The Sydney Morning Herald
Vietnam Confirms Latest Bird Flu Case as Meeting Ends
By Darren Schuettler February 24, 2005
HO CHI MINH CITY (Reuters) - Asia's deadly bird flu has infected a 21-year-old Vietnamese man and possibly his younger sister, officials said on Friday as experts wrapped up an international conference on fighting the resilient virus.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/02/25/vietnam_confirms_latest_bird_flu_case_as_meeting_ends/
Sydney dam levels up after recent storms
February 25, 2005 - 1:00PM
Weekend storms lifted Sydney's dam levels by 0.7 per cent but there was no end in sight for water restrictions, Utilities Minister Frank Sartor said today.
"You would have to get significant increases in rainfall (to lift restrictions)," Mr Sartor told reporters.
"If we hit 50 per cent (restrictions would ease), eventually they would come off completely at 70 per cent.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Sydney-dam-levels-up-07-per-cent/2005/02/25/1109180086401.html
Australian brothels hooking Kiwi women
February 25, 2005
New Zealand brothels are having trouble filling employment vacancies as Australian operations lure staff over the Tasman with incentives such as higher pay, and clothes and beauty treatment allowances.
"It's like the brain drain - just for prostitutes," said the Auckland co-ordinator of the Prostitutes' Collective, Kate Dickie
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Australian-brothels-hooking-Kiwi-women/2005/02/24/1109180047405.html
Suicide bomber kills police as more troops to pull out
February 25, 2005 - 7:13AM
A suicide bomber disguised as a policeman killed at least 10 people when he blew his car up at an Iraqi police headquarters today, as Ukraine said it would pull its 1,650 troops in the war-torn country.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/Suicide-bomber-kills-police-as-more-troops-to-pull-out/2005/02/25/1109180068045.html
Iraq's legacy may be a Middle East governed by religion
February 25, 2005
The US and its allies take their chances in promising the Muslim world democracy, writes Waleed Aly.
George Bush is a man with a messianic vision. In his State of the Union address earlier this month, he reiterated his "generational commitment to the advance of freedom, especially in the Middle East". He explains the Iraqi campaign in that light: "The victory of freedom in Iraq will strengthen a new ally in the war on terror, inspire democratic reformers from Damascus to Tehran" and "bring more hope and progress to a troubled region".
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Opinion/Iraqs-legacy-may-be-a-Middle-East-governed-by-religion/2005/02/24/1109180038445.html
Churches attack Iraq troop plan
By Tom Allard
February 25, 2005
A Christian alliance has savaged the Government's decision to send more troops to Iraq as "scandalous", saying the Prime Minister had broken trust with the Australian people.
The National Council of Churches in Australia's strongly worded statement expresses "dismay" on behalf of Christians and regrets that John Howard had not apologised for his stance.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Churches-attack-Iraq-troop-plan/2005/02/24/1109180043284.html
US, Russia put block on nuclear material
By Peter Baker and Walter Pincus in Washington
February 25, 2005
President George Bush and President Vladimir Putin of Russia were set to announce measures to counter the threat of nuclear terrorism at their meeting in Bratislava, US officials said.
A recent US intelligence report warning that Russian nuclear material could still fall into terrorist hands had highlighted the need for the pact, the officials said.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/US-Russia-put-block-on-nuclear-material/2005/02/24/1109180047414.html
Rwanda takes over 15 war crimes cases
February 25, 2005
The United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal for Rwanda has handed 15 of the cases it is investigating to the Rwandan state prosecutor, the first such move since the 1994 genocide.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Rwanda-takes-over-15-war-crimes-cases/2005/02/24/1109180047399.html
Condoms biggest gun in the AIDS battle, study finds
By Maggie Fox in Washington
February 25, 2005
Programs that promote abstinence and monogamy to combat AIDS in Uganda are failing, and only condom use has kept the deadly virus in check, researchers report.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Condoms-biggest-gun-in-the-AIDS-battle-study-finds/2005/02/24/1109180047396.html
New light cast on dark matter
By Richard Macey
February 25, 2005
Astronomers claim to have found a galaxy made almost entirely of one of the most mysterious materials in the universe - the long-sought dark matter.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Science/New-light-cast-on-dark-matter/2005/02/24/1109180047402.html
New light cast on dark matter
By Richard Macey
February 25, 2005
Astronomers claim to have found a galaxy made almost entirely of one of the most mysterious materials in the universe - the long-sought dark matter.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Science/New-light-cast-on-dark-matter/2005/02/24/1109180047402.html
Continuation of Aceh talks is ground for cautious hope
By Matthew Moore in Jakarta
February 25, 2005
The second round of talks to end 29 years of conflict in Aceh has ended with the separatists successfully positioning themselves as moderates prepared to modify their long-held demand for independence.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Continuation-of-Aceh-talks-is-ground-for-cautious-hope/2005/02/24/1109180047393.html
Australian troops to leave Aceh by March 26
February 25, 2005
Australia's military will end its tsunami relief efforts in Aceh province by March 26, holding to an Indonesian government timetable for withdrawal of foreign troops, the force commander said yesterday.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Australian-troops-to-leave-Aceh-by-March-26/2005/02/24/1109180034724.html
Charles's wedding legal but ludicrous
By Peter Munro in London
February 25, 2005
An emergency declaration that Prince Charles's civil marriage would be legal has not stopped the humiliated heir from declaring that his wedding plans had descended into "a bloody farce".
The palace has insisted that the Queen's decision to stay away from the "low-key" wedding of her eldest son to Camilla Parker-Bowles was not a snub.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Charless-wedding-legal-but-ludicrous/2005/02/24/1109180047420.html
