The main stories on today's 1900 ABC TV news

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2011
The main stories on today's 1900 ABC TV news

The main stories on ABC television's 1900 news:





1. Colonel Gaddafi's reign in Libya appears to be over, with rebels holding much of
the capital Tripoli.





2. Bluescope Steel has announced one thousand job losses.





3. Wollongong is in shock, after Bluescope announced 800 jobs will be cut at its Port
Kembla plant.





4. Convoy of No Confidence has converged on parliament, calling for a fresh federal election.





5. An Australian soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.





AAP RTV af

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1900 ABC NEWS

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: 'I know nothing', Tripodi says of allegations against mate

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2008
NSW: 'I know nothing', Tripodi says of allegations against mate

SYDNEY, Feb 20 AAP - NSW government minister Joe Tripodi has denied any direct involvement
in the appointment of a political friend who is facing corruption charges, to a $200,000-a-year
job.

Joe Scimone, a senior NSW ALP official, is facing an allegation that he paid $30,000
to conmen posing as Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) officers offering
to destroy evidence against him.

The allegation dates back 18 months to when Mr Scimone was working for Wollongong City Council.

A month ago, Mr Scimone was appointed …

FED:Economic recovery stalls in NSW: survey

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2011
FED:Economic recovery stalls in NSW: survey

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - Economic recovery has stalled in NSW as businesses face increasing
strain from a record high Australian dollar, a survey shows.

NSW Business Chamber and Commonwealth Bank Business Conditions index for March fell
to -0.7 index points, down from 0.8 index points in November 2010.

The index was last below the zero level that separates expansion from contraction in
July 2010, when it was -5.9 index points.

"Sales are flat-lining, profits are falling, exports are languishing with business
conditions deteriorating over the past year," NSW Business Chamber CEO Stephen Cartwright
said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The high price of the Australian dollar, driven by the resources boom, is having a
dramatic impact on our manufacturing and services sectors."

On Thursday, the Aussie dollar hit a high of 107.73 US cents, its strongest level against
the US dollar since the currency was floated in December 1983.

The survey showed sales revenue, profits and export sales were in negative territory in March.

Sales revenue fell to -3.8 index points, down from -1.8 index points in November.

There was a slight improvement in the profits component of the survey, although it
also stayed in negative territory at -9.4 points in March compared to -13.3 points in
November.

Export sales also showed a slight improvement to -6.4 index points, compared to -12.8
points in November.

The data showed skills shortages were also a significant problem for businesses in
NSW, with 46.8 per cent of businesses saying they have a skills shortage.

This compares to November 2010, when 39 per cent of businesses reported skills shortages.

Commonwealth Bank chief economist Michael Blythe said while sales outcomes deteriorated
in the March survey, resource rich regions of NSW experienced a rise in conditions.

"The trend in export sales has improved, despite the erosion of competitiveness stemming
from the rise in the Australian dollar to new record highs," he said in a statement.

"In spite of the strong currency, NSW firms are expecting a lift in export sales, particularly
in the Hunter and Illawarra regions."

The survey also showed 32.5 per cent of the 1080 respondents believe business conditions
will be stronger over the next three months, while 43.9 per cent expect them to be the
same.

However, the survey says businesses have tended to be overly optimistic in their assessment
of future business conditions, and that actual outcomes typically fall well below expectations.

AAP eb/tr

KEYWORD: BUSINESS NSW

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:World economy growing stronger, RBA says

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2011
FED:World economy growing stronger, RBA says

CANBERRA, Feb 11 AAP - Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens says the global
economy continues to grow and looks a little stronger than it did late last year.

Facing the House of Representatives economic committee in Canberra, Mr Stevens says
that China and India have sustained a strong pace of expansion, while the US seems to
be gaining a bit more momentum.

"Though the (US) still faces considerable problems," the governor said on Friday.

Conditions in Europe remain quite mixed and sovereign and bank creditworthiness continues
to be a "source of great uncertainty".

He noted that the International Monetary Fund was now forecasting world gross domestic
product growth of about five per cent in 2010, well above the 30-year average.

For 2011 it has lifted its forecast to 4.4 per cent.

MORE cb/dlm/was

KEYWORD: RBA

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Bryce has no conflict: solicitor-general

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2010
FED:Bryce has no conflict: solicitor-general

CANBERRA, Aug 27 AAP - Governor-General Quentin Bryce has been advised that her relationship
to parliamentary secretary Bill Shorten does not give rise to any constitutional or other
legal impediment when deciding who should form a minority federal government.

The advice was given by the Commonwealth Solicitor-General.

MORE saj/rl/apm

KEYWORD: POLL10 BRYCE

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Fed: Visits to the Somme inspire winner of $20,000 art prize

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2010
Fed: Visits to the Somme inspire winner of $20,000 art prize

By Doug Conway, Senior Correspondent

SYDNEY, April 20 AAP - Europe's World War One battle sites provided the inspiration
for Tasmanian artist Raymond Arnold's winning entry in the $20,000 Gallipoli art prize.

"I can't quite understand the emotion that wells up within you," Arnold said after
being awarded the prize in Sydney on Tuesday.

"It's the most spiritual experience of my life.

"I have been walking, cycling and making my own artwork in those old battlefields for decades.

"It has been a quest into imaginative landscapes, spectral figures in foreign lands,
but in most respects they live here with us still."

The 59-year-old Queenstown artist's winning entry, The Dead March Here Today, had its
seeds in Will Longstaff's 1927 painting, Menin Gate At Midnight, which depicts the ghosts
of fallen WWI soldiers gathering at a memorial in Ypres.

The building in Arnold's evocative nocturnal scene is the cenotaph at Devonport in Tasmania.

He said the work attempted to draw a bond between normal daily life and the hard reality of war.

"It will remain long after I'm gone," Arnold said.

"It's my legacy to the viewer."

Arnold, who regularly visited the Somme while living on and off in Paris for 15 years,
had a grandfather who lost both legs to trench foot while serving in France.

"I grew up in the 1950s and 60s surrounded by men like that, including Japanese POWs,
who had been damaged by conflict," he said.

"I am carrying all that baggage, as so many people do.

"Everybody seems to have a story.

"There are hundreds of cenotaphs in Australia and New Zealand.

"The Devonport cenotaph could be any of them.

"It could contain any group of names that speak of great sacrifice and honour.

"They are sacred places."

The Gallipoli Art Prize, which started in 2006, is intended as a commemoration rather
than a celebration of war.

"It pays homage to those who stood up to defend their country when they were called,"

competition judge John McDonald said at the announcement in Sydney on Tuesday.

It is open to artists from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.

AAP dc/bm/evt/maur/jl

KEYWORD: ANZAC ART WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Bushfire warnings for next 48 hours

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2009
NSW: Bushfire warnings for next 48 hours

Emergency services are gearing up for another spate of bushfires today and tomorrow
.. after a brief period of respite yesterday.

Two blazes in central NSW were successfully fought by the Rural Fire Service over the weekend.

A fire that burnt 250 hectares of bushland three kilometres northwest of Eglington
.. near Bathurst .. was put out by the RFS .. while another blaze .. 12 kilometres south
of Bathurst near Rockley Mountain .. was contained.

But with higher temperatures and blustery winds forecast for today .. firies have announced
total fire bans in five regions and issued warnings for others.



Total fire bans are in place in the Greater Hunter .. Central Ranges .. Northern Slopes
and the North West .. Upper Central West and Lower Central West plains.

AAP RTV mdg/af/psm/

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW (SYDNEY)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Man dies in seven vehicle pile-up

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2009
NSW: Man dies in seven vehicle pile-up

One man is dead and a woman is in serious condition after a seven vehicle pile-up shut
down the Hume highway in southern NSW.

Police say a vehicle travelling north lost control about 500 metres from the Murray
River at Albury about 6.40 last night.

Five cars and two trucks collided with each other .. leaving a 40 year old driver dead.

A number of other drivers and passengers were taken to hospital for treatment for minor
injuries and shock.

Northbound lanes and all but one southbound lane are still closed this morning while
forensic crews investigate the crash scene.

AAP RTV vpm/crh

KEYWORD: TOLL NSW (SYDNEY)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Vic government badly damaged: Baillieu

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2008
Vic: Vic government badly damaged: Baillieu

MELBOURNE, Dec 24 AAP - Victorian opposition leader Ted Baillieu says the charge laid
against Mr Theophanous is hugely damaging to the state government.

"What a bombshell announcement on Christmas Eve - a senior minister in the Victorian
government charged with rape," Mr Baillieu told reporters.

"These are grave and serious charges and this is hugely damaging to the Victorian government
and (premier) John Brumby must now explain the details of this announcement to all Victorians.

"There could not be a more damaging announcement about a government," he said.

Theophanous had resigned from the ministry, the premier said on Wednesday, adding he
would reshuffle the cabinet on Monday.

The Labor MP stood down from the cabinet on October 13.

Two days later he released a statement professing his innocence after details of the
alleged rape were aired in a Melbourne newspaper (Eds: The Age).

"In the strongest possible terms I refute allegations of any wrongdoing and will vigorously
defend my innocence," Theophanous said on October 15.

"I believe that if this matter is properly dealt with through due process, I will be
found innocent of any wrongdoing."

AAP could not contact Mr Theophanous on Wednesday.

AAP ees/szp/cdh

KEYWORD: THEOPHANOUS BAILLIEU

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Ath: Athletics results today = 6

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2008
Ath: Athletics results today = 6



WOMEN

3000m steeplechase final

1. Gulnara Galkina-Samitova (RUS) 8:58.81 (WR)

2. Eunice Jepkorir Kertich (KEN) 9:07.41

3. Ekaterina Volkova (RUS) 9:07.64

4. Tatiana Petrova (RUS) 9:12.33

5. Cristina Casandra (ROM) 9:16.85

6. Ruth Bosibori Nyangau (KEN) 9:17.35

7. Zemzem Ahmed Deko (ETH) 9:17.85

8. Wioletta Frankiewicz - Janowska (POL) 9:21.76

9. Jennifer Barringer (USA) 9:22.26

10. Anna Willard (USA) 9:25.63

11. Elena Romagnolo (ITA) 9:30.04

12. Zulema Fuentes Pila (ESP) 9:35.16

13. Habiba Ghribi (TUN) 9:36.43

14. Roisin Mcgettigan (EIR) 9:55.89

. Marta Dominguez (ESP) ABD

100m hurdles (1st round - first 2 from each heat and 6 best times qualify for next round):

Heat 1 (wind: -0.2 m/s)

1. Josephine Nnkiruka Onyia (ESP) 12.68 Q

2. Susanna Kallur (SWE) 12.68 Q

3. Nevin Yanit (TUR) 12.94 q

4. Aurelia Kollasch (POL) 12.98 q

5. Micol Cattaneo (ITA) 13.13

6. Lucie Skrobakova (CZE) 13.18

7. Katsiaryna Paplauskaya (BLR) 13.39

8. Miriam Bobkova (SVK) 13.65

Heat 2 (wind: -0.1 m/s)

1. Vonnette Dixon (JAM) 12.69 Q

2. Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (CAN) 12.75 Q

3. Damu Cherry (USA) 12.92 q

4. Carolin Nytra (GER) 12.95 q

5. Aleksandra Antonova (RUS) 13.18

6. Derval O'Rourke (EIR) 13.22

7. Maila Machado (BRA) 13.45

8. Fadwa Albouza (SYR) 14.24

Heat 3 (wind: -0.1 m/s)

1. Deloreen Ennis-London (JAM) 12.82 Q

2. Sally McLellan (AUS) 12.83 Q

3. Sarah Claxton (GBR) 12.97 q

4. Yulia Kondakova (RUS) 13.07

5. Angela Whyte (CAN) 13.11

6. Yenima Barrizontes (CUB) 13.43

7. Flora Rentoumi (GRE) 13.56

8. Edit Vari (HUN) 13.59

Heat 4 (wind: -0.6 m/s)

1. LoLo Jones (USA) 12.71 Q

2. Anay Tejeda (CUB) 12.84 Q

3. Reina Okori (FRA) 12.98 q

4. Christina Vukicevic (NOR) 13.05

5. Tatiana Dektyareva (RUS) 13.05

6. Natalya Ivoninskaya (KAZ) 13.20

7. Olutoyin Augustine (NGR) 13.34

8. Jeimmy Julissa Bernardez Santos (HON) 14.29

Heat 5 (wind: +0.4 m/s)

1. Bridgitte Foster-Hylton (JAM) 12.69 Q

2. Dawn Harper (USA) 12.73 Q

3. Anastassiya Pilipenko (KAZ) 12.99

4. Aleesha Barber (TRI) 13.01

5. Ievgeniia Snigur (UKR) 13.06

6. Nadine Faustin (HAI) 13.25

7. Dedeh Erawati (INA) 13.49

. Fatmata Fofanah (GUI) ABD



100m (Semifinals - first 4 from each heat qualify for final):

Heat 1 (wind: -0.7 m/s)

1. Shelly-Ann Frazer (JAM) 11.00 Q

2. Muna Lee (USA) 11.06 Q

3. Lauryn Williams (USA) 11.10 Q

4. Sherone Simpson (JAM) 11.11 Q

5. Chandra Sturrup (BAH) 11.22

6. Lina Grincikaite (LTU) 11.50

7. Ivet Lalova (BUL) 11.51

8. Vida Anim (GHA) 11.51



Heat 2 (wind: -0.2 m/s)

1. Kerron Stewart (JAM) 11.05 Q

2. Torri Edwards (USA) 11.18 Q

3. Jeanette Kwakye (GBR) 11.19 Q

4. Debbie Ferguson (BAH) 11.22 Q

5. Yuliya Nestsiarenka (BLR) 11.26

6. Kim Gevaert (BEL) 11.30

7. Evgeniya Polyakova (RUS) 11.38

8. Damola Osayomi (NGR) 11.44



400m hurdles (1st round - first 3 from each heat and 4 best times qualify for next round):

Heat 1

1. Tiffany Ross-Williams (USA) 55.51 Q

2. Irina Obedina (RUS) 55.71 Q

3. Satomi Kubokura (JPN) 55.82 Q

4. Shevon Stoddart (JAM) 56.52

5. Ieva Zunda (LAT) 57.43

6. Lucimar Teodoro (BRA) 57.68



Heat 2

1. Tasha Danvers (GBR) 55.19 Q

2. Anastasia Ott (RUS) 55.34 Q

3. Nickiesha Wilson (JAM) 55.75 Q

4. Angela Morosanu (ROM) 56.07 q

5. Sheena Johnson (USA) 56.12 q

6. Nikolina Horvat (CRO) 56.65

7. Michelle Carey (EIR) 57.99



Heat 3

1. Melaine Walker (JAM) 54.46 Q

2. Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (UKR) 55.18 Q

3. Cvetelina Kirilova (BUL) 55.22 Q

4. Queen Quedith Harrison (USA) 55.96 q

5. Aissata Soulama (BUR) 56.37 q

6. Carole Madeleine Kaboud Mebam (CMR) 57.81

7. Galina Pedan (KGZ) 1:00.31



Heat 4

1. Ekaterina Bikert (RUS) 55.15 Q

2. Anna Jesien (POL) 55.35 Q

3. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) 55.91 Q

4. Tatyana Azarova (KAZ) 56.88

5. Muna Gabir (SUD) 57.16

6. Josanne Lucas (TRI) 57.76

7. Laia Forcadell (ESP) 58.64



400m (Semifinals - first 2 from each heat and 2 best times qualify for final):

Heat 1

1. Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) 50.14 Q

2. Shericka Williams (JAM) 50.28 Q

3. Tatiana Firova (RUS) 50.31 q

4. Allann Pompey (GUY) 50.93

5. Mary Wineberg (USA) 51.13

6. Indira Terrero (CUB) 51.80

7. Ajoke Odumosu (NGR) 52.45

8. Gabriela Medina (MEX) 52.97



Heat 2

1. Sanya Richards (USA) 49.90 Q

2. Anastasia Kapachinskaya (RUS) 50.30 Q

3. Novelene Williams (JAM) 51.06

4. Christine Amertil (BAH) 51.51

5. Joy Amechi Eze (NGR) 51.87

6. Lee Mcconnell (GBR) 52.11

7. Carline Muir (CAN) 52.37

8. Rachael Nachula (ZAM) 52.67



Heat 3

1. Yulia Gushchina (RUS) 50.48 Q

2. Amantle Montsho (BOT) 50.54 Q

3. Rosemarie Whyte (JAM) 50.63 q

4. Nicola Sanders (GBR) 50.71

5. Libania Grenot Martinez (ITA) 50.83

6. Folashade Abugan (NGR) 51.30

7. Deedee Trotter (USA) 51.87

8. Nwal Eljack (SUD) 54.18



MEN

Hammer final:

1. Primoz Kozmus (SLO) 82.02 m

2. Vadim Devyatovskiy (BLR) 81.61

3. Ivan Tsikhan (BLR) 81.51

4. Krisztian Pars (HUN) 80.96

5. Koji Murofushi (JPN) 80.71

6. Olli-Pekka Karjalainen (FIN) 79.59

7. Szymon Ziolkowski (POL) 79.22

8. Libor Charfreitag (SVK) 78.65

9. Markus Esser (GER) 77.10

10. Andras Haklits (CRO) 76.58

11. Dilshod Nazarov (TJK) 76.54

12. James Steacy (CAN) 75.72

more mg

KEYWORD: OLYR08 ATH RESULTS 6 BEIJING

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Tas: Police hold concerns for missing man

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2008
Tas: Police hold concerns for missing man

HOBART, April 10 AAP - Tasmanian police hold grave concerns for the welfare of a 61-year-old
Launceston man who has not been seen by friends and family since early March.

Peter Francis Wells was last seen by a neighbour around 8.30pm (AEDT) on March 9.

He was reported missing to police by his friend and landlord on Sunday, March 16.

Mr Wells is on regular medication and without treatment his health is likely to deteriorate.

Police have conducted extensive searches of areas around Invermay, Heritage Forest
and central Launceston.

Mr Wells is 168cm tall, of slim build with shoulder length curly, grey and white hair.

He has blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Launceston Police.

AAP kb/gfr/it/cdh

KEYWORD: WELLS

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: High protein diet better for men's waist fat: Study

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2007
Fed: High protein diet better for men's waist fat: Study

By Tamara McLean, Medical Writer

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - A diet rich in red meat can help overweight men shed layers of
dangerous tummy fat, a new Australian study has found.

The findings from the CSIRO study suggest high protein intake effectively strips abdominal
weight, but opponents of the diet say eating extra meat comes with its own risk, cancelling
out the benefits.

CSIRO dietitian Dr Manny Noakes presented results at a Nutrition Society Conference
in New Zealand suggesting it is easier than previously thought for men to take action
to lose weight.

The study compared a diet high in protein, red meat and fibre with one high in carbohydrate
and fibre.

Trials on more than 100 overweight and obese men found that both diets led to similar
weight losses. However, the high protein diet was more effective at reducing abdominal
fat levels.

"Abdominal fat is a key risk factor for men for a range of diseases including colorectal
and other cancers," Dr Noakes said.

"The results also show that a range of indicators of bowel, kidney and bone health
showed no difference between the high protein diet and the high carbohydrate diet."

But independent nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton warned the diet was a double-edged sword.

A report released last month by the World Cancer Research Fund showed a higher incidence
of many cancers, including colorectal cancer, with a high meat diet.

"You need to balance any short term effects on abdominal fat with the long term risk
of increasing the risk of cancer," Dr Stanton said.

"When you do that you have to wonder whether it's worth the risk."

She said the benefits of any special diet were only short-term and never sustainable
into the future, instead recommending that overweight men opt for permanent life style
changes.

"They need to adapt their eating and exercise habits gradually to something they can
live with and that is safe for their long term health," Dr Stanton said.

The CSIRO study, presented in Auckland today, was partly funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

AAP tam/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: DIET

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Costello to hold noon press conference after CPI

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
Fed: Costello to hold noon press conference after CPI

CANBERRA, April 24 AAP - Federal Treasurer Peter Costello will hold a noon press conference
in Canberra following today's release of the first quarter consumer price index (CPI).

AAP cb/

KEYWORD: COSTELLO

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Mammoth effort needed to repair damage in Armidale

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2006
NSW: Mammoth effort needed to repair damage in Armidale

By Paul Carter

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - A major effort will be needed to repair about 1,000 homes and
other property damaged in a freak hailstorm that lashed the northern NSW city of Armidale,
local authorities say.

A state of emergency has been declared for the city following the storm that hammered
its eastern quarter for about 20 minutes yesterday afternoon.

The storm left a trail of destruction in its wake, with homes unroofed, windows smashed,
cars damaged, trees stripped of foliage and glass from broken windows strewn about the
streets.

Armidale Lord Mayor Peter Ducat said today the sheer weight of the hail had damaged
1,000 homes and collapsed the roof of a large agricultural exhibition centre.

Some of the homes suffered only minor damage such as wet carpets and broken windows,
not requiring a State Emergency Service (SES) call-out.

But the SES received about 195 calls for assistance to repair homes and more than 100
SES volunteers, Rural Fire Service volunteers, police and council staff worked through
the night to help residents.

Emergency Services Minister David Campbell said in a statement it appeared only about
190 homes had been damaged by hail and high winds.

But Mr Ducat said the damage, in varying degrees, was much more widespread.

He said at the local racecourse, water from the melting hail had collapsed ceilings
and ruined carpets and computers, throwing doubt over the city's Australia Day race meeting.

Any house with a flat roof, or a box gutter, was flooded, drenching carpets and Christmas
presents, Mr Ducat said.

"People I've spoken to have had water damage to the inside of their homes, and broken
windows, but the external clean-up is going to be as big a problem as anything," Mr Ducat
said.

Armidale Dumaresq Shire general manager Shane Burns welcomed the emergency declaration,
saying the clean-up would require a "mammoth effort".

"If the declaration was not made, the cost to the community would be significant, and
to our ratepayers, but also those people who were uninsured would be hit fairly hard as
well," Mr Burns said.

"What it enables us to do is to go through with the confidence of having that funding
there, and the resources to help the people through this very emotive time."

Mr Burns said the exhibition centre, which is about 80 metres long by about 40 metres
wide, was a write-off.

"Hail that was on that roof has buckled and mangled the steel," he said.

Mr Campbell said the state of emergency would make necessary financial assistance available
to the affected area.

"This assistance will help the community recover from the disaster and the damage it
has suffered, particularly to the public infrastructure," he said.

The Insurance Council today advised policyholders in Armidale to contact their insurance
providers immediately, so that their claims can be assessed as quickly as possible.

The council's chief executive, Kerrie Kelly, said insurers were working hard to assess
the damage as quickly as possible to facilitate a speedy recovery.

AAP pc/was/hn/jt/cdh

KEYWORD: HAIL NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Man charged over police pursuit

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2006
NSW: Man charged over police pursuit

Police have arrested a 19 year old man after he led them on a chase through Sydney's south west.

They had tried to stop the man during a patrol of Pembroke Road in Minto about 2.45
yesterday afternoon .. but he accelerated away.

He finally pulled over in Burrendong Road in Leumeah .. and he was arrested .. along
with a passenger in the car.

The 19 year old's been charged with a string of offences .. including driving while
disqualified and negligent driving.

He was refused bail and is due to face Campbelltown Local Court later today.

AAP RTV af/crh

KEYWORD: PURSUIT (SYDNEY)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Resources boost for Water Police

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2006
Vic: Resources boost for Water Police

Victorian Police are getting several new Water Police boats.

Four port security boats .. worth 173-thousand dollars each .. will be rolled out this year.

Two new Rigid Hull inflatable boats .. will also join the police fleet.

The boats have counter-terrorism capabilities .. travel at extraordinarily high speed
.. and seat 10 people.

AAP RTV cmb/klf

KEYWORD: POLICE BOATS (MELBOURNE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Howard and Costello renew tax attack on states

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2005
Fed: Howard and Costello renew tax attack on states

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD and Treasurer PETER COSTELLO have launched a combined attack
on the states for refusing to cut indirect taxes as agreed under the GST deal.

Both leaders yesterday used their addresses to the Liberal Party's state conference
in Melbourne to berate the state Labor governments for reneging on the agreement and retaining
the taxes.

Mr HOWARD says the states are rolling in money.

He says Victoria will get $3.2 billion in GST revenue over the next five years, meaning
the state is $3.2 billion better off than it would've been under previous revenue sharing
arrangements with Canberra.

A national treasurers' meeting earlier this month ended in rancour, with the states
saying they'd never agreed to cut the business taxes completely.

The states say the taxes are subject to review and they want the federal government
to resume competition payments.

AAP RTV nl/jv/wjf/w/jo

KEYWORD: TAX HOWARD (MELBOURNE)

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

sight bill

sight bill See at sight.

Over $20.7 Million of Oil & Gas Properties Sold At The Clearinghouse's Hybrid Auction Held on September 18; 29% of Bidders Participated Live via the Internet Setting New Record.

HOUSTON -- The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse ("The Clearinghouse"), a leading provider of acquisition and divestiture services for oil and gas properties and prospects and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleum Place ( http://www.petroleumplace.com/ ), a leading provider of Internet technology, property marketing services, and operations and accounting software for the upstream energy industry, announced today that it sold over $20 million in properties at its Hybrid auction held on September 18 in Houston. The Clearinghouse offered over 196 Lots at this Selective Offering(TM), including many higher-valued, more notable properties.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021003/OGASSETLOGO )

Over 375 registered bidders competed on 162 lots. Internet bidders accounted for more than 29% of the total registered bidders and 19% of the gross sales. The highest valued property purchased by an Internet bidder was $560,000. Hybrid auctions, enabled through Petroleum Place ( http://www.petroleumplace.com/ ), allow Internet bidders to compete simultaneously against live floor bidders.

Some of the more notable properties sold include: Swift Energy -- Mohawk Field in Columbia, AR for $475,000; Bernard Field in Wharton County, TX for $415,000; Roleta Field in Zapata County, TX for $560,000; TCW -- Todd, Volkens and Walker wells in Weld, CO for $900,000; Maynard Oil -- Shugart North Field in Eddy County, NM for $700,000; Laguna Petroleum -- Concho Field in Canadian County, OK for $425,000; Dimmitt Field in Loving County, TX for $1,380,000; Questar -- Bryans Mill Field in Cass County, TX for $1,500,000; Legend Natural Gas -- Wadsworth South Field in Matagorda County, TX for $775,000; Westwin Energy -- Spraberry Trend Field in Midland County, TX -- 2 Lots for a combined total of $2,800,000.

The Clearinghouse's next Hybrid auction will be held on Wednesday, October 30 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This auction is co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA). Information pertaining to all upcoming auctions can be accessed on the Petroleum Place Web site ( http://www.petroleumplace.com/ ).

About The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse

The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse provides Internet-enabled transaction and brokerage services for the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas properties. An industry leader in auction divestitures, The Clearinghouse has expanded its service offering to include simultaneous floor and internet bidding at live auctions, Exclusively Online auctions, negotiated transaction services (offered through its affiliate Petroleum Place Energy Advisors), data room administration, and engineering and geotechnical analysis to support all divestiture processes. The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleum Place, Inc.

About Petroleum Place, Inc.

Petroleum Place provides Internet technology, property marketing services, and operations and accounting software for the upstream energy industry. The Petroleum Place portal ( http://www.petroleumplace.com/ ), launched in 1995, is one of the most established and visited sites within the upstream energy industry. Through its Web site, Petroleum Place brings process efficiencies to each stage of the oil and gas property lifecycle -- streamlining the marketing, evaluation, acquisition, divestiture, and financial management of petroleum assets. Petroleum Place provides dedicated Internet technology, support and services for each of its subsidiary companies -- The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse, Petroleum Place Energy Advisors, Petro TradeLinks, Paradigm Technologies, and Strata Web Systems.

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CONTACT: Kim Pickett of Petroleum Place, Inc., +1-303-390-9416, kpickett@petroleumplace.com; or Ken Olive of The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse, +1-281-873-4600, kolive@petroleumplace.com

Web site: http://www.petroleumplace.com/

Europ@Web acquires stake in WineandCo (www.wineandco.com).

M2 PRESSWIRE-22 February 2000-Europ@Web: Europ@Web acquires stake in WineandCo (www.wineandco.com) (C)1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:22022000

Europ@Web, the Internet arm of Bernard Arnault's family holding company, has acquired a strategic minority stake in WineandCo (www.wineandco.com).

Originally created in France, WineandCo is a website devoted to wine, offering amateurs a wide choice of wines from all over the world at competitive prices. The investment is by way of a capital increase of approximately 100 million French francs and will enable WineandCo, which already has operational sites in France, Italy and England, to accelerate its international development.

WineandCo offers a wide selection of wines from France and overseas, and helps users to make their own selections based on expert advice, opinions from other consumers and general information on the world of wine. The company has built a dedicated logistical structure that guarantees optimum delivery times and, in the majority of cases, orders processed before midday are delivered the following day.

Marc Perrin, president and founder of WineandCo, commented: "We are extremely enthusiastic about the idea of working with Europ@Web which, in our opinion, has understood the concept of WineandCo perfectly. The numerous operational synergies that can be quickly be established will allow us to accelerate our global development as well as giving us access to numerous partnerships."

Chahram Becharat, Managing Director of Europ@Web, commented: "We have been convinced by the quality of WineandCo's management team, who possess a strong knowledge of the wine industry, which is crucial, combined with more than five years experience of operating on the Internet."

WineandCo WineandCo was founded in 1999 by Marc Perrin, Rodolphe Boivin and Loic Lemeur, with the support of GIP, a venture capital fund specializing in e-commerce. Before devoting themselves exclusively to WineandCo, Marc Perrin and Rodolphe Boivin created Vinternet, a company which set up more than 600 websites for the wine industry, and which continues to work alongside WineandCo.

WineandCo offers its customers the opportunity to discover wines from France and the rest of the world, chosen for their excellent quality and/or their reasonable prices. Customers can take advantage of the wealth of information available on the world of wines, the opportunity to chat online to other amateurs throughout the world, and numerous references from well-known guides, enabling them to make their selections according to their specific tastes, receiving guidance on their choices as they do so.

WineandCo is currently present in France, Italy and the UK, employing 35 personnel, and aims to develop rapidly in other European, North American and Asian countries.

Europ@Web Europ@web is the Internet arm of Bernard Arnault's family holding company.

With 500 million euros at its disposal, Europ@web's mission is to create or develop Internet-related companies with a strong growth potential and a long term operational perspective, through majority or minority stakes. Entities in which Europ@web has invested recently include Webvan, PlanetRx, Camdens and Oxygen Media in the US. Under the direction of Chahram Becharat, the European team of Europ@web contributed to the creation of Liberty Surf, the free Internet access provider which recently acquired a stake in X-Stream, and took a majority stake in Aucland, one of the leading online auction sites in Europe. Europ@Web also recently invested in Leisureplanet, Sportal, Imediation and Netvalue.

GIP GIP (www.gip-partners.com) has a global portfolio of almost 150 million euros, specialising in electronic commerce and distribution, including Mondera.com (jewellery), Pets-Pyjamas.co.uk (articles for pets), Skim.com (fashion), and LibertyTV.com (travel). GIP is active in Europe, Latin America and South East Asia; its objective is to help entrepreneurs with strong potential to develop on a global scale.

CONTACT: Emma Holyer/Rebecca Whitehead, MIDNIGHT COMMUNICATIONS Tel: +44 (0)1273 666200 Fax: +44 (0)1273 666201 e-mail: emma@midnight.co.uk

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