From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia
Reserch Senter(*)
		OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS
                ===============================
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).

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It is worth reminding ourselves when we discuss this issue of time
scales that on Apr 3, 1991, this council gave Iraq 90 days to
disarm. And in the 11 y, 7 m and 12 d, quite a lot of time, since the
council's deadline to Iraq ran out, what is it that they've [sic] done?
-- Brit For Sec Jack Straw, addressing the UN Security Council and
   claiming the US and UK are not members, 16 Feb 2003.

----------------------------------------
The UN Charter for Dummies:
1. The United Nations has a 15-member Security Council whose decisions
   are binding on all UN Member Nations.  The Security Council has 5
   Permanent Members: America, Britain, France, China and Russia.
2. Permanent Members of the Security Council have veto power which
   they can use to overrule any decision of the Council they disagree with.
3. Section 2 does not apply in Unreasonable Cases.  "Unreasonable"
   means where France, China and Russia try to veto a decision
   supported by the US or Britain.
4. In Unreasonable Cases America or Britain can probably veto any
   veto, thus upholding the un-vetoed will of the Council. If the
   Council still arrives at a decision contrary to the wishes of the
   US or Britain the Permanent Members are perhaps obliged to veto
   it, or veto any attempt to veto the veto.
-- Armando Iannucci [with a little subbing], 17 Feb 2003

----------------------------------------
19 Feb 2003.

LA. ATTN BORED WHITE SHOOTERS!  Even the most ardent firearm lovers
admit the new S&W 50 cal mag is more revolver than anyone needs.  It
has double the power of most assault rifles available in the US.
Designed with grizzly-stopping applications in mind, the kick from the
back end can also knock down a grown man.  Police say with a barrel up
to 25 cm and weighing in at around 2 kg, a bandit or drug-crazed
killer would have to be either dumb or out of their minds to carry
one, especially in their waistband. But at just under $US1,000 most
SOF readers can't wait to try it.  S&W say they're ramping up
production to meet demand. The nation's 2nd-biggest gun-maker says
it's trying new ideas to revive market share from the backlash
over its gunlock deal in 2000.

London. INVASION!  Up to 5,000 Iranian-backed Iraqi opp'n troops
have crossed into N Iraq from Iran with the aim of securing the border
in the event of war.  The Financial Times quotes snr Iranian officials
as saying the troops were under the command of a prominent Shia Muslim
opp'n leader who's been living in Iran since 1980. A US State Dept
official told the FT he's aware of the reports, but declined to
comment.  Elsewhere, Saddam has reportedly placed members of his own
family and others under house arrest, apparently fearing a palace coup.

London.  MYSTERY SHIPS! Three giant cargo ships are being tracked by
US and Brit intel on suspicion that they might be carrying Iraqi WMD.
Each with a deadweight of 35,000 to 40,000 tonnes, the ships have been
sailing around the world's oceans for the past 3 m while maintaining
radio silence in clear violation of int'l maritime law, say shipping
industry sources.  The vessels left port in late Nov, just a few days
after UN weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix began their search for
the alleged Iraqi arsenal on their return to the country.
Uncovering a deadly cargo on board would give George Bush and Tony
Blair the much sought-after "smoking gun" needed to justify an attack
on Saddam Hussein's regime, in the face of massive public opp'n to war.
The ships were chartered by an agent based in Egypt and are flying
under the flags of 3 different countries. The continued radio silence
since they left port, in addition to the captains' failure to provide
info on their cargoes or their destinations, is a clear breach of
int'l maritime laws.
American and Brit military forces are believed to be reluctant to stop
and search the vessels for fear that any intervention might result in
them being scuttled.  Washington and London might also want to
orchestrate any raids so that they can present the ships as "evidence"
that Pres Saddam is engaged in "material breach" of UN resolutions.

Melbourne.  Petrol prices are set to soar across AUS.  Prices in MEL
and SYD are already over $1/L, and experts are predicting it to hit
$1.10 to $1.15 by mid-Mar on current trends.  It could go higher if
the expected Iraqi war doesn't go well, or Iraq sabotages it's
oil-fields.  Reporters say petrol presently costs $A0.80/L in NYC, and
$A0.04/L in Baghdad.

N Korea and US Trade Tough Talk on Nuclear Crisis
Seoul/Washington.  N Korea said on Wed Washington's rejection of
bilateral talks to solve a deepening nuclear crisis was illogical and
aimed at thwarting Pyongyang's efforts to improve its economy and
communist system.  War warnings and assertions the US was poised to
attack the N have been daily fare in Pyongyang's official media since
the crisis flared up nearly 5 m ago.
S Korean Pres-elect Roh Moo-hyun, to be inaugurated next wk, has been
caught in the middle of the crisis.  Roh, highlighting a S Korea-US
rift that Pyongyang has worked hard to widen, said on Wed he differed
with the US because he would rule out a military attack on the N,
while Washington says it retains that option.
A State Dept official, who asked not to be named, took a hard
line on the latest NK warnings.  "The US will not respond to threats,
broken commitments or blackmail by N Korea," he said. "Any further
escalation by N Korea of the situation on the peninsula will bring
int'l condemnation and further self-isolation."
It was not clear whether the latest armistice threat, by the N's Korean
People's Army, was anything more than fresh brinkmanship.  N Korea
quit most armistice activities in 1994 and has a history of
challenging the truce.  There was no sign of unusual tension at the
Panmunjom truce village which straddles the N-S border 30 miles N of
the S's capital Seoul.

Seoul.  SUBWAY FIRE! Surviving victims of the Korean subway fire are
still choking a day after their escape from the inferno. Subway stn
video has shown the "maniac" throwing a flaming container onto a
train.  The first witness was right; the other one is an idiot!  Other
video from passengers showed the start of the blaze inside the
carriages.  The footages stands up there for good taste with repeats
of the Challenger explosion. Officials are describing it as an
"apparent suicide attempt".  The local Police Chief said the man,
who's now said to be 56 yo, had decided to die, but in a generous mood
"together with others".  He ended up suffering minor burns, while
dozens were burned to a crisp. With the cleanup still underway, S
Korea's PM has named it a "special disaster zone".  The 2 trains, so
burned only the steel skeletons of either remain, have been removed
from the subway stn and dragged to a shed for examination.  Victims
and families are now asking why a 2nd train had been allowed to arrive
at the stn, minutes after the first was set alight.  They also
complain the train doors had locked during the fire, and why so much
flammable plastic was used in the construction of the rlwy
carriages. The death toll has been revised, currently standing at 125.
Officials say it may be months before most of the bodies are ID-ed.

NY.  ISOLATED! It's apparently been a disappointing day for the US and
allies in the UN.  AUS was not the only voice to press for military
action against Iraq.  But it was in a small minority. Japan was the
only other nation to support "strong and immediate action".  But AUS
Amb to the UN, John Dauth, told reporters a strong resolution can
still pass.
The speeches so far have been otherwise unanimously against war.
That's encouraged Pres Bush to suggest again the US may not wait for
the UN before launching an invasion of Iraq.
In AUS, the Democrats have moved to set up anti-war voting booths in
an attempt to convince PM Howard he is not in a majority supporting an
Iraqi war.  Opp'n leader Simon Crean has joined the Dems, and
condemned the actions of AUS in the UN Sec Council.  Mr Crean said
while 25 nations spoke, only 2 had backed the US.  The Greens are also
set to move against the govt, pushing for a vote in Parl to get Aussie
troops called back from the Gulf. ACT Greens are also set to get a
vote against the war up in that Parl.

World diplomats berate America for rush to attack
NY.  Representatives from around the world lined up at the UN Sec
Council last night to berate America for rushing towards war.  While a
series of speakers argued for the inspectors to be given more time,
Japan said it supported a 2nd res and threw its weight behind the US
position.  Brit and American diplomats have been working behind the
scenes to draft a res that would pave the way for military action. The
res's timing and content are uncertain but America reluctantly agreed
with Britain to wait at least until after the conclusion of the
Council meeting, at which about 50 UN member states were expected to
speak, before tabling a text.
The extra time is being used to gauge the depth of resistance to any
such text from veto-wielding countries in the Council -- France,
Russia and China. Sources said earlier versions drafted by Washington
and London were being watered down to take account of the opp'n,
fuelled by last Fri's reports from the inspectors.
Britain has been struggling to convince America that it should stay
the course at the UN and resist the temptation to push for war without
a 2nd res, relying instead on res 1441 passed last Nov. Sources said
they expected to see a short text that avoided making any explicit
call for war but deemed Iraq in further "material breach" of UN
resolutions -- code for military action. Even that phrase could be
substituted with the words "flagrant violation".  A new res is likely
to spark furious debate. France asserts that war should only be
considered as a "last resort". The Sec Council would seek to define
when a moment of "last resort" arrives.

Protests won't change Iraq policy: Bush
Washington.  Declaring that America's security should not be dictated
by protesters, Pres Bush said Tue he would not be swayed from
compelling Iraqi Pres Saddam Hussein to disarm. "We will deal with
him," Bush said as US and Brit diplomats weighed another bid for UN
backing.
Admin officials in Washington and at the UN in NY were discussing the
possible gains as well as the risk of a diplomatic defeat if the US
proposed a new res to the Sec Council to endorse force as an option to
disarm Iraq.
In Rome, UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan said Iraq had to "move very fast" to
heed the call of the int'l community and cooperate with UN inspectors
or face possible war.  But he said it was up to the Sec Council to
decide if the inspections had gone on long enough.
France, with support from Russia and China, does not accept the US
view that the Sec Council effectively endorsed force as an option to
disarm Iraq in an earlier res that warned of "serious consequences" if
Saddam persisted in defying UN demands.
Whitehouse mouthpiece Ari Fleischer did not fault Chirac, saying he
simply had another approach to the Iraqi threat and has always levelled
with Bush privately and publicly.  Fleischer suggested the same could
not be said of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, declining to say
whether the German leader also told Bush the same thing in private as
he said in public.
With some 50 countries lined up to speak to the council in a session
that could go over until Wed, early action by the US and
its close ally, Britain, was not expected.  Diplomats at the UN said a
draft res could be circulated late Wed.  Last Fri, an overwhelming
majority of the 15 council members followed France's lead and called
for extending UN weapons searches in Iraq. Sec of State Colin Powell's
argument that the searches were virtually useless was overridden.
On Tue, however, the Bush Admin drew some support in Europe.
13 incoming members of the European Union endorsed a joint declaration
in Brussels, Belgium, that warned Saddam he had one last chance to
disarm.  In a parallel action backing the US, 10 former communist
countries, 7 of them EU candidates, reiterated their support for
Washington's position on Saddam.  
But one valued ally, Turkey, hesitated to permit 1000s of US soldiers
on its soil.  Turkey is asking $10 bn in grants and up to $20 bn in
long-term loans, diplomats said.  Turks and Americans had been
negotiating on the basis of $4 bn to $6 bn in grants and $10 bn to $15
bn in loans, according to news reports and diplomats. The grants
reportedly would be split between cash and military debt write-offs.
Next weekend, Bush will meet at his ranch in TX with a European
supporter, PM Jose Maria Aznar of Spain. Another, PM Tony Blair
of Britain is under enormous pressure to back away from conflict with Iraq.
Praising both men as courageous, Bush said, "These are men of
vision. They see the task at hand. And I'm proud to call them
allies. And we'll work together for the sake of peace."

Blair denies war would destabilise Middle East
London.  Tony Blair tried to allay fears over war with Iraq yesterday
by denying that military action would destabilise the entire Middle
East or unleash "more Bin Ladens".  At his m'ly Downing St press
conference, the PM conceded that he had failed to communicate
effectively his case against Saddam Hussein, but claimed opinion could
be won round.
Mr Blair repeated his insistence that the Iraqi regime would be
disarmed of its chem and bio weapons "one way or another" and said he
was confident that a 2nd UN res backing war could be obtained "within
weeks not months". But he also rejected suggestions that there was a
"rush to war" and refused to rule out a French demand that the UN
should wait until 14 March before making any decision on military strikes.
Mr Blair countered suggestions that military action would trigger a
wider regional conflict and provoke more terrorism against the UK. "I
don't believe that those fears are justified," he said. "If I thought
we were going to unleash something in which 100s of 1000s of people
were going to die and we would have more Bin Ladens and the Middle
East was going to go up in flames ... of course I don't think that."
The PM promised he would listen to marchers' concerns, but urged
them to listen to the testimony of Iraqi exiles on the horrors of life
under Saddam. 
Mr Blair refused to be drawn on a timetable for a new UN res, saying
only that Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector, would report back to
the Sec Council on 28 Feb and decisions would be made "over the next
few weeks".  The PM said he still hoped to get a fresh UN res before
any military action.  He said war was "not inexorable" but Pres
Saddam's compliance was.

Oil and ethnic rivalries fuel fight for Iraqi border town
Arbil, N Iraq.  The fate of Kirkuk, at the centre of Iraq's N
oilfields, will once again become an explosive issue in Iraqi politics
if Saddam Hussein is overthrown. For y he has sought to change its
demography, replacing Kurds and Turkomans, another of Iraq's multitude
of minorities, with Arabs from S Iraq.
But the looming war has rekindled the hopes of the Kurds that they
will be able to reclaim their homes.  Kirkuk is a disappointingly
nondescript place. Its most impressive buildings are associated with
the oil industry. The half-ruined ancient citadel was badly damaged in
fighting between Kurds and govt troops in the most recent Kurdish
uprising 12 y ago.
The Kurds are unlikely to attack Kirkuk again if the Iraqi armed
forces break up. Any such action would be opposed by the US and
Britain and would provoke intervention by Turkey. America reportedly
plans to land troops at an early stage in any war to seize the city
and protect the oilfields from sabotage.
But the Kurds do not have to make a frontal assault on Kirkuk to
regain control of the city. All they need do is allow the 100s of
1000s of Kurdish refugees, who are now living in Iraqi Kurdistan,
which has had de facto independence for a decade, to go home. This
would once again make them the predominant community in this much
fought-over city and province.
That is an outcome much feared by the Turkomans, who claim that they
were once the majority in Kirkuk.  The demographic history of Kirkuk
is much disputed and the Kurds are the ones in the best position to
regain their lost lands.  The Kurds in Bnaslawa, living in their
miserable concrete hovels with the stench of raw sewage wafting
through the dark little rooms, do not have to think much about their
intentions. Deportees from every village and city district have
appointed committees to organise their return to Kirkuk as soon as it
is safe to do so. Many have been ready for y.  Going by past experience, the
reversal of decades of ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk might not be so easy
or bloodless.

War spending could boost ailing US tech industry
Santa Clara.  Mark Forman is a popular man in Silicon Valley these
days.  The nation's top info technology official came to town last
week to drum up support for the fed govt, which is beefing up computer
security spending and streamlining the technology-procurement process.
What he got, unlike previous visiting bureaucrats, was rapt
attention.
Nearly 50 CEOs dined with him.  The next day, he addressed more than
200 people at Sun Microsystems and 150 at Cisco Systems.  ''I've seen
$200 mn contracts (signed) in two m or less,'' he told a room of
hopeful executives.   There's more to come. While war might hurt the
overall economy, it, along with increased homeland defense spending,
could boost the tech industry, mired in a nearly three-year funk. The
Bush Admin plans to increase govt spending on computers,
software and services to $58.1 bn for the FY that started
Oct 1, up 17% from $49.8 bn in FY 2002.  Business spending on
technology, by comparison, is expected to grow 2% to 3% this y after
being flat for two years.

US study finds no new links to Gulf War illness
Washington.  Studies show long-term exposure to certain pesticides and
solvents can damage a person's health, but there is not enough
evidence to show whether such chems are linked to Gulf War Syndrome,
US scientists said on Tue.  A review of 3,000 studies confirmed the
chems may be bad for those exposed to them, but hardly any of the
studies looked at veterans, said the Institute of Medicine report.
Few doctors dispute that Gulf War veterans have a collection of
symptoms, but experts have been unable to find an
explanation. Vaccines and exposure to chems are the main suspects but
no link has been found.
Congress asked the Institute of Medicine, an independent body that
advises the fed govt, to put together a panel of experts to look at
possible causes.  Their 1st report focused on depleted uranium, the
anti-nerve gas treatment pyridostigmine bromide, the poison gas sarin,
and vaccines. There was not enough evidence to determine these caused
the syndrome.
In the latest report the panel did not do any new research, but looked
at studies of exposure to insecticides and solvents such as cleaning
agents and their possible links to cancer and other health problems.
They reaffirmed that the solvent benzene can cause acute leukaemia and
aplastic anaemia.  They also found some suggestion that benzene and
organophosphorous and carbamate insecticides may be associated with a
type of cancer known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. But neither DEET nor
permethrin, the pest-control agents most commonly used during the Gulf
War, belong to these insecticide classes.  The committee said there
was insufficient evidence to associate any insecticides or solvents
with neurological diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's,
or Alzheimer's.

Canberra.  ASIAN NUKE RACE! AUS's For Min has described talk of a new
nuclear arms race in NE Asia as unhelpful.  There are reports S Korea
and Japan may begin developing nuclear weapons if N Korea refuses to
abandon its nuclear program.  Alexander Downer is hoping the situation
can be resolved through talks between N Korea and the US.  But he says
the concern of N Korea's neighbours is understandable.  "Neither S
Korea or Japan have chosen the nuclear path fortunately since the
Second World War, we're much relieved about that and appreciate it,
but clearly if you've got a situation where N Korea is becoming so
extraordinarily bellicose and is building a nuclear program or at
least it says it is, then in those circumstances that's going to make
other countries is the region very nervous," he said.

Adelaide. HUMAN SHIELD!  An Adel counsellor is on the way to Baghdad
to act as a human shield if a US-led war breaks out.  55 yo Ruth
Russell, a teacher who has worked with the disabled, plans to be
working at a Baghdad orphanage when war starts.  She's been warned she
could become a victim of Iraq or US bombing.  With reports Iraqi
families have been given firearms this wk, some observers say she's
likely to be killed by them than a US bomb.  Ms Russell is unfazed by
claims she's a traitor and giving comfort to the "enemy", saying she'd
face whatever comes.  She's flying out to Jordan tonight, to join
group of human shields that will travel on to Iraq next wk.

Sydney.  DEMS HOLD OWN WAR VOTE! The Democrats have begun holding
their own plebiscite on a war against Iraq after the idea was rejected
by the Fed Govt.  The party is setting up 6 polling booths across NSW,
incl one today in SYD's Martin Place, giving members of the
public the opportunity to vote for one of 3 options: no war, a war
with UN sanction, or a US-led war.  Democrats leader, Sen Andrew
Bartlett says the results will be presented to the PM.  "People need
to be able to express their views and they need to know that people
are wanting to know their views, particularly as far as political
leaders are concerned," he said.  "The Democrats want to ensure that
people are heard and we want to ensure that the massive momentum of
community opp'n to an attack on Iraq is maintained and we're pursuing
every opportunity of enabling that to happen."

Sydney.  WHICH NATION? Pauline Hanson's new career has gotten off to
an indifferent start.  Claiming to be running on a law & order ticket
for the NSW upper house, Ms Hanson tripped up over naming the NSW
Police Commissioner.  She's been doing the rounds of all the news
shows, something the TV networks have always been happy to do.  If
only to throw a helpful grenade in the way for the cameras.  Planning
to stand as an indep, Ms Hanson says she will move to Sylvania Waters,
a little slice of Qld in NSW.  While some observers discount her,
others say Ms Hanson could win a seat with as few as 80,000 votes.
But Ms Hanson could also lose it if she's convicted of fraud.  A Qld
case over her old One Nation party is still hanging over her head.
Providing a good sound-bite for the TV, members of her soon-to-be
local Vietnamese community told Ms Hanson she wasn't welcome in
Sylvania Waters, and to go back where she came from.

Brazzaville.  EBOLA! A suspected outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has
killed nearly 60 people in the NW of Congo Republic, health officials
said on Tue.  Congo's Health Ministry said it had recorded 58 deaths
while the WHO, based in Geneva, The districts of Kelle and Mbomo, nr
the border with Gabon, have been particularly affected by the
outbreak, thought to have been caused by the consumption of infected
monkey meat.  The area is about 440 miles from the capital Brazzaville
and the outbreak is the 2nd in little more than a y in the remote NW
of the C African country.
Official confirmation the outbreak is indeed Ebola was expected from
Geneva soon, although both the authorities and health workers have
already been treating it as such.  Ebola killed at least 73 people in
Congo and Gabon in an outbreak from October 2001 to Feb 2002. That
epidemic was also linked to the consumption of infected primates.  The
disease was named after a river in Congo's neighbouring DRC, where
Ebola was discovered in 1976. The worst outbreak was in that country
in 1995 when more than 250 people died.

Canberra.  LEAVE THAT SOLDIER ALONE! Def Force chief Gen Peter
Cosgrove has played down reports of soldiers being harassed by people
opposed to war in Iraq.  Reports from Qld say AUS troops have been
vilified and labelled "warmongers" by those opposed to a war.  It is
understood some troops have been told not to wear their uniforms in
public to lessen the risk of harassment.  The Liberal MP for Herbert,
Peter Lindsay, whose Qld electorate incl the army city of
Townsville, says the anti-war mood has led to soldiers being verbally
abused.  Michael O'Connor from the AUS Def Assoc says some troops have
been advised not to wear their uniforms in public.  He says the verbal
abuse may escalate if war is declared and fears there may be violent
attacks on troops.  Gen Cosgrove says he has had only one report of a
minor case of harassment.  "I want all servicemen and women to wear
their uniforms, to work with pride and get on and do the jobs they
normally do," Gen Cosgrove said.  "I think Aussies are much more
sensible than that."

Brisbane.  The Qld Branch of the RSL has reacted angrily to reports
soldiers have been abused by peaceniks.  State RSL pres John Burgess
says such abuse is unacceptable.  "I think that's deplorable," Mr
Burgess said.  "I don't think the public should be taking anything out
on our defence forces.  "They have no say at all in the policy making
of the govt as far as where they go or what they do.  "They are simply
members of the defence force who've signed up to serve Australia."

Sydney.  QANTAS WAR CUTBACKS! Unions have expressed dismay at plans by
Qantas to cut as many as 2,500 jobs in the event of a war being
conducted against Iraq.  Qantas believes int'l bookings could be
reduced by 15 to 20% in the event of a conflict and has accordingly
drawn up a contingency plan.  The airline is also worried about a
downturn already showing up in bookings for after Easter.  AUS
Services Union assistant national secretary Linda White says it is
outrageous Qantas workers should find out about a possible threat to
their jobs through a media report.  "We've got the experience of what
happened in the Gulf War last time -- 2,500 jobs did not go," Ms White
said.  "I'd suggest that this announcement by Qantas has got a little
more to do with tomorrow's profit announcement and some executives
wanting to boost the share price."

Canberra (ABC Rural).  GOVT PREPARES FOR WORST! The Fed
Govt has started planning for a worst-case scenario, in the event the
drought continues through winter.  Deputy PM John Anderson is keeping
tight-lipped about the details of the work, but says the govt is
monitoring the flow-on impact of the drought on regional economies.
Mr Anderson says extra drought relief funding will also be made
available if more farmers qualify for exceptional circumstances
assistance in the ms ahead. "The need is established and it is
accepted. These programs are 'demand' driven. It's not as if we've
said 'here's the pot and there's no more'. We will meet the need, as
it emerges, and as it unfolds, and as further areas come forward.  But
we think the level of assistance we're providing is about right."

Sydney.  NEW WEEDS! NSW Agriculture has declared 2 new noxious weeds
on the state's N coast.  Celtis and the broad leaf pepper tree have
been declared W2 weeds from Taree N to the Qld border.  Regional weed
control coordinator Rod Ensbey says both were introduced to AUS as
ornamental or shade trees and are now quite widespread in SE Qld, and
threatening coastal areas in N NSW.  The celtis is a large tree with a
spreading moderately dense crown, smooth mottled green bark and
elliptical shaped leaves.  The broad leaf pepper tree is a broad
topped, multi-stemmed shrub, leaves are dark green and flowers small
and greenish yellow.  Landholders are urged to destroy any of the
plants on their land.

Hobart.  OLD FROG LAB FOUND IN TASSIE! Two archaeologists have
authenticated a proposed logging site in S Tas as one of the oldest
European expedition sites in AUS.  The find has increased pressure on
the state and fed govts to save Recherche Bay from being logged.
Archaeologist, Prof John Mulvaney, says Recherche Bay holds the
remains of a garden built by French expeditioners led by Bruny D
Entrecasteaux in 1792.  He says it is one of the most significant
finds in AUS history.  "This site must be preserved and it must be
surveyed and excavated systematically," Prof Mulvaney said.  The find
has heartened those opposed to logging at Recherche Bay.  Greens
leader, Sen Bob Brown, says the area should be nominated for world
heritage listing.  "It's a wonderful day in AUS history, in French
history, in int'l history," Sen Brown said.  But a rep for Tas Prem
Jim Bacon says the Heritage Council will reassess the area and make a
recommendation to the Govt on whether logging should go ahead.

Hobart.  AUS TO DOUBLE IN SIZE! A research voyage leaving Hobart
tonight could result in AUS ending up 2.5 times its present size.
Scientists from AUS, France and Germany are taking part in the Auscan
study, which will chart the seabed along the continental shelf running
from Tas to WA.  The Fed Parl'y Sec for Env and Heritage, Sharman
Stone, says the $1 mn project could lead to AUS claiming more than
double its present territory at next y's UN Convention of the Law of
the Sea.  "Well certainly by the time we've finished our mapping work
and put together our claim, which will go through in 2004 to the
convention, we will expect AUS to be some 2.5 times larger than it is
now in terms of claimed territory," he said.  "One and a half times of
that will be ocean."

NY.  DEEP FREEZE! With the death toll climbing to 40, the snow is
still falling in the US NE.  NY, Boston, and Washington have been the
hardest hit by snowfalls, with 1-2 m of white stuff.  The storm has
caused widespread power blackouts and closed airports and roads.  As
always, some older people insisted on going for a snowy ocean swim
with a American flag for TV cameras.

Sao Paulo.  DEEP FREEZE! A man in tropical Brazil who claims to have
beaten the world record for staying submerged in ice says he will not
bother to seek recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records.
40-y-old Cruz who teaches marketing in Sao Paulo state and says the
Guinness Book had been his inspiration for decades, on Mon spent 67
minutes in a transparent box full of ice cubes in the main square of
the city of Ribeirao Preto.  The previous record for "full body ice
contact endurance," registered in the Guinness Book, was set by
Dutchman Wim Hof, who remained inside a tube full of ice about one
minute less.  The temperature inside the box was minus-20 degrees
Celsius, a sharp contrast to the sweltering heat of Brazilian summer.
Mr Cruz says he has damaged nerves in his arms and could not move some
fingers, but he was happy.  Mr Cruz claims a number of other records,
incl staying under water for more than 10 hours, non-stop
horse-riding for 55 hours and doing 14,000 push-ups in 4.5 hours.  He
said he had tried to register 2 of the claims with the Guinness Book,
which dismissed them without explanation.  Guinness officials were not
available for comment.

British magician to entomb himself in cheese
London.  British magician Noah Kelly has announced plans to entomb
himself in 320 kg of mature cheddar cheese for 48 hours next month.
"This is an endurance test -- I'm not going to wimp out and use a mild
cheese," 32-year-old Mr Kelly said, who will perform his stunt at a
shopping mall in his hometown of Weston-super-Mare in the W of Eng on
Mar 20.  Mr Kelly said he got the idea while lying in a bathtub
thinking of US celebrity street magician David Blaine, who spent 62
hours inside a big ice cube in NY's Times Square last Nov.  "I was
thinking how cheesy what he did was and then from there I thought that
I could do it surrounded by cheese," he said.  During his two-day
stunt, Kelly will be taking with him a laptop computer to answer
emails from fans worldwide.  He also intends to slow his breathing by
meditation techniques to endure his confinement in 16 20-kg blocks of
cheese and he confessed he might even nibble on some of the stuff now
and then.  "I love cheese now but I'm not quite sure what its going to
be like afterwards," he said.

Canberra.  DODGY BROS HEALTH SYSTEM! It has been claimed Fed Health
Min Kay Patterson has effectively pulled the rug from under this wk's
AUS Health Mins' Conference by refusing to attend.  WA Health Min Bob
Kucera, who is chairing Fri's meeting in MEL, says its main purpose
was to negotiate a new 5-y health funding agreement with the
Commonwealth.  Sen Patterson says the Commonwealth has not finalised
its position on the next agreement, but Mr Kucera says she is dodging
debate on important national issues.  "So we're now back after doing a
solid y's work, of coming up with models that will support health in
AUS," Mr Kucera said.  "They've now decided to turn their backs on all
of that and go back 5 y, and perpetuate this silly squabbling between
the states and the Fed Govt.  "We don't need this, we don't need this
thing in health."

Melbourne.  WHO'S GOT MOM'S PANCREAS? A national audit shows
institutions around AUS are holding organs secretly removed during
autopsies without family consent, dating back to the beginning of
white settlement.  The Herald Sun says the national audit found the
organs are stockpiled at medical, scientific and research institutions
across the country.  It lists 100s of Aussies whose organs were
removed so that families can access the info, if they choose.

Canberra. A task force of 70 police, some in riot gear, has clashed
with 10 members of CBR's Aboriginal Tent Embassy in a pre-dawn raid to
remove an illegal shelter.  A man and woman were arrested by AFP who
complained officers had been threatened with a burning branch and a
spear during a 90-min standoff.  The conflict ended with contractors
moving in and demolishing the 6 m high A-frame that had been confused
with the Swiss Embassy since it was erected on Invasion Day.

Canberra. SMELL WHAT?  Air pollution around AUS has soared, prompting
calls for an urgent overhaul of national industry emission levels. The
National Pollutant Inventory shows pollutants such as CO and Pb are
the key culprits.  Total reported emissions jumped to 8.8 mn t in
2001/02, up from 3.2 mn t for the prev y.  A total of 64 of the 90
substances listed in the inventory have increased over the past 12 m.

Phom Penh. A member of Cambodia's ruling party has been beaten to
death outside the famed Angkor Wat temple complex.  The assailant is
unknown.  It's the 2nd murder of a politician in as many days.  Police
say 57 yo Lach Thorm was killed while carrying out his duties as a
member of a Cambodian People's Party district council in NW Siem Reap
province.  Police say they believe it was a robbery, but they'll keep
the investigation going to see if there are possible motives for
murder.

Rain eases wheatbelt water woes
Perth.  Recent rains in WA's E wheatbelt have eased the need for water
for stock and household consumption.  The Dept of Water and Rivers' Ed
Hauck says the department had been gathering info for water deficiency
declarations for parts of the shires of Yilgarn, Narembeen and Lake
Grace before the rains.  He says dams and rainwater tanks were running
dry until the heavy downpours over the weekend.  Mr Hauck says the
department is gathering info to determine if there is a need to
further the water deficiency declarations.  "In the northern part of
the area that was experiencing water deficiency problems through the
Yilgarn and Narembeen shires there appears to be a number of reports,
and looking at the rainfall figures that indicates that the situation
has certainly improved substantially," he said.

Benoni. NOT CRICKET, EH?  The Canadians were reportedly taught a
cricket lesson at the World Cup today when they scored a new record
low.  Sri Lanka was merciful, taking out the game in 30 mins.
Apparently suffering from heat-stroke because temps were over 32 F,
the Canadians kept throwing down the bat before running, and
complained the ball was way too soft.  They also said there were
problems with losing the horizon because surroundings were "too
colorful, eh".

Sydney.  The All Ords closed 21 pts higher at 2850.  The AUD is
trading around 59.09 US cents.  Gold is $US344/oz, and oil is
$US36.85/bbl.  Wages numbers out today show growth was 3.4% over the
past y, following an expected 0.8% rise in Dec.

Is there demand for on-demand supercomputing?
LA.  "It's so crazy, it just might work." This phrase appears in
movies and TV shows, not to mention boardrooms, from time to
time. Someone hatches a scheme that sounds a bit nutty, but it works
in the end.  Applying this principle to the high-tech world, the
wizards at IBM have hatched a scheme to supply computing power to
companies for short periods of time, rather than sticking with their
tried-and-true business plan of selling computers outright to
customers.
IBM calls this new initiative on-demand computing, Sun calls it grid
computing, and other companies refer to it as utility computing. You
know what? It's so crazy, it just might work.  So far, the on-demand
concept seems to be catching on fast.  Apparently, many companies do
not need supercomputing power on a full-time basis.
John Gillooly, VP of Western Hemisphere data processing at Petroleum
Geo-Services (PGS), said his company is one of those that has signed
on with IBM. "Our industry is cyclic, so every two to three y we're
over capacity," he said.  "For the majority of our requirements, it's
working out so well we're debating whether we want to own our own
computer floor."

----------------------------------------
20 Feb 2003.

NY. NO, NOT THE OIL! The price of oil is reaching prices not since
since 1990 as the US prepares to take on Iraq. The war plans also
coincide with a tightening of global crude oil supplies. The March
crude oil contract rose 20 c in the US today, to finish at
$US37.16/bbl, a new 29-m high. Oil futures on the NY Merc Exch are now
just 5 c shy of closing at their highest levels since Oct 16, 1990.

NY (NBC).  It's been a bad day for the self-image of some Americans,
with Katie worried about the US-bashing coming out of the UN.
Elsewhere, Whitehouse reps are wondering how they could lose the PR
war against Saddam Hussein.  While observers say the Admin is still
trying for a 2nd res authorising force, with only 2 voices in UN in
favour today, the res won't move forward this wk.
France continues to signal it will use its veto if the Res mentions
military force.  As part of the Admin's "pro" campaign, Colin Powell
was on French radio today, saying the US doesn't need the 2nd Res.
But observers say Brit PM Tony Blair needs the 2nd Res for "his
political purposes".  The Brit leader has seen a disastrous decline in
support, even in his own party, over his support of the US war plan.
And it would be nice for Bush, too, with protests in US possibly set to grow.
Today Pres Bush is reportedly continuing to stir support.  Observers
say the language for the 2nd res will be vague, so opponents will be
able to say they did not vote for war if they end up supporting it.
The Admin is also reportedly going forward to set simple benchmarks
that may trip up Saddam, and create support for the US.  The hurdles
incl making Iraq accept more U2 spy flights looking for WMD.  To
remove recently-discovered "long-range" missiles.  And to take Iraqi
scientists out of the country for interviews by weapons inspectors.
If Saddam baulks at any of these measures, the Admin expects to get
some other Council members to support a strong 2nd Res.

NY.  MARKETS! Wall St is down again on war worries.  After 2 sessions
of gain, investors are taking profits.  Most think the Iraqi war is
delayed but will not be put off indefinitely.  The DJIA was down 82
pts, falling below the 8000 barrier.  The Nasdaq was down 18 pts.  New
US numbers out today show housing starts are at a 16 y high, with
record low mortgages.  The news for US telcos is not good.  The FCC is
set to rule on the baby bells to allow rivals to use their networks at
wholesale prices.  Oil has risen to $US37.16/bbl, explaining AUS
petrol prices.  Gold is $US347.75/oz.

San Juan. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE!  3 more suspected terrorists have
attempted suicide over the past wk at America's Camp Concentration, at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  The Pentagon has confirmed the suicide bids,
saying 19 detainees had so far tried to top themselves.  The Pentagon
says the 3 prisoners received hospital treatment and are now back in
their cells.  About 650 people with suspected links to terrorist
organisations or deposed foreign govts are being detained at the camp.

Amsterdam. WAR CRIMINAL!  Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial has
been shown a secret video which captured the ex-Yugoslav Pres paying
tribute to Serb paramilitaries accused of ethnic
cleansing. Prosecutors are trying to establish a direct link between
Milosevic and shadowy paramilitary units, allegedly controlled by
Serbian state security.  The units are accused of atrocities in
Croatia and Bosnia between 1991 and 1995. Milosevic has been on trial
since Feb last y charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in
Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Fewer Aussies being jailed: ABS
Canberra.  The number of inmates in AUS jails per head of population
has declined for the 1st time in a decade.  The ABS says the national
imprisonment rate is 148 prisoners per 100,000 adults -- a 1% decrease
on the previous year.  This is the 1st decrease in the national
imprisonment rate since 1992.  In the bureau's latest recording period
there were 22,492 prisoners in AUS jails.

Seoul. AHHH... North Korea has toned down its rhetoric over the
nuclear standoff with the US in an abrupt departure from its strident
attacks in recent wks.  The isolated Stalinist state is now stressing
a goal of reforming its struggling economy.  A foreign ministry rep
denied the country is resorting to brinkmanship by using the nuclear
standoff as a means of seeking concessions from Washington.  The
statement follows a warning from Whitehouse mouth Ari Fleischer that
the US Admin would not bow to nuclear blackmail from the famine-hit state.

Seoul. INVASION!  Ramping up tensions, a North Korean aircraft invaded
S Korean airspace this morning.  For the first time in 20 y an NK
Mig-19 flew over SK territory for several minutes around 10.30 am
local time.  SK officials say 2 NK jets had been patrolling the
border, when 1 veered S.  It was chased back over the border by a S
Korean F-5E fighter.  The South is treating the violation seriously,
and intends to submit a formal complaint after "analysing the intent
of the flight".

Hamburg. TERRORIST JAILE! A German court has convicted the first 9/11
conspirator, sentencing him to the maximum possible jail term of 15 y.
Mounir El Motassadeq, a 28 yo electrical engineering student from
Morocco, was convicted of being an accessory to the murder of 3,066
people in NY, Washington and Pennsylvania. Presiding judge Albrecht
Metnz said the accused was also found guilty of being a member of a
proscribed terrorist organisation.

Srinagar. KA-BOOM! At least 4 people have been killed in a bomb blast
at a crowded marketplace in Indian-admin Kashmir.  Police say 3 were
also injured when the bomb went off in the N town of Baramulla.
Police suspect the blast was the work of Islamic militants fighting
Indian rule in the Himalayan province, and have cordoned off the area
around the explosion.

Zamboanga. SHOOTING! Gunmen have attacked the S Philippines town of
Calauit on Mindanao Is, killing 14 and wounding 3.  A military rep
says the attackers sprayed homes with automatic gunfire and set fire
to at least 5 homes late yesterday.  Lt Col Daniel Lucero says 3
residents are still missing.  He said the ID of the raiders is
unknown.

Teheran.  PLANE CRASH! In one of the world's worst air accidents, a
plane carrying 270 passengers, mostly military personnel, has crashed
in SE Iran, apparently killing all on board.  State-run Teheran TV
says the plane was on a domestic route from Zahedam, on the Pakistan
border, to Kerman, about 800 km SE of the capital.  It crashed in
mountainous area about 80 km from its destination, nr the city of
Shahdad.  The report says the plane was carrying members of the elite
Revolutionary Guards and all on board are believed to be dead. Those
killed incl many officers, and analysts say the loss will hit the
Iranian military hard.  The aircraft crashed into a mountainside in
the SE of the country. Poor weather is at least partly to
blame. Reports say it was snowing in the region, unusual for this time
of y.  Iran blames US sanctions for not allowing the country to
maintain its transport aircraft. [Latest reports put the death toll
above 300].

Ankara. MAKE UP YOUR MIND! The US is stepping up pressure on Turkey to
open up its territory for a war against Iraq.  But Ankara says it is
not yet satisfied with the financial package Washington is offering to
make good the economic damage caused by regional turmoil.  The Turkish
govt has put on hold a parliamentary vote on allowing US troops to use
Turkey as a springboard for attacks on its SE neighbour.  The decision
complicates war planning in Washington and has sparked warnings from
US officials that "time is running out".  Ari Fleischman said the
Turkish govt had been made aware of the US demands, and they should
make the correct decision ASAP.

London. MORE TROOPS! Brit says it's deployed 18,000 soldiers, seamen
and airmen of its planned 42,000 for a possible US-led strike on
Baghdad.  A Def Min'y rep says some 8,000 ground troops, out of 26,000
or 1/4 of the entire Brit army, have gone to the Gulf region.  There
are also 2,000 RAF personnel out of 8,000, the rep said.  All 8,000 RN
personnel, incl 4,000 Royal Marine commandos, have been deployed
as part of a 17-ship taskforce.

Qantas flags job cuts despite record profit
Melbourne.  Qantas has outlined a turbulent period ahead for the
airline, overshadowing a record half-year profit.  The airline's share
price has nosedived as the market absorbs a warning on future
passenger volumes.  Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon
appeared a little coy in confirming the $353 mn profit as a record
result.  "Under no circumstances should anybody go away from here and
think we're embarrassed about it," Mr Dixon said.  Nor is he stepping
away from the fact that jobs might have to be cut in the event of a
war against Iraq cutting passenger numbers.  "If that was 15 to 20%,
we would need to reduce staff," he said.  "It does not necessarily
mean that that will be by redundancies."  "We will be 1st attempting
leave without pay, accumulated leave, long service leave."  Even
without a war, Qantas has already reduced its scheduled flight hours
by 6% overall for the 16 weeks ahead.  At midday AEDT, the Qantas
share price was down 30 cents or 8% at $3.50.

Class action against Esso fails
Melbourne.  1000s of Vic's have lost a $multi-mn class action against
energy company Esso over the Longford gas explosion in 1998.  A Vicn
Supreme Court judge ruled in the company's favour for the bulk of the
claims.  Justice Bill Gillard found that energy giant Esso was not
negligent for the economic losses suffered by tens of 1000s of gas
consumers after the Longford gas explosion in 1998.  
Esso's AUS chairman Robert Olsen says he is pleased with the court's
ruling on economic losses, describing the decision as one of common
sense.  "At the time of the gas interruptions, our contracts to supply
gas was with the State of Vic, not with the end users that were filing
the claims in this particular case," Mr Olsen said.  "The long-term
supply contract with the State Govt recognised although undesirable,
the potential for interruption to supply."
Lawyer for the plaintiffs Bernard Murphy said they are disappointed
with the verdict.  "We are disappointed that they found against them
for the bulk of their losses and disappointed for the consumers and
the stood down workers who've lost today," Mr Murphy said.
However, the judge did rule in the claimants' favour in relation to
property damage.  Mr Murphy said those claims could amount to $many
mn.  Both parties will now look at the judgement before considering an appeal.

Washington. The US has described France's hosting of Zimbabwean Pres
Robert Mugabe at this wk's Franco-African summit in Paris as
"regrettable".  France temporarily suspended EU travel bans on the
African leader.  Observers say France is now acting unilaterally after
criticising the US for its unilateral plans for Iraq.  Washington has
called for EU unity in enforcing the sanctions against members of the
Zimbabwean govt.  The Zimbabwean leader was invited to the Summit by
Pres Chirac despite the EU ban on Mugabe and 71 of his associates.
Mugabe's arrival in Paris has been met with protests and a call from
human rights groups for his arrest under French anti-torture laws.

Brussels. ICE! Antwerp, the capital of the world's gem trade, is in shock
today as Belgian police struggle to unravel what appears to be the
world's biggest diamond heist ever.  Thieves over the weekend emptied
more than 100 vaults in a heavily-guarded Antwerp trading centre
bristling with sophisticated technology. They got away with diamonds
worth millions of euros. The robbery is the N port's biggest since 2
Israelis and a Brazilian lifted $A7.74 mn worth of stones in 1994.

London. International donors meeting in London have pledged around
$US700 mn to the Palestinian Authority to help meet its 2003
budget. The World Bank says 80% of the money had been provided by the
EU, Arab League and the US. World Bank rep Nigel Roberts says the aid
package would help pay the salaries of public servants, in addition to
food and employment-generating schemes.

Wellington. TRICKLE DOWN!  AUS Treas Peter Costello will meet NZ PM
Helen Clark for talks in Auckland today.  The meeting follows talks
between Mr Costello and NZ Fin Min Michael Cullen in Wellington
yesterday.  Clark and Costello are likely to discuss progress in talks
between AUS and the US over a free trade deal.  Mr Costello says he
told Mr Cullen about some of the benefits that would flow to AUS, and
potentially NZ, from a trade deal with the US.  The AUS govt has
rejected links between trade talks with the US and AUS support for US
military action in Iraq.

Canberra. The ACT is the first state or territory to pass a motion
demanding the Fed Govt oppose war against Iraq and withdraw Aussie
troops from the Gulf.  The ACT Leg Ass'y voted last night to oppose a
war, saying it served the interests of promoting global terrorism. The
motion, intro'd by Aus Greens MLA Kerrie Tucker, condemned the use of
military force in Iraq.

Protesters hit back at Howard criticism
Sydney.  PM John Howard's criticism of anti-war protesters has been
condemned by one of the organisers of Sun's record march through the
streets of SYD.  Mr Howard has accused them of giving comfort to the
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Convenor of the Walk Against the War coalition Hannah Middleton says
Mr Howard has adopted a desperate and arrogant position.  "We, the
people, have spoken," Ms Middleton said.  "With those huge marches,
with the polls that are about, he must know that he no longer speaks
for us, and so the only way he can manage to maintain this facade that
he knows best for us and for Iraq and for the world, is to slander the
peace people of this country."
Mr Howard says he respects the right of people to demo against
any military attack on Iraq but has told Radio 5DN their efforts could
be making it harder to find a peaceful solution to the crisis over
Iraq's WMD.  "We are all accountable for the actions we take," Mr
Howard said.  "And people who demonstrate and give comfort to Saddam
Hussein must understand that, and must realise, that's it's a factor
in making it that much more difficult to get united world opinion on
this issue, which in the end is the best guarantee there is of finding
a peaceful solution, if there is a peaceful solution to be found," Mr
Howard said.
Meanwhile, Greens Sen Kerry Nettle says the anti-war effort is not
about giving comfort to the Iraqi regime.  She says the protesters
support neither Mr Howard nor the Iraqi leader.  "As may be expected
Saddam Hussein is using the voices of peace around the world to try to
support his campaign," Sen Nettle said.  "That is something you could
anticipate that he would do and again, many of those people who took
part in those rallies are angry to see their call for peace, their
support for Iraqi civilians being used in that way by Saddam Hussein."
Sen Nettle today dumped 100s of anti-terrorism kits at the gates of
the PM's residence in SYD in an attempt to return to sender.

PM criticism of protesters 'disgraceful': Crean 
Canberra.  The Opp'n leader, Simon Crean, has described as
disgraceful, the PM's criticisms of anti-war protestors.  John Howard
claims the demo have given comfort to Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein, and have made it more difficult to find a peaceful way of
disarming Iraq.  But Mr Crean says Mr Howard has insulted ordinary
Aussies.  "They don't all agree with me but I respect their right to
hold those views and they're entitled to hold them.... that's what a
democracy is but for a PM who's not getting his way and who's slumping
in the polls as a consequence to turn around and question the loyalty
of the people that disagree with him is an outrage," he said.

Sydney.  PM TO STAY ON! Mr Howard has again vowed to stay on in the
job until the crisis over Iraq's WMD destruction is resolved but has
refused to comment on his plans after that.  He says he is very
focused on the issue of Iraq, describing it as difficult and
challenging.  He has told Radio 5DN he is committed to seeing the
situation resolved but he would not be drawn on whether he is planning
to remain PM until the next election.  "I will see this particular
issue through for the Australian people," Mr Howard said.  "I've said that,
but equally also I don't want to open up any other front on that other
issue -- I think you understand my meaning." Treas Peter Costello was
later seen gritting his teeth and smiling.

Adelaide. TOO BAD, SAYS PM! PM John Howard says he understands public
opp'n to a nuclear waste dump in SA, but the material has to go
somewhere and they're elected. Mr Howard says someone will object no
matter where in AUS the dump is built, but the further away from his
SYD electorate, the better.  The Fed Govt plans to construct a
"low-level" radioactive waste repository at Woomera, 500 km N of
Adel. Waste would be shipped in via road convoys. The SA govt opposes
the plan, but Mr Howard told Adel radio 5DN the site had been chosen
in a fair and impartial manner.

Canberra. The Fed Govt will require labelling of ethanol-laced fuels
after new studies found the additive can damage vital engine parts.  2
studies -- on an outboard motor and a garden trimmer -- found fuels
with 10% ethanol were relatively safe, but major problems were caused
by fuel with up to 20% of the additive. Env Min David Kemp says
although there was no conclusive proof the additive causes damage to
automobile engines, he hopes fuel outlets will be forced to carry
ethanol labelling within 2 m.

Melbourne. RAID! More than 60 people have been detained by armed
immigration officials after a raid on a building site in MEL's S. A
rep for the Dept of Imm says 11 workers at the Pt MEL site have so far
been found to be what it called "unlawful citizens".  She says another
14 people are in breach of their working visas, and others are being
processed.  The raid came after a tip-off from the public.  All those
detained were paid-up members of the CFMEU.  The union said the raid
was inept, with police in uniform and some in plain clothes running
through a workplace, brandishing firearms. Philip Ruddock says the
Dept had "some intelligence" that suspects might resist. None did.  Mr
Ruddock said a certain union had been issued a "warning", apparently
in relation to members that were overstaying their visas.

Imm raid in MEL draws flak
Melbourne.  An Imm Dept raid on a Port MEL building site has attracted
widespread criticism from unions and Chinese community groups.  State
secretary of the CFMEU Martin Kingham claims police armed with guns
stormed the site, pushing some workers aside and traumatising many.
"The way that it's been carried out is extremely disturbing.... 61
people were detained simply on the basis that they were of Asian
appearance," he said.  Of those, 19 Chinese nationals were taken to
Maribyrnong Detention Centre -- 12 with no visas and 6 allegedly
working in breach of them.  The status of one man is not yet known.
Pres of the NE MEL Chinese Association Dr Stanley Chieng says he feels
the raid is indicative of an increasingly harsh approach being taken
by the Dept of Imm.  "I certainly believe it's not justified... it's
certainly been dealt with too harshly," he said.  The project manager
at the site has refused to comment.

Canberra. 40,000 y ago, Australia's oldest couple, Mungo Man and Mungo
Woman, were battling drought like farmers today.  The reminder that
Aussies have always endured the hardship of drought came as scientists
revised the age of Mungo Man -- Australia's oldest human remains.  The
research has also given scientists a clear picture of how
drought-ravaged the nation was. They say Mungo Man's remains are now
officially 40,000 y old, not 62,000 as previously thought.

Canberra. Nurses have joined a chorus of criticism directed at Fed
Health Min Kay Patterson for snubbing a meeting in MEL on Fri to
discuss hospital funding. The meeting was called to discuss a new Aus
Health Care Agreement, which covers federal finding for the public
hospital system.  A new deal is to come into force in Jul.  But Sen
Patterson has refused to attend the meeting after receiving a letter
from her state and territory counterparts which she says reads like a
log of funding demands.

Canberra. Aussies are buying up big on cholesterol-lowering drugs,
costing the fed govt more than $1/2 bn in subsidies.  The latest
snapshot of drug use in AUS found cholesterol drugs are the most
common filled prescriptions.  Of the 208 mn prescriptions filled in
2001, about 80% were govt subsidised.

Melbourne. THERE'S GREEN IN SALT! A Pyramid Hill businessman who's
turned saline ground water into a profitable salt-making industry has
won the major prize in the Vic 2003 Science Awards. Gavin Privett, an
owner of Pyramid Salt Company located near Pyramid Hill on the Loddon
Plains in N Vic, has won the Hugh McKay innovators award and $10,000
for his project to convert degraded, unproductive farmland into a
source of high-quality salt.

Oldfield to front court over One Nation pre-selection row
Sydney.  Just 30 days out from the NSW election, the One Nation Party
will head to the courts today over a messy pre-selection brawl.  One
Nation MP David Oldfield will appear in court over a row concerning
who gets the number one spot on the party's upper house ticket.  The
party's state treasurer Brian Burston has taken the legal action
claiming he was originally given the top spot but then later denied
it, with Mr Oldfield's wife Lisa installed instead.  Mr Oldfield says
he has tried to resolve the issue by offering a postal ballot of party
members but Mr Burston claims there has been a breach of the party's
constitution and the top spot is rightfully his.  Today's hearing in
the Supreme Court presents the party as in a state of disunity, and
comes just a day after party founder Pauline Hanson announced she will
also run for the upper house as an independent.

Sydney. MARKETS! Wall St closed down 1/2% on war jitters today, and
the All Ords dived 1.5% on last-min selling.  Gold is trading at
$US351.40/oz, and the AUD is worth 59.67 US cents.  Share in the
Commonwealth closed down to a new low.  Following the revelations of
the Cuffe payout, the Bank is taking the unprecedented action of
sending an explanatory letter to shareholders. It's also been reported
a 3-page internal memo details Mr Cuffe's contract prior to the CBA's
takeover of Colonial. Some Bank officials have claimed on national TV
the Bank had not known about the contracts.

Adelaide.  News tonight that Adel has seen its biggest rainfall in 29 y.

----------------------------------------
21 Feb 2003.

Raleigh (NBC).  SECOND CHANCE! There's new hope for a 17 yo woman
accidentally given the wrong organs in a transplant mixup.  The woman
had been waiting 3 y for new heart and lungs, but when the transplant
was done earlier this wk the organs used were the wrong blood type.
The woman has blood type O, but the organs used were type A.  No-one
knows how the "terrible mixup" happened.  She was initially given
almost no chance of surviving.  But Duke Uni Hospital announced
yesterday a new donor has been found to correct the mistake.  The new
organs are an "incredible match", said hospital officials.  Doctors
are doing the transplant surgery this morning.  "What a story",
reporters said.  It was "so lucky" for the young Mexican immigrant.
Removing the mismatched organs started last night, the new ones will
be transplanted later today.  Doctors say the patient has a 50/50
chance of surviving.  The young woman's parents are understandably
angry.  They'll be giving the hospital a piece of their minds at a
press conf later today.

Tampa.  TERRORISTS ARRESTED! A Fla professor is under arrest this
morning charged with terrorism offences.  Authorities had been keeping
an eye on the man for a decade.  He's charged with racketeering, and
providing material support for terrorists.  The suspect is a Prof at
the Uni of S Fla.  Police say he raised money for a terrorist group.
The govt's strongest evidence are videos produced by the suspect
himself where he calls for revolution, "death to Israel", and the
take-over of Jerusalem.  Money he raised was supposed to go to widows
and orphans, but instead went to Islamic Jihad.  The terrorist group
was responsible for a 1995 bombing that killed 28 Israeli soldiers.
The suspect says he's innocent and is being punished for his
pro-Palestinian views.  Police say a total of 4 individuals were
taking into custody this morning.  The indictment detailing charges
will be made public later.

Washington. 8 CHARGED!  A Fla computer engineering prof and 7 others
have been charged in the US with overseeing and financing the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group.  The group has been blamed
for the killing of more than 100 people in Israel and adjacent
territories.  45 yo Sami Amin Al-Arian and 3 other US residents were
arrested after a federal grand jury in Tampa, Fla, returned a 50-count
indictment.

London.  US HITS N IRAQ GROUPS!  Brit and the US have frozen the
assets of Kurdish guerrilla groups operating in N Iraq.  In a
potentially embarrassing move for the US Admin, US Sec of State Colin
Powell accused Ansar al-Islam of harbouring an Al Qaeda fugitive from
Afghanistan.  Ansar operates in territory under the protection of the
N US-protected "no fly" zone.  Mr Powell had previously told the UN
Sec Council Saddam Hussein had an "agent" in Ansar's top leadership.

Melbourne. GROUND WAR BRIEFS! A "rumour" is doing the rounds in MEL
business circles that certain multinationals have been briefed by the
Dept of For Aff about the current covert ground war in N. Iraq.

NY.  THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SHOOTING! US commercial pilots are to be
armed under provisions of the Homeland Security laws.  NBC reports 48
pilots will initially be trained in the use of firearms in close
quarter situations.  Following background checks & mental health
screenings, they will carry firearms into the nation's cockpits later this y.

NY (7 am). MARKETS! Wall St closed down 103 pts to 7897 on int rate
fears and war jitters.  Gold is $US353/oz, oil $US36.73/bbl.  The AUD
is edging up to the barrier at 59.83 US cents. Experts are now
predicting the price of oil will spike to $US40/bbl when the US
attacks Iraq. It could go higher if the conflict lasts more than a
couple of days.

Baghdad. SADDAM PREPS! Iraq has handed out emergency food supplies to
citizens to take them through the period of expected US attacks.
Iraqi Pres Saddam Hussein has also met with top aides to discuss
military and civilian preparations for war. The meeting came as
state-controlled media blasted Arab regimes in the region for failing
to stand up to the US. The INA agency says the govt was discussing
ways of boosting the capabilities of the military and increasing the
defence of Iraq.  Elsewhere, analysts have cast doubt on reports 3
ships circling the Indian ocean are carrying Saddam's hidden WMD,
saying it was "very unlikely" the material could have been smuggled
out of Iraq to Syrian ports to get onto the tankers last Nov.

Melbourne. NO, NOT THE OIL!  As prices at the bowser head for $1.10/L,
some economics commentators have called for a cap on the GST take.
They say the excise is capped at 38 c/L, but the GST is (as we all
know) 10% of the price at the bowser.  Incl 3.8 c on the excise. They
complain the tax take increases unfairly just because the price goes
up. Strangely, the same people were at one time saying the GST was a
good idea because it would increase the tax take in times of price
inflation, thereby acting to brake demand and cooling the economy. How
times change. (Of course, with govt revenue going up in such times,
govt spending would also usually go up. Govt spending heats up the
economy more than consumer spending.  I.e. that argument didn't wash anyway).

Canberra. HIGH COST OF WAR!  2 of AUS's most prominent economists have
warned the war in Iraq could cost the economy $120 bn.  The costings
were done by RBA board member Prof Warwick McKibbin and Dr Andy
Stoeckel, who heads the C for Int'l Economics. They say under a
worst-case scenario, going to war with Iraq could cut 2% from world
economic growth over the next 3 y.

Sydney. PM SLAMS PEACENIKS!  PM John Howard has continued his
controversial criticism of anti-war protesters. Last night he against
said the massive rallies against war with Iraq over the weekend had
given comfort to Saddam Hussein.  The PM said even he had to consider
the consequences of his actions. He said peace protesters must be
honest enough to accept how their their actions are read in Iraq. Mr
Howard also told 2GB this morning that even Greens Sen Kerry Nettle
accepted that the Iraqi govt had taken comfort from the rallies.
Yesterday the PM said the only chance for a peaceful solution to the
Iraqi crisis would be if all Aussies expressed the same
opinion. Although most reporters took that to mean peace protesters
must change their mind, the PM didn't explicitly rule out becoming a
peacenik.  Sen Bob Green said the PM was becoming practised in
criticising ordinary Aussies that didn't agree with his views.

Melbourne. VICS ARE PEACENIKS!  Less than 1/7 of Vic's support going to
war to disarm Saddam Hussein without UN backing.  A new poll for the
Herald Sun says support for AUS going to war against Baghdad rises to
46% with UN approval.  About 40% are opposed to war in Iraq under any
conditions.  The McNair Ingenuity survey also found a majority of
Vic's disapprove of PM John Howard's handling of the Iraq crisis.

Canberra. I'M STAYING! PM John Howard has given another hint he has
shelved retirement plans, asking LP Pres and good pal Shane Stone to
stay on for another term.  Mr Stone was hand-picked by the PM 4 ya.
However the party Pres has had frosty relations with Mr Howard's heir,
Treas Peter Costello, since Stone penned a controversial memo 2 ya
saying the govt was perceived as "mean and tricky", esp on economic policy.

Canberra. ENV DISASTER!  A new report shows water use has increased
dramatically over the past 20 y, agriculture has degraded soil and
water quality, and energy consumption has risen.  The bleak picture of
the nation, released by the ABS, shows Aussies don't care as much
about the environment as they did once. The Bureau's data shows
rivers carry higher than natural levels of sediment and nutrients and
the impact of agriculture has had a severe impact in some areas.

Melbourne.  RAIN!  Much-needed rain is sweeping across Vic, easing the
fire danger in the state's NE.  Rain has been recorded in the
fire-ravaged Alpine and Gippsland areas with more falls expected today
and through the night.  Dept of Sust and Env rep John Lloyd says in
excess of 35 mm is needed to officially put out the mn ha blaze.  In
other reports, SA farmers say they need another good rain after the
state was soaked overnight. They say most of their drought worries
could be eased with just another day of more of the same. About 60 mm
was registered across much of SA in the past 24 hr. This is about 1/4
of the state's average annual rainfall.

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

(*) 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.

*** Does your neighbour behave in a peacnik manner? ***