Bloom, Kerr split comes amid Romeo role

Actor Orlando Bloom and Australian model Miranda Kerr have reportedly split. Source: AAP

THE marriage of actor Orlando Bloom and Australian model Miranda Kerr has ended - even as Bloom tackles one of the most romantic roles in history, Romeo.

Publicist Robin Baum released a joint statement on Friday that said Kerr and Bloom - "have been amicably separated for the past few months" and "recently decided to formalise their separation" after six years together.

The 36-year-old actor, who starred in The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean films, and the 30-year-old supermodel were married in 2010.

They have a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Flynn.

Bloom is making his Broadway debut as Romeo in director David Leveaux's revival of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet opposite Condola Rashad, who has back-to-back Tony Award nominations for Stick Fly and The Trip to Bountiful.

Reviews have been mostly negative and the show has struggled at the box office.

Kerr, a top Victoria's Secret model who originates from Gunnedah, NSW, first met Bloom backstage at a lingerie fashion show in New York in 2006.

In an interview in September, Bloom said he was excited to be making his American stage debut and taking his career on a new course.

He said he was planning to join the Royal Shakespeare Company after college but director Peter Jackson whisked him to New Zealand for The Lord of the Rings and then he was off on a movie career - Black Hawk Down, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Elizabethtown and Kingdom of Heaven.

"I feel like this is what I was supposed to be doing or at least part of what I was supposed to be doing. I found myself doing movies - which were wonderful and amazing and I love - I've got a collection of movies at home that my son is going to absolutely drool over when he's the right age," he said.

"But for Orlando and for the actor in me, this process is so rewarding and I just feel like I'm going to be a different actor after this.

"I already feel like a different actor."

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

United Airlines fined for delays

United Airlines will pay more than $US1 million in fines for stranding passengers. Source: AAP

UNITED Airlines will pay more than $US1 million ($A1.04 million) in fines for stranding passengers on 13 planes for more than three hours on the tarmac during a stormy day last year at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, federal officials announced.

The $US1.1 million fine is the largest levied against an airline since 2010, when new rules took effect that bar airlines from stranding passengers on the tarmac for longer than three hours without giving them the opportunity to leave the plane, according to the US Department of Transportation.

The delays involved 13 United and United Express planes on July 13, 2012, a day when severe thunderstorms and lightning had caused several ramp closures and disrupted the movement of aircraft at O'Hare, the nation's second largest airport. Toilets weren't working on two of those planes.

"It is unacceptable for passengers to be stranded in planes on the tarmac for hours on end," US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement on Friday.

"We will continue to require airlines to adopt workable plans to protect passengers from lengthy tarmac delays and carry out these plans when necessary."

The airline exceeded the three-hour limit by as much as an hour and 17 minutes, and didn't contact airport personnel or other airlines for help, according to the department.

The airline was "committed to complying with the tarmac regulations and we continue to improve or procedures while maintaining the safety of our customers and co-workers," United spokeswoman Mary Ryan said.

United will pay the government $US475,000, while $US185,000 will be used to compensate affected passengers, including those who were delayed on the tarmac for less than three hours. The airline will also use $US440,000 to acquire and maintain a surveillance system to monitor the location of each of its planes on the airfield.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Another month of fixes for Obamacare

THE end of November. That's when the Obama administration now says the new, trouble-plagued website for uninsured Americans to get health care coverage will be working well.

After a week of intensive diagnostics, the administration acknowledged on Friday the site has dozens of complex problems and tapped a private company to oversee fixes.

Jeffrey Zients, a management consultant brought in by the White House to assess the situation, told reporters his review found dozens of issues across the entire system.

It will take a lot of work, but Zients declared that HealthCare.gov is fixable. He stopped short of saying problems will completely vanish.

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Fire bans declared for three SA districts

TOTAL fire bans have been declared for three South Australian districts, with conditions expected to be extreme in the state's northwest.

Bans have been declared for the Northwest Pastoral, West Coast and Eastern Eyre Peninsula districts for Sunday, with very hazardous fire whether conditions predicted, the CFS says.

Conditions are expected to be worst in the Northwest Pastoral district, which includes Coober Pedy, where an extreme rating has been forecast.

A windy top of 37C is forecast for Coober Pedy on Sunday.

A severe rating has been declared for the West Coast district, which includes the town of Ceduna and the Eastern Eyre Peninsula which includes Whyalla.

The total fire ban does not include Adelaide which is expecting a top of only 25C with a chance of rain.

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Former Bronco awaits bail decision

A FORMER Brisbane Bronco NRL player turned accused outlaw motorcycle gang member will find out shortly whether Queensland's strict new bikie laws apply to him.

Michael Spence, 25, faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday charged with trafficking ice following a major drugs bust this week.

The court heard Spence was sergeant-at-arms of the Hells Angels' Brisbane chapter but severed ties with the club earlier this month to avoid a state crackdown on bikies.

Police allege he and former Hells Angels patched members Bruno and Nuno Da Silva sold $2.5 million in ice between June 2012 and October this year.

Prosecutors say although the trio quit the Hells Angels they still worked as a criminal organisation to sell drugs.

Under new laws that make it harder for bikies to be granted bail, the onus is on members of criminal organisations to prove they should not be locked up.

The laws passed parliament on October 16 and police say Spence continued to sell ice until October 19.

Spence's lawyer Jeff Hunter argued police have no direct evidence the former footballer sold drugs at all and their case was weak and circumstantial.

Chief Magistrate Tim Carmody is due to make a decision at 4.30pm (AEST).

The Da Silva brothers' bail applications are expected to be heard next week.

Earlier an alleged associate of the gang was granted bail on condition he pay a $25,000 surety.

Spence's bail application heard the former footballer's taxable income for 2012 was $10,651, yet in 2013 he bought a $14,000 ring for his girlfriend.

"It's a lot of money to pay for a ring for a person who appears to have no secure income," police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Patterson said.

He said surveillance showed Spence counting $4000 in $100 notes following a drug deal, while on another occasion he received a large amount of cash from the Da Silvas.

The prosecutor said police were still sorting through material from the investigation, including more than 4000 telephone intercepts involving the trio and associates.

He tendered a photo of a poster from the Hells Angels clubhouse detailing the sergeant-at-arms' "job description", which included to "maintain order at club meetings" and run the "overall security" of the chapter.

"(Mr Hunter) hasn't put any evidence to the court to show cause (that if) this defendant is released he wouldn't continue to offend or be a threat to other persons," Sgt Patterson said.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Terowie bones person murdered: police

A PARTIAL skeleton police say belongs to someone violently murdered has been found in a plastic tub in a house in South Australia.

The remains were found in the Terowie home, north of Adelaide, on Thursday after officers went there on a routine firearms search.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray said an initial examination of the bones indicated foul play.

"While the cause of death is unknown at this stage, we believe the person met a violent death," he said.

A 25-year-old man who was living at the home has been charged with failing to report a death and is expected to appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Friday.

The bones were not concealed in any way and have been brought to Adelaide to be examined by an anthropologist and forensic scientists.

It is hoped they will be able to determine the sex and age of the person and how long ago they died.

That information will then be used to give detectives a starting point for checking missing persons' files.

It's believed the bones were buried at some time but officers don't know where.

Investigations will centre initially on the backyard of the Terowie home to determine if that was the location.

Police say the home was purchased five years ago by the current owner.

The previous owner has since died and much of their property remains at the site.

Christopher Scott was later refused bail and remanded in custody to appear again in court in November.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sydney school kids welcome Princess Mary

Crown Princess Mary and her husband Prince Frederik dropped in for a visit to a Sydney school. Source: AAP

IF she's a princess, where's her crown?

That was the question on the minds of some children at a Sydney school who nonetheless gave Crown Princess Mary an enthusiastic welcome when she dropped by for a visit.

The Australian-born royal and her husband Crown Prince Frederik are in Australia to help mark the Opera House's 40th birthday.

They were greeted by about 35 pre-school children at Five Dock Public School as they entered the school grounds on Friday afternoon.

The youngsters were wearing cardboard crowns, which they made earlier in the day, and were waving Danish and Australian flags.

Teacher's aid Maria Iacono said a few of the children were wondering why Mary was wearing a simple black dress and not the typical royal attire.

"They were a little bit disappointed she wasn't wearing her dress and her crown," she said.

"They're all asking 'where is she?' because she's got no crown."

The royal couple toured the school library and posed for pictures with NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and three recipients of the premier's reading challenge.

They then sat down with a number of students and chatted about reading and school.

Pakistani-born Maria Asif, who's in year six, described meeting Prince Frederik as a "once in a lifetime experience".

"He asked us questions about the books we were reading and helped us with our reading," she said. "He's really kind."

The two read Let's Count Goats! by Australian authors Mem Fox and Jan Thomas.

Mr O'Farrell joked with the couple that he was still getting used to dealing with celebrities and royals, after being asked to step aside from photo opportunities by the travelling Danish photographers.

He said he's been impressed with how down to earth the two have been.

"For all the pomp and circumstance that's around them and all the attention they get, they seem to me two very relaxed and well settled individuals," the premier told AAP.

After an hour-long stay, Mary and Frederik received a spirited farewell by about 100 school kids and their parents as they headed for their seven-car entourage.

A gala concert and official reception will be held in honour of the Danish royals at the Opera House on Sunday night.

The royal couple, who first met in a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympic Games, last visited Australia in 2011.

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'Bushfire-burnout' warning as crisis eases

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell (2L) says he will be discussing the State Mine fire with PM Tony Abbott. Source: AAP

LEADERS have praised the legions of firefighters and residents who stared down NSW's 10-day bushfire crisis that is only now easing.

But amid the camaraderie and consolation there were concerns about bushfire burnout setting in - a full month out from summer.

"It's just terrifying that we're sitting here in spring and we've had all these hot fires," Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill told AAP on Friday.

"There's still a lot of unburned bush and we've got the height of summer to come."

His community has been hardest hit by the bushfire crisis that began last week.

More than 200 local families have lost their homes and all three of the blazes burning at a watch and act level on Friday were in the mountains west of Sydney.

At Springwood in the mountains, what had been the most destructive fire in the state was being controlled after burning more than 3,300 hectares and.

Fires at Mount York and the State Mine Fire in Lithgow, started by an army explosives exercise, were also being brought under control.

Firefighters were patrolling and mopping up at Gateshead in the Lake Macquarie area where a fire had threatened homes at Dudley and Redhead, the RFS said.

More than 800 firefighters remained on the state's firegrounds on Friday and just over 50 fires continued to burn, but many interstate and metropolitan firefighters have begun the long drive home.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce toured the charred lower Blue Mountains suburbs of Winmalee and Springwood.

"Thank you for what you've done," she said, speaking not only to locals but to the 2000-odd firefighters from across the country who joined in the effort to save lives and homes in NSW.

Tributes flowed on Friday for pilot David Black, who died when his aircraft crashed while fighting a fire at Wirritin in Budawang National Park, west of Ulladulla.

His was the second life lost in the fires. A 63-year-old man died defending his Central Coast home last Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said there was a sense of hiatus at the Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters, but dangerous fire weather could hit within days and dozens of fires continued to burn across the state.

"The fact is it's going to take weeks, not days, to get containment on all these fires," he told AAP.

"People do get fatigued - particularly when it's warning after warning going out to the same communities."

No one should be under any illusion that the dire scenarios predicted for Wednesday - like the fear that major fires could merge to form a super fire spanning the Blue Mountains - were over-hyped, he said.

Firefighters had worked "way beyond" the hours they would ordinarily be allowed to put in, forgoing sleep to run risky back-burning operations around the mountains in a bid to avoid catastrophe.

"I genuinely did fear that we were going to lose people in that fire," Mr Rogers said.

"The community tends to view the fact that we didn't have mayhem and destruction by saying, 'Oh, well it didn't happen'.

"Well it didn't happen because a lot of people worked hard to stop it happening."

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Unilever hit by emerging markets slowdown

UNILEVER PLC, the maker of ice cream, soaps, deodorants and laundry detergents, says its "underlying" third quarter sales grew by 3.2 per cent on a combination of price hikes and higher volumes.

In a trading update on Thursday, it said growth had slowed in developing countries as consumers there lost purchasing power due to weak currencies. It added that markets in industrial countries "have not recovered and remain flat to down."

Unilever said that reported revenues fell 6.5 per cent to 12.5 billion euros ($A18.04 billion) due to the strong euro.

The consumer goods giant said personal care products such as Dove soap and Vaseline performed most strongly. Its refreshments arm - which makes Lipton tea and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, among others - suffered from weakness in southern Europe.

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Ericsson Q3 net profit jumps on strong mar

SWEDISH wireless equipment company Ericsson AB says its net profit increased by 34 per cent in the third quarter as a better business mix boosted its margins.

Ericsson said net profit for the period was 2.92 billion Swedish kronor ($US458 million), compared with 2.18 billion kronor a year earlier.

Sales in the quarter dropped by 3 per cent to 52.98 billion kronor from 54.55 billion in the third quarter 2012, weighed down by negative currency exchange effects and lower sales in North East Asia and India.

Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg said the macroeconomic climate had stabilised in many markets and the "long-term fundamentals in the industry remain attractive."

However, he added "uncertainty still remains in certain parts of the world."

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