Obama meets family of ailing hero Mandela

US President Barack Obama has met the family of his "inspiration" Nelson Mandela, but was unable to visit the anti-apartheid legend who remains critically ill in hospital.

Despite tentative signs of an improvement in the condition of the father of multi-racial South Africa, Obama decided not to visit Mandela during his visit for fear of disturbing his "peace and comfort".

Instead, Obama met privately with some relatives of the revered leader including two daughters and several grandchildren and spoke by telephone with Mandela's wife Graca Machel.

"I expressed my hope that Madiba draws peace and comfort from the time that he is spending with loved ones, and also expressed my heartfelt support for the entire family as they work through this difficult time," Obama said, using Mandela's clan name.

Machel said she had "drawn strength from the support" offered by the Obama family.

"I am humbled by their comfort and messages of strength and inspiration which I have already conveyed to Madiba."

Speaking earlier in Pretoria, where 94-year-old Mandela lay fighting for his life in a nearby hospital, Obama praised the "moral courage" of South Africa's first black president.

"The struggle here against apartheid, for freedom, Madiba's moral courage, his country's historic transition to a free and democratic nation, has been a personal inspiration to me. It has been an inspiration to the world," Obama said after talks with President Jacob Zuma.

"The outpouring of love that we've seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and this nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit - the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country."

Obama said before arriving he did not need "a photo-op" with Mandela, whom he meet briefly in 2005, and the White House on Saturday ruled out a meeting between the two men.

"Out of deference to Nelson Mandela's peace and comfort and the family's wishes, they will not be visiting the hospital," the official said.

Obama's three-nation tour is aimed at changing perceptions that he has neglected Africa since his election in 2008, while also countering China's growing economic influence in the resource-rich continent.

But it has been overshadowed by the illness of his fellow Nobel peace laureate, who has been in intensive care for more than three weeks.

Zuma said Mandela remained in "critical but stable" condition, expressing hope that he would improve.

Welcoming the US president to South Africa on the second leg of his tour, he said Mandela and Obama were "bound by history" as the first black leaders of their respective nations.

"You both carry the dreams of millions of people in Africa," Zuma said.

But the US leader was not greeted so warmly by all South Africans. Riot police fired stun grenades at anti-Obama protesters in the township of Soweto, once a flashpoint in the anti-apartheid struggle.

A visit by Obama on Sunday to Mandela's former jail cell on Robben Island, off Cape Town in particular is expected to be laden with symbolism.

Obama will then visit former Archbishop Desmond Tutu's youth foundation HIV centre before delivering the central speech of his African tour at the University of Cape Town.

Mandela has been hospitalised four times since December.

The man once branded a terrorist by the United States and Britain won South Africa's first fully democratic elections in 1994, forging a path of racial reconciliation during his single term as president, before taking up a new role as a roving elder statesman and leading AIDS campaigner.

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US stocks open lower after 3-day rally

US stocks fell in opening trade on Friday after a three-day rally, with shares of Blackberry leading the way as the struggling phone maker reported a surprise quarterly loss.

Five minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 62.71 points (0.42 per cent) to 14,961.78.

The broad-based S&P 500 lost 5.31 points (0.33 per cent) to 1,607.89, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index fell 11.91 (0.35 per cent) to 3,389.95.

Blackberry shares took a heavy hit, falling 26 per cent to $10.74, after turning in a surprise $US84 million ($A90.93 million) loss for the quarter to June 1, despite a pickup in revenues from the launch of the company's new smartphone.

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US stocks open higher on mixed data

US stocks have opened higher as investors took mixed economic data as a sign the Federal Reserve will not imminently scale back its bond-buying program.

Five minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 108.52 (0.73 per cent) to 15,018.66.

The broad-based S&P 500 added 10.18 (0.63 per cent) to 1,613.44, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index increased 20.55 (0.61 per cent) to 3,396.77.

The indexes extended two days of gains as the market bounces back from last week's steep declines.

New claims for US unemployment insurance benefits dropped 9,000 last week from the prior week to 346,000 for the week ended June 22.

But a personal income and spending report for May showed personal consumption, while higher compared with April, rose just 1.8 per cent year-over-year.

"This morning's economic data are more supportive of the view that the Fed can hold off on tapering than not," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.

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US stocks surge after Q1 growth rate slash

US stocks have surged in opening trade after a sharp cut to the government's estimate of growth in the first quarter sent bond yields lower for the first time in two weeks.

Five minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 135.62 (0.92 per cent) at 14,895.93.

The broad-based S&P 500 added 14.73 (0.93 per cent) at 1,602.76, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 29.56 (0.88 per cent) to 3,377.45.

The Commerce Department slashed its estimate for growth in the January-March period to just 1.8 per cent, compared to the previous estimate of 2.4 per cent.

The market took that as a signal that the Federal Reserve might be less prone to reeling in its economic stimulus this year, analysts said.

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Aussie employers have no plans to hire

NEARLY four in five Australian employers have no plans to put on new workers in the next three months.

A survey of 5,400 Australian employers found a high degree of caution, with 63.2 per cent intending to maintain their employee numbers at current levels.

That forecast for the three months to the end of September was steady compared to the previous survey, carried out by global recruitment firm Hudson.

Those planning to cut staff numbers in the three months to September was up by 1.6 per cent to 14.2 per cent.

The number of businesses planning to put on more staff fell 1.6 per cent to 22.5 per cent.

The report's authors described the approach to hiring as cautious.

It comes after NAB's most recent business survey showed business confidence in Australia was poor and below trend - despite the fact the economy is still growing.

The bank also predicted unemployment could exceed six per cent by year's end, from its current 5.5 per cent.

According to Hudson, Victorian businesses had the lowest expectations of hiring new staff, at 21.5 per cent.

Western Australia suffered the biggest drop in hiring intentions, a 7.6 per cent fall to 24.9 per cent, driven down by the slowdown in the resources industry.

There have been thousands of job losses across the country in resources, the latest being US giant Peabody Energy's 450 job cuts at its Australian coal mines.

One bright spot in hiring intentions was in Canberra, where government sector intentions to boost staff lifted 9.1 per cent to 24.3 per cent.

Despite the looming federal election, there were still essential projects needing employees being rolled out, such as the national disability insurance scheme, Hudson's report said.

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Six Libyan soldiers killed in ambush

UNKNOWN gunmen have launched a dawn attack on a Libyan army checkpoint south of Sirte, the home town of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, killing six soldiers, a military officer says.

"An attack at dawn Tuesday against a checkpoint of the army in the town of Khuchum al-Kheil, south of Sirte, killed six soldiers who were on guard duty," local military officer Khaled al-Akari was quoted as saying by Lana news agency.

"Two vehicles were burned in the attack," said the officer, adding that the "area was cordoned off and a search was on to find the attackers".

Sirte, the last bastion of Gaddafi to fall into rebel hands in the 2011 uprising, has been largely untouched by the wave of violence shaking the country since the former ruler's regime fell.

Libya's new authorities are battling to establish military and security institutions capable of restoring law and order and state authority in the face of armed militias who fought Gaddafi's forces.

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New vaccinations needed for govt payments

THE criteria for children to be considered fully immunised have been expanded to include two meningitis vaccinations and one for chicken pox.

Most children are up to date with the vaccinations, which have been encouraged for some time, but from July 1 they will be compulsory for family tax benefit Part A and child care payments.

Doctors caution that vigilance is still needed as the meningitis shots, meningococcal C and pneumococcal, do not provide protection against all strains of the serious disease.

The chicken pox vaccine will be included in a new combination shot (MMRV) given at 18 months that includes a booster for measles, mumps and rubella.

Meningococcal disease can appear as meningitis or septicaemia (blood poisoning), or both. It infects up to 250 Australians a year and can cause death within hours if it is not treated promptly.

Winter is the peak season for meningococcal disease, says Leanne Weymark-Cotter of Meningococcal Australia.

"It is vital that parents are aware of the warning signs and go straight to the nearest doctor or hospital if they are concerned."

There is no vaccination in Australia to protect against the most common strain, meningococcal B.

It is quite rare, but people can't be complacent, says Professor Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation.

"This rapid and aggressive disease continues to kill and leave victims with serious permanent disabilities."

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Husband shares breast cancer journey

BRIAN Brady was sitting with his wife during a chemotherapy session, watching the whites of her eyes turn blood red as every capillary exploded.

"That's when I really knew how desperately sick my wife was, how desperately concerning this was," he says, sharing the events of 2010 soon after Mary-Ellen's breast cancer diagnosis.

"It is a very emotional rollercoaster.

"From a male's point of view, all you want to do is fix it," he says, supporting the release of a National Breast Cancer Foundation report on a gap in resources and support for male partners of women living with breast cancer.

He says partners should ensure they are included in the whole process.

"They should be involved in all the appointments with the doctors so they understand their partner's at needs.

"But less talking, more listening. Your partner might not want to listen to you, but she does want to know you are there for her," says Mr Brady, 51.

The couple have children aged 15, 7 and 3 and Ms Brady was diagnosed soon after she stopped breast feeding the youngest child.

"It was just a whirlwind. Everything in breast cancer is quick. The diagnosis is quick. The chemotherapy, everything. It's just a scary thing," says Mr Brady.

Although the experience has brought the couple closer together, he says it can just as easily tear a relationship apart.

"It has been an enormous education process, but the one thing that I am really concerned about is that it is very difficult for men to work out what the next step is.

"It's incredible. You get this earth-shattering news, but you do not know where to go from there.

"That scares the male and puts them off balance. I know of fellows who have closed down totally. They don't allow their wife to mention breast cancer. Their wife might have undergone radical surgery, but nothing is mentioned in the household.

"It's like if breast cancer isn't mentioned, there is no breast cancer."

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Forum puts foot down on high-speed rail

INTERNATIONAL experts have been called in to champion the benefits of a high-speed rail network for Australia's east coast.

While the fast train can travel at speeds of 350km/h, advocates for such a system fear the idea may stall.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese in early April released a second report into a $114 billion, 1,748km fast-train rail track between Brisbane and Melbourne, describing the plan as important for the nation's future.

Australasian Railway Association head Bryan Nye said high-speed rail must remain on the agenda.

"The government's recent study has sparked world-wide interest particularly amongst countries that have long benefited from high speed rail and see Australia as a new and viable market," Mr Nye said.

"Countries much less developed than Australia are already investing in high speed travel. We need to take this project forward or we will quickly be left behind."

On Wednesday, Mr Albanese will address a forum at Canberra's Parliament House, organised to maintain momentum on the rail plan.

International guests including Central Japan Railway Company general manager Gen Okajima will address the day-long forum along with Chinese, French and Spanish representatives who will speak about the development and benefits of high-speed rail networks in their countries.

The Australian proposal investigated by the government would be operating by 2065, offering travel from Sydney to Melbourne or Sydney to Brisbane in less than three hours.

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Victorian energy bills hit 10-year high

VICTORIAN household energy bills have reached a 10-year high after five years of increases, a report shows.

The average bill has increased by almost a third from 2001 to 2012, according to a report commissioned by Victoria's five electricity distribution businesses.

The average Victorian residential electricity bill without electric off-peak hot water was more than $1200 in 2012, up from about $950 in 2001, the report said.

This followed a decline in prices from 2002 to 2007, when they reached a low of about $820.

"The annual bill of a residential electricity user on a single-rate tariff in Victoria ... decreased in real dollar terms in every year from 2002 through 2007," said the report into the causes of residential electricity bill increases from 2001-2012.

"Costs then increased in real dollar terms from 2008 through 2012."

The report said the price increases were driven by government policies such as solar feed-in tariff costs and smart meters, as well as cost increases relating to the retail and wholesale parts of the supply chain.

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