Chủ Nhật, 7 tháng 4, 2013

Drugged tourist admits killing woman

India Kashmir British Woman Killed

Indian policemen carry a coffin containing the body of a female British tourist after conducting medical examination in Srinagar, India. Picture: Mukhtar Khan Source: AP

WHILE you were sleeping a tourist allegedly confessed to stabbing a British woman to death in India while high on drugs.

Richard De Wit, 43, told police he had murdered Sarah Groves on the New Beauty houseboat at Dal Lake in the Indian Kashmir city of Srinagar while he was under the influence of an unspecified drug. Mr De Wit was arrested as he tried to flee in a taxi, soon after the 24-year-old was found dead in a pool of blood in her cabin.

Dutch tourist held on suspicion of murder after the body of a British woman is found in Kashmir. Paul Chapman reports.


Looking to the rising tension in the Koreas, South Korea believes the North's next big move may come as soon as Wednesday, with fears Pyongyang will stage another missile test or find some other way to provoke Seoul, Washington and their allies. Meanwhile, Australians are being told they can travel to South Korea as per usual despite the threats being issued by Kim Jong-un and his government.

North Korea takes aim

This photo taken by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean soldiers taking part in a shooting training towards targets with images of South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwan-Jin (left) and a US soldier (back right), at an undisclosed location. Source: AFP

The world's premier Nazi-hunting organisation has given Australia an "F" in its report card, one-time Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf has been allowed to stand for election again, a topless protester says she has to get out of Tunisia before she is killed, China is promoting tourism to islands embroiled in a territorial dispute and a NATO air strike is said to have killed 11 Afghan children.

Afghanistan girl

An Afghan girl tries to peer through the holes of her burqa as she plays with other children in the old town of Kabul, Afghanistan. Picture: Anja Niedringhaus Source: AP

Fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer has died at the age of  81, a friend of the mother of Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza believes the attack may have been revenge for bullying, the home in which a UK couple burned six of their children to death will be demolished and a 64-year-old US woman allegedly asked her grandson to kill his grandfather, after which they used his money for a shopping spree.

Lilly Pulitzer

FILE - In this March 16, 1965 file photo, Palm Beach the fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer, wears her own design and creation of the Lilly shift, in Palm Beach, Fla. Pulitzer, known for her tropical print dresses, dies in Florida at 81. (AP Photo/Robert H. Houston, File) Source: AP

A teen appointed as a youth crime commissioner has been found to be tweeting things like “I want to f****** cut everyone around me", pay phones are so dated that if you pick one up in NYC you can be connected to the year 1993, the world's greatest chef Ferran Adria wants to leave more than a soupcon of his genius for posterity, Singaporeans are being told to lift their standards after a spate of people peeing in elevators, IMF chief Christine Lagarde says the euro has a great future and the Germans are deeply embarrassed by the much-delayed opening of a new airport in Berlin – which has suffered problems like no one being sure how to turn off the lights there.

Youth Police and Crime Commissioner Paris Brown

Youth Police and Crime Commissioner Paris Brown appears before the media in Maidstone, Kent, apologising for the offensive tweets. Picture: AP/Gareth Fuller Source: AP

And you may have been asleep by the time the Gold Logie was announced but that went to Asher Keddie, while Molly Meldrum bestowed an unexpected F-bomb on the audience. Outside of the Australian television scene, camo-clad mourners have said goodbye at BUCKWILD star Shain Gandee's funeralKim Kardashian's baby bump was proudly displayed on Instagram and the Evil Dead staggered to the top of the US box office.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian posted this belly-exposing picture to Instagram with the caption "baby love". Source: Supplied

Wrapping up the weekend's sport events, the jockey who won Saturday's Grand National steeplechase was airlifted to hospital after a fall the following day, Chelsea rose to third in the English Premier League, Australian golfer Wade Ormsby won his first Asian Tour event, Mercedes says a repeat of their 2012 China GP success is far from assured,  Fabian Cancellara won the famed Paris-Roubaix cycling race, and where there's smoke, there's a Mario Balottelli controversy.

Fernando Torres

Chelsea's Fernando Torres carries the ball back after Sunderland scored an own goal during their English Premier league match. Picture: Alastair Grant Source: AP


 

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Unions challenge electoral donation laws

NSW unions are launching a High Court challenge to the state government's electoral donation laws, arguing they breach constitutional rights of freedom of political expression.

The laws, passed by the NSW parliament last year, ban all but individuals from donating to political parties.

Mark Lennon, secretary of Unions NSW, which is leading Monday's court action, says the laws hinder working people from expressing their political views.

"If they're allowed to stand, the O'Farrell government's electoral donation laws will muzzle debate and silence the voice of working people in NSW," he said.

"Our High Court action is about the right of working people to ensure their collective voice is heard."

He said the laws were a cynical attempt by the government to undermine the political strength of its opponents.

The laws ban unions from paying affiliation fees to political parties, combine caps on election spending for political parties and affiliated unions and ban peak councils such as Unions NSW from levying its affiliates to run movement-wide election campaigns.

The NSW Greens warn the court challenge could have the unintended consequence of returning the state to the days when millions of dollars flowed to political parties from vested corporate interests.

Greens MP John Kaye said the outcome could "reopen the floodgates to corporate donations and the corrupting influence they had on political parties".

"It would be unfortunate if the unions' case delivered a springboard for the developers and the alcohol, tobacco and gambling industries or other corporations to once again corrupt state politics," he said in a statement.


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N Korea executes four refugees - activist

NORTH Korea has publicly executed four refugees who were repatriated by China, a South Korean activist says.

China has repatriated 44 people in recent months, said Kim Heung-Kwang, who heads NK Intellectuals Solidarity, a Seoul-based defectors' group.

Four of them were executed and 40 sent to camps for political prisoners, he told a seminar.

South Korean rights groups say there are six political prison camps in the North holding around 200,000 detainees.

Kim said he had obtained his information from a source inside the North, but gave no details. The South's unification ministry, which is in charge of cross-border affairs, declined to comment.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans looking to escape hunger or repression in their communist homeland have fled in recent years. Virtually all cross the border to China, which repatriates those fugitives it catches.

Beijing says they are economic migrants rather than refugees, a policy criticised by international rights groups.

Last week 19 refugees were arrested in Thailand on charges of illegal entry.


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Keddie takes out Gold Logie

Asher Keddie

Asher Keddie celebrates after winning the Gold Logie for the most popular personality on Australian television. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: Herald Sun

ASHER Keddie, considered the most in-form actor in Australian TV, has trumped comedy stars Andy Lee and Hamish Blake to claim the coveted Gold Logie.

Keddie opened the market as an outsider at $11, but became an unbackable favourite at $1.30 in the lead-up to the ceremony at Crown Entertainment Complex.

Keddie scored a Logie double, also taking home the silver award for most popular actress ahead of a hot list of nominees including Rebecca Gibney and Julia Morris.

Keddie, a gold nominee three years running, had not expected to win.

Nominated for her brilliant work in Channel 10 drama Offspring, she has at times struggled with the notion of fame and recognition.

Asked how she felt about Logie voters acknowledging her work, she said: "It's such a surprise''.

``It's not lost on me just how fortunate I am to have such generous, supportive people around me, including the wonderful Offspring family.''


Her gold win follows a big 2012, in which Keddie edged out Packed to the Rafters stars Gibney and Jessica Marais for the most popular actress award following her scene-stealing efforts in Offspring and Paper Giants, in which she played Ita Buttrose.

Deborah Mailman

Deborah Mailman with her Logie for most outstanding actress.

She has shone in the role of neurotic but lovable Nina Proudman on Offspring. She has underscored her depth as a performer by imbuing Nina with just the right blend of humour, emotional complexity and unpredictability.

Keddie is shy by nature, but says: "I think for Offspring (the Gold Logie) is a fantastic nod of encouragement, particularly now we are in our fourth series. For me, working on that show is very fulfilling, so to receive such ongoing appreciation is just great.''

Keddie has found fulfilment off-screen too, with Archibald-winning artist Vincent Fantauzzo.

"As if life couldn't get any sweeter thanks to the two guys in my life, Vincent and Luca (Fantauzzo's son) . . . oh how lucky in love I am,'' Keddie said.

Off stage, Keddie added: "I think the reason I thanked Luca and Vincent is because I’m incredibly happy in life and I really didn’t think it could get much sweeter, I was very happy with where I was at professionally and it just makes all the world of difference when you have a wonderful family around you, the people you are meant to be with.

“I don’t know if its’ better (to win public or peer-voted awards) but you know I've thought quite a bit about this recently because when I was in my 20s it seemed like the be all and the end all to win the most outstanding awards.

"I didn’t quite understand or appreciate the importance of your audience until I did win most popular actress a few years ago (for the first time). And I think Offspring has given me that opportunity to really appreciate the audience and want to entertain them and make it the best drama I can.

"It's become less of a self-absorbed indulgence performance for me and more about a collaboration with not only the other creatives but with an audience as well.

Deborah Mailman proved an overwhelmingly popular choice for the most outstanding actress Logie award.

Mailman was joined on stage at the Logies by the woman she played, Benita Mabo, in acclaimed telemovie Mabo.

It was a double celebration, given it was also Benita’s birthday.

“It was a gorgeous moment,” Mailman said “To be honest, it was a blur. I just heard my name and I had Benita next to me, and then we grabbed each other and I didn’t want to fall away from that embrace.

Nine News gives a peek at the red carpet of the 2013 Logie Awards.

"I just wanted to hold her, it was beautiful the fact she was there and could come up on stage with me.”

Benita said: "I tell you what, they got the story going and Deb Jimi (Bani) played the part very  well. I’m so proud of Jimi and Deb and they did the family well."

Replay Holly Byrnes's live blog on the 55th annual Logie Awards

Anthony Hayes, one of Australia’s most respected character actors, has won the most outstanding actor Logie for his work in ABC drama Devil’s Dust.

Hayes, however, didn’t rate himself a chance of getting the nod ahead of actors including Guy Pearce (Jack Irish), Lachy Hulme (Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War), Jimi Bani (Mabo) and Aaron Jeffery, who delivered a career-defining performance in Underbelly: Badness.

"I thought the Kerry Packer juggernaut was probably going to unpin me tonight,” Hayes said.

Hayes has been acting since he was nine, but Devil’s Dust, in which he played "everyday hero'' Bernie Banton, was his first lead role.

Banton was the anti-asbestos campaigner who took on his former employer James Hardie and won, but lost his life to the disease.

"Yeah, I’ve been kicking around for a while, a lot of supporting roles, a lot of AFI nominations.

"It’s taken a long time to convince someone that I could carry something that’s longer than three or four scenes in a film, so I’m very  gracious that (producers) pegged me for this role very early on in the piece.

"Having said that," Hayes added with a laugh, "there are probably only about five or six rotund actors that were probably in with a chance, so that probably narrowed it down a bit. Don Hany didn’t have a shot at my role."

Meanwhile, funnyman Hamish Blake edged out best mate Andy Lee to win the Logie award for most popular presenter.

"This is incredible, this is highly unexpected,” Blake said.

"Yeah, got the silver, got the gold (2012), looking for the bronze. I’ll try and make them breed and have a lovely happy modern mixed race family."

Indigenous drama Redfern Now won the prestigious Logie for most outstanding drama series and Shari Sebbens claimed the Graham Kennedy Award for most outstanding new talent, handed out by an emotional Molly Meldrum, who used the opportunity to thank those who helped him recover from his horrific fall in December 2011.

Unfortunately, the music guru also used the opportunity to drop the F bomb during the broadcast.

Attempting to mimic Graham Kennedy’s infamous crow call, Meldrum instead just used the actual word, before correcting himself and calling out 'Faaaark’ instead.

Redfern Now edged out brilliant competition in Offspring, Puberty Blues, Rake and Tangle to win the outstanding drama series award.

Shari Sebbens

Redfern Now actress Shari Sebbens has won the Graham Kennedy Award for most outstanding new talent at the 2013 Logie Awards.

"This is the first thing I’ve ever received with my name on it,” Sebbens, who doesn’t have a driver’s licence, said.

“And all my family are athletes so they’ve all got man of the match and things like that. I’ll give this to mum probably. "

Darren Dale, producer of Redfern Now, said of the series: "I think it’s a great and proud moment for indigenous filmmakers and indigenous film, it’s black actors on screen, it was written by five writers, directed by four indigenous people so I think it’s a watershed moment in prime-time drama.

"(It was) indigenous stuff and people watched it and we won a Logie so (I feel) bloody great."

Earlier, newsreading legend Brian Henderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Henderson, who follows the likes of Bert Newton and Reg Grundy as an inductee, said: "I was a bit overwhelmed in the beginning getting into the Hall of Fame let alone that ovation (from the Logies audience).

"I was staggered by it, staggered. I thought there’s a lot of young people out there, they’re not going to know me. They maybe followed the others and thought 'I’ll stand because the others are'. No, it was a great feeling. "

Henderson told of his affection for the late Nine supremo Kerry Packer.

“I was very fond of him, he was a very funny man,” Henderson said of Packer.

Joel Madden

In a controversial win, Joel Madden has scooped the Logie for best new talent. Picture: Jason Edwards

Channel 9’s Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War, took out the Logie for most outstanding mini-series or telemovie.

It’s a major achievement to win the award, given the peer-voted categories are rarely won by commercial networks.

"It’s lovely to win, it’s much better than coming second,” executive producer John Edwards said.

"We knew we’d made a show that was good and that people watched and enjoyed a lot. But you don’t think about this sort of stuff, but it’s great when you do (win).”

The Voice trumped opposition talent show The X Factor to claim the Logie for most popular light entertainment show.

Joel Madden, who also took the award for most popular new male talent, thanked the show’s fans on behalf of judges Delta Goodrem, Seal, Keith Urban and newcomer Ricky Martin.

"Most important are the people who watch and support those who perform on the show," Madden said.

Packed to the Rafters, which has had a stranglehold on the most popular categories for the past four years, was rolled  by House Husbands for the most popular drama award.

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Deborah Mailman, one of the stars of the Logie-winning drama series Redfern Now, hits the red carpet. Picture: Jason Edwards

House Husbands overcame strong competition from Rafters, Offspring, Puberty Blues and Home and Away.

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden was a controversial winner of the most popular new talent Logie award for his role as a mentor on ratings juggernaut

The Voice

.

While the award is designed to be won for those new to television, regardless of age, many felt Madden fitted awkwardly into the list of nominees. He has 750,000 Twitter followers, no doubt an advantage in accruing Logies votes.

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Steve Peacocke, with partner Bridgette Sneddon arrives at the ceremony. The Home and Away star has won the Logie for most popular actor. Picture: Jason Edwards

Madden edged out contenders including Alex Williams, a standout as Julian Assange in Underground: The Julian Assange Story.

Before the award presentation, Gold Logie nominee Hamish Blake had a tongue-in-cheek dig at Madden.

"Welcome to the entertainment industry you must be nervous,” Hamish said to Madden.

Madden said he was shocked by his win.

“I almost swallowed my toothpick,” he said.

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Gold Logie nominee Carrie Bickmore arrives at the awards show. Picture: Jason Edwards

“This is the first time I’ve been called the best new anything. I didn’t really prepare a speech.

"I just want to thank Australia for being so good to me. Australia, thanks for being so cool to me and my family.

"I’ll always understand when people debate things (controversy about his nomination) because it’s been happening to me my entire career."

Home and Away proved the power of its appeal when Steve Peacocke won the most popular actor Logie ahead of a strong field of contenders including Lachy Hulme and Packed to the Rafters star Hugh Sheridan.

Asked how he was feeling about having a Logie in his hand, Peacocke said: "I’m pretty nervous still."

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Red-carpet favourite Brynne Edelsten struts her stuff. Picture: Edwards Jason

The labourer turned actor added: "I was a labourer after university when I was trying to make ends meet, but since I was 16 I’ve wanted to be an actor.

"I was on a football scholarship at school so I couldn’t do any acting there. I got to university and started and that’s all I did all day and night was read texts from David Mamet and Stanislavsky.

I was a jackaroo for a year and I used to sit behind the mobs of sheep doing the sons of Scotland speech (from the film Braveheart).

"I probably did about 20 or 30 plays in Sydney - crappy little co-op things in Newtown so that’s how I learned.

"That’s all I ever wanted to do and I was just lucky Channel 7 took a chance on me two-and-a-half years ago.<

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster arrive on the red carpet. Picture: Jason Edwards

Better Homes and Gardens claimed the Logie award for most popular lifestyle series.

It came up trumps against opposition including Getaway, Grand Designs Australia, The Living Room and Selling Houses Australia.

“We do not take this for granted,” host Jo Griggs said of the success.

The show kicked off with Bruno Mars’s lively performance of his Police soundalike hit Locked Out of Heaven.

He was followed by first presenters Hamish and Andy, who turned around in Voice-style chairs, which they then drove around the stage.

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

The Biggest Loser's Michelle Bridges on the Logies red carpet. Picture: Jason Edwards

The comic duo were there to present  the first award, the popular reality series gong, which was won by Nine's The Block.

It’s no small achievement for the show hosted by Scott Cam, which has just completed its first all-stars series.

The Block overcame strong competition in My Kitchen Rules, MasterChef, the resurgent Big Brother and Beauty and the Geek to win the award.

Cam said: "I attribute the win to a tremendous bunch of workers as in cameramen, sound, producers and of course our executive producers. That’s why we end up as a great show.

"Everyone works seven days a week, they want to put our some great telly and they’re committed to it, and these guys here (the contestants) who work extremely hard to produce those houses, that’s why we’ve got a good show."

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Gold Logie nominee Andy Lee will be competing against sidekick Hamish Blake for the coveted award. Picture: Jason Edwards

Cam also paid tribute to MKR ("a juggernaut with big numbers every night") and Masterchef and then said:

"I suppose we produce telly that the whole family can watch, mum and dad and the three kids can sit down at 7 o'clock and enjoy ."

Asked if he'd have a beer with MKR’s Manu Feildel and Masterchef’s  Matt Preston afterwards, he added: "Absolutely, they’re all good fellas. Pete Evans I know well and I know all those guys and certainly we’ll have a beer and I’ll congratulate them on their show, they’ve got a terrific show and they deserved to win as much as we did but unfortunately on the night we took home the prize."

Earlier, celebrities hit the red carpet, with all eyes on the all-important dresses.

Old-style Hollywood glamour reigned supreme as Australia's television talent got into party mode.

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Former Miss Universe Jesinta Campbell. Picture: Jason Edwards

Stars overwhelmingly donned sophisticated frocks with spangled embellishment, opulent beading and delicate lace in hues of midnight blue, red, gold and emerald green.

White is the most enduring shade of the night with Shelley Craft, Zoe Foster-Blake, Rebecca Madden and Leah Denise among those favoring the crisp classic.

Standouts include Lauren Phillips in a leather embellished dress by Arthur Galan, Carrie Bickmore in a watermelon hued gown by Steven Khalil, Claudia Karvan in a monochrome Toni Maticevski creation and red carpet favorite Asher Keddie in Dion Lee. 

Rival weather girls Giaan Rooney and Rebecca Judd took the competition to the carpet in two of the most talked about gowns of the night.

2013 Logie Awards Red Carpet Arrivals

Channel Nine television host Lauren Phillips. Picture: Jason Edwards

Rooney revamped her image in a space odyssey inspired gown by Helen Manuell while Judd secured herself the only J'aton creation of the night.

Fashion faux pas were few an far between with the Old Hollywood glamour trend meaning less flashes of flesh.

Brynne Edelsten arrived on the Logies red carpet with bruises and a new look.

"My body is different and I thought why not try something a bit more refined," Edelsten said.

Her floor-length white tassel dress by Natasha Fagg was certainly a different look to her normal ruby rug frock shocks.

Brynne said she is loving Celebrity Splash, except for the bruises.

"They say I'm a natural,'' Edelsten exclaimed of the reality show.

"But the water really hurts.''

In a serious faux pas, Channel Nine's The Morning Show tweeted Myer pin-up Kris Smith was strutting the carpet with girlfriend Maddy King

"Kris and Maddy looking very gorgeous indeed #Logies13,'' Mornings posted.

The woman photographed was actually Lauren Phillips.

Earlier this year Phillips was forced to deny a romance with her Myer stablemate after rumours spread like wildfire they were getting close while he was still seeing former flame Dannii Minogue. 

Meanwhile, Gold Logie nominee Adam Hills brought his mother Judy as his date to the Logies.

His wife, opera soprano Ali McGregor, was performing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Hills arrived back home to Australia from the UK on Tuesday.

"When my wife couldn't come, mum stepped in, she loves this kind of stuff so she is the perfect date," Hills said.

The cast of Offspring didn't have a big night last night - they had a 6.30am call for filming today.

Kat Stewart, dressed in Hugo Boss, said there is one more week of filming on season four of the Melbourne made drama.

"The show has taken more twists and turns, it's fantastic, " Stewart said.

This year many of Australia's top designers were too busy preparing for Sydney's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, which starts tomorrow, to give the stars the kind of custom-made attention they're accustomed to.

Some starlets may even have bought off the rack, as if they were some kind of mere mortals.

Even those red carpet perennials, J'Aton (Jacob Luppino and Anthony Pittorino) were unavailable to create gowns because they were overseas for a wedding.

Full list of winners

MOST POPULAR PERSONALITY (GOLD LOGIE)

Asher Keddie (Offspring, Network Ten)

MOST POPULAR ACTOR

Steve Peacocke (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

MOST POPULAR ACTRESS

Asher Keddie (Offspring, Network Ten)

MOST POPULAR PRESENTER

Hamish Blake (Hamish & Andy's Euro Gap Year/Hamish & Andy's Caravan Of Courage: Australia Vs New Zealand, Nine Network)

MOST POPULAR NEW MALE TALENT

Joel Madden (The Voice, Nine Network)

MOST POPULAR NEW FEMALE TALENT

Brenna Harding (Puberty Blues, Network Ten)

MOST POPULAR DRAMA SERIES

House Husbands, Nine Network

MOST POPULAR MINISERIES OR TELEMOVIE

Howzat! Kerry Packer's War, Nine Network

MOST OUTSTANDING ACTOR

Anthony Hayes (Devil's Dust, ABC1)

MOST OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

Deborah Mailman (Mabo, ABC1)

GRAHAM KENNEDY AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING NEW TALENT

Shari Sebbens (Redfern Now, ABC1)

MOST OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Redfern Now, ABC1

MOST OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR TELEMOVIE

Howzat! Kerry Packer's War, Nine Network

MOST POPULAR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

The Voice, Nine Network

MOST POPULAR LIFESTYLE PROGRAM

Better Homes And Gardens, Channel Seven

MOST POPULAR SPORTS PROGRAM

The Footy Show (NRL), Nine Network

MOST POPULAR REALITY PROGRAM

The Block, Nine Network

MOST POPULAR FACTUAL PROGRAM

Bondi Rescue, Network Ten

MOST OUTSTANDING NEWS COVERAGE

"Breaking Ranks'', Lateline, ABC1

MOST OUTSTANDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT

"Captain Emad: Smugglers' Paradise  Australia'', Four Corners, ABC1

MOST OUTSTANDING LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

The X Factor, Channel Seven

MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS COVERAGE

London 2012 Olympic Games, FOXTEL

MOST OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

Dance Academy, ABC3

MOST OUTSTANDING FACTUAL PROGRAM

Go Back To Where You Came From, SBS ONE


 

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Bomb kills five at railway station

POLICE said a bomb has exploded in a railway station in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least five people.

Police officer Qasim Salachi said at least 20 others were wounded in the bombing overnight at the station in Baluchistan province's Sibbi city.

Mr Salachi said the bomb went off just minutes after a train pulled into the station, as passengers were buying food and drinks.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Baluchistan has experienced decades of violence at the hands of separatists who demand a greater share of the province's natural resources. It is also believed to be a base for many Afghan Taliban militants.


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US man drinks liquid, dies in court after guilty verdict

AN Arizona man convicted today of deliberately burning down his $US3.5 million mansion in 2009 collapsed and died in the courtroom after the verdict was read.

A Phoenix jury found 53-year-old Scottsdale man Michael Marin guilty of arson of an occupied structure.

Shortly after he heard the verdict, video showed Marin taking a drink from a bottle of an unknown liquid. He then made a choking or throat-clearing noise, wheeled his chair around, and collapsed on the floor.

Paramedics attended to him, but could not save his life.

Marin was not in custody during the trial and it is possible he deliberately harmed himself.

Marin's mansion burned down in July 2009.

He told authorities he escaped the blaze by climbing down a rope ladder while wearing a scuba tank and diving mask to protect himself from the smoke. Prosecutors claimed Marin set fire to his house because he could no longer pay the mortgage.


Read more about the court case at myfoxphoenix.com

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Dengue outbreak in Townsville: official

TOWNSVILLE residents are being told to kill mosquitoes around their homes after a local outbreak of the dengue virus.

Public health physician Dr Steven Donohue warns a resident has contracted the potentially fatal virus after being bitten by a mosquito in the north Queensland city.

Dr Donohue says this means local mosquitoes are carrying the virus.

"We dont know the extent at this stage," he said in a statement.

"Now is the time for people to take measures to kill these mosquitoes."

Dr Donohue said common dengue mosquito breeding sites include tyres, buckets, toys and pot plant bases.

He urged residents to tip out, flush out, throw away or dry store any containers holding water in which mosquitoes can breed.

"Use indoor surface spray, mozzie zappers and coils around the house to kill mosquitoes," Dr Donohue said.

He said anyone with symptoms including sudden fever, severe headaches, aches and pains should be tested.

There is no specific medical treatment or vaccine, and serious complications can include dengue haemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.


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Is this the world's worst coach?

Logies

VIDEO: After Offspring actress Asher Keddie scooped up her Gold Logie, the stars took to the tiles at a range of wild after-parties. Who was out of control and who went home for room service? | Meldrum drops F-bomb | 20 best dressed

North Korea 'readying nuke test'

North Korea Rocket Launch

BREAKING: NORTH Korea reportedly preparing a fourth nuclear test as South Korea warns of missile firing and diplomats in Pyongyang put on notice.

The Ninety Billion Nightmare

NBN

THE final cost of the NBN rollout could more than double and exceed $90 billion by the time it is finished, according to a new analysis.

Footballer dies after head clash

Jake Kedzlie

THE teen grandson of rugby league great Tommy Raudonikis has died in hospital from severe head injuries sustained in a weekend match. 

Big Kev's mum: 'Bulls***, we're going home'

kevin moore

MOMENTS before Big Kev, the biggest ever contestant to enter The Biggest Loser, was booted off the show, his mum snapped, unleashing an epic, f-bomb-laden rant.

13 best baby names of 2013, one of them's Bruce

Bruce Wayne

HOLLYWOOD is seriously warping the baby-name trend. Bruce Wayne. Thor. Olivia Wilde. They're all influencing some of the hottest, yet oddest, new names in 2013.


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Man drinks 'unknown' liquid in court then dies

bottled water

The convicted arsonist died after drinking an unknown substance during sentencing.
Source: Supplied

  • Michael Marin guilty of burning down his $3.5m home
  • Convicted man took a sip of unknown liquid, collapses
  • Paramedics were unable to revive him

AN Arizona man convicted today of deliberately burning down his $US3.5 million mansion in 2009 collapsed and died in the courtroom after the verdict was read.

A Phoenix jury found 53-year-old Scottsdale man Michael Marin guilty of arson of an occupied structure.

Shortly after he heard the verdict, video showed Marin taking a drink from a bottle of an unknown liquid. He then made a choking or throat-clearing noise, wheeled his chair around, and collapsed on the floor.

Paramedics attended to him, but could not save his life.

Marin was not in custody during the trial and it is possible he deliberately harmed himself.

Marin's mansion burned down in July 2009.

He told authorities he escaped the blaze by climbing down a rope ladder while wearing a scuba tank and diving mask to protect himself from the smoke. Prosecutors claimed Marin set fire to his house because he could no longer pay the mortgage.


Read more about the court case at myfoxphoenix.com

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide contact Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 22 46 36, or Salvo Care Line 1300 36 36 22.


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Man drinks 'unknown' liquid in court then dies

bottled water

The convicted arsonist died after drinking an unknown substance during sentencing.
Source: Supplied

  • Michael Marin guilty of burning down his $3.5m home
  • Convicted man took a sip of unknown liquid, collapses
  • Paramedics were unable to revive him

AN Arizona man convicted today of deliberately burning down his $US3.5 million mansion in 2009 collapsed and died in the courtroom after the verdict was read.

A Phoenix jury found 53-year-old Scottsdale man Michael Marin guilty of arson of an occupied structure.

Shortly after he heard the verdict, video showed Marin taking a drink from a bottle of an unknown liquid. He then made a choking or throat-clearing noise, wheeled his chair around, and collapsed on the floor.

Paramedics attended to him, but could not save his life.

Marin was not in custody during the trial and it is possible he deliberately harmed himself.

Marin's mansion burned down in July 2009.

He told authorities he escaped the blaze by climbing down a rope ladder while wearing a scuba tank and diving mask to protect himself from the smoke. Prosecutors claimed Marin set fire to his house because he could no longer pay the mortgage.


Read more about the court case at myfoxphoenix.com

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide contact Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 22 46 36, or Salvo Care Line 1300 36 36 22.


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North Korea 'readying nuke test'

As world leaders meet in China to foster Asian economic growth, Australian PM Julia Gillard warns of the regional consequences of North Korean aggression. Lindsey Parietti reports.

NORTH Korea has told other nations that it will be unable to guarantee diplomats' safety in the North's capital beginning Wednesday.

A South Korean national security official said yesterday that North Korea may be setting the stage for a missile test or another provocative act.

Citing North Korea's suggestion that diplomats leave the country, South Korean President Park Geun-hye's national security director said the North may be planning a missile launch or another provocation around Wednesday, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing.

In Washington, an adviser to President Barack Obama said "we wouldn't be surprised if they did a test. They've done that in the past."

Aide Dan Pfeiffer told US network ABC's This Week that "the key here is for the North Koreans to stop their actions, start meeting their international obligations, and put themselves in a position where they can achieve what is their stated goal, which is economic development, which will only happen if they rejoin the international community.'"

He told Fox News Sunday that "the onus is on the North Koreans to do the right thing here," adding that "they are the source of the problem and the only way to solve this is for them to take a step back."

If they don't, there will be consequences, Mr Pfeiffer said. "They will be able to further isolate themselves in the world, they will continue to further hurt themselves. The North Korean people are starving because of actions like the ones North Koreans are taking right now."

North Korea Rocket Launch

A file photo shows the launch of a missile in Musudan-ri, North Korea in 2009. South Korea's national security director said the North may be planning a missile launch or another provocation around Wednesday.

US Senator Lindsey Graham said he could see a "major war happening'' if North Korea overplays its hand. If that occurs, Mr Graham told NBC's Meet the Press, the North would lose and South Korea would win, with the help of the United States.

US General James Thurman, the commander of the 28,000 American troops in South Korea, will stay in Seoul as "a prudent measure'" rather than travel to Washington to appear this coming week before congressional committees, Army Colonel Amy Hannah said in an email to The Associated Press.

General Thurman has asked the Senate Armed Services Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Appropriations subcommittee on defence to excuse his absence until he can testify at a later date.

The top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, who just wrapped up a visit to Afghanistan, said he had consulted with General Thurman about the rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.

General Dempsey said both General Thurman and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, General Jung Seung-jo, decided it would be best for them to remain in Seoul rather than come to Washington. The Korean general had planned to meet with General Dempsey, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, in mid-April for regular talks.

General Dempsey said that instead of meeting in person with Generals Thurman and Jung in Washington, they will consult together by video-teleconference.

Asked whether he foresees North Korea taking military action soon, General Dempsey told The Associated Press, "No, but I can't take the chance that it won't," and thus the Pentagon has bolstered its missile defenses and taken other precautions.

The Pentagon also has postponed an intercontinental ballistic missile test that was set for the coming week at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a senior defence official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The official said US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel decided to put off the long-planned Minuteman 3 test until April because of concerns the launch could be misinterpreted and exacerbate the Korean crisis. Mr Hagel made the decision Friday, the official said.

North Korea's military said this past week that it was authorised to attack the US using "smaller, lighter and diversified" nuclear weapons. North Korea also conducted a nuclear test in February and in December launched a long-range rocket that could potentially hit the continental US.

The US has moved two of the Navy's missile-defense ships closer to the Korean peninsula, and a land-based system is being deployed to the Pacific territory of Guam later this month. The Pentagon last month announced longer-term plans to strengthen its US-based missile defenses.

The defence official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the Minuteman 3 test delay and requested anonymity, said US policy continues to support the building and testing of its nuclear deterrent capabilities. The official said the launch was not put off because of any technical problems.

General Dempsey said he was not familiar with details of the Minuteman decision because he was travelling in Afghanistan.

But, he said, "it would be consistent with our intent here, which is to do what we have to do to posture ourselves to deter (North Korea), and to assure our allies. So things that can be delayed should be delayed."


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Remote-controlled car bomb kills 11

A POWERFUL remote-controlled car bomb targeting a bus carrying Shiite pilgrims killed at least 11 people in Pakistan's insurgency-torn southwest overnight, police said.

The incident took place in the Hazar Ganji area on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of the oil and gas-rich Baluchistan province bordering Iran and Afghanistan.

"A bus carrying Pakistani Shiite Muslims was coming to Quetta from Iran when a car bomb exploded near it, killing 11 people, including nine Shiite pilgrims and two escorting policemen," said senior local police official Hamid Shakeel.

"It was a remote controlled blast. The bomb was planted in a car and exploded as the bus passed by it," he said, adding that more than 20 people were injured in the attack.

Two other senior police officials confirmed the explosion and casualties.

Manzoor Ahmed, a bomb disposal squad official, said the improvised explosive device weighed more than 30 kilograms.

The attack comes a day after a bomb planted under a tea stall at a railway station in southwestern Pakistan killed seven people, including a child, and wounded more than a dozen others.

Baluchistan has become an increasing flashpoint for sectarian violence between Pakistan's majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites, who account for about one fifth of the country's 167 million population.


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Search for missing diabetic man in WA bush

A SEARCH is underway for a diabetic man who walked away from a campsite in Western Australia's southwest over the weekend after a disagreement with friends.

Police said 35-year-old Luke Kocsis was camping with friends at Scott National Park near Augusta on Saturday night when he decided to walk back to Margaret River.

He was reported missing on Sunday afternoon.

Police and State Emergency Service volunteers searched for him for six hours on Sunday evening but didn't find him.

The search resumed at 6am (WST) on Monday.

Police are seeking information from anyone who may have seen Mr Kocsis, who was wearing dark jeans, a dark jacket and thongs when he left the campsite without his diabetes medication.


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Thứ Sáu, 5 tháng 4, 2013

Two dead in Quebec daycare shooting

1 person dead at Quebec day care centre

Police have evacuated children from a daycare centre outside the central Canadian city of Gatineau. Source: AAP

A MAN has fatally shot another man then killed himself at a daycare centre in the Canadian province of Quebec, prompting authorities to evacuate the centre as terror-stricken parents scrambled to retrieve their kids.

Gatineau Police Chief Mario Harel said all 53 children were safe and unharmed, and police speculated that some children likely witnessed Friday's killings.

"It's a small area, it's a close space," said Harel. "For sure, they should have been witness (to) the event."

Harel said police received a call about an armed man with a shotgun threatening people. They arrived to find the man dead with a shotgun beside him and a second, unidentified employee of the day care, also dead.

He said the shooting seemed to be related to a recent separation between a couple.

"We have two deceased. One of the males is responsible for this shooting. The other male works at this day care centre," Haren said. "Right now we're investigating that this was related to a recent separation between a couple."

Omar Eltalawi rushed to the scene from his nearby home as soon as he heard about the shooting, fearful for his three-year-old daughter, Zain.

"It was horrible," Eltalawi said as he described the fear of not knowing what was going on inside the two homes that housed the Racines De Vie Montessori daycare.

"You see these things on the news and you don't expect it to happen to you."

A chilling scene played out in the aftermath of the shooting as visibly shaken parents sobbed and hugged while they waited for investigators to bring them to their children.

Sergeant Jean-Paul LeMay said police received a report of a shooting in the morning.

LeMay said the kids were safe at a nearby house. He would not release details on who was killed or if the kids witnessed the shooting.

The shooting initially raised fears of a far worse incident such as the one months ago when 20 children and six educators were massacred in a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school in December.


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Viral mugshot woman's wedding offers

Meagan Simmons, Facebook

This mugshot portrait of Meagan Mccullough nee Simmons has led to marriage proposals and declarations of love. Picture: Hillsborough County Source: Supplied

A MUGSHOT of a woman has gone viral, prompting declarations of love from across the world and even marriage proposals.

Yet the mugshot of the "attractive convict", arrested for allegedly drink driving, is not a model or actress as people presumed. It's a mother-of-four, who is a medical assistant, from Florida, US.

Meagan Mccullough, 27, of Zephyrhills, as she was then known, was arrested for DUI in July 2010 leading to her mugshot being taken in an orange jumpsuit. Her natural good looks meant yesterday, three years on, it caught the attention of the sharing website Reddit and soon spread around the internet like wildfire, MailOnline reported.

Men fashioned memes adding captions to the mugshot such as 'GUILTY - of taking my breath away', 'Arrested for breaking and entering - YOUR HEART' and 'Tell me what she did so I can end up in the same jail'.

Social media sites were overtaken by comments from men wanting to marry her, looking for her phone number and asking if she is a model.

Even on the arrest site men have written of instant love for her mugshot.

Meagan Simmons, Facebook

Love and marriage... Meagan Mccullough nee Simmons. Picture: Facebook

"The eyes of the sky. And hair like woven silk. I have taken photos of thousands of woman and never seen one with what you have in those eyes breath taking you are.

"I hope if you have a man he takes care of you and showers you with love and tenderness. If we were together you would need for nothing . I would go to the ends of the earth just to make you happy," a man posted.

Another asks her to move to Ireland.

"What's up with that surname, you must have Irish heritage? You got bar work experience?

"Come to Ireland, I'll put you up for a while and you can work in my friends pub while you find your feet, look up your family history and then move on to something better.

A driver's complaint about an inflated service quote and unnecessary repairs has gone viral on social media.

"Over here, we don't call you a criminal for driving drunk (unless repeatedly caught). I'm not joking by the way."

Meagan, now separated from her husband and going by her maiden name Simmons, is baffled by the sudden interest and bemused by the obsession with the mugshot picture she thinks "is terrible".

"I had just been crying when the photo was taken and I was drunk. I knew I'd caused a lot of trouble and my parents were really upset and I was really upset. I wasn't thinking about how I looked at all," she told Mail Online.

"I don't think it's that good a picture - there are other ones I would prefer."

Meagan said the interest was overwhelming and said had to block a lot of users.

Viral footage from Channel 7’s Highway Patrol of Clinton telling Victoria Police he's 'waiting for a mate'

She is single and dateless, although she says her two daughters and two sons, all of school age, are part of a package.

"Guys may find me attractive but they don't want a relationship and it's disappointing," she told Mail Online.

"I am single and I'm a hopeless romantic and I'm really picky. If it was just a nice normal guy who happened to come across the picture - but I'd have to do a background check because who would do that?'

"I think its weird, you can't be serious about someone if it's based off their mugshot and that mugshot is something I'm ashamed of - I'm not happy about it."

Meagan, who used to work at Hooters, is not unaware of her good looks.

Nick Bertke’s funky remix of a trip through central Australia on the Ghan.

"I never know what to wear to my kids school functions...dress like a mom or the sexy woman I am #hotmomproblems," she recently wrote on Twitter.


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Woman 'killed family' to get off work

cemetery

A UK woman falsely claimed a host of family members had died -so she could claim days off work. Source: Supplied

A BRITISH social worker has been struck off after lying to bosses about the deaths of her father, mother, uncle, aunt, brother and ex-husband to get time off work.

Rachael Miles took 66 days off work with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, where she was part of a 16-plus team working with vulnerable people.

After a two-day hearing concluding on March 28, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) found she fraudulently claimed compassionate leave and carers' leave.

The panel heard evidence that Ms Miles made up stories about the deaths of loved ones, including claims her ex-husband had hung himself and she needed to identify his body.

In her first claim in February 2010, less than two weeks after starting work for the council, she told bosses her father had been in a car crash, later reporting he had died.

The following month Ms Miles claimed her mother had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, and later that year that she had died during surgery.

In 2011, she told bosses her brother died, followed by her ex-husband.

In November that year, Ms Miles asked for more time off after telling bosses her uncle and then her aunt died seven days apart.

The council launched an investigation and decided to redeploy her to another post in the authority but she resigned instead.

Ms Miles did not attend the hearing in London and was not represented.

The HCPC struck her off its register and placed an interim suspension order on Ms Miles, who can choose to appeal against the decision.

A spokesman for Solihull council said it did not comment on individual staff matters.


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WTF is happening in Korea?

South Korea Koreas Tension

South Korean army soldiers patrol along a barbed-wire fence near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon Source: AP

THE question, until recently theoretical, has taken an urgent turn: where would China stand in the event of North Korea living up to its word and striking against US bases and South Korea?

North Korea has declared itself in a "state of war", threatening nuclear and conventional attacks on the US and South Korea, reportedly shifting missiles into place. If it makes one further small misstep, particularly with nuclear posturing, North Korea will be hit suddenly and hard.

But it is the actions of China, which for decades has played the role of big brother to its delinquent younger sibling, that matter.

Kevin Rudd may not be able to foretell his own political fortunes at home but he knows China. In his time as foreign minister, and since, he has maintained a consistent line that will comfort those anxious about the security emergency: China is no aggressor.


Whatever people think of Rudd, he is a respected world expert on China, particularly in regards to its relationship with the US. Foreign Minister Bob Carr looks to Rudd on China. And the world is now looking to China to reveal its true position on North Korea.

Rudd’s view is the world’s hope: that China has gone too far down the path of economic advancement and raising the living standards of its people to cling to a destructive and obsolete alliance with North Korea that could enjoin it to war.

The US this week positioned a destroyer off the South Korean coast to act as a localised ballistic shield against North Korean missiles, 60 years after the unsettled resolutions of the Korean War, involving the identical players: North Korea, South Korea, the US and China.

Images of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting his troops, ordering they “standby for fire” on US bases in South Korea, Guam, Hawaii and the mainland, and threats to burn his South Korean neighbours in a “sea of fire”, have amped the rhetoric beyond what is usual even for the Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army.

Some international theorists suggest, feebly, he’s using his threats as an invitation for the US to pay him off not to go to war, thus allowing him to save face and thereafter open up his country.

But if Kim Jong-un were a reasonable man, he could be an overnight international hero by freeing his people. Instead, his KPA is warning a 'diversified nuclear strike" could come any day, forcing the US to rush a secondary missile defence system deeper in the Pacific, in Guam, to protect the US west coast.

There is doubt North Korea has a nuclear weapon. But there is no question they can make dirty bombs and have damaging missile capability. The Americans believe the threats are real.

NKOREA-SKOREA-MILITARY-MAP

This photo taken and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 29, 2013 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un looking at and signing documents at an undisclosed location. North Korean state media issued two photos that, either by accident or design, appeared to show plans for striking the US mainland, as well as details of the North's military strength. Picture: AFP Source: news.com.au


The son of the Dear Leader, Kim Jong-il, who inherited power in 2011, has been programmed from birth to malfunction. Aged 30, Kim Jong-un’s hard drive is crashing prematurely. The problem is he’s got a 1,200,000-strong active military and many millions more in reserve, making it the fourth-biggest force in the world.

Kim Jong-un’s fury appears to be a response to the US and South Koreans holding joint training exercises in the region.

On March 1, the US and South Korea began the two-month Operation Foal Eagle, involving nuclear-capable stealth bombers dropping dummy munitions off South Korean islands.

The Pentagon said the exercises were the result of long planning and were to assure South Koreans of its commitment to their alliance.

But without question, the intense displays of strength were in response to North Korea conducting its third underground nuclear test in February, which it carried out expressly against China’s wishes.

Jong-un

Kim Jong Un uses a pair of binoculars to look at the South's territory from an observation post at the military unit on Jangjae islet, located in the southernmost part of the southwestern sector of North Korea's border with South Korea. Source: AP


The test resulted in the UN Security Council, of which China is a key permanent member, unanimously endorsing fresh sanctions.

It ordered North Korea to abandon irreversibly all nuclear programs, extended existing travel bans and asset freezes of individuals and companies, and specified that luxury items such as "jewelry with pearls and race cars" be banned from import.

This was to prevent North Korea’s elite from enjoying themselves while their country went hungry.

On Tuesday, North Korea said it would reopen a nuclear reactor closed in 2007 as result of a disarmament treaty to produce plutonium for nuclear warheads.

China, North Korea's only remaining friend in the world, issued a mild rebuke which in context was an expression of extreme displeasure. "We noticed North Korea’s statement (on the reactor), which we think is regrettable," said China’s Foreign Ministry.

North Korea this week issued an absurd propaganda video showing a cartoon missile destroying a US B-52 bomber. Gruesome scenes followed of bodies burning in nuclear fires, and of a baby with its legs blown off. Absurdly, but horribly, the baby was African, not Korean.

North Korea's missiles

Source: News Limited


Brainwashed North Koreans have been on war-footing for decades, putting them in a state of permanent stress. Perhaps Kim Jung-un’s greatest fear is that his people no longer believe him.

China enjoys the growing admiration of the world. But as it provides 50 per cent of North Korea’s food, and 90 per cent of its energy needs, it owns some responsibility for North Korea’s madness.

Early hopes were that Kim Jung-un might listen to Chinese advisors and join the world. Instead, he likes to be seen poring over war maps and staring from binoculars into the distance.

North Korea is believed to have 800 ballistic missiles capable of reaching 3000km, but these are yet to be matched with nuclear warheads. It is developing the long-range TaepoDong 2 missile, which could hit Australian cities.

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye said she would respond militarily to further provocations from the North “without any political consideration”, but the likelihood is she would not act without US approval.

South Korea Koreas Tension

A North Korean soldier watches the South Korean side at the border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in South Korea. Source: AP


Carr said he would use this week’s visit to Beijing with Prime Minister Julia Gillard to urge to use its influence to try and settle down the North Koreans, known in diplomatic circles as “the Norks”. China is already impatient.

Backbencher Rudd, who true to form continues travelling the world speaking as Australia’s foreign minister, was this week in Washington addressing the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where said he was picking up strange new chatter from within China about their displeasure with North Korea.

“I’m surprised by how sort of out there people are at the moment, ranging from, ‘Let’s dump North Korea as an ally’ to ‘How do we work with the South Koreans to exercise restraint?’” Mr Rudd said.

All diplomatic attempts to tone down North Korea, including from China, have failed. Until there was an outcome, said Rudd, China had to accept that the US and South Korea would move to counter, or take on, North Korea.

This made North Korea a dangerous friend for China and a dangerous situation for the world.

Unha-3

This picture taken by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 12, 2012 shows North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifting off from the launching pad in Cholsan county, North Pyongan province in North Korea. Source: AFP


“For these reasons the international community will be looking more and more to Beijing,” said Rudd, “in view of its significance as a major supplier of food and energy to the Korean people, for a new diplomacy towards Pyongyang, given that all other diplomacies from other countries have so far demonstrably failed.”

Gillard said she would be personally asking Beijing to put pressure on North Korea, though it’s hard to imagine the dead-PM-walking having any influence on the world superpower except in trade matters.

China does not want to send messages that North Koreans interpret as a call to overthrow Kim Jung-un. This would risk North Koreans running to reunite with the South as one country, which would put a US ally directly on China’s doorstep.

China prefers North Korea maintain its territory and slowly join the world. But that’s not an option. The world waits, anxious, for it to do its duty as a world citizen.

North Korea Rally

North Korean army officers punch the air as they chant slogans during a rally at Kim Il Sung Square in downtown Pyongyang, North Korea. Source: AP


paul.toohey@news.com.au

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