Latest Australian and World News

Ken Talbot missing over Africa June 20, 2010 at 3:48 PM

A PLANE carrying one of Queensland richest businessmen, Ken Talbot, has gone missing while flying over the Congo with serious fears held for the safety of the mining magnate.

North Straddie mining ban June 20, 2010 at 1:21 PM

CONSERVATIONISTS have welcomed the Queensland Government's decision to phase out sand mining on North Stradbroke Island and enhance its park status.

Voters 'sick of bad Labor' June 20, 2010 at 12:22 PM

TONY Abbott has attempted to draw a connection between a swing against Labor in a NSW state by-election with the fortunes of the Federal Government.

Six on bus driver assault charges June 20, 2010 at 11:53 AM

SIX teenage boys have been charged after a bus driver was terrorised on the Gold Coast.

Sapper Smith remembered June 20, 2010 at 12:51 AM

THOSE at the funeral for an Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan have heard that, as he lay dying, his sole concern was for his wife and young son.

Bureaucrat in nightclub row June 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM

A TOP liquor licensing official had a wild day out with a strip club manager and then put the photographs on Facebook. Now he is being investigated.

Do your job, says CMC chief June 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM

CRIME and Misconduct Commission chairman Martin Moynihan has announced he will start a wide-reaching probe into how police investigate each other.

Teen drivers to be fast-tracked June 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM

DRIVERS will be able to ditch their P-plates early if they complete advanced or defensive driving courses under a controversial national plan.

Call to ban bra for pre-teens June 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM

A PROMINENT child psychologist has called for a bra marketed to eight-year olds by iconic underwear company Bonds to be recalled from the market.

Woolies, Lowes take on Bunnings June 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM

TINGALPA is set to become Queensland's first hardware battleground, with new kid on the block "Masters" going head to head with Bunnings.

Liberals win Penrith by-election June 19, 2010 at 10:28 PM

THE scandal-plagued NSW government has suffered a crushing defeat in a Western Sydney by-election, seeing a swing of 25 per cent against it

Woman killed in car collision June 19, 2010 at 6:52 PM

A WOMAN died at the scene of a two-vehicle accident 10km north of Gympie late this afternoon.

Latest Indigenous News

Indigenous runners take on Dili marathon
This weekend a group of Indigenous runners will compete in the Dili marathon in East Timor in preparation for the New York marathon later this year.

Local government body claims CDEP backflip
The Northern Territory's Local Government Association says the Federal Government has changed its mind about funding an Indigenous employment program that was due to wind up at the end of the month.

Park money angers Aborigines
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is angry the Tasmanian Government is pressing ahead with plans for a Bay of Fires National Park.

Latest Environment News

Water prices up 40 per cent: Labor
The State Opposition Leader Eric Ripper says Western Australians are set to be hit with steep increases in water prices for the third year in a row.

National park to cover 80pc of Stradbroke
The Queensland Government will make 80 per cent of North Stradbroke Island national park by 2027.

BP boss goes sailing, cops more flak
BP boss Tony Hayward has been criticised for attending a prestigious yacht race in Britain on Saturday, the day after it was confirmed he was handing over daily control of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Latest Science and Technology News

Hobart schools ecology centre an Australian first
Australia's first science and ecology learning centre is to be built in Hobart.

Local water study to help other inland towns
Researchers hope a study of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's future water needs will help other inland communities deal with climate change.

Russian, US astronauts dock with space station
A Russian space craft carrying a Russian cosmonaut and two US astronauts has docked successfully with the International Space Station (ISS), mission control officials say.

Latest Health News

Crash survivor urges people to donate blood
A 22-year-old Melbourne man who survived a serious car crash is behind a push to get more people to donate blood.

Tea, coffee may help heart
Dutch researchers say that regular consumption of tea and coffee may have health benefits, including a reduced risk of developing heart disease.

Mental health chief walks out on Government
The head of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health (NACMH) has quit, accusing the Federal Government of showing no commitment and claiming credit for the work of the Howard government.

Latest Arts and Entertainment News

Burnie building takes top gong
A north-west Tasmanian building housing a museum, gallery and artists workshop has been voted the state's best public architecture.

Lennon's Day In The Life lyrics sell at auction
John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to A Day in the Life have sold for $1.2 million in New York, almost doubling the estimated price.

Sports stadium proposed for Burswood
The member for South Perth John McGrath says the proposed sports stadium for Burswood is necessary if Perth is to get in line with major cities around the world.

Latest Sports News

Referee has killed my tournament: Kewell
Harry Kewell was left wondering if he should have chopped his arm off to avoid the red card he was shown against Ghana and said the referee had "killed" his World Cup.

Tiger roars back into contention
It was just like old times for Tiger Woods in the third round of the US Open as he pumped his fist and flashed a big smile for a crowd that roared their approval as he played himself into the hunt.

Kreuzer out for the season
Carlton coach Brett Ratten says the Blues have the ruck depth to cope after losing number one ruckman Matthew Kreuzer for the rest of the AFL season.

Latest Australian News

Farmers jittery on proposed 1080 ban
Tasmanian farmers are worried they will be left with no alternative to protect their crops under a proposed ban on the use of 1080 poison.

Miners using 'strongarm' tactics over tax: Swan

ABC.net.au

The Government says it is still negotiating with the industry about aspects of the proposal and transitional arrangements. (ABC News )

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused some mining companies of intimidating other businesses from publicly supporting the Government's mining tax package.

Resources companies are running a strong campaign against the proposed 40 per cent tax.

The Government says it is still negotiating with the industry about aspects of the proposal and transitional arrangements.

But Mr Swan has told Channel Ten some companies are acting dishonourably, although he declined to say who.

"Unfortunately, behind the scenes a small number of companies are using strongarm tactics to silence other companies, both in the mining sector and more broadly in the economy, from commenting favourably," he said.

Nationals Leader Warren Truss has dismissed that suggestion.

Mr Truss told the ABC's Insiders program the industry has a right to defend its interests.

"The Government's case on this is pretty incredible," he said.

"They asked us to vote for a CPRS so we would emit less carbon, they asked us to vote for higher taxes on cigarettes so we would smoke less, they asked us to vote for a higher tax on alcopops so we would drink less" he said.

"But somehow or other a big new tax on mining is going to make us do more mining. It's simply a nonsense."

Minerals Council head Mitch Hooke is disappointed by Mr Swan's accusations and says they are part of a Government campaign against the sector.

"We have this new attempt to besmirch the industry's reputation, so again, it's just a continuation of an attempt to denigrate and demean one of Australia's premier industries as justification for a tax grab in lieu of tax reform," he said.

He called on Mr Swan to name the companies he claims are pressuring others.

"I am not aware and I am pretty sure I would know if there was any kind of strongarm tactics going on within the industry," he said.

"The Treasurer should put the case on the table substantiate these claims."

Latest World News

Man shoots 4 in US restaurant
A man carrying two guns has walked into a Southern California fast food restaurant and shot four people having lunch together.

Brumby takes China's VP to footy
Victorian Premier John Brumby has formally welcomed Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping to Australia.

Latest Australian News

Rudd, Swan not concerned about Penrith thrashing
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan both say the by-election result in the New South Wales state seat of Penrith is shocking, but deny it means another nail in the coffin for the Federal Government.

Government strikes NBN deal with Telstra
The Federal Government has struck an $11 billion deal with Telstra over the national broadband network.

Australian Mystery: Help needed in bizarre case of Ned Kelly's skull

The coroner and Victorian Institute of Forensic
Medicine are still trying to determine whether
it is authentic.

ABC.net.au

There has been a public appeal to help solve the mystery surrounding the purported skull of Ned Kelly.

Kelly's skull was stolen from Old Melbourne Gaol in 1978 and last November, on the anniversary of Kelly's execution, farmer Tom Baxter handed in a skull which he claimed was the bushranger's.

The coroner and Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine are still trying to determine whether it is authentic.

The skull has now been CT-scanned and examined by pathologists and anthropologists but forensic specialists still need more information.

Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls is calling for people to hand over any Kelly photos, artefacts or even bones that could be used to solve the mystery.

"It's a tantalising puzzle that needs solving; I'm sure there is stuff out there in photo albums, in sheds, in backyards," he said.

"I'm sure that someone will know someone who knows someone who knows something. So all we are really asking for them to do is come forward.

"There's only so much that scientific expertise can do. Today, I'm calling on the public for help in this very important quest.

"Is this indeed Ned's head? Or is it just another dull skull?"

National Trust spokesman Martin Purslow says it no longer displays human remains, but is interested to know whether the skull that has been handed in is the one that was stolen.

"We've moved on ethically and we would not want Ned Kelly's skull on display here anymore," he said.

"We have Ned Kelly's death mask and we have many, many items related to Ned Kelly.

"But how Ned kelly's skull is treated, along with I suppose the remains of 135 people who were hanged at this site, is a matter that we would want to be part of the ethical debate on."

Mr Baxter, from the remote Western Australian town of Derby, delivered the skull to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine after having it in his possession for years.

It is not clear how Mr Baxter acquired the skull, after it was stolen from a glass cabinet in the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Help is sought in six areas of research, to compare the scan with historical records and artefacts, including:

- Remains of bones and teeth reportedly taken as souvenirs by students from the Working Men's College (now RMIT) lunching near the Old Melbourne Gaol when graves were exhumed in 1929.

- A photograph of Alex Talbot, a former South Melbourne councillor, holding Ned Kelly's skull, which was mentioned in a newspaper report in 1997.

- Any information on grave exhume contractor Mr Lee of Lee and Dunn or his family, who was responsible for delivering Kelly's skull to the governor.

- Information about wax museum owner Maximilian Kreitmeyer who apparently made a death mask of Ned kelly shortly after his execution.

- Information about Sir Colin McKenzie, founder of the Australian Institute of Anatomy in Canberra, who was reportedly given Kelly's skull after exhumation.

- The missing bluestone block that marked Kelly's grave as E Kelly and the date of execution as 11.11.1880.

Latest News

Plane carrying WA mining execs missing in Africa
Several Australian mining executives are on board a plane that has gone missing in the African nation of Cameroon.

Government strikes NBN deal with Telstra
The Federal Government has struck an $11 billion deal with Telstra over the national broadband network.

Socceroos will 'fight to the end'
If fighting spirit counts for anything, Australia's chances of progressing beyond the group phase at the World Cup are definitely alive.

Mental health chief walks out on Government
The head of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health (NACMH) has quit, accusing the Federal Government of showing no commitment and claiming credit for the work of the Howard government.

Help needed in mysterious case of Ned's head
There has been a public appeal to help solve the mystery surrounding the purported skull of Ned Kelly.

Weird News

Tiger, camels stolen in bungled car theft
A "delightful" Bengal tiger named Jonas and two camels named Todd and Sean, have gone missing in eastern Canada after thieves drove off with the truck and trailer they were travelling in.

Man jailed for breaking into jail
A man has begun a one-year jail term after breaking back into a prison in Mozambique.

Potter fans go wild for wizard theme park
Harry Potter fans blocked Orlando's main highway in their efforts to enter the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park that officially opened in the United States on Friday.

Latest Indigenous News

Indigenous runners take on Dili marathon
This weekend a group of Indigenous runners will compete in the Dili marathon in East Timor in preparation for the New York marathon later this year.

Local government body claims CDEP backflip
The Northern Territory's Local Government Association says the Federal Government has changed its mind about funding an Indigenous employment program that was due to wind up at the end of the month.

Park money angers Aborigines
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is angry the Tasmanian Government is pressing ahead with plans for a Bay of Fires National Park.

Latest Environment News

Millions exposed to arsenic in water supply
More than a fifth of deaths in a district of Bangladesh were caused by the country's notorious problem of arsenic-tainted well water, The Lancet reported on Saturday.

Jacob's Ladder repaired
Perth exercise enthusiasts will be able to return to Jacob's Ladder next week.

Call to scrap Ningaloo's World Heritage nomination
Business and community groups in Exmouth have renewed calls for the Ningaloo coast's nomination for World Heritage Listing to be scrapped.

Science and Technology News

Hobart schools ecology centre an Australian first
Australia's first science and ecology learning centre is to be built in Hobart.

Local water study to help other inland towns
Researchers hope a study of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's future water needs will help other inland communities deal with climate change.

Russian, US astronauts dock with space station
A Russian space craft carrying a Russian cosmonaut and two US astronauts has docked successfully with the International Space Station (ISS), mission control officials say.

Latest Health News

Millions exposed to arsenic in water supply
More than a fifth of deaths in a district of Bangladesh were caused by the country's notorious problem of arsenic-tainted well water, The Lancet reported on Saturday.

Jacob's Ladder repaired
Perth exercise enthusiasts will be able to return to Jacob's Ladder next week.

Autistic support group seeks funding assurances
A support group for autistic children in northern Tasmania says the state government failed to provide guaranteed ongoing funding in this week's budget.

Latest Arts and Entertainment News

Lennon's Day In The Life lyrics sell at auction
John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to A Day in the Life have sold for $1.2 million in New York, almost doubling the estimated price.

Sports stadium proposed for Burswood
The member for South Perth John McGrath says the proposed sports stadium for Burswood is necessary if Perth is to get in line with major cities around the world.

Timeless wristwatches defy mobile phones
For most of last century, the wristwatch regulated the lives of billions of people across the planet.

Latest Sports News

Anelka kicked out of World Cup
Striker Nicolas Anelka has been kicked out of France's World Cup squad for insulting coach Raymond Domenech and refusing to apologise, the French Football Federation (FFF) said.

Kreuzer blow as Blues lose to Dockers
A potentially serious knee injury to Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer compounded the pain of a nine-point AFL loss to Fremantle at Docklands stadium on Saturday night.

Hodkinson kicks Manly to victory
Impressive young half-back Trent Hodkinson has drilled two arrow-straight field goals in the final three minutes to steal Manly a heart-stopping 26-25 victory over South Sydney at Brookvale Oval.

Latest Business News

China to allow more flexibility for yuan
China has indicated it will allow the yuan to rise against the dollar and other Western currencies.

50 missing in Colombia mine blast
Rescue workers are continuing to search for more than 50 people trapped in a mine shaft in Colombia.

IMF backs Spain's austerity measures
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is confident Spain's economy will recover and it has called on the country to back the government's austerity measures.

World News

Millions exposed to arsenic in water supply
More than a fifth of deaths in a district of Bangladesh were caused by the country's notorious problem of arsenic-tainted well water, The Lancet reported on Saturday.

Gunman attacks former Rwandan army chief
A former Rwandan army chief of staff, Kayumba Nyamwasa, has been shot in the stomach while in South Africa and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

20 years on, Russian press still lives in fear
Twenty years ago this week Russia charted a course to develop a vibrant free press, introducing a law to encourage independent journalism.

News Commentary

DJs fronts up as CEO scandal erupts
In corporate Australia Mark McInnes was more than just the chief executive of David Jones. To shareholders, big time investors and rusted-on shoppers he was also the high profile face of the company who was a living and breathing brand. But today's stunning departure is the latest confirmation that corporate Australia will accept nothing less than exemplary behaviour from its chief executives.

Government 2.0...it can be a reality
Alongside the tools and technology, public sector culture must change to bring the reality of Government 2.0 to light.

Word-art imitates life at the Mid-Winter Ball
In recent years speeches by Australia's leaders at the Parliamentary Mid-Winter Ball have followed the lead set by the White House correspondent's dinner. It is a bold and terrifying trend and the results have been mixed, because they start with a few handicaps. The first is that, as a rule, Australians are hopeless public speakers and, with some noble exceptions, this holds true for our leaders.

Blame it on the vuvuzela, but we haven't blown it yet
There's no-one having less fun than us so far. You could make the case Australia's 4-0 loss to Germany has been the least interesting moment of this World Cup. But there's more to see at this sporting carnival than our navels, and some of it is truely inspiring. How I longed to be New Zealandish on Tuesday; you could do nothing but smile at their good fortune.

Shear amazement at North Tuppal Station
On a frosty morning in the NSW Riverina, shearers sharpen their blades, oil their handpieces, and slip on their unofficial uniform. They're preparing for the largest gathering of shearers in recent history - an event organised to raise funds to send a national shearing team to Wales for the International Golden Shears Competition. But what this event evolves into over the next two days, is much more than a fund-raising exercise.

Latest Australian News

Socceroos will 'fight to the end'
If fighting spirit counts for anything, Australia's chances of progress beyond the group phase at the World Cup are definitely alive.

Referee has killed my tournament: Kewell
Harry Kewell was left wondering if he should have chopped his arm off to avoid the red card he was shown on Sunday morning and said the referee had "killed" his World Cup.

Penrith result highlights Labor's struggle
Experts say the record swing away from Labor in yesterday's Penrith by-election is a cause for concern for the New South Wales and federal governments.

Youth urged to cut violence out of relationships
The Federal Government is launching a $17 million media campaign today that aims to reduce relationship violence among young people.

Call for national standards on drivers' licences
The national police union is pushing for consistent driver training and licensing across the country to reduce the road toll.

Scams target Asian Australians

A photo of Sydney's Chinatown.

www.sbs.com.au

Asian Australians are losing millions of dollars on Hong Kong-based lottery scams, according to authorities in Australia and abroad.

Hong Kong Police say fraudsters involved in a lottery scam will contact victims via email, telephone or SMS telling them they have won a cash prize.

They will then ask the victim for an 'administration fee' before the cash can be deposited into his or her account.

The scam has netted nearly $A22 million in the last two years alone.

"…[T]here has been a number of Lottery Frauds reported to the Hong Kong Police by overseas Chinese living in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore," Hong Kong Police's Commercial Crime Bureau said in a written statement.

"In 2009, Hong Kong Police received complaints of Lottery Fraud that amounted to over 71 million Hong Kong Dollars ($A10.5 million)."

Hong Kong Police have offered advice to potential victims on how to stay safe from such scams.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says it has received more than 330 complaints of scams targeting the Asian community.

ACCC's Peter Kell says the number may be a lot higher, with victims reluctant to report the scams to authorities.

Another scam involves convincing victims their relatives have been kidnapped, and demanding thousands of dollars in 'ransom' to free them.

Earlier this year, NSW Police issued a warning to Asian business owners in Sydney's inner-west to contact authorities immediately if they received threatening or abusive phone calls.

'We are treating these reports seriously and we encourage members of the Asian business community to continue to report these matters," Detective Sgt Aaron Power from Burwood Local Command said. 

Hong Kong Police has issued a video handout in Cantonese with Mandarin subtitles with re-enactments of the scams.