Pakistani army says 39 militants killed

PAKISTANI warplanes and ground forces have killed 39 militants as part of an ongoing operation in a volatile tribal region near the Afghan border.

THE airstrikes were carried out Friday evening in the Datta Khel area of the North Waziristan tribal region, an army statement said on Saturday, adding that an underground tunnel system and a large underground cache of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed.

The military claimed several important militant commanders were among the dead, but didn't provide further details on the identities of the slain militants.Also late Friday night, Pakistani troops ambushed a large assembly of militants on the border between the Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions, the statement said.It said an intense battle took place in which 16 militants were killed and another 20 injured. Four army soldiers were also injured in the shootout, the statement said.Journalists are barred from the region and it is impossible to independently verify the information.The army says it has killed over 1,200 militants since the start of a massive offensive launched June 15 against militants in North Waziristan. The military offensive was launched after a terrorist attack on Pakistan's largest airport in Karachi.The North Waziristan tribal region is one of seven tribal regions near the Afghan border where local and foreign militants have found safe haven for years. A parallel government offensive is taking place in the neighbouring Khyber tribal region to pursue militants fleeing the North Waziristan offensive.

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Severe fire warning for parts of WA

Fire crews in Western Australia are on high alert as hot, dry and windy conditions are expected. Source: AAP

FIRE crews are preparing for a high fire danger day in parts of Western Australia.

A SEVERE fire danger rating has been forecast for coastal areas in the shires of Carnarvon and Shark Bay on Sunday.

The warning comes as crews extinguished a blaze south of Perth.The fire at Atwell in the City of Cockburn that started at about 3pm (WST) on Saturday has been put out.

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Boy, 6, missing after Murray River swim

A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy who went swimming in the Murray River is missing after getting caught in a current.

THE boy was swimming with six other children on a campsite on Gunbower Island in Koondrook, Victoria, near the NSW border, on Saturday afternoon when they all started to drift downstream.

Four of the children managed to get themselves out of the water, but the other three began to struggle against the current.Several adults jumped into the water and plucked two of the children out but couldn't find the six-year-old boy.NSW and Victorian police and volunteers have been searching for the boy since about 2.30pm.The search is expected to continue well into the night.

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NSW holiday traffic is still banked up

Motorists across NSW are experiencing significant delays as holidaymakers head out of Sydney. Source: AAP

NSW motorists are being urged to allow up to an extra hour to their travel times with heavy traffic still causing delays on major highways.

THE Traffic Management Centre says cars are banked up for 15 kilometres on the northbound Pacific Highway approach to Sancrox, near Port Macquarie, causing a 60-minute delay.

Northbound traffic on the highway approaching Kundabung, south of Kempsey, and heading the same way towards Macksville is backed up for 10 kilometres, adding an extra 40 minutes to travel times.On the south coast, the Princes Highway has 50-minute delays on the southbound approach to Berry but delays have eased for traffic heading from the north to Milton.Other areas are also facing delays.

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Two dead in Qld head-on smash

TWO people have died in a head-on crash in country Queensland.

TWO vehicles crashed on Adventure Way, near Cunnamulla, in the state's south about 8.30am (AEST) on Saturday.

The 23-year-old male driver of one vehicle and a 78-year-old female passenger of the other were pronounced dead at the scene.The 40-year-old female driver of the second vehicle has been flown to Princess Alexandra hospital with serious internal injuries.It's the first fatal accident on Queensland roads in the Christmas-New Year toll period.

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Pain of Cyclone Tracy remembered

NT's chief minister says people should feel proud of how Darwin bounced back after Cyclone Tracy. Source: AAP

STANDING in the eye of Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Eve 1974, Geoff Carter was overcome by a surreal feeling of tranquillity.

"I stood in the eerie silence, looked up at the sky, and thought, 'how fantastic was that'. We were covered with Christmas tinsel," he said.

"Then I looked again, and realised it was roofing iron suspended above the city, ready to descend upon us in the even more ferocious second half of Tracy."On the 40th anniversary of the storm, he said his family came through all right, even though they lost everything."We heard of people being stripped naked and left hanging from the rafters of their house," he told AAP."Our vehicle looked like a salt and pepper shaker, filled with holes from the metal and debris being hurled at it. It looked like Al Capone had been at the bloody thing."With the passing of time, survivors were opening up more and sharing their stories for this anniversary, he said.In the Darwin CBD, about 150 people gathered for a dimming of the lights ceremony at the city Christmas tree, dedicated to the memory of the 66 people killed during the storm."Forty years ago tonight, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin. It swept into the harbour, tossing ships about, and then made its way inland, creating a path of destruction through streets and suburbs, leaving shattered Christmas dreams and worse in its wake," Lord Mayor Katrina Fong Lim said."The casualty list was great. Individuals were hurt and scarred by glass shards and flying metal sheets. They were in fear and traumatised, separated from loved ones, and in shock."But in the aftermath ,the country pulled together in support, Ms Fong Lim said."In the wake of that terrifying storm, the entire nation reached out and helped a community rebuild itself, its homes, its schools, its businesses."She said Darwin had flourished over the past four decades, and although time healed, it couldn't compensate for the profound loss and pain many in the community still felt."I'm sure many people take great comfort from the knowledge that the entire community shares in remembering those who perished, and extend their thoughts and compassion to those who lost loved ones," Ms Fong Lim said.As the lights on the tree were dimmed, 66 community members held candles representing those who died.On Friday a commemorative plaque at Christ Church Cathedral will be unveiled in their memory.

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US shoot black teenager in Missouri

A US police officer has shot dead a black teenager in Missouri after he said the young man pointed a gun at him.

THE St Louis police officer said one of two men he approached at a petrol station drew a gun before he shot the teenager a number of times.

The second man ran off.Police said the officer was doing a routine business check when he approached the men.A group of about 60 people has gathered at the scene.The St Louis suburb of Berkeley where the shooting took place is about 3km from Ferguson, where a police officer fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown in August.

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Severe fire danger in WA on Xmas Day

Parts of WA's Central West and Gascoyne areas are set to face severe fire danger on Christmas Day. Source: AAP

PARTS of West Australia's Central West and Gascoyne areas are set to face severe fire danger on Christmas Day.

THE Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) says conditions will be hot, dry and windy and bushfires can threaten suddenly and without warning.

A severe fire danger advice has been issued for coastal and inland parts of the Central West regional and coastal and inland parts of Gascoyne.The DFES warns residents to stay alert and have their bushfire survival plans ready as any fires will be unpredictable, fast moving and difficult for firefighters to control.

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World to witness Aceh tsunami recovery

THE tsunami alarms will ring out across Banda Aceh on Boxing Day to commemorate the Indian Ocean tsunami a decade ago.

FOREIGN dignitaries are beginning to pour into Aceh, where the alarms will sound at 8.10am local time on Friday as a reminder of the 170,000 lives lost in this corner of Indonesia alone.

Charge d'affaires to Indonesia David Engel will represent Australia, paying his respects to the tsunami victims at the Siron mass grave and visiting a special "Thanks to the World" exhibition.Within days of the 2004 disaster, the Australian government announced a $1 billion assistance package.Around $323 million went towards recovery and rebuilding in Aceh and Nias, about $328 million on road improvements, and $300 million on education.Indonesia's President Joko Widodo will attend the commemorative events, which will include mass prayers and an art exhibition.Organiser Novita told AAP it was expected at least 35 of 53 donor countries would be represented."It's an honour for us that they want to pay their respects to Aceh," she said."Many countries, many international NGOs, they're still looking out for Aceh. We're proud of that."Australian money rebuilt schools, hospitals and town halls in Aceh, and helped improve government services.Dr Engel says Aceh has improved immensely since the disaster wiped out infrastructure and left 500,000 people homeless, but challenges remain."The Australian government will continue to work together with the Acehnese people and the Indonesian government to overcome these challenges," he said.

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IS shoots down warplane over Syria

JORDAN'S military says one of its warplanes that was on a mission over Syria has crashed in the northern province of Raqqa and the pilot has been captured by the Islamic State group.

THE statement carried by state news agency Petra said that IS and "those who support it" will be responsible for the safety of the pilot.

Activists earlier said IS fighters had shot down a Jordanian warplane in Raqqa on Wednesday and captured the pilot.It's the first US-led coalition warplane to be shot down.The US-led coalition has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against IS positions in Syria since September 23.Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have joined in airstrikes against the extremist group, while Qatar is providing logistical support.

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Iraqis leave Mt Sinjar as IS siege broken

Kurdish Peshmerga forces have broken a months-long siege by IS fighters in northwestern Iraq. Source: AAP

KURDISH Peshmerga forces have broken a months-long siege by Islamic State fighters in northwestern Iraq, allowing thousands of trapped Yezidis to leave Mount Sinjar.

"THE evacuation of Yezidis has begun," Holger Geisler, a spokesman for the Council of Yezidis in Germany, said.

"They are being brought away in cars."The Yezidis were heading to Dohuk, a main city in Iraq's autonomous region of Kurdistan, but some were planning to return to their houses in the Sinjar region, Geisler said.Geisler said there were about 7000 civilians and 3000 Yezidi fighters on the mountain.Thousands of Yezidis fled in August to the mountain after Islamic State seized the northern town of Sinjar.The extremist Sunni group regards Yezidis, followers of an ancient faith, as devil-worshippers.The Peshmerga launched a major offensive on Wednesday backed by US-led airstrikes to retake the area of Sinjar.Kurds said their forces had retaken at least seven villages and the strategic town of Zumar as part of the advance on Sinjar."The road is now open to Zumar, and anyone can now use the road to leave Jabal (Mount) Sinjar," Peshmerga spokesman Jabar Yawar said by telephone from Erbil."People should start leaving by now."He called it a "major humanitarian victory."At least 20 IS militants apparently surrendered following the Peshmerga's push onto Mount Sinjar, a Kurdish commander said."Some of them hold Arab and foreign nationalities," Mahma Khalil, a field commander in Sinjar, told independent Iraqi site Alsumaria News.

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Sydney siege families direct donations

Donations made in honour of the Sydney siege victims have been directed to specific charities. Source: AAP

THE families of Sydney siege victims Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson have requested funds raised in honour of the slain hostages be directed to specific charities.

THE Katrina Dawson Foundation has been established in the barrister's memory to help educate women, while Mr Johnson's family have asked that donations in his name to go to mental health organisation beyondblue.

Ms Dawson's family say they have felt "surrounded by the warmth of a city and a nation" since the siege."It is our hope that out of her senseless death we will, through the opportunities the Foundation will provide, bring meaning to the lives of other amazing young women," the family said.Former Governor-General Quentin Bryce has been announced as the foundation's founding member.A public memorial service will be held at 3pm on Tuesday, December 23, at the University of Sydney's Great Hall in honour of Ms Dawson.Her family have asked attendees to wear a splash of aqua, which was the 38-year-old mother's favourite colour.Mr Johnson's family have requested donations made in his honour go to beyondblue."We are humbled and honoured by this gesture," a beyondblue spokesperson said."All that knew Tori are deeply grateful."All money raised in memory of this courageous young man will be used to support people and families living with depression and anxiety."Almost $70,900 had been donated to beyondblue in Mr Johnson's name by 5pm on Saturday.Tributes flowed for the Lindt cafe manager on the donations page."You were a good friend...You have shown the world what it looks like to be a TRUE HERO," wrote colleague Romano De Alwis."Our Lindt family will never be the same."beyondblue helps Australians experiencing anxiety and depression.

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US state law shields execution drug source

A new bill will shield the names of companies that provide lethal injection drugs for Ohio prisons. Source: AAP

OHIO Governor John Kasich has signed a bill into law shielding the names of companies that provide the US state with lethal injection drugs.

SUPPORTERS say such confidentiality is necessary to obtain supplies of the drugs, and the measure is needed to restart Ohio executions.

Opponents say it's naive to think the bill can truly protect companies' names from being revealed.The legislation also shields the names of participants in Ohio executions.It was one of 40 bills signed on Friday by the governor.A prosecutor has said he expects the legislation to spur lawsuits, making it impossible to carry out the February execution of a condemned child killer as planned.

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Search for man at Qld lake called off

Authorities have called off a month-long search for a man feared drowned at a deep Queensland lake. Source: AAP

AUTHORITIES have called off a month-long search for a man feared drowned at a deep far north Queensland lake.

LOCAL man Maurice Shutter, also known as Maurice Packham, 65, was last seen on November 23 in an inflatable boat in the middle of Lake Eacham, inland from Cairns.

A search was launched after the boat was found abandoned.Dozens of emergency personnel, some using specialised sonar equipment, have searched the 65-metre deep lake and surrounding area each day for the past month but there has been no sign of Mr Shutter.Police said in a statement on Saturday that the search had been suspended.The lake and surrounding national park have been reopened.

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Police identify the Manoora child victims

Police have formally identified the eight children killed in a home in the Cairns suburb of Manoora. Source: AAP

POLICE have formally identified the eight children killed in a Cairns home.

THEY were four girls aged 14, 12, 11 and two, and four boys aged nine, eight, six and five.

The mother of the seven youngest children has been arrested over their murders, but not yet charged. The oldest girl was her niece.Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar says police have spoken to all five of the children's fathers."I don't think anybody would imagine any reaction other than absolute devastation, to be told that their child's dead. Of course that was the case," he told reporters on Saturday afternoon.He said the families have been co-operating with police, which had helped make the identification of the children easier."Even under these horrific circumstances and the trauma they've been through, the support that the family has been giving us in this investigation has been outstanding," he said."And it's been because of them this process was able to be done in a really calm, easy and least intrusive way we possibly could."Police are yet to release a cause of death with the autopsies still being conducted. Those results are expected in the next few days.The youngest children's mother, Mersane Warria, 37, is yet to be charged but is under police guard at a local hospital where she is in a stable condition after suffering multiple stab wounds."Charges are being considered of course. Investigations are continuing, obviously, in that direction. At this stage we haven't proffered any charges," he said.Det Asnicar would not comment on how she sustained her injuries, whether she had undergone a mental health assessment, or any other treatment she had been given.He also would not say if she had given police her version of events yet, although she was lucid."Her injuries aren't particularly impacting on her now," he said.Det Asnicar said the investigation would be thorough, with as many as dozens of police, including specialists, involved."At this stage whatever I want I will get. The Queensland Police Service will support any needs that I have," he said.He said the Murray St house would remain a crime scene for several days, and police were piecing together exactly what had happened."Every minute we have a better understanding of what went on in the house, and I can assure you that by the time this investigation's completed with, we will understand every single movement and everything that happened in that house."Det Asnicar said the house hadn't "been flagged in any special way" before, but would not comment if the family was known to child protection authorities."There hasn't been particular issues. This is just a devastating thing that's happened. That nobody predicted."LifeLine Phone: 131 114 Website: www.lifeline.org.au

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Ex-aide to UK PM denies child porn charges

A FORMER Downing Street aide to British Prime Minister David Cameron has pleaded not guilty to child indecency offences.

PATRICK Rock denies six counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing indecent images of children.

The offences, said to have been committed between July 31 and August 31 2013, relate to more than 60 images.He is accused of making indecent photographs of children aged approximately 13, 11, 10 and 12.He is also charged with possessing 56 indecent images of children aged approximately between 10 and 14.Rock spoke to confirm his name and plead not guilty to the seven charges when he appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

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Missing woman's partner arrested on murder

Missing Darwin mother Carlie Sinclair's partner has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. Source: AAP

THE partner of missing Darwin woman Carlie Sinclair has been arrested on suspicion of her murder, as police say they have found her gravesite.

VIDEO of Danny Deacon being arrested in Darwin on Friday was broadcast by the Nine Network.

Police will not confirm the name of the man arrested, but say he was known to Ms Sinclair, 35, and had left the Northern Territory soon after her disappearance, returning less than 24 hours ago."Earlier today, as a result of a man being seen in Berry Springs area, he has been arrested and we will be holding him in custody until the results are known of a comprehensive crime scene analysis," NT Police Commissioner John McRoberts told reporters.Ms Sinclair was last seen by Mr Deacon, on July 18 last year.They had an argument at the business they ran together, Darwin Decorative Concrete, and Mr Deacon said she walked out, leaving behind her belongings, car, and young son Alex.The case has fascinated the Top End for the past 18 months, with widespread campaigns to help find Ms Sinclair and a $250,000 reward offered for information leading to her whereabouts.On Friday afternoon forensic officers established a crime scene and were examining a private property on Wheewall Road in Berry Springs, about 60km south of Darwin.Police had previously searched the site 10 days after Ms Sinclair's disappearance after receiving a tip-off that Mr Deacon's 4WD was seen in the area on June 18, News Corp Australia reported.Based on comments the man had made and as a result of the investigation, along with "the fact that we have what is clearly a grave site in Berry Springs, we are very confident we have solved the mystery of the disappearance of Ms Sinclair", Commissioner McRoberts said.He said the man was surprised to be arrested, and charges are pending.Police expected to confirm the body found as Ms Sinclair's by Saturday morning."We know you are grieving and nothing I say or we do will bring Carlie home," Commissioner McRoberts said in a message to her family."But I do hope that today's events will give you some comfort that we have found your daughter and will enable you at some point in time to have some degree of closure."

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Appeal to find alleged Vic attacker

A Victorian man missing part of his ear is evading police over alleged sex crimes. Source: AAP

A VICTORIAN man missing part of his ear is evading police over alleged sex crimes.

POLICE have appealed for public help to find Wodonga man Steven Hyatt, 19, who is wanted on an outstanding warrant.

The warrant was issued over alleged bail breaches after Hyatt was charged with a number of sex offences.Police believe Hyatt was known to be in Ruby Road, Wodonga on December 12 and that he is actively evading capture.He is described as of medium build, 170cm tall, with straight light brown hair and brown eyes and a large part of his left ear is missing.Anyone who sees him is urged to contact Triple Zero.

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Man rams car into Spain's ruling party HQ

SPANISH police are searching for possible explosives at the headquarters of the ruling conservative Popular Party after a man rammed his car into the office entrance.

THERE were no reports of injuries and National Police spokesman Antonio Nevado told Spanish National Radio that the attack did not appear to be terrorism-related. The driver has been arrested.

Nevado said bomb disposal experts were searching the area in and around the Genova Street office in downtown Madrid. He said police had found two gas cylinders and an unidentified substance in the car."Everything indicates it was a personal action that has nothing to do with any type of terrorist action," Nevado said."It's a person that is suffering economic problems and rammed his car against the Popular Party office headquarters."A police robot could be seen close to the office and ambulances lined a nearby road in apparent preparation for an emergency situation.One image published by El Mundo newspaper's online edition showed a car with its lights still on in the reception area of the building, indicating it had smashed through a roll-down metal entrance shutter and two sets of doors.Police sealed off the entire street and several surrounding roads, creating rush-hour traffic chaos. Two subway stations on the street were closed.The incident occurred in the early morning, local time, and it is believed there were few people in the building.Police have been keeping guard outside the building for several years, mainly to prevent demonstrators protesting corruption scandals affecting the party or the government's handling of the severe economic crisis from getting near the office.

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Profumo 'temptress' Mandy Rice-Davies dies

MANDY Rice-Davies - one of the women at the centre of the Profumo affair which rocked Harold Macmillan's Tory government in the 1960s - has died aged 70.

A SPOKESMAN for the family said Marilyn Foreman, also known as Mandy Rice-Davies, had died on Thursday evening after a short battle with cancer.

"They have asked for their privacy to be respected and no further comment will be made," he said.The lurid disclosures of high-society sex parties and claims that the Secretary of State for War John Profumo had shared a mistress with a Russian defence attache enthralled and scandalised early 1960s Britain.Rice-Davies, a nightclub dancer, gained notoriety when in the witness box of the Old Bailey she dismissed a denial by Lord Astor that he had slept with her, saying: "Well, he would, wouldn't he?"Her insouciant response seemed to encapsulate a new lack of deference to the old order as the country emerged from the austerity of the immediate post war years.Her claim to have had an affair with the peer - whose mansion at Cliveden was the setting for the scandal - was denied many years later by his wife, but she always stuck to her story."What was Bill (Lord Astor) doing? I didn't seduce Bill. I didn't even flutter an eyelash at him. I wasn't a temptress. He seduced me. In those days women did not leap upon men," she had said.

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US jobless aid applications decline

FEWER Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, a sign of solid job security and growing confidence among employers.

WEEKLY unemployment benefit applications dropped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 289,000, the Labour Department said on Thursday. That is the lowest level since late October.

The four-week average, a less volatile measure, declined 750 to 298,750.Applications are a proxy for layoffs. The average has fallen nearly 13 per cent in the past year, evidence the job market is improving.Companies are cutting fewer jobs as the economy expands and hiring has picked up.In the first 11 months of this year, employers have added 2.65 million jobs. That already makes 2014 the best year for hiring since 1999.The figures are "low enough to signal very strong payroll growth," said Ian Shepherdson, an economist at High Frequency Economics. The current level of applications is consistent with monthly job gains of about 300,000, he added.Just 2.37 million people are receiving benefits, down from more than 4 million a year ago. Some former recipients have found jobs, but many have used up all the benefits available to them.A federal extended benefits program expired at the end of last year. Barely a quarter of the 9.1 million people out of work receive unemployment aid.Still, hiring is accelerating. Employers added 321,000 jobs in November, the most in nearly three years. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 per cent, down from 7 per cent 12 months earlier.The average hourly wage rose 9 cents to $24.66, the biggest gain in 17 months. Over the past 12 months, hourly pay has risen 2.1 per cent, above the 1.3 per cent inflation rate.

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Aussie slips Java death penalty charges

INDONESIAN prosecutors have revealed they were considering charges carrying the death penalty for a former Australian policeman arrested in a drug raid.

ANDREW Roger, alias Roger Yeo, should be jailed for 16 years over the stash of marijuana, crystal meth and pills found in a raid of his east Java home in May, a court has heard.

Prosecutor I Wayan Oja on Thursday said he had at first weighed trafficking charges over the haul, which would have carried a maximum penalty of death.Instead, he was pressing drug possession charges and requested Roger, 51, serve 16 years from a possible 20 years."He was caught while using it," he told the court in Surabaya, referring to evidence that Roger, formerly of Darwin, was rolling a joint when police stormed in."He also didn't deny that the evidence was his."The defendant's actions are against the government program to combat drugs."The defendant was also a police officer in Australia which means he should have known better about the law."Roger has previously pleaded with the court for leniency, saying he's suffered a long and powerful addiction to marijuana.Giving evidence last month, he claimed he smoked up to 20 marijuana cigarettes a day.Roger, who says he's a former police officer and waste contractor, said he had been using the drug since he was aged 15.If he didn't, he said he suffered anxiety and insomnia.In Roger's favour, the prosecution said, were his co-operation, admission and evidence he was supporting five children.Roger's lawyer Budi Sampoerna said the sentencing request was "fantastical and baseless"."Such a sentence request of 16 years' jail is usually applied for evidence of more than 1kg," he said."We will analyse this prosecutor's request first." The trial resumes on January 5.

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Ferouz and other babies to stay in Aust

Scott Morrison says 31 babies born to asylum seekers can stay in Australia despite a court ruling. Source: AAP

A BABY born in Brisbane to asylum-seeker parents can stay in Australia despite the Federal Court upholding a decision not to allow the boy to apply for a protection visa.

THE Australian government had said Ferouz could not apply for a protection visa because he was an unauthorised maritime arrival, a stance that was upheld by the Federal Circuit Court in October.

It was again upheld by the Federal Court in Brisbane on Thursday following an appeal by lawyers for Ferouz's family.However, just before the judgment was handed down, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announced that 31 babies, including Ferouz, and their families would not be transferred back to the Nauru detention centre."Today is a very joyful day for my whole family," Ferouz's father, who cannot be named, said in a statement."I have never known such joy in my whole life."They will instead be able to apply for protection visas and can remain in Australia at least until they have been assessed.Mr Morrison's office said the court ruling can not change his decision."It will have no effect on the decision of the government. The commitment will be implemented," a spokesman said in a statement.Mr Morrison says the babies' claims for refugee protection will be assessed as part of a legacy caseload of 30,000 asylum seekers who arrived under the previous Labor government.Eighty family members related to the babies will also get to stay in Australia.The minister said it was a "special one-off arrangement" and pregnant asylum seekers transferred to Australia who had not given birth before Thursday would be returned to Nauru.Senate crossbencher Ricky Muir won the concession from Mr Morrison in exchange for his support of controversial migration law changes that passed the upper house in December.Baby Ferouz was born last year in Brisbane's Mater Hospital to Rohingya parents from Myanmar, who arrived on Christmas Island in September last year.The boy's mother, Latifa, was flown from Nauru to Brisbane to give birth after complications during pregnancy.The Australian government argued Ferouz could not apply for a protection visa because he was an unauthorised maritime arrival.Laws introduced last year mean asylum seekers who arrived by boat after July 19, 2013, can't claim protection visas.Law firm Maurice Blackburn, which represents Ferouz's family and other asylum seeker babies, welcomed the minister's announcement on Thursday.Senior Associate Murray Watt said the change of heart by the minister would spare the 31 children from the "inhumane" conditions on Nauru.Mr Watt said it was important to note that the babies and their families faced other hurdles as they still need to have their visa applications considered, and any visa would only be temporary."However, they at least now have that right and do not face imminent removal to Nauru," he said.It isn't yet known whether Ferouz and his family will remain in detention until their visas have been assessed or released on bridging visas.

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German business confidence up

A CLOSELY-WATCHED survey shows business confidence in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has risen for the second month in a row as lower oil prices and a weaker euro helped brighten managers' outlook for the next six months

THE Ifo institute on Thursday said its monthly confidence index rose to 105.5 points from 104.7 in November. The increase was in line with economists' expectations.

Ifo says managers' outlook for the coming six months improved while their assessment of the current situation was unchanged.It was the second straight increase after six months of declines.Recent data have showed a promising increase in German factory orders, though the country's central bank has cautioned that it expects only modest economic growth over the winter.Earlier this week, a separate survey of investor confidence rose sharply thanks at least in part to falling oil prices and a weaker euro.The euro's lower exchange rate against the currencies of other trading partners makes German exports more competitive on price.ING-DiBa chief economist Carsten Brzeski said in a blog post that "lower energy prices and the weaker euro should make a decent short-term stimulus package for the German economy."The German economy grew by a modest 0.1 per cent in the third quarter as worries about the conflict in Ukraine weighed on business decisions.That followed a 0.1 per cent decline the quarter before. Unemployment remains low, however, supporting consumer spending.

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UK police pursue pedophile link in murders

BRITISH police are investigating the alleged murder of three young boys linked to a Westminster pedophile ring active in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

SCOTLAND Yard detectives on Thursday appealed for abuse victims and potential witnesses to come forward to assist them in their probe into the historic sex gang.

Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald, the lead officer for the operation, said: "I appeal to men who were subjected to abuse 30 years ago to come forward."We are also investigating the murder of three young boys - we are determined to find answers."He said people who lived or visited Dolphin Square in Pimlico, central London, in the 1970s "will have seen or heard something that they only understand the significance of now".The residential development near parliament has long been popular with MPs.Officers believe the abuse took place at locations in London and the Home Counties including military bases between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s.An alleged victim - known as Nick - has come forward, claiming he was abused from the age of seven to 16 at a number of locations including a flat in Dolphin Square on the River Thames.Nick has alleged he was abused by single men, groups of men and at "parties", and that other young boys were present who were also abused, Mr McDonald said.No further details of the alleged murders were given by detectives.

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Probe finds UK troops mistreated Iraqis

BRITISH troops mistreated nine Iraqi detainees following a fierce battle a decade ago, but false allegations of murder and torture came out of "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility", a judge-led inquiry has found.

THE long-running Al-Sweady inquiry, which has cost the taxpayer almost STG25 million ($A45.6 million), concluded in its final report on Wednesday that the conduct of some soldiers towards detainees breached the Geneva convention.

But it was highly critical of the claims it was initially set up to investigate - that Iraqi detainees had been murdered, mutilated and tortured following the Battle of Danny Boy on May 14 2004 near Al Amarah in southern Iraq.It found that British forces responded to a deadly ambush by insurgents with "exemplary courage, resolution and professionalism".And it suggested that some of the detainees - all described as members or supporters of the Mahdi Army insurgent group - consciously lied about the most serious allegations to discredit the British armed forces.

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Technical setback in MH370 search

A technical issue could set back the planned finish date for work in the main search zone for MH370. Source: AAP

A TECHNICAL problem could set back the planned finish date for work in the main search zone for missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370.

THE Joint Agency Coordination Centre said on Sunday that investigators could finish scouring the priority zone of the Indian Ocean by May if there were no delays with vessels, equipment or weather.

But on Wednesday, JACC revealed the vessel Fugro Discovery had a "system issue" with a component of the search equipment."Search activities have been suspended while the issue is remedied," it said.Also, JACC told AAP the Australian Transport Safety Bureau had advised that measures to fix Fugro Discovery's problem were being trialled and the results would be reviewed."Until that process is complete, the extent of the issue's effect on the progress of the underwater search is unknown," JACC said.Meanwhile, other search efforts will continue during the festive period.The Fugro Equator is scheduled to depart for Fremantle on Wednesday after finishing its current survey, and the GO Phoenix continues its underwater search.More than 200,000 sqkm has been surveyed and 11,000 sqkm of the sea floor has been searched.MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared on March 8 travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

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US consumer prices fall in November

PLUNGING fuel costs caused US consumer prices to drop in November, muting inflation across the entire economy.

THE US Labour Department says the inflation reading fell 0.3 per cent last month, after prices were flat in October. Petrol costs plummeted 10.5 per cent in November, the steepest decline in nearly six years.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, rose 0.1 per cent in November. For the past 12 months, overall inflation has risen 1.3 per cent while core inflation has increased 1.7 per cent.Both annual gains are well below the Federal Reserve's 2 per cent inflation target. This gives Fed officials who end their policy meeting on Wednesday afternoon significant leeway to keep a key interest rate at near zero, which helps infuse the economy with capital to boost economic growth and hiring.

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US current account deficit rises to $100bn

THE US current account trade deficit widened slightly in the July-September quarter, largely due to foreign institutions paying less in fines and penalties to the US government.

THE Commerce Department says the deficit in the current account rose to $US100.3 billion ($A108.52 billion) in the third quarter, up 1.9 per cent from the revised $US98.4 billion deficit in the April-June period.

The increase occurred despite a drop in the trade deficit for goods and services, reflecting cheaper oil prices and a stronger dollar.The deficit widened because fines collected by the US government fell to $US27.8 billion from $US40.1 billion in the previous quarter.The current account is the broadest measure of trade, covering not only the flow of goods and services but also investment flows.

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Obama offers help after Sydney cafe siege

PRESIDENT Barack Obama is offering US assistance to Australia after the Sydney hostage crisis.

THE president called Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday night and offered condolences after a gunman took 17 people hostage inside a cafe.

The White House says Obama expressed confidence the Australian people would emerge from this tragedy stronger.The White House also said Obama praised the Australian public's embrace of the hashtag (hash)Illridewithyou - offering to ride public transport with anyone wearing religious garments who feared they would be harassed after the hostage situation.The hostage taker was a 50-year-old Iranian-born, self-styled cleric named Man Haron Monis. He and two hostages were killed as police rushed in to free the captives.

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Baby found in NSW but father still missing

A man who took his seven-week-old baby from a Canberra home has been urged to contact police. Source: AAP

A NINE-WEEK-OLD baby has been found but his father is still missing in the NSW Illawarra region.

POLICE say the baby is safe and well, but they are concerned for the welfare of Garry Gorden.

Mr Gorden, 25, travelled from Canberra with his baby boy on Sunday and police believe he is in the Wollongong area."We want to make sure he's okay, we'd like him to make himself known to police," an ACT police spokeswoman said.Mr Gorden has been described as 193cm tall, with short curly red hair, last seen wearing a dark hoodie and driving a white car.

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Consider all bats deadly: doctor

ALL bats should be considered deadly until proven otherwise because even the smallest scratch or bite is capable of killing.

THAT'S the warning from the doctor who helped diagnose the first case of deadly lyssavirus in an Australian child.

The rabies-like disease is extremely rare but has killed every infected person, paediatrician Dr Joshua Francis says.Such was the case last year when an eight-year-old Queensland boy died two months after being bitten.By the time the boy arrived at hospital with rabies-like symptoms, it was too late for Dr Francis and his team to save him.He was the third Australian to die from the disease."It was a devastating case," Dr Francis told AAP.In latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia, released on Monday, he renews calls for the public to avoid complacency."It's a very rare disease, but devastating and fatal," he writes.He urges anybody bitten or scratched by a bat to seek medical attention immediately.Infection can be managed with rabies medication if caught before symptoms emerge.

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26 dead, 82 missing in Indon landslide

A landslide in an Indonesian village has killed at least 18 people and 90 are still missing. Source: AAP

AT least 26 people have died and 80 are missing after a landslide in central Indonesia, with heavy equipment now being used to look for survivors.

SIX bodies were found on Sunday after the landslide hit Jemblung village in central Java late Friday, National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Hundreds of rescuers were digging through the mud with shovels and their bare hands in a desperate hunt for any survivors."I am very worried," said a sobbing Sutinem, whose 12 family members including her children were buried in the landslide.The 45-year-old, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name, said so far only the body of her mother had been found. She was not at the village when the landslide hit as she was working in west Java."I was shocked to see that my village was flattened to the ground... I pray that the government will find them quickly," she said."We are trying our best to look (for) those still buried. It's a big challenge because we are still using manual tools and the affected area is very muddy," military official Edi Rahmatullah told reporters.Provincial search and rescue agency chief Agus Haryono said rescue efforts have been slow because the ground was still unstable."The affected area is a large valley surrounded by hills. The soil is loose and muddy so we have to be very careful when digging to prevent more landslides," he said, adding that sniffer dogs were being deployed to detect bodies."The chances of finding anyone alive at this point is slim, but who knows? We just hope and pray that we can find survivors," he said.Authorities were using heavy equipment to clear a three-metre high pile of fallen trees and rubble on the main road leading to the site of the disaster.Around 1250 rescuers, including police, soldiers and volunteers were involved in the search operations.Fifteen people were injured, including 11 seriously, and 577 people were evacuated to temporary shelters, Nugroho said."Many of (the survivors) were injured from being hit by debris and are being treated in hospital," he said, adding that survivors were in need of food, blankets, and medicines.President Joko Widodo, who arrived in Central Java's provincial district of Banjarnegara on Sunday, stressed the need to speed up rescue efforts."Earlier I visited the landslide site in Banjarnegara to look at the situation there. Although logistical support has been provided, the evacuation process must be strengthened and hastened," he wrote on his Facebook page.Landslides triggered by heavy rains and floods are common in tropical Indonesia during the rainy season.The national disaster agency estimates around half the country's population of 250 million lives in areas prone to landslides.

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Boating accidents in NSW leave two dead

A SERIES of boating accidents has left two people dead after a day of rough seas on the NSW coast.

A FURTHER 11 people were rescued in five separate incidents on Sunday.

In Botany Bay, two men died and a third man was injured after a fishing boat hit rocks and capsized in rough seas about 1.10pm.Four helicopters were sent to rescue two men who were floating face down in the water and a third who reached a nearby rock shelf.All three were recovered but the two men died at the scene.None of them were wearing life jackets.Later on Sunday, a racing catamaran overturned at Botany Heads, throwing a number of people into the water.The Westpac Life Saver Helicopter stopped a shipping container from ploughing into the vessel until the people were rescued by police.In between the two accidents, rescue crews helped three capsized jet skiers at Merries Reef in Sydney's south and several people in the water off Kirribilli after their boat overturned.Helicopter crews also searched for a man who went missing in the surf at Whale Beach - he was found on the beach safe and well.Westpac Life Saver Helicopter CEO Stephen Leahy warned fishermen and boat users to be more observant of weather conditions and safety equipment."We need to be aware of what nature can throw at us," he said."Many tragic accidents can be avoided if people took the time to check weather and ocean forecasts."Nothing is more tragic than losing lives so close to Christmas."Mr Leahy also praised the emergency service crew for keeping up with the number of incidents on Sunday.

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Wait over for VCE results

THE nervous wait for VCE results is over for more than 47,000 students.

THE Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) scores will be available by SMS to registered VCE students and online from 7am on Monday morning.

Overall the girls outperformed the boys, just like in previous years, Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre director Catherine Wills said.However, more boys received a perfect ATAR score of 99.95.SCORES RELEASED FOR VCE STUDENTS* 47,032 VCE students get their results on Monday* The average ATAR score for girls is 64.4* The average ATAR score for boys is 62.2* 22 boys and 11 girls received the top ATAR score of 99.95(Source: Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre)

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Woman to be charged over NSW glassing

A 22-year-old NSW woman is facing assault charges after a pub owner was allegedly glassed. Source: AAP

A 22-YEAR-OLD NSW woman is facing assault charges after a pub owner was allegedly glassed.

POLICE say the woman and a group of people were refused entry to a licensed premises on High Street, Hillston, in western NSW, about 6.30pm on Friday.

It's alleged the woman then struck the 38-year-old pub owner on the back of his head with a schooner glass, causing minor injuries.The woman was arrested at her home a short time later.

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Chicken pox keeps Jolie from premiere

Angelina Jolie has pulled out of the LA premiere of Unbroken after coming down with chicken pox. Source: AAP

ANGELINA Jolie is reluctantly calling in sick for Unbroken promotional duty.

UNIVERSAL Pictures said Friday that Jolie is suffering from "a mild bout of chicken pox" that will keep her from making public appearances in the coming days to support the film, which she directed.

Unbroken, about former Olympian Louis Zamperini, is set to premiere in Los Angeles on Monday.Universal said Jolie's children and her husband, Brad Pitt, will represent her at the premiere. The studio added that she's "in very good spirits" regardless.The actress, appearing pale and drawn, also explained her plight in a YouTube post."I will be home itching and missing everyone," she says in the video. "I can't believe it, because this film means so much to me.... But such is life. There it is."Jolie's illness comes days after she was maligned by top Hollywood executives in private emails made public by the Sony cyberattack and her film was ignored by the Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards.

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Malaysia confirms Aust woman arrested

AN Australian woman has been arrested in Malaysia - which mandates the death penalty for drug trafficking - after allegedly being caught with 1.5kg of crystal methamphetamine.

THE woman's name is yet to be revealed but Australian media reports said she is a 51-year-old mother of four who was arrested in Kuala Lumpur in transit from Shanghai to Melbourne.

Malaysian customs chief Chik Omar Chik Lim confirmed on Saturday an Australian woman had been arrested in possession of the reported amount of "ice", but declined to give other details.He said she was arrested on December 7.Anyone with at least 50 grams of the drug is considered a trafficker in Muslim-majority Malaysia, which imposes a mandatory sentence of death by hanging upon conviction.The woman is likely to be officially charged next week but is expected to appear in court on Sunday as authorities seek to extend the initial seven-day period of remand for criminal suspects.Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is understood to be providing the woman with consular assistance.Hundreds of people are on death row in Malaysia, many for drug-related offences, though few have been executed in recent years.Two Australians were hanged in 1986 for heroin trafficking - the first Westerners to be executed in Malaysia - in a case that strained bilateral relations.Last year, Dominic Bird, a truck driver from Perth, was acquitted on drug trafficking charges after he was allegedly caught with 167 grams of crystal meth.His lawyers argued that a government chemist had make a mistake when analysing the substance found on Bird. He was freed and allowed to return home.

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Motorcyclist killed in Melbourne

A motorcyclist has died after crashing into the back of a fire truck in Melbourne's west. Source: AAP

A MOTORCYCLIST has died after crashing into the back of a fire truck in Melbourne's west.

POLICE say the man died at the scene after crashing into the truck on Ballarat Road at Deer Park early on Saturday morning.

No one else was injured in the collision.Anyone who witnessed the collision or has further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Dutchman's marriage proposal goes awry

A DUTCHMAN'S attempt at a romantic wedding proposal was a smashing success, but not in the way he had hoped.

THE unidentified lover in the central town of Ijsselstein rented a crane to descend in front of his girlfriend's bedroom window first thing on Saturday morning, then to play her a song and pop her the question.

Instead the crane toppled, smashing a hole in the neighbours' roof.According to reports in Algemeen Dagblad, the girlfriend said "yes" anyway and after speaking with the police, the pair travelled to Paris to celebrate their engagement.Then the crane fell again during attempts to right it with a larger crane, widening the hole. The neighbours' house has been declared unsafe, and two buildings on either side of it have been evacuated as well.

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Perth Zoo animals beat the heat

MOUSE, blood and chicken flavoured popsicles were on the menu at Perth Zoo to keep the dingoes cool with the city's first hot day of summer.

FEMALE Mirri and male Daku munched on the ice blocks dished out by their dedicated carers Stephen Catwell and Kristy Eriksen as the temperature reached 35C.

The frozen food helps keep them hydrated, but is also a novelty and gets the dingoes thinking about the best way to eat it."Curiosity is important for any creature," a spokeswoman said."As part of our environmental enrichment program, we constantly provide different opportunities for the animals such as food puzzles, introducing different scents or faeces and branches from other exhibits to arouse their interest."With a burst of warm weather, we just added a summer spin to it."She said creating food ice blocks for pets at home was a good idea during summer heat.Not to be outdone, Perth Zoo's bull Asian Elephant Putra Mas enjoyed a splash in his pool and a wallow in cool mud.He turns 25 on Monday and visitors are encouraged to join in his birthday celebrations at 10am when he will be gifted a frozen bran cake studded with fruity treats.

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Economy needs a reboot: Abetz

The employment minister says the economy needs a reboot after the jobless rate hit a 12-year high. Source: AAP

EMPLOYMENT Minister Eric Abetz concedes the economy needs a reboot after the jobless rate struck a 12-year high of 6.3 per cent.

HE believes the government's infrastructure program, if rolled out as planned, will see a surge in employment opportunities.

"Clearly we need to reboot the Australian economy," Senator Abetz told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.The steady rise in unemployment is a blow to Treasurer Joe Hockey as he tries to get the federal budget back in order.Rising unemployment not only meant less income tax revenue, it was usually indicative of softer economic activity, which meant less company tax receipts, Senator Abetz said.It was imperative the budget be brought back to surplus, he said."But we have to do it in a sensible, moderate way."Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is worried that young unemployed people face a bleak Christmas."There is no doubt that this is becoming a real crisis," he told reporters.

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Man arrested after Adelaide stand-off

AN Adelaide man has been arrested following a seven-hour stand-off with police.

OFFICERS were called to a house in the city's north about 12.20pm on Thursday following an allegation of domestic violence.

The man, in his 30s, is accused of assaulting a woman in her 40s at the house who was treated by ambulance officers before being taken to hospital with minor injuries.The man, who refused to come out of the home, was taken into custody about 7.30pm.

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Brisbane hail storm bill hits $804m

The damage bill from a hail storm that hit Brisbane last month has topped $800 million. Source: AAP

THE damage bill from the worst storm to hit Brisbane in almost 30 years has topped $800 million.

SOME 86,000 claims have been lodged, including 58,000 for domestic motor vehicles.

As a result estimated insurance losses now stand at $804 million, the Insurance Council of Australia says.Council CEO Rob Whelan said insurers were focusing on sending assessors to damaged homes and looking at hail-damaged vehicles.He advised drivers to check with their insurer about Queensland's written-off car laws and consider the consequences if they keep or buy a hail-damaged car."Many insurers may not insure motor vehicles with existing hail damage, and there are safety issues to be considered too," he said on Thursday."Talk to your insurer first before buying a motor vehicle that has hail damage."The storm that hit the Brisbane CBD and surrounding areas last month was touted as the worst to hit the city since 1985.

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Storms leave UK homes without power

ABOUT 10,000 homes remain without power after gales and lightning strikes caused by a so-called "weather bomb" swept the north of the country.

PROPERTIES in the Western Isles and Skye have been worst affected by the stormy conditions along the west coast of Scotland.

At the peak of the problems yesterday, around 30,000 homes lost electricity, while a further 27,000 were cut off after a lightning strike this morning.The process behind the storm - rapid cyclogenesis - is known colloquially as a "weather bomb".Weather warnings remain in place for much of the UK but the mainland has so far survived relatively unscathed, with the northern isles around Scotland hit the worst.Hundreds of engineers worked yesterday and through the night to restore power to more than 30,000 homes across the Western Isles, Shetland, Orkney and rural areas, only for lightning, which SSE said had been the biggest feature of the "weather bomb", to cause additional disruption.A wind speed of 231km/h was recorded on the remote St Kilda islands yesterday, with gusts of more than 130km/h also hitting some low-lying areas.Forecasters said there could be "significant" snow accumulations in parts of Scotland, with the rest of the UK set to see the white stuff over the weekend.

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ECB issues new dose of stimulus

THE European Central Bank has handed out 130 billion euros ($A195 billion) in cheap, long-term loans to banks - part of its effort to stimulate the struggling eurozone economy.

THE amount was closely watched in the markets because ECB president Mario Draghi has said the bank will add roughly 1 trillion euros in new stimulus in coming months.

The amount taken by banks was about what market analysts had expected.Banks got money for four years at the very low interest rate of 0.15 per cent - money the ECB hopes they will lend to companies so they can expand, hire people and get the economy going again.Top ECB official Benoit Coeure said the central bank's credit offers, including an 82.6 billion-euro round of loans in September, "create conditions that stimulate credit growth to the real economy."Still, some think the amounts are too low to help achieve the 1 trillion-goal - and makes it more likely that the ECB will have to resort to new stimulus programs to do that. That could include large-scale purchases of government bonds."The ECB will have to employ additional tools to reach its intended balance sheet size," economist Christian Schulz at Berenberg Bank wrote in a note to investors.The economy of the 18 countries that use the euro grew only 0.2 per cent in the third quarter from the previous three-month period. Inflation remains alarmingly weak at 0.3 per cent, and unemployment is high at 11.5 per cent.One problem with the bank loans is that it's up to the banks how much they want to take. That means the exact amount of stimulus is out of the ECB leadership's hands. Purchasing large amounts of government bonds would give the ECB more direct control of the amount of stimulus it is pushing into the financial system.The ECB is already making limited purchases of bonds backed by bank loans to companies - a step aimed at further easing credit. But analysts say there may not be enough of those bonds around to achieve the desired stimulus either.

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Group calls for Yooralla board sacking

AN advocacy group has called on Victoria's new premier Daniel Andrews to sack the board of disability service provider Yooralla, claiming misappropriation of taxpayer funds.

UNITED Voices for People with Disabilities on Tuesday night distributed an "Open Letter to Premier Andrews" to the media.

The letter alleges excessive payments of up to $1.6 million were made to eight Yooralla senior managers, over four years, on top of their salaries.Yooralla's wages bill increased as general workforce of carers were underpaid, it also claims."We reject the Department of Human Services investigation of Yooralla, and the Yooralla investigation of itself," the open letter also states."Any adverse findings against Yooralla reflect on DHS, creating a conflict of interest."The department and Victoria's ombudsman are investigating the way abuse claims are handled within the disability support system.This was triggered by media reports Yooralla continued to employ abusive or corrupt staff despite warnings they preyed on disabled clients.Comment was being sought from the government.

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BMW CEO Reithofer to take over as chairman

BMW says CEO Norbert Reithofer will leave his post early to become chairman of the board as part of "generational change".

THE company said on Tuesday he would be replaced as CEO by BMW production executive Harald Krueger.

Reithofer has headed the company since 2006 and has seen it through steady profits, strong margins and expansion of its business in China.Krueger joined BMW as a trainee in 1992 and worked his way through several top jobs.He was responsible for the company's MINI brand and its motorcycles before becoming production chief in 2013.He has also been project engineer for the plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in the 1990s and director of engine production at Hams Hall in the UKThe Munich-based company said in a statement Reithofer will replace board chairman Joachim Milberg at the shareholder meeting on May 13.

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Fourth Qantas plane turns back in two days

Incidents on three Qantas Airways flights have forced unplanned landings. Source: AAP

A FOURTH Qantas plane has been forced to turn back mid-flight, marking the second day of technical difficulties for the national carrier.

THE Boeing 717 was forced to turn back 20 minutes into its flight from Hobart to Melbourne at 6.30pm on Tuesday after an indicator light in the cockpit reportedly went off.

The Boeing 717, which holds 110 passengers, is being assessed by engineers in Hobart, the ABC reports.It was the fourth time in two days a Qantas plane had been forced to make an unscheduled landing.Qantas chief Alan Joyce earlier played down the recent aircraft troubles, saying such events "happen all the time"."We have really high reliability. We have low levels of turnbacks compared to most of the world fleets," Mr Joyce told reporters.On Tuesday an unplanned landing involved a Qantas flight on the way to Dallas.About four hours into the flight, the aircraft was turned back to Sydney because of problems with the in-flight entertainment system and troubles with some of the toilets.Earlier, two planes made unscheduled landings at Perth Airport because of an unusual odour, a faulty warning system and issues with the air-conditioning system.Mr Joyce says airlines turned back "thousands upon thousands" of flights across the globe every year because of issues affecting passenger comfort and safety.Turnbacks on Qantas planes occurred at a rate of about half the global average, he said.He dismissed as "absolute rubbish" suggestions that offshore maintenance was behind the troubles.Mr Joyce said Qantas was the only carrier in Australia to still carry out maintenance in Sydney and Brisbane.He apologised to customers who were inconvenienced by the turnbacks, and said the company had gone out of its way to minimise disruptions by putting on extra planes and paying for hotels.

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Korean Air exec resigns over nut dispute

A TOP executive of Korean Air Lines has resigned amid mounting public criticism after she delayed a plane over how she was served macadamia nuts.

COMPANY officials said on Tuesday Chairman Cho Yang-ho had accepted the resignation of Cho Hyun-ah, his eldest daughter and an executive vice president.

The junior Cho was under public fire following media revelations a recent Korean Air Lines flight from New York to South Korea returned to the gate because she ordered a senior crew member off the plane.Cho was angered she was served bagged macadamia nuts instead of nuts on a plate.The airline had apologised for inconveniencing passengers. But it also said it was "natural" for Cho to fault crew's ignorance of procedures.

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US man shot dead after synagogue stabbing

A KNIFE-WIELDING man who stabbed an Israeli student in the head inside a Brooklyn synagogue has been fatally shot by police, authorities say.

THE man stormed into the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic world headquarters in Crown Heights early on Tuesday and attacked Levi Rosenblat, who was studying inside the synagogue, spokesman Motti Seligson said.

According to witnesses, the attacker was heard saying repeatedly "Kill the Jews," said Chaim Landa, a spokesman for Chabad-Lubavitch. Several other people immediately intervened, she said.A witness flagged down a patrol officer, who confronted the 49-year-old man and told him to put the knife down. He initially put it down, but picked it up again, police said. More officers responded and repeatedly ordered the man to drop the knife.He refused and, with the knife in his hand, charged at one of the officers, who fired once, striking the man in the torso, police said.The man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was not immediately identified, but police said he was from New York City and had a criminal history.The 22-year-old Rosenblat was in stable condition, officials said.Assemblyman Dov Hikind condemned the attack."I'm told that the attacker came earlier that evening, too. He was stalking the scene. Thank God he didn't inflict more harm nor do more damage to more people," Hikind said in a statement.He said while a motive for the attack was not yet known, greater security was needed for Jewish institutions.

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Indian Uber driver accused of rape held

INDIAN police have arrested a driver from the international taxi-booking service Uber for allegedly raping a young woman in the capital.

SHIV Kumar Yadav, 32, was arrested in his hometown of Mathura, about 160km south of New Delhi, where the rape allegedly took place on Friday night, police officer Jag Niwas said.

The woman, who works at a finance company, was returning from a dinner engagement and used the mobile app Uber to hire a cab to drive her home.The Press Trust of India reported that the 26-year-old woman fell asleep during the ride.When she woke up, she found the car parked in a secluded place, and the driver then threatened her and raped her, PTI said.Police have filed a case against Yadav accusing him of raping the woman, and he is due to appear in a New Delhi court on Monday, Niwas said.Uber said in a statement on Saturday that it had suspended the driver's account and was co-operating with authorities."We are working with the police as they investigate, and will assist them in any way we can to determine what happened," the statement said.Meanwhile, dozens of students scuffled with officers on Sunday as they tried to enter police headquarters in New Delhi to protest the rising incidents of rape in the capital.Indian officials, who for decades did little about sexual violence, have faced growing public anger since the December 2012 fatal gang rape of a young woman on a moving New Delhi bus, an attack that sparked national outrage.The nationwide outcry led the federal government to rush through legislation doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalising voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women.The law also makes it a crime for officers to refuse to open cases when complaints are made.

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Two die in separate Vic crashes

TWO people have died after their cars hit trees in separate accidents in Victoria.

POLICE say a woman died at Campbellfield at about 10am (AEDT) on Sunday after she lost control of her vehicle and struck a tree.

The woman was the only person in the vehicle and died at the scene.A 45-year-old Koonoomoo man died when his car flipped, hit a tree and caught fire at Cobram at about 6.30pm.The man was also the sole occupant of the vehicle.Victoria's road toll is currently 240, compared to 219 the same time last year.

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US sends six from Guantanamo to Uruguay

Six Guantanamo Bay prisoners were transferred to Uruguay for resettlement, the US government says. Source: AAP

SIX Guantanamo Bay prisoners have been transferred to Uruguay for resettlement, the US government says.

THE six - four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian - are the first prisoners transferred to South America from the US base in Cuba, part of a flurry of recent releases amid a renewed push by US President Barack Obama to close the prison.

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica agreed to accept the men as a humanitarian gesture and said they would be given help getting established in a country with a small Muslim population.All six were detained as suspected militants with ties to al-Qaeda in 2002 but were never charged. They have been cleared for release since at least 2010 but they could not be sent home and have languished as the US struggled to find countries willing to accept them."We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries," US State Department envoy Clifford Sloan said.Mujica had agreed to take the men in January. Obama administration officials have been frustrated the transfer took so long and blame outgoing Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel for not approving the move sooner. They said the deal sat for months on Hagel's desk, awaiting his signature as required by law, but the Pentagon didn't send the notification of the transfer to Congress until July.By then, the transfer had become an issue in Uruguay's political election and Uruguayan officials decided to postpone it until after the October 26 vote.The men's release brings the total number of prisoners at Guantanamo to 136 - the lowest number since the first month the prison opened in January 2002.Obama pledged to close the prison upon taking office but was blocked by Congress, which banned sending prisoners to the US for any reason.The restrictions on sending them overseas have been eased and the US has released 19 prisoners so far this year. Officials say several more are expected by the end of the year.

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Seven police officers killed in Iraq

Militants have killed seven police officers north of Baghdad, security officials say. Source: AAP

SEVEN police officers have been killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up in an explosive-rigged car north of Baghdad.

SOME 26 others were injured in Sunday's attack on a checkpoint outside a police barracks, security officials said.

Bombings are common in Iraq and most often target security forces and areas populated by the majority Shi'ite community.Many are thought to be the work of the Islamic State extremist militia, which now controls much of Sunni Arab northern and western Iraq after two major offensives this summer.According to UN figures, 936 civilians and 296 security personnel were killed in November in Iraq, raising the death toll for the year to almost 12,000.

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UK closes its Cairo embassy

THE British Embassy in Cairo has been closed because of security fears.

THE Foreign Office says public services were suspended on Sunday and people should not come to the embassy building in central Cairo.

It gave no details of the threat and there was no word on when the embassy would reopen.On Saturday, the Australian government said travellers should reconsider their need to travel to Egypt, citing reports "that terrorists may be planning attacks against tourist sites, government ministries and embassies in Cairo".Egypt has seen a surge in bomb attacks blamed on Islamic militants fighting the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

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UK police hunt 'hypnotist' thief

A PICKPOCKET who apparently hypnotised his victim is being hunted by police in the UK.

THE thief took cash from a shopkeeper in north London while his victim "remained motionless and unable to resist the robbery taking place", Scotland Yard said on Friday.

Police have released CCTV footage of the crime showing the thief, who claimed his wife was pregnant and needed water, in action."The victim in this incident said that he was momentarily unaware of what had happened to him," Detective Sergeant Dave Bullock said."The suspect's distraction tactics appeared to have worked as he robbed the victim of cash from his pocket."

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Savile friend found guilty of sex crimes

A DJ friend of Jimmy Savile has been convicted of a catalogue of historical sex offences against young girls in the UK.

EX-RADIO Caroline DJ Ray Teret, 73, used his celebrity status in the Manchester club scene in the 1960s and 1970s to prey on many of his victims.

Teret - known as Ugly Ray - was mentored by Savile in the early days of his career and was described as following him around "like a shadow", Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.Teret, of Woodlands Road, Altrincham, told the jury he had no interest in underage girls, despite a previous conviction for sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl in 1999, which he continues to deny.He denied 18 rapes, two other serious sexual assaults, one attempted rape, 12 indecent assaults and one count of indecency with a child.After more 60 hours of deliberations, he was convicted of seven rapes and 11 indecent assaults on Friday.Opening the case, prosecutor Tim Evans said: "The Crown say that young teenage girls, far from doing nothing for him, were consistently pursued by him through the 60s and 70s."Many of the victims were starstruck, with DJs treated like "royalty" in that era, said Mr Evans."The basic set-up, the background is the same - a naive girl who has the headlights of fame shone on her, who is taken to a flat and without more, without any understanding of what is going on, has a male many years older, having sex with her," he said.Giving evidence, Teret told the prosecutor he had never been in that situation.He said: "I only make love. Not sex, sir. I only make love with ladies who want to make love with me."

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Facebook creates new privacy guide

FACEBOOK has moved to make its terms and conditions easier to understand by creating a new section of its website that details the data it takes from users and how it uses it.

THE social network has created Privacy Basics, which breaks down all aspects of the site's terms of use, as well as privacy and data policies into questions and bullet points for users to read through.

The site details what other Facebook users see about you when they use the site, as well as how they interact with you.The site also includes guides on how to change various settings, and control how you share content on Facebook, including how to change privacy settings.The move has been welcomed by privacy campaigners, but they warn this should be the first step of many taken to improve the transparency of social networks.Emma Carr, director of privacy rights group Big Brother Watch said: "With many internet companies' privacy policies and terms and conditions being longer than Shakespearean plays and requiring multiple law degrees to understand, users are undoubtedly still in the dark about how their information is accessed and manipulated."Until companies stop bamboozling their users with complicated and lengthy jargon, they simply cannot claim to be transparent."Facebook appear to be trying to do just that, with the California-based firm also confirming that a new version of their terms of service will come into effect on January 1, with notifications being sent to Facebook users alerting them to the change and encouraging them to read the new agreement.The new agreement has also been made shorter, with parts relating to developers and advertisers both significantly cut down or moved to new pages.

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Second stage of Ebola drug trial starts

THE second part of a crucial Ebola drug trial has begun in Oxford, as the death toll from the outbreak reaches 6000.

SCIENTISTS want to discover if a second booster injection would increase the protection of aid workers and health professionals treating those infected with the killer virus in West Africa.

Half of the 60 healthy volunteers who received the experimental Ebola vaccine at the Jenner Institute at Oxford University in November will now receive a follow up vaccine as part of the ongoing trial.It is one of several safety trials across the world of the candidate vaccine developed by Glaxo-Smith-Kline and the US National Institutes of Health that were fast-tracked in response to the Ebola outbreak.Professor Adrian Hill, who is leading the trial at Oxford University's Jenner Institute, said the aim of the trial is to determine the safety of the two vaccines used in combination, and whether the second booster vaccine can increase immune responses further."If a single dose of an Ebola vaccine is sufficient, it makes absolute sense to use that," Prof Hill said."But it also makes sense at this early stage of trials to see if a second booster vaccine can greatly increase the levels of immune responses produced."The experimental vaccine does not contain infectious Ebola virus material and will not cause a person taking part in the trial to be infected.So far, the experiment has triggered promising immune responses from 20 healthy volunteers taking part in a preliminary trial, but it won't be until larger trials in West Africa next year that the effectiveness of the vaccine will be known.Ebola has infected nearly 17,000 people, of whom about 6000 have died, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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Greste wins journalism award while in jail

JAILED Al Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste has won Australia's Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism award at the Walkleys in Sydney.

GRESTE was jailed in Egypt in June, together with colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, for between seven and 10 years after being convicted of supporting the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group and spreading false news.

Judges decided to honour his journalism and his "defiant defence of its universal purpose" to report truthfully to inform the public, the Walkley Foundation says on its website.The Gold Walkley was presented to Fairfax Media's Adele Ferguson, alongside ABC collaborators Deb Masters and Mario Christodoulo, for their expose of financial planning scandals at the Commonwealth Bank and Macquarie Group.The Scoop of the Year went to Michael Brissenden, Ewen MacAskill and Lenore Taylor from ABC News and Guardian Australia for the news that Australia had spied on, or attempted to spy on Indonesia's then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and other members of his inner circle in 2009.The News Photography award went to News Corp Australia's Brendan Beirne for his shot of casino mogul James Packer and his friend David Gyngell grappling in the street, while a photo of the All Blacks performing the Haka to a near-empty stadium in the rain following their 2014 win in the Hong Kong Sevens won Cameron Spencer from Getty Images the Sports Photography prize.Andrew Quilty was awarded Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year and Nikon Walkley Photo of the Year.

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Accused names another man as the killer

A woman who is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, has told a SA jury the culprit is another man. Source: AAP

A WOMAN on trial for murdering her ex-lover at an Adelaide car wash has told a jury a burglary victim was the real culprit.

TRISTAN Kaye Castle is accused of luring Adrian Paul MacDonald into a car before he was shot dead by her new lover, Jason Bucca, whom she had been seeing for about a week.

But Castle told the jury Bucca was not at the scene and the killer was Wes Gange who had accused MacDonald of stealing his property before firing three shots at him."He pointed the gun at me and told me to drive," she told the South Australian Supreme Court on Tuesday.Castle, 37, and Bucca, 25, have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr MacDonald, 39, at the Big Bucket Car Wash in Parafield on the morning of February 3, 2013.Prosecutor Jim Pearce SC has alleged Mr MacDonald was unaware that Bucca was hiding in the boot with a gun when Castle enticed him into the front passenger seat.Questioned by her lawyer, Tim Heffernan, Castle said her ex-lover was shot by Mr Gange."When you arrived at the Big Bucket Car Wash, did you know Wes Gange had a gun on him?" Mr Heffernan asked.Castle replied no, adding she had no intention of harming Mr MacDonald in any way when she went to the car wash.She told the jury Bucca was staying in a room at Mr Gange's house, and Mr MacDonald had been accused of taking property belonging to both men.She said she sent numerous text messages to Mr MacDonald about meeting, telling the jury she wanted to sort out matters such as picking up furniture after their break-up.When she told Mr Gange she was meeting her ex-lover, he said he wanted to accompany her as he wanted to get back his computer and the refrigerator he believed Mr MacDonald had taken.But when Mr MacDonald denied the accusations, Mr Gange became very angry and she heard three shots and saw a gun in his hand."I yelled at Wes after it happened and told him we needed to call the ambulance," she said.But she said he grabbed her phone, pointed the gun at her and later threatened to go to her mother's if she told anybody.The trial is continuing.

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Airlines won't cut fuel surcharges

Qantas and Virgin Australia are sticking with their fuel surcharges despite falls in oil prices. Source: AAP

QANTAS and Virgin Australia have no plans to cut the hefty fuel surcharges slugged on airline tickets despite steep falls in oil prices.

THE airlines argue the 30 per cent slide in oil prices hasn't actually saved them much on their jet fuel bills.

Oil prices have slumped from around $US107 a barrel in July to around $US70 a barrel amid an oversupply in the market.But Qantas says the price falls have shaved only $20 million off its $4.5 billion annual fuel bill.Geoff Trotter, from monitoring group FuelTrac isn't buying it."The fuel surcharge should be at least 20 per cent lower based on the movement since July this year," he said."They are buying the fuel now really cheap, but their passengers are paying the same surcharge they paid when oil was $US112 a barrel."Fuel price surcharges, which were introduced in 2004 amid a spike in oil prices, are a bigger deal for passengers than you might think.Qantas customers booking a return economy trip the US are hit with a $680 surcharge, which is roughly a third of the cost of the ticket.It also slugs passengers travelling to Europe, parts of Asia, and the Middle East, with the amounts depending on whether the ticket is for economy, premium economy, business or first class seats.But the airline says the surcharges don't even cover its fuel bill."Fuel prices have more than doubled over the past decade and Qantas's current surcharges do not come anywhere close to recovering the cost of fuel to our bottom line," a spokesman said.The airline says fuel prices will need to say low for a lot longer before it would consider cutting its surcharge."There would need to be a much more sustained and significant benefit before we would be in a position to revisit our surcharges," the spokesman said.But Mr Trotter said the airline had lifted its fuel surcharge for US flights fourfold since 2004, while crude oil prices were only 33 per cent higher than a decade ago.Virgin Australia imposes surcharges on flights to the US, Europe and the Middle East.It says it works the fuel cost into the price of tickets on domestic routes, though it also says it has no savings to pass on to passengers from the lower oil price."Virgin Australia continually reviews its surcharges; however we have no changes to announce at present," the airline said in a statement to AAP."We look for a sustained trend in fuel price movements to increase or decrease our surcharges."

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Sailors describe trauma of boat mission

SAILORS engaged in border protection operations have described the trauma of recovering bodies of asylum seekers and being told to wait to board vessels which subsequently sank.

ONE former sailor named only as Michael said his patrol boat was instructed to defer intercepting an unseaworthy vessel, returning later to find a long line of bodies in the sea.

"We fished them out for as long as we could, 'til we were full. And that wasn't uncommon," he told ABC television.Another, Troy Norris, described the difficult process of recovering bodies which had been in the water for some time."Sometimes you'd go to pull these people in the boat and all you'd end up with is a handful of flesh. It'd just strip to the bone," he said.Another, identified as Greg, described boarding an over-crowded vessel."You jump on and you can smell three days' worth of human faeces, you can smell vomit, you can smell diesel fuel, you can smell rotting wood, you can smell people, there are children screaming," he said.Greg said he saw deeply disturbing behaviour by some asylum seekers, including an adult snatching a cup of water from a child. He intervened to stop the attempted rape of a boy by a man claiming to be his uncle."I became painfully aware that that child was only with him for the purpose of his own pleasure," he said.All the sailors now suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and have left the navy, saying they were not properly treated.Their experience covered the peak period of asylum seeker arrivals under former Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.In a statement to the ABC, Defence said that since 2011 it had implemented mental health screening for personnel assigned to border protection, with most dealing well with the pressures of this operation.Reported rates of mental health-related symptoms were low, it said."Within the time available Defence is not able to report how many of those referred for follow-up went on to be diagnosed with a mental health condition," Defence said.Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said there should be an independent judicial inquiry."Co-ordinated delays in rescuing boats, political interference that endangered lives and an unhealthy obsession with secrecy are destroying Australian sailors," she said in a statement."These are serious accusations from defence personnel and the government can't investigate itself on this one."

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Home DNA kit goes on sale in UK

A PERSONAL DNA testing kit that gives users an insight into their genetic make up has gone on sale in the UK.

THE 23andMe Personal Genome Service (PGS) costs STG125 ($A228) and claims to offer access to more than 100 pieces of information about a person's health, ancestry and family traits.

Users spit in a tube, seal it and send it off to be analysed in a laboratory.After four to six weeks they can log in online to see a detailed report of their results.The kit, which has been part-funded by Google, said the tool is not "diagnostic" but includes results of tests for genes associated with inherited conditions such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anaemia.It also tests for genes that may reveal risk factors for diseases or conditions such as blood clotting, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.In addition to findings about their health, the firm says users can explore the genetics behind why they may be a more frequent smoker, how they metabolise caffeine and their body's response to diet and exercise.They can see information about the genetic basis of traits such as hair colour, freckling, height and hair loss.The service also includes a "full genetic ancestry report" allowing people to trace their family's genetic roots and "potentially discover and communicate with new relatives", according to 23andMe.The firm says on its website that it is "committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information" and has put in place security measures to help protect against the "loss, misuse or alteration of information under our control".About 10,000 UK-based customers have already paid extra to have the kit delivered from the US.

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HIV drug 'can slow prostate cancer spread'

A DRUG used to treat HIV infection can slow the deadly spread of prostate cancer, new research suggests.

SCIENTISTS hope the compound, or others like it, may help men with the disease live longer.

Early studies have demonstrated the antiretroviral drug maraviroc can dramatically curb the lethal spread of prostate cancer in mice with the disease.Prostate cancer most commonly travels to the bones, leading to severe pain, disability and eventual death.But treatment with maraviroc reduced the spread, or metastasis, of prostate tumours to the bones, brain and other organs by 60 per cent in mice.US lead scientist Dr Richard Pestell, from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, said: "Because this work shows we can dramatically reduce metastasis in pre-clinical models, and because the drug is already... approved for HIV treatment, we may be able to test soon whether this drug can block metastasis in patients with prostate cancer."The drug targets a protein molecule on the surface of cells called the CCR5 receptor which the AIDS virus HIV uses to invade white blood cells.Previous research by the same team in 2012 showed CCR5 was implicated in the spread of aggressive forms of breast cancer to the lungs.A genetic analysis of metastasised bone and brain tumours also showed evidence of CCR5 driving the spread of prostate cancer.To investigate further, the scientists used maraviroc to block CCR5 in mice with metastatic prostate cancer.They found that compared with sick mice not given the drug, overall cancer spread was cut by 60 per cent.Genetic data from patients with prostate cancer revealed CCR5 was more active in prostate cancer than in normal tissue and made an even bigger impact in metastasised tumours.Co-author Dr Xuanmau Jiao, also from Thomas Jefferson University, said: "In fact, we noticed that patients who had a lower expression of the CCR5-pathway genes had a longer survival times, whereas high expression of these CCR5 genes was associated with a shorter overall survival."The study is published online in the journal Cancer Research.

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Airline gets deadline for MH370 court case

A MALAYSIAN court has given Malaysia Airlines and the government until December 15 to reply to a negligence case filed against them over the disappearance of flight MH370.

THE negligence case was filed in October by two sons of businessman Jee Jing Hang, one of the 239 people on board the missing jetliner.

It is the first suit against the airline and the government relating to MH370, which disappeared without a trace on March 8 en route to China an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur.The plaintiffs allege that Malaysia Airlines was negligent and failed to take all due safety measures, and that the government did not try to establish contact within reasonable time after the flight disappeared from radar.They also alleged that the immigration department failed in its duties by allowing passengers with fake identities onto the plane.

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US court mulls free speech on social media

THE US Supreme Court is considering the free-speech rights of people who use violent or threatening language on social media.

THE justices will hear arguments on Monday in the case of a man who was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for posting graphically violent rap lyrics on Facebook about killing his estranged wife, shooting up a class of young children and attacking an FBI agent.

Anthony Elonis says he was just venting his anger over a broken marriage and never meant to threaten anyone.But his wife didn't see it that way, and neither did federal prosecutors.A jury convicted Elonis of violating a federal law that makes it a crime to threaten another person.A federal appeals court rejected his claim that his comments were protected by the First Amendment.Lawyers for Elonis argue that the government must prove he actually intended his comments to threaten others.The government says it doesn't matter what Elonis intended and that the true test of a threat is whether his words make a reasonable person feel threatened.One post about his wife said, "There's one way to love you but a thousand ways to kill you. I'm not going to rest until your body is a mess, soaked in blood and dying from all the little cuts."The case has drawn widespread attention from free-speech advocates who say comments on Facebook, Twitter and other social media can be hasty, impulsive and easily misinterpreted.They point out that a message on Facebook intended for a small group could be taken out of context when viewed by a wider audience."A statute that proscribes speech without regard to the speaker's intended meaning runs the risk of punishing protected First Amendment expression simply because it is crudely or zealously expressed," said a brief from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups.So far, most lower courts have rejected that view, ruling that a "true threat" depends on how an objective person perceives the message.For more than four decades, the Supreme Court has said that "true threats" to harm another person are not protected speech under the First Amendment.But the court has been careful to distinguish threats from protected speech such as "political hyperbole" or "unpleasantly sharp attacks".Elonis argues that his online posts under the pseudonym "Tone Dougie" were simply a crude and spontaneous form of expression that should not be considered threatening if he didn't really mean it.His lawyers say the posts were heavily influenced by rap star Eminem, who has also fantasised in songs about killing his ex-wife.But Elonis' wife testified that the comments made her fear for her life.After his wife obtained a protective order against him, Elonis wrote a lengthy post mocking court proceedings: "Did you know that it's illegal for me to say I want to kill my wife?"A female FBI agent later visited Elonis at home to ask him about the postings.Elonis took to Facebook again: "Little agent lady stood so close, took all the strength I had not to turn the bitch ghost. Pull my knife, flick my wrist and slit her throat."The US administration says requiring proof that a speaker intended to be threatening would undermine the law's protective purpose.In its brief to the court, the Justice Department argues that no matter what someone believes about his comments, it doesn't lessen the fear and anxiety they might cause for other people.

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