Man arrested in NSW over New York death

A FUGITIVE accused of beating to death a New York store owner and robbing him of $US32,000 has been captured in Australia after NSW police secretly took samples of his DNA from glasses and cigarettes.

Abakar Gadiyev, 32, was arrested on Thursday after DNA from a mask used in the robbery matched his DNA, the New York Post reported.

Gadiyev and Arsen Bashirov, both citizens of the central Asian nation of Turkmenistan, allegedly robbed Brighton Beach storeowner Vladimir Tolstykh, 34, of a payroll bag containing $US32,000 and then beat him to death on March 14, 2009.

"The defendant robbed and attacked the victim, a store owner, after lying in wait for him in his parking garage," said a Brooklyn District Attorney memo obtained by the newspaper.

"The police conducted a lengthy investigation which led them to Gadiyev who had fled to Australia and Bashirov who had fled to Turkmenistan."

NSW police tailed Gadiyev to gather DNA left behind on items such as glasses and cigarettes so they could send the DNA samples across the Pacific Ocean to the New York Police Department NYPD for analysis.

"The evidence they sent us matched the mask," a police source said.

Gadiyev was applying to become an Australian citizen, police sources said.

US authorities plan to extradite Gadiyev to New York.

15.04 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic rally seeks end to offshore processing

MORE than 200 people have gathered at a rally in Melbourne, calling for an end to offshore detention.

Refugee activists chanted "Close Manus, close Nauru, let the refugees in" during Saturday's protest at the State Library of Victoria.

The demonstration comes after Iranian man Reza Berati died and 62 others were injured during a February 17 asylum seeker protest at Australia's Manus Island immigration detention centre.

The protesters want the Papua New Guinea facility to be shut down and for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to step down.

Australian Greens Senator Sarah-Hanson Young said Manus Island was untenable and must close.

"We can't be surprised of what happened last week on Manus Island but we can be ashamed that this government has let it happen. A young man's died on the watch of this government," she told the rally.

The senator said politicians on all sides had expressed upset at the recent events on Manus Island.

"They need to start crossing the floor and saying 'not in my name'," she said.

The Greens are expected to get Labor support on Monday to set up a Senate inquiry into the events of February 16-18 on the Papua New Guinea island where Australia operates the facility.

15.04 | 0 komentar | Read More

Calls for more Korean family reunions

SOUTH Korea's president has proposed the rival Koreas hold reunions of Korean War-divided families on a regular basis, saying time is running out for the elderly separated by hostilities and politics.

South Korea has made similar proposals in the past, but President Park Geun-hye's latest overture came after the two Koreas last month held their first reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War in more than three years.

"There are separated families in North Korea as well. I believe North Korea should also ease the anguish and pain of its people," she said in a speech marking Korea's 1919 uprising against Japan's colonial rule.

North Korea didn't immediately respond to Park's proposal. Analysts say North Korea has been reluctant to increase family reunions due to worries that doing so could open the country to influence from more affluent South Korea and threaten its grip on power.

The latest six-day family reunions were arranged after North Korea began calling for better ties with South Korea in what outside analysts say is an effort to win foreign aid and investment.

North Korea earlier threatened to cancel the reunions in anger over annual military drills between Seoul and Washington that it calls a preparation for invasion. The North let the reunions proceed after high-level talks with South Korea, though the drills went ahead as scheduled.

15.04 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic pilot unharmed after plane flips

A PILOT has escaped unharmed after his plane flipped over while he was making an emergency landing in a Victorian paddock.

After encountering difficulties the male pilot of the light plane sought permission to land in a paddock in Lethbridge, near Meredith.

While attempting to land, the aircraft hit a rock which caused the plane to flip onto its roof about 2.15pm (AEDT) on Saturday, police say.

The lone pilot aboard the plane escaped uninjured.

15.04 | 0 komentar | Read More

Johnston queries $50b defence budget

Defence Minister David Johnston says claims of a $50 billion defence budget in are not credible. Source: AAP

AS much as he might like it to be true, Defence Minister David Johnston is sceptical about a seeing a $50 billion defence budget in a decade.

That follows a media report in The Australian newspaper pointing to a $50 billion defence budget in 10 years as funding is progressively raised to two per cent of gross domestic product.

At present, the defence budget is $26 billion, which is about 1.6 per cent of GDP.

Senator Johnston said he didn't know where the $50 billion figure came from as the Defence Capability Plan (DCP), which outlines planned spending on new equipment, was in disarray because so much money had been taken away.

"For anybody to put a figure on where we are going and a time frame of where that place will be ... is quite questionable and impossible," he told reporters.

"I think it is wrong because I can't see how those figures can carry any credibility."

Senator Johnston said the government was set to launch a new defence white paper and DCP in 2015, which would establish benchmarks for defence spending.

He said it would be extremely hard to lift defence spending to two per cent of GDP.

"But we are going to do it," he said.

Senator Johnston said 21,000 public servants ran 56,000 uniformed personnel and that was unsustainable.

"My portfolio is just one of very many that is carrying that sort of burden," he said. "We have got to get lean and mean. No one is saying two per cent of GDP for defence in 10 years is gong to be easy."

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Smokey Vic town safe, but no comparison

Victoria is asking holiday home owners to open their homes to Morwell residents affected by smoke. Source: AAP

THE coalmine fire that's been blanketing Morwell in thick smoke for three weeks has no comparison, Victoria's top health officer says.

As firefighters prepare for forecast windy weather to blow even more smoke into the Latrobe Valley town, health authorities are poring over records of similar fires and finding little information.

Chief Health Officer Rosemary Lester says she's seeking advice on whether the fire has become a long-term exposure event for residents because it's been burning for three weeks.

But that's proving difficult, she said, because long-term smoke inhalation studies involve big city air pollution, not coalmines.

"It's an unusual situation," she said on Thursday.

"We do remain concerned about the level of smoke in the air. The levels have been very high and continue to be very high.

"We don't know how much longer it will go on for."

Dr Lester said carbon monoxide levels are nowhere near the level required to evacuate the town but she couldn't rule out calling for one in the future if the fire keeps burning.

The Hazelwood fire started on February 9 and is expected to burn for at least another two weeks.

Authorities stress it remains safe to stay in the area, but residents should limit their exposure.

A community respite centre has been set up in Moe and the health assessment centre has been expanded.

Latrobe Regional Hospital Acting chief executive Amanda Cameron said while hundreds had visited the assessment centre, the impact of smoke on people's health appeared to be minimal.

"We've had no admissions into the hospital that are directly related to the fire," she said.

The Victorian Greens want an evacuation for the most vulnerable people.

But Premier Denis Napthine said that's not necessary, though he'll open his house in Port Fairy to those wanting to flee the smoke and others should do the same with holiday homes.

He said it was frustrating to know the coalmine fire was deliberately lit.

Incident controller John Haynes said the wind would determine how quickly the fire could be extinguished.

Fire crews expect big gusts to arrive on Friday and return next week.

"We're trying our hardest," he said.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Explosion before body found in fire ground

BOMB squad officers have been drafted in to investigate after locals reported hearing an explosion before the discovery of a body amid burnt-out scrubland in suburban Perth.

Police launched an investigation after human remains were found amid bushland burnt in a fire that began between Rochdale Road and the West Coast Highway about 11.30am (WST) on Thursday.

Aircraft were sent to assist the ground crews, who quickly got the blaze under control.

However, as emergency services mopped up, WA Police's major crime division were called in to investigate reports of a body being found.

Police explosives experts have also been called in after reports of a large blast about the time the fire began.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Downer EDI settles legal claims

POTENTIAL legal action against engineering firm Downer EDI has been settled before it reached the courts.

Litigation funder Bentham IMF said a conditional settlement had been reached in its claims against the company, related to Downer EDI's difficulties with its NSW train manufacturing contract.

A shareholder class action was being prepared, alleging the company misled investors by failing to properly disclose issues with its Waratah Train Project in 2010.

Bentham IMF said the terms of the settlement were confidential, but would generate it revenue of $11.3 million.

Downer EDI said the settlement was reached without admission of liability, and would have no impact on the company's financial guidance.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt finds backing for Qantas changes

Possible changes to the Qantas Sale Act have prompted fears that jobs will go overseas. Source: AAP

THE federal government has found support for allowing Qantas to be majority foreign-owned the day before the airline reveals a loss and job cuts.

However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he won't be asking the airline to guarantee Australian jobs as the government drafts laws to lift regulatory restrictions.

The Qantas Sale Act, which came in as the airline was privatised in 1992, limits foreign ownership of the airline to 49 per cent, foreign airlines from holding more than a 35 per cent stake, and any single foreign shareholder to 25 per cent.

The national carrier is expected to announce a net loss of more than $400 million on Thursday and reveal plans to cut $2 billion in costs, including shedding as many as 5000 jobs.

The federal government is considering a short-term debt guarantee, as well as repealing the foreign ownership limits, to ease pressure on the iconic airline.

But it would need six crossbench votes in the new Senate, which will sit for the first time on July 7, to get its bill passed.

Two new senators, David Leyonhjelm from the Liberal Democrats and Bob Day from Family First, told AAP on Wednesday they would support the repeal.

"Qantas is shackled and hamstrung by all manner of regulation in one of the most competitive industries in the world," Mr Day said.

Mr Leyonhjelm said there was no need for the ownership restrictions.

A spokesman for the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party, whose senator Ricky Muir will take his seat in July, said the bill would be examined on its merits.

Independent Nick Xenophon has argued for Qantas' management to be sacked before he would consider the legislation and the Democratic Labor Party's John Madigan is yet to take a position.

The Palmer United Party, the Greens and Labor oppose any change.

Mr Abbott told reporters the government would not be issuing any edicts to Qantas.

"What Qantas does is a matter for Qantas management," he said.

While there may be some sentimental attachment to iconic businesses such as Qantas, three-quarters of Australians travelling overseas flew with other airlines, he said.

Labor transport spokesman Anthony Albanese said the opposition wanted Qantas to remain majority Australian-owned and Australian-based.

He said repealing the laws would lead to the airline splitting its international and domestic businesses to comply with international aviation regulations and agreements.

It would also lead to many of the 33,000 jobs going overseas.

The laws as they currently stand require the airline to keep the bulk of its maintenance, catering, flight operations and training facilities for international services in Australia.

The Transport Workers Union estimated between 10,000 and 14,000 white-collar and catering jobs would be sent offshore.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-RailCorp exec told to burn documents

Former RailCorp executive Joseph Camilleri was told to burn documents by his daughter. Source: AAP

THE gambling-addict daughter of a former RailCorp executive told her father to "burn, burn, burn" documents in her room after a raid by investigators, a corruption inquiry has heard.

But the executive, Joe Camilleri, maintains the loans were personal and did not buy former employees favours.

In a tapped phone call played at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing in Sydney, Jessica Adouni is heard urging her father to "do it now".

The call was secretly recorded just after an ICAC raid on Mr Camilleri's home.

That followed his sacking by RailCorp after he had tapped work colleagues for large loans to help his daughter.

The ICAC heard on Wednesday that Mr Camilleri paid out more than $4 million over four years to his daughter, despite her increasingly questionable claims for money, which were supposedly to cover high legal costs and bank fees.

He borrowed money from work colleagues and enlisted his sister Carmen Attard to also borrow money to help Ms Adouni.

The ICAC is investigating whether people who contributed to the $1.5 million Mr Camilleri and Ms Attard raised for Ms Adouni received any personal or professional benefit.

Mr Camilleri told the ICAC he believed his daughter's reasons for needing money between 2008 and 2013, and only learnt later of her gambling problem.

He repeatedly denied he acted corruptly or favourably towards those who lent him money, despite some working for firms that were later involved in RailCorp tender processes.

Counsel assisting the commission Nicholas Polin played the phone call from August 2013 in which Ms Adouni was heard telling her father after the ICAC raid she wanted to "make sure there's nothing left".

"Dad, they will come back, don't be stupid.

"Any papers, burn, burn, burn, that's all you've got to do ... do it now."

Mr Camilleri denied destroying anything.

Mr Polin repeatedly asked Mr Camilleri if he was a liar after he denied to RailCorp investigators he had borrowed money from people working in organisations that had business with RailCorp.

"I wasn't lying at the time, but it can be perceived as a lie, yes," Mr Camilleri said.

Evidence tendered to the ICAC included an email to Mr Camilleri from a "Richard Dipshit" purporting to be Ms Adouni's lawyer, and a badly written letter claiming to be from an ASIO security chief about money in a bank account.

A later email from the purported lawyer apologised for the "Dipshit" reference, saying his grandson had been using his computer.

The ICAC heard Ms Adouni said her identity had been stolen and was being used by people to buy property overseas.

Mr Polin asked Mr Camilleri if he was "incredibly stupid" or telling the truth.

Mr Camilleri said he might have been "very naive and had too much trust in my daughter".

The hearing continues.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missouri executes another prisoner

A MISSOURI inmate has been executed for abducting, raping and killing a Kansas City teenager nearly 25 years ago.

Michael Taylor was lethally injected just after midnight on Wednesday. He was the fourth Missouri prisoner executed by the state in as many months.

His lawyers had argued the state's execution drug, bought from a compounding pharmacy, could have caused Taylor inhumane pain and suffering.

But his last-minute appeals were denied by federal courts and the governor.

Authorities say 15-year-old Ann Harrison was waiting for her school bus on March 22, 1989, when she was abducted by Taylor and Roderick Nunley. The men took the girl to a house where she was raped and stabbed to death.

Nunley is also on death row.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tap-and-go to higher Vic crime rate

Victoria's crime rate has risen with drugs, family violence and deceptions among the causes. Source: AAP

TAP-AND-GO technology is helping make credit card fraud the fastest growing area of crime in Victoria.

Drugs and family violence also contributed to an overall 1.2 per cent jump in the crime rate for the 12 months to December 2013.

Deception offences rose by 42 per cent and drug offences jumped by 12.3 per cent.

The introduction of tap-and-go credit cards has made deception easier and police have again expressed concern about the technology, which allow customers to make purchases without a PIN or signature, and say negotiations continue with the banks about a solution.

The 42 per cent figure is up about 12 per cent on quarterly figures released last November.

"It is not a policing issue, it is a whole of community issue and everybody should be working together to try and address these issues and to make it very, very difficult for people to commit offences," Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan said.

A Mastercard spokeswoman said the company is surprised police are concerned about tap-and-go technology since industry data reveals there's been no increase in fraud specifically relating to such cards.

"We have asked Victoria Police to clarify the source and nature of their crime statistics," she said.

Family violence is also up with a big jump in the number of intervention order breaches which have caused the category of other crimes to rise by 15.5 per cent.

Ms Nolan said breaches of intervention orders had significantly increased, but that did not mean they were not working, just that police were stronger in enforcement.

"So that when there are breaches, whether they are minor or major police are taking action," she told reporters on Wednesday.

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said 40 per cent of crimes committed against a person occurred in the home.

"This underlines the impact of family violence," he said.

There were 12,607 more offences overall committed in Victoria over the year, a rise of 3.1 per cent.

Ms Nolan said methamphetamines are challenging cannabis for the drug related to the most offences, with ice continuing to have a very bad impact on the community.

"You see the impact it has, particularly on the regional centres and rural communities, it is absolutely huge, how it has impacted on those families and those local communities," she said.

But there was some good news for police, with robberies down by 15.4 per cent and property crimes decreasing by 2.6 per cent.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More