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Apple app bug sends drivers onto US runway

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 September 2013 | 13.24

FAULTY directions from Apple's maps app that guide drivers to the edge of a runway instead of a terminal at an Alaskan airport have been reactivated, causing worry for transportation officials.

Fairbanks International Airport officials say Apple had notified them the directions were disabled. But officials noticed the directions were reactivated on Friday and had one person intentionally follow them, which presents a dangerous situation for pilots and drivers.

Previously, officials say drivers on two different occasions had followed the directions continued on and cut across an active runway to reach the terminal.

Cupertino, California-based Apple didn't immediately comment on Friday evening.

On Friday, Alaska transportation officials sent out a warning to pilots that the faulty directions were back on.


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Man charged over west Sydney fracas

POLICE officers have had bottles thrown at them and a patrol car has been damaged by angry partygoers in western Sydney.

Police said a number of brawls broke out between about 200 people after a party wrapped up at Blacktown about midnight on Friday.

Officers arriving to break up the fights were peppered with glass bottles.

The window of a riot patrol car was also smashed in the fracas.

Police charged a man, 19, with assaulting a police officer and domestic violence matters.

He was due to face Parramatta bail court on Saturday.

A woman, 18, was arrested for damaging the police vehicle, and is expected to be charged at a later date.


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Philippines declares end to rebel siege

THE Philippine military declared victory after a nearly three-week siege by separatist Muslim rebels in a major southern city, officials say.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Saturday the rebels had been defeated in Zamboanga, but acknowledged that their field commander was still unaccounted for.

"Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin declares Zamboanga standoff over ... still searching for Commander Habier Malik," his Twitter account announced on the 20th day of the standoff.

Malik led a rebel faction of the Moro National Liberation Front in attacking the city to declare an independent Bangsamoro Republic.

The guerrillas said the government had abandoned a peace agreement signed in 1996.

Soldiers conducted clearing operations and searches for explosives Saturday as normal life resumed in the seaside city of about 800,000 inhabitants.

"We are sure there is no one left among members of Misuari faction," military spokesman Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan was quoted saying by broadcaster ANC.

Tutaan said 375 rebels had been killed, captured or surrendered.

The military reported 18 soldiers, five police and 12 civilians among the dead.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said all the hostages held by the rebels have been accounted for.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 110,000 people had been displaced and more than 10,000 houses were burned or suffered damage in the clashes.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said the government faces a humanitarian refugee crisis.


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Australia on the verge of a gas boom

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 September 2013 | 13.24

AUSTRALIA is in the midst of a gas boom.

Domestic gas supplies and exports are expected to grow rapidly by the end of the decade, enticing more major international oil and gas players to set up shop.

While iron ore, coal and gold have traditionally been the nation's big earners, analysts say Asia's insatiable demand for energy will lead to strong growth in gas production, as more than $200 billion in projects come online.

The industry is talking about an imminent boom in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, with four-fold growth projected by 2020 as China and Japan soak up Australia's supply.

But some analysts question whether the heady projections are realistic, given the risks that demand will not materialise.

Still, the federal government forecasts Australia will become the second biggest LNG exporter in just over two years.

Seven major projects are being built across the country, with three in WA, three in Queensland and one in the Northern Territory.

WA Premier Colin Barnett is certainly excited by the prospect of a gas boom in his state, predicting China's rapid growth will continue and as Japan acknowledges it will need more gas post-Fukushima.

As well as trumpeting WA's prized offshore conventional gas fields, Mr Barnett would love to the current shale gas boom in the US replicated in his home state.

"As some of the shale gas in the Canning Basin is developed I think you'll see the same phenomenon," Mr Barnett has said.

However, a recent HSBC report found a lack of roads and pipelines could hinder the industry's development.

It hasn't deterred junior explorer Buru Energy, and majors Mitsubishi and ConocoPhillips, from having a good look.

Meanwhile, new offshore projects are starting to produce gas, alongside the North West Shelf and Woodside's Pluto project in WA.

Last week BHP Billiton flew in executives from Houston to open its $1.5 billion Macedon gas plant, which will supply 20 per cent of WA's gas.

The modest-sized plant is set to be dwarfed by its gigantic Onslow neighbours including Gorgon, valued at $53 billion, and the $29 billion Wheatstone.

BHP's head of conventional gas Steve Pastor said the company liked WA because of its decades-long experience in oil and gas, and its proximity to the export market.

"The advantage Western Australia has is it's got fantastic resources," Mr Pastor said.

Less than six months after Woodside canned its onshore gas plant near Broome, floating gas processing is now all the rage.

Proposed floating LNG vessels in the Browse Basin and Scarborough Basin are in the early development stages, while multinational Shell presses ahead with building its world first Prelude floating LNG vessel in Korea.

Such is the popularity of the model that Shell plans to build more floating LNG plants.

Energy giant Exxon Exxon and its equal partner BHP Billiton will soon decide whether to pursue a floating option for Scarborough this year.

"Floating LNG is considered the best option," ExxonMobil says.


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Bus crash kills 20 in India

TWENTY people have died after a bus plunged into a gorge in northern India, police say.

Police officer Gurmer Singh said Friday's accident happened on a mountainous road in Himachal Pradesh state, nearly 330 kilometres north of New Delhi.

Singh says only one person survived as the bus fell into the 195-metre deep gorge near the town of Nahan.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

India has the world's deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed annually.

Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and ageing vehicles.


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Up to 70 feared trapped in Mumbai building

A FIVE-STOREY residential block has collapsed in Mumbai leaving up to 70 people feared trapped inside, in the latest building disaster to hit India's financial capital.

Crowds formed around the rubble of the completely flattened block, owned by the city's civic administrative body, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, in the east of the city.

"My son is inside. I'm waiting for them to get him out," distraught 62-year-old retiree Mithi Solakani said as rescue workers scrambled over tonnes of debris.

Several diggers were pressed into action to lift some of the larger slabs of concrete, allowing teams of rescuers to begin the task of taking out bodies and searching for survivors.

One was removed covered in dark red cloth and carried to a waiting ambulance on a stretcher. Crowds of women waiting nearby could be heard sobbing.

Local politician Bhai Jagtap said that 22 families lived in the destroyed block and seven to eight people had been brought out alive.

"The rest of the people are down below, calling people from inside. Rescuers are doing their level best to save lives," he said.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also said that 22 families were housed there.

"We think up to 70 people are trapped," Alok Avasthy from the NDMA said at the scene.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai said the building was for employees of the local administration and their families who had been asked to leave earlier this year.

"The building was around 30 years old. We had issued a notice to them in April, to vacate the building, but they did not act," said Vijay Khabale-Patil, the corporation's spokesman

He did not explain why the families had been asked to leave.

Five other apartment blocks have collapsed in or close to Mumbai in recent months, including one in April that killed 74 people.

They have highlighted poor quality construction and violations of the building code, caused by massive demand for housing and endemic corruption.


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Mad dash for One Direction in Perth

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 September 2013 | 13.24

Boy band One Direction went to great lengths to dodge die-hard fans after touching down in Perth. Source: AAP

MAD scenes followed the arrival of boy band One Direction in Perth overnight, with a small group of fans intimidated by security guards as they tailed their idols.

The teenage heart-throbs landed in the West Australian capital at 1.30am (WST) and were immediately spirited away in a convoy of three heavily tinted vans.

The die-hard groupies - many driven by their mothers - reportedly pursued the band through several red lights on Great Eastern Highway.

Bizarrely, the convoy pulled into a service station.

Freelance photographer Bohdan Warchomij said security guards then photographed the fans in a bid to intimidate them.

"They couldn't shake them and thought 'there must be another way out of this' and adopt plan B," he told Fairfax radio on Thursday.

"I think it was just security intimidation. Certainly with me, they tried to get me to move on."

The band were then whisked to James Packer's Crown Casino, avoiding the main entrance and also their fans.


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We need to build more houses, ANZ warns

AUSTRALIA needs to build many more houses and apartments if it wants to put the brakes on price rises and improve affordability, according to one of the country's top bankers.

ANZ Australia chief executive Philip Chronican says the construction of new dwellings hasn't kept up with population growth in the past decade, which has exacerbated housing affordability issues in capital cities.

"To stop that demand we are seeing from exacerbating rising price trends, we do need to see a supply response," he told a business lunch in Sydney.

"We simply need more houses and apartments being built."

The Australian population had grown by an average of 376,000 people a year for the past five or six years, mostly from net migration, he said.

Along with other factors, like an increase in household debt levels, that had led to a more than fivefold increase in the average house price since the late 1980s.

Mr Chronican also said state and federal government attempts to make housing more affordable, through things like the first home owners grant, often ended up pushing prices up further.

But he dismissed talk of a housing bubble in Sydney and Melbourne, where house prices have risen by five and six per cent respectively in the past three months.

"I do think that concern is overstated," he said.

"There is no reason to assume that the current uptake in demand is going to lead to any house price bubble."

He said the recent prices rises were to be expected given the relative softness of the property market following the global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, the current rate of immigration and population growth, the lack of new supply, and the relative strength of the Australian economy, meant prices were, on the whole, unlikely to retreat any time soon.

Mr Chronican also said he was surprised by a warning for banks to maintain prudent lending practices given the increased risk appetite among homebuyers and investors due to low interest rates.

The RBA on Wednesday said there was some signs households were taking on more risk and urged banks not to let their lending standards drop.

"I don't know what would have triggered those comments because I don't think there is any clear evidence that there has been a lowering of lending standards," Mr Chronican said.


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Qld will name and shame child offenders

QUEENSLAND will push ahead with its plan to name and shame repeat child offenders despite concerns it could be counterproductive.

The Newman government says it will amend laws that protect juvenile criminals' identity next year to enable the names of children as young as 10 to be revealed if they commit a second offence.

This comes after a survey released in July found strong community support for such measures.

Civil liberty groups, however, argue there's plenty of evidence that shows naming and shaming does not work but instead encourages juvenile crime.

A 2008 NSW parliamentary committee report found anecdotal evidence of children at risk of becoming career offenders who enjoyed the publicity.

Experts told the committee it encouraged other children to compete for notoriety "by committing more and more serious offences".

The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Michael Cope says it either becomes a badge of honour or an alienating stigma.

"And in the Northern Territory, it was found kids were being harassed on the streets and schools and it prevented them from getting back on the straight and narrow," Mr Cope said.

Mr Bleijie said the laws will act as a strong deterrent and are part of a reform package that includes bootcamps to help stop reoffending.

"We are balancing the scales of justice by making repeat offenders more accountable but allowing first-time offenders to get back on the straight and narrow," he said.

The NT is the only jurisdiction in the country that allows youth offenders to be named.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency advocacy manager Jared Sharp says he's found most NT media outlets self-regulate and often don't report the name of child offenders.

Even so, he said naming and shaming laws aren't a solution.

"In New Zealand, they have family group conferencing where you get to the bottom of why the child is getting into trouble and what issues they are facing," he said.

"A plan is put in place to tackle those issues and the court monitors if they young person is performing those tasks."

He said NZ has fewer than 100 kids in detention out of a population of four million.

"We have half as many kids in detention out of 200,000 people," he said.

Mr Cope said more support for low-income families and long-term unemployed parents would also help tackle the root of youth crime.


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Defence releases report on insider attack

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 25 September 2013 | 13.24

A defence report questions the protection give to three Australian diggers killed in Afghanistan. Source: AAP

A INQUIRY into the deaths of three soldiers at the hands of an Afghan National Army soldier is highly critical of short-falls in force protection, defence says.

The report on the insider attack, released on Wednesday, makes 22 findings of which around half relate to force protection.

"The inquiry officer found the decisions and actions in establishing and maintaining the force protection arrangements were at the minimum level of authorised protection to provide security for the soldiers," Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, said.

"However, they did not adequately address the specific situation at the patrol base, that potentially placed personnel at significant risk to the threat of fire."

On August 29, Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, Sapper James Martin and Private Robert Poate were killed in the attack.

A person wearing an Afghan National Army uniform opened fire with an automatic weapon inside a patrol base 20km north of Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan province.

Two other diggers were wounded.

The assailant was identified as Sergeant Hek Matullah, an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier.

He remains on the run.

Air Marshal Binskin said the inquiry officer found that having a single roving picket on duty at the base on the day was not adequate.

"He also found the decision to adopt a relaxed level of security - Australians were not in a state of readiness - was not in accordance with orders in place at the time," he said.

Some soldiers on the base were dressed in gym gear and not wearing their body armour.

"This limited their ability to react and was not in line with the usual existing standard operating procedures," Air Marshal Binskin said.

Two soldiers had since been disciplined over the pickets and inappropriate dress, he added.

"Although shortfalls in force protection were identified, the inquiry officer was not able to prove or disprove whether these arrangements directly or indirectly gave Hek Matullah the opportunity to attack Australian soldiers," Air Marshal Binskin said.

Intelligence had not highlighted a likely risk of insider attacks prior to the shooting, although Air Marshal Binskin said such threats were "complex and evolving".

"In terms of intelligence prior to this attack the inquiry officer found there was no intelligence available to Australia or (the) coalition to suggest there was a specific insider threat," he said.

Nor was there information that raised concerns about Hek Matullah.

"In fact, his existence was unremarkable from a personnel or intelligence perspective," Air Marshal Binskin said.

The inquiry officer found there was some truth in claims the Afghan National Army were aware of Hek Matullah's Taliban links, but that on this occasion he had acted independently.

"This is supported by the fact the Taliban has not claimed responsibility for the attack, as they normally do," Air Marshal Binskin said.

Air Marshal Binskin said the lesson for commanders on the ground is to provide the best level of protection possible for their forces.

"Don't take anything for granted," he said.

He said the company commander had been deeply affected by the deaths.

"Any commander who has deaths, whether it's in combat or in training, or on exercise, it hits you hard. You do take it personally," he said.

The patrol commander on duty at the time was one of three people named as having "a case to answer", based on the report, Air Marshal Binskin said.

It was he who had instructed a "minimum" level of force protection be in place at the time of the attack.

Air Marshal Binskin said that was not appropriate, but conceded greater security would not have necessarily prevented the deaths.

"No matter how much you put in place you can never, 100 per cent, stop someone trying to commit a crime like this," he said.

"You can mitigate the risk as best you can but I don't believe you could ever stop someone who is intent on doing this."

Air Marshal Binskin said although the base had sufficient resources to provide force protection, the decisions made weren't appropriate.

But it wasn't possible to make a link between protection arrangements and the reasons behind the insider attack.

"There were no weaknesses or deficiencies in our intelligence preparation and no information to Australian or coalition forces to suggest Hek Matullah was a threat to Australians," he said.

Defence has agreed to all six recommendations made by the inquiry officer.

Four recommendations relate to the possible administrative action against three ADF members, which the chief of the defence force has referred to the chief of army for consideration.

The fifth recommendation concerns instant response capability that has been implemented and the sixth is that a commission of inquiry is not warranted.

He said since the attack the Afghan National Army had continued to improve its recruitment screening process.

"This was a highly complex situation, our intelligence and resourcing were appropriate, however there were shortfalls in the force protection measures and in the decisions made on the ground," Air Marshal Binskin said.

Bringing Hek Matullah to justice remained a key focus.

"Let me assure you, we will not let this go."


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ASX says US hedge fund scandal unfortunate

THE involvement of two members of the board of Australia's share market operator in a trading scandal in the US was unfortunate, their chairman says.

ASX chairman Rick Holliday-Smith has also said he knew about the directors' involvement in the matter weeks before the findings of an investigation were made public, but was given legal advice not to act.

Shane Finemore and Russell Aboud resigned from the ASX board on September 19 after their hedge fund, Manikay Partners, was fined $US2.6 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US.

Manikay agreed to pay the fine, which related to the short-selling of Citigroup shares in 2009, but made no admission of guilt.

Mr Finemore is managing partner of Manikay, while Mr Aboud is the New York hedge fund's chairman.

Mr Holliday-Smith said he was made aware of the SEC investigation after the Australian Securities Exchange issued its notice of annual general meeting on August 26.

But the SEC investigation was confidential and unresolved, and he followed legal advice on the matter.

"It was clear the matter could not be properly considered by the board until the SEC process was understood and the confidentiality issues were resolved," Mr Holliday-Smith told shareholders at ASX's annual meeting on Wednesday.

"Clearly, these events are unfortunate for all concerned."

After the SEC announced its findings, Mr Aboud and Mr Finemore consulted with Mr Holliday-Smith and advised him they would resign, for the best interests of the company.

"They did not want any reputational issues for ASX to arise as a consequence of these matters," Mr Holliday-Smith said.

As part of its normal board renewal process, ASX has a strong list of candidates that will be considered to replace Mr Finemore and Mr Aboud, he said.

Shareholders approved the appointment of former Treasury secretary Ken Henry for full term on the board of ASX on Wednesday, after he joined the company in February.

Meanwhile, chief executive Elmer Funke Kupper said market activity levels in the first two and a half months of the 2013/14 financial year had been stronger than in the same period last year.

"This level of growth is encouraging, although the activity levels do not yet match the strong performance of the second half of FY13," he told shareholders.

ASX shares dropped eight cents to $34.70.


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DJs expects retail to remain weak

Retailer David Jones has reported a full year profit of $95.2m, down six per cent from last year. Source: AAP

FACED with ongoing weakness in the retail sector, David Jones is focussed on lifting online sales and improving margins and customer service.

The department store is also thinking outside the square - investigating the development of a high rise apartment building or office block above its flagship Sydney store.

David Jones made an underlying profit of $101.6 million in the 12 months to the end of July, up slightly from $101.1 million in the previous year.

Investors welcomed the result, which was slightly better than expected, and pushed David Jones shares up 14 cents, or 4.9 per cent, to $2.99.

But total sales in the year were down 1.2 per cent to $1.85 billion, while like-for-like sales, which takes out the impact of new stores, were down 1.8 per cent.

The retailer has been hit by a downturn in consumer sentiment in the past three years, dragging its underlying profit down from $170.8 million in 2010.

Chief executive Paul Zahra said retail conditions would remain subdued for the next 12 months, but the company was focused on improving the business and increasing profitability.

"The thing about our business is that during the up-cycle we need to focus on driving sales hard, and during the down-cycle we need to manage on the things we can control, namely gross profit margins, costs and also our inventory," he said.

David Jones lifted its gross profit margin, or the amount of revenue retained after the cost of doing business, to 38.3 per cent during the year to July, from 37.5 per cent in the previous year.

It is looking for further gains, by cutting back on discounts and passing control of its electronics division to Dick Smith.

Online sales have also improved significantly since the launch of the new David Jones webstore in November 2012, though that still only accounts for just more than one per cent of total sales.

The retailer is also looking to improve customer service through increasing staff hours and improving the visibility of staff on the shop floor.

Meanwhile, the company is talks with developers about possibly building above its Market Street store in Sydney's CBD.

Mr Zahra said there was potential to build an office block, apartment building or hotel above the store, though the proposal was still in its infancy.

"The property cycle is just turning now as we speak so we expect those discussions to continue but there is nothing to report yet," he said.

An independent evaluation valued David Jones' four flagship Sydney and Melbourne CBD properties at $612 million.


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Kathmandu eyes expansion, stronger profits

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 24 September 2013 | 13.24

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Kathmandu Holding's net profit increased nearly 27 per cent. Source: AAP

KATHMANDU Holdings has defied a weak retail sector to post a 27 per cent increase in profit, and plans to open 15 new stores this year in search of even stronger results.

The New Zealand and Australian listed outdoor goods retailer made a net profit of $NZ44.2 million ($A39.79 million) in the 12 months to the end of June, up from $NZ34.9 million last year, thanks to stronger sales and lower costs.

Investors cheered the result, a rare piece of good news from a retail business in the current climate, sending Kathmandu shares 11 per cent higher to a record high of $2.85.

Kathmandu chief executive Peter Halkett expects Australian retail to remain subdued for the next 12 months, but hopes the company can lift sales and profit during the year.

"We believe our growth strategies are working, we believe our business model is clearly robust and we don't see any reason, if the environment was to stay as it is, why we wouldn't deliver another really solid outcome."

The company, which operates in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, added 16 stores to its network during the 2013 financial year and plans to open another 15 this year.

Mr Halkett put the strength of the 2013 result down to the company's business model and the opening of new stores.

"We are vertically integrated so we control the brand, we control the product, we control the product team and we sell it through our own stores and I think, if you look globally, that vertical format is proving very successful," he said.

He said the company was also fortunate to be involved in the outdoor goods category, which continued to outperform other areas of the retail sector.

"We clearly wouldn't be doing so well if we weren't in the outdoor category," he said.

The opening of new stores helped lift total sales to $NZ384 million, up 10.6 per cent on last year.

Same store sales growth was up 5.6 per cent at comparable exchange rates.

Meanwhile, the company's gross profit margin remained relatively steady at 63.0 per cent.

Mr Halkett said the company had also cut its operating expenses 30 basis points as a percentage of sales.

"We were successful in reducing operating costs as a percentage of sales," he said.

"This continues to be a key priority and we are confident Kathmandu will achieve further efficiency improvements in the future," he said.

The company declared a final dividend of nine NZ cents.


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Abbott govt gives NBN Co new directions

The federal government has set new targets and ground rules for NBN Co. Source: AAP

THE Abbott government has set new targets for NBN Co and asked it to continue to roll out fibre-to-the-premises until a review is completed.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday released an "interim statement of expectations" for NBN Co - the company managing Australia's biggest infrastructure project, the national broadband network.

The statement will guide NBN Co pending changes to its board, a strategic review, an independent audit and work on a new corporate plan.

"The interim statement instructs NBN Co to continue to roll out the network as rapidly and cost-effectively as possible throughout this process," Mr Turnbull said.

"(This) will see the NBN Co meet its contractual obligations by continuing to roll out fibre to the premises while the company conducts the strategic review of the project."

Forecasts for the number of premises passed by fibre cable have been revised down.

The figure is expected to be 729,000 by June 30, 2014, 1.74 million by June 20, 2015, and 3.115 million by June 30, 2016.

It was originally expected in the 2010 NBN corporate plan that 5.65 million premises would be passed by mid-2016.

"It is our goal following the completion of the review and a new corporate plan to see the NBN Co set realistic rollout targets and then consistently deliver on them," Mr Turnbull said.

NBN Co will be able to use a wider range of technologies to connect businesses and homes to the network.

"For example, this will allow NBN Co to trial the latest VDSL technology to deliver superfast broadband to homes and businesses in multi-dwelling units such as apartment blocks," Mr Turnbull said.

The minister said a new work program would give certainty to contractors.

Mr Turnbull told reporters the strategic review would be completed within 60 days of a new board being put in place.

The review would be conducted internally by the company, with input from experts and advisers.

The minister confirmed media reports he had asked NBN Co board members to offer their resignations and all but one had done so.

"That request should not be regarded as any criticism of any of the directors, least of all the chairman Siobhan McKenna," he said.

Mr Turnbull said he had taken the action to "give the government complete flexibility in remaking the board in light of its new policy agenda".

The federal cabinet would soon make the decision on the makeup of the board.

Mr Turnbull said the government was "open-minded" about what technologies could be used to deliver the national broadband network.

"What we want to do is get the best result for taxpayers and consumers as soon as possible," he said.

Asked about his previous criticism of the NBN Co board, the minister said he had not criticised any individuals.

"They are all very capable people and for the work they've done we owe them a debt of gratitude for that," he said.

"But in terms of a board for a project like this, certainly telecommunications experience, management experience, experience in the contribution of linear infrastructure is clearly very relevant.

"Those particular backgrounds were not present among the directors of the NBN Co that the Labor Party assembled."

Mr Turnbull said the difficulty and complexity of the project had probably been underestimated from the outset.

What he wanted now was the unvarnished truth about how much it would cost and how long it would take.

A spokeswoman for Telstra said the brief for NBN Co was a matter for the government.

"Our focus will be on working constructively with NBN Co and the government to implement the government's policy," she told AAP.

Acting opposition leader Chris Bowen said Labor would continue to argue for fibre to the home so Australia had the best possible national broadband network.

"We think it is important for the future of the nation," he told Sky news.


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Support for climate council takes off

LIKE the debate around global warming itself, Professor Tim Flannery doesn't seem to be going away in a hurry.

Less than a week ago, the prominent scientist and Australian of the Year was out of a job when the independent Climate Commission he headed was abolished by the Abbott government.

But on Tuesday the commission was back, reincarnated as the Australian Climate Council by Prof Flannery and several of his old team who have vowed to carry on their work despite getting the chop.

"This isn't a time for giving up, rather it's a time for determination, for standing up for what's right," Prof Flannery told reporters in Sydney.

The commission once had $1.6 million in annual government funding at its disposal, but the new council will rely entirely on donations generated through an "Obama-style" online fundraising drive.

By mid afternoon, it had attracted more than $165,000, and its Twitter account was suspended from over-activity, prompting a cheeky quip from its organisers.

"We've overcome being suspended before. Let's do it again," the council's Facebook page stated.

Prof Flannery said he'd been "blown away" by the response so far, which kicked off with a donation of just $15.

"People from right across the political spectrum and from all walks of life have contacted us, offering their support," he said.

"They understand why it's important that we continue our work."

The council will serve the same purpose as the now-defunct commission, distilling the complex science of climate change from around the world into absorbable information for the Australian public.

Former commissioners, including climate scientists Will Steffen and Lesley Hughes and former BP Australasia president Gerry Hueston have agreed to volunteer their time to the revamped body.

The Australian Greens congratulated the council on "thwarting" the Abbott government's attempt to shut it down, but Prof Steffen said they'd be remaining apolitical even if climate science had been drawn into a "very partisan" political atmosphere.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who justified the closure of the commission as a savings measure, wished them good luck and said they'd proven government funding wasn't needed to keep them afloat.

The council's first task will be dissecting a vast scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) into language accessible for the average punter.

The detailed scientific report, six years in the making, isn't released until Friday but has already faced damaging leaks and claims of false findings that have angered Australian climate scientists.

Prof Flannery said much misinformation and opinion swirled around climate science, making the fact-based work of the council even more crucial.

"Make no mistake - we're in the middle of a titanic struggle," he said.

"Indeed, I think the fight for a clean and safe environmental future is reaching its peak."


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SA to establish future fund

Written By Unknown on Senin, 23 September 2013 | 13.24

THE South Australian government is to establish a future fund to pay for major infrastructure projects, training initiatives and children's services.

Premier Jay Weatherill says money will be allocated to the fund from mining royalties, but only in the years the state budget is in surplus.

That suggests the first payment of about $20 million will be made in 2015/16.

The government doesn't plan to allocate money until the fund reaches at least $500 million, which could take up to 15 years.

Projects that might be funded could include a port or major rail development.

But Mr Weatherill said the initiative was about thinking long-term and planning for the state's future.

"There are two choices for us at the moment. Do we actually get on board and build the confidence in this beautiful state and invest in its future?" he said.

"Or do we shrink away into a corner and actually cut and hide and pretend that it's all too hard?"

Mr Weatherill said the future fund was the first of a number of major policy initiatives the government would announce before the end of the year.


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Police smash violent Sydney crime ring

POLICE believe they have smashed a violent Assyrian crime syndicate allegedly involved in murders, drugs and shootings in Sydney's southwest.

About 340 police officers swooped across homes and businesses on Monday, arresting 13 people and seizing drugs, cash and luxury items.

Police allege those arrested are members or associates of the criminal gang DLAST HR, which may have overseas links.

One of the men arrested appears to have been a ringleader after the 34-year-old was charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group and recruiting others to assist in carrying out criminal activities.

Twenty-two properties, including a real-estate and car dealership, were targeted across several suburbs, including Fairfield, Campbelltown and Rossmore.

South West Metro Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli said the raids, led by the Fairfield Local Area Command, followed two years of hard work.

He said those targeted had been involved in public shootings and murders.

"We are specifically targeting the head of this group, their activity," he said.

"Some of the information relates to cannabis but what we are talking about is an enterprise, a criminal group that have made thousands upon thousands of dollars through their criminal activities."

The NSW Crime Commission has also been involved in the Strike Force Evesson investigation targeting DLAST HR.

Items seized included eight kilograms of cannabis, almost $25,000 in cash, four jet skis, a boat and a Lotus sports car.

Fairfield Local Area Commander Superintendent Peter Lennon did not rule out links with a wider crime network outside Australia.

"They are domestic although we are aware of some other links that they have got," he said.

"I wouldn't call it international but ... it's a little bit more than just domestic."

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police would not rest until every criminal was behind bars.

"It's one that we will be continuing to pay particular attention to and certainly from my perspective you can be assured the NSW police will do all we can to break up this and other similar groups," he said.

The Assyrian community in Sydney is 20,000 strong and a majority migrated from Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria, according to the Assyrian Australian Association.

The Fairfield area is home to a large Assyrian population and supported by community organisations including churches and sports clubs.

Police say Assyrian-member group DLAST HR have been a criminal syndicate in southwest Sydney since 2003-2004.


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Toll from Pakistan church bombing 81

An attack on an Anglican church in Pakistan's city of Peshawar has left at least 78 people dead. Source: AAP

THE death toll from a double suicide bombing in Pakistan has risen to 81, as Christians protest across the country demanding better protection.

The attack on All Saints church in the northwestern city of Peshawar after a service on Sunday, claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, is believed to be the deadliest ever to target Pakistan's small Christian minority.

Doctor Arshad Javed of the city's main Lady Reading hospital told AFP the toll had risen to 81 overnight, including 37 women. A total of 131 people were wounded.

Christians demonstrated in cities around Pakistan, including Karachi and Faisalabad, to protest the violence and demand better protection from the authorities.

In Islamabad more than 100 protesters blocked a major city highway for several hours during the Monday morning rush hour.

Pakistan's umbrella Taliban movement claimed responsibility, saying it had set up a new faction, Junood ul-Hifsa, to kill foreigners and avenge US drone strikes on Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives along the Afghan border.

In June, the group claimed responsibility for killing 10 foreign climbers at a base camp of Nanga Parbat, the second highest mountain in Pakistan after K-2.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the "cruel" attack, saying it violated the tenets of Islam.

Pope Francis also spoke out, calling it "a bad choice of hatred and war", while Pakistan's Ulema Council, an association of leading Muslim scholars, branded the attack "shameful".

Former minister for inter-faith harmony Paul Bhatti and provincial lawmaker Fredrich Azeem Ghauri both said the attack was the deadliest ever targeting Christians in Pakistan.

The 400 or so worshippers were exchanging greetings after the service when the bombers struck, littering the church with blood, body parts and pages from the Bible.


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1D's Liam apologises to Adelaide fans

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 22 September 2013 | 13.24

Boy band One Direction have touched down at Adelaide airport ahead of their Australian Tour. Source: AAP

ONE Direction star Liam Payne has apologised to his Australian fans, some of whom were left in tears, after he and his band mates secretly snuck out of Adelaide Airport.

Three-fifths of the boy band flew into Adelaide on Sunday after catching a flight from Dubai on Saturday night, ahead of their highly anticipated Take Me Home tour.

Up to 200 eager girls had been waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of their idols, but excitement soon turned to disappointment when Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson bypassed their fans through a door at the back of the airport.

"Sorry we couldn't stop in the airport they said it wasn't safe ???? great to be in oz tho (sic)," Payne tweeted on Sunday.

Several girls were in tears after spending up to 13 hours waiting to see their idols, News Corp Australia reported.

Georgia, 17, told News Corp that she was angry that the stars didn't greet their fans.

"I just feel really let down because we were so excited to see them and the least they could have done was poke their head out and wave before they left," she said.

Harry Styles and Niall Horan are expected to arrive in Australia on Monday.

"This is gona be soo fun ! I love it down under! Obsessed! Gona be a huge 5 weeks! Between aus and nz ! U ready for TMHT" Horan tweeted ahead of his arrival.

One Direction will play three sold-out concerts at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre from Monday night heading to Perth, Christchurch and Auckland before returning to Australia for shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.


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Govt to control boat arrival information

The federal government is expected to cut-back on briefing media about asylum seeker boat arrivals. Source: AAP

THE Abbott government says it won't constantly update the public on boat arrivals because it wants to starve people smugglers of information.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and deputy chief of army Angus Campbell will give weekly media briefings about Operation Sovereign Borders, the coalition's asylum seeker and border protection exercise.

The first of these will be held on Monday.

"Taking control of how that information is released denies people smugglers the opportunity to exploit such information," Mr Morrison told AAP in a statement on Sunday.

"Labor was impotent in response to arrivals, all they could do was announce them and run a water taxi service."

Briefings will be weekly initially but this could change "based on operational considerations".

Extra briefings would be given when necessary about specific events. This could include instances of boats sinking.

The new protocol for releasing information was agreed to on Thursday after the minister's first meeting with Lt Gen Campbell.

The government will also provide monthly updates on detention and bridging visa statistics for asylum seekers who arrive by boat.

His cabinet colleague Greg Hunt says there will be "regular, continuous, full disclosure" about boat arrivals, but it will be in line with military operational procedure.

Labor leadership hopeful Bill Shorten said it was a disgrace if the government planned to not disclose details of drownings.

"I can't imagine who dreamed that up, not telling anyone about deaths at sea," he told Network 10.

"If a boat sinks ... and people drown, I don't think the government has a right to not tell people that this tragedy has occurred."

Mr Morrison later added that "significant events" such as drownings would be subject to further briefings.


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Biotech experts call for tax reforms

AUSTRALIA'S medical manufacturing industry is leading a call for tax reform to encourage companies to patent ideas and make products locally.

Director of medical devices maker Cook Medical Barry Thomas says tax rewards rather than grants will boost Australian manufacturing.

He says the current system of grants - including those awarded to the car industry - is not the best method.

Mr Thomas says a company should be able to claim back company tax allowances on sales if it takes an idea, licenses or patents it and manufactures it in Australia.

"We're calling for a hand-up rather than a handout," he told AAP on Sunday.

"So instead of grants, we're suggesting two per cent from product sales is deducted from your tax.

"It's really a reward for performance rather than a tax break."

He said the numbers have been crunched and a two per cent tax reduction from the bottom line would result in significant savings.

His proposal has the support of national medical manufacturing industry group AusBiotech.

AusBiotech acting CEO Glenn Cross and Mr Thomas met with senior bureaucrats of the new Abbott government last week to discuss the reforms.

Mr Cross told AAP the government was very receptive to their suggestions, including reducing regulations to help get products on the market more quickly.

"We want to transform the Australian economy and transform it into high value manufacturing," he said.

"It's not just about the biotech industry, it's all manufacturing."

Mr Thomas will take part in a panel discussion about manufacturing trends at the annual AusBiotech Conference in Brisbane.

More than 1000 stakeholders from across the Asia Pacific region, the USA and Europe will take part in the two-day conference from October 31.


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