Melbourne rapper wanted over carjackings

A MELBOURNE hip-hop artist is wanted for questioning over a series of armed robberies and carjackings.

Police believe Corinthian Morgan, who performs as Mr Morgz, could be behind an attempted carjacking which left a 70-year-old woman with cuts and bruises.

A man fitting Morgan's description threatened the woman with a sawn-off shotgun in the Preston Market car park on January 7, police say.

The pair struggled and the car key snapped off in the ignition.

The man then pushed the woman to the ground and fled with her handbag.

Morgan could also be linked to an attempted carjacking at Reservoir in late December, in which a man armed with a tomahawk approached a family seated in their car, according to police.

The driver sped away when threatened.

Police are also linking him to similar offences in Shepparton.

He could still be in possession of the sawn-off shotgun and his behaviour could become more erratic, Detective Senior Constable Meaghan Briggs said.

"These incidents have all involved vulnerable people, often women, people on their own," Det Snr Const Briggs told reporters on Wednesday.

"We don't want to alarm the public about it but while he is at large there is the risk of another offence occurring."

Morgan, 27, failed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court in October in relation to charges of robbery and intentionally and recklessly causing injury.

He is about 190cm tall with a medium build, olive complexion and a tattoo on the left side of his neck saying 'Mr Morgz'.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic at 'considerable risk' of bushfires

VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu says the state faces "considerable risk" of bushfires as temperatures soar over the next couple of days.

The temperature is tipped to reach the high 30s in southern Victoria on Thursday, and the low 40s in the state's north.

"The next couple of days will be a test for Victorians," Mr Baillieu told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"With the high temperatures over the next couple of days, that means there will be considerable risk of bushfires in many parts of Victoria."

Mr Baillieu urged residents to remain vigilant, and to seek updates from emergency services.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said crews had worked hard to bring all current fires under control.

"That means we move into Thursday with no significant fires on the board that we have got major resources at," he said.

Mr Lapsley said farmers should postpone the use of mechanical equipment when the fire danger was high.

The CFA will consider issuing fire bans later on Wednesday.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rio Tinto lifts iron ore production

Rio Tinto lifted global iron ore production by four per cent to a record 253 million tonnes in 2012. Source: AAP

MINING giant Rio Tinto lifted global iron ore production by four per cent to a record 253 million tonnes in 2012.

The full year result was above previous guidance set by the world's second biggest iron ore producer of 250 million tonnes.

It shipped 247 million of those tonnes, also a record high amount, including 233 million tonnes out of the Pilbara in Western Australia.

The miner lifted fourth quarter iron ore production by two per cent on the same period last year to 66 million tonnes.

Rio described the shipments - or sales - result as a positive one due to severe weather disruptions and a shut-down during the year.

It was in line with analysts' expectations.

Production of the company's second biggest earner, copper, (representing about 20 per cent compared to more than 70 per cent for iron ore) increased by six per cent in 2012, to 548,800 tonnes in line with analysts' expectations.

Aluminium production slumped by 10 per cent, weighed down by the Alma labour dispute in Canada.

Rio Tinto produced 3.8 million tonnes of aluminium for the year.

It lifted production of key aluminium input bauxite by 11 per cent to 39.4 million tonnes and alumina by 12 per cent to 10 million tonnes.

Thermal coal production for the full year was 16 per cent higher than in 2011 at 20.6 million tonnes, but hard coking coal production fell by nine per cent to eight million tonnes, due to the impact of plant maintenance and a shutdown.

Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese described the result as a strong operational performance.

"Our expansion program continues on schedule, delivering industry leading returns for our shareholders," he said in a statement.

"Markets remain volatile, but our business continues to perform well.

"Across the group we are taking action to roll back unsustainable cost increases."

"This further enhances our resilience and competitive edge as we enter 2013."

The mining giant aims to reduce its operating and support costs by more than $US5 billion ($A4.75 billion) by the end of 2014 and will cut spending on exploration and evaluation projects by $US1 billion ($A950.53 million) over the remainder of 2012 and 2013.

Its shares were 14 cents lower at $65.85 shortly before 1600 AEDT.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Five killed as Egypt troop train derails

FIVE people have been killed and at least 43 injured when a train carrying military conscripts derailed southwest of Cairo, the health ministry says.

The train carrying conscripts from south Egypt to Cairo derailed on Tuesday in the Giza neighbourhood of Badrasheen, state media reported.

Giza governor Ali Abdelrahman said emergency services were at the scene and ambulances were ferrying the injured to hospital.

The accident is the latest in a string of transport disasters plaguing the country.

In November, nearly 50 schoolchildren were killed when a train smashed into their bus in central Egypt after a railway signal operator fell asleep, prompting protests and resignations.

The railway network's poor safety record stems largely from lack of maintenance and poor management. In Egypt's deadliest railway tragedy, the bodies of more than 360 passengers were recovered from a train after a fire in 2002.

Egyptians have long complained that the government has failed to deal with the country's chronic transport problems, with roads as poorly maintained as railway lines.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Volcano erupting in Russia's Far East

A VOLCANO erupting in Russia's Far East is sending plumes of gas and ash high into the sky and creating a lava lake.

The Plosky Tolbachik volcano is located in Kamchatka peninsula, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest residential areas.

Gennady Karpov, a volcano expert at Russia's Academy of Sciences in the Far East, said: "There were no lava lakes at Kamchatka volcanos before now. We have never seen this before."

Plosky Tolbachik has emitted jets of hot lava up to 200 metres high.

Its last eruption had occurred in November after the volcano was dormant for almost 40 years.

Russian officials say the current eruptions are not likely to end any time soon but that they aren't affecting flight patterns over Russia.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mubarak questioned over alleged gifts

Hosni Mubarak has been interrogated over gifts he allegedly received from the Al Ahram newspaper. Source: AAP

OUSTED president Hosni Mubarak has been interrogated over gifts worth millions of Egyptian pounds he allegedly received from the country's top newspaper as a show of loyalty while he was in power.

Mubarak is serving a life sentence after being convicted for failing to stop killings of protesters during 2011 uprising.

He was moved to a Cairo military hospital last month after slipping inside a prison bathroom and injuring himself.

A security official says Mubarak was questioned on Saturday over watches, pens, bags, belts and jewellery he reportedly received from the official Al Ahram newspaper.

Mubarak's lawyers and the newspaper could not immediately be reached for comment.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Outback NSW swelters, Sydney gets relief

A cool change has swept across Sydney earlier than expected, with temperatures dropping. Source: AAP

SIX people have been treated for heat exposure across NSW, as temperatures push above 45C in some parts of the state.

NSW Ambulance said five women aged between 38 and 93 and a 12-year-old girl were treated by paramedics on Saturday, with four of them taken to hospital.

Meanwhile a 85-year-old male man from Charlestown near Newcastle was also taken to hospital.

"This would be in addition to other six heat-related call-outs for reasons such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting," a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said in a statement.

It came as temperatures hit 46C at Walgett in north-western NSW, with parts of the Hunter seeing the mercury rise to 43C.

Sydneysiders along the coast were spared from the hot weather, with forecasting downgrading predictions of 35 plus degrees earlier on Saturday.

A top of 31.2C was recorded at 11am (AEDT) at Sydney's Observatory Hill, while just before 2.30pm 39.9C was recorded at Richmond.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

French forces fight Mali Islamists

French soldiers have come to the aid of the Mali government against al-Qaeda-linked militants. Source: AAP

FRENCH soldiers have launched an operation to help the government of Mali defeat al-Qaeda-linked militants who captured more ground this week.

French President Francois Hollande said his country acted on Friday because the "terrorists are a threat to France, to Europe and the world".

He said the operation would last "as long as necessary".

France said it was taking the action in Mali at the request of President Dioncounda Traore, who declared a state of emergency because of the militants' advance.

The arrival of the French troops in their former colony on Friday came a day after the Islamists moved the closest yet towards territory still under government control and fought the Malian military for the first time in months, seizing the strategic city of Konna.

For the past nine months, the Islamic militants have controlled a large swathe of northern Mali, a lawless desert region where kidnapping has flourished.

"French armed forces supported Malian units this afternoon to fight against terrorist elements," Hollande said in Paris.

He did not give any details of the operation, other than to say that it was aimed in part at protecting the 6000 French citizens in Mali, where seven of them already are being held captive.

Locals in central Mali said they had seen Western military personnel arriving in the area, with planes landing at a nearby airport throughout the night.

Traore went on national television on Friday night to declare the state of emergency, saying it would remain in effect for 10 days and could be renewed.

He called on mining companies and non-government organisations to turn their trucks over to Malian military, raising questions about the army's ability.

France has led a diplomatic push for international action in northern Mali, but efforts to get an African-led force together, or to train the weak Malian army, have dragged.

The French quickly mobilised after the Islamists seized the city of Konna on Thursday, pushing closer to the army's major base in central Mali.

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the capture of Konna and urged UN member states to assist Mali "in order to reduce the threat posed by terrorist organisations and associated groups".

Late last year, the 15 nations in West Africa, including Mali, agreed on a proposal for the military to take back the north, and sought backing from the UN.

The Security Council authorised the intervention but imposed certain conditions. Those include the training of Mali's military, which has been accused of serious human rights abuses since a military coup last year sent the nation into disarray.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Soldier jailed over fatal motorcycle crash

A SOLDIER in the Australian army has been jailed for 15 months after causing the death of a woman in a motorcycle accident on the Perth foreshore.

Giles Nelson Graham, 24, had been drinking before he took Carli Rustand on a motorcycle ride on her 24th birthday, and the pair hurtled along Riverside Drive at speeds between 81km/h and 116km/h.

Graham, who served two tours in Afghanistan after being fast-tracked to the Duntroon Academy aged just 19, recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.107 after the crash on March 4 last year, which also left him severely injured.

He was charged with dangerous driving in circumstances which resulted in a death and driving with a blood alcohol content above 0.08. He pleaded guilty last November.

Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said despite Graham's remorse, the tragic consequences of his decision to ride with Ms Rustand were too serious to allow him to walk free.

"This was not a case of momentary inattention," she said.

Graham will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.

He is now facing an involuntary discharge from the army, where his superiors had previously singled him out for his leadership qualities.

Australian Defence Force officials were in court to hear the verdict.

At the sentencing hearing on Friday, defence lawyer Laurie Levy told the magistrate that Graham had taken full responsibility for the crash and the death of Ms Rustand.

"I am never going to forgive myself," Graham told a court official compiling a pre-sentence report.

"How can I be a good man when I have got so much blood on my hands?"

The Perth Magistrates Court was told Graham had been involved in 15 major firefights in Afghanistan, during which three Australian soldiers and one American serviceman died.

He was a commander of a protective mobility vehicle in the war zone in his final tour of duty, the court was told.

He was on leave at the time of the accident, which happened on the first night the pair had met.

After a meal at a Chinese restaurant, followed by several hours at a karaoke bar, the pair carried on the party at South Perth with friends, where they set off on the Harley-Davidson.

Graham suffered three neck fractures, three spinal fractures, three cranial fractures and bleeding on the brain which prompted doctors to place him in an induced coma.

After he recovered, Graham wrote to Ms Rustand's family to apologise for his part in her death.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

NBN Co exceeds Dec 2012 work target

NBN Co boss Mike Quigley says construction on the broadband network will continue to increase. Source: AAP

THE pace of construction on the government's $37.4 billion broadband network will continue to ramp up after exceeding its 2012 year-end rollout target, the federal government says.

The builder of the national broadband network (NBN) has released data that shows fibre cable work had begun or been completed on 784,592 premises by the end of 2012.

This is more than the forecast 758,000 premises, NBN Co boss Mike Quigley says.

"I am pretty pleased with that because it does set us up now pretty well for what we have to do between now and the end of June," Mr Quigley told AAP on Friday.

He said the next big milestone was to have fibre cable running past another 286,000 premises by that date.

That was still an ambitious target and they would have to roll it past more than 6000 premises a day by May/June to hit the mark, he said.

Mr Quigley said figures that show how many premises or lots the cable has passed by would be released soon.

The number of premises passed by fibre cable at September 30, 2012 was 52,014.

Acting federal communications minister Kim Carr said that exceeding the December 2012 target was "just the beginning".

"The ramp up of NBN construction activity will continue in 2013, with more workers hauling fibre, more areas switching on the NBN, and more families and businesses connecting," Senator Carr said in a statement on Friday.

Under Labor's $37.4 billion project, NBN Co is charged with rolling out the high speed broadband fibre optic cable to 93 per cent of homes, schools and businesses by June 2021.

The remaining seven per cent will be covered by fixed wireless and satellite services by 2015.

Opposition communication spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said the figures that mattered with the rollout were the number of premises the fibre cable had passed and where it was connected.

"It is noteworthy that today's announcement does not include updated figures for premises with active connections or premises passed with fibre (these being the only relevant metrics)," Mr Turnbull said on his blog on Friday.

Mr Turnbull said 6358 premises were actively connected to the fibre network at as September 30 and it had passed 52,014 premises, while NBN Co's corporate plan of August 2012 said there would be 54,000 connections to the fibre network at that time.

"By 2021 the same plan forecasts 8.5 million will be connected to the fibre," he said.

"A long way to go!"

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More