Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Pakistan postpones election, calls in Scotland Yard
Pakistan has postponed general elections until February 18 following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, which sparked days of unrest that left dozens of people dead.[MORE]
Abbas says Bush must speak out on Israeli settlements
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas says that US President George W Bush must speak out against Israeli settlements during his visit to the region next week, because they are making peace talks impossible.[MORE]
Britain tops fast-food league: study
Britons are the world's biggest fans of fast food, just ahead of Americans, while famously gastronomic French are the least attracted by quick meals, according to a study.[MORE]
Deadly year for world's journalists
The news business remained a dangerous profession last year with 171 journalists killed while pursuing their work, nearing the record 177 deaths of 2006, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement.[MORE]
Guccione bows out in Adelaide
Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu fought back against local wildcard Chris Guccione to reach the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on Wednesday evening.[MORE]
Pakistan 'open to assistance' on Bhutto probe
Pakistan's foreign office says the Government is "open to receiving assistance from outside," in the investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.[MORE]
'My time to lead will come': Bhutto's son declares on Facebook
Slain Benazir Bhutto's son Bilawal said in a message on website Facebook that his "time to lead will come" despite his inexperience - and the fact he knows his life will be in "critical" danger.[MORE]
Federer is tops again for L'Equipe
Tennis star Roger Federer has been named Champion of Champions by L'Equipe newspaper for the third year running.[MORE]
Gas plant fault prompts blackout warning
Western Australians have been urged to conserve power on Thursday or face possible blackouts due to a shutdown at Woodside's gas plant in Karratha.[MORE]
Bhutan votes for youth in first democratic poll
Election officials say Bhutan has elected mostly people in their 20s and 30s to its new upper house as the tiny Himalayan state switches to democracy after a century of absolute monarchy.[MORE]
Three killed, seven hurt in bomb blast in Algeria: interior ministry
The Algerian Interior Ministry says three people were killed and seven injured on Wednesday in a bomb blast in Naciria, 50 kilometres east of the capital.[MORE]
Man killed while building firebreaks
Worksafe Victoria is investigating the death of a Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) contractor, killed while building firebreaks in Gippsland.[MORE]
Men charged over drug lab
Sturt police have charged two men after discovering a drug lab at a West Croydon home in Adelaide.[MORE]
9/11 commission leaders blast CIA over 'torture' tapes
The leaders of a US commission that examined the September 11, 2001 terror attacks have accused the CIA of having obstructed their investigation by withholding information about videotaped interrogations of terror suspects.[MORE]
Female suicide bomber kills 10 in Iraq's Baquba
Iraqi police say a female suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest struck a checkpoint of neighbourhood patrol volunteers in Baquba, capital of Iraq's restive Diyala province, killing 10 people and wounding eight.[MORE]
NSW Govt accused of delaying wheelchair access to buses
The New South Wales human rights commissioner, Graeme Innes, says the State Government has acted too slowly on providing access for disable people on the state's bus stops.[MORE]
Mt Tara blaze blocks Snowy River access
Two separate fires have joined to form a 160-hectare blaze on Mount Tara in East Gippsland, Victoria.[MORE]
Python attacks woman on Moreton Island
A 26-year-old woman has had a terrifying encounter with a carpet snake on Moreton Island off Brisbane.[MORE]
Building workers warn of strike action
Building workers are warning of industrial action in a bid to push for a $150 per week wage claim. [MORE]
Indonesia death toll climbs as flood waters recede
At least 112 people have been killed and nine are still missing after landslides and floods hit Indonesia's Java island over the past week, officials said. [MORE]
Malaysian minister quits over sex tape scandal
Malaysia's health minister has resigned a day after he shocked the nation by admitting he was the man in a widely circulated sex video.[MORE]
Hurdles remain as Beijing heads for the home straight
Organisers of the Beijing Olympics have left nothing to chance for China's 'coming-out party' this year but a few tricky hurdles still lie in wait ahead of the opening ceremony on August 8.[MORE]
Unpigmented penguin something special for Antarctic scientists
The sighting of a rare penguin has excited researchers near Mawson Huts in Antarctica.[MORE]
Fears Next G mobile network could leave Flinders Island residents less safe
Some Flinders Island residents are concerned their safety could be jeopardised if Telstra turns off one of its mobile phone networks at the end of the month.[MORE]
Mauresmo into Gold Coast quarter-finals
Two-time grand slam winner Amelie Mauresmo moved into the quarter-finals of the Australian Women's Hardcourt Championships when she beat fellow Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.[MORE]
