT-100 index has fallen 25 points to 3,975. Ludhiana. 35 DIE IN TRAIN FIRE! At least 35 people are dead after 3 coaches of a passenger train caught fire in the N India state of Punjab. A snr railway official says they don't yet know what caused the fire. Doctors say another 12 people are in critical condition after the fire gutted the coaches of the train nr Ludhiana, about 110 km W of Chandigarh, the capital of N Punjab state. India has the world's largest railway network after the US, with almost 14,000 trains carrying more than 13 mn passengers every day. Victoria. 17 DIE IN IMMIGRATION ATTEMPT! US Sheriffs have found 17 bodies in and around a trailer that was packed with dozens of people and left at a S Texas truck stop. Authorities say another person who had been locked inside has died at a hospital. Police found the bodies shortly after 2 am today when they answered a reported disturbance inside a refrigerated trailer at a truck stop nr Victoria. Jerrel Robinowich, a rep for Detar Hospital Navarro, says about 60 people were in the back of the truck with little or no ventilation. Vladikavkaz. 14 KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING! A female suicide bomber wearing a belt of powerful explosives has blown herself up m away from where the Moscow-backed Chechen leader stood at a crowded, outdoor religious ceremony. Officials say at least 14 people died in the 2nd deadly bombing in the breakaway republic this wk, incl a 2nd suicide bomber. News reports say the 2nd bomber died before she was able to detonate her explosives. Kinshasa. 10 DEAD IN E CONGO FIGHTING! Rival tribesmen have battled with guns and machetes in E Congo outside UN offices jammed with more than 10,000 terrorised civilians. The UN is scrambling to assemble an internat'l force to end the bloodshed. The fighting in Bunia has killed at least 10 people, incl women and children. Most victims were hit by mortar fire as they crowded around the UN compound in Bunia. Up to 10 dead in Congo fighting Kinshasa. Up to 10 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured during heavy fighting between rival ethnic militia groups in the DRC. Rebels are fighting for control of the NE town of Bunia. Eyewitnesses say the streets of Bunia are littered with bodies. UN rep Patricia Tome says most of the victims are women and children. Rebels from the rival Lendu and Hema ethnic groups are engaged in heavy fighting in and around the town. UN peacekeepers say rockets, grenades, mortars and machine guns are being used as both sides attempt to advance. The latest bloodshed began more than a wk ago, after the withdrawal of Ugandan troops. Congolese Pres Joseph Kabila will attend an emergency regional summit later today in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. London. 6 CHILDREN KILLED BY UXB! The Brit Def Min says 6 Iraqi children have been killed and another 10 injured when a bomb they were trying to dismantle exploded. The accident happened on Mon in the N of the S Iraqi city of Basra, which has been under Brit control since the end of the US-led invasion. A Ministry rep says it seems the children were trying to get the copper out of an Iraqi munition when it went off. 9 Iraqi children killed in explosion Basra. 9 Iraqi children were killed and 7 wounded in the south of the country when unexploded ordnance they were playing with detonated, a UN rep says. "9 children were killed and 7 were injured in Missan governorate on Mon when they were playing with unexploded ordnance," David Wimhurst told a press conference in Basra. "This tragedy highlights the terrible danger that unexploded ordnance represents all around Iraq," Mr Wimhurst said. Kathryn Irwin, a rep for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), says the ordnance that exploded was an Iraqi rocket. "There are 1000s of stockpiles of weapons in Iraq." Riyadh. SAUDI ADMITS SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTACK! Saudi Arabia has acknowledged "gaps in security" and says 15 Saudi nat'ls carried out the deadly car bomb attacks in Riyadh. For Min Prince Saud al-Faisal also says this wk's attacks, blamed on OBL's al-Qaeda terrorist network, were designed to drive away foreigners. But he insists Saudi Arabia is safer now than before the car bombings. Still, some foreigners are going ahead with plans to leave the country following Mon night's bombings, which targeted 3 resid'l compounds where expats live. Sydney. AUSSIE BLED TO DEATH IN RIYADH ATTACK! 40 yo Aussie Oday al-Sadak reportedly bled to death after waiting for a hr for treatment after a bomb blast tore apart a resid'l compound in Saudi Arabia. The SMH says Mr al-Sadak, an expat who had left SYD, was watching TV on the ground floor of his villa when a car packed with explosives went off. The paper says he took the full force of the blast, which lacerated his body and face as it tore through the appt. Other reports say he bled to death from a neck wound because treatment was not available for more than 1 hr following the attacks. Saudi bombings will strengthen resolve: Blair London. Brit PM Tony Blair says the suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia earlier this wk will make Brit and its allies more determined to track down terrorists and stamp out terrorism. Brit has announced the introduction of new equipment at its ports to detect radioactivity, a measure designed to prevent the terrorist use of a so-called "dirty bomb". Although officials are stressing there is no specific intelligence of any planned attack at this time, port security in Brit has been tightened in response to the Saudi Arabian bombings. Permanent screening machines have been installed at a number of ports to prevent terrorists smuggling in "dirty bombs", conventional bombs that scatter radioactive material. In Parliament, Mr Blair condemned the suicide bombings. "These attacks were a cowardly and disgraceful terrorist atrocity," Mr Blair said. "They will make the Untied Kingdom and our allies across the internat'l community only more determined to track down terrorists and to stamp out terrorism." BA has cancelled overnight stays for its crews in Riyadh following the attacks. They will now stay in Cyprus. AFP discussing inclusion in Saudi bomb investigation Canberra. The AUS Fed Police are negotiating to send officers to Saudi Arabia after suicide bombings killed 34 people in the capital of Riyadh earlier this week, including one AUS. FBI agents will soon join local authorities to search for the people behind the attacks. AUS Fed Police Commissioner Mick Keelty says he would also like his officers to be part of the investigation. "One of the things we want to make sure we have got in AUS is a very contemporary and extensive understanding of the types of bombs used, the types of equipment, how they are accessing the materials that they are using," he said. "[This] forms part of every investigation into these incidents." Canberra. AFP TO JOIN FBI IN RIYADH! AFP officers may head to the Saudi capital to investigate the suicide bombings that have killed at least 34, incl 1 Aussie. AFP commissioner Mick Keelty told ABC radio he's in negotiations with internat'l authorities about sending Aussie police to investigate the attacks. Terrorist group al-Qaeda is suspected of being responsible for the explosions, apparently set off when cars packed with explosives were driven into the compounds are fire-fights with Saudi guards. Gaza City. TANKS ROLL INTO N GAZA! Dozens of Israeli tanks have rolled into N Gaza early today in one of the largest military operations in recent m. Witnesses say up to 70 armoured vehicles have entered the town of Beit Hanoun but there have been no reports of clashes or casualties. Israeli military sources say their goal is to stop the firing of home-made rockets from the area. The operation comes as Israeli and Palestinian officials prepare for a meeting between their PM's on Sat. Moscow. US FAILS TO GET RUSSIAN BACKING! Sec of State Powell has failed in a bid to win Kremlin support for proposals to end UN sanctions against Iraq. One sticking point is Russia's demand that UN inspectors return to finish the search for WMD, whose yet-to-be-proved existence was Washington's initial justification for the invasion of Iraq. Other contentious issues incl the role of the UN special representative in Iraq, control of oil sales and revenue. US pushes for UN vote to gain control of Iraq oil money NY. The US is pushing for a vote next wk on its res'n to lift sanctions against Iraq and to control the country's oil revenues. However, as the Sec Council resumes discussions on the draft res'n, several diplomats have said changes are needed on what they have described as a badly written text. Russia says it is concerned about provisions that allow the Bush administration to have almost total control over Iraq's oil revenues for reconstruction purposes, while France is questioning the vague role proposed for the UN special envoy. The German ambassador, Gunter Pleuger, has also said he is concerned about how much authority the UN envoy will actually have. "You know that the European Union ... has asked for an important and central role of the UN," Mr Pleuger said. "Also, in the res'n of the co-sponsor it is said that the United Nations should have a vital role. "Now we have to add substance to this." Mass graves' forensic evidence must be saved: Blair London. Brit PM Tony Blair insists forensic evidence from mass graves uncovered in Iraq must be safeguarded to help bring to justice those behind the killings. Mr Blair, who ordered Brit troops to fight alongside US forces in Iraq, says the recent discovery of the mass graves is an indication "of just how brutal, tyrannical and appalling" the regime of toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had been. In the town of Mahawil, south of Baghdad, desperate families are searching at one of the largest mass graves yet found in Iraq, piled with 1000s of bodies. But as Iraqis rip through the site, human rights experts say valuable evidence against the regime is being lost forever. "There is not a single forensic expert here brought by the US," said Peter Bouckaert, from Human Rights Watch. "The failure is on the part of US and coalition forces. The majority of people leave without answers. It's a setback in the effort to bring criminals to court." The decomposed corpses, which could number as many as 15,000 spread over several neighbouring sites, are believed to be mostly of Shi'ite Muslims killed in an uprising against Saddam in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf war. WA scholarships to aid Iraq's reconstruction Perth. The University of W AUS is offering 6 scholarships to Iraqi students, as a show of support for the war-torn country. The university wants to provide students with an opportunity to qualify in key areas for reconstruction in Iraq, so they can use their skills to help rebuild their country's intellectual capital and scientific skill base. The full scholarships are in science, agriculture, engineering, commerce, public health and social science. Bush, Roh hold talks over N Korean impasse Washington. The US and S Korean presidents, George W Bush and Roh Moo-Hyun, have held talks in Washington to plot a strategy to deal with the N Korean nuclear impasse. In their joint statement, the presidents said escalation by N Korea will only lead to its greater isolation and a more desperate situation in the N. Pres Roh came to Washington hoping to convince the Bush administration to drop its ultimate threat of using military force to solve the crisis. Pres Bush said the meeting showed their relationship was strong. Despite a recent attempt in China at negotiation with N Korea which made no headway, Pres Bush said they were making progress to defuse the crisis. Russia ratifies nuclear arms pact with US Moscow. Russia's lower house of Parliament has ratified a landmark treaty with the US for the former superpower rivals to slash their strategic nuclear arsenals. Gennady Raykov, a Duma deputy says after a debate behind closed doors, the State Duma approved the so-called Treaty of Moscow under which the United States and Russia will cut stocks of deployed strategic nuclear warheads by two-thirds to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads over 10-years. Deputies voted in favour by 294 to 134. Pres Vladimir Putin, who signed the treaty with US Pres George W Bush in May 2002, urged the Duma to approve the accord which he describes as "an extremely important document in the field of strategic stability." The treaty has already been ratified by the US Congress. Both sides wanted it to pass through their parliaments in time for summit talks between Mr Putin and Mr Bush in St Petersburg on June 1. The Duma vote coincides with a visit to Moscow by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to prepare for the summit. In St Petersburg, Mr Putin and Mr Bush will seek to show that good relations are still on track despite divisions over the Iraqi war and lingering differences over Russian nuclear technology sales to Iran. Pentagon to research nuclear bunker-buster: Rumsfeld Washington. US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld has told a Congressional Committee the Pentagon is seeking funds to begin research on a nuclear bunker-busting bomb. Mr Rumsfeld says the bomb would be used against targets buried deep beneath the earth. In a surprise admission Mr Rumsfeld says the US arsenal does not possess a weapon to penetrate deep bunkers. "We do not have in the inventory the ability to deal with ... an underground deeply-buried target," Mr Rumsfeld said. But he says just because the dept is researching a new tactical nuclear weapon does not mean it will be built. Democrat Sen Diane Feinstein says the program undermines US efforts to limit nuclear proliferation. "To me it's counter-productive to our overall purposes," Sen Feinstein said. The US military has not built a new nuclear weapon since the end of the Cold War. Sydney. MORE TERROR ATTACKS THREATENED! Alleged field cmdr of the Bali bombings, Iman Samudra, says a new terror campaign will follow the blasts that killed 34 in the Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh. Samudra made the comments as he was being led from the prosecutor's office to an armoured police van in Denpasar after finalising evidence briefs ahead of his hearing into the Bali bombings in 2 wks. Local authorities were reportedly surprised Samudra had learned of the Riyadh attacks, which have been linked with al-Qaeda, less than 24 hrs after they occurred. India warns against rebel attacks Delhi. India says it has told the US it is important that Pakistan cracks down on Islamic militants in Kashmir to help the neighbours build on a thaw in their relationship. A For Min'y rep says Indian For Min Yashwant Sinha told US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Moscow, that attacks by militants fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir could disrupt New Delhi's bid to make peace with Islamabad. Mr Powell and Mr Sinha are on separate bilateral visits to Russia. Mr Sarna's comments came as Islamabad banned the leader of the outlawed Muslim militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammad, from entering Pakistan-administered Kashmir on security grounds. Leader Maulana Masood Azhar is wanted in India on charges of terrorism. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Muslim guerrillas, who have been battling New Delhi's rule in Kashmir since 1989. Islamabad denies the charges but says it provides moral and diplomatic support to what it calls a Kashmiri freedom struggle. Pakistan and India have fought 2 of their 3 wars since 1947 over disputed Kashmir, mostly Hindu India's only Muslim-majority state. The 2 countries nearly went to war last y but tensions have eased sharply since Indian PM Atal Behari Vajpayee last m extended a "hand of friendship" in a bid to make peace with Pakistan. Washington, which played a key role in averting a conflict between the South Asian foes last year, has repeatedly said it was not acting as a mediator between the 2 countries but would encourage them in their rapprochement. Lhokseumawe. INDON REBELS WILL TALK! Rebels in Indon's Aceh prov have announced they'll meet with govt reps in Tokyo on Sat for talks aimed at saving a 5 m peace pact. The announcement has come hrs before Pres Megawati Sukarnoputri is due to meet with legislators to announce a new policy on Ache. She's expected to either announce a military operation against the rebels or to give both side a few more days to salvage the Dec 9 agreement. The Jakarta govt hasn't immediately confirmed the talks will take place. Indonesia gives Aceh rebels 2 more days Canberra. Under pressure from key foreign donors, Indonesia has given rebels in Aceh a final deadline of this Sat to hold peace talks to avert an all-out military assault in the province. Sudi Silalahi, secretary of Indonesia's political and security ministry, says May 17 is the limit. He has made the comment after senior Govt officials met ambassadors from the US, Japan and other several nations during a late-night meeting in Jakarta. Mr Silalahi says the envoys have asked Indonesia to give more time for the Free Aceh Movement to meet for talks to save a crumbling five-month peace pact. A previous deadline expired last Mon. Shadow For Min Kevin Rudd says there is little AUS can do to stop any military action in Aceh. Mr Rudd says the situation really needs some input from a 3rd diplomatic party, such as the UN. He says any military action would spell the end of the last 2 year's attempts at peace. He says AUS involvement in trying to prevent any coming conflict just would not work. Beijing. CHINA THREATENS SARS PENALTIES! China has threatened to execute or jail for life who intentionally spreads the killer SARS virus. The news comes as authorities in Taiwan quarantine 100s at 2 major hospitals amid fears of a widespread epidemic of SARS. China, which has reported 267 deaths and about 2/3 of the world's known SARS cases, has issued a harsh interpretation of its laws on contagious diseases. WHO takes Canada off SARS list: PM Canada. The World Health Organisation has taken Canada off its list of countries where the risk is high of contracting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), PM Jean Chretien says. "I want to inform the house that the WHO advisory on Canada on SARS has been lifted at 2.30 this afternoon," Chretien told the House of Commons. The disease known as SARS has killed 24 people in Canada, the hardest-hit country outside of Asia. Bio-security to be reviewed in wake of wheat virus outbreak Canberra. A review has been launched into bio-security measures at AUS's plant research institutions. It comes after the discovery of a potentially devastating wheat virus in several states. The wheat streak mosaic virus has been discovered in the CSIRO's CBR facilities and state govt research centres in other parts of AUS. A high-level review of bio-security has now been announced by the Fed Agriculture and Science Mins, and will examine current protocols and processes and identify areas where improvements are needed. The review teams will be headed by Dr John Radcliffe, a fellow of the AUS Academy of Technological Sciences and a special adviser to the CSIRO. The announcement comes amid news of a rust fungus outbreak at the CSIRO's Black Mountain facility in CBR. A rep for the Agriculture Min Warren Truss says it appears the fungus has been confined to the research site and there is no threat to commercial crops. CASA to investigate aborted landing of Qantas flight Brisbane. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will investigate an aborted landing at Bris airport last night. Qantas says the MEL-to-Bris flight could not land because the main runway was under repair and pilots chose not to use the 2nd runway because of bad weather. Passengers had to spend an uncomfortable night in the plane at Tamworth airport in NSW. CASA will be checking to see if the airport notified pilots of the repairs, but rep Peter Gibson says it looks like a case of bad weather. "At the end of the day, it is up to the pilots to make the judgement as to whether the landing is safe or not," Mr Gibson said. "In this case the pilot was not confident that it was safe so the pilot did the right thing and simply went somewhere else that was safe." Dublin. IRELAND RECORDS RECORD ASYLUM APPS! Ireland's refugee application commissioner says the country received a record number of asylum applications last y. Commissioner Berenice O'Neill says nearly 12,000 new applications were received last y, the highest ever recorded figure. In 2001, the number of asylum applications in Ireland stood at just over 10,000, a 5.6% drop in relation to 2000. Many asylum seekers were turned down because they failed to turn up for application interviews. Adelaide. POLYS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF REFUGEES! Politicians have formed their own group to raise awareness about the plight of refugees. The Pollies' Circle of Friends group has been launched today by SA Democrat MP Kate Reynolds. It includes reps from federal, state and local govts. The federal MP's incl Labor senators Linda Kirk and Penny Wong, AUS Dems senator Natasha Stott-Despoja and AUS Progressive Alliance senator Meg Lees. London. BRITS OPPOSE THE EURO! A new opinion poll shows most Brits oppose joining the euro currency zone, but many believe it will eventually replace the pound. The YouGov poll for Sky News says Brits would vote almost 2 to 1 against joining the European single currency. But 49% believe Brit will join within 5 y. The BBC reports that Brown and PM Blair agree Brit isn't ready to join the currency, and that a referendum on the issue is unlikely before the next nat'l election. Sydney. SYD DELUGE TO CONTINUE! The deluge that has seen parts of SYD declared a natural disaster area is set to continue until Sat. NSW Emergency Services Min Tony Kelly says the Sutherland Shire has so far been the only local govt area to seek Nat'l Disaster zone status after widespread flooding. But he says more applications are expected once floodwaters recede and the extent of damage becomes apparent. SES volunteers remain on full alert. Venice. VENICE PROJECT... ER... LAUNCHED! An ambitious project to ease the flooding that regularly inundates Venice has been inaugurated by Italian Prem Silvio Berlusconi. The Moses project -- named after the Biblical figure who parted the Red Sea -- is expected to take about 8 y and cost about $A6.25 bn. Hinged barriers will be erected on the seabed just off Venice and will be raised when high tides threaten the canal city. Making things worse in recent y, the city itself is sinking, the level of the Adriatic is rising, and high tides are becoming more frequent. Sydney. RAINMAN WILL NOT BE PLEASED! Passengers aboard a Qantas jet have been shaken and not stirred when a landing in Bris was suddenly aborted o'night because of runway maintenance. Passengers on the flight, QF 638 from MEL, say it was about to land at 11.10 pm last night when it suddenly throttled up and rose steeply. 17 yo Adam Gilmore says about 5 or 10 mins into the descent they suddenly went full-throttle and ascended sharply. He says it was "scary". Hobart. GROWTH INDUSTRY! While it smells like eau de tomcat, Tassie blackcurrant oil is being snapped up by European perfumeries as fast as the state can pump it out. Despite its pungent aroma, it's also a popular food flavouring. Industry pioneer and researcher Prof Bob Menary, from the U of Tas's School of Ag Science, says growers are about to harvest their latest blackcurrant crop within weeks. Sydney. AMP AGM! 100s of happy investors have been seen packing their picnic baskets and heading for what is expected to be an interesting general meeting for the troubled financial services group AMP. Many shareholders are seeking answers, and perhaps a pound of flesh, regarding the company's recent record low share prices and surprise de-merger plans. They will also be voting on whether the return 2 non-exec dirs -- Lord Killearn and Richard Grellman -- both of whom have served on AMP's finance and audit committees in the time leading up to AMP's $896 mn loss in 2002. [1000 attended the 6 hr AGM. They weren't happy at the $900 mn loss and $bns written off in bad investments. Some called for an immediate takeover of what they see as a badly-run company on life support. Chair Peter Wilcox, in the job 12 wks, was left to explain the mistakes to the meeting. Andy Mohl said he understood the message shareholders were sending. He described the meeting to reporters as "constructive" and had allowed shareholders to vent their anger]. Wrong business, wrong place, wrong time: AMP Sydney. The chairman of AMP Limited has acknowledged the anger of shareholders over the company's dramatic decline. Peter Wilcox has been addressing AMP's annual general meeting in SYD. The very day after the share price of the financial services giant hit a record closing low on the AUS Stock Exchange, Mr Wilcox has had to face shareholders. Mr Wilcox said put simply, AMP had too much of its shareholders' money in the wrong business at the wrong time in the wrong place. Shareholders have seen AMP shrink since listing on the stock exchange in 1998 from a $22 bn company to one worth just $7 bn at the close of trade yesterday. The company has foundered, in part, because of the exposure of its United Kingdom operations to the slumping Brit sharemarket. AMP now intends to cast off the UK businesses into a separate company. That will not be voted on by shareholders until the end of the year, but it is sure to attract questioning today. Yesterday's credit rating downgrade will also come under scrutiny. On the stock exchange, AMP shares have slipped again. Shortly before 11.00 am they were down one cent at $5.06. Sydney. MARKETS! Aussie stocks ground for a 2nd day on profit taking, particularly on News Corp. AMP was a new record lows. The All Ords lost 12 pts to end at 2,931. In NY, the Dow closed down 31 pts to 8,648. NY gold was still on the rise, up almost $US4 today to $US352.25/oz. Oil was also up at $US28.96/bbl. It was even higher in London. The FTSE ended down 25 pts at 3,975. But the Dax was up 16 pts at 2,926. In Asia, the markets followed Wall St. The HK bourse ended down 15 at 9,103, while the Nikkei closed down 121 pts to end the session at 8,123. The AUD was trading around 64.55 US c. {{ 1 am NBC. The latest casualty numbers from Riyadh. Saudi For Min Prince Saud al-Faisal said the death toll was 39, with 174 injured. The dead included 7 Americans, 1 Brit, and 1 Irish nat'l. He said there had been 15 attackers at 3 different sites. Democrats have fled from Texas to Oklahoma, hiding out N of the border from the Texas Rangers. What is going on? The Democrats left the Texas legislature to foil a plan by Texas Republicans to re-draw the boundaries of key seats. The real burr under the saddle is LBJ's old seat of Austin, which has been drawn up into a cheese wheel to give 3 out of the 4 sections a Republican majority. At a motor lodge which is now Texas Democrat HQ, they told a press conf certain out-of-state carpet baggers had better not mess with Texas. 10 pm There was high emotion as the first returning Aussie troops from Iraq were welcomed back by PM Howard, Gen Cosgrove and a 100s of relatives and well-wishers at the NT's Tindal AFB today. About 250 troops and support personnel flew in by transport to boring speeches and some well-deserved snogging and back-slapping. 600 personnel will dock in Perth on Sat. On Sun SAS soldiers will return to WA. The new stand-in GG Sir Guy Green was sworn in today. A neat way to earn another $130,000 pa tax-free, for some. Hollingworth is still on full pay. In the Senate today, the govt decided to let a non-confidence motion against the GG pass on the voices. While the govt said it was just trying to save time over what it calls a political stunt, some observers say it shows the govt doesn't want to save Hollingworth at any cost. In any case, the motion will not pass the House of Reps. The minors say it isn't a stunt. 11 pm An official stmt from the Lebanese army says in conjuction with Syria it has smashed a terrorist plot to attack foreigners and kidnap Lebanese officials. The stmt didn't say how many people were involved in the plot. While it said a foreign embassy was targeted by the plotters, it didn't say which one. Un-named officials later told BBC World News it was the US Embassy. EU competition regulators have raided BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto offices in a simultaneous operation, looking for evidence of price-fixing in the copper industry. EU investigators say the raids don't mean the companies are guilty of anything. However they point out if there is price collusion they could be fined 10% of their global profits. [BBC World News later said the fine would amount to about $US2.5 bn]. On the news, the share prices of the companies fell in London o'night, and in SYD today. }} ---------------------------------------- Fri, 16 May 2003. NY. MARKETS! The DJIA ended the session 57 pts higher at 8,705. Gold was almost unchanged. In Europe, the Dax was up 63 pts at 2,989 and the FTSE was 36 pts higher at 4,011. But new data shows the European economy is contracting. Oil is relatively unchanged at $US28.55/bbl, after a US company announced it had resumed production after a temp shutdown of a refinery. Today's fortunes on the ASX are expected to be "mixed" with AMP apparently looking for a buyer to ends its financial woes. Yesterday the company's new chair said they were yet to receive a firm offer, but more than one suitor had sounded them out. In the meantime AMP would sell several of its subsidiary businesses. Beijing. 81 BODIES RECOVERED FROM CHINESE MINE! Rescuers have found the bodies of 81 coal miners killed by an underground gas explosion in E China. The official Xinhua News Agency says flooding and high levels of CO and explosive gasses are hindering rescue work in the Luling mine in the city of Hefei. The blast ripped through the mine on Tue afternoon. 5 miners are missing and Xinhua said earlier that rescuers don't expect to find them alive. Belt Hanoun. 5 KILLED IN ARMY INCURSION! 5 people have been killed as Israeli troops seized a Gaza town as Palestinians marked the 55th anniversary of displacement during the post-war creation of Israel. The latest incursion is aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Gaza on Israeli towns and settlements. However Israel says it will not let up in its campaign against militants. This is despite the US and other mediators calling for steps toward calm and the first Israeli-Palestinian summit since 2000 marked down for Sat. Toronto. 2 KILLED IN CANADIAN TRAIN WRECK! A freight train has derailed while crossing a bridge in Canada, plunging into a ravine and bursting into flames. Canadian officials say 2 crew members are missing, presumed dead. The crash happened in a remote area 700 km NE of Vancouver nr the Alberta border. The first 6 cars of the 86-car train, which was carrying timber, plunged into the ravine and burst into flames. Sydney. AUS ISLAMIC GROUP CONDEMNS SAUDI ATTACKS! AUS's peak Islamic group has condemned the Saudi terrorist attacks on foreign workers, but warns some Muslims are turning to radicalism because of double standards by W govts. AFIC Pres Dr Ameer Ali offered sympathies to the family of SYD man Oday al-Sadek. The 39 yo died after a series of bomb attacks tore apart resid'l compounds in Riyadh on Tue. Dr Ali says Muslims in AUS condemn the bombings, which claimed the lives of at least 34 people. London. LEBANESE ARMY SMASHES TERROR PLOT! Lebanon says it has smashed a plot to attack the US embassy and Brit has banned flights to Kenya as fresh terror alerts rang out around the world o'night. In Beirut, military intel officials say they arrested 9 people plotting an attack on the US embassy and kidnappings to force the release of Islamic militants from prison. The events follow recent suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia. OBL's al-Qaeda network has been blamed for the bombings. Canberra. AUSSIE TRAVEL WARNINGS! The AUS govt has boosted travel warnings for almost the entire SE Asian region amid fears another Bali-style terror attack is in the works. The DFAT has issued fresh warnings covering Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, E Timor, Singapore and Brunei. It is advising Aussies to exercise "extreme caution" in public and commercial areas known to be frequented by foreigners. Warnings issued this wk also urge Aussies to defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia. Some analysts say the warnings amount to official panic, with Aussies post-GWII apparently unable to travel anywhere but NZ and Canada. London. BRIT TRAVEL WARNINGS! The Brit govt says all Brit commercial flights to and from Kenya have been suspended because of increased terrorist threats. The Dept for Transport has told airlines the threat level to UK civil aviation interests in Kenya has increased to "imminent". [Kenyan officials have reportedly "reacted angrily" to the Brit announcement]. London. FIRST BRIT SARS CASE CONFIRMED! A case of the respiratory disease SARS has been confirmed for the first time in Brit. The Health Protection Agency says the patient, whose ID and location have not been revealed, is no longer considered in danger. A rep says there is no risk that the disease has been passed to anyone else. The patient is 1 of 8 people who have so far been classified as "probable" SARS cases in Brit. There have been no previous cases of confirmed SARS in the UK. Geneva. UN CONDEMNS TURKEY! The UN has condemned Turkey over allegations of persistent and widespread use of torture. The condemnation is a new blow to Turkey's bid to join the EU. Brussels has demanded further progress on respect for human rights and democracy before Turkey starts membership. The UN's Geneva-based Committee Against Torture says it's concerned about numerous and consistent allegations that torture and other ill-treatment of detainees held in police custody are apparently still widespread in Turkey. Paris. DEAL OVER PENSION REFORM! 2 French unions have struck a deal with the govt over the thorny issue of pension reform, as Paris commuters faced a 3rd day of commuting disruption. Travellers packed into the few subway cars still operating, or read newspapers as they were forced to a virtual standstill on dense highways leading into the capital. Govt leaders wran the retirement system will collapse within 20 y if no changes are made as the number of retirees outpaces the number of workers contributing to the pension system. Sydney. MENTAL HEALTH PROBS IN NAURU DETENTION! Following a report by psychiatrists' on Australia's detention centres, another doctor says the prison-like conditions imposed on asylum seekers held on Nauru under the govt's so-called "Pacific Solution" are making mental health problems worse. Dr Maarten Dormaar told last night's 7.30 Report on ABC that a mental health clinic set up at the Nauru camp treated 150 people in its first 4 m of operation. The former head psychiatrist at the 2 Nauru camps defined authorities by video-taping some patients to document their despair on the isolated island. Canberra. BUDGET REPLY! Fed Opp'n leader Crean has promised to save Medicare and deliver tax cuts in a Budget reply speech seen as crucial in his leadership and the ALP's election hopes. Mr Crean last night promised Labor would spend $1.9 bn to boost bulk billing if it wins the next election. He says a Labor govt would boost the Medicare patient rebate to 95% of the scheduled doctor's fee, delivering an average rise of $3.35 per consultation and eventually lifting to 100% for $5. Mr Crean indicated he'd find the money by removing tax perks for businesses intro'd by Treas Costello. But, as usual, the details would be revealed later. Sydney. WHEAT VIRUS FOUND AT NEW SITE! A virus that threatens the nation's wheat crops has been found at another sit in the NSW NW town of Tamworth. The wheat streak mosaic virus was found at a private wheat breeding facility in a glasshouse earlier this m following detection of the disease in the ACT, Qld, Vic and Adel. All the affected site have been placed in quarantine. Observers say it's increasingly-likely the disease is widespread and may have spread to Aussie farms. Sydney. MORE BAD WEATHER FOR SYD & NSW COAST! Severe weather looms of the NSW coast as SYD's deluge enters a 4th day, with a major city park under threat from flooding. More heavy rain and strengthening winds are predicted for the SYD metro area and the Illawarra and Hunter regions. The SES advises people to keep away from creeks and drains. The RTA recommends SYD motorists avoid unnecessary trips, switch their lights and wipers on and slow down in the wet. {{ Midnight. Colin Powell says the US may accept a temporary suspension of Iraqi sanctions rather than immediately lifting them. He says the US is kean to get oil revenue moving so Iraq can pay for its reconstruction. His comments come after Russia signalled it would not support a US-sponsored UNSC resolution to remove the 1991 sanctions regime until it has been proved Iraq no longer possesses WMD, as required by those original resolutions. 0.30 am The Japanese parliament has passed a bill giving the military greater power in case of an attack on Japan. The govt says under the present laws the national defence couldn't be organised effectively. Russian Pres Putin has offered amnesty to Chechen fighters. He says the offer doesn't incl those who are guilty of serious crimes. 1 am NBC. The US has arrested 200 Iraqis overnight, incl 3 Generals. The prisoners were captured nr Saddam's former stronghold of Tikrit. 7 am Imm Min Philip Ruddock says his dept is considering allowing some women and children presently in immigration detention to live in the community. Mr Ruddock told ABC radio the community would be consulted prior to the move, but indicated he'd already received some support for the idea. It's understood the Imm Dept is considering the community release of about a dozen women and a similar number of children. The US says it has received a terrorist warning concerning the Saudi city of Jeddah. American officials have moved out of the area mentioned in the threat. 10 am A subsidiary of bankrupt WorldCom has received a lucrative contract from the US govt to install a mobile phone system in Iraq. But the decision has already drawn some criticism. A group calling itself the Grey Panthers has called on the govt to bar the contract, citing WorldCom's accounting misdeeds. In a letter to US lawmakers, the group says WorldCom's losses due to accounting irregularities has defrauded investors of times more than the prev record-holder, Enron. Baghdad. After weeks of complains about killings, robberies and rapes in the capital, the US says it's moving to improve security. In his first press conf since arriving in Iraq, new US admin Paul Bremer said the US was working to round up criminals and restore security. He indicated removing the remaining elements of the fallen regime was a priority. In a major operation yesterday the US military took 260 people into custody a after sweep through a village nr Tikrit. Several of the US 55 most-wanted were captured. But in Baghdad several 1000 demonstrators denounced the US occupation. Protesters said they grateful for the removal of Saddam Hussein, but complained the US had left a dangerous power vacuum that had not been filled. 10.15 In early trade, the All Ords has opened in negative territory, down 3 pts to 2,928. In Japan, the Nikkei also opened weaker, down 30 pts or about 1/3%. Midday. Tikrit. The US military has conducted more raids nr Tikrit, taking several people into custody, incl a snr Baath Party official. It's part of a campaign to restore law and order to the country, say reps. The US has also declared the ownership or sale of weapons illegal in Iraq. Observers wonder how authorities will be able to enforce the new rules, given almost every household has an assault rifle and caches of rockets and grenades are still being found. }} ======================================== (*) Who is responcible for W.A.R.S? A small group of dedicated sandgrubbers, bannana-lickers and 5th columnists on the run from support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers! All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek. *** A NEW SHERIFF IS IN TOWN! ***