U.N. ENVOY SNUBS TALIBAN.(MAIN)

Byline: KARL SCHOENBERGER Knight Ridder

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Progress toward forming a post-Taliban government in Afghanistan appeared stalled on Monday as the United Nations special representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, arrived in Islamabad for a round of consultations with Pakistani and exiled Afghan leaders.

Brahimi snubbed a request for a meeting from the Taliban ambassador to Islamabad, saying he was not optimistic about the possibility of opening a dialogue with Taliban leaders at this time, following the Taliban's arrest and execution on Friday of Afghan Pashtun tribal leader leader Abdul Haq, who was seen as a key participant in political …

Around the region.(Capital Region)

TODAY

COMMUNITY SALES

Annual Shaker Christmas Craft Fair

Where: Shaker Heritage Society, 875 Watervliet Shaker Road, Colonie When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: Free Contact: 456-7890; e-mail: shakerwv@crisny.org or http://www.shakerheritage.org Notes: More than 75 local artisans show and sell handmade goods.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Ski and Snowboard Expo

Where: Convention Center, Empire State Plaza, Madison Avenue, Albany When: 4-9 p.m. Cost: $8 adults; $4 children 4-11 Contact: 383-6183 or http://www.albanyskiandsnow

boardexpo.com Notes: Winter sporting equipment, fashions and travel accommodations; part of proceeds go to …

Guard C.J. Henry now officially at Kansas

Guard C.J. Henry officially enrolled at Kansas on Tuesday and will be eligible to play next season.

The move reunites Henry with his brother, Xavier, and completes one of the most talented incoming classes Kansas ever had.

"We've been waiting to announce C.J. and are proud to formally do it today," said coach Bill Self, who has been recruiting C.J. since 2004.

Self said the 6-foot-4 Henry will be an immediate contributor despite not having played organized basketball for four years. The Jayhawks were Big 12 champions this season and will be among the preseason favorites for the NCAA title in 2009-10.

The Jayhawks return every …

Lawyer for Springfield Muslims calls on cops to deliver evidence

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Circadian Pattern Found in Sickle Cell Pain Crises.

1999 NOV 29 - (NewsRx.com) -- There is a circadian pattern in sickle cell pain crises, and it differs between the genders.

A. del Mundo, of the University of Illinois, and associates reviewed all patients with sickle cell who presented to the emergency department. They hypothesized that there would be a rhythm to the pain crises.

Their findings, which supported the hypothesis, were presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians Research Forum, held October 11-12, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The title of their study is "Circadian Variation in the Presentation of Sickle Cell Pain Crisis."

Sex, age, and time of presentation were recorded for …

Pennsylvania Proposing Mandated Set of Disclosures To Mortgage Borrowers.

HARRISBURG, Penn. -- A regulation requiring mortgage companies to use a Department of Banking-mandated disclosure form to protect borrowers is being proposed to the Commonwealth's Independent Regulatory Review Commission.

The recommendation follows a study of mortgage disclosures performed by the department in 2005. That study followed an earlier request from the General Assembly asking the banking department for a statewide study on mortgage foreclosures in the state, said Heather Tyler, communications director, Pennsylvania's Department of Banking.

What the study showed, Tyler said, were widespread issues with appraisals, brokers and lenders. The …

MAN ARRAIGNED IN SALEOF BOGUS YEARBOOK ADS.(CAPITAL REGION)

GLENS FALLS A 22-year-old Glens Falls man was arraigned Thursday on fraud charges after he allegedly collected $90 in checks from two local businesses by falsely representing himself as an advertising salesman for the Adirondack Community College yearbook.

Ernest L. Mears of 7 Harrison Ave., who just began work as a department store clerk, was sent …

Sprint, Virgin Mobile agree to settle lawsuits

Sprint Nextel Corp. said Wednesday it has reached a "memo of understanding" that would settle a series of shareholder lawsuits challenging its $483 million acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA.

In a regulatory filing, the Overland Park, Kansas-based company said it and Virgin were releasing additional details about the structure of the deal and the negotiations that led up to the two companies reaching an agreement.

In return, the filing said, the plaintiffs in five cases filed in New Jersey state court have agreed to withdraw their lawsuits once a judge approves the settlement and the acquisition is completed. They have also agreed to withdraw two …

Flowery cow trails herd - of visitors

Robert and Eleanor Wechsler can relate to their favorite cowbecause they share a similar trait: They are out-of-towners.

The Florida residents have been crisscrossing the Windy City for aweek, map in one hand as a guide and a disposable camera in the otherto capture the memories.

Naturally, they are drawn to the "Out of Cowtowner."

"I love him," said Eleanor Wechsler, an educator in the Miamisuburb of Davie. "We've been tourists for a week, schlepping thisbag around the same way (the cow) has been with his backpack."

Indeed, the mustard-colored cow is a stereotypical tourist in thecity. Staring down at a map of the Loop, the cow is sporting …

AZERI CHECKERS TO COMPETE IN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT.

Baku, August 7 (AzerTAc). Azerbaijani checkers will compete in the rapid draughts International Tournament starting today in the Netherlands. The Azeri squad, led by coach Boris Mushailov, includes Famil …

GOVERNMENT ACTION.(CAPITAL REGION)

MILTON TOWN BOARD

Tuesday, Sept. 8

Action Items: Unanimously approved the motion to request from the state a reduction of the 55 mph speed limit on upper Rowland Street from Route 29 to Geyser Road. The town will receive $11,138 for maintenance-free money under the Real Property Tax Law based on the final analysis of all town property assessments. Accepted a motion to approve Water Supply District No. 1 for the proposed 40-lot subdivision of Pine Bluff on Fairground and Aldrich Avenues. The developers are responsible for all costs of a new 1,500-foot, ten-inch water main supplying the new subdivision. Approved the appointment of Edward Lasky as an …

South Korea beats Saudi Arabia in WCup qualifier

South Korea moved to the top of Asia Group 2 Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in their World Cup qualifying match.

Two second-half goals gave South Korea the win and takes them to the top of the table with seven points from three matches. Saudi Arabia, with a win and a draw so far, have four points and are placed fourth.

Despite numerous attempts on goal, neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.

Saudi Arabia were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Naif Hazazi …

Police officers among seven dead in R60 crash.(News)

FOUR members of the SAPS were among the seven people who died in the horror collision on the R60 between Ashton and Robertson on Wednesday night.

They were Rahiem Raymond, 30, Valton October, 32, and Isaac Redelinghuys, 36, all from the Rondebosch police station, and policewoman Anzel de Klerk, 18, from the Simon's Town station. The …

Overexpression of DNMT1 and DNMT3b contributes to hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

2003 SEP 29 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Overexpression of DNMT1 and DNMT3b contributes to hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

According to published research from Japan, "Downregulation of tumor suppressor genes by hypermethylation of 5'-CpGs is one of the important mechanisms involved in tumor development.

"DNA (5-cytosine)-methyltransferases (DNMTs) are enzymes that methylate the cytosine residue of CpGs, and four types have been identified (DNMT1, 2, 3a, and 3b). To examine the involvement of DNMTs in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, we measured DNMT mRNAs in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs)," wrote M. Nagai and colleagues, Showa University School of Medicine. …

US Patent Issued to The Nielsen Company (US) on April 26 for "Method and System for Measuring Market-Share for an Entire Telecommunication Market" (California, Massachusetts Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 29 -- United States Patent no. 7,933,392, issued on April 26, was assigned to The Nielsen Company (US) LLC (Schaumburg, Ill.).

"Method and System for Measuring Market-Share for an Entire Telecommunication Market" was invented by Kevin Hannan (San Mateo, Calif.), Jerome Baccelli (Berkeley, Calif.), Ranney Fry (Sausalito, Calif.), Laura Taylor (Alameda, Calif.) and Tran Thi Truong (Brookline, Mass.).

According to the abstract released by the U.

S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method for collecting data to measure market-share for a defined telecommunication market. A market of interest is defined and a random panel of numbers is created. A call set-up is initiated to the created random panels by generating signaling messages wherein the signaling messages access a Calling Name Services (CNAM) database, a Local Number Portability (LNP) database, an E-911 Automated Location Information (ALI) database and a Line Information Database (LIDB) using signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol. Generated signaling messages access ENUM (Telephone Number Mapping) database and Internet Protocol (IP) Peering database using IP. The response to the generated signaling messages are used to determine assignment status, business ownership, businesses versus residential status and the technology employed for a given number in the created panel. In one embodiment, the process is repeated over a period in order to determine changes to the market-share and derivative metrics for the telecommunication market."

The patent was filed on May 31, 2006, under Application No. 11/445,069.

For further information please visit: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?

Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7933392&OS=7933392&RS=7933392

For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

PacWest calendar and standings

BASEBALL

THROUGH SUNDAY'S GAMES

� W L Pct. GB All

Dixie State 19 9 .679 -- 24-13

Hawaii Pacific 14 10 .583 3 18-19

Grand Canyon 15 13 .536 4 20-20

Hawaii-Hilo 10 14 .417 7 15-21

Academy of Art 6 18 .250 11 6-33

Last week

Dixie State 1, Hawaii-Hilo 0 (12)

Dixie State 5, Hawaii-Hilo 4 (7)

Dixie State 7, Hawaii-Hilo 4

Hawaii-Hilo 4, Dixie State 3 (7)

Dixie State 6, Hawaii-Hilo 0

Hawaii-Hilo 12, Hawaii Pacific 5

Hawaii-Hilo 4, Hawaii Pacific 0 (7)

Hawaii Pacific 9, Hawaii-Hilo 7

Hawaii-Hilo 11, Hawaii Pacific 2 (7)

Hawaii Pacific 3, Hawaii-Hilo 2 (7)

Hawaii-Hilo 5, Hawaii Pacific 4 (7)

�

SOFTBALL

THROUGH SUNDAY'S GAMES

� W L Pct. GB All

Dixie State 17 3 .850 -- 27-10

Hawaii-Hilo 18 4 .818 -- 25-11

Hawaii Pacific 16 4 .800 1 30-9

Academy of Art 13 9 .591 5 23-17

NDNU 10 11 .476 7 1/2 21-25

Grand Canyon 9 11 .450 6 17-22

Chaminade 8 14 .364 10 14-30

BYU-Hawaii 3 19 .136 15 5-29

Dominican 1 20 .048 16 1/2 2-36

Last week

Hawaii-Hilo 5, BYU-Hawaii 0

Hawaii-Hilo 10, BYU-Hawaii 0 (5)

Chaminade 10, BYU-Hawaii 5 (8)

Chaminade 3, BYU-Hawaii 0

Hawaii-Hilo 4, Chaminade 0

Chaminade 3, Hawaii-Hilo 2

Hawaii Pacific 11, BYU-Hawaii 0 (5)

Hawaii Pacific 2, BYU-Hawaii 0 (8)

Hawaiii-Hilo 5, Chaminade 2

Hawaii-Hilo 10, Chaminade 3

�

WOMEN'S TENNIS

PACWEST CHAMPIONSHIP At BYUH courts

Quarterfinals

Chaminade 6, Academy of Art 3

Grand Canyon 5, Hawaii-Hilo 3

Hawaii Pacific 5, Dixie State 0

BYU-Hawaii 5, Dominican 0

Semifinals

BYU-Hawaii 5, Chaminade 0

Hawaii Pacific 5, Grand Canyon 0

Academy of Art 5, Dominican 0

Hawaii-Hilo 5, Dixie State 0

Championship

BYU-Hawaii 5, Hawaii Pacific 0

Third place

Grand Canyon 5, Chaminade 0

Fifth place

Academy of Art 5, Hawaii-Hilo 2

Seventh place

Dominican 5, Dixie State 4

�

CALENDAR

TODAY

GOLF

PacWest Men: Championship, St. George Utah.

INTERNET RADIO

PacWest Magazine: 10 a.m., pacificwestsports.tv

RADIO

UHH Spotlight: 11:15 a.m., 850-AM, Hilo.

HPU Sports Beat: 2 p.m., 1500-AM.

TENNIS

Nonconference men: Hawaii-Hilo at UC Davis.

�

TOMORROW

SOFTBALL

PacWest: Dixie State at Chaminade (2), 2 p.m., Central Oahu Regional Park.

TENNIS

Nonconference women: Hawaii-Hilo at Cal State Stanislaus.

�

THURSDAY

RADIO

UHH Spotlight: 11:15 a.m., 850-AM, Hilo.

SOFTBALL

PacWest: Dixie State at BYU Hawaii (2), 2 p.m., BYUH field.

TENNIS

Nonconference women: SUNY Albany at Hawaii Pacific, 3:30 p.m., Central Oahu Regional Park; Hawaii-Hilo at Academy of Art.

Nonconference men: Hawaii-Hilo vs. Grand Canyon, San Francisco.

�

FRIDAY

BASEBALL

PacWest: Hawaii-Hilo at Hawaii Pacific (2), 4 p.m., Hans L'Orange Field.

TENNIS

Nonconference women: SUNY Albany at BYU-Hawaii, 9 a.m., BYUH courts; Hawaii-Hilo at Dominican

Nonconference men: Hawaii-Hilo vs.UC\0x00San Diego, San Francisco.

�

SATURDAY

BASEBALL

PacWest: Hawaii-Hilo at Hawaii Pacific (2), 2 p.m., Hans L'Orange Field.

SOFTBALL

PacWest: Dixie State at Hawaiii Pacific (2), noon, Okita Field.

TENNIS

Nonconference women: Hawaii-Hilo at Sonoma State.

Nonconference men: Hawaii-Hilo at Sonoma State.

�

SUNDAY

BASEBALL

PacWest: Hawaii-Hilo at Hawaii Pacific (2), noon, Hans L'Orange Field.

�

All fudged up.(CONFIDENTIAL)(Brief article)

ALL FUDGED UP ... would be the best way to describe one Annapolis woman. Cops responding to a late night sexual assault call instead found a distraught lady whose arms and clothes were smeared with fudge while copious amounts of it overflowed her purse. A little poking around found a nearby toilet clogged by "a large amount of fudge," and the alert gendarmes soon discovered that security cameras at nearby Uncle Bob's Fudge Kitchen had captured the hapless fudgenapper at her worst.

Tales of the City

We don't need this kind of hero

YOU CAN picture the scene so clearly, can't you? The staff at Timemagazine's New York HQ are in serious conclave. James Kelly, themagazine's managing editor, announces that they must address thevital question of whose face should adorn the cover of Time'sChristmas special. Who should be nominated the mag's "Person of theYear"?

The title goes back 74 years and carries enormous prestige. Itsrecipient must be the man or woman who has had the greatest impact onthe course of history in the last 12 months. It's not an award forheroism or virtue, but for power, impact, success, clout andleverage. Hitler was named Person of the Year in 1938, and Stalin inboth 1939 and 1942, though other years have seen more benign figureshonoured, such as Nelson Mandela and JK Rowling.

So the Time staff stand around considering which luminary of 2001best fits the bill. And in less time than it takes to say Mazar-I-Sharif, one name appears and silences the discussion: Osama binLaden.

Can they be serious? Certainly. Who else caused such local mayhemand such global fallout, destabilised most of the Westerndemocracies, put the entire world on security alert, filled everynewspaper every day, destroyed the airline industry, deep-sixed thetourist industry, sent world leaders scurrying across the skies, putthe words "anthrax" and "bioterrorism" on everyone's lips and causedthe entire geopolitical universe to re-group and re-align? Whoappeared on more T-shirts than anyone else? Whose name was enteredmore often than any other in the search engines of the internet?

But the chaps at the magazine aren't sure they should risk it. Thelast thing that America needs is to think that, all over Afghanistan,and Pakistan and Iraq, copies of Time will be brandished as proofthat even America - even a magazine based in New York - has finallywoken up to the greatness of Osama. In Manhattan, they're stilldisputing whether they can make him "Person of the Year" without re-defining the word "person" to mean "complete bastard".

It's a tricky one. Doesn't it confer a kind of nobility on someoneto memorialise them in this hallowed spot - second only, in prestige,to putting their head on a postage stamp - when your ground troopsare currently trying to smoke him out of his underground hidey-hole,like rodent operatives gassing rats? Having his face on the cover,the jutting chin, those cold brown eyes - isn't there a sense thathe's being carved on to Mount Rushmore? And you wonder: what is itthat we actually feel for this man? It's not exactly hatred orcontempt or fury, but an unsettling amalgam of horror and amazementand - can it be admiration?

In an attempt to clarify one's thoughts, I turned to Demon Lover:The Roots of Terrorism by Robin Morgan, a classic work by thecelebrated American feminist and activist. And there Ms Morganexplains it all for you: "The terrorist is the ultimate sexual idolof a male-centred cultural tradition that stretches from pre-Biblical times to the present; he is the logical extension of thepatriarchal hero-martyr. He is the Demon Lover and society is(secretly or openly) fascinated by him. He walks with death and isthus inviolate; he is an idealist but a man of action, a fanatic ofdedication and an archetype of self-sacrifice... His intensity reeksof glamour. Women, we are told, lust to have him. Men, we are told,long to be him. He is sexy because he is deadly; he excites with thethrill of fear..."

And you think, actually no, I can't be doing with all this half-whispered, quasi-erotic myth-making any longer. This may be where theintellectual response of America is going, but we don't have to joinin. The British press is happier speculating about Osama's tinymembrum virile, and gleefully reporting that he wears XXL boxershorts from Man at C&A. Let's keep it that way. And let us urge Timemagazine to make anyone else Person of the Year - Rudy Giuliani,Nicole Kidman, anyone. Hell, even Tony Blair...

When Greece gets too hot for anoraks

WE'VE ALL gone off Greece a bit lately, haven't we? The blueAegean, ouzo, democracy, Demis Roussos, Maria Callas, souvlaki,baklava and Arianna Stassinopoulos-Huffington notwithstanding, Ithink it's fair to say that the image of Greece as a fun-seeker'sparadise populated by thousands of Penelope Cruz beauties dancing tothe zithery strains of Theodorakis played by laughing, moustachioedpeasants in voluminous white bloomers has taken something of a knocklately. It's not just the way they lock up a dozen innocent Britishplane-spotters for taking photographs of their seedy airports, northat they keep them incarcerated for weeks on suspicion of espionage -no, what's really insulting is that they refuse to believe thatanyone could possibly travel the world watching planes taking off andlanding, and writing down their serial numbers in little books. Theydon't understand how it could be a leisure activity for grown-ups. Ofall the bloody cheek. Do they know nothing of the British way oflife?

In an attempt to make amends for his countrymen's treatment of theaerial anoraks, Stelios Haji-Iannou, the busy Greek boss of thediscount-fares airline easyJet, has offered to fly relatives of thehapless 12 out to Kalamata, gratis, on one of his own planes. Thecase hasn't come to trial yet, but the police claim that they have"fresh evidence" to put before the judges in the next day or so, andthe relatives can offer much-needed support.

Now, I've flown on easyJet and I know what a unique experience itcan be. So I suggest to the relatives that, if they set off right nowfor the check-in desk at Luton Airport, by the time they've heard allthe explanations about the shocking weather conditions in thePeloponnese and been told about the eight-hour delay, when they'vespent what seems like days sitting in the airport reading magazines,eating fast food and weeping with a boredom that's alleviated bytrips to the Departures board, where the estimated time of departurekeeps moving back half an hour, like a reverse game of Grandmother'sFootsteps, and drives you into sock- chewing frenzies of frustration,by the time they've boarded the plane and discovered that theirgratis fare entitles them to no food or drink or other such "frills",although you may be treated to an exciting display of Losing One'sRag by the talented cabin staff - by the time you've been through thewhole easyJet experience, it should be about time for the trial tostart.

And the plane-spotters can look out of the windows of their lonelycells, and note down the serial number of the plane that's deliveringtheir flesh and blood, so cheaply and so late, in their hour of need.

Don't throw the book at me

I'M GUILTY of a shocking faux pas. I have, apparently, abused myposition in the bare-faced pursuit of riches. Goodness, the fuss Icaused by asking readers for a hand in tracing a quotation in Nemo'sAlmanac, the literary competition, in which you track down 70-oddabstruse bits of poetry and prose in the hope of winning a book tokenworth tuppence ha'penny. Thanks to everyone who wrote and e-mailedthe answer (it was George Gershwin), but I can't do it again. TheNemo fanatics out there are tut-tutting about my soliciting help viathis column - a crime worse, in their eyes, than the contestants onUniversity Challenge calling their tutors on mobile phones. So Iwon't be asking for more help, except to note in passing that thelines "Now wasn't it a funny thing/ To get a sight of JM Synge/ Andnotice nothing but his hat?/ Yet life is often queer like that",carry a strange resonance when you know them terribly well but can'tquite remember the author's name...

Why the 2002 Pirelli Calendar girls should just throw off theArmani

PIRELLI CALENDARS, we used to explain to suspicious girlfriends,are different. This is not a soft-porn garage-pin-up thingy, this isa clever satire on the fetishising of the human body, byphotographing naked bottoms as if they were sand-dunes with Jeeptracks on them, or Eva Herzigova eating pasta wearing only an apron.Fleshy, but classy, you see. Sadly, for the new calendar, Pirelli haschanged its mind, and clothed the girls in Armani. Does Mr Armanithink a woman could be more beautiful clothed than naked?"Absolutely," says Armani. "Clothing in this way allows you tofantasise and dream."

But it's kinda hard to fantasise about this peculiar series ofimages by Peter Lindbergh. They're all young starlets hanging out ona Hollywood set. Miss January is a vague young blonde who hasevidently forgotten her name, her hair appointment, and her place inthe script. Miss February (pictured above) totters towards the viewerin her mother's bra and pants, apparently demanding to know who haspinched her antiperspirant.

Miss March has collapsed on the roadway, possibly from the pain inher feet - she clearly suffers from phenomenal verrucas. Miss Aprilis a swimsuited waif, standing in a torrential rainstorm, beinglaughed at by uncaring lighting-riggers...

It's awful. The only fantasy you can come up with is of rescuingthem all in a Land-Rover, driving them home swathed in warm blankets,and making them a hot drink. The girls' expressions do not say "Irepresent a clever satire on the fetishising of desire". They mostlysay "How soon can I go home?", and "I'll catch my death in theseawful clothes". Do Sgr Armani, Mr Lindbergh and the Pirelli familyget off on that?

Look forward, governor

Memories of our childhood can sometimes distort presentrealities. In Gov. LePage's youth, the industries that droveemployment in Maine - logging, paper, fishing and canning -supported the economy. The present reality presents a differentpicture.

National and world populations have more than doubled, and we nowlive in a global economy, whether we like it or not. The industriesof the past are not going to return, no matter how much theenvironmental laws are weakened. This is in fact counter-productiveto what Maine really needs: to harness the intelligence and workethic of her people.

Development of clean energy and emphasizing an education gearedtoward the Internet age will be the future engines that driveMaine's economy.

Karen Mundo

Rockport

2000 jobs go as Kvaerner shuts

Final blow for Clyde shipyard could backfire on Labour officialslast week with a warning that the group had to be "half the size buttwice as good", and said it would withdraw from one of its four coreareas - almost certainly shipbuilding. Almskog had been carrying outa review of the group after record losses of #150 million last year.Almskog said there would be "no sacred cows" in his radical plans.

Unions at Govan and Clydbank are getting together to opposeclosure and, if necessary, back the selling process. But one well-placed union source is already pessimistic about the outcome. Hetold the Sunday Herald that he thought the prospect of an MoD orderfor Govan was simply paying lip service during the election campaignto saving the shipyard.

He said it was an ominous sign when Tony Blair visited the Yarrowshipyard on the north side of the Clyde six weeks ago, but bypassedGovan. Another union source said they were looking to the governmentand not Kvaerner to save jobs. "We do not want crocodile tears - wewant support. Will the government find a buyer or will we be left toour own devices?"Some fear that Kvaerner will want to kill off Govan's viability,making it easier for them to sell other yards on the continent tocompetitors.The future of Kvaerner's operations could dominate the second weekof the Scottish election campaign, replacing the parties' preparedpropoganda.SCOTTISH Office ministers have failed in their bid to keepKvaerner on the Upper Clyde - a devastating blow which will wipe out2000 jobs in the west of Scotland and could erode Labour'scommandinglead in the Scottish election campaign.The Norwegian industrial conglomerate will announce the closure ofboth its Govan shipyard, which employs 1100, and its Clydebankengineering works, which has 800 on its payroll. The Sunday Heraldunderstands the workforce will receive 90 days' notice of redundancyon Tuesday, at cost to the company of #14 million.The grim news will come just a day after Labour's manifesto launchand at the end of a week when they thought they had the SNP on theback foot.Ministers had been battling over the last month to keep Kvaerner'soperations open at least until a buyer could be found. The firm hasbenefited from about #90m in subsidies since it took over the Govanyard in 1987.But, Kvaerner maintains the shipyard has never been profitableunder its ownership. The closures will drop a bombshell into themidst of the Scottish election campaign. It will be a particularembar-rasment to Industry Minister Lord MacDonald, himself a formershipyard worker.The SNP, who are in a close contest in Govan, will be quick toexploit an example of Labour seemingly letting down its ownsupporters.A source close to the negotiations to keep the factories opensaid: "Gus MacDonald and his team have worked tremendously hard tokeep Govan and Clydebank open."The STUC's Bill Spiers is appealing for a party political truce onthe issue - "We do not want this turned into a party politicalfootball; we want everyone to get behind the Kvaerner workforcewhatever happens on Tuesday," he said.It is understood that Kvaerner were told in no uncertain terms bythe Scottish Office that it would be costly for them to shut down.In its home country of Norway, the state picks up a largeproportion of the bill when companies have to close.Both the government and unions are still hopeful buyers can befound, but this may prove easier for Clydebank than for Govan.Political pressure will mount on Labour to prove the Union of 1707can still work for Scotland. If the London-based Ministry of Defencebrings forward the timetable for ordering roll on, roll-off ferries,and if that #250m contract is awarded to Govan, it would be mucheasier to find a buyer.One source said: "It is difficult to buy a yard which has an emptyorder book."One of the leading candidates to purchase the Govan yard isFerguson shipbuilders of Port Glasgow. And they may get it on thecheap. Kvaerner recently sold some of its Norwegian operations forone crown - about 8p. A government source indicated the price forGovan would be "either a penny or a pound."But a senior source at Ferguson - which was once owned by Kvaerner- said the company had not received any approaches from the ScottishOffice regarding a bid. Ferguson would in any case slash theworkforce. The source said: "Govan could only be run as an additionto Port Glasgow - it could not be run at its current size."To be an effective shipyard, you have to invest. Kvaerner is agood facility, but we are a niche market and do not want to harmthat."Kvaerner will announce its restructuring plans to the London StockExchange on Tuesday morning and then publish them on the internet -with the closure of its West of Scotland operations featuring assomething of a footnote.The unions know Kvaerner wants to quit. And they fear that, whenredundancy notices are issued, the most skilled workers will goelsewhere. This would make the factories less viable for potentialbuyers who may be looking for a going concern. Already, Kvaernerhave been bringing training to a standstill and refusing subsidiesfrom government.Kjell Almskog, Kvaerner's president and chief executive, started ameeting with union officials last week with a warning that the grouphad to be "half the size but twice as good", and said it wouldwithdraw from one of its four core areas - almost certainlyshipbuilding. Almskog had been carrying out a review of the groupafter record losses of #150m last year. Almskog said there would be"no sacred cows" in his radical plans.Unions at Govan and Clydbank are getting together to opposeclosure and, if necessary, back the selling process. But one well-placed union source is already pessimistic about the outcome. Hetold the Sunday Herald that he thought the prospect of an MoD orderfor Govan was simply paying lip service during the election campaignto saving the shipyard. He said it was an ominous sign when TonyBlair visited the Yarrow shipyard on the north side of the Clyde sixweeks ago, but bypassed Govan. Another union source said they werelooking to the government and not Kvaerner to save jobs. "We do notwant crocodile tears - we want support. Will the government find abuyer or will we be left to our own devices?"Some fear that Kvaerner will want to kill of Govan's viability,making it easier for them to sell other yards on the continent tocompetitors.The future of Kvaerner's operations could dominate the second weekof the Scottish election campaign, replacing the parties' preparedpropoganda.

BKB: Jackson fires Opals to opening win at Games

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2004
BKB: Jackson fires Opals to opening win at Games

ATHENS, Aug 14 AAP - Superstar Lauren Jackson led Australia to an 85-73 victory over
Nigeria in the opening match of the Olympic women's basketball tournament today.

The Opals led at every change but had to withstand a last-quarter surge by the African
champions, who briefly got within seven points in the match at the Helleniko Indoor Arena.

Jackson, who last year became the first non-American to win the most valuable player
award in the WNBA, led the scoring with a game-high 27 points.

Suzy Batkovic and Penny Taylor each scored 11 points for the Opals, although Taylor
did get into early foul trouble.

Mfon Udoka had 24 points for Nigeria and Mactabene Amachree scored 17.

The Opals won the silver medal at the Sydney Games and are considered strong medal
hopes in Athens.

KEYWORD: OLY BKB AUST WOMEN LEAD FULLTIME

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Possible murder suicide after two bodies discovered

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2004
Qld: Possible murder suicide after two bodies discovered

Two bodies have been found at a Brisbane plant nursery.

A police spokesman says the first body was discovered at the nursery in Wellington
Street, Ormiston, on Brisbane's eastside last night.

It was believed to be a suicide.

The spokesman says the discovery of a second body this morning has led police to investigate
the possibility that it's a murder-suicide.

There are no details on the sex or age of the victims.

AAP RTV nt/sc/jmt/rp

KEYWORD: NURSERY (BRISBANE)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Nats disendorse candidate

AAP General News (Australia)
01-20-2004
Qld: Nats disendorse candidate

Opposition leader LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG has disendorsed a Queensland Nationals state
election candidate for not disclosing a domestic violence order against him.

Mr SPRINGBORG says he received information last night that candidate for Maryborough
MICHAEL GILES was subject to a domestic violence order several years ago.

Mr SPRINGBORG says he acted immediately to have the party disendorse Mr GILES just
before the close of nominations for the February the 7th state …

Alvarion deal in Latin America climbs to $40 million

YEHEZKEL LAING
Jerusalem Post
11-07-2003
Headline: Alvarion deal in Latin America climbs to $40 million
Byline: YEHEZKEL LAING
Edition; Daily
Section: Economics
Page: 14

Friday, November 7, 2003 -- An unnamed Latin American telecom operator has enlarged its order for Alvarion's high-speed data and voice solutions to $40 million, Alvarion said Thursday.

In September, Alvarion reported that the Latin American company had placed a $23m. order for its wireless voice and DSL solution to expand its access network.

The move comes as part of a massive initiative to bring fast-Internet access and carrier-class telephony to underserved rural and suburban areas in the region.

Now Alvarion says the company has increased its order for its eMGW solutions by $17m. to a total of $40m. The equipment is due to be shipped during the next few quarters.

Alvarion also published its third-quarter results Thursday.

Revenues for the quarter rose 59 percent to a record $34.3m. from $21.6m. a year earlier Net loss for the quarter more than halved to $2.1m., from $4.8m.

The company expects fourth quarter revenues to range between $36m. and $40m.

This range reflects the assumption that sequential growth will continue to be broadly based across products and regions and that a significant part of the revenue from the Latin American carrier order will occur during 2004.

Tel Aviv-based Alvarion was formed by the merger of BreezeCOM and Floware.

The company makes solutions based on point-to- multipoint broadband wireless access.

Its systems provide Internet access and voice and data services in last mile, cellular network feeding, building- to-building, and wireless local area network connectivity.

Keywords:

Copyright 2003 Jerusalem Post. All Rights Reserved

SA: Six years jail for businessman who pleaded guilty to fraud

00-00-0000
SA: Six years jail for businessman who pleaded guilty to fraud

ADELAIDE, April 24 AAP - A 43-year-old Adelaide businessman who developed a computersoftware program for online credit card transactions was today jailed for six years forfraud.

Rohan James Dunstan was sentenced in the South Australian District Court after earlierpleading guilty to one count of fraudulent conversion and 32 counts of fraud other thanfalse pretences.

In his sentencing remarks today, Judge John Sulan said Dunstan stole more than $152,000from the Flight Centre, a national chain of travel agencies, and $424,977 from other creditcard accounts in Australia and overseas.

The money was used to prop up Financial Transaction Services, a business founded by Dunstan.

"Although you did not directly profit from this fraudulent conduct, the company ofwhich you had a 36 per cent interest was able to remain in business by using others' monies,and in this respect you profited indirectly," Judge Sulan told Dunstan today.

"You also were able to draw a salary and the business was able to continue."

Judge Sulan said Dunstan was hard working and intelligent but he had committed seriousoffences that amounted to a gross breach of trust.

Fixing a non-parole period of four years, Judge Sulan took into account Dunstan's twochildren who would be unable to maintain contact with their father in prison and Dunstan'sdifficult childhood.

"I accept that you have lost everything as a consequence of the business failure ofyour company," Judge Sulan aid.

"You are unable to make restitution and you have little left for your efforts."

AAP la/cjh/jlw

KEYWORD: DUNSTAN

Vic: Cloud hampers bushfire work

00-00-0000
Vic: Cloud hampers bushfire work

By Charisse Ede

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 AAP - Low cloud today prevented firefighters from assessing the fullextent of the massive blaze now burning across much of Victoria's east.

Several bushfires which started over the past four weeks have now joined into one hugefirestorm in East Gippsland, with a total fire edge believed be more than 2,100 km long.

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) spokesman Kevin Monk said more thanone million hectares had now been destroyed by the fires.

But he said low cloud on the southern edge of the state's alpine region prevented aerialinfrared line scanning from pinpointing the exact size and location of the huge blaze.

Mr Monk said firefighters continued to consolidate control lines today in preparationfor backburning this evening, but moist weather conditions had hampered those efforts.

Thunderstorms and lightning are also forecast for eastern Victoria later today, whichhad the potential to spark more fires.

"That will be of concern to us," Mr Monk said.

"We will be monitoring the situation and if we need to, we will be putting up reconnaissanceplanes to assess any damage."

Fire authorities have built hundreds of kilometres of control lines around the perimeterof the fire, which stretches from Bonang in the east to Dargo in the west and Mitta Mittain the north.

About 3,500 firefighters from around Australia, the United States and New Zealand arefighting the blaze, which was sparked by lightning strikes 35 days ago.

AAP ce/gfr/gl/ts

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC NIGHTLEAD

NSW: Police warn of danger of sex attacks during festive season

00-00-0000
NSW: Police warn of danger of sex attacks during festive season

By Caroline Gammell

SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - Sexual predators were using Christmas festivities to prey on youngchildren, police in NSW warned parents today.

The warning came after a six-year-old boy was grabbed and sexually assaulted only metresfrom his parents at a carols by candlelight concert in Sydney's south-west last Friday.

The youngster was playing with friends at the Carols by Candlelight at Mount AnnanBotanical Gardens when the attack occurred at 8.30pm (AEDT).

He was dragged into the bushes and sexually assaulted but made his way back to hisparents, who were fraught with worry.

The boy was missing for five minutes, during which time a search party franticallylooked for the boy, said Detective Senior Sergeant Simone Daly from the Liverpool JointInvestigation Response Team.

"This little boy's mother only lost sight of her son for five minutes," she said. "That'sall it takes.

"This man preyed on an innocent child during a family outing and he could do it again.

"I'd urge parents everywhere to be aware of their young children at all times."

Snr Sgt Daly said the boy had received medical treatment but was physically sound.

"Children are quite resilient, often the parents are more traumatised," she said.

The concert, held on the Lakeside Lawn at the gardens, was packed with 4,000 peoplein attendance.

The boy described his assailant - a balding Caucasian man wearing shorts and a shortsleeved shirt - but he could not fix an age.

Snr Sgt Daly said the boy had darker skin so the two together might have been noticedby witnesses as unusual.

She asked anyone who attended the carols concert and may have shot home videos or takenstill photos to turn them into police in the hope the man could be identified.

A video of the concert was being sent to police this afternoon, she added.

"There is always a risk (of this kind of incident) around this time of year," she said.

"It is really up to the parents to be a little more vigilant - not laying any blameon these parents - but if you can, keep a watch on your children."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 9822 8111 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP cg/arb/apm/sb

KEYWORD: ASSAULT NIGHTLEAD

RU: Games rugby sevens results

00-00-0000
RU: Games rugby sevens results

MANCHESTER, Aug 3 PA - Commonwealth Games rugby sevens results:

Quarterfinals

New Zealand 24 Wales 0

Samoa 12 Australia 10

Fiji 7 England 5

South Africa v Canada

PA

KEYWORD: GAMESR RU QUARTERFINALS UPDATE

Fed: Australian observers due in Zimbabwe

00-00-0000
Fed: Australian observers due in Zimbabwe

CANBERRA, Feb 23 AAP - A team of Australian election observers was due to arrive inZimbabwe today to help oversee next month's presidential election.

The Australians will be without the support of the European Union, which withdrew itsmonitoring delegation after President Robert Mugabe expelled the Swedish chief of theEU election mission to Zimbabwe, Pierre Schori.

The EU has also imposed targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Liberal MP Julie Bishop, a member of the Commonwealth observer team, said today shecould appreciate why the EU had taken the …

NSW: More fires erupt as temperatures soar = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2001
NSW: More fires erupt as temperatures soar = 2

Rural Fire Services spokesman JOHN WINTER says more than 30 aircraft have been deployed
to waterbomb and search for new blazes while firefighter numbers have been almost doubled
to around 800.

Officers from the RFS, NSW Fire Brigades and the National Parks and Wildlife Service
are involved in the fire effort.

A total fire ban is in place across half the state including the central and southern tablelands.

Mr WINTER says a blaze near the Pacific Highway north of Richmond is being co-ordinated
by National Parks and Wildlife Service officers and has already burnt out 10,000 hectares.

He says the greatest threat to fires under control are strong, hot winds which could
fan flames across controlled perimetres.

Mr WINTER says conditions are expected to worsen tomorrow with high temperatures expected
around the state.

AAP RTV ls/jas

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Small businesses suffering under new ATO system: ICAA

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2001
Fed: Small businesses suffering under new ATO system: ICAA

Accountants say small businesses face extra costs because of an Australian Tax Office
system to account for each taxpayers' tax debt.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants says an increasing number of taxpayers and accountants
are reporting systemic problems with the running balance account system.

Institute counsel, BRIAN SHEPPARD, says the problem is not only on tax debts, but also
when the ATO owes money to taxpayers.

He says it takes time and costs money for tax advisers to rectify each problem created
by the faults in the new system.

And he says the account statements are difficult to understand and are not issued regularly.

Interest on any debt to the ATO accrues daily, making it difficult to clear any outstanding
balance.

The institute says it's taken the issues up with the ATO but has not received any real
commitment to fix the problems.

AAP RTV jph/sw/jas/

KEYWORD: TAX ICAA (CANBERRA)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD: Main stories in today s Courier Mail

AAP General News (Australia)
02-27-2001
QLD: Main stories in today s Courier Mail

BRISBANE, Feb 27 AAP - The major stories in Brisbane's Courier-Mail:

P.1 The Don bows out after a noble 92. Bradman unsurpassed in the annals of sport.

Rates set to rise after the release of annual Brisbane land valuations today.

P.2 State parliament to be recalled on March 20, with Budget delivered on June 19.

Pensioners say federal government faces an electoral backlash over GST compensation pension
increases. Prime Minister John Howard under pressure to cut petrol tax amid threats of
backbench revolt.

P.3 Coal miners to start …

NSW: Firefighters battle blaze near harbour yacht club

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2000
NSW: Firefighters battle blaze near harbour yacht club

SYDNEY, Dec 29 AAP - Firefighters are battling a blaze near a yacht club at Rushcutters
Bay in Sydney's east.

A NSW Fire Brigades spokesman said a double garage near the club had ignited shortly
before 3pm (AEDT).

Three crews were attending the blaze, he said.

He said two cars had been severely damaged by the fire.

AAP ls/sb/cdh/mjm

KEYWORD: FIRE

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Tent Embassy organiser given one week to negotiate

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2000
NSW: Tent Embassy organiser given one week to negotiate

An Aboriginal Tent Embassy organiser has been given one week to negotiate with a council
over its place in a park, before she's banned from the site.

The South Sydney Council has won an injunction stopping ISABELL COE from entering Victoria
Park, Camperdown, in Sydney's inner west, where the embassy was erected next to Sydney
University on July 14.

Justice DENNIS COWDROY suspended the injunction until noon next Wednesday so Ms COE
and the council could enter negotiations to regularise the activities on the site.

The council went to the New South Wales Land and Environment Court seeking an interlocutory
injunction against Ms COE.

TIM ROBERSTON, for the council, told the court that since the embassy had been set
up the number of tents around it had mushroomed to 26, and there have been complaints
from neighbouring residents, the university and park users.

He said the council's concerned about the provision of showers and toilets at the site,
noise levels, vehicles driving through the park and the amenity of the park for other
users.

Ms COE addressed the court and said it was part of the genocidal process against Aborigines
in Australia.

Outside court Ms COE said she would negotiate with the council but wouldn't move the
embassy to another site.

AAP RTV gl/ah/smf/jn

KEYWORD: TENT (SYDNEY)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: Rescued yachtsman still in hospital

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2000
SA: Rescued yachtsman still in hospital

ADELAIDE, April 1 AAP - Twelve people were winched to safety in a dramatic rescue operation
after one of Australia's fastest racing yachts capsized in heavy seas.

The Doctel Rager, considered South Australia's fastest ocean racer, sounded the alarm
when it ran into difficulty off Yorke Peninsula, 10km west of Stenhouse Bay, about 8pm
last night.

Rescue helicopters found 12 men, women and children clinging to the yacht's upturned
hull as it was tossed around in the ocean, only 50 metres from a sheer cliff face, Australian
Search and Rescue (AusSAR) said in a statement.

Experts feared the 17m yacht, a veteran of 10 Sydney to Hobart races, would today be
smashed to pieces on the cliffs where it capsized.

Disaster struck last night as the yacht made its way back to Adelaide from Port Lincoln
after its handicap win in the annual Adelaide-Port Lincoln race last week.

As the upturned vessel was pitched about in rough seas, whipped up by 20-knot winds,
the crew sounded their distress beacon.

Two Lloyds helicopters from Adelaide were sent to the scene and emergency broadcasts
made to all vessels in the area.

It took two and a half hours to winch them all to safety in two groups, AusSAR said.

"They owe their lives to the distress beacon and the skill of the Lloyds helicopter
crews," the spokesman said in a statement.

Ages were mot immediately available for the crew, but at least two were believed to be children.

One man, in his 40s, from the Adelaide suburb of Lynton, was one of three people admitted
to the Royal Adelaide Hospital early this morning.

He was in a stable condition after being treated for chest injuries, a hospital spokesman said.

The other two people, whose age and sex were not known, had been treated for minor
injuries and then discharged, the spokesman said.

"They had knocks on the knees and other bruises, and had suffered from hypothermia
but otherwise were fine," he said.

"The man, who is still here, probably will be discharged later today."

Those rescued all had life jackets but no life raft was spotted near or on the yacht,
the AusSAR spokesman said.

While the crew had a lucky escape, the famous yacht is unlikely to survive the incident.

"It's expected to break up and sink during the day," a spokesman said.

AAP tj/ej

KEYWORD: RESCUE NIGHTLEAD

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Foam boomerangs to fly in New York s Times square

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-1999
Foam boomerangs to fly in New York s Times square

By Dale Paget

GOLD COAST Dec 29 AAP - New Years eve revellers in Times Square will celebrate the
arrival of the millennium down under with a parade of Australian puppets and thousands
of foam boomerangs as part of a 24-hour long midnight festival.

Every hour New York city revellers will commemorate the arrival of 2000 in a different
part of the world.

Australia's millennium will arrive at 9am New York time.

"We'll have a live television broadcast from Australia as well as giant puppets and
foam boomerangs," said Times Square Business Improvement District spokeswoman, Christine
Krische.

"We're expecting at least 500,000 people in Times Square with more than a million in
nearby streets."

The foam boomerangs will be hurled from high-rises around the famous New York intersection
while puppeteers perform on a stage and through the crowds with crocodile, snake, koala
and kangaroo puppets.

The Australian procession will also feature aboriginal music and figures from cave paintings.

AAP dp/cjh

KEYWORD: EVE US

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD: Hamill may face censure motion

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-1999
QLD: Hamill may face censure motion

Queensland's stood-down treasurer DAVID HAMILL is likely to face a censure motion when
state parliament resumes tomorrow over his handling of the so-called net bet affair.

Mr HAMILL stood aside three weeks ago after reports that he'd granted the state's first
Internet casino gaming licence to a company linked to three Labor identities.

Independent MP PETER WELLINGTON has told ABC radio he'll move a motion against Mr HAMILL if
he's assured of support.

And Opposition leader ROB BORBIDGE says he'll meet Mr WELLINGTON before parliament sits to
plan tactics.

All three Labor identities have said they no longer hold shares in the gaming company, and
one -- government backbencher BILL D'ARCY -- has stood down as Deputy Speaker.

AAP RTV geb/rt

KEYWORD: NET BET CENSURE (BRISBANE)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD: Oppn and ON pursue govt on Heiner shredding

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-1999
QLD: Oppn and ON pursue govt on Heiner shredding

BRISBANE, Feb 22 AAP - The Queensland Opposition and One Nation today questioned the
legitimacy of the Beattie Labor government following a revival of the controversy over the
1990 shredding of the Heiner inquiry documents.

Cabinet ordered the papers shredded on the grounds that, because the inquiry was improperly
constituted, there was no protection for witnesses against legal action for defamation.

The Opposition and One Nation have called for a fresh judicial inquiry into the affair
after a leading barrister said he believed the entire Goss …

WA: Gay seven win settlement after chucked off tram

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-1998
WA: Gay seven win settlement after chucked off tram

PERTH, Dec 2 AAP - Seven visiting gay and lesbian people thrown off a Melbourne tram
because of their sexuality have won an out-of-court settlement with the Victorian Public
Transport Corporation (PTC).

The Western Australians - four men and three women - lodged complaints with the Victorian
Equal Opportunity Commission after the incident with the St Kilda Road tram in February 1996.

They were singing songs from the movie The Sound of Music when the driver stopped and
called police to remove them from the tram.

Perth youth housing worker Robyn Murphy said the driver told them: "Im not taking your
type any further", and "dont touch me".

He also referred to one of the men as a "fag".

A complaint to the PTC was met with a form letter stating the incident had been
investigated and no wrongdoing had occured, so the group lodged statements with the Equal
Opportunity Commission.

Yesterdays settlement included an undisclosed sum of money and a written PTC apology.

Gay and Lesbian Equality (GALE) spokeswoman Robyn Walsh said the settlement marked a
turning point in PTC policy.

"We and all lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people can stand strong with
the reassurances that we can ride free from discrimination in Victoria," Ms Walsh said.

"We want as many people as possible to see that discrimination is an unforgivable violation
of their human rights."

The case highlighted the need for Western Australia to outlaw discrimination on the basis
of sexuality.

"If a group of Western Australians were to have the same problem with a local bus authority
they would be left out on a limb because of inadequate state laws which do not cover bias on
the basis of sexuality," Ms Walsh said.

"We want people to know that it is not acceptable that redress is unavailable through the
WA Equal Opportunity Act."

A private members bill to amend the act and outlaw discrimination on the basis of
sexuality was to be considered by WA parliament next year.

AAP kbw/cjh

KEYWORD: GAYTRAM

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Qld tourism faces 'perception problem'=2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-07-2011
QLD:Qld tourism faces 'perception problem'=2

Tourism Queensland said the focus was on a national and global campaign to reinvigorate
the struggling industry.

Chief executive Anthony Hayes said it had been a very tough month for tourism operators.

"We need to get on with this as quickly as possible," he told the ABC.

"The next …