iServ News

Govt confirms Native Title appeal

THE West Australian Government has confirmed it will appeal a Federal Court ruling upholding native title over Perth.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20491185-50072...

St George draggin' jobs offshore

ST GEORGE chief executive Gail Kelly earns $4.4million a year - but she wants Australian workers to sacrifice their jobs to India so the bank can maintain its "competitive advantage".

Link: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20508451...

Female front line plan attacked

THE time for women to be allowed to serve in front line combat roles in the Australian military has not yet arrived, Finance Minister Nick Minchin said today.

Senator Minchin said there were still sensible and practical reasons why women should not serve on the front line.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20509959-421,00.html

Aussies 'relaxed and comfortable'

DESPITE the increased focus on terrorism, rogue countries developing nuclear weapons and the impacts of global warming, Australians are confident and relaxed about world events, a national poll has found.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20511529-2,00.html

Minchin courts mums and dads for T3

MUMS and dads and other retail investors will provide the backbone of support for the next sale of Telstra shares, Finance Minister Nick Minchin has said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20511385-2,00.html

Downer hits out at Chavez 'rant'

VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez resembled a dictator who lacked class during his "rant" at the UN in which he called George W Bush "the devil", Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20463221-2,00.html

Pope critics 'stifling free speech'

PETER Costello has said Muslim critics of a recent speech by Pope Benedict XVI have "lacked proportion" in their angry response and have tried to stifle free speech.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20462413-2,00.html

France checks bin Laden 'death'

FRANCE'S Defence Ministry has said a secret service report saying al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has died cannot be confirmed, but it will launch an inquiry into the leak of secret documents.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20466198-2,00.html

NSW threatens Westpac over India jobs

NSW Premier Morris Iemma is threatening to dump Westpac from government contracts over the bank's plan to move hundreds of Sydney jobs to India.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20450041-1702,00.html

Vista looks good for desktop PCs

THE arrival of Microsoft's Vista operating system could lead to a resurgence of the desktop computer, according to tech-heavy retailer Harvey Norman, which said it would be hurt by the arrival of Sony's PlayStation 3 in the run up to Christmas.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20434695...

"Botnet" army in AOL's backyard

HACKERS using computer worms implanted via America Online (AOL) instant messages could assembling a "botnet" for sinister purposes, a Silicon Valley internet security firm said today.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20445029...

Kylie's back with some hot dates

KYLIE Minogue has reclaimed her crown as pop's leading style queen with a sexy shoot for her 2007 calendar.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20446766-...

Howard hits out at wealthy nations over subsidies

THE Doha talks remained deadlocked last night in Cairns as Prime Minister John Howard lashed out at wealthy developed countries for protecting farmers while Australia opened itself up to competition.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20447507-2,00.html

Military stages coup in Thailand

THAILAND'S armed forces today said they had ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup and imposed martial law to restore order after months of political turmoil in the kingdom.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20444238-2,00.html

Telcos told to halt spam

AUSTRALIAN telecommunications companies have been told to "harden" their networks against spam from eastern European crime syndicates, with authorities warning that junk email has taken a sinister turn.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,20429751-462,0...

Burglar trade tricks unmasked

TASMANIA'S most prolific burglars have revealed how they target you and what you can do to stop them.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20430912-2,00.html

Iraq videos just stress relief: PM

JOHN Howard has refused to condemn Diggers who filmed themselves skylarking with guns in Iraq, saying soldiers needed to "let off steam".

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20429138-2,00.html

School outcry over Telstra

NSW schools have accused Telstra of punishing them for keeping their businesses with other telecommunications providers.

Schools have been advised that the cost of their line rental - charged by Telstra - will almost double from $19 to $35 a month unless they bring all phone business back to the carrier, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph reports.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20409931...

Speak English 'or go home'

ALL new Australian citizens would have to pass English tests under a plan to be announced soon by the Howard Government within weeks.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20408948-2,00.html

Naomi Robson held in Indonesia

THE Seven Network's Naomi Robson and her Today Tonight crew were questioned by Indonesian authorities yesterday after trying to film a story about cannibals in West Papua.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20409288-...

Intel to cut 10,500 jobs

INTEL has confirmed it will cut more than a tenth of its workforce as part of a drive to become more efficient in the face of competition in the computer chip market.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20362824...

Driver allegedly six times over limit

A 58-year-old man has been arrested and charged with driving while six times over the alcohol limit after being chased and stopped by a member of the public.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20374883-1702,00.html

14-year-old driver dies in burning car

A 14-year-old boy has been killed driving a car that burst into flames when it ran into a row of trees at Forbes, in central New South Wales.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20374779-2,00.html

'Germaine, try this on for size'

THE backlash against expatriate academic Germaine Greer over her comments about Steve Irwin has reached new heights, with The Daily Telegraph newspaper sending the outspoken feminist a muzzle.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20373875-2,00.html

Websites hijack donations

STEVE Irwin supporters have warned that bogus websites have been set up to hijack donations intended for the late conservationist's charities.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20374662-2,00.html

Car crash forces evacuation of 40 homes

UP to 40 homes were evacuated north of Brisbane today after a car crashed into a house, rupturing gas cylinders.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20348784-2,00.html

Supermarket giants feel the heat

A PLAN to stop supermarkets and oil giants buying up most of Australia's petrol stations will be put to Federal Parliament this week.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20346852-2,00.html

Ferries are 'soft terror targets'

SYDNEY'S ferries were a soft terrorist target, potentially presenting an opportunity for enormous disaster, a US-based security specialist warned today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20303090-2,00.html

AWB evidence proves nothing, says PM

THE Howard Government has rubbished "new" evidence about its knowledge of AWB's kickbacks to Iraq, accusing Labor of a "childish" attempt to discredit ministers.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20301553-2,00.html

$5000 won't move some jobless, admits MP

A LUMP sum of $5000 to entice the unemployed to move across the country to seek jobs will not be enough for some, a government MP behind the plan admits.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20304032-2,00.html

MP's speech details suicide tips

AUSTRALIAN Democrats MP Sandra Kanck has detailed ways to commit suicide in a speech to South Australian parliament aimed at provoking a clash with the Federal Government.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20303842-2,00.html

NAB sends more jobs to India

NATIONAL Australia Bank could move up to 181 jobs to India and is investigating further outsourcing opportunities in its information and technology division, where it employs about 2000 staff.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20242314...

Arrests after people-mover chase

FOUR teenagers have been arrested after a pursuit through Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20267777-1702,00.html

Home invaders beat victim

POLICE are hunting two men who attacked a man with a baseball bat during a home invasion in Sydney's west.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20267763-1702,00.html

Police hunt armed carjacker

A MAN has been treated for gunshot wounds following an attempted carjacking in south western Sydney.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20267779-1702,00.html

Teenagers face surgery ban

TEENAGERS will be banned from having Botox or collagen injections under sweeping changes aimed at reining in the burgeoning cosmetic surgery industry.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20260310-2,00.html

PM to increase size of army

PRIME Minister John Howard will announce a major increase in the size of the Australian army today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20235065-1702,00.html

Tassie fibre plan bypasses Telstra

JUST a fortnight after Telstra dumped plans for a national fibre-to-the-node rollout, the Tasmanian Government is pitching its own state-wide fibre network as an alternative to the telco giant.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20203780...

Welfare spies sacked

CENTRELINK has sacked or forced out more than 100 workers, and disciplined hundreds more, for privacy breaches such as snooping on the records of neighbours and former lovers.

Link: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20224186...

Accused gang rape leader bailed

THE alleged ringleader in the gang rape of a 19-year-old woman at Darling Harbour has been granted bail - and the DPP did not oppose his release.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20225995-2,00.html

Lodhi gaoled over bomb plot

FAHEEM Khalid Lodhi's plot to blow up the nation's electricity grid and launch a violent jihad would have left Australians in permanent fear of terrorist attack, a judge said today as he gaoled the Sydney architect for a minimum term of 15 years.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20224849-2,00.html

Telstra shares plumb new depths

THE continuing slide of Telstra's share price to record depths has emboldened critics to call for the scrapping of the Federal Government's plan to sell off its majority stake.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20212878-2,00.html

Costello calls for more urban blocks

STATE governments need to release more land for urban blocks, federal Treasurer Peter Costello said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20169369-1702,00.html

Coles sale 'must be in national interest'

THE proposed foreign takeover of retail giant Coles Myer must fit within Australia's national interest, federal Treasurer Peter Costello has said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20169421-1702,00.html

Costello challenges watchdog on petrol price

FEDERAL Treasurer Peter Costello has challenged the consumer watchdog to push for new laws if it is worried about motorists being ripped off by petrol prices.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20169282-2,00.html

Motorists receive $2000 to go gas

JOHN Howard will offer motorists up to $2000 to cut their fuel bills by converting cars to LPG, and regional towns will be offered grants to embrace solar power, under a new energy strategy to be unveiled today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20118987-2,00.html

Old models bring new joy

NEAR new Falcons and Commodores are depreciating faster as a result of high petrol prices, according to car value experts.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,20111537-462,0...

Telstra 'still open' to broadband

TELSTRA chief executive Sol Trujillo says the company has not completely abandoned plans to roll out an upgraded broadband network around Australia.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20111915-2,00.html

PM fights to shore up Bill vote

AUSTRALIA'S relationship with Indonesia will not suffer if the Senate quashes the Federal Government's plan to send asylum seekers to offshore detention centres, Prime Minister John Howard says.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20111895-2,00.html

Qantas shares defy terror threat

QANTAS Airways' share price has held steady in the wake of a foiled plot to bomb flights between the UK and US, thanks to a big drop in oil prices.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,20092006-462,0...

Al-Qaeda linked to foiled terror plot

SUSPICIONS fell on al-Qaeda today after the emergence of a Pakistani connection to an alleged plot in Britain to use suicide bombers with liquid explosives to blow US airliners out of the sky.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20102022-38197,00.html

Police pluck girl from runaway car

TWO Sydney police officers have rescued a seven-year-old girl trapped inside a runaway four-wheel drive as it rolled backwards down a steep hill without a driver.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20069692...

Afghan mission dangerous, says Howard

AUSTRALIAN troops being sent as reinforcements to Afghanistan were going on a dangerous mission, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20069306-2,00.html

Telstra chaos, network dies

TELSTRA has shelved plans for a $4 billion broadband network crossing the country, casting doubt over returns to shareholders and throwing plans for the sale of the Government's $25 billion stake in the company later this year into chaos.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20052595-5007133,00.htm...

Fuel costs could soar to $1.80, says NRMA

AUSTRALIAN motorists could be paying up to $1.80 a litre for petrol within months, the NRMA motoring group said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20059137-2,00.html

Service station worker run over by petrol thief

A BMW driver has run over a female service station employee while speeding off without paying on the Gold Coast.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20014682-2,00.html

Jihadis dispatched for global war

HUNDREDS of South-East Asian suicide bombers have been dispatched around the world with a mission to attack Jewish interests in countries that support Israel such as Britain, the US and possibly Australia.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20014355-2,00.html

Buses better than trams: Labor

THE NSW Government has dismissed renewed calls for an expansion of Sydney's light rail system, saying buses are a better option.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20005068-1702,00.html

Little petrol relief ahead: Howard

MOTORISTS could not expect much relief at the bowser in the short term, Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello said today as a Senate inquiry into pricing started hearing submissions.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20004682-2,00.html

Israel 'cannot accept' ceasefire

ISRAEL has vowed to expand its offensive in Lebanon, saying an immediate ceasefire would only encourage extremists and predicting that its war on Hezbollah would "change the face of the region".

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,19973820-2,00.html

Howard will seek a fifth term

JOHN Howard will ask voters to reappoint him Prime Minister for an historic fifth term next year - with Peter Costello remaining as his Treasurer.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,19966959-2,00.html

Howard says he'll stay and fight

PRIME Minister John Howard has arrived in north Queensland, where he is expected to officially announce he will contest the next federal election.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,19966959-2,00.html

Aussie veto stops war crimes

AUSTRALIA intervened to stop key US military strikes against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, fearing they might constitute a war crime.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19945207-2,00.html

PM backs pay rise for battlers

PRIME Minister John Howard today said there was a case for an increase in the minimum wage - but he wouldn't say by how much.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19939073-2,00.html

Gang rapist gaoled for 31 years

NOTORIOUS gang rapist Bilal Skaf has been gaoled for a maximum 31 years over the August 2000 attack on a teenage girl in Sydney's west.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19939085-2,00.html

Petrol prices could push up others

THE Reserve Bank will have to consider sustained higher petrol prices if they start pushing up the price of other goods and services, Treasurer Peter Costello says.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19937325-31037,00.h...

Howard gives Reserve Bank unsubtle hint

PRIME Minister John Howard has given the Reserve Bank a not so subtle hint that he would like interest rates left alone next week.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19928597-2,00.html

Many, er, happy returns, Mr Howard

NO cake or special celebration, just a 26-hour day. Literally.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19916565-421,00.html

Union TV ads 'misleading' on IR

THE stars of a union ad campaign attacking the Federal Government's workplace laws have nobody to blame but themselves for being out of work, the industrial relations watchdog found.

[i]Of course they are VERY misleading - Ed.[/i]

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19915468-2,00.html

Teacher admits student sex acts

A TEACHER performed sex acts on a male teenage student in her car on three occasions, a court in Melbourne has been told.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19905975-2,00.html

Peacekeeping terms set

AUSTRALIA would join an international peacekeeping mission to Lebanon only if it guaranteed to help a long-term settlement, the Prime Minister said today as the evacuation effort there began winding down.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19905969-28101,00.html

ATO chases sex trade millions

THE Australian Taxation Office has launched a blitz on the billion-dollar sex industry in NSW in the biggest shake-up since decriminalisation a decade ago.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19873622-421,00.html

Tanks cross Lebanese border

ISRAELI tanks have moved across the border into Lebanon - ousting Hizbollah guerrillas from a hilltop stronghold, the army said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19882236-26697,00.html

ALP has sent state broke: Debnam

NEW South Wales Opposition Leader Peter Debnam has made his first real pitch to voters ahead of next year's election, telling the state's Liberal Party conference it was time for a change of government.

After receiving a standing ovation at the Sydney event today, the former navy officer, nicknamed Prince Charles because of a passing resemblance to the Prince of Wales, said the Iemma Labor Government was "falling apart at the seams" – but he would fix NSW.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19876549-29280,00.html

Gorby's warning on nuclear power

FORMER Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev has warned Australia to avoid nuclear power, urging the Howard Government to pursue it only as "a lesser evil" than coal.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19865902-2,00.html

Israeli troops mass on border

ISRAEL is massing it's forces along the border with Lebanon amid speculation they are set to mount a massive ground invasion as early as today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19871938-2,00.html

John Brogden accepts new role

FORMER NSW opposition leader John Brogden has been appointed chief executive of health insurance and financial services company Manchester Unity.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19863387-462,00.htm...

Skaf 'could be killed' in prison

CONVICTED gang rapist Bilal Skaf has no friends in gaol and is at risk of being killed by other prisoners, a Sydney court has been told.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19862858-421,00.html

Petrol price to rise: Caltex boss

PETROL prices are likely to rise even further because of the crisis in the Middle East, Australia's largest oil refiner has predicted.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19843149-31037,00.h...

F-111 crew tell of landing relief

A PILOT and navigator who successfully landed an F-111 on its belly after losing a wheel on takeoff have told of their relief at emerging from the incident unscathed.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19840981-2,00.html

F-111 fighter in mid-air drama

AN RAAF F-111 is circling above south-east Queensland after losing a nosewheel.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19829118-2,00.html

Australians to flee on warship

SOME Australians will be able to escape Lebanon on a British warship after the United Kingdom agreed to allow them to board its aircraft carrier being dispatched to the Middle East.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19828052-31523,00.html

Tsunami warning for WA

A major earthquake off Indonesia has prompted a tsunami warning for the north-west of Western Australia.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19824242-29277,00.html

Eight dead, 40 missing in tsunami

EIGHT people were killed, 40 were missing and another 40 were injured after a tsunami smashed into the south of Indonesia's Java island following a strong undersea earthquake, the Indonesian Red Cross said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19825266-23109,00.html

Pyongyang rejects UN resolution

THE Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's missile tests but slapped only targeted UN sanctions in a move rejected by Pyongyang which vowed to carry out further launches.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19806868-2,00.html

Beirut rescue mission planned

AUSTRALIANS trapped in war-torn Lebanon could be evacuated by ferry, as reports emerged that the leader of the militant group Hezbollah has been injured in an Israeli air raid.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19807022-2,00.html

Hezbollah declares 'open war '

HEZBOLLAH chief Hassan Nasrallah declared "open war" against the Jewish state overnight after emerging unscathed from an Israeli air strike on his home and office in the Lebanese capital.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19795996-23109,00.html

Hezbollah defiant after HQ bombed

HEZBOLLAH'S chief pledged open war on Israel after it bombed his Beirut home overnight in a dramatic expansion of an assault in Lebanon launched after Hezbollah fighters seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight. "You wanted open war. We are going to (wage) open war," he said," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a telephone message broadcast live on Hezbollah television after the attack.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19796005-23109,00.html

Nine Taliban killed

A SUICIDE bomb blast wounded a policeman in southern Afghanistan Friday while nine Taliban were killed in a clash with Afghan and coalition troops, officials said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19795974-401,00.html

Israel pounds Beirut suburbs

ISRAEL bombed the home of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut today in what the Israeli media said was an assassination attempt on the third day of relentless attacks on Lebanon that have killed 60 people and ignited fears of all-out war in the region.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19795975-401,00.html

I won't be stampeded: Howard

PRIME Minister John Howard says he will not be "pressured or stampeded" into making a premature declaration on his future leadership plans.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19774695-31037,00.h...

Public 100pc behind PM, says Turnbull

A KEY Howard ally has backed the Prime Minister's refusal to elaborate on his leadership plans and says John Howard has the public's full support.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19774064-2,00.html

Anger at incentive

PRISONERS at a southeast Queensland gaol are being bribed with Paddle Pops to keep their cells clean.

Link: http://thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19751176-500...

World must stop Iran, Downer says

THE world must stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and do more to help spread democracy, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said.

Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,19759629...

Green light for broadband network

A CONSORTIUM of telecommunications companies will go ahead with the construction of a fibre to the node (FTTN) broadband network, even if Telstra does not participate.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19741102-31037,00.h...

Telstra's blame game

TELSTRA has written to its long-suffering shareholders to blame everyone but itself for its sad share-price performance.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19752273-462,00.htm...

8-year-old taken in croc attack

AN eight-year-old girl is feared dead after being taken by a saltwater crocodile in the Northern Territory.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19732550-1702,00.html

North Korea 'ready for war'

NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has vowed not to make "even a tiny concession" to the United States and said Pyongyang was braced for "all-out war" after its missile tests, state television has warned.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19732860-2,00.html

Crown silk on porn charge

A NSW deputy senior crown prosecutor has stood down after being charged with child pornography offences.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,19713687%5E1...

South Korea shelves food aid to North

SOUTH Korea on Friday put off indefinitely crucial food aid to North Korea in response to the impoverished state's missile tests but said it would stand by its policy of engaging its neighbour.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19722630-2,00.html

More telco jobs to go

HUNDREDS more jobs in Australia's $33 billion-a-year telecommunications sector are set to move to India as Telstra and Optus look for ways to cut costs in the face of slowing growth.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,19697309%5E1...

'Roo route' flights to double

AUSTRALIA is expected to announce a significant breakthrough today to increase the number of direct flights to and from London.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19710764-462,00.htm...

China 'should pressure N Korea'

CHINA should exert its influence over North Korea to get the reclusive state to stop its weapons program after it test fired a series of missiles, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19701603-29277,00.html

Missile tests destabilising: Downer

NORTH Korea's tests of up to six missiles today had further destabilised the political situation in north Asia, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19691022-29277,00.html

Missile 'could reach Australia'

NORTH Korea has test fired its long-range Taepodong 2 missile, capable of reaching US and Australian soil, sparking widespread condemnation and the possibility of sanctions against Pyongyang.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19690891-401,00.html

Qantas may sue Airbus

QANTAS is vigorously pursuing hefty compensation claims after revelations from Europe that the long-awaited arrival of the world's largest jet, the Airbus A380, may be delayed for more than a year.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19678574-462,00.htm...

Ex-NAB rogue traders gaoled

TWO former National Australia Bank traders have been gaoled over their roles in the $326-million rogue trading scandal that rocked Australia's largest bank.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19678723-2,00.html

Police to review footage

FOOTAGE of an incident which led to the removal of two contestants in the reality television show Big Brother will be reviewed by Queensland police, the Federal Government said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19658146-38876,00.html

MPs investigated over thefts

POLICE are investigating claims that politicians and staff may have been involved in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of antique furniture, fittings and artwork from Queensland's Parliament House.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19613589-421,00.html

Outrage after magistrate's machine gun quip

A DARWIN magistrate has caused outrage by suggesting Wadeye residents should be "arm(ed) with machine guns" and allowed to "finish what they started 2000 years ago".

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19613967-421,00.html

Solicitor gaoled for theft

A GEELONG solicitor who stole more than $600,000 from his clients has been gaoled for at least two-and-a-half years.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19603967-1702,00.html

Woman hurt in spud-gun blast

A PERTH woman has been shot in the face by a spud gun as she peered down the barrel of the homemade weapon.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19603777-1702,00.html

Howard seals deal on terror, but not Bashir

EFFORTS by John Howard to secure 24-hour surveillance of terror guru Abu Bakar Bashir have failed.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19603213-401,00.html

States all back World Cup bid

STATE governments will back an Australian bid to host the 2018 soccer World Cup, with New South Wales and Victoria already jostling to host the final.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19564666-29277,00.html

Cooper gets eight years for HIH

DISGRACED Sydney businessman Brad Cooper has been sentenced to a maximum of eight years in gaol on thirteen fraud and bribery charges relating to dealings with the collapsed insurer HIH.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19563364-2,00.html

Probe on Telstra poisoning incident

POLICE are investigating the discovery of rat poison in the tea and coffee cups of staff at a Telstra office in north Queensland.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19564660-1702,00.html

Qantas fuel bill blows out by $1 billion

QANTAS has warned that its fuel bill will blow out by $1 billion this year and could strip more than $344 million from the airline's expected profit.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19547822-462,00.htm...

Mint coin thief gets three years

A JUDGE criticised security at the Royal Australian Mint as he jailed a worker who stole more than $130,000 by hiding new $2 coins in his boots and lunchbox.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19541704-421,00.html

Howard 'critical' to poll win: Vaile

NATIONALS leader Mark Vaile has strongly backed John Howard to contest the next election, declaring his presence would "significantly benefit" the Coalition's prospects of winning a fifth term by out-muscling Labor on industrial relations.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19493512-2,00.html

Whalers not beaten: activists

GREENPEACE said it would return to the Southern Ocean later this year in an attempt to have Japan cease all whaling.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19497322-2,00.html

Court rules pedophile remains free

THE Queensland Supreme Court has rejected an application to return a convicted pedophile to jail.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19472068-1248,00.html

IR changes hurt nurses: union

NURSES could lose up to 20 per cent of their pay under the Howard Government's workplace reforms, a union chief has told a gathering of disgruntled carers.

[Editor's note: My heart bleeds.]

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19472060-1242,00.html

Monster speed camera looms

A SPEED camera that scans four lanes of traffic at once is under consideration for Victorian roads.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19454110-421,00.html

Beazley destroys dreams: PM

PRIME Minister John Howard has accused Labor leader Kim Beazley of attacking the dreams of hundreds of thousands of Australians with his pledge to abolish Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19462636-2,00.html

Blair hails death of Zarqawi

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death as "very good news".

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19407483-23109,00.html

Howard welcomes Zarqawi death

PRIME Minister John Howard said today the death of al-Qaeda's chief in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was great news for the people of Iraq.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19407921-29277,00.html

Downer seeks Timor arrest change

AUSTRALIA wants East Timor's Parliament to change its laws to allow foreign police to arrest arsonists and looters on the streets of Dili.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19394241-23109,00.html

Extra police may be toothless

THE states are to send 82 more police to bolster law enforcement in East Timor amid concerns that local laws could prevent them from making arrests.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19397717-2,00.html

States splash out on hospitals

PUBLIC hospitals in Queensland and New South Wales have received a funding boost as part of record health budgets handed down by state governments today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19381727-421,00.html

Taskforce not pro-nuclear: PM

PRIME Minister John Howard denied he had stacked his hand-picked taskforce to investigate nuclear power in Australia with people in favour of the controversial energy source.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19375595-5005080,00.htm...

QC slams terror security checks

PROMINENT Queen's Counsel, Robert Richter, has launched a salvo against federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, saying the bar does not trust him.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19370769-1243,00.html

Man killed in train-car crash

A MAN died when his car was struck by an express train at a level crossing in southern NSW.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19368915-1242,00.html

Derryn (almost) ditches grog for health

HUMAN headline Derryn Hinch has revealed he has almost totally given away his beloved booze in a bid to save his health.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19354081-2,00.html

Rebel leader's family flees to WA

Major Alfredo Reinado's pregnant wife Maria and their three children fled to Western Australia as violence escalated in Dili.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19357583-2,00.html

School next to sewage pond to move

OUTBACK Wiluna was to get a new school after Governor-General Michael Jeffery, who was born in the town, expressed shock at the condition of the existing primary school.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19339284-1245,00.html

Indonesian fishermen plead guilty

TWELVE Indonesian fishermen will spend time in prison after pleading guilty to fishing illegally in Australian waters.

The men were part of a larger group of 19 fishermen on two boats intercepted by the Royal Australian Navy vessel HMAS Geraldton near Scott Reef, about 250km north of Broome, at the weekend.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19339915-1245,00.html

We threw away baby: Hospital

THE heartbroken parents of the stillborn baby girl who went missing from a Sydney hospital are bracing themselves for the worst possible news - their daughter was accidentally thrown away.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19331893-2,00.html

Teens lead police on 100km chase

FOUR teenagers from Queensland have led police on an hour-long high-speed pursuit on the Pacific Highway in NSW.

Road spikes finally halted the stolen car at Tyndale, on the NSW mid-north coast, 100 kilometres from where the chase began at Coffs Harbour about 8pm (AEST) yesterday, police said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19325742-1702,00.html

Man charged over $2.8m drug haul

A GOLD Coast man has been extradited to NSW from Queensland to face charges over a $2.8 million cannabis haul.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19325774-1702,00.html

Man charged over Internet offence

A 45-YEAR-OLD Adelaide man has been arrested after trying to meet a 13-year-old girl he made contact with over the internet.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19325933-1702,00.html

Aussies unhurt by bomb: PM

NO Australians were injured in a roadside bomb blast which damaged an Australian army vehicle in southern Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard said tonight.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19319986-5001160,00.htm...

Timor political ceasefire urged

AUSTRALIA was urging East Timor's leaders to find a solution to political differences amongst them, believing it was the only way to bring lasting peace to the nation.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19316340-2,00.html

Jakarta backs Diggers on its former turf

JAKARTA has supported Australia as it works to end the bloodshed and restore order in East Timor.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19289029-2,00.html

Police move in against mobs

A TEAM of 45 Australian Federal Police officers will fly into East Timor today as Australian soldiers struggle to contain the violence tearing the small country apart.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19287639-2,00.html

Dili wounded sent to Darwin

TWO critically wounded gunshot victims will be evacuated from Dili to Darwin this afternoon, the Australian Health Department has said.

Another seven gunshot victims would be evacuated to Darwin for treatment at Royal Darwin Hospital on a later flight, a spokeswoman said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19283685-29277,00.html

Troops stabilise Dili suburbs

AUSTRALIA now has 1300 troops in East Timor, and the Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has said that overnight gang and ethnic violence has eased.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19283524-2,00.html

Troops pour into East Timor

AUSTRALIAN soldiers began patrolling the streets of the troubled East Timorese capital Dili this morning as Australia accelerated its deployment of troops to restore order to the troubled nation.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19262229-29277,00.html

More gunfire in Dili

SHOOTING broke out in the centre of Dili and at least one of its suburbs this morning.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19262263-23109,00.html

Chinese trawler intercepted

AUTHORITIES are investigating whether to lay charges against the crew of a Chinese trawler found within Australia's fishing zone.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19225043-29277,00.html

Ivan Milat named at inquest

BACKPACKER murderer Ivan Milat might not have been the only serial killer preying on young people in New South Wales in the 1980s, an inquest into the disappearance of two nurses heard today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19218721-31523,00.html

Dell opts for AMD

DELL has announced it will begin using chips from AMD by the end of the year.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,19187210^153...

Taliban 'mastermind' caught

A "VERY IMPORTANT" Taliban commander was captured in some of the fiercest fighting in Afghanistan in years that has left nearly 200 rebels dead, officials said overnight.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19196927-38197,00.html

ANZ sorry for card bungle

ONE of Australia's biggest banks has been forced to apologise to thousands of Mastercard users after accidentally overcharging them.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19188179-462,00.htm...

Oil costs push nuke power: PM

PRIME Minister John Howard has intensified speculation the Government is considering nuclear power generation, saying global warming and high oil prices are making it inevitable.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19187569-2,00.html

Telstra brings American on board

TELSTRA had appointed American John Zeglis and Peter Wilcox as non-executive directors, effective immediately, the company said today.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19164230-462,00.htm...

PM basks in presidential praise

US President George W. Bush has told a glittering dinner at the White House that the US has no better friend than Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19164586-2,00.html

Dell prices ain't necessarily right

DELL call centres have refused to honour the advertised price of a flatscreen monitor despite customer complaints.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,19146560^153...

Howard wants US involved

PRIME Minister John Howard has urged the United States to become more involved in international affairs, saying it is the only way to ensure world peace.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19152548-31523,00.html

Troops on standby for Timor strife

ABOUT 800 Australian troops are on standby to join a naval taskforce this week ready to provide assistance to East Timor in the event of major political unrest.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19138316-2,00.html

Grounded Seasprites face axe

THE navy's trouble-plagued Super Seasprite helicopter fleet has been grounded and the $1 billion program is at risk of being scrapped amid concerns the aircraft is unsafe to fly.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19135063-421,00.html

East Timor PM threatens resignation

EAST Timor's Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, said today he will resign if he loses the leadership of his Fretilin party at a congress later this month, according to an interview published here.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19127982-23109,00.html

Timor task force on standby

AUSTRALIA'S biggest military task force since the 1999 East Timor crisis, including warships, armoured vehicles, helicopters and 450 troops, will be ready to sail to Dili by late next week.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19117948-2,00.html

Future Fund to have $30bn: Costello

THE Future Fund would have $30 billion very soon, Treasurer Peter Costello said.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19083214-31037,00.h...

Budget brings tax cuts for everyone

THE average worker gets an extra $10 a week but the rich are the biggest winners in a $36.7 billion package of tax cuts unveiled by Treasurer Peter Costello in the federal Budget today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19078301-26780,00.html

Howard praises miners, rescuers

ALL those involved in the remarkable rescue of miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb were entitled to be elated Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19074823-29277,00.html

Trapped pair walk to freedom

TASMANIAN miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb have emerged from the Beaconsfield mine.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19073978-2,00.html

Armed siege ends peacefully

A MAN at the centre of a hostage siege in Perth has surrendered to police.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19054910-29277,00.html

Acid spill 'eating up bitumen'

A HIGHLY corrosive chemical spilled on the Bruce Highway in southern Queensland could damage cars and anyone who has come into contact with it must wash themselves thoroughly, authorities say.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19054692-421,00.html

Charges after unit blaze

TWO men have been charged after a man was bashed and his unit set alight in Melbourne's east last night.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19043754-29277,00.html

Sophie: police charge driver

A SYDNEY man has been charged with dangerous driving after five-year-old burns victim Sophie Delezio was struck by a car and critically injured.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19043473-2,00.html

Bomber digs a hole and then puts his foot in it

NOTICE how Brendan Nelson has, commendably, kept his trap shut in recent days.

Having infuriated the family and confused everyone else with running commentary on Private Jake Kovco's death, the Defence Minister has belatedly recognised caution as the wise path when politicians tiptoe around tragedy.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19007348-2,00.html

Miners ready to play footy

TOUGHENED by years of mining, Todd Russell and Brant Webb are in remarkable condition, physically and psychologically, after seven days trapped underground, doctors said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18994002-2,00.html

100 detained over East Timor riots

MORE than 100 suspects accused of involvement in deadly riots in East Timor last week are being detained after 25 more arrests were made, the Foreign Ministry said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19005464-23109,00.html

Gangland lawyer living 'in fear'

HIGH-profile lawyer George Defteros says he is living in fear after police told him he may be the next target in Melbourne's underworld war.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18994750-29277,00.html

Trapped miners fed as wait continues

TWO miners trapped underground in Tasmania have been given food and water today but may remain pinned in a cramped cage until at least Wednesday, as rescuers inch carefully towards them.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18987023-2,00.html

AFL 'happy' with Telstra

TELSTRA Stadium ground staff were still laying turf this afternoon hours after the AFL gave the green light for the match between Sydney and Geelong tomorrow night.

Link: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18956451-23211,00....

Two dead, forty hurt in train collision

TWO people have been killed and more than 30 injured in a train crash at a level crossing in western Victoria.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18958495-28477,00.html

No spin-off for Sensis

TELSTRA'S online directories and advertising business, Sensis, says it is on track to meet its performance targets for the current financial year.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18946769^153...

Nude man stuck in chimney

A NUDE American spent five hours stuck in a chimney before he was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18944607-13762,00.html

Ringleader to face firing squad

INDONESIAN appeal judges have upheld the death penalty for convicted Bali Nine ringleader Myuran Sukumaran, but have ordered changes to the verdict for condemned gang "Godfather" Andrew Chan.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18935082-2,00.html

Robot in miner rescue bid

A REMOTE-controlled front-end loader is to be sent into a northern Tasmanian mine to try to rescue three miners trapped 925m underground.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18932776-28793,00.html

Man in hospital after two-up blue

A MAN has been airlifted to hospital with serious spinal injuries after a fight over a two-up game in Sydney's west.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18930157-29280,00.html

Monica's not done yet

CYCLONE Monica has weakened to a tropical low over the Northern Territory, but is forecast to move back to sea and intensify again before menacing Western Australia.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18926440-28477,00.html

Boats, troops head for Solomons

AUSTRALIA has further beefed up its military presence in the Solomon Islands as the strife-torn Pacific nation heads into a tense week of political manoeuvrings.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18902684-29277,00.html

Darwin put on cyclone alert

Police have urged residents at Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory to urgently seek shelter as the community awaits category five Cyclone Monica.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18902371-2,00.html

Australian soldier killed in Iraq

THE accidental death of an Australian soldier in Iraq could spark a further tightening of procedures surrounding weapons maintenance, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18891593-2,00.html

Telcos take on Telstra

TELSTRA says it will reject an unprecedented offer from seven of Australia's biggest telecommunications companies to help with its $3 billion upgrade of the nation's broadband network.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18880673-462,00.htm...

Schools teaching rubbish: PM

THE English syllabus taught in Australian schools was being dumbed down by "rubbish" post modern texts, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18869628-2,00.html

Troops restoring order in Honiara

LOOTERS have fled the streets of Honiara since Australian and New Zealand troops arrived in the strife torn Solomon Islands capital yesterday, a government official has said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18865273-2,00.html

Clue to next Monaro

A hand-picked team of GM Holden's most talented youngsters is working to turn the Chevrolet Camaro concept car into a reality. They could also be creating the next Monaro.

Link: http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,18721905-21822,00...

Diggers arrive to quell mob rule

AUSTRALIAN troops and police reinforcements were manning road blocks surrounding Honiara last night in an effort to restore order as rampaging mobs continued to burn and loot buildings in the Solomon Islands' strife-torn capital.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18865273-2,00.html

Tunnel to improve train services

RAIL services in Sydney's east and on the New South Wales south coast were set to receive a boost with the opening of a new $77 million tunnel in Sydney, the NSW government said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18842842-421,00.html

Doctors warn of superbug epidemic

FEDERAL health authorities have been "unreceptive" to concerns about an evolving epidemic of new strains of golden staph, a senior public health official said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18842840-421,00.html

Plans changes to Budget reporting

TAXPAYERS would have a better understanding of how their money was being spent under a new Labor plan to reform the federal Budget reporting system, the Opposition said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18830027-2,00.html

Anzac 'louts' to be curbed

GALLIPOLI pilgrims face mandatory bag searches and heavy security at this year's Anzac Day commemorations in Turkey.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18829547-28101,00.html

Toll's triumph on track

TOLL Holdings is poised to become the dominant player across Australia's railways, trucks and ports after boss Paul Little yesterday moved to end the bitterest takeover battle in Australian corporate history, raising his offer for stevedoring giant Patrick Corp by $560 million to $5.81 billion.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18822091-462,00.htm...

Palace not fit for a Queen

QUEEN Elizabeth II, who turns 80 next Friday, is to stop using London's iconic Buckingham Palace as her principal residence, The Times newspaper said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18822088-28097,00.html

Teenagers 'ate Chinese food after attack'

TENSIONS between two groups of youths exploded in a fight in which two private schoolboys were struck with an iron bar and left seriously injured in a park while the attackers went for a late-night Chinese meal, a Sydney court heard yesterday.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18811401-1242,00.html

Anti-war doctor found guilty

AN Australian-born British Royal Air Force doctor has been jailed for eight months and dismissed from the service after being found guilty of refusing to deploy to Iraq.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18812123-421,00.html

Man falls 30m after car crash

A FRENCH man remains in a serious condition in hospital after falling 30 metres from a bridge on the NSW Central Coast. The 33-year-old man was involved in a six car crash on the F3 Freeway at Ourimbah Creek about 8pm (AEST) yesterday.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18812304-1702,00.html

Indonesians demand girl back

INDONESIA is demanding the return of a four-year-old girl among 42 Papuan asylum-seekers given refuge in Australia, alleging she was taken illegally by her father without her mother's consent.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18812128-421,00.html

Qantas ordered to save 480 jobs

QANTAS has been forced by the industrial court to try to stop almost 500 Sydney workers losing their jobs in its push to move maintenance work to Melbourne and Brisbane.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18812127-421,00.html

HMAS Parramatta welcomed home

HUNDREDS of families and friends are welcoming back the crew of HMAS Parramatta to Sydney after a six-month tour of the Persian Gulf.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18804228-1242,00.html

Iemma backs NSW-based naval project

NSW Premier Morris Iemma has pledged support for a joint French-Australian naval project, which would create up to 600 jobs in NSW.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18803535-1242,00.html

Surplus to strike $14bn

TREASURY'S record of underestimating the Government's Budget surplus will continue in the May Budget, with economists forecasting the surplus will be around $2.5 billion more than Treasury's forecast of $11.5 billion.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18792410-462,00.htm...

Optus cuts 60 as costs bite

TELCO Optus has sacked 60 field workers in a bid to cut costs in the competitive telecommunication's market.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18782920^153...

Villawood asbestos evacuation starts

THE evacuation of Sydney's Villawood detention centre will continue tomorrow despite claims some detainees are refusing to leave.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18782509-421,00.html

Teenager bitten by shark

A 15-year-old boy has been bitten by a shark while surfing at a beach in Newcastle, north of Sydney.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18785048-421,00.html

SA shows 'zero skills' crime tech

SOUTH Australian police have unveiled the latest computer program to help in the fight against terrorism.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18769866^153...

Hinch says illness could be terminal

CELEBRITY Melbourne broadcaster Derryn Hinch has admitted he is suffering from an illness that may prove terminal, but has again refused to divulge what it is.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18767738-2,00.html

Gunned down on city street

A MAN has been executed in a hail of bullets in the latest night of gun crime in Sydney.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18766830-2,00.html

Man's finger bitten in pub fight

A MAN had his finger bitten to the bone during a fight in the toilets of a central Sydney pub.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18760390-29277,00.html

Flood victims begin clean up

AS emergency food drops were being made with much needed food and medicine yesterday the grim reality that the damage bill from flooding in Katherine will run into millions of dollars was becoming apparant.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18759236-2,00.html

20 students suspended for drug use

TWENTY students from a high school in northern New South Wales have been suspended for smoking marijuana.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18750792-29280,00.html

Flood levels ease in Katherine

WATER levels are are easing in flood-ravaged Katherine, as business owners return to the CBD to begin mopping up.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18749978-2,00.html

Katherine on flood alert

RESIDENTS of Katherine were on high alert last night as rising waters brought back nightmare memories of 1998's devastating one-in-100-year flood.

Link: http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,18726...

Ten arrested after drug raids

TEN people have been arrested and a large amount of drugs and cash seized during a series of dawn raids across NSW and Victoria.

Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18731130...

Minister seen 'flipping the bird'

NEW South Wales Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal has apologised for "flipping the bird" at a fellow upper house member in State Parliament.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18730792-2,00.html

Mint money 'walked out in boots'

A MAN smuggled half a tonne of $2 coins out of the Royal Australian Mint in his boots and lunch box and kept notes of when he exchanged the money, a court has been told.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18729754-2,00.html

Singer Gene Pitney dies

SINGER Gene Pitney died in the middle of his UK tour, his agent said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18725418-29278,00.html

Patrols to halt Papuan exodus

INDONESIA has increased navy patrols in the waters between Papua and Australia amid claims more Papuan asylum seekers have landed in Australia and as the country's President railed against foreign "meddling" in the restive province.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18721132-2,00.html

Woman raped in home invasion

TWO men have raped a 37-year-old woman during a daylight home invasion in Perth.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18714967-2,00.html

Abattoir backs down over IR

IN a significant backdown, workers at a New South Wales abattoir dismissed under controversial new industrial laws will be given back their jobs.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18709069-2,00.html

Former Rivkin chauffeur held

THE man at the centre of the 11-year mystery over the death of Sydney model Caroline Byrne has been arrested in London and will be charged with her murder.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18705053-421,00.html

Change to rules of war urged

BRITISH Defence Secretary John Reid has called for changes to the international rules of warfare to counter the threat from modern-day terrorism.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18704945-23109,00.html

Moussaoui eligible for death penalty

A US jury today ruled that Al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui is eligible for the death penalty taking his trial into a new phase to decide whether he should be executed.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18704946-23109,00.html

Man and son escape carjackers

A SYDNEY man and his son have escaped from armed carjackers.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18692638-29280,00.html

Three terror accused to face court

A CRUCIAL piece of evidence discovered last week allowed police to swoop on three Melbourne men accused of involvement in an alleged terror cell.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18690444-421,00.html

Premier stands firm on uranium ban

THE West Australian premier is standing firm on his Government's opposition to uranium mining even as the Federal Government moves to sign a major uranium export deal with China.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18686695-31037,00.h...

Sea King heroes remembered

THE remote Nias village where nine Australians died on a mercy mission will forever rank with legendary battlefields as a symbol of tragedy, weeping families have heard at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the accident.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18685774-2,00.html

Trio arrested in terror raid

THREE Victorian men were arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences last night as part of the joint state and federal police investigation into alleged terror cells in Sydney and Melbourne.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18671554-421,00.html

Shots fired in robbery attempt

SHOTS have been fired during an attempted armed robbery at a post office in Sydney's south-west.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18667427-29277,00.html

Thomas gets five years for terror

THE first person in Australia to be convicted under new terrorism laws has been sentenced to five years' gaol.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18665257-421,00.html

Bus catches fire on highway

A GREYHOUND passenger bus has caught fire on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18646198-29277,00.html

Dad finds son dead in chopper

A FATHER tried in vain to pull his son from the burning wreckage of a home-built helicopter after it crashed in Victoria today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18643559-421,00.html

Telstra drops to record low

TELSTRA shares have fallen today to a record low level as questions about the full privatisation of the telco grow.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18616641-462,00.htm...

WA braces for Cyclone Glenda

RESIDENTS of the far north of Western Australia were tonight bracing for the sixth cyclone of the season.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18619850-421,00.html

Watchdogs investigate massacre claims

HUMAN rights watchdogs in Papua are investigating reports that up to 16 students have been murdered by Indonesian security forces.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18601697-2,00.html

Larry's darkness lifted at last

POWER has been restored in the heart of Innisfail as the man leading the reconstruction effort began to build a "momentum of morale" in the cyclone shattered community.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18591360-2,00.html

Jakarta recalls envoy as Papuan row grows

INDONESIA has recalled its ambassador to Australia and described as "deplorable" Canberra's decision to grant temporary protection visas to 42 West Papuan asylum-seekers who said they feared for their lives if they were sent home.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18592899-2,00.html

Ponting joins cricket's greats

Ricky Ponting downplayed the century he scored in the second test against South Africa overnight to join Don Bradman in the annals of Australian cricket.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18597195-2,00.html

Call for minimum sentences

THE New South Wales Government was failing to protect the community by not introducing minimum sentences for horrendous crimes like gang rape, the state opposition said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18587238-29280,00.html

Foreign fishing vessels seized

AUSTRALIAN authorities have seized two Chinese vessels laden with tonnes of reef fish off the Northern Territory.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18587388-29277,00.html

Cosgrove to head Larry relief

FORMER Australian defence force chief General Peter Cosgrove will lead the Cyclone Larry Taskforce, it was announced today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18575010-421,00.html

Heroin ship sinks to watery grave

THE North Korean freighter used to smuggle 150kg of heroin into Australia three years ago now rests on the ocean's bottom, after being destroyed by a pair of laser-guided bombs.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18578503-421,00.html

AFL star Cousins fined over booze bus

BROWNLOW medallist and former West Coast Eagles skipper Ben Cousins abandoned his girlfriend and Mercedes then fled from a booze bus because he feared media attention, a Perth court heard today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18548925-421,00.html

Katrina 'helped save' Larry lives

THE devastation Hurricane Katrina caused in the United States probably helped save lives in Queensland's cyclone ravaged north, an expert said today.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18549346-5001104,00.htm...

Ban on 'bloody' Aussie ad lifted

BRITISH advertising regulators have backed down and lifted their ban on the word "bloody" in Tourism Australia's controversial "Where the bloody hell are you?" campaign.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18509847-29277,00.html

Australia takes control of Test

AUSTRALIA'S bowlers Brett Lee and Shane Warne have plunged South Africa into deep trouble with top order wickets on the second day of the first Test.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18509808-2,00.html

Queen leaves Australia

THE Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have left Australia.

Their chartered British Airways Boeing 777 took off from Melbourne Airport at 3.30pm (AEDT) today.

Link: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18...

Games explode into life

THE XVIII Commonwealth Games are officially underway after being declared open by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Melbourne tonight.

Link: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18478598-31903,00....

The Queen arrives in Melbourne

THE Queen has arrived in Melbourne ahead of tonight's opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18473971-29277,00.html

Stars up close and personal with Queen

AN A-list of business and political leaders and prominent Australians are among 50 hand-picked VIPs who will watch the opening ceremony with the Queen.

Link: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18...

Cheers, flowers for Queen

THE Queen has received a warm welcome from hundreds of onlookers in Sydney at the first official engagement of her Australian tour.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18445157-1242,00.html

Queen arrives in Sydney

THE Queen has touched down in Sydney to begin her official Australian duties.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18445060-1242,00.html

Ban on uranium sales to stay

Australia will maintain its ban on uranium exports to India and other countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18437233-2,00.html

Queen touches down for visit

QUEEN Elizabeth and Prince Philip have arrived in Canberra to begin a five-day visit to Australia.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18436752-2,00.html

Sydney is smog capital: study

SYDNEY is the pollution capital of Australia with smog levels almost 10 times those of other cities, New South Wales opposition environment spokesman Michael Richardson says.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18425423-29280,00.html

NASA probe enters Mars orbit

NASA's latest Mars mission has entered the planet's orbit after a risky approach, controllers at the US space agency have said.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18424816-2,00.html

Architect Harry Seidler dies

Renowned architect Harry Seidler has died in his Sydney home, aged 82.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18400591-2,00.html

480 jobs go in Qantas closure

Qantas announced today it was cutting up to 480 jobs by closing its heavy maintenance operations in Sydney but believes it had averted any threat of industrial action in the lead-up to next week's Commonwealth Games.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18400579-2,00.html

Bandit barred from computer

POSTCARD bandit Brendan Abbott has failed in his Supreme Court challenge for access to a private computer while in gaol.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18390496-2,00.html

Police move to lock down Melbourne

Police are locking down parts of Melbourne as part of Commonwealth Games security preparations, with a week still to go before the opening ceremony.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18389565-2,00.html

Telstra billing stalled

TELSTRA's $500 million overhaul of its billing and customer relationship software platform has hit a roadblock.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18288505^153...

Anti-terror squads on alert

AN urgent anti-terror operation has been launched in Melbourne only 10 days before the Commonwealth Games begin.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18355472-421,00.html

Seventh legionnaires victim

THE search for the source of Melbourne's outbreak of legionnaires' disease continued today, as the potentially deadly airborne bacteria struck down its seventh victim.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18324579-2,00.html

PM gives protesters the slip

PRIME Minister John Howard has given a mob of protesters the slip tonight choosing a low key arrival at a Sydney hotel for a dinner marking the 10th anniversary of the election which brought his government to power.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18328087-2,00.html

29-hour siege ends with arrest

A 29-HOUR siege in inner-Sydney has ended, with the arrest of a man.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18306849-29277,00.html

Tunnel losing '$5m a month'

SYDNEY'S Cross City Tunnel could be losing its owners $5 million a month while motorists continue to avoid it, an economic analysis has found.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18305533-2,00.html

Sol's bum to get smacked

Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo, faces Goverment enquiries into his long-term agenda for the company.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18281323^153...

Premier backs Costello comments

NSW Labor Premier Morris Iemma has backed federal Treasurer Peter Costello's calls for immigrants who do not support Australian values to leave.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18258433-1242,00.html

Howard supports nuclear option

The Prime Minister has lended support to the idea of replacing coal with uranium when doing-so becomes viable.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18257304-29277,00.html

Feds have no regrets about the Bali Nine

The Australian Federal Police are reported to have no regrets over how they dealt with the Bali Nine.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18257404-29277,00.html

Riot bomb makers go to gaol.

Prison terms have been handed to two people found to have been making fuel bombs to be used in the Cronulla riots last year.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18235633-1242,00.html

Saltie found in Sydney

A salt water crocodile has been found in Cromer, a subsurb of Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18246531-1702,00.html

Self Government on Norfolk Island under review

Norfolk Island is being asked to consider the future of self-government after being told that the current regime is financially un-viable.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18211643-29277,00.html

Sukumaran and Chan lodge appeals

Bali Nine ring leaders, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are apealling against their death sentences.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18213975-2,00.html

Fees Fees Fees - Banks roll in the cash

Australia's big banks are cashed up, courtesy of their customers.

Link: http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,18189853-462,00.htm...

Defence Minister orders a review of equipment

The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, has ordered an independent inquiry into Defence equipment procurement.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18199667-421,00.html

Self-confessed paedophile can't control urges

A South Australian paedophile has been placed on remand awaiting a sentencing hearing in the Supreme Court after a local court heard that he cannot control his desires which allegedly include eating his victims.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18177823-1246,00.html

Tasmania and South Australia to go to the polls

Tasmanians will vote for a new government (or the existing one) on the 18th March. South Australians go to the polls in their State on the same day.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18177751-1244,00.html

US Government: Show us the money

The Palestine Authority has been asked to return $50m in aid funding to the US.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18187876-23109,00.html

Messrs Howard and Downer succeed in clemency plea

Two convicted drug dealers on death row in Vietnam have been spared their fate after an application from the Commonwealth Government to have their sentences commuted was considered by the Vietnamese President.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18187832-23109,00.html

Bird flu is on the move

Europe is in the grip of a mutating bird flu attack

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18176931-401,00.html

Apple machines vulnerable

There is a virus circulating that affects Apple machines running the iChat application.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18176910^153...

British hacker fights extradition

A Briton accused of hacking a US Military computer wants to stay at home.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18154983^153...

Life sentences handed to the last of the Bali Nine

The last three members of the Bali Nine drug syndicate have been sentenced to life in gaol.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18156193-2,00.html

Royal Australian Mint robbed

A man has been charged with stealing newly minted $2 coins from the mint in Canberra.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18151668-29277,00.html

Australia wins the series

Australia has beaten Sri Lanka in the third final.

Australia was set a target of 267 after Sri Lanka were 9/266 on the last ball of their innings.

Australia now prepare to tour South Africa whilst Sri Lanka will be heading to Bangladesh. The old enemy, England, will tour India.

Link: http://iserv.com.au/

Australia squares the series

Sri Lanka are all out for 201 after being set a target of 369 by Australia, the highest score ever at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia started poorly, at one stage being 3/10 after Adam Gilchrist scored another duck but the partnership of Ricky Ponting (124 off 127) and Andrew Symonds (151 off 127) totalling 275 created the score with little probability of being bettered by Sri Lanka.

Link: http://iserv.com.au/

Diggers will stay in Iraq until the job is done

The Prime Minister, John Howard, has repeated a commitment made at the start of the War Against Terrorism that Australian soldiers will stay in Iraq until their work is completed.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18122845-2,00.html

The Queen is to visit Sydney after opening games.

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, will visit Sydney the day after opening the 18th Games of the Commonwealth. It is said that the ageing monarch will make this her swansong as Prince Charles prepares to assume many of her official roles.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18105218-421,00.html

XPTs off the rails

After an XPT power car was found to have a split axle, all XPT services have been cancelled until further notice. Buses will replaced trains on affected services.

Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18106118...

NSW Premier calls Graham Mulligan a f-ckw-t.

A few minutes before the start of a press conference at the Council of Australian Governments conference the Premier of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, referred to the new CEO of the Cross City Tunnel as a f-ckw-t.

Today? This f-ckw-t who's the new CEO of the Cross City Tunnel has ... been saying what controversy? There is no controversy...

Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18103680...

Bomb hoaxer escapes a gaol sentence

A man who threatened to blow up a railway station on the Gold Coast, Queensland, has avoided gaol on the basis of his mental condition.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18092720-1702,00.html

Dodgey Bros flogging smoke alarms

There are reports circulating that someone posing as a Queensland fireman is collecting deposits to install smoke alarms in people's homes and then not returning to complete the work.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18094214-29279,00.html

Pay for email or be pushed aside

Yahoo and AOL are planning a service that gives priority to emails whose carriage has been subscribed to by their members.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18053964^153...

Telstra starts exporting employment

Telstra has begun the first phase of their plan to sack 12,000 people and either make their positions redundant or replace them with contractors based in India.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18049637^153...

Queensland Premier pondering on calling it a day

Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie is reported to have stated that he will quit politics if he cannot fix problems in Queensland's health system.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18044104-421,00.html

McGrath's wife in hospital again

Cricketer, Glenn McGrath's wife is back in hospital dealing with a suspected relapse of cancer.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18042217-2,00.html

After 32 years, Bankcard says goodbye

Australia's first, and only, home brewed credit card, the Bankcard will be abolished by the end of the year.

Link: http://smh.com.au/news/business/bankcard-to-be-phased-out/20...

WA Police Force mop up the failure of Victorian colleagues

The Victorian Police are being accused of failing to notify police in other states about the mn who was shot dead in a scuffle with a lone Western Australian Police officer last Tuesday.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18015737-421,00.html

Chopper falls from the sky killing three

A helicopter carrying two employees of Parkes Shire Council on a mission to spot noxious weeds came down killing both men and the pilot.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18015736-2,00.html

Suspect arrested over Norfolk Island murder

A man has been arrested in New Zealand and is awaiting extradition to Norfolk Island to answer to the charges. A guilty verdict would render the suspect liable to the death penalty because Norfolk Island is reliant on a 1901 version of the New South Wales Crimes Act though this would be commuted to life imprisonment due to constitutional arrangements.

Link: http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18006696-500...

Voters like their Prime Minister

A recent poll indicates that not only support for the Government is high but voters both want and expect Prime Minister, John Howard, to lead the Government to the next election and beyond.

Link: http://smh.com.au/news/national/voters-expect-pm-to-stay/200...

Petrol thief shot dead

An alleged fuel thief was fatally wounded today after being shot by a policeman who intercepted him for lifting petrol from a service station in Karratha, WA.

Link: http://smh.com.au/news/national/policeman-shoots-fuel-thief-...

Report slams Government on police numbers

The NSW Government has come under attack by a report by the NSW Police Association which condemn's government mismanagement of the police and lack of willingness to provide adequate resources.

Link: http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17975301-500...

Royal Australian Navy goes shopping

The RAN is on the hunt for new amphibious landing ships which would double as carriers and possibly a STOVL version of the JSF warplane that is currently under development.

Link: http://smh.com.au/news/National/ADI-Tenix-unveil-bidding-pla...

Hard time for people smuggler

The Northern Territory Supreme Court gave a people smuggler a five year gaol sentence for his crimes.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17953541-17001,00.html

It's just not cricket

A club cricketer from Melbourne who threatened to kill an umpire has been banned for 10 years.

Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17973419-1243,00.html

iServ Mk 9 goes live

Welcome to the new site. As you may notice when browsing through there are a few pages that are not here yet, though over the next few days I will get around to finishing them. The new news service and the editorial section which I know call 'The Forum' is up and fully working, as is the membership section. Please sign up for a free account to take full advantage of iServ's content.

Whilst I may change this at a later stage, for the time-being, reading and writing user comments in The Forum will be restricted to members. You will need to approve first party cookies in your web browser (most have this ON by default) in order to be able to log in once you are a member. If you find a bug somewhere feel free to drop me an email at chatbot@bigpond.com - though please don't email me about pages missing (I already know about that :-p) or whether you like the site or not, we can deal with this in The Forum at some stage. Enjoy.

Link: http://iserv.com.au/

Telstra to sack 4,000

Sol Trujillo is ready to lay off the first 4,000 Telstra employees as part of his five year re-structure plan which includes a review of products and a massive offshoring of labour to Indian IT contractors.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17841661%5E1...

Sol adds two more amigos

Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo, has added two more of his pals as senior managers of Telstra's departments.

Link: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17877132%5E1...