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Man dies trying to cross major NSW freeway

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 03 Mei 2014 | 21.30

A MAN has died after being hit by two cars while trying to cross a major highway in Sydney, causing several other vehicles to crash.

He was walking south across three lanes of the M4 at Parramatta on Saturday evening when he was hit and about seven other cars then slammed into the back of the two vehicles that struck the man, a police spokeswoman told AAP.

The man died at the scene, on M4 eastbound near the Church Street exit in western Sydney.

A crime scene has been established and forensic officers will investigate.

Police aren't sure why the man was trying to cross the elevated highway, which has no footpaths.

The drivers of the cars which hit the man have been taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.


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TV veteran Efrem Zimbalist Jr dies aged 95

EFREM Zimbalist Jr, the son of famous musical parents who established his own name in the long-running television series 77 Sunset Strip and even the even longer running TV hit The F.B.I., has died at age 95.

Zimbalist died on Friday at his Solvang home in California's bucolic horse country, said family friend Judith Moose, who released a statement from his children, actress Stephanie Zimbalist and her brother, Efrem Zimbalist III.

"We are heartbroken to announce the passing into peace of our beloved father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, today at his Solvang ranch," it said.

"He actively enjoyed his life to the last day, showering love on his extended family, playing golf and visiting with close friends."

Zimbalist's stunning good looks and cool, deductive manner made him the ideal star as the hip private detective ferreting out Hollywood miscreants in 77 Sunset Strip, which aired from 1958 to 1964. As soon as that show ended he segued seamlessly into The F.B.I. which aired from 1965 to 1974.

At the end of each episode of the latter show, after Zimbalist and his fellow G-men had captured that week's mobsters, subversives, bank robbers or spies, the show would post photos from the FBI's real-life wanted list.

Some of the photos led to arrests, which helped give the show the complete seal of approval of the agency's real-life director, J. Edgar Hoover.

Zimbalist was the son of violin virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist and Alma Gluck, an acclaimed opera singer.

Young Efrem studied the violin himself for seven years under the tutelage of Jascha Heifetz's father, but he eventually developed more interest in theatre.

He became an actor, and 77 Sunset Strip made him a celebrity.

His daughter also took up acting - and small-screen detective work - in the 1980s TV series Remington Steele.

Her father had a recurring role in that show as a con man.

After serving in World War II, Zimbalist made his stage debut in The Rugged Path, starring Spencer Tracy, and appeared in other plays and a soap opera before being called to Hollywood.

Warner Bros signed him to a contract and cast him in minor film roles.

In 1958, 77 Sunset Strip debuted, starring Zimbalist as a cultured former O.S.S. officer and language expert whose partner was Roger Smith, an Ivy League Ph.D.

The pair operated out of an office in the centre of Hollywood's Sunset Strip where, aided by their sometime helper, Kookie, a jive-talking beatnik type who doubled as a parking lot attendant, they tracked down miscreants.

Kookie's character, played by Edd Byrnes, helped draw young viewers to the show and make it an immediate hit.

The program brought Zimbalist an Emmy nomination in 1959, but after a few seasons he tired of the long hours and what he believed were the bad scripts.

"A job like this should pay off in one of two ways: satisfaction or money. The money is not great, and there is no satisfaction," he said.

When the show faltered in 1963, Jack Webb of Dragnet fame was hired for an overhaul. He fired the cast except for Zimbalist, whom he made a world-travelling investigator.

The repair work failed, and the series ended the following year.

Zimbalist had better luck with The F.B.I., which endured for a decade as one of TV's most popular shows.

Perceiving that the series could provide the real FBI with an important PR boost, Hoover opened the bureau's files to the show's producers and even allowed background shots to be filmed in real FBI offices.

"He never came on the set, but I knew him," Zimbalist said.

"A charming man, extremely Virginia formal and an extraordinary command of the language."

During summer breaks between the two series, Warner Bros cast Zimbalist in several feature films, including Too Much Too Soon, Home Before Dark, The Crowded Sky, The Chapman Report and Wait Until Dark.

In the latter, he played the husband of Audrey Hepburn, a blind woman terrorised by thugs in a truly frightening film.

Zimbalist also appeared in By Love Possessed, Airport 1975, Terror Out of the Sky and Hot Shots.

But he would always be best known as a TV star, ironic for an actor who told The Associated Press in a 1993 interview that when Warner Bros first hired him he had no interest in doing television.

"They showed me in my contract where it said I had to," he recalled.

"I ended up with my life slanted toward television and I just accept that.

"I think you play the hand the way it's dealt, that's all."

In the 1990s, Zimbalist recorded the voice of Alfred, the butler, in the cartoon Batman series, which, he said, "has made me an idol in my little grandchildren's eyes."

He was born in New York City on November 30, 1918.

His mother reasoned that living amid the musical elite was not the best upbringing for a boy, so she sent him to boarding schools where he could be toughened by others his age.

But young Efrem was bashful and withdrawn in school. His only outlet was acting in campus plays.

"I walked onstage in a play at prep school, and with childish naivete, told myself, 'Wow, I'm an actor!'" he once recalled.

He was kicked out of Yale after two years over dismal grades, which he blamed on a playboy attitude.

Afraid to go home, he stayed with a friend in New York City for three months, working as a page at NBC headquarters, where he was dazzled by the famous radio stars.

Unable to break into radio as an actor, he studied at the famed Neighbourhood Playhouse.

During World War II he served in the infantry, receiving a Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound in his leg.

In 1945, Zimbalist married Emily McNair and they had a daughter, Nancy, and son, Efrem III.

His wife died in 1950, and he gave up acting to teach at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where his father was an artist in residence.

After five years he returned to Hollywood. He married Loranda Stephanie Spalding in 1956, and she gave birth to daughter Stephanie.

Zimbalist was preceded in death by his second wife and by his daughter Nancy.

In addition to his son and other daughter, Stephanie, he is survived by four grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.


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Vic police search for crash witnesses

VICTORIA Police are searching for a man who tried to help a motorcyclist who died in a road accident.

They say a number of witnesses were at the scene of the fatal accident in Clayton South on Friday night and are calling for them to come forward.

The rider, aged in his 20s, collided with a car at the intersection of Heatherton and Clayton roads in Melbourne's southeast about 10.15pm.

He died at the scene.

Police say they particularly want to speak with a man who helped to move the bike and the rider, and assisted with CPR.


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Missing Vic man's friends fear foul play

FRIENDS of a Melbourne man who went missing while working his delivery route fear he may have met with foul play.

Shiva Chauhan, 27, was last heard from via text message around 11.30pm (AEST) on Thursday.

On Friday morning, it was discovered his deliveries had not been made.

His van was found on Huttong Road in Keysborough in Melbourne's southeast around 3pm on Friday with his belongings, including his wallet, still inside.

A friend of Mr Chauhan identified only as Andy told the Nine Network he feared he had been "taken".

"We personally do believe there was some sort of foul play involved," Andy said.

"All of his personal belongings were left in the car.

"We sort of think that someone's stopped and taken him."

Another friend, Jap, described Mr Chauhan as caring.

"He loves his family too much just to do something," he said.

"He's always on the phone. There's no way he would have actually switched off his phone for three days now."

Police have released a photo of Mr Chauhan, who is described as Indian, 177cm tall, with a slim build and dark-coloured straight hair.

They are urging anyone who may know his whereabouts to contact them.


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Max Clifford jailed for eight years in UK

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 02 Mei 2014 | 21.29

UK's top PR guru Max Clifford faces up to two years in jail for sexually assaulting young women. Source: AAP

DISGRACED PR guru Max Clifford has been jailed for eight years in the UK for a string of indecent assaults on four women.

The 71-year-old finally fell from grace after decades influencing the media when he was convicted on Monday of eight counts of the crime, carried out between 1977 and 1984.

Passing sentence at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, Judge Anthony Leonard told him

"These offences may have taken place a long time ago, when inappropriate and trivial sexual behaviour was more likely to be tolerated, but your offending was not trivial, but of a very serious nature."

The judge said that due to the age of the offences that occurred between 1977 and 1984, Clifford was charged under an act from 1956, which set the maximum term at two years.

Under later legislation passed in 2003, the maximum term would have been 10 years, and for the worst instances would have been charged as rape or assault by penetration, which attract a maximum life term, the court heard.

Clifford repeatedly shook his head as the judge made his comments to a packed courtroom.

Judge Leonard added that he thought Clifford's personality and position in the public eye were why the crimes had not been made public sooner.

"The reason why they were not brought to light sooner was because of your own dominant character and your position in the world of entertainment which meant that your victims thought that you were untouchable, something that I think you too believed," he said.

Clifford, who branded his accusers "fantasists", remained defiant ahead of his sentencing.

"I stand by everything I have said in the last 17 months," he said.

A string of his clients have moved to distance themselves from the veteran agent in the wake of his conviction, the first under the sex crime inquiry Operation Yewtree.


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Hit skateboarder still 'very critical'

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 01 Mei 2014 | 21.29

A young man hurt in a suspected hit-and-run in Sydney's east is still in a very critical condition. Source: AAP

A MAN critically injured while riding a skateboard in a suspected hit-and-run in Sydney's east isn't showing any signs of improvement.

Christopher Rhodes, 26, was hit by a car while skating home after work down a steep, wet Bronte street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Just hours later a suspect was stopped by police in Chatswood and questioned for 12 hours, before being charged with drug offences and released.

His car has been seized by forensic specialists and had some signs of damage.

The victim was taken to St Vincent's Hospital with head injuries after being found by paramedics lying unconscious in the middle of the road.

A hospital spokesperson told AAP on Thursday the young man's condition hasn't improved.

"He's still very critical," he said.

"He hasn't really improved."

Friends have left condolence messages on his brother's Facebook pages after he changed his profile picture to a happy snap of the two together.

"Come onnnnnnnnn Chris. I know you can, I know you can, I know you can. If YOU can't then there's not much hope for the rest of us," one friend posted.

Mr Rhodes' brother had been by the young bartender's side in hospital after the accident and was reportedly trying to contact their mother, who is believed to be abroad.

A former Randwick Boys High School student, Mr Rhodes is well-liked by his colleagues at the Sydney pub where he works, and was often the "life of the party".


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Inquiry to look at bank debt guarantee

An inquiry will look at whether a debt guarantee for the big four banks has distorted the market. Source: AAP

THE head of an inquiry into Australia's financial system says government backing of the big four banks during the global financial crisis may have given them an unfair advantage over smaller rivals.

Small lenders and the Department of Treasury have argued the wholesale debt guarantee for major banks helped to create an unfair playing field and allowed the big four to access funds more cheaply.

The chief of the federal government's financial system inquiry, David Murray, says there remains a perception Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac and National Australia Bank are too big to fail.

"The perception of the government as a backstop may provide competitive advantages for some and can distort prices at the same time," he told a lunch in Sydney.

"The GFC shifted public expectations of when and where governments will intervene; the question for us now is whether we are content to accept that shift."

Commonwealth Bank has argued there is no special treatment for the major banks, submitting to the inquiry there is general government support for the whole banking system.

Mr Murray said the inquiry, which will release an interim report in July, would focus on three issues: government intervention in the sector, the potential consequences of current financial system settings and potential drivers of change in the economy.

He also said he would like to see reduced regulation of the financial system.

"From here it would be a fantastic outcome if the regulation of our system was kept at its necessary minimum while the supervision of the system was kept at world's best practice," he said.


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Rio cuts coal jobs at Hail Creek in Qld

Rio Tinto says it is cutting jobs at its Hail Creek open cut coal mine in central Queensland. Source: AAP

MINING giant Rio Tinto says it will cut jobs at its Hail Creek coal mine in central Queensland due to falling prices and higher costs.

Rio did not say how many positions would be affected, but said the move was part of its push to reduce costs and improve productivity across its mines.

"Like others in the Australian coal mining industry, Rio Tinto is facing the challenge of increasing costs and dropping coal prices," a Rio Tinto Coal Australia spokesman said.

"Some roles at Hail Creek Mine are no longer required as part of changes to ensure the mine is sustainable in challenging conditions."

The company, which employees 940 people at the mine, said it would be providing support to those affected.

The Hail Creek open cut mine exports more than seven million tonnes of coking coal to international customers each year.

Coal prices have dived in recent years.


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Salvos bracing for hit to donations

The Salvation Army is bracing for a drop in donations following shocking child sexual abuse claims. Source: AAP

SHOCKING allegations aired during a child sexual abuse inquiry might prompt a drop in donations to the Salvation Army this year.

But the charity understands 2014 is a year for rebuilding trust, not for money.

"This year will be a difficult year for us," Major Bruce Harmer told AAP.

"But our focus is not necessarily on money this year."

Mr Harmer said this year's Red Shield Appeal was an opportunity to stand alongside the Australians who had supported the charity for so many years.

The appeal launch on Thursday came on the back of allegations of child abuse at Salvation Army homes.

The sickening claims heard during the Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse had subjected the charity to damning public scrutiny.

From the outset of the appeal launch, Commissioner James Condon addressed the elephant in the room.

"As I sat through the first hearing I felt shocked, ashamed and aggrieved at the abuse that happened in our children's homes at the hands of some officers of the Salvation Army and some employees," he told the audience.

"I have expressed to the nation and indeed to the world my unreserved apology, regret and shame at that which took place."

Australian actress Cate Blanchett and leading businessman David Gonski were in the audience to throw their support behind the Salvos.

The charity aims to raise $80 million this year, including $10 million over the two-day doorknock appeal on May 24 and 25.

The Salvation Army's leaders have urged Australians not to let their support for the not-for-profit organisation wane.

But Mr Harmer says if donations are down this year, and even next, their work will continue.

"If they are down for a number of years that would be quite understandable," he said.

"But we will continue to provide as many services as we can and help that million plus Australians who come knocking on our door every year."


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Gonski steps up as ANZ chairman

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 30 April 2014 | 21.29

Respected businessman David Gonski (pic) is set to replace John Morschel as ANZ chairman on May 1. Source: AAP

RESPECTED businessman David Gonski takes control in ANZ's boardroom on Thursday, replacing the bank's chairman of four years John Morschel.

Mr Gonski was appointed to the ANZ board in December with the view to taking over from Mr Morschel when he retired on April 30.

"It has been an honour to have served as an ANZ director since 2004 and to have been chairman of ANZ over the past four years," Mr Morschel said.

Mr Gonski, a former chairman of the federal government's Future Fund, previously served as a director for ANZ between 2002 and 2007.


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Tenants sign on for Barangaroo tower

Two firms have signed up as tenants for the tallest building at Sydney's Barangaroo development. Source: AAP

PLANNING for the tallest office tower at Sydney's Barangaroo development will commence after the developer secured two tenants for the 49-storey building.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia will take 12 floors of the tower and HSBC Bank Australia three and a half floors, under new leases signed with developer Lend Lease.

Lend Lease will now commence development and funding of the building, and intends to introduce co-investors into the tower "at an appropriate time in the future", it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2014, and is expected to be completed in the 2016/17 financial year.

Barangaroo South is planned to be a major financial district of Sydney's CBD, and will include an exclusive casino and hotel to be operated by Crown Resorts.


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Gold dazzles at refurbished Perth Mint

Perth Mint has opened a new exhibition with the most valuable coin in the world as its centrepiece. Source: AAP

THE biggest, heaviest and most valuable coin in the world is the centrepiece of a new permanent exhibition at the refurbished Perth Mint.

The colossal coin is one tonne of 99.99 per cent pure gold, worth more than $50 million.

Measuring 80 centimetres in diameter and more than 12cm deep, it depicts a red kangaroo surrounded by rays of sunlight.

And it sits atop its very own vault, which swallows it up each night when the mint closes.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett said the coin would be a big drawcard for the Mint, which has undergone a $5.5 million redevelopment in two stages, the biggest revamp it has had since it was founded 115 years ago.

Mr Barnett said he expected visitor numbers, which already nudge 80,000 a year, would rise dramatically.

The coin was recently exhibited around the world and has increased already strong sales of bullion coins from the Mint.

"It achieved its objective - we are selling more gold bullion coins," chief executive Ed Harbuz said.

Also on display at the mint are massive gold nuggets, including the world's second biggest, Newmont's Normandy nugget.

Perth Mint was established as a branch of Britain's Royal Mint in 1899.

Its primary functions of refining gold from WA's eastern goldfields and striking gold coinage continues today but at its refinery near Perth Airport, with precious metal coins struck onsite at the Mint.

The Mint also issues Australia's official bullion and commemorative coins.

In 2012/13, it refined more than 300 tonnes of precious metals, reported close to $3 billion worth of holdings in its depository, and sold 4.3 million gold, silver and platinum coins.

It is one of only four mints in the world that produces bullion coins.


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Tunisia uses Star Wars to rescue tourism

IMPERIAL stormtroopers are set to march through Tunisia's capital as part of a new effort to attract tourists and burnish the image of the North African country.

Tunisia's national tourism office is collaborating with the local Star Wars fan club to hold a convention starting on Wednesday in the country, which boasts sets from the popular science fiction film franchise deep in the desert.

The campaign also features a Star Wars-themed online video set to the tune of Pharrell Williams' popular hit Happy, involving characters from the films.

Tunisia's beach resorts were a popular destination for European tourists but many stayed away after the 2011 overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Tourists have been slowly returning and the new campaign seeks to promote lesser-known Tunisian attractions.


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Whitehaven pushes ahead with new mine

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 29 April 2014 | 21.30

WHITEHAVEN Coal sold less coal in the March quarter while battling low prices, but its flagship Maules Creek project is more than one-third complete.

The controversial NSW mine is the target of a long running campaign that has included legal action and human barricades to delay construction, in protest against the alleged destruction of the Leard State Forest.

More than 90 protesters faced court in Narrabri on Tuesday and a mother and son were arrested on Monday after chaining themselves to a gate at a Whitehaven site.

Whitehaven said construction progress at Maules Creek was 36 per cent complete and on schedule and budget.

First coal should be railed in March 2015 and the company was confident it would get Commonwealth approval for its biodiversity offsets package, which involves a package to balance the effects on flora and fauna.

The highly regarded $767 million project would more than double Whitehaven's production to 25 million tonnes a year.

Whitehaven produced 1.81 million tonnes in the three months to the end of March, down 29 per cent on a year ago.

It recently flagged a cut in full year production by up to eight per cent, to between 9.8 million and 10 million tonnes of saleable coal, due to operational problems.

Whitehaven sold 2.29 million tonnes for the March quarter, down five per cent.

It achieved a weaker average price for export thermal coal sales of $US75.19 a tonne, compared to the benchmark Newcastle index, which was down seven per cent to $US78.05 for the quarter.

The reasons included a well-supplied market with little disruption from weather related events, a lack of buying by China based coal customers from the seaborne market, and the end of the high demand northern hemisphere winter.

However, thermal coal demand was growing in South Korea, which is increasing coal in its energy mix, and analysts including Bell Potter have a positive long term view on the company, and coal generally.

Whitehaven shares had dropped 2.5 cents to $1.48.


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Two MPs allege Palmer approach

A Queensland MP has told police an envoy for Clive Palmer offered him an inducement to jump ship. Source: AAP

TWO Queensland government MPs have accused Clive Palmer's team of trying to lure them away from the Liberal National Party.

Mr Palmer says the claims made by MPs Michael Hart and Jason Costigan were made up by premier Campbell Newman, while police have looked at one of the accusations and will take no action.

Mr Newman, however, has stepped up his war with the mining magnate turned federal MP, arguing he needs to reveal the full truth.

Mr Hart on Tuesday alleged a Palmer United Party envoy tried to entice the Burleigh MP with financial sweeteners - an assertion refuted by the party's state leader Alex Douglas.

Also on Tuesday, Whitsunday MP Mr Costigan said a PUP member approached him a week later on April 16, but without a financial incentive.

"They said they could ... help me with my campaign if I was their candidate and rambled on how they needed one more MP to form the official opposition," he told AAP.

Mr Hart took his claims to police who said they had "concluded that, based on current available information, no further action will be taken".

Mr Hart said he cut short a conversation with a PUP official after being made an offer to become one of the party's leading candidates at next year's Queensland election.

"The words that were used I took as a form of inducement or that there was about to be an inducement. I didn't want that to happen," he told AAP.

Mr Hart's allegation has escalated the bitter feud between Mr Palmer and the LNP, with the mining magnate accusing Mr Newman of inventing the story.

"This is just concocted by the premier because he's going to be sued by me," Mr Palmer told AAP.

"He's just trying to mislead the press."

But a spokesman for Mr Newman says Mr Palmer is the one who needs to come clean after Dr Douglas confirmed the party approached Mr Hart.

"Mr Palmer denies inducements were offered to Mr Hart, but Alex Douglas has confirmed that Mr Hart was told that 'we would look after him if he joined us'," the spokesman said.

Dr Douglas says while contact was made, claims about any inducement are entirely false.

"It was basically to say: 'Michael we know you're not going to be preselected or endorsed by the party and if you want to have a career you are welcome to come and discuss that with us'," he said.

The latest claims follow Sunday's allegations by Mr Newman that Mr Palmer had tried to "buy" his government, and had offered inducements to successfully entice three renegade Northern Territory MPs to join his party.

Comment has been sought from Dr Douglas about Mr Costigan's claim.


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Partial eclipse ruined by cloud

IT was billed as the "super fat banana".

But Tuesday's rare partial solar eclipse was more like a rotten tomato.

Thick cloud blanketed most of the continent for much of the day, ruining any sustained view of the eclipse for astronomers and enthusiasts from Perth to Port Arthur.

At 4.14pm the moon nudged in front of the sun - causing a partial eclipse that experts predicted would darken the sky a little and make the sun look like a fat yellow banana.

The sky did turn dark on the eastern seaboard - but only because thick cloud and rain ruined the moment with less than heavenly timing.

"We got clouded-out on the east coast from the absolute moment the moon just touched the sun - it was incredible timing," Melbourne-based astronomer Dr Alan Duffy told AAP.

"The next eclipse in Melbourne of this quality will be 2028.

"So this was very disappointing."

Astronomical Society of Victoria media spokesman Perry Vlahos was equally miffed.

He didn't even go outside to check out the partial eclipse.

"I have given up all hope, the best optical telescope cannot see through rain and clouds," he added.

Tasmania should have given the best view of the eclipse - the further south you were the more of the sun would have been covered.

Members of the Astronomical Society of Tasmania gathered at the rainy Rosny Lookout in Hobart's east.

"We've actually got three telescopes here but at the moment they're sitting in the boots of cars," the society's Bob Coghlan told AAP.

"The committee are telling jokes and saying who brought the cloud-busting laser just to keep their spirits up."

Sydney Observatory had about 150 guests to watch the celestial activity.

Astronomer Andrew Jacobs said the partial eclipse was of little research value - scientists learn far more from full eclipses.

"We saw the very beginning of it, just a couple of minutes before it went into the clouds," he said.

West Australian residents had a slightly better view but only towards the end of the eclipse when some of the cloud cleared.


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Pakistan PM's gas cut off for unpaid bills

PAKISTANI authorities have disconnected gas supply to the prime minister's official residence and the national parliament secretariat over unpaid bills.

The move was part of a drive to recover unpaid bills from defaulters in a country facing a sever energy crisis, said an official of the state-run Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited.

The company said a bill of 4.7 million rupees ($A51,760) was due from the premier's residence in the capital Islamabad.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week ordered authorities to get tough on defaulters to recover billions of rupees in unpaid bills, in what appeared to be the first such major initiative in the country's history.

The supply to the national parliament secretariat, offices of legislators, a federal court and a string of other government buildings was also disconnected for overdue bills totalling more than 20 million rupees, the official said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose party won parliamentary elections last year, promised to end the energy crisis that has caused power outages of up to 12 hours a day and shortages of gas for cooking and heating.

Power and gas theft is common in Pakistan and influential defaulters hardly face any legal action.

Also on Tuesday, Water and Power Minister Abid Sher Ali said he had ordered the suspension of electricity to the official residence of the president for not paying bills.


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UK PR guru guilty of underage sex charges

Written By Unknown on Senin, 28 April 2014 | 21.29

BRITISH PR guru Max Clifford has been found guilty of a string of indecent assaults on teenage girls over a period of nearly 20 years.

The 71-year-old became the first person to be convicted under the high profile Operation Yewtree sex crime investigation at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.

He was found guilty of eight indecent assaults, cleared of two and the jury was unable to reach a verdict on one other.

Clifford repeatedly denied the claims, calling his arrest and prosecution "a nightmare" and protesting his innocence.

He was arrested by detectives from Operation Yewtree in December 2012, and charged in April the following year.

The investigation, Scotland Yard's inquiry into historic allegations of sexual offences, was prompted after claims were made against the late DJ Jimmy Savile.


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Cambridges return for 3rd anniversary

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are about to celebrate their third wedding anniversary out of the spotlight.

William and Kate, who have just returned from a busy 19-day tour of New Zealand and Australia, are spending the day on Tuesday privately as they make the most of some down time following their hectic trip Down Under.

They arrived at London's Heathrow Airport on Saturday after the long flight back from Australia with Prince George, whose first royal trip saw him become the star of the show.

After three weeks away, it is more than likely the couple will soon be catching up with the Middletons and the rest of their extended family to reunite them with baby George and show them how much he has grown.

The nine-month old acquired an "extra fat roll" during the trip, according to Kate, as well as a fuller head of hair.

The Cambridges, who wed at a glittering Westminster Abbey ceremony on April 29, 2011, watched by a world-wide audience of millions, have had a whirlwind 12 months.

They became parents for the first time in July and moved into their renovated Kensington Palace apartment in the autumn, while William left his job in the military and took an agricultural management course at Cambridge University.

Their successful trip to New Zealand and Australia - which included a playdate for George in Wellington, a visit to Uluru at sunset, meeting lifesavers on Manly Beach in Sydney and paying tribute to fallen soldiers on Anzac Day - was one of the longest, high profile overseas royal tours for many years.

Traditionally couples exchange gifts made of leather to mark their third wedding anniversary.

But Kate has acquired several new pieces of jewellery in recent months. Both her STG3,600 ($A6,557) Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch, which is embedded with a sapphire to match her engagement ring, and a diamond eternity band, which she wears on her wedding finger, are thought to have been gifts from William.


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US TV shows ordered off Chinese websites

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 27 April 2014 | 21.29

VIDEO streaming websites in China have been ordered to stop showing four popular American TV shows, including The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife.

The move suggests government attention is intensifying on the online industry, which is freer than state television and China's cinemas to show foreign productions and other content and has stretched the boundaries of what can be seen in the country.

A spokeswoman for a leading video site, Youku, said on Sunday it had received notification not to show sitcom The Big Bang Theory, political and legal drama The Good Wife, crime drama NCIS and legal drama The Practice.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television didn't give a reason for its order, she said.

A senior manager at another site, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said it received the surprise order last week to "clean their website".

The edict, which was identical to the one sent to Youku and other companies, also listed a Chinese slapstick miniseries made by another site, Sohu, as having to be removed.

Online streaming sites regularly receive orders to take down Chinese or foreign TV programs and movies, but usually because the regulator considers them too salacious or violent or because they infringe copyright laws.

Sohu's most popular US shows are crime drama Nikita - episodes from the first and second seasons have been watched a combined total of 472 million times - and Masters of Sex, which weren't included in the order.


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WA remains Australia's strongest economy

WESTERN Australia remains the nation's best performing economy but the Northern Territory is a close second.

The Top End is leading the way when it comes to economic activity, due to strong growth in construction, according to CommSec's quarterly State of the States report.

South Australia and Tasmania were the weakest performing states, while NSW came in third, followed by Queensland in fourth place and Victoria in fifth.

Every three months, CommSec uses eight key indicators to rank the states and territories - economic growth, retail spending, equipment investment, unemployment, construction work done, population growth, housing finance and dwelling commencements.

CommSec chief economist Craig James said the rebalancing of the Australian economy away from mining investment would soon cause a shake-up in the rankings.

"Western Australia continues to lead the rankings of best performing economies but in the latest quarter there was little to separate it from the Northern Territory economy," he said.

"The mining construction boom is over, replaced by the home construction boom.

"As a result, winners and losers will change across Australia, not just industries but also state and territory economies."

NSW lifted from fifth to third place following improvements in its economic growth, business investment, population growth and dwelling starts.

NSW is now the strongest state for new housing construction, with starts over 39 per cent above decade averages, Mr James said.

"The outlook for housing construction continues to strengthen, underpinned by low interest rates and strong demand by investors," Mr James said.

The jobs market was strongest in the Northern Territory and ACT and weakest in South Australia, where the jobless rate is up almost 28 per cent on the decade average, Mr James said.

He said the outlook for the Tasmanian and South Australian economies remained challenging.

"The hope is that property investors will soon switch attention away from NSW and Victoria to more affordable housing sectors," he said.


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