FED:Swap deal refugees arrive on Xmas Island

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2011
FED:Swap deal refugees arrive on Xmas Island

CANBERRA, Aug 4 AAP - The first boatload of asylum seekers earmarked for Malaysia under
a refugee swap deal is expected to reach Christmas Island on Thursday.

Authorities will break the news to the 54 asylum seekers that they won't have their
claims for refugee status processed in Australia.

Instead they will be sent to Malaysia to join 90,000 others seeking refugee resettlement.

Customs and immigration officials would not reveal what time the boat was expected to arrive.

Security has been beefed up on Christmas Island in preparation for the arrival.

Riot police have been conducting training exercises this week and extra security fencing
has been put up at the Phosphate Hill detention centre.

A delegation of Royal Malaysian Police is due to arrive on Christmas Island for briefings
on Thursday, Fairfax reports.

It's believed a group of 10 to 20 asylum seekers could be transferred to Kuala Lumpur
as soon as Sunday.

There are reports a young boy is among the asylum seekers on board the boat.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has said there will be no blanket exemptions for children
or unaccompanied minors, however individuals will be assessed case-by-case.

Under the Gillard government's people swap deal, Australia will send 800 asylum seekers
to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 processed refugees.

AAP lpm/rl/jsh

KEYWORD: BOAT

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

Scott out to score hat-trick.

Adam Scott will be out to make more waves in Doha after revealing he's heading be back to defend his Qatar Masters title in two weeks' time. The Aussie hasn't hit a ball in anger in tournament play since he suffered a freak surfing accident at the start of last month. Scott dislocated his right kneecap while swimming in the Pacific and was forced to pull out of his home tournament, the Australian Open. But the world No.15 couldn't have picked a better tournament in which to tee-off his 2009. Having won at the Doha Golf Club on his only two previous visits, in 2002 and 2008, Scott has always found playing in Qatar plain sailing. Last year he shot a sizzling 61 in the final round to win by three shots, to leave Qatar Golf Association (QGA) president Hassan Al Nuami overjoyed at his impending return. "Naturally, we are both delighted and honoured that our two-time champion Adam Scott will be back to defend the title he won in such style one year ago," he said. However, such is the mouth-watering line-up for the Qatar Masters that Scott will possibly have to reproduce his form of last year if he is to score a unique hat-trick. The 120-strong field includes US PGA stars Boo Weekley and Brandt Snedeker, who will both be aiming to be the first American winner of the prestigious trophy. And as if that wasn't enough Scott will have to also overcome former champions Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen, who have also both confirmed they will return to the Qatar capital. With world No.2 Sergio Garcia also in the line-up winning in Qatar will arguably be the toughest on the 'Desert Swing', which also features the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the veteran of the trio, The Dubai Desert Classic.

2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

NSW:Man who attacked woman in Hunter sought

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2011
NSW:Man who attacked woman in Hunter sought

SYDNEY, April 8 AAP - Police are still searching for a man who abducted and sexually
assaulted a young woman in the Hunter Valley one afternoon last month.

A 19-year-old woman was walking along Grafton St, Abermain, when she was approached
by a stranger in a ute about 1.40pm (AEDT) on Monday, March 28.

He allegedly forced her into the passenger seat and drove her to bushland at the end
of Lismore Street, where police believe she was sexually assaulted.

The victim freed herself and fled to a nearby home, where she contacted police before
being taken to hospital for treatment.

Police searched the local area but were unable to find the man or his vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing and police have released a computer-generated image of
a man they believe might be able to assist with their inquiries.

He is believed to be aged in his early 20s and has been described as being of Caucasian
appearance, 170-175cm tall with a thin build, short crew-cut hair and tanned complexion.

The single-cab ute he was driving is described as off-white with flat tray, tinted
windows and a Southern Cross sticker and green P plate on the rear window.

AAP ct/rs

KEYWORD: ABDUCTION (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Officers hurt in search for kids

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2010
Officers hurt in search for kids

Two policemen suffered minor burns overnight .. when they crawled into a buring house
at Dubbo west of Sydney .. after being told four children were inside.

The children were later found safe and well in a neighbour's house.

Police say emergency services were called to the home where a woman and four children
lived at 9.30pm (AEST) last night .. and found it well alight.

Two Constables entered the burning house .. crawling towards the lounge room .. but
had to withdraw due to the heat and flames .. and tried to get in through the windows
.. before the children were found with neighbours.

One officer has minor burns to his arms and head .. while the other has minor burns to his face.

The house has been destroyed.

AAP RTV wz

KEYWORD: KIDS

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

FED:WTO gets trans-Tasman fruit fight

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2010
FED:WTO gets trans-Tasman fruit fight

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has vowed to take on the world
to defend Australia's apple industry from devastating diseases.

Australia will appeal a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling that its import conditions
for New Zealand apples unduly restrict trade.

The WTO's panel of independent arbitrators has recommended the dispute settlement body
request Australia bring its "inconsistent measures ... into conformity with its obligations".

Australia's requirements are aimed at keeping out diseases including fireblight, European
canker, and the insect apple leaf curling midge.

Mr Burke told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday that Australia would appeal.

"We're happy to take on the world," he said.

"We do well as an exporting nation as a result of our willingness to trade.

"But biosecurity status in Australia is something special and something worth preserving,
and something that we will defend in any international court."

Education Minister Simon Crean, formerly trade minister, told reporters in Adelaide
there were several paths Australia could take in its appeal.

"Australia clearly has options in terms of reaction to that report and I'm sure that
the minister for trade and the minister for agriculture will be assessing those options
in the days to come," he said.

A Senate estimates committee in May heard an appeal would lead to an October hearing
in Geneva and an outcome at the end of November.

The option of reaching a bilateral solution with New Zealand would be open throughout
the appeal process.

Opposition agriculture spokesman John Cobb said Australia must fight hard to keep its
reputation as a fireblight-free nation.

"We have the right to protect our food supplies and environment from exotic diseases
and pests and the coalition in government would be sparing no expense appealing the WTO
ruling," he said.

Apple growers are pleased the appeal has bipartisan support.

Apple and Pear Australia Limited chairman Darral Ashton said the future of agriculture
depended on protecting the nation's disease-free status.

Mr Ashton was hopeful Australia could win.

"The government obviously feels they are on strong ground, otherwise they wouldn't
bother going to appeal," he told AAP.

Australia banned imports of New Zealand apples in the 1920s.

It lifted the outright ban four years ago, but in early 2007 imposed strict conditions
that made New Zealand exports uneconomic.

The existing import conditions will remain in place pending the outcome of the appeal.

In New Zealand, industry leaders and NZ Trade Minister Tim Groser were pleased but
cautious about the WTO ruling, NZPA reported.

Mr Groser said the ruling had been 80 years in the making and was "hugely good news"

for New Zealand in the long term.

Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Peter Beaven said he expected New Zealand apples
would be on sale in Australia as soon as 2012, despite the appeal.

AAP gd/srp/mm/apm

KEYWORD: APPLES WRAP

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

FED: Minor reshuffle approved by ADA

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2010
FED: Minor reshuffle approved by ADA

CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - Kevin Rudd's decision to relieve Greg Combet of some of his
responsibilities has been welcomed by the Australian Defence Association.

Prime Minister Rudd announced on Thursday he would hand responsibility for defence
personnel to Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin.

Mr Combet has, over time, taken on an increasing number of portfolios and most recently
was asked to fix the failed home insulation program.

"It's a good idea," association boss Neil James told AAP.

For some years Mr James has been calling for similar moves, saying the defence department
needs more attention in cabinet and across the frontbench.

"It's a measure forced on them by Combet's workload," he said.

Mr Rudd confirmed the changes will be made formal by Governor-General Quentin Bryce
at a ceremony at Admiralty House on Thursday.

AAP pv/sb/bwl

KEYWORD: DEFENCE UPDATE

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

SA: Judge urged to acquit champion cyclist on driving charges

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2009
SA: Judge urged to acquit champion cyclist on driving charges

By Tim Dornin

ADELAIDE, Aug 19 AAP - A judge has been urged to acquit champion cyclist Chris Jongewaard
who has been charged with seriously injuring a fellow cyclist in a road crash.

South Australian District Court judge Wayne Chivell has reserved his verdict.

In final submissions on Wednesday, defence counsel Ian White asked the judge to find
that, under the circumstances, the collision was unavoidable.

Given the speed involved, the dark conditions and the distraction of an oncoming car,
there was very little the 30-year-old could do to avoid the accident, Mr White told the
court.

Jongewaard earlier in court admitted to initially downplaying to police how much alcohol
he had consumed before his car hit fellow professional cyclist Matthew Rex as he cycled
down a country road.

He said he now believed he may have miscounted or lost track of his drinks, after recording
a blood alcohol level of 0.094.

A four-time national cross country mountain bike champion, Jongewaard pleaded not guilty
to aggravated causing serious harm by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident
after causing harm.

He lost his place on Australia's team for last year's Beijing Olympics after being
charged over the February 2007 accident.

Jongewaard's car struck Mr Rex on the night the pair and eight others were celebrating
22-year-old Mr Rex's birthday at a resort at Normanville, south of Adelaide.

He told the court that immediately after the crash, he made a decision to return to
the resort to seek help - not to try to hide his car or himself.

"I was really confused, didn't know what to do, it just happened so quickly," Jongewaard
said of the crash which left Mr Rex with injuries including a broken back, broken hip,
broken leg and internal bleeding.

"I just knew it was serious, the bang was enough to shake me up.

"I knew I had to get help."

Jongewaard said he tried to help police as much as possible and described the incident
as probably the most stressful thing that had ever happened to him.

In evidence earlier this week, the court heard that Mr Rex was intoxicated and had
hallucinated about seeing fairies before being struck by Jongewaard's car.

Witnesses said Mr Rex had been drinking heavily and was behaving bizarrely over dinner.

"Matt was struggling to coordinate himself, his eyes were rolling back in his head
... he was hallucinating and seeing fairies in the kitchen," witness Jacqui Ewens, who
was Jongewaard's girlfriend at the time, told the court.

Caitlin Wells, another at the gathering, said Mr Rex was "quite intoxicated and he
was making remarks that he may have been hallucinating".

"He pointed to the kitchen and commented about fairies in the kitchen," Ms Wells told the court.

After dinner, and unbeknown to others, Mr Rex took Jongewaard's mountain bike for a ride.

Mr Rex told the court he had taken ecstasy on a previous occasion but denied using
the drug on the day of his accident.

The former professional cyclist said he had no memory of the time between when he was
sitting on a balcony at the resort on the afternoon before the accident and about a month
later, when he awoke in hospital.

Judge Chivell will deliver his verdict next week.

AAP tjd/jl/cdh

KEYWORD: JONGEWAARD WRAP

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

Tas: Sacked workers offered uni scholarships

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2009
Tas: Sacked workers offered uni scholarships

Workers being made redundant from machinery giant Caterpillar in Tasmania will have
the opportunity to go back to school.

The company plans to cut 280 jobs from its Burnie plant .. and the University of Tasmania
is offering redundant employees scholarships worth from four to eight thousand 600 dollars
to study a course of their choice.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor DAVID RICH says the university views the deal as an important
part of its contribution to the community.

Professor RICH says like any aspiring uni student .. workers will need to meet admission
requirements.

AAP RTV ees/gfr/tm

KEYWORD: CATERPILLAR (LAUNCESTON)

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

FED: A statement of intent from the prime minister

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2008
FED: A statement of intent from the prime minister

By Peter Veness

CANBERRA, Dec 5 AAP - Kevin Rudd's first national security statement is a sound, considered
and complex keystone on which much defence and foreign policy will rest.

After months of anticipation, the prime minister on Friday delivered the statement.

He began with over-arching words and a definition of national security but that soon
gave way to detail - Rudd's first love.

We know now, after some lightly floated suggestions, the government is developing a
counter-terrorism white paper and will deliver a "regular" foreign policy statement.

It's clear the Mumbai shootings and bombings reminded Rudd very strongly of the threat
posed by militant Islamism. He wasn't so much shaken as stirred into action.

The counter-terrorism white paper will sit alongside the defence white paper, which
is delayed and now due in the first half of 2009.

It isn't just the obvious risks of terrorism and failed states in the Pacific that
Rudd is on about. He gave more than a passing mention to climate change.

"Less attention has been given to the security implications that climate change could
bring to Australia compared with other traditional security challenges," he said at about
the halfway mark of his 45 minute speech.

"This is an area of emerging consequences which will require the formal incorporation
of climate change within Australia's national security policy and analysis process."

Rudd's wider interpretation of national security leads back, in part, to one of the
government's quiet achievers.

Since taking office, Attorney-General Robert McClelland has slowly developed a detailed
perspective on how to meet emerging threats like cyber-espionage, which has the potential
to destroy financial institutions, and climate change, which may well lead to a new type
of asylum seeker.

McClelland's key word has been resilience.

It was a theme pointedly echoed by Rudd.

"Australia will seek, wherever possible, to develop self reliance across the range
of relevant national security capabilities to ensure an effective contribution to our
own security," the prime minister said.

"One of the fundamental assets we have to promote our national security objectives
is our underlying strength, resilience and cohesion as a nation."

At the other end of the security spectrum comes a different resilience.

"In Australia, we have a strong tradition of volunteering to support our communities,
especially in times of emergency, demonstrating the innate resilience and collective responsibility
we all share as Australians."

There's no doubt this first national security statement has the firm print of the prime
minister. But it is also what he would call "whole of government".

And one of the main players was most certainly the solid, dependable and calm Attorney-General
Robert McClelland.

AAP pv/kms/jfm/de

KEYWORD: SECURITY (AAP NEWS ANALYSIS) RPTG

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

Qld: Air monitoring in Mt Isa not enough, says lawyer

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2008
Qld: Air monitoring in Mt Isa not enough, says lawyer

By Rosemary Desmond

BRISBANE, Aug 1 AAP - The Queensland mining city of Mount Isa will be the first in
Australia, and one of the few in the world, to have its air monitored for toxic metals
24 hours a day by a government agency.

But the lawyer for a child suffering the effects of high lead levels in Mt Isa says
the new air monitoring equipment does not address the root cause of the health risk.

A $300,000 US-made machine will be installed in the north-west Queensland city in October
to monitor airborne heavy metals.

It will provide air samples hourly for analysis by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

But Damien Scattini, who represents the family of six-year-old former Mt Isa girl Stella
Hare, said the air monitoring did not go far enough.

"It's a welcome, late first step, but you are just witnessing what is going on then,
rather than being an active player in stopping it at its source," Mr Scattini told AAP
today.

"So we will all be able to see what we all knew and that is that the mine is polluting the town.

"What they have to do is to intervene to stop the ongoing pollution and so they have
to cap the slag (tailings) piles, because the wind picks up the dust from them and distributes
it all over the town."

The family of Stella Hare have launched legal action in a test case against miner Xstrata,
Mt Isa City Council and the Queensland government over the girl's brain and nervous system
impairments which are allegedly linked to lead exposure.

Queensland environment minister Andrew McNamara today said the monitor came onto the
market less than 12 months ago after approval by the US Environmental Protection Agency
and Mt Isa would be among the first half-dozen cities in the world to have the machine
installed.

"It will provide continuous, near-real time monitoring and reporting of up to 20 elements
including lead, zinc, cadmium, copper and arsenic," Mr McNamara said.

Information about heavy metals in the air would be monitored continuously and reported
on the EPA website every hour.

"This is all about ensuring peace of mind for the people of Mt Isa," he said.

The move follows the release of findings in May showing one in 10 children under the
age of four in Mt Isa had elevated levels of lead, which can cause behavioural, intellectual
and other health problems.

The study by Queensland Health showed that about 70 per cent of the children tested
had eaten soil and most had played in it or owned pets which exposed them to more dust.

It recommended health and hygiene measures to minimise the danger.

Mining company Xstrata Mount Isa Mines welcomed the new air monitoring initiatives
which it said complemented its existing system.

"Mt Isa has the most extensive air quality monitoring system of any city in Australia,
and we support any additional steps that increase public confidence in environmental reporting,"

Xstrata Copper north Queensland chief operating officer Steve de Kruijff said.

"Xstrata has a network of environmental monitoring systems in the Mt Isa community
and we consistently report well below the Queensland EPA limit of 1.5 micrograms per cubic
metre for lead in air levels."

AAP rad/pjo/jl/de

KEYWORD: LEVELS NIGHTLEAD

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

Qld: Motorists still driving drunk, too fast: police

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2007
Qld: Motorists still driving drunk, too fast: police

Queensland police have again expressed their dismay over the number of drivers breaking
the law these holidays.

Across the state yesterday police breath-tested 12 thousand 782 motorists .. and found
115 to be over the limit.

A total of two thousand and 67 people were caught speeding and 82 were caught not wearing
their seatbelts.

There were 12 traffic incidents in which 19 people were injured.

And four people have been killed on the state's roads .. the latest an 18 year-old
man who crashed his mountain bike into a tree at Summerholm .. west of Brisbane yesterday.

One of the drivers nabbed by police was a 31-year-old woman in Emerald .. in Central
Queensland .. who was allegedly more than three times over the blood alcohol limit ..

and had two children .. aged five and eight .. in the car.

EDS: AAP's Xmas/New Year road toll figures are for the period 0001 December 21 to 2359
January 4. Some state and territory police forces may use different road toll periods.

AAP RTV rm/sw/jmt

KEYWORD: TOLL QLD (BRISBANE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Labor wants answers on indigenous missing millions

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2007
FED: Labor wants answers on indigenous missing millions

More than 100 million dollars .. allocated to indigenous health .. education and family
violence .. has disappeared .. and Labor's demanding an explanation from the federal government.

The money should have been spent in the 2005/6 budget year.

The shortfall includes 25.5 million dollars allocated for health services in indigenous
communities and 37.4 million for tertiary Abstudy.

An extra 16 million dollars .. promised for employment and economic development programs
.. wasn't spent either.

Labor says the figures show the government failed to spend money on services that would
have made children safer.

Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister JENNY MACKLIN has called on the government to reveal
details of any missing millions allocated to indigenous programs in 2006-07 as well.

But Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister MAL BROUGH says some allocated money wasn't
spent because organisations slated for funding didn't measure up.

AAP RTV ag/sb/crh/bart

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS FUNDS (CANBERRA)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Hospitals halt elective surgery: state opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2007
Vic: Hospitals halt elective surgery: state opposition

By Kate Lahey

MELBOURNE, April 5 AAP - Nine Victorian hospitals have closed their elective surgery
units for at least two weeks, but the government insists the move is "normal" and not
financially driven.

Hospitals in Bairnsdale, Benalla, Echuca, Kilmore, Kyneton, Warrnambool and Wodonga
have closed their elective surgery units for between two and three weeks, the state opposition
says.

Metropolitan hospital Casey has closed for elective surgery and Monash is closing part
of its elective surgery unit, Liberal health spokeswoman Helen Shardey said.

Ms Shardey said the closures seemed financially driven and would prolong the state's
waiting list of about 36,000 people.

"I think it's much more than people taking a couple of days off over Easter," she said.

"I think what is occurring now is that these hospitals are finding it very difficult
to manage their funding, they're running out of funds and they're trying to save money
as we come to the end of the financial year."

But a spokesman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the closures were caused by a
drop in demand for elective surgery over the Easter period.

"These closures are not related to funding," spokesman Tim Pigot said.

"They are normal hospital business at times of low demand and they occur all over Australia."

Mr Pigot said patients did not want to schedule their elective surgery over the holiday
break, and hospitals had received increased funds since 1999.

"Every hospital has received increased funding every year since the Bracks government
was elected," he said.

Bairnsdale regional health chief executive Gary Gray said his closure was planned around
patient scheduling and was not an attempt to save money.

"We are not in a financially difficult situation at this point," he said.

However, Rural Doctors Association of Victoria president Mike Moynihan said the government
was "squeezing the life" out of rural hospitals, and the closures were too long to reduce
waiting lists.

"Four days is really acceptable at Easter," Dr Moynihan told AAP.

"If they're really serious about reducing waiting lists, they wouldn't close for two
weeks over Easter then two weeks over Christmas.

"That's 10 per cent of operating time for the whole year."

Dr Moynihan said he was "quite sure" the closures were financially motivated.

The government does not dispute the claim nine hospitals are closing their elective
surgery units, but is not notified by hospitals of their decision to close.

AAP kl/dk/jm/mn

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS NIGHTLEAD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Koalas' survival looks grim

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
NSW: Koalas' survival looks grim

The fate of thousands of koalas trapped by a raging bushfire in NSW's central west
are still unknown.

More than 82 thousand hectares have been scorched by a bushfire outside of Coonabarabran
.. since it ignited last month.

The fire has engulfed the nearby Pilliga Nature Reserve where thousands of koalas live.

A team of experts from Sydney's Taronga Zoo and the National Parks and Wildlife Service
have been waiting since Friday to enter the reserve .. and hope to access the area tomorrow.







But firefighters are getting the upper hand .. and expect to contain the state's two
largest fires within days.

The Pilliga Reserve fire should be contained within a week and the blaze in the Wollemi
National Park in the Hunter region should be contained in days.

Weather for tomorrow and Thursday is expected to remain mild and humid with north-easterly winds.

But thunderstorms will also arrive to central and western NSW .. bringing lightning
.. which started many of the bushfires last month.

It'll be dry and warm on Friday .. with temperatures to near 40 degrees in western
NSW and the low 30s along the coast.

AAP RTV vpm/klw/els/bart

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW KOALA (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Kovco's widow greets soldier's coffin at Sydney airport

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2006
NSW: Kovco's widow greets soldier's coffin at Sydney airport

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - A full military guard of honour has greeted the remains of Private
Jake Kovco, the soldier killed in Iraq, at Sydney Airport.

In full parade dress and wearing black arm bands, about 300 officers from Private Kovco's
regiment - the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment(3RAR) at Holsworthy - formed
a guard of honour from the doorway of the aircraft.

They saluted the silver casket as it passed.

Eight military pallbearers carried the coffin which was draped in an Australian flag
with a wreath of red flowers on top.

Led by a military chaplain and a lone bagpipe player, Pte Kovco's casket made its way
to the side of the tarmac where his widow Shelley, his parents and other members of his
family had a final chance to say goodbye.

Airport security and other staff came to a standstill as the procession passed.

The chief of the defence force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Defence Minister Brendan
Nelson and opposition defence spokesman Robert McClelland were also there to pay their
respects.

The coffin was loaded into a black hearse and Shelley, wiping tears from her eyes,
got into the vehicle to accompany it to Glebe Morgue, where there will be a coronial inquest.

The hearse left the airport at 8.20pm (AEST).

AAP ajc/jv/cdh

KEYWORD: KOVCO ARRIVE 2ND LEAD

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Duo Join Forces to Promote Polkas on the Internet

Polish-American Journal
06-30-2005
BINGHAMTON, N.Y.--Bandleader/promoter/radio show producer John Jeski and
PAJ Polka Editor Steve Litwin have joined forces on several projects to
expand the promotion of polka music on the internet. Using Jeski's
www.polkachat.com website, participants in the PAJ internet chatroom can
now enjoy a special streaming radiocast of polka music geared specifically
to them.

In an associated project, Litwin has supplied a variety of historic polka
music which is being featured on theme oriented internet radio shows
produced by Jeski. The first of these shows, Buffalo Polka 45s, offers over
an hour of recorded music featured on 45 rpm records released in the late
1960s to early 70s in the Buffalo, N.Y. area. The Buffalo Polka 45s
internet show is available on www.polkashow.com.

Jeski stated, "With over 30 years on radio, I still see it a strong outlet
for polka music but now the internet has given us another opportunity to
promote our music and we need to use it professionally and dynamically.
Currently we offer 107 online polka programs and working with Steve
(Litwin) has brought yet another new aspect to the offering. "

"Using the power of the internet is yet another way to keep polka music
active and an available to fans throughout the world and John's (Jeski)
expertise has made this promotion easy and worthwhile," said Litwin.

The Polish American Journal's internet website is: www.polamjournal.com.

On the internet, Jeski offers a variety of websites with polka music
including www.polkashow.com, www.johnjeski.com, www.polkachat.com and
affiliated sites which feature online radio shows at anytime of the day or
night.

Article copyright Polish American Journal.
V.94;

NSW: More than 1700 police to patrol Sydney this NYE

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2005
NSW: More than 1700 police to patrol Sydney this NYE

SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - More than 1,700 police will patrol the streets and beaches of
Sydney this New Year's Eve in a bid to prevent race-fuelled violence and drunken behaviour.

But Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said there was no intelligence of
a direct threat of violence to any areas in Sydney.

He said a total of 1,760 officers would patrol Circular Quay, The Rocks and beachside
areas including Manly, Bondi and Cronulla.

Mr Scipione said the heavy police presence was a result of recent trouble in the lead-up
to Christmas, which included a race riot at North Cronulla beach on December 11 when an
angry mob of 5,000 people chased and attacked people of Middle Eastern appearance.

Mr Scipione said the New Year's Eve police operation would include mounted police,
the dog squad, officers from the marine area command and undercover detectives.

But he stressed the police were not there as "anti-fun police" and should be respected
by the community.

"This year we are looking to ensure this is a safe city," Mr Scipione told reporters.

"We ask that the community respect our cops for giving up their time."

AAP ved/smb/evt/de

KEYWORD: EVE POLICE

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Body of missing father found in weir

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2004
Qld: Body of missing father found in weir

BRISBANE, DEC 24 AAP - The body of a missing swimmer has been found in a weir near
Cunnamulla, in Queensland's south-west, police said.

The 38-year-old father of two was reported missing yesterday after he went swimming
in the Alan Tannock Weir about 2pm (AEST).

It is believed he hit his head.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted next week to determine the cause of death,
but police are not treating it as suspicious.

Senior Sergeant Julie Elliott earlier said the man was visiting the outback town with
his children for Christmas.

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

Petro-Canada Appoints McIntyre President.

CALGARY -- Petro-Canada announced today the appointment of Norman F. McIntyre as its new President. Ron Brenneman continues as Chief Executive Officer. The move takes place as the Corporation undertakes the significant expansion of its international activity resulting from the $3.2 billion acquisition of the Veba upstream business from BP. In his new position, Mr. McIntyre will represent Petro-Canada's interests in aligning the newly acquired international assets with the Corporation's strategy and direction. He will continue to play a senior role on the Executive Leadership Team, and will provide advice and counsel to the CEO on matters of business policy and overall strategy. Mr. McIntyre will be based in London.

"Norm McIntyre is a first-rate executive and a first-rate individual," Mr. Brenneman said. "We want investors to share our confidence that Petro- Canada will move decisively and successfully to integrate the Veba organization and assets into our world, while maintaining our growth and performance momentum internationally. Norm has the ability, the experience and the track record to quickly establish that confidence, and to deliver on it."

In the course of his 20 years with the Corporation, most recently as Executive Vice President responsible for the upstream, McIntyre played a key role in making Petro-Canada a leading participant in the major areas of upstream opportunity in Canada, including East Coast oil, the Athabasca oil sands, and Western Canada gas. His Petro-Canada activities also include extensive international experience.

McIntyre is a petroleum engineer (University of Wyoming), with a Masters of Science degree in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been an involved and committed industry and community leader throughout his career, most recently as Canadian Chairman of the Organization for the World Petroleum Congress (held in Calgary in June 2000), Chairman of the Calgary United Way Campaign, and Chairman of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

Contact: Chris Dawson, Corporate Communications, (403) 296-3648, Internet site: http://www.petro-canada.ca/; To request a free copy of this organization's annual report, please go to http://www.newswire.ca/ and click on reports@cnw.

NorStar Group, Inc. Confirms Reporting Status.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1999--

NorStar Group, Inc. (OTC BB:NSTG) confirmed today that the Company has already been in the process of taking steps to become a fully reporting company as part of its strategy to build shareholder value in the Company.

"NorStar's goal is to build a solid Internet company, of which our shareholders will be proud, and becoming a fully reporting company is only one part of that goal," said Jay Sanet, NorStar's Director of Corporate Development. Sanet went on to say: "As NorStar achieves its business objectives we anticipate that the Company will meet the listing requirements of more prestigious exchanges within the financial marketplace. NorStar expects to become fully reporting, which will bring it into compliance with OTC Bulletin Board eligibility rules long before the NASD's schedule for the Company's category becomes an issue."

"NorStar Group, Inc. is in full support of the steps the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. is taking to insure more accurate financial information is available to all investors," added Sanet.

Rules 6530 and 6540 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) have been amended and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These amendments require that companies whose securities are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board must report their current financial information directly to the SEC. Companies not in compliance would no longer be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) which is operated by the NASD.

The OTC Bulletin Board is a quotation service that displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices, and volume information for approximately 6,500 domestic and certain foreign securities which include national, regional, and foreign equity issues; and warrants, units, and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) not listed on any other U.S. national securities market or exchange. Over half the companies currently quoted on the OTCBB do not file any public reports. Prior to the present amendments, there was no requirement for an issuer quoted on the OTCBB to make current, publicly available reports with the SEC or other regulator.

Through selective acquisitions and partnering alliances, NorStar Group, Inc. (OTC BB:NSTG) is positioning itself to be a leading provider of interactive, virtual reality, entertainment, educational, and business products and services. NorStar is also the co-developer and sole marketer of a proprietary lightweight, comfortable and affordable virtual reality headgear, The Cybervisor(TM), which is designed for home and school.

Safe Harbor: Certain statements contained in this press release, including but not limited to information regarding the future economic performance and financial condition of the Company, the plans and objectives of the Company's management and the Company's assumptions regarding such performance and plans, are forward-looking in nature. Many factors and conditions could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking information contained in this release.

Benchmarks: Q4 venture capital investments.(Mergers, IPOs, and Venture Finance: Benchmarks)

Software is managing to maintain a steady monetary position among venture capital investments. 2005 saw $4.8b invested in 869 deals, and 2006 saw $5b put into 865 deals; the last quarter of 2006 reached $5.8m per deal.

As Soft letter noted in the 15 April 2006 (VCQ4) study, the deals are growing steadily larger in scope and fewer in number: $5.5m per deal in 2005, and $5.7m in 2006. As VCs raise larger amounts for their funds, they need to make larger placements. The result is a tendency to fund later rather than early stages, and to overdo the cash infusions into young companies.

More troubling are indications that venture capitalists are seeing greener fields than software for their investments. The chart above shows declines over 2005-2006 in Computers & Peripherals and Networking & Equipment, and increases in Industrial/ Energy, Electronics & Instrumentation, Media & Entertainment, and Medical Devices & Equipment. As an industry, software should continue to prosper as all these sectors need software inputs, but software continues to be troubled by declining venture capital interest in fledgling firms and by the lack of IPOs.

The remedy for the lack of IPOs has been private equity funding for mergers and acquisitions (see sandhill.com for the Software 2006 Industry Report from the Sand Hill Group). As recently as 2002, private equity contributed only $0.9b against the $4.6b that VCs were putting into the software industry. By 2005 VCs were putting up $5.1b, while private equity was sending in $6.2b. Private equity M&A growth from 2002 to 2005 increased at an annual rate of 42% to an average $101m per deal, and the total value of such deals increased at an annual rate of 27% to $22b. As with the VC deals, the number of M&A deals decreased at an annual rate of 11% as the industry consolidated, leading to 218 M&A deals in 2005. The merger activity is not just pre-IPO sellouts, but includes the acquisition of public companies as well.

The material in this report is drawn largely from the Money Tree Survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Venture Economics, and the National Venture Capital Association, and generally confirmed, modified, or supplemented by other sources.

 Changes in VC Investment 2005-2006  Networking & Equipment                 -35% Computers & Peripherals                -24% Software                                 3% Telecommunications                       4% Semiconductors                           5% IT Services                              9% Biotechnology                           14% Medical Devices & Equipment             19% Media & Entertainment                   35% Electronics & Instrumentation           43% Industrial/Energy                       52%  Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Survey  Note: Table made from bar graph.