Costa Rica 'accidentally' OKs civil unions

Conservative Costa Rican MPS may have unwittingly approved language making same-sex unions legal. Source: AAP

CONSERVATIVE Costa Rican MPs are mortified that they may have accidentally approved language making same-sex unions legal when they passed a piece of legislation this week.

President Laura Chinchilla on late Thursday signed the bill governing social services and marriage regulations for young people.

The mostly conservative members of Congress didn't notice that the final version of the bill had changed earlier language that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

After realising they had approved a bill that "confers social rights and benefits of a civil union, free from discrimination," the MPs asked Chinchilla to veto the new law. She has refused.

Conservative MPs say they'll launch a legal challenge to the new law which they say goes against family values.

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Malcolm Fraser backs Greens senator

ADELAIDE, July 6 AAP - Australia's major political parties are engaged in a "race to the bottom" using fear to fuel the debate over asylum seekers, former prime minister Malcolm Fraser says.

Appearing at a public forum in Adelaide on Saturday, the former Liberal leader has thrown his support behind Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in her bid to be returned at the coming election.

He has described her as a "resolute and far-minded voice" on asylum seeker policy.

He stressed his support was for the "person, not the party", though he also remained concerned at the prospect of either the Liberal or Labor parties gaining control of both houses of parliament.

"The state of the political debate in Canberra is wretched," Mr Fraser said.

"There's been a race to the bottom of the barrel on refugee and asylum seeker issues.

"They seem to believe that who can get toughest will win most votes."

Mr Fraser said the opposition's policy to turn back the boats would not work, and while recent talks between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian authorities had made progress, the asylum seeker was a world-wide problem that required a global solution.

"Labor and Liberal talk as though Australia is the only target. It's not," he said.

"We are a tiny part of a world problem."

Mr Fraser said judging by the reaction on Twitter, he was aware his support for Senator Hanson-Young had angered some of his former colleagues.

"It's certainly pleased some people, but it's annoyed others," he said.

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Pussy Riot members plan appeal

Lawyers for the jailed members of Russian band Pussy Riot will appeal their clients' convictions. Source: AAP

LAWYERS representing the two jailed Pussy Riot bandmates have confirmed reports they will be appealing the women's hooliganism convictions.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina have served close to half of a two-year sentence handed down by a Moscow court last August after they were found guilty of organising a protest concert in a city church.

Lawyer Irina Khrunova has revealed she hopes to present the appeal to the Russian Supreme Court based on the argument that the verdict was illegal.

The appeal news comes after Alyokhina's bid to win parole was rejected in late May.

Khrunova also hopes to challenge that decision.

A third member of the group, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was also convicted for her part in the gig, but her sentence was suspended last October and she walked free.

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Treasurer appeals gaming levy court loss

THE Victorian government will fight a recent loss in a legal battle with betting firms Tatts and Tabcorp.

Treasurer Michael O'Brien had determined that the two major gaming companies were liable for about $42 million each under the government's health benefit levy for operating poker machines in the 2012/13 financial year.

But the companies successfully argued they should not pay that amount as they had lost their duopoly over pokies operated outside of Crown casino 46 days into the year.

The Victorian Supreme Court ruled on June 24 that the treasurer had erred in his determination, and would need to revaluate the levy to be charged.

Mr O'Brien has now lodged an appeal against that ruling.

Tatts and Tabcorp say they will defend the appeal.

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Home and Away big loss for NZ TV3

THE loss of Australian soap drama, Home and Away, could have big implications on New Zealand's TV3's ratings in the evenings, a television commentator says.

MediaWorks NZ, which owns TV3 and is in receivership, announced on Friday it had lost the Australian soap to TVNZ.

Throng.co.nz editor Regan Cunliffe says the move could have a large impact on TV3's ratings for the news hour and into the evening.

On Thursday this week the show drew more than double the number of viewers aged 25-54 than TV One at the 5.30pm timeslot, he said.

However, One News attracted more than double the viewers aged five plus than 3News.

"If that is as they say such as strong lead in for the news, what happens next? If you take that away from 3 how much further down will those 3 News ratings go?"

This could have implications on revenue, Mr Cunliffe said.

"If you've got all these advertisers that have been sold packages based on the strong 25-54 ratings then all of a sudden that's stripped away from them, that's not so good news for them."

TVNZ struggled for years to find something to fit the 5.30pm time slot and now TV3 was in the same position, Mr Cunliffe said.

KordaMentha partner and receiver Brendon Gibson said MediaWorks was disappointed the distributor had chosen to grant the licence to TVNZ.

"It is regrettable that TVNZ has convinced the distributor to cancel our agreement. However, this business is much bigger than one show."

MediaWorks management were focused on providing a top quality alternative to Home and Away, Mr Gibson said.

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Kiwi edges higher over the week

THE New Zealand dollar trade-weighted index is heading for a 0.9 per cent weekly gain as central banks in Australia and Europe kept their bias towards economic stimulation.

The trade-weighted index rose to 74.59 at 5pm in Wellington from 74.07 on Thursday, and was up from 73.89 at the start of the week.

The kiwi traded at 78.12 US cents from 73.87 cents at 8am, up from 77.79 cents on Thursday. The currency is heading for a 0.3 per cent weekly gain against the greenback.

The European Central Bank and Bank of England both indicated their key interest rates will stay near-zero for longer, as they deal with a region beset by sovereign debt woes. Earlier this week, the Reserve Bank of Australia said it still has scope to cut rates if its economic outlook deteriorates further.

"The broader theme coming to the fore with risk aversion feeding is New Zealand's relative economic story shining through," said Mike Jones, currency strategist at Bank of New Zealand.

"That's why the kiwi has outperformed through the week, particularly against those currencies whose central banks are still pressing the QE (quantitative easing) button."

The kiwi climbed to 60.53 euro cents from 59.87 cents on Thursday and to 78.40 yen from 77.68 yen. It was little changed at 85.51 Australian cents from 85.40 cents.

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Alannah MacTiernan nominates for Perth

FORMER West Australian Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan has nominated to become a candidate for the federal seat of Perth.

Lawyer Matthew Keogh withdrew his nomination before the midday deadline on Thursday, leaving Ms MacTiernan as the only nominee.

Another lawyer, Tim Hammond, who unsuccessfully contested the seat of Swan at the 2010 election, was touted as a strong contender but announced on Monday that he wasn't seeking to run because he had a young family.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of Defence Minister Stephen Smith, who announced last week, following the return of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, that he was bowing out of politics at the next election after holding the seat for 20 years.

It is one of only three federal seats held by Labor in Western Australia.

Asked about Ms MacTiernan on Thursday, WA Premier Colin Barnett said she would be a strong candidate.

"If Alannah has a go, it will be a full-on campaign, that's for sure," the Liberal leader told reporters.

"But this coming federal election is going to be closer than perhaps people thought.

"Certainly, the three federal seats that Labor holds in Western Australia, the Liberal party is going to be going after those very strongly."

The Liberal candidate for the seat of Perth is Geraldton-born petroleum engineer Darryl Moore.

During her time in state parliament, Ms MacTiernan was one of the most recognised and outspoken WA ministers, spearheading several major infrastructure projects including the Perth-to-Mandurah rail line.

She spent 17 years in state politics until she resigned in 2010 to run for the federal seat of Canning, but was beaten by Liberal Don Randall.

Ms MacTiernan returned to public life as the mayor of the City of Vincent the following year.

And she earned herself national headlines when she called for former prime minister Julia Gillard to step down after WA Labor suffered a crushing defeat in the March state election.

"I don't want to be horrible ... (but) you can't be a leader when people don't want you as their leader," she said at the time.

Mr Keogh said he had withdrawn in the interests of party unity.

"In the interests of providing a united Labor team to fight for the re-election of the Labor government, I have withdrawn my nomination for pre-selection for the seat of Perth," he said in a statement.

"I am of course disappointed to not be contesting the seat, as are many others.

"I have known and worked with Alannah for a long time and she will be a formidable candidate in Perth."

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Rudd books NPC for debate with Abbott

PM Kevin Rudd (R) has booked the National Press Club for a debate with Tony Abbott on the economy. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has booked the National Press Club for a debate with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, daring him to turn up and face him on the economy.

And he says former Prime Minister John Howard would be welcome to attend in Mr Abbott's absence.

Mr Rudd says the Australian people face big choices on the economy, environmental policy and jobs.

"I cannot understand why Mr Abbott does not seem to have the ticker to want to come forward and participate in a national debate," he told reporters in Canberra.

"So in consultation with the National Press Club, we have set aside next Thursday for a debate."

Mr Rudd says between now and then he will be hounding Mr Abbott "up hill and down dale" to ensure he turns up.

He says Mr Howard is welcome to come and help Mr Abbott, or take part in the debate in Mr Abbott's absence.

In the week since his return as PM, Mr Rudd has persistently goaded Mr Abbott to participate in a series of debates.

But Mr Abbott has said he'll debate Mr Rudd once he names the election date.

Mr Rudd said the first debate could be about debt and deficit and future debates about immigration policy and carbon pricing.

"It's time to fess up to the Australian people about what you really stand for and what your real policies are for the future or are they all just soundbites and slogans," he said.

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Rudd leads charge on NSW ALP corruption

Kevin Rudd has agreed to place the NSW Labor party under administration of the national executive. Source: AAP

CORRUPTION will be stamped out and rank and file ALP members given more power in a massive overhaul of NSW Labor ordered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Mr Rudd on Thursday announced the ALP national executive would have licence to intervene in the workings of the NSW branch to root out corruption in its ranks.

But the coalition says it's just an election ploy that won't stop dodgy dealing in the state.

Under Mr Rudd's plan NSW ALP branch secretary Sam Dastyari has 30 days to implement a raft of new reforms - including the instant expulsion of any member found to be corrupt - under the eye of the national executive.

The revamp comes after a string of damning allegations emerged against former NSW Labor ministers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid at the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this year.

Mr Rudd said the decision to intervene in NSW Labor - the first of its kind since 1971 - had not been "taken lightly".

"As a party we must stamp out a culture which has allowed this type of behaviour to take hold," Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra.

"I regard this as a necessary set of reforms."

In a letter written to Mr Dastyari, Mr Rudd said he was "appalled by the allegations of corruption and misconduct" heard by ICAC.

As well as zero-tolerance on corruption, the reforms ban property developers from standing as state ALP election candidates unless they divest their major interests.

They also dissolve the current disputes and credentials committee to make way for a new independent tribunal to resolve party disputes.

An internal ombudsman will also be set up to hear and investigate the complaints of rank-and-file members.

Mr Rudd confirmed that at least half the administrative committee, the branch's major decision-making body, would be comprised of rank-and-file members with three independent directors.

The prime minister is also planning a charter of rights and responsibilities making clear that the rules are binding on everyone.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said he was "incredibly enthusiastic about what the prime minister is doing".

But NSW Special Minister of State, Chris Hartcher, said Mr Rudd's move showed a lack of confidence in Mr Robertson.

"He doesn't have the confidence of his own prime minister, nor does he have the confidence of his federal executive," Mr Hartcher said.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott branded the move an election ploy.

"This isn't a corruption cure, this is an election fix," Mr Abbott said in Perth.

The Greens said the reforms should have happened "a long time ago".

"Unfortunately no reform process, no matter how genuine it is, can turn back time," federal senate candidate Cate Faehrmann said.

The Property Council of Australia said the move to ban property developers from standing as candidates was offensive and unworkable.

"We are totally supportive of corruption watchdogs targeting, investigating and facilitating prosecution of bad practices, regardless of who is involved," NSW executive director Glenn Byres said on Wednesday.

"But creating a system of electoral apartheid based on occupational histories is gesture politics."

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Ecuador says hidden mic found in embassy

A HIDDEN microphone was found in Ecuador's embassy in London, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is holed up, Ecuador's foreign minister said.

Ricardo Patino said the origin of the bug would be revealed Wednesday and explanations demanded of the country involved. He did not elaborate.

The bug was found in a routine search ahead of his visit to London on June 16, he told reporters.

The microphone was found in the office of the ambassador Ana Alban.

Patino said he was not insinuating that the bug was linked to the saga surrounding fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who has applied for asylum in Ecuador.

Snowden is wanted by the United States on charges of espionage for revealing a massive phone and internet surveillance program.

Assange, whose organisation leaked a vast trove of diplomatic cables and Iraq and Afghanistan war logs a few years ago, has been staying in the Ecuadoran embassy in London for a year.

He faces questioning over sexual assault allegations in Sweden, and fears the Swedes will hand him over to the Americans.

During his visit to London, Patino met with his British counterpart William Hague but no agreement on the Assange case was reached.

Britain is refusing to grant Assange safe passage out of the embassy so he can travel to Ecuador.

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Aust shares post heavy falls

THE Australian share market has fallen heavily due to weaker than expected economic data from China and Australia's retail sector.

At the close on Wednesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 89.9 points, or 1.86 per cent, at 4,744.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 82.5 points, or 1.72 per cent, at 4,727.8.

On the ASX 24, the September share price index futures contract was 82 points lower at 4,707 with 36,2878 contracts traded.

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SA police investigate koala theft

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD koala has been stolen from the backyard cage of an Adelaide wildlife carer.

The female, named Kao, is in need of medical attention, police say.

She was one of three koalas in the cage but was the only one taken from the Trott Park property, between 7pm on Tuesday and 9am on Wednesday.

Police have urged the thief to return the koala as a matter of urgency.

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Power plant's waste to become fuel

GREENHOUSE gas emissions from one of Australia's largest coal fired power stations will be used to produce biofuels as its owner attempts to reduce its carbon bill.

Biofuel company Algae.Tec has signed a deal to establish a carbon capture and biofuels production facility next to the Bayswater Power station in the Hunter Valley.

The agreement with the NSW government-owned power company Macquarie Generation means waste carbon dioxide from the power station will be fed into an algae growth system, which will then be used to produce biodiesel and jet fuel.

Macquarie Generation CEO Russell Skelton said the move would reduce the company's carbon bill.

"Carbon is now our single largest cost," he said.

"This technology should reduce our carbon output, reduce our carbon bill, and at the same time improve our bottom line."

The price of carbon rose to $24.15 a tonne on Monday following an indexed rise in the federal government's carbon tax.

Bayswater uses approximately 7.5 million tonnes of coal per year and delivers power to an area stretching from South Australia to North Queensland.

New South Wales Energy Minister Chris Hartcher said the algae system would provide the Hunter Valley with a locally-produced green fuel source.

"This deal is an innovative means of capturing and reusing carbon emissions and providing the Hunter region with a locally produced green fuel source, Mr Hartcher said."

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Kerry, Lavrov meet amid Snowden impass

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have started talks as fugitive US leaker Edward Snowden sought asylum from a Moscow airport.

Lavrov refused to answer a shouted question about the Snowden case as he met Kerry on the sidelines of an Asian security forum in the sultanate of Brunei.

Kerry said only: "We will have a chance to talk about a lot of things."

The talks are the highest-level contact between the two nations since Snowden, a former government contractor who leaked explosive details of US surveillance, flew from Hong Kong to Moscow over a week ago. He has asked 21 nations to consider asylum.

President Vladimir Putin has said that Snowden is welcome to stay in Russia but that he must "stop his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners -- no matter how strange this may sound coming from me."

The long-scheduled talks between the countries' two top diplomats had initially been set to focus primarily on the civil war in Syria as Kerry tries in vain to arrange a conference in Geneva aimed at a political settlement.

Russia is a long-time supporter of embattled President Bashar al-Assad while the United States, Gulf Arab monarchies, France and Britain have been boosting support for rebels in the conflict that has claimed nearly 100,000 lives.

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Brisbane hospital returns to full service

A BRISBANE hospital, which had to effectively shut down for two weeks after a legionnaire's disease outbreak, has resumed all services.

The Wesley Hospital has reopened operating theatres and other sections of the hospital after water tests cleared it of the legionella bacteria.

The hospital was on emergency bypass and cancelled new admissions for about a fortnight after one patient died and a second patient contracted legionnaires' disease earlier last month.

A strain of legionella which causes legionnaires, a serious lung infection, was found in taps and parts of the hospital's hot water system.

"We have re-opened the remaining sections of the hospital today after comprehensive water test results for legionella were all clear," UnitingCare Health executive director Richard Royle said.

The hospital has installed a series of chlorine feeders into its water systems to prevent the bacteria from returning.

Legionella spreads through water vapours and if breathed in, can be deadly to seriously ill people, including cancer patients.

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Woman sexually assaulted in her SA home

A MAN with a strong smell of body odour has broken into an Adelaide home and sexually assaulted the female occupant.

The man, who also had a tattoo down his inner left arm and an injury to his lower lip, broke into the Queenstown home in the early hours of Sunday, police say.

He's described as Caucasian with a light brown complexion, aged in his early 30s, about 182cm with a muscular build with short black slightly wavy hair, and unshaven with 1-2 days growth.

Police have warned the community to be particularly vigilant about home security.

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China law forces children to visit parents

A CHINESE law requiring family members to visit their elderly relatives has come into effect to howls of online ridicule, as the country's huge population ages rapidly.

The regulation "forces" children to visit their parents, the state-run Global Times newspaper said, with concerns growing over increasing numbers of "empty nest" homes.

China's rapid development has challenged its traditional extended family unit, and reports of elderly people being neglected or mistreated by their children have shocked the country.

Last year a farmer in the eastern province of Jiangsu faced a barrage of online criticism after domestic media revealed he had kept his 100-year-old mother in a pig sty.

More than 14 per cent of China's population, or 194 million people, are aged over 60, according to the most recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The growing proportion of the elderly is the result of China's controversial one-child policy, which was launched in the late 1970s to control population growth.

Many aged live alone in "empty nest" homes, as a result of their children finding work in other areas of China.

But while internet users generally express concern for elderly people -- who are highly respected in the close-knit Chinese family unit -- many took to China's Twitter-like microblogs to criticise the new measures.

"A country actually legislates respecting its parents?" said one of the eight million people to comment on the story on Sina Weibo.

"This is simply an insult to the nation."

Another poster said: "The government should have thought of how they would address this problem when it brought in the one-child policy."

The state-run Shanghai Daily said the new law gives parents the power to apply for mediation or bring a case to court, but experts are unclear about how the measures will be enforced, or how often visits are required.

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Rudd continues to mull election date

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is still weighing up the date of the federal election. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd is still weighing up the date of the federal election.

With a September 14 poll now apparently off the table, Labor has four dates available in August and October.

The odds continue to shorten on August 24 or 31, with a 33-day campaign starting on July 22 or 29.

However, an earlier election has pitfalls as well as benefits for Labor.

It could face a Liberal-National coalition that is well-funded, and arguable better prepared.

But Labor may also want to capitalise on the "honeymoon effect" of the change in leader to Rudd from Julia Gillard and take advantage of the current bump in the opinion polls.

Political history shows most new leaders get an initial spike in popularity.

The only recent exceptions was when Labor's Simon Crean replaced Kim Beazley in 2001 and Kim Beazley took over from Mark Latham in 2005.

A short and sharp campaign would also minimise the risk of any further discontent developing in Labor's ranks as Rudd beds down his election platform.

An early poll could mean Labor has to parachute in candidates to the safe seats of Lalor, Hotham, Rankin, Perth, Charlton and Kingsford-Smith, which are being vacated by mostly Gillard ministers.

The other option is to go to the electorate on October 19 or October 26, with the election writs being issued on September 16 or 23.

Rudd says the election date should take into account the Group of 20 industrialised leaders' summit in Russia on September 5 and 6.

An October election would accommodate this and allow the former foreign minister to strut the world stage while attending the G20 event as the host of the 2014 summit in his home city of Brisbane.

However, the timing would also put in jeopardy his attendance at two other summits: APEC in Bali on October 7-8 and East Asia Summit in Brunei on October 9-10.

An October election would give Rudd time to develop a policy agenda, and perhaps a mini-budget.

New ministers would be able to get their feet under their desks, if parliament returned for two or three weeks of sittings after the winter break.

The prime minister would need a good reason to bring back parliament - and shifting the fixed carbon price to a floating price emissions trading scheme a year earlier in 2014 could be it.

An earlier ETS start date could help safeguard Labor's carbon pricing regime from a coalition promise to scrap the carbon tax, if it wins government.

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