LUTHERAN CHURCH SERVES ALL-ITALIAN MENU.(CAPITAL REGION)

TROY -- Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will hold an all-you-can-eat ``Italian Fest'' from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the church, Third Avenue and 11th Street.

Tickets are $7 for people 12 and over; seniors pay $6. Children under 12 are $4, children 3 and under are free. The menu will include lasagna, baked ziti, chicken, veal and eggplant parmesan, pasta, meatballs, sausage and salad.

For details and reservations, call 235-2432 or 235-3664.

Preservation workshop at historical society

TROY -- The Rensselaer County Historical Society will hold a workshop on preserving World War II history and artifacts.

Society librarian …

STOOGES BEGAN 1990S TV FAD.(Living Today)

Byline: Susan E. Tomer Staff writer

And you people say the Three Stooges are disgusting. Fingers in the eyes, a two-by-four in the face, a whomp! in the stomach, a tumble backward from a chair, food fights at dinner parties.

Violent, juvenile and not funny. Right?

Then how come you're all howling at "America's Funniest Home Videos" on Sunday nights?

Here's what I've seen on the show:

*A guy struck in the, um, loins by a billiard ball and doubling over in pain.

*Several people falling off horses.

*Several other people, on skis and sleds, skidding into trees, snowbanks and even a fire hydrant.

*Even more …

Finnish passenger ferry stuck in ice for 6 hours

Officials say a passenger ferry crossing the Gulf of Finland with 850 people on board was trapped in ice for six hours before it managed to break loose and continue its voyage from Helsinki to Tallinn.

Ilmari Aro, director of the Finnish Transport Agency's icebreaking unit, says the Nordlandia got stuck Friday morning about 60 …

Skull of Giant Panda's Ancestor Found

WASHINGTON - The first skull of the earliest known ancestor of the giant panda was been discovered in China, researchers report. Discovery of the skull, estimated to be at least 2 million years old, is reported by Russell L. Ciochon in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Ciochon, an anthropologist at the University of Iowa, and a team of U.S. and Chinese researchers, made the find in a limestone cave in south China.

The animal, formally known as Ailuropoda microta, or "pygmy giant panda," would have been about three feet long, compared to the modern giant panda, which averages in excess of five …

Inspiration and insight for psoriasis sufferers.(excerpt from "How I Overcame Psoriasis" by Kent Trussell)

The onset of summer can provide relief for many of Australia's 750,000 psoriasis sufferers. While sunlight has long been advocated as a measure to improve psoriasis most remedies are generally regarded as palliative, and the condition as 'incurable'.

However, former psoriasis sufferer and author Kent Trussell disagrees. In a new book How I overcame psoriasis, Trussell outlines his belief that gaining control over psoriasis involves understanding individual responses to the disease, and acting accordingly. According to Trussell, sufferers of this puzzling skin disease should no longer have to live with the discomfort or embarrassment of reddened raised skin patches, …

Demolition begins at ironworks; Plant that was to be part of Troy's riverfront revival smoldered as the work began.(Capital Region)(Correction notice)

Byline: CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY - Staff Writer

TROY - A demolition crew began tearing down the historic Rensselaer Iron Works building on Madison Street on Monday as wisps of smoke continued to rise from the roof.

The Madison Street building was vacant and had no electrical service when the fire started Sunday afternoon. Fire Chief Tom Garrett called it a definite case of arson.

Flames burned intensely for four hours. Neighboring fire departments from Albany, Watervliet and Green Island joined Troy firefighters in battling the blaze.

Most of the flames were contained to the factory's former power house and the north end of the largest building …

ALTERNATIVES TO NOBELS HONOR THE UNCONVENTIONAL.(MAIN)

Focusing on people who challenge conventional thinking, the ``alternative Nobels'' on Wednesday recognized a Chilean fighting to save a spectacular river and an American cancer-prevention specialist, among others.

This year's four Right Livelihood Awards, each worth $58,500, went to environmentalist Juan Pablo Orrego of Chile; Professor Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois-Chicago, who focuses on environmental carcinogens; …

1 bust to World Series of Poker final table

After 11 1/2 hours of play, just one elimination stood between a group of card players and the World Series of Poker main event final table early Sunday, as each card and wager twisted the fortunes of the top finishers in the marathon tournament.

Ten players remained in the hunt to win millions at the no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament after five players were eliminated within two hours after the dinner break Saturday.

But the players remaining refused to surrender late into the night, more than 16 hours after the session started Saturday afternoon.

With a spot at the final table worth far more than the nearly $177,000 difference in prize money …

Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies: The Benecon Group

A year ago, the leaders of The Benecon Group and Millersville University decided over a golf game to team up and help for-profit and nonprofit organizations trim their health care costs.

The success of the partnership has Sam Lombardo Ad Jerry Eckert wondering why they didn't tee off on the idea long ago. Lombardo is president and chief executive officer of Manheim Township-based Benecon, and Eckert is Manor Townshipbased Millersville's vice president for university advancement.

"We were playing and the idea came up," Eckert said. "It's a partnership where Sam and I will analyze a company's present health services and costs that they extend to their employees. It's a way to …

VeriFone Buys Orange Logic.(News)(Brief article)

Byline: Kevin Woodward

VeriFone Holdings Inc. Monday said it has purchased Orange Logic Ltd., a South Korea-based point-of-sale terminal maker.

South Korea is in the midst of a conversion to the EMV smart card standard, something that San Jose, Calif.-based VeriFone hopes to capitalize on. VeriFone would not disclose terms of the deal.

Though there are more than 2.5 million POS terminals in South Korea, only between 10% and 15% of them are EMV capable, VeriFone says.

"The Korean government launched a national mandate to complete full EMV migration by the end of 2008," Zvi Mitlanski, VeriFone Asia vice president and general manager, tells …

LOW-CAL FOODS GET BOOST FROM HERBS, SPICES.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Byline: Knight Ridder

Low calorie, low fat, low cholesterol, low salt . . . sometimes people trying to lose weight feel like the food they eat is also low in taste. One strategy to make low-calorie foods tasty is to use spices and herbs.

Try these tips:

If you're trying to reduce the red meat in your diet but are tired of chicken, change the flavor with herbs. Rosemary, thyme, garlic and oregano impart …

Bangladesh vs. India Scoreboard

Scoreboard at stumps Sunday on the opening day of the first test between Bangladesh and India at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium:

India 1st Innings

Gautam Gambhir c Rahim b Shahadat 23

Virender Sehwag c Iqbal b Hasan 52

Rahul Dravid b Shahadat 4

Sachin Tendulkar not out 76

V.V.S. Laxman st. Rahim b Hasan 7

Yuvraj Singh c Rubel b Hasan 12

Dinesh Karthik c Raqibul Hossain b Shahadat 0

Amit Mishra lbw b Shahadat 14

Zaheer Khan c Raqibul Hasan b Hasan 11

Ishant Sharma not out 1

Extras: (1b, 6lb, …

Licensing of tourist industry to create prerequisites for corruption and to increase number of shadow tour operators -- Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators.

Licensing of the tourist industry will create prerequisites for corruption and will increase the number of shadow tour operators, Ian Claytor, President of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators, said on January 24. Minister of Culture and Tourism Ibragim Junusov was right when he said tour operators would be against this measure, Ian Claytor said. Tour operators suggested simplification of procedures and removal of obstacles for development of the industry since the very beginning. This was one of the main goals of the Association, Mr. Claytor added. All tour operators objected to introduction of licensing during …

Roofing resources; where to obtain expert advice on roof design, installation, maintenance and repair. (Focus on Roofing)

Some of the organizations described on these pages were formed to educate owners, designers and contractors about roofing. Others provide these services as an adjunct to their primary activities. All are excellent resources on matters relating to the design, installation and repair of nonresidential roofing systems.

If your interests are more specialized, each of these groups can refer you to the appropriate resource.

Roofing Industry Educational Institute (RIEI)

14 Inverness Drive East Building H, Suite 110 Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 790-7200

RIEI was established in 1979 by companies and organizations involved in every segment of the roofing industry.

Activities/services

As its name suggests, RIEI provides education to those with a professional interest in roofing technology, including architects, engineers and other specifiers, as well as government officials, building owners, contractors, consultants, insurance and building officials, and maintenance personnel.

RIEI also provides technical services to owners and specifiers and serves as a communications link between various segments of the roofing industry.

Seminars/publications/audiovisuals

The majority of RIEI's educational efforts are provided via seminars and contract training programs conducted by the institute's staff …

US Patent Issued to Eastman Kodak on May 10 for "Network Configuration File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still Camera" (New York, New Jersey Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 17 -- United States Patent no. RE42,337, issued on May 10, was assigned to Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, N.

Y.).

"Network Configuration File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still Camera" was invented by Joseph Ward (Mendham, N.

J.), Kenneth A. Parulski (Rochester, N.

Y.) and James D. Allen (Rochester, N.

Y.).

According to the abstract released by the U.

S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction information for communicating with a selected destination via a communications interface. The digital camera includes a "send" button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When the user selects this option, the communications port settings, user account specifics, and destination connection commands are read from the network configuration file on the removable memory card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password."

The patent was filed on Aug. 13, 2009, under Application No. 12/540,610.

For further information please visit: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?

Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=RE42337&OS=RE42337&RS=RE42337

For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Good News on GDP, Earnings Sends Financial Stocks Aloft.(gross domestic product grows)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Financial stocks rallied Thursday on favorable economic news as oil prices fell and economic growth in the second quarter turned out stronger than expected.

The American Banker index of top 50 banks rose 3.27%, and the index of 225 banks was up 4.65%. The S&P 500 increased 2.22%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 3.33%.

Stocks also picked up on positive earnings expectations. A report released Tuesday by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. predicted per-share earnings growth of 11.1% in the third quarter for the large-cap banks it follows and a "more sluggish result" of 8.5% for the regionals.

Marni Pont O'Doherty, an analyst at Keefe Bruyette, said regional banks in Texas are expected to do better than their peers in other parts of the country.

The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the second-quarter gross domestic product growth rate was 5.6%, topping both the first quarter, when the growth rate was 4.8%, and the 5.3% economists had expected for the second quarter.

Nonresidential fixed investments, personal consumption, and government spending contributed most to the increased growth, the Commerce Department said in a statement.

The stronger than expected growth did not shake analysts' view that the economy has cooled of late.

James F. O'Sullivan, an economist at J.P. Morgan & Co., said that most of the second-quarter numbers are "old news," and that the third quarter has been "a lot weaker." He expects the GDP to grow 3.0% in the third quarter and predicted that the Fed will "stay on hold for a bit as they wait to see how much growth is slowing."

Also on Thursday, Sandler O'Neill & Partners initiated coverage of Fannie Mae with a "buy" rating.

Analyst Mike McMahon wrote in his research report that he believes the clouds of legislative change hovering over Fannie have dissipated, and that he is impressed with its goal to increase its per-share earnings to $6.46 by 2003.

"Few companies can publicly announce such a goal with the same degree of confidence as Fannie Mae," he wrote. "Fannie Mae has demonstrated mastery of its three primary risks: interest rate, credit, and political."

Mr. McMahon's 12-month price target of $82 "represents a 20% upside potential," he said.

He expects the $609 billion-asset mortgage company to report third-quarter per-share earnings of $1.08, up from $1.05 in the second. He also expects the stock to earn $4.26 for the full year and $4.87 next year.

Fannie's stock climbed $2.8125 Thursday, or 4.12%, to close at $71.

Elsewhere in the market, Erich Rothmann, an analyst at First Security Van Kasper, reiterated his "buy" rating for PNC Financial Services Group Inc. on Wednesday and raised his price target for the stock $18, to $80. Nancy A. Bush of Prudential Securities reiterated her "accumulate" rating and her price target of $70 for the stock Wednesday.

PNC picked up $1.875 Thursday, or 2.94%, to close at $65.6875.

Copyright c 2000 American Banker, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.americanbanker.com

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

THE REGION

BRA approves 2 projects

for colleges, 1 for business

- Harvard University got the go-ahead for a $1 billion, 589,000-square-foot, four-building science complex in Allston. The complex,to be built starting this year with a package of neighborhoodimprovements, will house Harvard's Stem Cell Institute and isintended to keep Harvard and Boston in the forefront of research inhow to treat and cure diseases. Harvard said it intends for thecomplex to achieve a difficult Gold environmental rating from the USGreen Building Council. In addition, the board approved John F.Palmieri, director of development services in Hartford, as the 15thdirector of the city's planning and economic development agency. Hewill be paid $168,000 a year and will start Nov. 13.

- Tufts University won approval to expand its Dental Schoolbuilding at Kneeland and Washington streets on its Boston HealthSciences campus with a five-story, 95,000-square-foot addition to a10-story building. The architect is ARC/Architectural Resources inCambridge. The addition will increase capacity by 24 dental chairs,accommodate 52 more students, and 10 new people for the 200-personfaculty, university officials said. Enrollment is now about 800. Theuniversity also committed to improving Washington Street and thebuilding's entrance, making contributions to community dental andneighborhood cleanup programs.

- Boston Properties Inc.'s revision of plans to redevelop threehistoric buildings at Russia Wharf, along Congress Street at theRose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, was approved. The $500 millionproject will yield 215 residential units under a 31-story glassoffice tower. The complex will have about 32,500 square feet ofspace for retail, restaurant, performance, and cultural uses. Thetower has been shifted 15 feet farther away from the Greenway,toward the Fort Point Channel. One floor each in the two buildingsclosest to the channel, as well as cross-bracing considered to beunsightly, will be eliminated. Construction is expected to startsoon with completion set for 2011.

(Thomas C. Palmer. Jr.)

Utah company acquired

for automatic data backup

EMC Corp. of Hopkinton has purchased Berkeley Data Systems Inc.,a privately held Utah company that runs the Mozy automatic databackup service. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal putsEMC into a new business - selling data backup services to consumersas well as business clients. Mozy subscribers pay $4.95 a month fora service that uploads data from their computers via the Internet,then encrypts and stores it at a remote location. The serviceprotects users against data loss due to theft, disaster, orequipment malfunction. Carbonite Inc., of Boston, offers a similarservice. (Hiawatha Bray)

Delta to add flights from

Boston to 2 N.Y. areas

Delta Air Lines will begin flying between Boston and New York'sSaranac Lake and Plattsburgh on Oct. 31. The airline will offer oneor two round-trips each day between Logan International Airport andSaranac Lake's Adirondack Regional Airport. It will operate oneround-trip each weekday to Plattsburgh International Airport and aone-way flight to Plattsburgh on Sundays. The new service will be on19-seat Beechcraft 1900D aircrafts operated by Big Sky Airlines, aDelta Connection carrier. On Nov. 4, Big Sky will also add two moreround-trips each weekday and one or two round-trips on weekendsbetween Boston and Bangor, Maine. (Nicole C. Wong)

THE NATION

Verizon to offer model

in challenge to iPhone

Verizon Wireless, the second-largest US mobile-phone service,plans to challenge Apple Inc.'s iPhone by releasing touch-screendevices that browse the Web and play music. The phones, from LGElectronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., will go on sale withina few weeks, Verizon said. The devices will join Research In MotionLtd.'s BlackBerry Pearl in anchoring Verizon's product lineup thisholiday season, the company said. (Bloomberg)

Bear Stearns to lay off 310,

merge its mortgage units

Bear Stearns Cos. said it is laying off 310 workers and fusingits two mortgage businesses, after turmoil in the home loan industrycontributed to a dramatic slide in the investment bank's profit thissummer. The news came only hours after Credit Suisse Group saidproblems in the mortgage market will linger as long as 18 months. Itdisclosed a fresh round of layoffs in its commercial mortgage-backed securities division, mostly in New York. Bear said it isintegrating its Bear Stearns Residential Mortgage and Encore Creditdivisions into a single subsidiary. The new unit will soon beginoffering loans that are eligible to be purchased by government-sponsored entities. Such loans are considered safer than most. (AP)

NEED MORE?

Get local business news updates from The Boston Globe on theBusiness Update, at boston.com/business/ticker. And for big picturebusiness stories, go to the Business Filter, updated every weekdayat boston.com/business/blog/filter.

S. Korea's SK Telecom to develop new technologies with China Mobile

S. Korea's SK Telecom to develop new technologies with ChinaMobile

SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's top mobile carrier SKTelecom said Friday it has signed a preliminary agreement withChina's No. 1 wireless operator China Mobile to develop new mobileand wireless technologies.

The largest mobile carriers in South Korea and China have signeda memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop four newtechnologies, including mobile networks of next generation, wirelessdevice platform, machine-to-machine communications and mobileinternet & applications, the South Korean company said in astatement.

Under the agreement, the two sides will jointly develop SmartCloud Access Network (SCAN), or new wireless networks with lowercosts and higher efficiency, while upgrading software of mobiledevices such as operation system, user interface and applications.

They will also set up joint research centers for machine-to-machine communications, while jointly working on the development ofapplication stores in a bid to standardize the market, the companysaid.

SK Telecom is the largest wireless operator in South Korea with amarket share of about 50 percent among 50 million subscribers. ChinaMobile is the top mobile carrier with nearly 600 million users.

Dear Abby: ; Woman's late nights taking a toll on her grandchildren

DEAR ABBY: My sister "Carole's" husband died a year ago, and heroldest daughter passed away four months later. Carole now has herdaughter's two oldest children, ages 10 and 14.

Carole has been going out with men she meets on the Internet,drinking and partying on weekends and neglecting the kids. The 10-year-old had been receiving psychological help since before her momdied and was on medication, but Carole has dropped all of this helpfor the child. The girl had been molested by a relative years ago,and now with her mother gone, she's not moving forward in school orin life.

Some of us are willing to take the children from her. She seemsnot to care what happens to them.

She devotes all her attention to the next guy she can be with.She has left the kids alone all night when she was spending thenight with men. I'm not supposed to know this, but my adult niecefound out from the kids. What can our family do to bring Carole backto earth and help these kids?

Deeply concerned

DEAR DEEPLY CONCERNED: Bringing Carole back to earth and helpingthe kids may be two separate issues - and you may not be able toaccomplish both. It is possible that Carole would be open to othersin the family taking in the children if you approach her as a groupand "sympathetically" offer her that option. Explain that you allcan see the stress she's under trying to find herself as a widow andgrieving mother.

It appears that she is in need of counseling - if she's open toit. Make it plain that her children would be welcome to stay withyou on a temporary or permanent basis. If she agrees, fine. However,if she doesn't, contact Childhelp USA, which can give youinformation about agencies that can help. Contact them by loggingonto www.childhelpusa.org or calling toll-free: 1-800- 422-4453.

DEAR ABBY: My son was killed in a car accident five years ago.His wife, who was pregnant at the time, gave birth to a beautifulbaby boy a few months later.

Last month, I received a phone call from a woman we barely knowwho told me - very politely - that she had a "surprise" for me. Shethen informed me that I have another grandchild, a little girl! Sheclaims my son got her granddaughter pregnant six years ago, and thatshe had the DNA checked to prove my son was the father. Needless tosay, my wife and I were floored.

Abby, I don't know how to react.

My wife, who is level-headed, told me not to react right now andto think things through. Do I go to this grandchild with open arms?It doesn't feel right. The child's mother has not reached out to usat all. I need your help.

Man with no plan

New York

DEAR MAN WITH NO PLAN: Your wife is an intelligent lady. I, too,find it odd that you would be contacted - five years after yourson's death - by someone other than the child's mother. The personyou should go to "with open arms" is your attorney. If there is DNAevidence, your attorney can help you determine if it's authentic andwhat your next move should be. Because you have not heard from themother, you should not approach the child unless you have first madecertain your attention is welcome.

Box: Boxing results = 9

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2004
Box: Boxing results = 9

ATHENS, Aug 18 Reuters - Results of Olympic boxing bouts
on Wednesday:



UPDATED HEAVYWEIGHT SECOND ROUND (91KG)

Odlanier Solis Fonte (CUB) bt Alexander Alekseev (RUS) points 24-21

Wilmer Jose Vasquez Torres (VEN) bt Ertugrul Ergezen (TUR) walk over

Naser Al Shami (SYR) bt Emmanuel Izonritei (NGR) points 30-17

Vugar Alakbarov (AZE) bt Spyridon Kladouchas (GRE) points 18-14

Devin Vargas (USA) bt Rachid El Haddak (MAR) referee stopped contest, 1:20, rnd 3

Viktar Zuyev (BLR) bt Daniel Betti (ITA) referee stopped contest, 1:15, rnd 1

Mohamed Elsayed (EGY) bt Igor Alborov (UZB) decision 18-18

Adam Forsyth (AUS) bt Vedran Djipalo (CRO) points 32-22

LIGHT-FLYWEIGHT FIRST ROUND (48KG)

Sergey Kazakov (RUS) bt Patricio Calero (ECU) points 20-8

Carlos Jose Tamara Paternina (COL) bt Redouane Bouchtouk (MAR) points 48-25

Alfonso Pinto (ITA) bt Effiong Okon (NGR) referee stopped contest, 1:54, rnd 3

Atagun Yalcinkaya (TUR) bt Jolly Katongole (UGA) points 22-7

Jeyhun Abiyev (AZE) bt Pal Bedak (HUN) points 23-8 Shiming Zou (CHN) bt Rau Shee Warren
(USA) points 22-9

Endalkachew Kebede (ETH) bt Toshiyuki Igarashi (JPN) points 26-21

Najah Ali (IRQ) bt Kwak Hyok Ju (PRK) points 21-7

Aleksan Nalbandyan (ARM) bt Redouane Asloum (FRA) points 27-20

Moo Won Hong (KOR) bt Lalaina Rabenarivo (MAD) referee stopped contest, 1:17, rnd 3

Harry Tanamor (PHI) bt Sherali Dostiev (TJK) points 17-12

Yan Bhartelemy Varela (CUB) bt Miguel Angel Miranda Guerra (VEN) referee stopped contest,
1:30, rnd 3

Suban Pannon (THA) bt Salim Salimov (BUL) points 26-14

More sh

KEYWORD: OLYR BOX RESULT 9

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Man critical after falling from clifftop walk

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2004
NSW: Man critical after falling from clifftop walk

SYDNEY, April 11 AAP - A Melbourne man is fighting for his life after falling 15 metres
from a cliff on the famous Bondi to Bronte walk.

Two tourists from Melbourne were doing the scenic clifftop walk when one fell off the
edge at Mackenzie Point around 5pm (AEST), a police spokeswoman said.

He was unconscious in the water for some time before lifesavers could reach him.

They began CPR in the water and took him to Tamarama beach from where he was taken
by ambulance to Prince of Wales Hospital.

His condition was critical, the spokeswoman said.

AAP sal/sjb/de

KEYWORD: CLIFF

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Brigitte quizzed wife on Pine Gap

AAP General News (Australia)
02-05-2004
NSW: Brigitte quizzed wife on Pine Gap

SYDNEY, Feb 5 AAP - Suspected French terrorist Willie Brigitte tried to get information
from his Australian wife about the top-secret spy facility at Pine Gap according to French
police sources, it was reported today.

During her four days of interrogation by French officials in Paris last month, police
said former soldier Melanie Brown recalled incidents with Brigitte in Sydney that, on
reflection, seemed suspicious.

The Australian newspaper said Ms Brown is understood to have told French interrogators
that Brigitte questioned her at length about the …

WA; Failed school excursion sparks riot

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2003
WA; Failed school excursion sparks riot

A failed school excursion to the Port Hedland detention centre has sparked a riot,
leaving two centre staff with suspected spinal injuries.

The immigration department says tear gas was used to quell the overnight riot that
quickly escalated from a roof-top protest to a clash involving about 20 detainees.

The detainees hurled concrete, sticks, rocks and broken pipes at specialist Australasian
Correctional Management staff before 16 local police officers moved in and restored order
about 2.30am (WST).

The wife of an Afghan man who has been held in the centre for almost three years, says
the detainees were angered after students from a college south of Perth were denied access
to the centre.

The students had travelled about 1,700 kilometres from Mandurah, south of Perth, to
the detention centre in the state's north west.

The immigration department says teachers at Mandurah Catholic College ignored the fact
that they'd been told in November not to visit the centre because of an imminent change
of management.

AAP RTV hn/rh/rp e

KEYWORD: HEDLAND (PERTH)

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Furore over doctor complaints

00-00-0000
Qld: Furore over doctor complaints

Queensland Health Minister WENDY EDMOND has accused doctors of hysteria over hospitalcuts as she came under fire for threatening to sack whistleblowers.

The Opposition has tabled in state parliament a letter to doctors at Cairns Base Hospitalfrom a senior health official threatening them with the sack.

The letter follows the publication by doctors of an advertisement citing concerns aboutthe loss of services at the hospital and media interviews by government-employed doctorscriticising Queensland Health.

The tabled letter says failing to follow the department's code of conduct may resultin disciplinary action, which could include considering termination of employment.

Ms EDMOND has told parliament the doctors haven't been threatened with dismissal, butrather have been reminded of the code of conduct.

Opposition leader LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG says Ms EDMOND is incapable of addressing thedoctors' concerns.

AAP RTV pjo/sc/kn/rp

KEYWORD: DOCTORS QLD (BRISBANE)

Aust business should firm up security because of terrorism-ASIO

00-00-0000
Aust business should firm up security because of terrorism-ASIO

By Jonathon Moran

SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - A peaceful solution to the threat of global terrorism was irrelevant,with the al-Qaeda network intent on targeting innocent civilians, the head of Australia'ssecurity organisation said today.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Dennis Richardsonspoke at an Australian Industry Group seminar aimed at providing practical advice on howcompanies might deal with any heightened risk of terrorism.

"A war in Iraq, with or without UN sanction, may well influence the timing of someterrorist attacks," Mr Richardson said.

"But of one thing we can be absolutely certain; a peaceful solution to the currentsituation will be irrelevant to (Osama) bin Laden's intent and purpose - al-Qaeda willseek to follow through on whatever it may be planning at present and its targets of firstchoice will remain innocent civilians."

Mr Richardson said, leaving aside principle and alliance, there were strong pragmaticreasons of self interest why Australia had no choice but to actively engage in the fightagainst terrorism.

"We have an interest and a responsibility to ensure that those very few Australianswith links to international terrorism do not involve themselves in acts of terrorism eitherin Australia or elsewhere," he said.

Mr Richardson said people had an interest and responsibility to ensure that Australia'sforeign interests were properly protected.

"Does anyone seriously doubt that in the event of a terrorist attack against foreigninterests in this country Australians would not be amongst the victims," he questioned.

He said there was also a responsibility to the hundreds of thousands of Australianswho travel overseas every year to minimise the risk of global terrorism.

"As we saw in Bali and New York, race, religion and/or nationality does not provideprotection," he said.

Mr Richardson said the country's businesses needed to firm up security plans in thewake of the increased threat.

He said self evidently, not all companies and businesses carried the same risk buthe advised businesses to assess their individual exposure to the threat of terrorism.

"Whatever the security of individual companies, it would be wise for those who havenot already done so ... to review security arrangements and to make conscious risk-managementdecisions based on expert advice of their own circumstances," he said.

Mr Richardson said factors affecting businesses were varied, including whether a companyin a particular sector had been previously targeted by terrorists, whether the companywas part of national infrastructure, did the company manufacture or transport explosiveswhich could be used in attacks and whether the company had an overseas presence.

AAP jwm/sh/rsm/ts

KEYWORD: TERROR RICHARDSON LEAD (REPEAT)

Vic: Nat Express pullout shows Labor can't run contracts, Doyle

00-00-0000
Vic: Nat Express pullout shows Labor can't run contracts, Doyle

MELBOURNE, Dec 17 AAP - Victorian Opposition Leader Robert Doyle today said the stategovernment had bungled its dealings with public transport operators, leading one of theoperators to abandon its train and tram franchises.

Mr Doyle denied contracts signed under the former Kennett government were to blame for the mess.

Instead, he said it showed the government was incapable of managing contracts withthe private sector.

"Surely, it's their responsibility to manage this franchise" he said.

"This is an operator who is successful around the world in running public transport systems

" ... why is it that they can't make it work under a Bracks Labor government?"

Mr Doyle also said the government must have known National Express was about to pullout before the recent state election, but chose to hide the fact from the Victorian public.

"It is impossible to believe that the government did not know about this before theelection," he said.

AAP bp/gfr/mg/bwl

KEYWORD: TRAMS DOYLE

NT: NT govt uses China gas deal in national interest argument

00-00-0000
NT: NT govt uses China gas deal in national interest argument

The Northern Territory government has used the $25 billion liquefied natural gas dealwith China to pressure Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD to support piping Timor Sea gas on shore.

Norther Territory Chief Minister CLARE MARTIN telephoned Mr HOWARD yesterday to congratulatehim on his government's role is securing the North West Shelf joint venture deal.

Ms MARTIN wants Mr HOWARD to persuade Shell-Woodside to pipe gas from its Greater Sunrisefield to Darwin in the national interest rather than build a floating LNG plant in theTimor Sea.

She's told ABC radio Australia's largest export contract demonstrates what governmentand the private sector can achieve by working in the national interest.

AAP RTV rmg/dl/ge

KEYWORD: GAS MARTIN (DARWIN)

NSW: Lead stories in today's Sydney newspapers = 3

00-00-0000
NSW: Lead stories in today's Sydney newspapers = 3

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Page 1: World mourns beloved queen; AIDS quietly excluded from Commonwealth Bank'smortgage cover.

Page 2: Chikarovski takes strategic role on Brogden's frontbench.

Page 3: Bushfire research to get $45 million fillip after disastrous Christmas.

World: Israelis accused of killing police in cold blood; Israeli troops who have takenover three Palestinian TV stations are broadcasting pornographic movies and programs inHebrew, residents say.

Business: Retailers accuse banks of of lifting fees for credit card terminals in orderto subvert the Reserve Bank's proposed reforms of the electronic payment system.

Sport: Brisbane lucky recipients of Sydney Swans' generosity with mistakes yesterday.

AAP as/rs

KEYWORD: FRONTERS NSW 3 SYDNEY

NSW: Fire calms down near evacuated Blue Mountains town

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2001
NSW: Fire calms down near evacuated Blue Mountains town

A fire that forced almost 1,000 residents of a small town in New South Wales to evacuate
has calmed down.

The fire at Hill Top has forced residents to flee to Mittagong RSL since 4pm.

But Rural Fire Service spokesman JOHN WINTER says the winds have dropped off, improving
the situation.

However he says firefighters can't relax yet, with hot, windy conditions forecast for tomorrow.

About 100 fires are still burning across the state with hot spots in the Blue Mountains,
Hawkesbury, Appin and Shoalhaven areas.

Mr WINTER says tomorrow will be a hard day and firefighters will be working aggressively
to try and get containment lines tonight.

AAP RTV rk/jas

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW (SYDNEY)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Review into social security penalties launched = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2001
Fed: Review into social security penalties launched = 2

The findings of the review would be handed down after the federal election, Mr Raper said.

AAP ls/jjs/mg

KEYWORD: BREACHES ACOSS 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: National shortage of country dentists predicted

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2001
Fed: National shortage of country dentists predicted

A Victorian health official says a national shortage of country dentists is looming
due to insufficient federal funding for university training.

The Victorian government's Dental Health Services chief executive MARTIN DOOLAND is
predicting a massive shortage in the next decade.

He says graduates are already in short supply because of the cost of expensive university
courses.

Mr DOOLAND has told ABC radio, that Australia needs to get into the situation where
universities are training more dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists and some
national planning of the dental workforce.

He says there is a 20 per cent shortage of public dentists in Victoria and the same
problem is emerging in other states.

AAP RTV dep/alt/jn

KEYWORD: DENTISTS (CANBERRA)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: Explosion in Angaston causes $3,000 damage

AAP General News (Australia)
01-12-2001
SA: Explosion in Angaston causes $3,000 damage

ADELAIDE, Jan 12 AAP - An explosive device in the main street of Angaston, in South
Australia's Barossa Valley, caused about $3,000 damage last night, police said.

A police spokesman said no-one was injured …

NSW: Barry White tickets will go on sale

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2000
NSW: Barry White tickets will go on sale

Managers for the Sydney SuperDome have lost their bid to stop a concert promoter from
selling tickets to BARRY WHITE shows at the rival Entertainment Centre.

Lawyers for the SuperDome went to the New South Wales Supreme Court yesterday to stop
PAUL DAINTY Consolidated Entertainment from selling tickets to the soul singer's shows.

They claim the promoter is in breach of a stipulation not to promote an act at the
other centre without giving the SuperDome the right of first refusal.

They also argued BARRY WHITE'S November 23 and 25 shows should be held at their venue
and not at the Entertainment Centre at all.

The promoter's lawyers countered that the SuperDome, with its 20,000 set capacity,
was too big for the BARRY WHITE's style of show.

Justice WILLIAM WINDEYER, in ruling against the injunction, says the evidence shows
the smaller venue is more suitable for BARRY WHITE as it's unlikely more than 11,000 seats
will be sold.

AAP RTV gl/ah/alt/jn

KEYWORD: SUPERDOME WHITE (SYDNEY)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Toddler killed by train in Melbourne s north

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2000
Vic: Toddler killed by train in Melbourne s north

MELBOURNE, April 8 AAP - A toddler has died after being hit by a train at a pedestrian
rail crossing near Reservoir, in Melbourne's north.

A police spokesman said the child suffered head injuries and was treated by ambulance
officers but died soon afterwards.

He said details were sketchy, but it appeared the child had been with one other person
who was uninjured.

AAP sjg/it

KEYWORD: TODDLER

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Three appear in court over ecstasy seizure

AAP General News (Australia)
01-11-2000
NSW: Three appear in court over ecstasy seizure

Three men have appeared in court charged over a record seizure of the drug ecstasy.

They were 60-year-old KEITH ALBERT COLLINGBURN, of Surfers Paradise in Queensland,
38-year-old DAVID PETER CAIN, of Kensington in Sydney, and 33-year-old EDWARD MICHAEL
MONAHAN, of Banksmeadow, also in Sydney.

The three are each charged with two counts of conspiring to import a commercial quantity
of a prohibited drug.

They've been refused bail, and will appear in court again on February 22.

…

NSW: Lack of staff among reasons for intensive care crisis

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-1999
NSW: Lack of staff among reasons for intensive care crisis

The New South Wales Health Department says a shortage of trained medical staff and a rise
in seriously ill patients admitted to hospital are to blame for a shortage of intensive care
beds.

NSW Health director-general MICHAEL REID says inappropriate transfers made by hospitals have
also added to the problem.

He says there hasn't been this level of demand on critical care services in recent years.

And he says that combined with a shortage of suitably qualified critical care nurses and
doctors means the system is under great pressure.

But he's confident a long-term strategy being implemented by the department will ease the
demand.

A committee will look at the issue of training more staff and in the short-term, staff with
appropriate training have been called on to increase their availability.





Acting Health Minister PAUL WHELAN says clinical decisions, not a lack of funding are the
cause for the bed shortage.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported there are about 3.3 intensive care unit beds for
every 100,000 people in NSW.

AAP RTV ch/ls/tsm/wz

KEYWORD: BEDS (SYDNEY)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Elective patients getting beds before emergency cases

AAP General News (Australia)
02-28-1999
NSW: Elective patients getting beds before emergency cases

By Catharine Munro

SYDNEY, Feb 28 AAP - Emergency patients are being forced to wait longer for beds in New
South Wales public hospitals because of pressure to continue lowering waiting lists for
elective patients.

The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) has taken the dramatic step of going
public with its frustration over the lack of beds available for emergency patients one month
before the state election.

The College is worried about political promises such as the one made at the 1995 poll, when
Premier …

WA: More evacuations planned as Thelma bears down

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-1998
WA: More evacuations planned as Thelma bears down

By Kylie Walker

PERTH, Dec 10 AAP - Up to 600 people could be evacuated from the far north Dampier
peninsula tonight as intense tropical cyclone Thelmas increasingly destructive core bears
down on the north-west coast.

Winds of up to 150 kph buffeted the northern coast of Western Australia throughout the day,
ripping up trees as the category five cyclone continued on its south-westerly course.

At mid-afternoon, Thelma was 110 km north-northwest of the small Aboriginal community of
Kalumburu, on WAs northern-most tip, and moving along the coastline at 11 kph.

Winds around its 47 km-wide eye reached 320 kph, making the tropical storm the most severe
on record to assault Australia, WAs Cyclone Warning Centre said.

Rain started falling throughout the Mitchell Plateau early this morning, and was expected
to become very heavy during the night.

The Cyclone Warning Centre expected Thelma to skim the coast then head off to sea.

State Emergency Service (SES) Broome assistant regional manager Alan Gale said provisions
were in place to evacuate several Aboriginal communities around the Dampier peninsula, about
500 km west of Kalumburu.

"Well take up to 600 people from there to Derby and to Broome by road if Thelma comes too
close," Mr Gale told AAP.

"Otherwise, the pearling communities along the north have all taken off to Wyndham (200 km
south-east of Kalumburu)."

He said todays gale-force winds - expected to intensify tonight to about 220 kph - had
ripped up a few smaller trees along the coast around Kalumburu.

"Nobodys hurt though; theyre all sheltering inside."

WAs Mitchell Plateau, extending from Wyndham to Kuri Bay, was on yellow alert and
expected to be upgraded to red alert tonight.

A blue alert extended from Wyndham to the Aboriginal community of Oombulgurri to
Kalumburus east, and from Kuri Bay to Broome to Kalumburus west.

Last night able-bodied people at Kalumburu slept in an old stone monastery with 60 cm-thick
stone walls, where they continued to shelter today.

Elderly, very young and ill members of the Aboriginal community were evacuated to Wyndham,
which has better shelter on high ground.

High tides, rain and rising river levels meant the threat of flooding was imminent.

Mr Gale said the entire north-west population was ready to go to the aid of
cyclone-affected towns and communities.

"Its a whole community approach - everybody volunteers so we get help in quickly and
efficiently," he said.

"They all come together to make it happen, to give first aid and clean up and help restore
buildings which have been damaged."

AAP kbw/kr

KEYWORD: THELMA NIGHTLEAD

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA:Five on trial over torture death

AAP General News (Australia)
02-21-2011
SA:Five on trial over torture death

By Liza Kappelle

ADELAIDE, Feb 21 AAP - Five men have gone on trial accused of blindfolding an associate
and torturing him to death over a drug debt.

The body of Paulo Miranda, 23, has never been found but pools of his blood and DNA
were found at a gruesome crime scene in Adelaide that police say is where he died, the
South Australian Supreme Court was told on Monday.

Ngoc Thai Tran, 26, Chhay Ly, 27, Jean "Frenchie" Ngo, 22, Huan Hoang Lam "Jimmy" Nguyen,
21, and another man, 19, who was a youth at the time, have pleaded not guilty to the …

FED:News Diary for Wednesday, Aug 24

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2011
FED:News Diary for Wednesday, Aug 24

Good evening news editors and chiefs of staff. Here is AAP's preliminary news diary
for Wednesday (not for publication).

This is a guide only and stories, local times and locations are subject to change.

In some cases times and locations may not be available. Story coverage is subject to staffing.

TOP STORIES
ECONOMY - Debate continues over the widening divide between the mining and non-resources
sectors of the economy.

THOMSON - Outwatching MP Craig Thomson's credit card saga following his resignation as
chairman of the parliamentary economic committee.

MARSHALL - Hearing continues for Benji Marshall, NRL player accused over assault.


COURTS
ADELAIDE
- District Court sentencing submissions for Malcolm Fox, husband of author Mem Fox, after
his conviction on child sex charges.

- Trial continues for man accused of murdering his wife and trying to disguise her death
by burning down their flat. (Cover on merit)


SYDNEY
0930 - Benji Marshall, NRL player accused over assault at McDonalds, hearing continues,
Downing Centre Local Court 4.7.


PERTH
- A man accused of indecently touching a teenage girl while attaching a rock wall climbing
harness to her in on trial in Perth. (CAPORN on merit)
- The murder trial continues of a 24-year-old man who is claiming self-defence after fatally
stabbing his housemate with a kitchen knife. (DOLBEY on merit)
- A 24-year-old man accused of stabbing another young man to death during a street brawl
in Perth faces trial in Perth. (NOOR on merit).


HOBART
- Murder trial against Nour Assafiri, charged with stabbing a man to death near Hobart,
continues in the Tasmanian Supreme Court, Hobart. (ASSAFIRI)


MELBOURNE
- Pre-sentence hearing for a man whose parents have both been jailed this year for sexually
assaulting their children. This man is charged with sexually assaulting another generation
and cannot be named.
- Pre-sentence hearing for man who admitted murdering his friend in a frenzied hammer
attack, Supreme Court.

- Trial continues for a man accused of slitting another man's throat during a neighbourhood
dispute, Supreme Court.

- Trial expected to start for an alleged associate of Tony Mokbel on drug trafficking
charges, Supreme Court.

- Directions hearing into the death of a 25-year-old Southbank man shot dead by police
in a car park near Market Street, Southbank in May 2008, Coroners Court.

- Finding from the inquest into the death of a 23-year-old Berwick man who died after
the collapse of a multi-level building site in Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park in September
2004, Coroners Court.



OTHER STORIES


BRISBANE
- Outwatch on developments in Hendra virus scare.


CANBERRA
0900 - House of Reps sits
0930 - Senate sits
1000 - Senators Ron Boswell and Helen Polley press conference on the tabling of a 52,000
signature petition regarding same sex marriage in the Senate. Senate Court yard, Parliament
House.

1000 - World Society for the Protection of Animals presents MPs Kelvin Thomson, Janelle
Saffin and Melissa Park with a global photo petition calling for an end to live exports.

Mural Hall, Senate Side, Parliament House. Contact: Robert Marson 0404 464 902
1045 - Migration Committee, inquiry into Multiculturalism in Australia. Committee Room
1R4. James Catchpole 02 6277 4642.

1230 - Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Tony
Burke address to the National Press Club: "The Future of Environmental Protection in Australia".

1300 - World Economic and Social Survey 2011. Imran Habib Ahmad launches the latest UN
survey which suggests that humans must make dramatic changes to production to end poverty
and avert the catastrophic impacts of climate change. Forestry Lecture Theatre, ANU.
1700 - Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry, inquiry into the Australian forestry
industry.
MELBOURNE
- Inaugural Brownlow medal among to Brownlows being auctioned by Charles Leski Auctions.

- Toyota unveils next-generation Camry.


SYDNEY
1015 - Margaret Olley state memorial service. Art Gallery of NSW.
1130 - Wesley Mission CEO and St George Bank CEO to launch new financial literacy education
program. Foyer of the Wesley Mission building, 220 Pitt Street.
1210 - NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward to address CEDA conference on female leadership
in government and Third sectors.
1730 - Former astronaut Neil Armstrong guest of honour at CPA Australia's 125th anniversary
event. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Parkside Ballroom, Darling Harbour.

FINANCE

Sydney - Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) construction work done for June quarter

Sydney - Qantas Airways Ltd full year results

Sydney - Regional Express Holdings Ltd full year results

Melbourne - BHP Billiton Ltd full year results

Sydney - Seven West Media Ltd full year results

Sydney - MAP Group first half results

Sydney - EDT Retail Trust full year results

Sydney - WorleyParsons Ltd full year results

Sydney - APA Group full year results

Sydney - Mortgage Choice Ltd full year results

Sydney - Downer EDI full year results

Sydney - Australian Vintage full year results

Sydney - Transpacific Industries Group Ltd full year results

Sydney - Skilled Group Ltd full year results

Brisbane - Macarthur Coal Ltd full year results

Brisbane - Suncorp-Metway Ltd full year results

Brisbane - Super Cheap Auto Group Ltd full year results

Brisbane - Wotif.com Holdings Ltd full year results

Melbourne - Southern Cross Media Ltd full year results

Melbourne - Pacific Brands Ltd full year results

Melbourne - Asciano Ltd full year results

Hobart - Tassal Group Ltd full year results

Sydney - Charter Hall Office REIT full year results



SPORT

LEAGUE

SYDNEY - Wrap of NRL news.

AFL

MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news.

RUGBY

BRISBANE - News and interviews as Wallabies and All Blacks prepare for the Tri Nations
series decider on Saturday.

ATHLETICS

DAEGU, South Korea - News and interviews with the Australian team ahead of world track
and field championships starting at the weekend.

CRICKET

COLOMBO - News and interviews with Australian Test squad and preview their three-day
tour match starting Thursday.

GOLF

LOS ANGELES - Preview of Aussies in the US PGA Tour's opening play-offs series tournament
starting on Thursday.

SURFING

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti - Men's world tour championship event at Teahupoo.



AAP nh/was

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS WEDNESDAY

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

Fed: $20 million for housing upgrades for remote Aborigines =2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-21-2008
Fed: $20 million for housing upgrades for remote Aborigines =2

Ms Macklin also told the National Housing Conference her government supported Aboriginal
aspirations for home ownership.

…

QLD:Inquiry told to flood proof key CBD's

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2011
QLD:Inquiry told to flood proof key CBD's

A Queensland floods inqiry has been told the master plan for development of the state's
southeast should be reviewed .. and the Ipswich CBD should be rebuilt on flood-free land.

Property developer the Springfield Land Corporation says in its submission that planning
must ensure the impact of extreme weather events on infrastructure and property is minimised
.. and key business and administrative centres are consolidated in flood-free areas.

The Property Council of Australia has told the commission of inquiry that's returned
to Toowoomba today .. Queensland needs to recover .. rebuild and reignite its economy.

Executive director KATHY MAC DERMOTT says without government action .. Queensland's
housing affordability crisis will only worsen as the construction of new homes falls further
behind demand .. and the insurance industry must simplify definitions of what policies
cover.

AAP RTV bart/crh/jmt

KEYWORD: FLOODS INQUIRY (GOLD COAST)

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

VIC:Six arrested over drugs in Melbourne

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2011
VIC:Six arrested over drugs in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Feb 12 AAP - Six people in Victoria have been charged with drugs offences
following a four-month operation by police.

Operation Smiler and Versant wrapped up on Saturday and involved police executing search
warrants at six addresses in Flemington, Ascot Vale and St Albans in the western suburbs.

During the raids police allegedly seized four ounces of heroin, small quantities of
methylamphetamine and cannabis, two handguns, a vehicle and almost $14,000 cash.

Suspected stolen property including laptop computers and mobile phones were also allegedly
seized.

Six people aged between 24 and 41 were charged with drug-related offences.

Five of them were remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

Fawkner Divisional Response Unit and Flemington Police conducted the operations.

The drugs operation focused on the trafficking of heroin, methylamphetamine and cannabis.

AAP md/msk

KEYWORD: DRUGS

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

SA:Newest city tram service to remain free

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2010
SA:Newest city tram service to remain free

Adelaide's new 100 million dollar tramline extension project has been officially opened
with a promise that travel between the Entertainment Centre and the city will always be
free.

Premier MIKE RANN says the project to extend the tramline from the western end of the
city's North Terrace to the Entertainment Centre has been a terrific success .. and the
six-month free travel period is to stay in place .. permanently.

He says patronage on the entire tram line is up 55 per cent on last year .. and an
estimated two thousand people a day take the tram to and from the Entertainment Centre.

Mr RANN says the next step for Adelaide's light rail development is a 520 million dollar
extension of the tramline from the Entertainment Centre to suburban Semaphore .. Port
Adelaide and West Lakes.

AAP RTV njl/jmt

KEYWORD: TRAM (ADELAIDE)

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

Fed: Author labels calls Rudd a "dud" over literary prize

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2010
Fed: Author labels calls Rudd a "dud" over literary prize

Award-winning author ALEX MILLER says the 100 thousand dollars on offer for the Prime
Minister's Literary Award should be put towards the prestigious Miles Franklin prize.

MILLER's made the call after being short-listed for a third Miles Franklin award ..

worth 42 thousand dollars .. for his novel Lovesong.

He says the PM's prize created by the RUDD government is of little value .. gets no
publicity .. and will likely disappear under a new leader.

Other novels in the running for the 2010 Miles Franklin are SONYA HARTNETT's Butterfly
.. first-time novelist DEBORAH FORSTER's The Book of Emmett .. BRIAN CASTRO'S The Bath
Fugues .. CRAIG SILVEY'S Jasper Jones and PETER TEMPLE'S Truth.

AAP RTV bc/wjf/jmt

KEYWORD: FRANKLIN (SYDNEY)

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

News Diary for Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2009
News Diary for Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009

Good Evening News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

Here is AAP's preliminary newslist for Tuesday (not for publication).

This is a guide only and stories, local times and locations are subject to change. In
some cases times and locations may not be available. Story coverage is subject to staffing.

INTERNATIONAL
COPENHAGEN - Coverage of UN climate change summit; AAP and agency coverage

ADELAIDE
- No items listed.

BRISBANE
- Federal cabinet meets in Townsville. Media event with PM in morning followed by 6pm
community cabinet. AAP covering.

- Seeking bushfire update.

CANBERRA
0930 - Officer graduation parade, Royal Military College, Duntroon.

1030 - Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2009 media preview, National Museum of Australia.

MELBOURNE
0930 - Judgment in the case of Harry Kakavas suing Crown Casino
1000 - Committal for former general manager of Jamie Oliver restaurant who stole $23,000
from the business before burning it down
1000 - Inquest begins into murder of a seven-year-old girl who disappeared from St Kilda
beach four decades ago.

1400 - Parliament question time

PERTH
- Firepower boss Tim Johnston to give evidence in the Federal Court on second day of liquidators'
hearing into the company's $100 million collapse.

SYDNEY
- Outwatching bushfire/hot weather situation across NSW.

1000 - Jonathan Lowe and Diana Lowe to give evidence at trial of Ashley Glenn Wright,
accused of manslaughter after home made bomb killed Barry Lowe
1130 - Findings at the inquest into the 'self help' death of Rebekah Lawrence who died
after jumping from a Sydney building days after completing a course. Glebe Coroner's

ENTERTAINMENT
- Interview with Smokey Robinson

FINANCE
CANBERRA - Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Research Economics December quarter crop report
SYDNEY - Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens address Australian Business
Economist annual forecasting dinner
SYDNEY - Australian Bureau of Statistics balance of payments and international investment
data for September quarter
SYDNEY - National Australia Bank monthly business survey for November
SYDNEY - Dun and Bradstreet business expectations survey
SYDNEY - 2nd Annual Debt Markets Summit 2009 (day 2 of 3)
SYDNEY - BT Investment Management Ltd annual general meeting
MELBOURNE - Media Group International Ltd annual general meeting
MELBOURNE - Qatar Airways to launch services between Qatar and Melbourne

SPORT
CRICKET
ADELAIDE - Second Test: Australia v West Indies, Adelaide Oval, final day
HOBART - Sheffield Shield: Tas v WA, Bellerive Oval, day 1
BRISBANE - Preview one-dayer Qld v NSW

GOLF
COOLUM, Qld - News and interviews for Adam Scott, John Daly and Mathew Goggin ahead of
Australian PGA Championship starting Thursday

SWIMMING - Speedo launches its new swimsuit. Leisel Jones and Libby Trickett among the
swimmers at the launch, 1300, Bondi Icebergs

LEAGUE
BRISBANE - ARL meeting discusses plans for an NRL Commission

SOCCER
MELBOURNE - Media conference with Melbourne Victory football manager Gary Cole and players
Rodrigo Vargas and Mitchell Langerak following 2010 Asian Champions League draw, 1115
Olympic Park
SYDNEY - Sydney FC players in hospital visit, 1400 Westmead Hospital

AFL
MELBOURNE - North Melbourne hold opening training session for delegates attending the
Parliament of the World's Religions, 1430 Arden St

SURFING
SYDNEY - Preview Mick Fanning in a showdown with mate Joel Parkinson for the world surfing
title at the Pipeline Masters

RACING
SYDNEY - Preview Wednesday's Rosehill meeting.

BRISBANE - Preview Doomben races Wednesday.

AAP RTV jlw/af/psm/

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS TUESDAY

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

Qld: Ear chopping bikies to hear their sentence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2009
Qld: Ear chopping bikies to hear their sentence

BRISBANE, April 30 AAP - Two bikies who kidnapped a Gold Coast man and sliced his ears
off will be sentenced on Thursday.

Aaron Drew Scheers, 25, of Tweed Heads, and 32-year-old Benjamin James Dehnen, of Kingscliff,
have admitted abducting Currumbin man David Holmes after a drug deal went bad.

The Lone Wolves bikies pleaded guilty on April 6 to charges of kidnapping, assault
and intent to maim over the November 2007 incident in which Mr Holmes had his ears severed.

The guilty pleas averted a lengthy trial.

They will be sentenced on Thursday morning in the Southport District Court.

AAP bart/mn/jpm/mn

KEYWORD: EAR

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

Qld: Woman killed in south Brisbane balcony fall

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2008
Qld: Woman killed in south Brisbane balcony fall

BRISBANE, Dec 27 AAP - A 22-year-old woman was talking to friends when she overbalanced
and plunged to her death from a fourth-floor balcony in Brisbane's inner-south.

Police say the young woman - who wasn't drinking - toppled off a railing at an apartment
block in Paradise St, Highgate Hill, at about 8am (AEST) on Saturday.

Senior Sergeant Ian Cameron said the woman, from Manly in Brisbane's west, fell about 10 metres.

"It doesn't appear she was drinking at the time," Snr Sgt said.

"She was just sitting on the railing talking to friends, lost her balance, tumbled backwards
and hit the tiles."

Paramedics tried to resuscitate her but she died at the scene.

Snr Sgt Cameron described it as a "very tragic" accident.

"She was a stunning girl - far too young to have passed away."

He urged all people to take care on balconies during the festive season.

AAP djb/it/cdh

KEYWORD: BALCONY WRAP

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

Qld: Long Tan battle part of proud military legacy

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2008
Qld: Long Tan battle part of proud military legacy

Eighteen candles have burnt in Brisbane's St John's Cathedral today for those killed
in the epic Battle of Long Tan on August 18 .. 1966.

Veterans .. families and servicemen have attended a commemoration service led by Queensland
governor .. PENNY WENSLEY .. and army leaders.

Eighteen Australians were killed in the battle which gained a Presidential Citation
from US President LYNDON JOHNSON.

AAP RTV stg/pjo/sw/ibw

KEYWORD: LONG TAN (BRISBANE)

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

Main stories in today's 0745 ABC news

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2008
Main stories in today's 0745 ABC news

SYDNEY, April 11 AAP - Main stories in today's 0745 ABC news:

- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he is optimistic about relations with China.

- Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean says the trade relationship with China can withstand
differences of opinion.

- Greens senator Bob Brown has praised the prime minister's efforts to raise human
rights in China.

- The Olympic torch has arrived in Argentina under heavy security.

- Chinese authorities say two groups of Muslim separatists have been foiled.

- In London, three men are facing charges for allegedly planning a terrorist attack.

- US President George W Bush has shortened army combat tours of Iraq.

- There has been another laser attack on a pilot, this time at Port Macquarie.

- Local councils say they could lose up to $4 million a year under new state government
planning laws.

- The NSW state government maintains that there was nothing inappropriate about grants
given to the Transport Workers Union.

- The Gold Coast Titans say they are under no illusions about facing St George Illawarra
this weekend.

AAP pbc/

KEYWORD: MONITOR 0745 ABC SYDNEY

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