NO, NOT THE OIL! #124 (3/3)
R Kym Horsell
Canberra. The number of Aussies treated for the most common forms of
skin cancer has increased by more than a 3rd since 1995 and has
doubled over the past 2 decades, according to Cancer Council figures.
The most dangerous but least common form of skin cancer is melanoma,
which around 8500 Aussies are diagnosed with and almost 1000 die from
each y. The 2 most common forms are basal cell carcinoma and squamous
cell carcinoma. All are mainly caused by overexposure to UV radiation.
For skin cancer patient Brian Moore, a small sore on his ear was found
to be an aggressive skin cancer which had developed roots.
There was no alternative but to immediately remove it, replacing the
18 mm hole with a skin graft. He was lucky it hadn't spread further.
"We had to remove part of the cartilage of the ear," said Dr Tas
Lipscombe from the Skin and Cancer Foundation. "If neglected it could
enter further into the ear, they can track through the ear canal into
the cranial cavity; they can even track along nerves."
Although classified as non-melanoma skin cancers, such lesions, if
they spread, kill 200 Aussies a y.
The 1st new non-melanoma skin cancer statistics released in 7 years
show that 374,000 Aussies between the age of 14 and 70 were treated
for at least one non-melanoma skin cancer in 2002. The majority are
over 50 y old. People like Brian Moore, who missed the "Slip Slop
Slap" campaigns.
"In my early teens right through to I was 34, I was a lifesaver in the
Cronulla areas," said Brian Moore.
Like many people, Brian didn't think to put sunscreen on the inside of
the ear.
"Since then I've been involved in truck driving and that's the ear
that's nr the window." he said.
The vast majority of these cancers occur on the head and neck, which
specialists say highlights the need to be vigilant about wearing a hat
at all time, particularly with news that the depletion in the ozone
layer is seen as a major factor in these rising rates.
According to Andrew Penman from the NSW Cancer Council, an annual 2%
increase in UV concentration is changing our climate, which means over
the last 10 y, SYD's become more like Bris and MEL's become more like SYD.
And to those teens, who according to a recent survey are still putting
fashion before sun safety, Brian has this warning.
"Everyone wears the baseball caps but they don't cover the ears!" he said.
Dr Lipscombe advises if you've got anything suspicious such as a
bleeding sore that's not healing or a painful nodule, see a good GP or
a dermatologist.
Brazil seeks to show coffee's health benefits
Costa do Sauipe, Brazil (Reuters). Brazil, the world's No 1 coffee
producer, hopes to convince people to drink up -- and ease a global
crisis caused by oversupply -- by proving that coffee is good for you.
The country that offers school children "coffee breaks," plans to try
to show that coffee can help reduce heart disease, countering the
conventional wisdom that coffee causes health problems including
anxiety and hypertension.
The Brazilian govt is funding a study of 200,000 doctors to see if
there is a link between heart disease and coffee consumption.
Professor Darcy Lima, who is leading the study, said it would make
doctors' aware of the benefits of coffee.
"It's like the discovery that aspirin helped prevent heart attacks,"
said Lima, a professor at the Neurology Institute of the Fed Uni of
Rio de Janeiro.
He added that coffee made people alert and happy, noting the success
of a "coffee break" program in Brazilian schools in which children
were offered cups of milky coffee.
Internat'l Coffee Organisation Director Nestor Osorio said Brazil's
efforts to present a healthy image for coffee, as well as improvements
in quality, would boost consumption.
"It could serve as a model for other producer countries," Osorio told
Reuters.
A coffee industry survey ID'd health concerns as the main
barrier to raising consumer demand.
Osorio, a Colombian, noted that Colombian coffee consumption stagnated
for many y at around 1.4 mn 130-pound bags, while in Brazil demand had
risen by more than 5 mn bags to 13.6 mn in the past decade making it
the world's No 2 consumer.
Brazil is due in Sep 2004 to host an ICO summit -- with the Press of
Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and Brazil -- to discuss coffee promotion
and other steps to end a 5-y global coffee crisis which has brought
poverty to mn of coffee farmers.
Cuba produces key synthetic vaccine for children
Havana (Reuters). Cuban researchers have developed the 1st synthetic
vaccine against a bacteria that causes pneumonia and meningitis, a
breakthrough aimed at lowering the cost of immunising children in
poorer countries.
The vaccine protects against haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacteria
that causes upper respiratory infections, mainly in children up to 5 y
of age. The disease is a leading cause of meningitis, an infection of
the brain and spinal cord coverings that can cause brain damage,
deafness or death.
The research on the new vaccine, which has already been tested and put
into production in Cuba, will be presented on Wed to experts from the
world over at a biotechnology congress in Havana.
This is the 1st vaccine for humans made with a chemically produced antigen,
Cuba says. The available, conventional vaccine is made using a difficult
and more costly process of growing antigens in a bacterial culture.
"It took us 6 years," said Dr Vicente Verez, head of the Uni of
Havana's Synthetic Antigens Laboratory.
"But what could be more precious for society than to have healthy 2-mo
babies," he said.
Poor nations that depend on multinat'l pharmaceutical companies for
the vaccine -- now costing $3 a dose -- will now have a less expensive
alternative, Verez said.
The disease has been almost erased in the US, the US Centers for
Disease Control said. But it remains a problem in developing countries
where the cost of the vaccine has been a barrier to widespread immunisation.
Clinical trials conducted in the central Cuban province of Camaguey,
first on adult volunteers, then on 4-yo children and finally on
babies, showed a 99.7% success rate in developing the required antibodies.
The technology for the new vaccine was patented in 1999 by the
University of Ottawa and the University of Havana. The Canadians
discovered how to simplify crucial chemical reactions and Cuba applied
the method on a larger scale, Verez said.
Cuba could not afford the conventional vaccine when it appeared a
decade ago. The Cuban economy was in deep crisis after the collapse of
its communist ally the Soviet Union. So Cuba turned to its own medical
and biotechnology industry, one of the most advanced in the Third World.
Havana has invested $mns in the industry since the 1980s, achieving
major successes such as the discovery of a recombinant vaccine for
meningitis B, which has been used in Latin American countries and was
licensed to GlaxoSmithKline for sale in Europe and possibly the US. It
has also developed a hepatitis B vaccine that is exported to more than
30 countries.
Haemophilus influenzae type B is the main cause of almost half of the
infections in children under 5 in the world and kills 500,000 children
a y, mostly in developing countries, according to UNICEF.
Quebecers pay cash for doctor bills while travelling in rest of Canada
Quebec (CP). Janet Stavinga was a young mother in a new city when she lost
her sight and found a big crack in Canada's universal health-care system.
Stavinga had to work out payment plans with Ontario doctors to cover
the $1,000 bill she rang up on her way to recovery from her major illness.
She was not an overseas traveller or among the mn of uninsured
Americans. Stavinga was a Montrealer who had just moved to Ontario and
still had a Quebec health card. She fell into a gap in the system that
leaves Quebecers without full health-care coverage in the rest of Canada.
"It was a tremendous shock to face this major illness and it was
compounded by having to pay up front for treatment," said Stavinga,
who regained her sight, recovered from her illness in 1990 and went on
to become an Ottawa city councillor.
"You believe there is this safety net to catch you. It is astounding
to me now that 14 y later little progress has been made," she said
from Ottawa.
Quebecers often have to pay up front for doctor visits in other
provinces and later recover a portion of the cost from their
provincial govt. Quebec has long opted out of an agreement among
provinces that guarantees most Canadians receive equivalent medical
coverage at no charge when they visit or move to other parts of Canada.
Quebec is, however, part of an inter-provincial arrangement to cover
any in-hospital care.
One estimate says it would cost the province $6 mn to fill the gap,
but so far Prem Jean Charest's new Liberal govt, like its Parti
Quebecois predecessor, has refused.
Health Min Philippe Couillard has no plans to change the policy, said
rep Cathy Rouleau. The province maintains that Quebecers are well
treated in the rest of Canada in accordance with the Canada Health Act.
"Among people in Quebec, the policy is quite well known and quite
evenly applied," she said.
But Dr Charles Shaver, an Ottawa specialist in internal medicine, said
Quebecers are treated as "second-class citizens" when they seek
medical treatment in other parts of Canada.
"It's one of those things that Canadians take for granted," said
Shaver, who has long pushed the Quebec govt to change the system.
"But this is one area where we have really let people down. 25% of
Canadians are treated like second-class citizens when they go to other
parts of Canada."
Along with Quebecers who travel or study in other provinces and get
sick, about 33,000 Quebecers who move to other parts of Canada each
year can face the same problem because they must wait 3 m to switch to
the system of the new province.
Quebec will usually refund some of the money to patients treated
elsewhere in Canada, but it will only pay according to its own fee
schedule, which is lower than some other provinces such as Ontario.
That usually amounts to 50 to 90% of the cost of care outside the
province depending on the illness and treatment, said Shaver. The
patient covers the rest.
Canadians from outside Quebec sometimes face a similar problem when
they travel to the province but the situation is less common. Quebec
doctors usually accept other Canadian health cards because they do not
suffer a financial loss, Shaver said.
Quebec paid about $82 mn for medical treatment of Quebecers in other
provinces in 2002-2003. Shaver said it would cost the Quebec govt $6
mn more to give Quebecers the same portable, universal coverage as
other Canadians.
The current policy is a violation of the Canada Health Act which
guarantees Canadians portable health care coverage, Shaver said. A
rep for fed Health Min Anne McLellan said the fed govt is concerned
about the situation but has no plans to take the province to court.
"We prefer to see it resolved through discussion and by dealing with
them," said rep Alex Swann.
Meanwhile, the Quebec govt advises Quebecers to buy extra private
health insurance when they travel in the rest of Canada.
Many Quebecers are taking that advice, resorting to insurance that
most Canadians only get when they travel abroad.
"It's more and more known that if you are out of the province and you
have an accident, everything is not covered," said Claire Roy of CAA
Quebec. "It's more and more popular. It's peace of mind."
While she did not have statistics, Roy said CAA sells insurance for
about $50 to Quebecers who are only spending a few wk in other parts
of Canada.
Shaver pointed out that Quebecers with health conditions cannot easily
qualify for extra private health insurance.
"And why should they have to?" he said. "They're paying for it already.
I don't think anybody should have to subsidise the Quebec govt."
Diseased body parts on cigarette packs by 2005
Canberra. Pictures of cancers and diseased body parts will begin
appearing on cigarette packets to stop people taking up smoking. The
Fed Govt has won the support of states and territories to implement
the radical plan by early 2005. The idea is based on a similar model
in Canada, which the Govt says resulted in a 3.5% decrease in smoking
in its 1st y. The shock tactics are the latest ploy from Govt to stop
people lighting up. But SA Health Min Lea Stevens says while the
preliminary research is encouraging, not all smokers are swayed by the
images. "All groups except long term smokers, particularly males,
reacted strongly," she said. Tumours and diseased hearts are expected
to start appearing on cigarette packets by the start of 2005.
US House votes to block spam
Washington (AFP). The US House of Reps has overwhelmingly voted to
curb the spread of unsolicited Internet junk mail.
By a vote of 392 to 5, the lower US chamber approved the Can-Spam Act
of 2003 that will allow mn of Americans to block unsolicited
commercial e-mail traffic or so-called "spam" that has become at best
a nuisance and at worst a threat to mn of Internet users around the world.
The Senate passed a similar piece of legislation last m and is largely
expected to accept changes introduced in the House bill.
Both pieces of legislation, which largely target junk mails containing
sexual content, will now have to be amalgamated into a joint
Senate-House bill.
"For the 1st time during the Internet-era, American consumers will
have the ability to say no to spam," said Republican Representative
Billy Tauzin, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
"What's more, parents will be able to breathe easier knowing that they
have the ability to prevent pornographic spam from reaching defenceless,
unsuspecting children," he pointed out.
The bill gives Internet users the right to opt-out of all commercial
e-mail traffic, prohibits the sending of fraudulent spam, and
introduces stiff fines for illegal spam messages.
In addition, people who flood the Internet with unsolicited advertisements
can be sued under the legislation for damages of up to $US2 mn, an
amount that can be tripled to $US6 mn for intentional violations.
Pornographic e-mails will have to carry special electronic labelling
so they could be easily filtered out by personal computers, and the
Govt will be required to set up a "do not spam" registry that will
legally bar spam distributors from sending their fare to its
participants.
{{
6 pm
Attackers have killed 2 US soldiers on Sun as their car stood in
traffic in the Iraqi city of Mosul.
One US soldier was killed and 2 were wounded when their convoy was hit
by an explosive device in the town of Baquba just N of Baghdad on Sun,
a US military rep said.
An AUS woman has died in Istanbul as a result of last wk's bombings there.
}}
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Tue, 25 Nov 2003.
Markets
NY. The DJIA soared 120 pts to close at 9,749. Gold lost 3.07 to
trade around $US391.48/oz. Oil lost a few c to $US32.18/bbl. In
London the FTSE added 63 pts to close at 4,382. The German Dax closed
up 95 pts to end at 3,737.
Death toll in Moscow fire rises to 36
Moscow. The death toll from a fire in a uni dorm has risen to 36.
140 other people were injured in the blaze that trapped the foreign
students in the 5-storey building. The fire is believed to have been
started by an electrical malfunction.
New leadership takes charge in Georgia
Tbilisi. Georgia's new leaders have taken charge and interim president
Nino Burdzhanadze has met influential security chiefs after their
self-styled "velvet revolution" toppled Eduard Shevardnadze. Chief
opp'n leader Mikhail Saakashvili, who led the protests which forced
the former president to resign, kept a low profile for most of the
day. Shevardnadze's 11-y rule ended on Sun after 3 wks of turbulent
protests in the Caucasus state.
Bush signs $1/2 bn defence bill
Washington. US Pres Bush Jr has signed a record $A556 bn defence bill
that incl a 4% pay raise for troops as the Iraq occupation strains
soldiers and their families. Bush told those attending the signing
ceremony at the Pentagon that in this time of war, the US military is
facing greater sacrifice. The Admin has extended military deployments
in Iraq to a full y and has begun mustering 10s of 1000s of regular
and reserve troops for rotation into Iraq next y. The plan actually
will reduce the numbers of US troops in Iraq.
Explosion reported in Baghdad
Baghdad. Witnesses have reported an explosion nr a US military patrol
in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. They say the blast happened 300 m
from a disused tobacco factory being used as a camp by US troops in
the city's N Habibiya district. A news photographer says US troops,
incl 5 armoured vehicles, have cordoned off the scene and a chopper is
hovering overhead.
End of Ramadan celebrated in Baghdad
Baghdad. Iraqis have begun celebrating the end of the Muslim holy m of
Ramadan. However, festivities have been subdued by intense US
security after the grisly killings of American soldiers at the
weekend. 1000s of Sunni Muslims have gathered at one of Sunni Islam's
holiest shrines, to pray and participate in the Eid al-Fitr, the
celebration that marks the end of a m of dawn-to-dusk fasting.
Care AUS withdraws from Iraq
Canberra. Aid group Care Australia has pulled its foreign staff out of
Baghdad and suspended its operations following a rocket attack on its
Baghdad HQ last Fri. Care chief Robert Glasser says the attack
occurred around midnight local time when no-one was in the building,
but its 70 locally-employed staff have been told to stay home. Mr
Glasser says no-one was killed or injured by Care has withdrawn its 6
foreign staff -- 4 of them Aussies -- until security is reviewed. [In
other reports, Care also revealed it had received a "communique" after
the attack, saying there would be attacks without further noticed
after the end of Ramadan].
UN keeps Iraq sanctions panel alive
NY. The UNSC has voted to keep alive its committee monitoring UN
economic sanctions on Iraq. However at the same time it's prevented
the panel from watching out for possible arms embargo violations.
Expressing concern about the level of violence in Iraq, 4 council
members -- France, Germany, Mexico and Russia -- argued the committee
should have been authorised to monitor both the UN arms embargo and
the economic sanctions. But they still voted to keep the panel alive.
W Af calls for Ivory Coast peacekeepers
NY. W Af officials have lobbied the UNSC to send UN peacekeepers to
help preserve a fragile peace deal in the troubled Ivory Coast.
Ghana's For Min Nan Akufo-Addo made the request on behalf of the
Economic Community of W African States, which says it's reached its
limit with 1,500 troops in Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast, the world's top
producer of cocoa, has been in deadlock since rebels pulled out of the
govt of Pres Laurent Gbagbo in Sep.
Washington sniper gets death
Virginia Beach. A US jury has decided John Allen Muhammad should be
executed for masterminding the sniper attacks that terrorised the
Washington DC area for 3 wks last autumn. As the verdict was read,
Muhammad maintained the same unflinching demeanour he had shown t'out
most of the trial. After 2 days Jurors send word after 5 hrs of
deliberation they had reached a decision. They convicted the 43 yo
army veteran of murder 1 wk ago before hearing testimonies in the
sentencing phase.
Colombian rebels release 2 hostages
Valledupar. Colombian Marxist rebels have released 2 kidnapped
European backpackers, and promised to free 5 remaining captives before
Xmas. German Reinhilt Weigel and Spaniard Asier Huegun embraced as
they clambered on to a Red Cross chopper which landed in a secret
jungle clearing. The Nat'l Liberation Army, a 5,000-strong
Cuban-inspired group known by its Spanish acronym ELN, still holds 4
Israelis and a Brit.
Govt excision bill overturned
Canberra. The govt says the opp'n is soft on border protection after
the Senate last night moved to quash a govt bill that would remove
1000s of islands from Australia's migration zone. The govt has moved
to retrospectively remove the islands after 14 Turkish Kurds arrived
at Melville Is, N of Darwin, last m. PM John Howard says the Senate
vote shows Labor is soft on border protection. Dems leader Andrew
Bartlett says the govt is being hypocritical. Opp'n rep Kevin Rudd
says the only message the govt's policy has sent people smugglers is
they get a free ride back to Indonesia, courtesy the RAN, if they
attempt to land in AUS.
Indonesian fishing boat falls off the Earth
Canberra. An Indonesian fishing boat detected off the NT coast has
left Australia's fishing zone. The crew of an Aussie fishing boat
reported the illegal Indonesian vessel to Customs late last night. A
Customs rep says a navy vessel searched the area off Cape Wessel but
couldn't find the Indon boat. He says a Coastwatch plane will fly
over the area today, but it's likely the boat has returned to
Indonesian waters. The rep says illegal Indon fishing vessels aren't
uncommon in the area at this time of y.
Ansett employees finally win entitlements
Melbourne. Former Ansett employees are set to get an extra 42 c in the
dollar on their outstanding settlements under a deal to settle
long-running litigation over the airline's assets. The agreement has been
announced in the Fed Court in MEL. It involves the Commonwealth agreeing
to defer its claim on $67 mn owed to it by the airline's administrators.
Latest sheep shipment still in doubt
Melbourne. Aussie officials say Kuwaiti authorities are still
deciding if they'll accept 70,000 sheep after animal rights activists
put pig meat in their feed last wk. The contamination was carried out
by Animal Liberation at a feedlot at Portland in Vic's SW. The sheep
were due to be loaded onto a live export carrier last Thu, but AQIS
officers refused to issue an export license.
Business confidence still on the rise
Sydney. The Sensis business index has found that small and medium
enterprises are increasingly confident about the Aussie economy, with
perceptions at the highest point since 1993. It's found positive
perceptions of the economy have jumped 17 pts in the Oct Q to 56%.
Sensis chief economist Steven Shepherd says the rise is the 4th
consecutive Q of improvement.
Sponges may be new indigenous industry
Darwin. Bath, cosmetic and painting sponges could soon be a $multi-mn
economic lifeline for communities in remote Arnhem land. Scientists
will this wk visit coastal communities along the top of the NT to
canvas the potential for cultivating sea sponges for commercial
harvest. Scientist Carsten Wolff says AUS Inst of Marine Science
researchers hope to ID and test potential sea sponge species during
the 10-day expedition from Nhulumbuy to Darwin for harvest.
Methane emissions stabilise: CSIRO
Canberra. CSIRO scientists say there's been a halt in the increase in
the greenhouse gas methane in the atm, with the prospect it could even
start to decrease. The results come from the CSIRO and Bureau of Met
greenhouse gas monitoring facility at Cape Grim in Tasmania. Dr Paul
Fraser, a chief research scientist at the CSIRO Atm Research section,
says methane is the 2nd-most important greenhouse gas, regarded as 23
times more potent than CO2.
Dead whales on Tassie W coast
Hobart. More than 100 dead whales have been found on a remote beach on
Tasmania's W coast. Env Min Bruan Green [!] has told parliament that
staff from his dept are on their way to the mass stranding site S of
Stahan. He says the 103 short finned pilot whales found on a beach by
an abalone diver yesterday have apparently been dead for some time.
Mr Green says it's very sad, and follows a similar event in NZ only 1 wk ago.
Young drivers report speeding, drug-taking
Adelaide. A new survey has found that 1/5 of young Aussies admit to
having driven while under the influence of illegal drugs, and 1/4 say
they break speed limits most of the time. The survey by insurance
company AAMI has also found more than 77% of drivers aged under 25
have used hand-held phones while driving. Also 72% of respondents
agree that young drivers are too impatient, drive too fast and are rude.
Bumper Xmas spending predicted
Melbourne. Happy Aussie consumers are expected to spend more than $27
bn on Xmas shopping this y. A survey by the AUS Retailers Assoc has
found Xmas retail turnover is expected to jump by more than 5% this y.
Assoc chief exec Stan Moore says the survey reflects high consumer
confidence in the economy. Another survey by the assoc indicates the
5 most popular Xmas gifts will be CDs, books, toys, clothing and cosmetics.
Nat'l coal miners strike being considered
Sydney. The miners' union will decide today whether they'll call a
nat'l coal ind'y strike. The possibilities of a strike was raised
last wk as the CFMEU planned an industrial campaign against what it
said was an erosion of safety standards in the coal industry. CFMEU
mining president Tony Maher says unless they receive a public
commitment from the NSW and Qld govts to improve mine safety and
improve prosecutions, then they have no choice but to begin a nat'l
campaign of action.
Qld Prem happy with schoolies 2003
Brisbane. Qld Prem Peter Beattie says genuine schoolies on the GC has
remained well-behaved despite 28 arrests and damage to a unit complex
o'night. Mr Beattie says 151 people were arrested during the first 4
days, but only 44 of them were school leavers. He says he's generally
happy with schoolies' behaviour, but he told parliament that last
night wasn't too good. In a crowd at Surfers Paradise numbering
around 8,000, 38 males were arrested and 18 of those were school leavers.
American system "sensible" for AUS: Min
Canberra. Fed Transp Min John Anderson says harmonising Australia's
air traffic control with the US' system is "sensible". The Nationals
leader is playing down fears of some pilots and air traffic controller
that airspace reforms to take effect on Thu will increase safety
risks. Mr Anderson says the Australian industry has been telling him
for y that it needs improvements. Pilots' groups and controllers say
Australia's 50 yo system is effectively being replaced by an inferior one.
Markets
Sydney (close). The ASX closed firmer today, as resources led the
march higher after gains on offshore markets o'night. The All Ords
added 22 pts to end at 3,197. In Japan, the Nikkei added 107 pts to
end at 9,960. The Hang Seng soared 160 pts to 12,008.
{{
2 am
French Pres Jacques Chirac is in London for the first talks with PM
Tony Blair since the start of GWII. Although France is still suspicious
about the US/Brit alliance, and wants power transferred to an Iraqi
govt ASAP, it has signalled it wants to move on. M Chirac has called
for a unified approach in Europe to combat the threat of terrorism.
Al Arabia has been banned in Iraq by the Governing Council. The ban
comes after it broadcast a tape allegedly from Saddam Hussein 8 days
ago in which the deposed leader called on Iraqis to attack members of
the Council. The Council has accused both al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera
of being openly hostile to the Iraqi govt and inciting murder.
The acting Pres of Georgia says new elections will be held within 45
days. Speaking on TV, she thanked the armed forces for helping
overthrow Shevardnadze. She called on the country to now return to
normal. PBS News Hour says Colin Powell and Igor Ivanov had prev
agreed on a "coordinated strategy". Yesterday, Ivanov had told
Shevardnadze "the game is up". Today Saakashvili said he appreciated
the courageous steps Shevardnadze took in the end. Germany has
offered asylum to the former Pres, but he said he loved his country
too much to leave it. Opp'n leaders have given guarantees there will
be no reprisals against any member of the former govt or its supporters.
India has given a cautious welcome to Pakistan's unilateral offer of a
ceasefire along the Kashmiri border. A rep for the Indian For Min'y
says India is working out a full response to the offer, and says it
will be positive. He said India would offer its own ceasefire along a
key glacier, to the N of the line of control.
6 am
Oil is trading around $US32.18/bbl. The AUD has fallen below the 72 US
c level.
Midday.
One of 2 bodies returned from Laos is reportedly the brother of Dem
Presid'l hopeful, Howard Dean. An Australian and an American were
kidnapped by the Pathet Lao in the mid 1970s, and it's believed they
were later killed by the NVA. Their remains left Vientiane yesterday.
Sydney. The Australian share market remained in a buoyant mood at
midday following a strong rally on Wall St o'night. At 12.15 the All
Ords was 27 pts higher at 3,203.
The NAB's Frank Cicutto has moved into 4th spot on the nation's pay
scale, earning $7.8 mn this y. Shareholders are now calling on the
bank chief's salary to be linked with performance.
11 pm
Iraqi insurgents have released video tape of their missile attack on
an Airbus leaving Baghdad airport.
There have been dramatic developments in the inquest into the death of
baby Jaidyn Leskie. The court has been told of confessions made to 3
prison inmates by the chief suspect. But in court today, a current
inmate has refused to give evidence. He also declined to confirm that
his family has been threatened. Other witnesses claim they were told
the baby had been injured when a car being worked on had collapsed. One
said the suspect confessed to giving the baby a drug and later beating
him with a crowbar when he wouldn't' stop crying. Expert witnesses
have already said the baby's liver showed signs of a drug that was
given to the baby shortly before he died. The drug was allegedly
abused in the Moe area, and had a side-effect of inducing drowsiness.
}}
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Wed, 26 Nov 2003.
King Tut is re-discovered by Howard Carter.
Markets
NY. Despite new growth data showing a booming economy, the US markets
have closed mixed. The DJIA closed up 14 pts at 9,762. The Nasdaq
closed down. Gold lost 2 bits to trade around $US391.25/oz. In
London, the FTSE added 6 pts to end at 4,389. The German Dax lost 4
pts to close at 3,733.
18 die of Ebola in NW Congo
Brazzaville. An outbreak of Ebola has killed 18 people in NW Congo
Republic, where the virus killed 120 people earlier this y. 164
people have come into contact with the deadly disease around Mbomo,
some 700 km NW of the C Af nation's capital Brazzaville and just
across the border from Gabon. Teams from Congo Republic's health
ministry, the WHO and aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres are in the
Mbomo region trying to break the chain of contamination.
Gunmen attack Haitian opp'n leader
Port au Prince. A gunman in Haiti has shot and wounded an opp'n leader
whose radio stn has become increasingly critical of Haitian Pres
Jean-Bertrand Aristide. 2 men climbed over the wall of Jean-Robert
Lalane's home in the N city of Cap-Haitien as he was taking his
morning shower. A rep for Lalane's opp'n coal'n, the N District
Front, says he's in a stable condition in hospital. 42 yo Lalane owns
Radio Maxima, which has called for Aristide's resignation.
Gunmen attack Nablus mayor
Nablus. Palestinian officials say gunmen have fired at a car carrying
the mayor of the Palestinian city of Nablus in an apparent
assassination attempt that left him unhurt but killed his brother.
The mayor, Ghassan Shaka, is a moderate member of Pres Yassar Arafat's
Fatah faction and the Palestinian parliament. Local officials say it's
likely Palestinian gunmen carried out the shooting, noting that
militants in the W Bank city recently distributed leaflets accusing
Shaka of collaborating with Israeli authorities.
Rockets fired at US HQ in Baghdad
Baghdad. Guerrillas have fired rockets at the HQ of the US-led
administration in C Baghdad. A rep for the US 1AD which patrols
Baghdad says at least 2 rockets have been fired. he says 1 crashed
through the roof of an empty apartment building nr the coal'n
compound and another landed nr a bus stn. He says there are no
reports of US soldiers being injured, or of civilian cas.
Aussie terror suspects will be jailed in AUS
Canberra. The families of David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib, the alleged
terrorists held by the US military in Guantanamo Bay, will be able to
attend their American military trials. A-G Philip Ruddock says the 2
detainees will be allowed an Australian lawyer at the trials, which
will be open to the media. [The lawyers will only be able to advise
their clients, not take part in the trials]. If jailed, arrangements
are being made for the pair to serve their sentences in AUS. Mr
Ruddock says the US has agreed to a range of Australian requests.
Ansett workers win 71% of entitlements
Melbourne. 1000s of former Ansett workers will soon receive some of
their outstanding entitlements, after a deal ended long-running
litigation over the company's assets. But ACTU Sec Greg Combet says
unions will continue to fight for workers' full entitlements. The
ASU -- the largest of the unions representing former Ansett workers --
says yesterday's settlement is a relief to workers who had watched
their entitlements being frittered away. Under the agreement,
workers will receive about 70 cents in the dollar on money owed
them. There is some prospect that a future decision could increase
the pay-out to 85 c in the dollar.
Doctors demand Senate pass Medicare reforms
Canberra. Doctors are demanding the Senate pass the govt's Medicard
safety net package so it can face the test of voters. The Senate has
rebuffed demands from the govt to immediately pass the legislation --
a key part of its $2.4 bn Medicard overhaul -- and instead pushed it
into committee for investigation. Health Min Tony Abbott and PM John
Howard wanted the safety net -- the only part of the revised package
requiring legislation -- passed before Xmas. Some observers say it's the
first step to creating a 2-tier health system.
India, Pakistan agree on Kashmir ceasefire
New Delhi. A ceasefire in Kashmir agreed by the rival Indian and
Pakistani armies has come into effect at, according to a timetable
released by the Indian Foreign Min'y. The ceasefire will cover the
230 km non-disputed section of the internat'l border in Kashmir, the
disputed 760 km Line of Control and the N Siachen Glacier, where the
rival armies are ranged against each other.
VC's indicate uni reform deal close
The AUS VC's Committee has tipped a final agreement on the govt's uni
reform package within the next 24 hrs. The committee's CEO John
Mullarvey says major concerns with the bill were all addressed in
discussions yesterday with Ed Min Brendan Nelson. Mr Mullarvey told
ABC radio that discussions with the 4 indep Senators will continue on
the basis that they'll support the agreed position.
Monster cruise ship arrives in SYD
Sydney. The largest cruise ship to visit AUS, the 18-storey tall
mega-liner Star Princess, has docked in SYD. The 109,000 tonne vessel
sailed through the heads shortly after 4 am, towering over local
landmarks incl the much-maligned Toaster apartment building on
Circular Quay. The $1 bn ship features a suspended glass-walled
nightclub, 9 restaurants and cafes, 12 bars, 5 pools, 9 jacuzzies, a
wedding chapel, 2-storey theatre, mini gold course, art gallery and casino.
AUS controlling HIV/AIDS
Sydney. New data shows AUS ranks at the top of the world in
controlling HIV/AIDS. But local AIDS experts say the good news is
dampened by recent national statistics showing an increase in HIV
infections in AUS for the first time in a decade. Figures released by
the UN show up to 18,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in AUS and
NZ. The annual update by UNAIDS and the WHO shows around 40 mn people
around the world are infected with the virus or have full-blown AIDS.
AIDS epidemic claims 3 mn in 2003
London. A UN report says the global HIV/AIDS epidemic is showing no
signs of slowing despite internat'l attempts to halt its progress. As
many as 46 mn people are living with the virus around the world. The
report by UNAIDS says the worldwide epidemic killed more than 3 mn
people in 2003 and around 5 mn more acquired the HIV virus. It
says the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa remains rampant and more recent
epidemics in China, Indon, PNG, Vietnam and several C Asian republics
continue to grow.
Poachers to pay for sea chases
Canberra. Poachers who try to outrun Aussie authorities when
caught fishing illegally could soon have to foot the bill for the chase.
Such costs could run into the $mns.
The govt says it's planning to take a tougher stand against illegal
fishing in Aussie waters, increasing the maximum find from $550,000 to
$825,000 under laws to go before fed parliament.
Fisheries Min Ian MacDonald has briefed coal'n MP's and senators
on the plan.
Steven Waugh resigned from internat'l cricket
Sydney. AUS capt Steve Waugh has announced his retirement from
international cricket at the end of this summer's Test series against
India. The 38 yo veteran of 164 Test matches had been expected to push
on to try to achieve the elusive goal of a series victory in India
next y. But Waugh told a media conf he's decided the SYD Test before
his home crowd is the right time and place to end his Test career.
Waugh says he now has the opportunity to spend quality time with his family.
{{
6 am
The Dow has closed up 7. The Nasdaq closed up 3 pts. The US economy
has been powering along. New data shows an annualised growth of 8.2%
-- 4 pts higher than estimates only 1 m ago. The number is double the
prev Q and is due to increased spending from business and consumers.
Company profits have shown the biggest jump in 10 y. Despite the good
data, the greenback has slipped against the euro and pound. China has
slapped retaliatory tariffs on TV imports after the US put import
duties on Chinese-made clothing. Gold is trading lower around
$US391.20/oz. Oil is around $US29.80/bbl. The AUD 72.01 US c.
Georgia has scheduled new parliamentary elections for Jan 4.
PM Howard has ended an internal dispute over jail sentences of up to 5
y for anyone revealing information about people charged with terrorism.
The families of 2 Aussies held by the US military in Cuba are
unimpressed by "concessions" allegedly won by the Australian govt.
While claiming the govt has won a promise the pair will not face the
death penalty, A-G Philip Ruddock and For Min Alex Downer indicate at
least David Hicks will be found guilty of training with al-Qaeda in
Afghanistan and serve a jail sentence in AUS. Mr Ruddock says
Australians who travel outside of AUS should be aware they come under
retroactive US military law no matter which country they visit.
9 people in Turkey have been charged with bomb attacks in Istanbul
last wk. 7 others were released because of lack of evidence.
Indian and Pakistan have agreed on a ceasefire along their disputed
border in Kashmir.
An 88 tonne Concorde has entered NY Harbour on a barge, like mns of
other immigrants before it. The supersonic aircraft will become an
exhibit in a space museum.
An investigation is underway into the deaths of more than 100 whales
and dolphins on Tasmania's W coast.
200,000 Telstra customers were left without mobile phone o'night.
6.30 am
The fed govt is twisting arms in the Dems to get Tony Abbott's
Medicard package passed by Xmas. Now Labor says it's thinking of
backing away from its prev support of the extra $5 the package will
pay GP's for consultations. Mr Abbott says now the package has been
"stripped of its objectionable features" the Dems must pass it ASAP.
PM Howard disingenuously says if Labor thinks the package needs other
features, it should pass it and add them after it wins power next y.
One Fed MP has called for the Brit flag to fly over parliament house,
CBR. Another has called for the Eureka flag.
Shareholders have voted to double Gerry Harvey's salary to $1/2 mn. At
Harvey Norman's AGM Harvey announced the company's profits were up 20%
over last y, due to sales of big ticket items like home theatre systems.
The Senate has voted to hold an inquiry into the govt's proposed
changes to Medicard. Reps for the Dems and index Meg Lees say the
inquiry will not delay the scheme, which the govt has announced will
start next Mar.
12 pm
Several rockets have been fired at buildings nr the old Information
Ministry in Baghdad. There were reportedly no injuries. Paul Bremer
told a news conf that attacks on US forces have reduced in recent
days, but attacks on Iraqis are up. He says that was not unexpected.
Property investment guru Henry K has called in the receivers. About
1,000 people who paid him up to $55,000 to learn how to become instant
millionaires are now demanding their money back. Administrators say
they've closed down 2 of his companies and laid off about 100
employees. They say there was a down-turn in interest in the seminars
about 5 wks ago. Observers say the 1/4 pt int rate increase by the
RBA has had an effect on the booming property market.
The AWB says its profit for the past y has fallen more than 50% over
the y before. The wheat crop fell about 60% in the same period. It
says its $45 mn profit was good, given the circumstances of the
drought and global economic conditions.
The ATO says 30,000 self-managed superannuation funds that submitted
no tax return will be targeted in this y's audit program. There's
keen interest in the funds which observers say regularly out-perform
the share market.
The regulators have blocked a take-over of Berri by Coke/Amatil.
The ASX was marginally weaker at noon after a mixed performance in NY
overnight. The US market apparently ignored good growth numbers to
close up only marginally. The hi-tech Nasdaq closed down, with traders
apparently still fearful the index had risen too fast. At 12.16 the
All Ords was down 2 pts at 3,195.
}}
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(*) Who is responcible for W.A.R.S? A small group of dedicated
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support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention
us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers!
All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek.
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=== end 3/3 ===