Bail denied in NT prison drugs case

BAIL has been denied for a man who allegedly traded drugs with a Darwin prison guard and used her to pass messages to other prisoners, including a suspected Rebels bikie gang leader.

Phillip Noel Kaye, 35, is allegedly part of a six-person drug and corruption ring that operated out of Darwin Correctional Centre and included three prison guards, a police officer and a firefighter.

It's alleged he used prison guard Sarah Rudd to pass messages to other inmates, including organising drug deals, and gave her methamphetamines and MDMA.

At Darwin Magistrates Court on Friday, Magistrate Greg Cavanagh denied him bail, saying there was a real likelihood that he would reoffend if released.

"Given the multitude of offending and his previous record, bail must be refused," Mr Cavanagh said.

Kaye is facing more than a dozen charges, including possession of a trafficable quantity of drugs, unlawfully obtaining confidential information, attempting to pervert the course of justice and official corruption.

"Cheer up," he told an unidentified tearful female supporter as he was led from the courtroom.

His defence argued that bail should be granted because his girlfriend has recently given birth to a seven-week premature baby.

They also said a key witness had made allegations against him last year to police before saying she had lied due to mental illness.

Kaye will reappear in court at a later date.

19.00 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cooking fire claims Qld toddler's life

A TODDLER has died in a house fire west of Brisbane after his 15-year-old aunt accidentally started the blaze during a cooking mishap while babysitting.

The single-storey house in Toowoomba was well alight when emergency services arrived on Thursday about 6pm (AEST).

Firefighters searched the burning house and found a two-year-old boy's body.

Two other boys and two girls aged between seven and 15 were taken to Toowoomba Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

It's been widely reported a 15-year-old girl was babysitting her siblings and nephew and had left cooking oil unattended on the stove, which caught alight.

She attempted to put it out with water, which only exacerbated the problem.

Detective acting Senior Sergeant Scott Stahlhut did not dispute the cause when it was put to him by reporters, but was reluctant to confirm or elaborate.

"Police are preparing a report now which will be provided to the coroner," Sen-Sgt Stahlhut told reporters on the scene.

"Full details of how this terrible event unfolded will be made known in that report, so I can't comment at this stage (about) what's transpired."

Neighbours tried to rescue the toddler, but the blaze, which had entirely engulfed the house within minutes, was too strong.

"A girl came out saying her nephew was still inside and as I went to break through the window to see if I could try to rescue him, I just thought 'nah', because the smoke was too big," neighbour Terrance Mann told reporters.

"At that moment we realised there was just nothing we could have done."

Police also wouldn't confirm the children were left at home unsupervised.

Fire investigators remain at the scene on Friday.

19.00 | 0 komentar | Read More

NT government wants GST to remain at 10%

The Northern Territory treasurer says he's happy for the GST to stay at 10 per cent. Source: AAP

A HIKE in the GST would be detrimental to Australia's competitiveness in the long run, the Northern Territory treasurer says.

Dave Tollner, of the Country Liberals, says the NT is happy for the GST to remain at 10 per cent, and does not support Western Australian Liberal Premier Colin Barnett in his calls to increase it to 12.5 per cent.

"(It) certainly might help some short term problems but I think in the long run would harm our international competitiveness and be detrimental," Mr Tollner told the ABC on Friday.

"We're taking a position that we want to tighten our belts, we want to reduce spending, at the same time try and maintain services but to get to a position where we live within our means."

But he did call for the federal government to review a Commonwealth Grants Commission decision last year to take $100 million in funding from the NT, saying it was the equivalent to stripping $6 billion from NSW or Victoria.

The decision was based on census data that showed more people in the eastern states identifying as Aboriginal and therefore receiving more federal funding, but a spokesman for the treasurer's office said it didn't consider the unique issue of the NT's vast geography.

"The way it was formulated didn't factor in the huge issue of remoteness, and how socially disadvantaged Aboriginal people are by living in remote areas," the spokesman told AAP.

Otherwise, Mr Tollner said, he was happy with how the GST was being allocated.

Around 80 per cent of the NT's budget comes from the GST.

19.00 | 0 komentar | Read More

Raise a glass, Newton-John clinic opens

Olivia Newton-John has opened the final stage of her Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne. Source: AAP

OLIVIA Newton-John says her completed cancer centre in Melbourne should be a place where everybody knows your name, and has a drink waiting for you too - if that's what you want.

Newton-John recently lost her sister to cancer and says the experience taught her how important "loving care and support" is for someone who is dying.

On Friday, after a decade in the making, budget shortfalls and many fundraising campaigns, the star finally opened the final stage of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in the city's north.

The opening brings online more palliative care beds, more treatment beds and additional research laboratories.

But the cancer survivor says the centre needs to also be about enabling patients to be surrounded by people who know them and care about them.

"(People who) give you all the food you want, that give you a vodka if you want one," she said.

Newton-John said the marriage of the words "cancer" and "wellness" are important too.

"When you see that you think, 'I can go from cancer to wellness,'" she said.

Her big dream is that, one day, she can erase "cancer" from the centre's logo.

"It will be a wellness centre only because we'll find a cure for cancer."

19.00 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fmr Qld race boss worked for gambling firm

BOB Bentley doesn't think holding senior positions at Queensland Racing and a betting firm at the same time ever led to a conflict of interest.

Mr Bentley was the first witness called before the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry into horse, greyhound and harness racing industries under the former Labor government.

He was grilled on Thursday about his time as chairman of the racing body between 2002 and 2012, specifically because he was a Tatts Group director at the same time.

Counsel assisting James Bell QC said that, under a deal, Tatts paid to use Queensland Racing information for it's betting businesses until 2008.

Tatts then began to withhold fees which eventually amounted to $91 million.

Tatts' actions were raised with Queensland Racing chairman Mr Bentley, who sought advice on whether they were allowed.

He asked a Tatts director whether the firm's actions were legal and the director told Mr Bentley they were under the deal.

"I see nothing wrong with that," Mr Bentley told the inquiry.

"Where else was I going to ask."

Mr Bell responded: "You could ask a lawyer, who's representing the company (Queensland Racing) you're the chairman of."

Mr Bell also tabled a deed the former chairman had signed in 2011, which gave four Queensland Racing board members a substantial raise in entitlements, including waiving the notice period for their resignations.

All four received substantial payouts upon quitting the board days after the Liberal National Party came to power in 2012.

The deed gave Mr Bentley legal indemnity and stipulated that Queensland Racing would pay his legal fees.

Mr Bell questioned whether he had done that because he knew he'd gone too far with the board entitlements.

"We suspected that if ... the government had changed (after the election) then this very thing (an inquiry) may very well happen," Mr Bentley said.

"Our detractors (political opponents) are very skilled at this sort of thing."

At one point Mr Bentley explained how he'd sought legal advice to end speculation about a conflict of interest arising from him holding senior positions at Queensland Racing and Tatts simultaneously.

"I asked, 'let's put this issue to bed, let's get proper advice and do it'," Mr Bentley said.

Mr Bell replied: "Did that get it put it to bed?".

"Nothing in racing ever gets put to bed if someone's got a problem," Mr Bentley replied.

The inquiry is set to continue on Friday.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

WA premier braces for more school strikes

More than 20,000 people have come together to support an unprecedented teacher's strike across WA. Source: AAP

MORE than 20,000 people have come together to support an unprecedented teacher's strike across Western Australia.

And beleaguered Premier Colin Barnett has been warned it could be just the beginning of a potentially lengthy fight with unions over school funding.

Teachers, principals, education assistants, school support staff, parents and children flocked to a mass rally to protest job losses and funding reforms that unions claim will deprive schools of millions of dollars.

More than 60 schools across the state closed for the morning, with 23 rallies across WA adding their voices to the mass protest in Perth, despite teachers being threatened with having their pay docked for attending.

A defiant government continued to insist the strike was disruptive, unnecessary and unjustified - but still agreed to meet union leaders next week to listen to grievances.

"This campaign will keep running. It will keep growing. This government has to learn that it can't build stadiums at the expense of our children's education," Carolyn Smith from United Voice said.

"Colin Barnett and (education minister) Peter Collier continue to hide from the truth, but the community is determined - we're not going away."

Opposition leader Mark McGowan told the rally it was obvious the premier had a major fight on his hands to convince the public his plans to reform school funding was correct.

"I am looking at the thousands and thousands of people here today and I am thinking 'Mr Barnett, you picked the wrong people,'" Mr McGowan said.

"These are not reforms, these are cuts."

The day after WA lost its AAA credit rating from agency Standard and Poor's, Mr Barnett said there was no connection between the state's dwindling economic power and the decision to reshape education funding.

He lambasted Mr McGowan for talking down the state's schools.

"How can the Leader of the Opposition go out and talk about children suffering. What do you think this is, Bangladesh?," Premier Barnett said in parliament.

More than 5000 people attended similar stop work meetings in regional areas, including 2000 in Bunbury, 500 in Albany, 520 in Pinjarra and 200 in Port Hedland.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic crews face long factory fire fight

FIREFIGHTERS will work into the night to bring a large blaze at a Melbourne factory under control.

Fire broke out in the flooring factory at Dandenong South at about 6pm (AEST) on Thursday, sending thick smoke into nearby suburbs.

More than 100 CFA and MFB firefighters were working to bring the blaze under control and aerial appliances were attacking the flames from above, a CFA spokeswoman said.

"It is expected to be a protracted incident into the night, because once the fire is under control we have still got the blacking out and cleaning up to do," she said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established.

Residents in the nearby suburbs of Hallam and Hampton Park are being urged to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man charged over murder of Sydney father

A MAN has been charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of a Sydney father.

Doonside man Cheyne Duncan, 33, died in Westmead Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after he was attacked with a machete while walking his children home from school.

A 21-year-old man was on Thursday morning arrested over the attack and later charged with his murder.

Bail was refused and he's due before Blacktown Local Court on Friday.

Teddy bears, flowers and cards have been left near the site of the murder.

"I love you dad," says a note written by one of Mr Duncan's children.

Another man injured in the attack has been released from hospital.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

New US ambassador posts video welcome

Incoming US ambassador John Berry hopes to boost trade and investment between the two countries. Source: AAP

INCOMING United States ambassador John Berry has sent a video message to Australians, introducing himself as a nature lover who hopes to boost channels of trade and investment between the two countries.

Shown strolling through the National Zoological Park in Washington DC where he was once director, Mr Berry, 54, arrives in Canberra as a first-time diplomat having most recently been charged with heading up personnel management for the administration of President Barack Obama.

Openly gay, Mr Berry hails from Maryland and studied at the University of Maryland and Syracuse University.

"I love the outdoors," Mr Berry says in his transmission posted on the US Embassy's website.

"My spouse Curtis Yee is a triathlete from Hawaii who loves anything involving salt water and waves. We both can't wait to explore your beautiful country."

Mr Berry says he is the second generation of his family to serve America in the Pacific, after his father fought as a marine in the Solomon Islands and Cape Gloucester.

"As ambassador I hope to deepen our cooperation in science and conservation in addition to strengthening our strategic alliance and increasing our trade and investment," the diplomat said.

"The United States and Australia share a proud past and we hope for an even brighter future.

"I look forward to strengthening the friendship ... and learning more about your culture and history."

Mr Berry replaces Jeffrey Bleich, who returned to the US in early September after a four-year term in Canberra.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Not enough case workers to save Zoran

NEIGHBOURS and daycare staff repeatedly reported the suspected abuse of Zoran Ivanovski but case workers weren't able to intervene and potentially save the two-year-old's life because they didn't have the resources.

Zoran Ivanovski, who lived in Wollongong, died in August 2012 from multiple blunt force injuries to his head and body.

His mother Tamie Leanne Apps has been charged with his murder and was denied bail in July.

On Wednesday night, several current and former child care workers broke their silence on a tragic death that has become a focus for the NSW parliament.

They said Zoran's case had been discussed numerous times during several weeks but staff numbers were too low for a home visit.

"The managers ... could see that it was a case that needed to be allocated, they wanted to allocate it, but there wasn't any staff or capacity to do so," a case worker who wished to remain anonymous told the ABC.

"There were a lot of horrific circumstances to a lot of the reports," said Rob Bosevski who left the Family and Community Services department in 2012 after eight years.

"You would sit there shaking your head thinking 'we should be getting to all of these,' but you can't.

"That is a tragedy."

Neighbour Kira Akrivos told the ABC "everyone in the neighbourhood was worried about Zoran."

"He just didn't look right."

She and several other reported their concerns to police, who visited Zoran's home and reported their findings to welfare services.

Staff at a daycare centre also reported bruises on the boy's body on three separate occasions.

The department of Family and Community Services was notified as many as nine times about Zoran's injuries, the ABC reports.

But case workers weren't able to save Zoran.

"All children that fit criteria should be allocated should be responded to. Unfortunately you can't," Mr Bosevski said.

Case workers should be dealing with between six and eight complex matters simultaneously, he said.

"I know case workers were carrying loads of 12, 16, in out-of-home care, 25 or more."

"There is no physical way that you can get to everyone of those matters."

Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward was accused by the opposition on Wednesday of misleading parliament and spinning "a web of deceit" about caseworker numbers in Wollongong.

Following Zoran's death, Ms Goward told parliament not a single Wollongong worker had been cut.

But a series of internal emails show a drop in staff numbers at an office in Wollongong.

In June 2011 the Wollongong office had 43.9 fulltime equivalent but this had decreased to 32.7 by December last year.

The emails indicate staff were to be cut to 29 fulltime equivalent from January of this year.

The opposition has called on Ms Goward to resign and opposition leader John Robertson accused her of playing with the numbers.

"This minister can try and dress it up, she can mince her words," he told reporters.

"The fact is there has been a reduction from 44 to 33 staff in an 18-month period."

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Biden's niece arrested after scuffle

US Vice President Joe Biden's niece has been arrested after getting into a scuffle with police. Source: AAP

THE niece of Vice President Joe Biden is being accused of striking a New York City police officer.

Police said on Tuesday they took Caroline Biden into custody after responding to a report of a dispute at her Tribeca apartment.

Police said the 26-year-old scuffled with officers as they tried to break up a fight between her and her roommate. They said she lunged at an officer, struck another officer and resisted being handcuffed. They didn't say what the fight was about.

Biden was arrested on charges of obstructing governmental administration, harassment and resisting arrest. She was given notice to appear in court on October 29, and released.

The vice president's office declined to comment.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Oppn wants to cut aiport train ticket fee

The NSW Upper House will review the "station access fee" for Sydney airport. Source: AAP

THE NSW Upper House is set to examine whether the "station access fee" for Sydney's airport should be dropped, a move the opposition says would "slash" the cost of a train ticket.

Removing the $12.30 fee, which earns the government about $4 million a month, would increase patronage and alleviate congestion around the airport, opposition transport spokeswoman Penny Sharpe said.

"The roads around the airport will be at practical capacity by 2015," she said.

"I want to look into lowering the rail fare to increase patronage and deal with serious congestion on the roads around Sydney Airport."

A report from the inquiry is expected in February.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nth Korea won't co-operate with UN body

THE head of a UN human rights probe says he can't get answers from North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and his government is responding with slander.

Former Australian High Court justice Michael Kirby, who heads the UN commission examining North Korea's human rights record, said on Tuesday that his July 16 letter to the leader hasn't been answered, and the government has offered no evidence to contradict graphic testimony of human rights abuses in the secretive nation.

Kirby, a former judge in Australia's highest court, told the UN Human Rights Council that the commission it created in March nonetheless gathered testimony from dozens of victims and experts at public hearings in Seoul and Tokyo last month that has "given a face and voice to great human suffering."

For example, he said, the commission heard from a young man imprisoned from birth, who said he lived on rodents, lizards and grass and saw his mother and brother executed.

It also heard from a young woman who said she saw another female prisoner forced to drown her own baby in a bucket, Kirby said, and a man who said he was forced to help collect and burn the corpses of prisoners who died of starvation.

"The commission invited the authorities of Democratic People's Republic of Korea to attend the public hearings in Seoul and make representations, but received no reply," Kirby said.

"Instead, its official news agency attacked the testimony we heard as 'slander' against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, put forward by 'human scum'."

In a June 19 dispatch, the KCNA news agency also denounced the witnesses as "wild dogs in human form" who had become "the main player in the confrontation farce under the patronage of the south Korean puppet group and brigandish US imperialists".

"An ounce of evidence is worth far more than many pounds of insults and baseless attacks," Kirby told the 47-nation Council based in Geneva, which is the UN's top human rights body.

"So far, however, the evidence we have heard has largely pointed in one direction - and evidence to the contrary is lacking."

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man who defaced Queen's portrait in court

A FATHERS' rights campaigner has denied defacing a portrait of the Queen displayed in Westminster Abbey.

Tim Haries, 42, is alleged to have smuggled a can of spray paint into the abbey on June 13 before defacing the picture painted by Australian-born artist Ralph Heimans.

Appearing at London's Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, the Fathers4Justice campaigner pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing criminal damage of more than STG5000 ($A8584).

Haries, an electrician from South Yorkshire, was given conditional bail to return to the court for trial on January 6.

The case is expected to last one or two days.

The painting had been on display in the abbey's Chapter House for only a few weeks before it was vandalised with paint.

It was unveiled in London last year for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The oil on canvas, which measures 9ft by 11ft and depicts the Queen in the cacrarium of Westminster Abbey, also known as the Coronation Theatre, is valued at around STG160,000.

It shows her in a moment of solitary reflection, standing at the centre circle of the Cosmati pavement, on the exact spot where she was crowned.

Immediately after the damage was done, a picture was taken and the image uploaded to the internet.

Haries allegedly shouted "Fathers4Justice!" when he was arrested.

The artwork had to be removed from public display for repairs before going back on show in July.

Haries was supported by a number of Fathers4Justice campaigners of both sexes in the public gallery - many of them wearing purple - although the group said the act at Westminster Abbey was not an official protest.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Coppola, Domingo win Japanese arts prize

FILMMAKER Francis Ford Coppola and opera singer Placido Domingo are among five winners of a lucrative arts prize that has been dubbed the "Nobel Prize of the arts".

The Godfather director and the Spanish tenor are recipients of the Japan Art Association's Praemium Imperiale Awards, which come with a Y15 million ($A163,043) purse.

The awards are open to visual and performing artists - and architects - of any nationality. This year's other recipients, announced on Tuesday in London, are British sculptor Antony Gormley; British architect David Chipperfield; and Italian painter Michelangelo Pistoletto.

The winners will receive their awards from Japan's Prince Hitachi at a ceremony in Japan in October.

Previous winners of the prize, founded in 1989, include Italian screen star Sophia Loren and British actress Judi Dench.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

ALP members show strong support for Albo

The cheer from the outgoing deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese's supporters belted through the trade union hall in Sydney as he entered.

The member for Grayndler was there on Tuesday evening to launch his bid for the leadership of the federal Australian Labor Party.

Mr Albanese is competing against outgoing minister and Right faction powerbroker Bill Shorten for the job, the winner to be decided by a vote of rank-and-file members and caucus.

If he wins, Mr ALbanese reckons he can oust the newly-elected Coalition government in one term.

From the eruption of support in the room, it seems a couple of hundred NSW rank and file members and several senior current and former ALP MPs agree.

Outgoing health minister Tanya Plibersek, former NSW premier Nathan Rees, ALP national president Jenny McAllister and retiring former cabinet minister Greg Combet were among the members at the launch.

Mr Combet, who studied economics with Mr Albanese at Sydney University in the 1980s, told the crowd "he's the right leader for the Labor party in these times."

"When you've just lost an election, you really need to look for ... someone steeped in Labor tradition, someone true to Labor values, someone who'll fight," he said.

"Where else can you look but Anthony Albanese?"

The room lit up as Mr Albanese took the podium, praising the reformed leadership selection process as "opening up... the most significant decision that a political party can make."

He backed himself as being "up for this job", referring to the many portfolios he's held and his challenging role as leader of the House of Representatives in a minority government.

"I have the capacity, I had to deliver Bob Katter and Adam Bandt on the same platter."

Mr Albanese was careful to stick to a "civil debate about ideas, not personalities," agreed to by himself and Mr Shorten.

"(Bill Shorten's) a very good candidate and would make a very good leader of the Labor party," he told the crowd.

Mr Albanese is embarking on a three-city tour over the next three days and will be taking along his three word slogan "Vision. Unity. Strength." as he seeks wider support for his tilt at the ALP's top job.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Worst over in Vic baby illness mystery

More than a dozen babies in Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital have fallen ill to a mystery bug. Source: AAP

VICTORIAN Health Minister David Davis says the worst is over after more than a dozen babies in a hospital nursery came down with a mysterious infection.

Fifteen newborns being cared for in The Royal Women's Hospital's intensive and special care nursery were quarantined when the illness emerged nine days ago.

Two babies had to have surgery for an inflammatory bowel condition.

Mr Davis said the outbreak was a challenge that had been well-managed.

"An infection in neonatal has been worked through and followed up with the support of the chief health officer of Victoria," he said.

"We are now eight days since any further infection. This can happen from time-to-time but has been handled appropriately and carefully."

Mr Davis said state opposition allegations that funding cuts were to blame for stress in neonatal units were false and bed numbers were at record numbers.

He said adequate bed numbers in neonatal units was a long-term challenge for government that was separate to the infection.

"From time-to-time there are peaks in demand (of beds) and there is pressure. However the state government is working to ensure their sufficient capacity," he said.

A hospital spokeswoman said there was no danger to new arrivals and that the babies are getting better.

Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said she was concerned about the stress on neonatal care units across the state.

"There is continuing pressure put on those units and we know that there has been an issue this week with 20 babies still being barrier nursed," Ms Fitzpatrick said.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

London mayor Johnson backs UK fracking

London Mayor Boris Johnson says wind farms are a "disease" and the UK should embrace nuclear power. Source: AAP

WIND farms are a "disease" which have blighted Britain's countryside and the country should embrace nuclear power and fracking to meet its energy needs, London Mayor Boris Johnson says.

Johnson accused the energy companies of "ruthlessly exploiting" a shortage of supply as he insisted the UK must stop "pussy-footing around" and start exploiting shale gas reserves.

The senior Tory said turning to a new generation of nuclear plants and fracking would cut energy bills and boost the economy.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday he said he was shocked by the number of wind turbines he saw on a recent drive to Scotland.

"It is a good 20 years since I last drove all the way to Scotland, and in the interim something unbelievable has been done - in our name - to our green, pleasant and precious countryside," he said.

"I mean the windmills, the turbines - whatever they are called. I mean the things that look like some hideous Venusian invasion, marching over the moors and destroying the dales; the colossal seaside toys plonked erratically across our ancient landscape; the endless parade of waving white-armed old lunatics, gesticulating feebly at each other across the fields and the glens.

"They seemed to be everywhere, and I asked myself, when were we consulted? Was there a referendum? Did someone ever warn the British people that these moaning seagull slicers were going to be erected on some of the most sensational scenery that God ever called into being?

"The answer is that no one warned us, because no one really took the decision to do it. It just sort of happened. We have contracted these mills like a disease, because of our pathetic apology for an energy policy."

Claiming that the turbines would not meet the UK's needs he blamed the last Labour administration for failing to get to grips with the issue, leaving the UK facing an energy crisis.

"It is time to take the fight to the energy companies, who have been ruthlessly exploiting their position - and the best answer is an enormous increase in supply. We can do it, and we can do it in a way that is as clean and green as any technology on earth," he said.

"First we need to grow some collective cojones and launch the nuclear energy programme that this country has too long delayed. Do you know how much of their juice the French get from their nuclear programme? Almost 80%. They are laughing at us - us, the nation that split the atom!"

He added: "Next, we must stop pussy-footing around, and get fracking. Even if we have 100s of fracking pads, they are nothing like as ugly as windmills, and they can be dismantled as soon as the gas is extracted."

Mr Johnson said shale was "clean and green" and would help the UK secure its own energy supply without relying on gas from countries such as Russia.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trekkers' attackers captured in PNG

FOUR men suspected in the ambush and murder of two guides leading a group of Australian trekkers in Papua New Guinea have been captured by villagers, police say.

The four were captured on Sunday morning near the town of Wau, a five-and-a-half-hour walk from the Black Cat Track in PNG's Morobe province, where local guides Kuia Kerry and Matthew Lasong were killed when they were attacked by six armed men.

Several Australians and six PNG men were injured in the attack.

Police said on Sunday one suspect was caught in the town of Salamaua while the other three were caught in Wau.

"I believe it is only a matter of time before the other two are captured and brought in," Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga said in a statement.

"Whilst I encourage the local community to continue to assist police capture the remaining attackers, I urge you not to take the law into your own hands.

"Let the law deal with them."

Mr Kulunga also confirmed reports a man was attacked and killed by relatives of one of the two murdered porters.

He said the relatives accused the man of harbouring the six criminals and attacked him.

Police intervened and flew him to the nearest health centre but he died from loss of blood.

"There will be an investigation and the persons responsible for this recent death will be arrested. No one has the right to take anyone's life," Mr Kulunga said.

Police have sent 30 additional personnel to the area to capture the remaining fugitives.

"The commitment of the villagers in helping police bring in the four suspects speaks volumes for our people's genuineness and hospitality as well," he said.

"The attack was an isolated and one-off incident and not a reflection of the generally friendly people of the Morobe Province."

Meanwhile the survivors of Tuesday's machete attack have set up a trust fund for the local porters who were injured in the ambush.

Mackay man Nick Bennett was injured when he was hit on the head with a gun.

On Sunday, he told ABC radio all the trekkers had returned home and were coming to terms with the horrific experience.

But he says while the trekkers are traumatised, their injuries are insignificant compared with what had happened to the porters, some of whom had limbs hacked off and would never walk again.

"We've set up a trust fund and we're asking people ... just to provide a few dollars into an account that we've got set up to help them get the services that they need," he said.

"We've made a commitment to ensuring that we support those porters and their families who've absolutely been devastated by this.

"We really need help and we're appealing to people to be generous. Anything - a peso, a dollar, a pound - would be helpful right now for these guys."

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Colorado floods leave hundreds missing

EMERGENCY workers involved in a massive effort to rescue stranded flood victims in Colorado, where more than 500 people are still unaccounted for, are bracing for a fresh pounding from storms.

Officials said efforts to locate those in need of help were hampered by flood damage to many mobile phone towers.

New flash floods were expected to inundate the area, which thousands were forced to evacuate.

Raging floodwaters in the city of Boulder, already confirmed to have killed at least four people, apparently claimed the life of a fifth on Saturday - a 60-year-old woman swept away in the torrent.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter that the woman was "missing presumed dead", after floodwaters destroyed her house, and officials warned the toll will likely climb further.

"There might be further loss of life," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle told reporters on Sunday. "It's certainly a high probability.... With an army of folks and an air show, we're hoping to reach everyone as soon as possible."

But some additional help was on the way, with President Barack Obama declaring a major disaster in Colorado and ordering federal aid to support state and local efforts.

"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the White House said.

And the Wyoming National Guard was helping the evacuation effort after Governor Matt Mead activated five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 20 crew members, the state's military department said.

In the disaster zone, helicopters circled above submerged houses in a search for survivors in the western US state, with hundreds still missing.

About 350 people were unaccounted for in Larimer County alone, from where about 475 people were evacuated, according to the sheriff's office.

In neighbouring Boulder County, 231 people were unaccounted for, according to CNN, though authorities cautioned that the numbers were fluctuating.

"It is no doubt an epic event," Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway told The Denver Post. "It is a once in 500 years or 1000 years situation."

Search and rescue teams are being deployed to assess the situation and contact stranded residents.

The US National Guard provided seven helicopters to help get people out of danger.

About 1200 residents were pulled out of the Pinewood Springs area by the National Guard and Fort Carson personnel, state authorities said on Twitter.

But many others are still awaiting rescue, which authorities said could take days for some.

Impassable roads forced authorities to use a helicopter to evacuate 200 residents from Jamestown, northwest of Boulder, according to news reports.

Residents' furry friends were also stranded by the torrential rains.

"Our victims' advocates told me tonight there were almost as many pets as people getting off the evacuation helicopters today," the Larimer County Sheriff's Office tweeted.

Officials said there were widespread power outages as streets became raging rivers after the state received months' worth of rain in just a few days.

Rain began pelting the state earlier this week, in Boulder, which saw 18.3 centimetres of precipitation in about 15 hours beginning from Wednesday night, with more downpours likely over the weekend.

Pictures from helicopter cameras showed heavy rain had reduced the towns of Jamestown, Lyons and Longmont to little more than islands, with ready-to-eat meals being dropped to stranded, anxious residents below.

18.59 | 0 komentar | Read More