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Real estate bosses nabbed in Vic drug bust

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 09 Maret 2013 | 21.29

TWO real estate franchise owners have been charged after police uncovered thousands of cannabis plants at dozens of residential properties across Melbourne's north and west.

Chris Lio and Con Constantinou, owners of Barry Plant Real Estate's Epping franchise, are among eight men arrested in connection with a large quantity of drugs.

Barry Plant chief executive Mike McCarthy said he was shocked to learn the pair allegedly used 25 properties managed by their branch to hydroponically grow some 3000 cannabis plants.

"Nothing like this has occurred in our history," Mr McCarthy said in a statement on Saturday.

"These are serious charges and everyone in our group, from head office right through our 82 franchises, is shocked and dismayed."

Mr McCarthy said the Epping branch was independently owned and operated.


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Pakistan PM prays at India shrine

PAKISTAN premier Raja Pervez Ashraf has prayed at a 13th-century Muslim shrine in northern India during a one-day visit in which politics was kept off the agenda.

Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid earlier hosted a lunch for Ashraf at a luxury hotel in the tourist city of Jaipur.

He said he was welcoming the Pakistani leader with "open arms", despite strained relations between the nuclear-armed rivals over recent border clashes.

"It's in our culture to welcome our guests with open arms," said Khurshid.

"Today it was a private visit. There were no official talks. We will do it at the appropriate time," Khurshid said.

On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament ties between the neighbours could improve only if Pakistan shunned its alleged support to "the terror machine" of cross-border militancy.

Pakistan, which has fought three wars with India since independence from Britain in 1947, rejects New Delhi's charges it supports militant attacks.

After the luncheon meeting, Ashraf, whose government's term ends on March 16, flew to the shrine in Ajmer.

Ashraf and his family prayed at the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz and was slated to return to Islamabad later on Saturday.

Ashraf is the most senior Pakistani to visit India since last April, when President Asif Ali Zardari made a similar pilgrimage and had lunch with Prime Minister Singh.

Some Indians, including the symbolic spiritual head of the Ajmer shrine, Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, objected to Ashraf's pilgrimage.

Khan had said he would refuse to assist Ashraf during the prayers.

His decision did not affect the visit because other shrine members assisted Ashraf, officials at the religious site said.


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Federal Labor weighed on McGowan

FEDERAL Labor's sinking popularity and ailing image has dragged down the party's West Australian leader Mark McGowan, who was heading for a massive defeat in one of the state's most swiftly called elections.

Moments after counting began, ABC commentators said the polls that had pointed to a crushing victory to premier Colin Barnett and his the Liberal/Nationals coalition were proving correct and called the result about an hour into the tallying.

A brutally frank defence minister Stephen Smith said federal Labor had not helped Mr McGowan, who, despite a strong campaign, could not achieve an extremely rare defeat of a first term government.

Mr Smith said Saturday's result in the west proved the Labor party had many issues to work on before the federal election on September 14.

"We've had a tough time federally - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that out - and there's no doubt we have been a drag on Mark and there's no doubt that we haven't been helpful," Mr Smith said.

"We have a range of tough political issues to work through between now and September.

"It will go down to the wire."

With 56.7 per cent of the vote counted, the coalition had 58 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis, with Labor taking 42 per cent, accounting for a swing of 6.6 per cent to the government.

Deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop said the WA election results - which very early in counting pointed to a Liberal/National coalition securing an overwhelming majority in the WA parliament - reflected poorly on Labor's brand.

Independent Liz Constable, who is retiring from the seat of Churchlands, said: "I don't think anyone anticipated such a landslide".

And WA Labor must have known it, with a very small contingent turning out for the party's gathering in Mr McGowan's home of Rockingham, where the atmosphere was decidedly sombre.

"It looks terrible. What a bloodbath," one Labor supporter lamented at the function.

Deputy leader of the Opposition Roger Cook admitted there had been some damage to the Labor brand from the federal government.

"To what extent it had a role to play in the state election is very difficult to say," he said.

WA Treasurer Troy Buswell, who had been attacked by the Labor party in the last week of the campaign, said the tactic had backfired.

"It's pretty un-Australian to play the man - I don't think West Australians have taken too kindly to that," Mr Buswell said.

After calling Mr Barnett to concede defeat, Mr McGowan said he was proud of the values that were reflected in his party's policies, which aimed to support West Australians in the regions as well as in the suburbs.

"I think we did a good job," he said.

"We went out there and we were bold in what we stood for.

"I know that we need to provide those basic core services, those basic facilities where people live in an expanding, growing state like Western Australia, and that was the vision we took to the election.

"That was what we wanted to make sure people understood that we stood for and that we strived to achieve in the course of this campaign.

"All of those ideas are ideas that we will pursue into the future."

Labor had been courageous in putting out its ideas, he said, adding he was proud of the Metronet plan.

WA Labor's election campaign revolved around the Metronet train project but it was seen as an ambitious proposal and competed with the Liberal party's more piecemeal transport plans.

Mr Barnett congratulated his coalition MPs who retained all the seats won at the last election.

"We've also won a further seven seats with a few still up for grabs," he told supporters.

He said the coalition deserved re-election as it had been a "good government", which was strong on the economy, ethical, principled and had introduced "fantastic reforms in education and health."

"This is the moment to enjoy," he said.

"And I promise you a good government for another four years."

Mr Barnett congratulated Mr McGowan on his energetic campaign which he said gave the people of Western Australia a real choice.


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WA's strong economy seals it for Barnett

PERTH'S tradies, contractors and the self-employed are pretty well off compared to workers on the east coast of Australia.

And therein lies the problem for West Australian Labor and the federal Labor party in an election year.

Labor branches in NSW and Victoria can rustle up the support of the unions, primarily in the manufacturing bases outside Sydney and Melbourne.

But WA's already small manufacturing sector is shrinking, and so is the party's traditional support base.

Many people in blue collar WA Labor seats don't really identify with the party anymore.

No more was that evident at this weekend's state election than in the seats of Midland and Balcatta where the Liberal party won convincingly.

Many tradespeople and contractors are essentially small business people looking for tax concessions, simpler operating conditions and a way to keep the money rolling in.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard knows this well.

That's why she stayed well away from WA Labor leader Mark McGowan's hard fought but futile campaign on public transport, health and education.

In the car-loving, privately health-insured suburbs of Perth, it was extremely hard for Mr McGowan to gain traction with anyone other than the true believers.

To the Liberal party's credit, it not only managed to maintain the support of the mining industry and small business, but a good number of mining workers now identify more strongly with the conservatives than Labor.

It's a funny place, WA.

While Victoria's economy is showing signs it could be in recession and jobs in NSW and Queensland are being lost at a rapid rate, things are still pretty good in the resources heartland.

Despite the massive debt the WA Liberals continue to rack up, people want to hear that the resources boom will continue indefinitely and that the state can still afford a flash new football stadium, airport train and a world class arena.

While Premier Colin Barnett annoyed some of his constituents with generous spending and projects like transforming the city's waterfront, it was not enough to alter the widespread belief that life is best in the west.


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UN agency to feed 2.5 million Syrians

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 08 Maret 2013 | 21.29

THE World Food Program says it aims to feed 2.5 million Syrians next month, up from 1.7 million now, because of rising needs as more Syrians are displaced by the civil war.

The UN estimates that nearly 4 million of Syria's 22 million people have been driven from their homes by the fighting, including those who fled to neighbouring countries and some 2 million who are moving from shelter to shelter inside Syria.

Many of the internally displaced need food aid, along with those who remain in their homes but have trouble finding food as the Syrian economy is collapsing.

Spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said on Friday that World Food Program fed 1.7 million Syrians in February.

She says that will rise to 2 million in March and 2.5 million in April.


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Cardinals to decide conclave date

CARDINALS will vote on the date to begin a conclave to elect a new pope later on Friday, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

"We can expect the congregation in the afternoon session today to vote on the date for the start of the conclave," Lombardi said, referring to talks that will begin at 1600 GMT (0300 AEDT Saturday) and end at 1800 GMT (0500 AEDT).


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Sydney man drink driving with kids in car

A MAN who had four children aged between two and eight in his car has been charged for drink driving at more than five times the limit in Sydney's southwest.

Police say the 29-year-old man initially tried to avoid a random breath test at Ruse before he was stopped by officers.

He was then breath tested and blew 0.265.

The children's mother, who does not have a licence, was called and on her arrival at the scene she was driven home with her children by police.

A police spokesman would not tell AAP if the man was the children's father.

The man was charged with high range drink driving and his licence was suspended.

Bail was granted and he's due before Campbelltown Local Court on April 3.


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Man charged over Vic double hit and run

A 21-YEAR-OLD driver has been charged over an alleged double hit and run that injured two men, one of whom was dragged 40 metres in Melbourne's north.

Jordan Kostopoulas, of Preston, was charged with conduct endangering life, dangerous driving causing serious injury and other traffic offences at an out of sessions hearing late on Friday.

Police believe two men were struck by a car in Heidelberg West around 10pm (AEDT) on Thursday after an argument.

The driver allegedly sped off following the crash.

A man aged 31 was critically injured after being dragged by the car. A 32-year-old man was admitted to hospital with less serious injuries.

The two victims had been part of a group who were involved in a heated argument over the car at a home earlier that evening, police say.

Two people were injured before the group left the home.

The car was found at an Ivanhoe shopping centre on Friday morning.

Kostopoulas was granted bail and will face court at a later date.


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Calls to fast-track bowel cancer screening

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 07 Maret 2013 | 21.29

THE two major political parties are being urged to back the fast-tracking of a national bowel cancer screening program so people are tested every two years instead of five.

Just under $50 million was devoted to expanding the bowel cancer program in last year's federal budget, with the aim of extending free screening to 70-year-olds from 2015.

Two-year screenings would begin replacing the current five-year system from 2017-18, when 72-year-olds will be included.

Currently just four age groups are eligible for the free screenings - 50, 55, 60, and 65.

But Bowel Cancer Australia said the upcoming federal election was an opportunity to "reset" the program, to bring forward some of the planned changes.

The health group wants biannual screenings to be implemented in 2014, and older age groups to be included much earlier in the scheme.

"England's biennial bowel cancer screening program launched in 2006 and by 2012 was rolled out to people aged 60 to 69," Bowel Cancer Australia chief Julien Wiggins said in a statement.

"By 2014, screening will be open to people aged 60 to 74, while our program will be open to only four ages.

"In the meantime we have almost 4,000 men and women dying every year from this preventable disease."


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Councils want constitutional recognition

COUNCILS are a step closer to securing federal funding after a parliamentary committee recommended holding a referendum on whether local government be recognised in the constitution.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) says the referendum to alter the constitution, which will help councils gain funding, could be held in September with the federal election.

After a five-year campaign for the referendum the ALGA is happy with the recommendation for the referendum as it will enable councils to be legally recognised as "legitimate recipients of direct federal funding".

"Recognition in the constitution is needed to protect important funding for local projects and provide councils with the certainty that funding for local projects can continue without claims of constitutional invalidity," ALGA president Felicity-Ann Lewis said.

The ALGA also wants money from the federal government to support a campaign to convince Australians to vote in favour of constitutional recognition.

"ALGA and its state associations have committed to provide millions of dollars to campaign for the referendum and it is vital that public funding is also made available," Ms Lewis said.

The AlGA wants Section 96 of the constitution to be amended to read: "Parliament may grant financial assistance to any state or local government body formed by or under a law of state or territory on such terms and conditions as the parliament sees fit."


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Bank of England leaves rate steady

THE Bank of England has voted at a regular policy meeting to hold its reference interest rate at a record-low 0.5 per cent, where it has stood for four years, and opted against increasing its cash stimulus program to boost a British economy on the brink of recession.

"The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5 per cent," the BoE said in a statement following a two-day gathering.

"The Committee also voted to maintain the stock of asset purchases financed by the issuance of central bank reserves at STG375 billion" ($A554 billion).

Analysts had said the decision over stimulus, or quantitative easing (QE), had been on a knife-edge with Britain at risk of its third recession since 2009.

Minutes of the latest meeting, explaining the reasons behind the BoE's latest monthly policy decisions, are to be published on March 20, the central bank said.

Recent official data showed that British gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the previous three months.

Another contraction in the first quarter of 2013 would officially place Britain in a rare "triple-dip" recession.

Against this backdrop, Moody's ratings agency last month lowered its top-level AAA credit rating for Britain.

Moody's downgraded Britain by one notch from AAA to Aa1, arguing that government debt was still mounting and that growth was too weak to reverse the trend before 2016.


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ECB keeps rates on hold amid crisis fears

THE European Central Bank has held its main refinancing rate at a historic low of 0.75 per cent, despite concerns that political gridlock in Italy could trigger a resurgence in the debt crisis.

ECB watchers had not expected the central bank to ease borrowing costs in the euro area this month, but analysts said they would wait to hear whether central bank chief Mario Draghi had anything to say about the political situation in Italy and the possible repercussions for the euro area as a whole.

Draghi believes that with interest rates currently at a record low of 0.75 per cent, an unprecedented amount of liquidity pumped into banks and a key bond-purchase program in place, the central bank has already done its utmost to help resolve the long-running crisis.

However, the gridlock in last week's elections in Italy, where a centre-left coalition won the most votes, but not enough to form a majority in parliament, has focused market attention back on whether the ECB might have to step in again to stamp out fears of a resurgence in the crisis.

Italian-born Draghi is unlikely to let himself be drawn into making any comment on domestic political issues in his home country.

But political developments there are likely to be a topic in the question-and-answer session of the traditional post-meeting ECB news conference, analysts said.

Also on the agenda of the meeting will be the ECB's updated staff projections for growth and inflation.

In the last round of forecasts published in December, the ECB had foreseen a contraction in the eurozone economy of 0.3 per cent this year followed by growth of 1.2 per cent in 2014.

Analysts said they do not expect significant revisions to the forecasts.


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World media sees bleak Chavez legacy

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 06 Maret 2013 | 21.29

HUGO Chavez has left Venezuela divided with an economy overly reliant on oil wealth and riddled with corruption, world newspapers have warned, foreseeing great instability after his death.

Chavez's death from cancer at 58 leaves a complex legacy for his successor, with elections expected in 30 days, newspapers and online sites say.

Yet few papers could deny his huge political impact in Venezuela and across the Latin American region.

Some papers credited him for working to improve the lives of the poor, though the verdict on his performance was mixed.

Chavez stayed in power for 14 years, winning elections "with a mix of personal charisma, largesse in the use of oil money, populist rhetoric and an ability to convince many that their lives would be better thanks to the Bolivarian revolution," said Spain's leading daily El Pais.

Chavez's Bolivarian revolution, a socialist movement inspired by Venezuelan revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar, had promised economic independence and equality to the people.

"But it seems more than improbable that any successor will be able to stir enough support to make citizens tolerate for much longer the enormous financial imbalances, daily shortages, extensive corruption or rampant urban violence that afflict the Caribbean nation and that remain in place or are even worse after the late president's long reign," El Pais said.

A rival Spanish daily, the conservative El Mundo, said Chavez's death had sown "paranoia" among Venezuelan leaders.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro made clear he believed there had been a "political assassination", it said.

"Now begins an uncertain interim period," El Mundo warned.

Rory Carroll, Guardian correspondent and author of Comandante: Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times headlined: "In the end, an awful manager."

"Chavez was a brilliant politician and a disastrous ruler. He leaves Venezuela a ruin, and his death plunges its roughly 30 million citizens into profound uncertainty," Carroll wrote.

The Washington Post's lead article described Chavez as "passionate but polarising."

Some papers were more sympathetic, however.

Chavez's fierce anti-US rhetoric led him to fraternise with regimes such as those in Iran or Belarus, said the online edition of Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

"But the relationship between Latin America and the North was deeply changed by Caracas's repeated verbal attacks on Washington in recent years. Latin American states gained self-confidence," the paper said.

In Britain, the left-leaning Guardian said Chavez had left a legacy of literacy and healthcare for the poor but also "crumbling infrastructure and dependence on oil".


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Police face Philippines murder charges

PHILIPPINE investigators will file a murder case against 35 police officers and soldiers for allegedly executing 13 people at a checkpoint, the justice secretary says.

An investigation ordered by President Benigno Aquino III into the killings concluded that the victims were summarily executed and there was no shootout as claimed by the security personnel.

Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Aquino directed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to file a criminal and administrative complaint after reading the report by the National Bureau of Investigation.

"The conclusion is that no shootout occurred," de Lima said on Wednesday. "The victims were summarily executed."

She said prosecutors would decide whether there was enough evidence against the 21 police and 14 soldiers before filing the case in court.

The investigation found that the killings were a plan by the police colonel who led the security force at the checkpoint, Hansel Marantan, to eliminate his rival in the illegal gambling operation. Local newspapers have reported that Marantan was a protector of an illegal numbers game called "jueteng".

Marantan has denied any wrongdoing.


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Thomas Cook axes 2,500 jobs in Britain

TRAVEL firm Thomas Cook says it will axe 2,500 jobs in Britain, mostly in administration functions and its retail network, as part of a major restructuring.

The cuts comprise 16 per cent of the group's total workforce of 15,500 people in Britain and Ireland.

"As part of its ongoing business transformation, Thomas Cook Group plc today began a consultation process to restructure its UK business," the British company said in a statement.

"Subject to that consultation, this process would see the group's UK workforce reduced by 2,500 full-time roles, mostly in back-office functions and its retail network, including some store closures."

Wednesday's news came two days after Thomas Cook announced it had decided against selling its loss-making French division.

"It is never easy to make decisions that impact directly on our people, but we also owe it to our customers to shape the business effectively and ensure that, when they book their holiday with us, our administrative costs are as low as possible," said Peter Fankhauser, chief executive of Thomas Cook's UK & Continental Europe division.

"As we improve and develop our online capabilities, maintaining a strong presence on the High Street is an important part of our omni-channel strategy. Even after these changes we will still have one of the largest retail networks in UK travel.

"These proposals will mean a stronger Thomas Cook that continues to be a major employer in the UK dedicated to providing excellent holiday experiences to our 23 million customers."

London-listed Thomas Cook had posted annual net losses of almost STG586 million ($A870.47 million) in November, as the group was hit by the combined impact of the eurozone debt crisis, Middle East unrest and high fuel costs.


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Indonesian journalist attacked, loses baby

INDONESIAN police have arrested two village officials on Borneo island for allegedly beating a pregnant journalist until she suffered severe bleeding and had a miscarriage.

Nurmila Sari Wahyuni, a 23-year-old reporter for Paser TV, a station in East Kalimantan province, was allegedly ambushed by two men on a motorcycle on Sunday while she was filming in Rantau Panjang village.

East Kalimantan police chief Major General Anas Yusuf said on Wednesday that the men recognised Wahyuni as a daughter of one of the owners of disputed village land.

He said they beat her and trampled on her legs, stomach and head. She was hospitalised after the attack.

The village chief and secretary were arrested and other people are being questioned.

Sunday's assault sparked outrage among activists and independent journalists' associations.


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Govts overspending by $60b: think tank

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 05 Maret 2013 | 21.29

GOVERNMENTS across Australia are overspending by more than $60 billion a year, posing a risk of higher taxation, more debt and lower living standards for future generations, a think tank warns.

The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) says government spending at all three tiers - federal, state and local councils - has been growing at an average rate of four per cent per year since 1972, and is now nearly 35 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

CIS research fellow Simon Cowan says the ideal size of government is less than 30 per cent of GDP, which means governments are overspending by as much as $63 billion a year.

"All government spending should be scrutinised to ensure taxpayers' dollars are not being wasted on inefficient, ineffective programs," Mr Cowan says in a new report 'TARGET30 - Towards smaller government and future prosperity'.

The report aims to prepare Australia for its future fiscal challenges by proposing ways to reduce government spending to less than 30 per cent of GDP within 10 years.

Health, welfare and education consume more than 60 per cent of government budgets, and with costs set to rise rapidly, mainly due to an ageing population and spiralling health care costs, there will be much higher taxation and enormous public debts.

"It is crucial that we act now to make these services more efficient, curb the uncontrolled growth of government, and stave off a fiscal and debt crisis like those afflicting big-spending, big-government countries in Europe," Mr Cowen says.

Much of the increase over the past 10 years has come from new spending programs.

Mr Cowen says governments should focus on finding savings from existing, lower priority programs, to pay for new spending programs and recent commitments like the Gonski education reforms and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

"TARGET30 calls for a shift in cultural thinking. It asks Australians to think about what we really need governments to provide, and what individuals should be providing for themselves," he said.

Without action, government spending may exceed 50 per cent of GDP by 2050, he warns.


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US rocker acquitted over Czech fan death

A PRAGUE court has acquitted the frontman of US heavy metal group Lamb of God, Randy Blythe, of charges of involuntary manslaughter over the death of a Czech fan in 2010.

Blythe, 42, went on trial on February 4 after pushing a 19-year-old fan off the stage on to a concrete floor during a concert at a Prague club in May 2010.

The fan, who had reportedly tried to climb on to the stage several times, died of head injuries two weeks later.

Judge Tomas Kubovec said on Tuesday the fan had tried to get onstage because he had misunderstood Blythe's call for greater applause which would have been "absolutely understandable for English speakers," the DNES broadsheet daily said on its website.

Blythe, who pleaded not guilty and attended all the hearings in the trial, admitted to having pushed the young man off the stage, but insisted he saw him stand up again in the crowd.

He apologised to the dead fan's family, who had demanded damages worth 10 million koruna ($A501,000).

Czech police first detained Blythe upon his arrival at Prague airport in June 2012.

He was freed without charge in August, but had to post 237,000 euro ($A305,235) bail. He left the country after committing to return for the trial.


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Saudi postpones executions of 7 men

SAUDI Arabia has postponed the scheduled executions of seven Saudis, a local official says, as rights groups said the men were condemned for crimes committed when they were minors.

The official did not say when the executions, in the southern region of Aseer, would now be carried out.

"Following a request by Aseer governor Faisal bin Khaled al-Saud, it has been decided to postpone the execution to improve preparations for applying the verdict," said the official, who is close to the governor.

The planned executions raised alarm among rights groups, with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) separately appealing to the Saudi authorities for stays.

The two groups said in separate statements that the men were juveniles when they were convicted of armed robbery, a crime punishable by death in the kingdom which applies a strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

"All seven men were between 16 and 20 when authorities arrested them in 2006 for allegedly committing a robbery in 2005," HRW said.

"There is strong evidence suggesting that the trials of all seven men violated basic principles of the right to a fair trial."

HRW Deputy Middle East Director Eric Goldstein said in a statement late on Monday that "it will be outrageous if the Saudi authorities go ahead with these executions."

"It is high time for the Saudis to stop executing child offenders and start observing their obligations under international human rights law."

Amnesty International said the men were "tortured to make them confess" and sentenced to death following a "summary trial that was grossly unfair."

So far this year, the Saudi authorities have executed 17 people.

In 2012, the kingdom executed 76 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Human Rights Watch put the number at 69.

Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia law.


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Ikea pulls cakes after bacteria found

SWEDISH furniture giant Ikea has pulled a batch of almond cakes from its restaurants in 23 countries after Chinese authorities said they contained coliform bacteria, normally present in faecal matter.

The Swedish-made cakes had failed tests "for containing an excessive level of coliform bacteria, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine," the Shanghai Daily website wrote.

Ikea said 1,800 Taarta Chokladkrokant cakes - described on its website as an almond cake with chocolate, butter cream and butterscotch - were destroyed in December after being intercepted by Chinese customs.

"These cakes never reached our stores," said Ikea spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson.

"There are indications that the levels of bacteria found are low, but we obviously have to know the exact amount, and find out how this happened," she added.

A microbiologist at the Swedish National Food Agency, Mats Lindblad, said coliform bacteria "could be an indication of faecal contamination, though not always".

He said the bacteria were normally not dangerous for consumers.

Ikea last week pulled its trademark meatballs off the shelves in 25 countries after Czech authorities found traces of horse DNA in a batch of one-kilogram bags of frozen meatballs.

"It's very important to us that the products our customers buy are safe and secure to use and to eat," Magnusson said.


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Aust fears over India surrogacy changes

Written By Unknown on Senin, 04 Maret 2013 | 21.29

AUSTRALIAN babies may be left stateless due to a change in India's surrogacy laws.

India has recently banned foreign gay couples, de facto heterosexual couples and singles from using surrogate mothers to become parents.

The changes require the couple to be a man and women who have been married for at least two years.

The sudden change has left dozens of expectant parents currently awaiting the birth of their babies in breach of Indian law, the ABC's Lateline program reports.

Paul Taylor Burns and his partner Josh, who are awaiting the birth of their twins, said they met the requirements when they first signed the contract.

"When we went over there in July we were under the impression that everything was absolutely fine," Mr Burns, from Perth, said.

"We know that we don't meet the new criteria, we know that our contracts have been signed after the cut-off date.

"The biggest worry is what's going to happen when we get there.

"Are the babies going to get the visa to exit the country?

"Is there any possibility of the babies not being able to leave?

"Are we potentially going to be prosecuted?"


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Abbott preferred in western Sydney: poll

VOTERS in Sydney's west would rather have Kevin Rudd as prime minister than Julia Gillard, but Tony Abbott remains their top choice, a poll shows.

The Seven News/ReachTEL poll found Mr Rudd has a clear lead over Ms Gillard as the preferred prime minister - 74.5 per cent to 25.5 per cent - if voters are forced to choose between the two.

Almost 42 per cent of western Sydney residents would be more likely to vote Labor if Mr Rudd was leader of the party.

But the poll found both Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd sank below Opposition Leader Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister.

If given the choice of four prime ministers, 39.2 per cent of voters would choose Mr Abbott, followed by Mr Rudd at 26 per cent, Malcolm Turnbull at 22.1 per cent, and Ms Gillard at just 13.2 per cent.

The poll surveyed 1615 residents from 11 electorates in Sydney's west.


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Kenyans vote after police gunned down

LONG lines of Kenyans have queued from way before dawn to vote in the first election since the violence-wracked polls five years ago, with a deadly police ambush hours before polling started marring the ballot.

The tense elections are seen as a crucial test for Kenya, with leaders vowing to avoid a repeat of the bloody 2007-8 post-poll violence in which more than 1100 people were killed and observers repeatedly warning of the risk of renewed conflict.

Voters standing for hours in snaking lines several hundreds of metres long - and several people thick - crowded peacefully outside polling stations to take part in one of the most complex elections Kenya has ever held.

Tensions were high on the coast including in the port city of Mombasa where six policemen killed in two separate attacks, including an ambush by some 200 youths armed with guns and bows and arrows, hours before the opening of polling stations.

"Six policemen and six attackers were killed during the confrontation," Kenyan police chief David Kimaiyo told reporters, adding that 400 officers were being sent to the coastal province to beef up security.

Kimaiyo said the attackers were suspected members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), a group seeking the secession of the coastal region popular with tourists.

Despite the attack, voters packed the streets in the city.

"We are not worried, we are voting," said architect Said Said, waiting to cast a ballot at a primary school.

Neck-and-neck rivals for the presidency, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta, have publicly vowed there will be no repeat of the bloodshed that followed the disputed 2007 polls.

Crimes against humanity trials later this year at The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) for Kenyatta and running mate William Ruto have raised the stakes: should they win the vote, the president and vice-president could be absent on trial for years.

Kenyans are casting six ballots, voting for a new president, parliamentarians, governors, senators, councillors and special women's representatives, with some 14.3 million registered voters and more than 30,000 polling stations.

Preliminary results are expected within 48 hours but could take up to seven days, officials have said.


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Dutch police arrest woman over art heist

DUTCH police have arrested a young Romanian woman in Rotterdam on suspicion of helping get a haul of masterpieces stolen from the city's Kunsthal museum out of the country, police say.

"Detectives investigating the art heist at the Kunsthal on Monday afternoon arrested a 19-year-old Romanian woman who is suspected of being involved in the handling of the seven stolen paintings," Rotterdam police said in a statement.

The woman is the girlfriend of one of three suspects being held in Romania for alleged involvement in October's swiftly executed theft of works by Picasso, Monet and Gauguin, among others.

The heist gripped the Netherlands and the art world as police apparently struggled to piece the crime together, despite putting 25 officers on the case.

Experts put the paintings' value at between 100 and 200 million euros ($A257 million).

Police said it appeared the paintings had been taken to a home in Rotterdam immediately after being stolen.

"There the frames were apparently removed from the paintings and later taken to Romania," police said.

The 19-year-old was one of several people living in the house at the time.

Dutch police last year released grainy security camera footage of the theft, which took place about 3am.

The footage showed two apparently young males entering and leaving the museum in central Rotterdam within barely 90 seconds.

The works stolen include Picasso's Tete d'Arlequin, Monet's Waterloo Bridge and Lucian Freud's Woman with Eyes Closed.


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Chan stars at China political meeting

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 03 Maret 2013 | 21.29

FILM star Jackie Chan has joined other celebrities at a meeting of China's highest-profile advisory body, a move seen by analysts as an attempt by the ruling Communist Party to cultivate "soft power".

Nobel literature prizewinner Mo Yan and basketball star Yao Ming also attended the annual meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), organised by the party.

The Hong Kong actor's participation in the meeting, as one of 2000 delegates making suggestions to China's government, has been strongly criticised by some in his native city.

The martial arts star provoked a furious fight-back last December after reportedly suggesting that protests in Hong Kong should be restricted. In 2009 he landed in hot water for telling a forum that "we Chinese need to be controlled".

The 58-year-old, famous in the West for the Rush Hour series and Police Story, kept a low profile outside the meeting.

"I have no way of speaking now, we don't have enough time to elaborate," he told a scrum of reporters opposite Beijing's Tiananmen Square, topped by clear blue skies after heavy smog which has blighted the capital in recent months.

Chan, wearing a black shirt and glasses, said merely that he was "very happy" before boarding a bus with Mo Yan.

Photos published by state news agency Xinhua also showed towering basketball star Yao Ming alongside other delegates packed into Beijing's cavernous Great Hall Of The People alongside president-to-be Xi Jinping.

Xi, currently party chief, will be formally appointed president to replace Hu Jintao during a meeting of the National People's Congress, or legislature, which starts on Tuesday.

Professor Sonny Ho, co-director at Hong Kong's Centre for Greater China Studies, has said Chan was selected to attend the CPPCC because it was thought his stardom could help promote ties with Hong Kong.

"Jackie Chan is acting under the soft power and united front of the PRC (mainland) government," Ho said last week.


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Russian officials disrupt Pussy Riot play

RUSSIAN migration officials have disrupted a Moscow play by a Swiss director about the trial against punk band Pussy Riot, as religious activists caused a commotion outside.

The political play The Moscow Trials by director Milo Rau tells the story of last year's trial against three singers of the feminist band - one of whom, Yekaterina Samutsevich, has since been freed and is now taking part in the play.

Russia's migration service confirmed its employees entered the Sakharov Centre, a human rights museum staging the performance, and asked Rau to show his work documents in the middle of the play.

"Mr Rau was warned about the necessity to follow migration regulations," deputy head of the service Sergey Kalyuzhny told RIA Novosti news agency. The director's business visa does not allow "work activity", he said.

Perplexed employees of the Sakharov Centre said at first they were not sure whether the visitors were migration officials or Orthodox activists in fake uniforms.

"It was an attempt to disrupt the play, and they succeeded for two hours," said Yelena Kaluzhskaya, the spokeswoman of the Sakharov Centre, adding the officers had a television crew with them.

The visitors, wearing purple vests emblazoned with the words "Immigration Control" asked the play's creator for his visa documents and questioned the director of the Sakharov Centre in his office, Kaluzhskaya told AFP. Nobody was detained.

Members of Pussy Riot entered the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour last February to stage a short performance in bright-coloured dresses and balaclavas protesting against the increased involvement of the Russian Orthodox Church in politics and Vladimir Putin's presidential campaign.

They were controversially sentenced to two years in jail on hooliganism charges in a closely-watched trial that was slammed by the West and divided Russian society.

Yekaterina Samutsevich was released in October but two other band members are serving their sentences in distant penal colonies.


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Crews begin demolition of sinkhole home

CREWS with heavy equipment have begun the demolition of a Florida home over a huge sinkhole where a man is presumed dead after being swallowed by the earth.

The search for Jeff Bush, 37, was called off on the weekend, and a heavy machine with a large bucket scoop was moved into position on Sunday.

The six-metre-wide opening of the sinkhole was almost covered by the house, and rescuers said there were no signs of life since the hole opened on Thursday.

Jeremy Bush, the man who tried to save his brother, was escorted with a woman by a deputy sheriff to the front of the house early Sunday before equipment moved into position.

He repositioned some flowers from a makeshift memorial to a safer location, where Bush and the unidentified woman knelt in prayer.


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Korean police shoot US soldier after chase

A US soldier has been shot and injured by South Korean police after a dramatic early morning car chase through the capital Seoul.

The 23-year-old private first class, who was not named, was shot in the shoulder shortly after midnight, Yonhap news agency said.

The agency and several other news outlets cited police in Yongsan district near the huge US military base in central Seoul.

Media reports said police approached two soldiers in the Itaewon entertainment district early Sunday after receiving complaints that the pair were apparently threatening passers-by with an air gun.

They reportedly fled, crashing into several other cars in a high-speed escape that continued for about 10km before the pair turned into a dead-end street.

The soldiers reportedly tried to ram their car into a police officer, prompting him to fire three shots at the car. They eventually fled to the US base.

The wounded soldier, who was driving the vehicle, was treated at the base and was said to be in stable condition. The Seoul police officer reportedly suffered a minor injury.

Video from another car - shown on local TV on Sunday night - showed the soldiers' vehicle driving at high speed past police officers.

The US 8th Army in the area reportedly offered an apology and vowed to co-operate in the investigation.

About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with a ceasefire instead of a peace treaty.

Crimes or disputes involving the US troops are a sensitive subject in South Korea, even though many see their presence as necessary to deter an attack by North Korea.


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