Thursday, February 19, 2004
Launceston man acquitted of rape charge
A Launceston jury has acquitted a man charged with raping a woman in October 2002.[MORE]
Leeds to battle Viduka ban
The chief executive of English soccer club Leeds, Trevor Birch, says the decision to force a one-match ban on Australian striker Mark Viduka is a disgrace and an outrage.[MORE]
Soldiers intervene in PNG village riot
Papua New Guinea defence force soldiers have helped settle a near-riot in the town of Vanimo, near neighbouring Indonesia.[MORE]
Asia must endeavour to contain bird flu: WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says none of the nations hit by the bid flu virus has managed to bring the outbreak under control.[MORE]
Bomb blast injures 15 in India
At least 15 people have been injured in a powerful bomb blast at a court complex in India's holy Sikh city of Amritsar, police said. [MORE]
Austrian train fire defendants acquitted
All 16 defendants charged over a train fire in the Austrian Alps which killed 155 people, have been acquitted of criminal negligence.[MORE]
Brisbane traffic tunnel planning underway
Work is underway on a feasibility study into a proposed tunnel linking the northside and southside of Brisbane.[MORE]
Woman charged over Redfern riot
A 37-year-old woman has been charged over her alleged involvement in the riot in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern on Sunday night.[MORE]
Air traffic control changes recommended
Air traffic control is to be reintroduced to some regional airports as part of major changes to new air space rules.[MORE]
Troops, insurgents exchange fire at Baghdad prison
Insurgents have launched dozens of mortars and rockets at the main US prison in Baghdad and troops killed one Iraqi as they returned fire, the US military says.[MORE]
Tonga settles 'missing millions' lawsuit with king's jester
The Pacific kingdom of Tonga has settled a long-running lawsuit against its American court jester, who was accused of spiriting away a $33 million trust fund.[MORE]
Pilot killed in Tas highlands plane crash
A person has died in a light plane crash in Tasmania's central highlands.[MORE]
US-EU split on GM 'likely to widen'
European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom says trans-Atlantic differences over the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods will drag on for years more and may widen.[MORE]
Army steps up random drug testing
The Army will randomly drug test up to 400 Darwin-based soldiers this year.[MORE]
Man jailed over Hunter stand-off
A 33-year-old Upper Hunter man who attacked police with roof tiles during a four-hour stand-off in Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley overnight has already been sentenced to jail.[MORE]
Rescuers cleared to work around train wreck
Firefighters have extinguished the last blazes on a freight train loaded with fuel and chemicals that blew up in eastern Iran and killed nearly 300 people.[MORE]
WA to give Strickland a state send-off
Former Olympian Shirley Strickland de la Hunty is to be given a state funeral in Western Australia next Friday.[MORE]
WA climb down as Strickland gets state send-off
Former Olympian Shirley Strickland de la Hunty is to be given a state funeral in Western Australia next Friday.[MORE]
Heat measures invoked for Canberra match
The AFL will implement its heat policy for Saturday's pre-season cup game between the Kangaroos and Melbourne in Canberra, where temperatures are forecast to nudge 40 degrees Celsius.[MORE]
Power crisis claims second scalp
Western Australia's electricity crisis has claimed two major scalps, with the sacking of Western Power's chairman and the resignation of its chief executive.[MORE]
Teams name sides for AFL pre-season clashes
Adelaide has named a powerful line-up to confront St Kilda in the opening round of the AFL's pre-season cup at Football Park on Sunday.[MORE]
ASX flat as profit-reporting continues
The Australian share market has inched slightly higher today, as attention turned from the dollar - which broke through the 80 US cent barrier last night - to the bottom lines of some big-name companies.[MORE]
Dolly's creator defends human cloning research
The leader of the team that cloned Dolly the sheep has defended human cloning research because of its huge medical potential and said cloning babies could be justified in preventing genetic disease.[MORE]
Two Iran papers shut for reporting Khamenei letter
Iran's hardline judiciary has closed two leading newspapers for publishing a letter in which reformist politicians accused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of heading a system that abused people's rights.[MORE]
NASA rovers dig deep on Mars
NASA says its rovers have scratched the surface of Mars to test soil composition in the deepest probe yet of the red planet's mineralogical origins.[MORE]
