ASEAN adopts rights pact despite criticism

SOUTH-EAST Asian leaders have endorsed a human rights declaration which they called a breakthrough for the region but critics said it fell well below global standards.

Leaders of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted the joint declaration at their annual summit in Phnom Penh, saying it would enshrine human rightS protections for the bloc's 600 million people.

"It's a legacy for our children," Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told reporters on Sunday after the signing ceremony.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and more than 60 rights groups called this month for the pact to be postponed amid concerns it undermined universal human rights standards by allowing loopholes for governments.

ASEAN's members have a wide range of political systems, from authoritarian regimes in Vietnam and Laos at one end of the spectrum to the freewheeling democracy of the Philippines at the other.

Campaigners also slammed the lack of transparency and the absence of consultation with civil society groups during the drafting of the text.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the bloc's foreign ministers had made an amendment to the text on Saturday aimed at addressing those complaints.

The amended text affirmed ASEAN nations would "implement the declaration in accordance to the international human rights declarations and standards".

But the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, Phil Robertson, said it was not enough to fix the "flawed" pact, which he said would justify crackdowns based on "national context" or on grounds of "public morality".

"Our worst fears in this process have now come to pass," Robertson said in a statement on Sunday.

"Rather than meeting international standards, this declaration lowers them by creating new loopholes and justifications that ASEAN member states can use to justify abusing the rights of their people."

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa urged observers not to jump to conclusions.

"It's an important benchmark for ASEAN to be kept honest in terms of its human rights obligations," Natalegawa told reporters.

Human rights has been a sensitive issue for some ASEAN members, with the grouping's policy of non-interference in members' internal affairs often preventing the issue from being discussed more thoroughly at annual meetings.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qld's southeast battens down again

A severe storm warning has been issued for Queensland's southeast. Source: AAP

DANGEROUS thunderstorms with large hailstones are moving into Queensland's southeast corner, with the weather bureau issuing warnings for the region.

The bureau says residents in Logan City and parts of the Brisbane City, Gympie, Ipswich City, Sunshine Coast, Scenic Rim and South Burnett can all expect a buffeting, with wind gusts reaching 110km/h.

It said dangerous thunderstorms were expected to hit Peak Crossing, Bundamba Lagoon, Greenbank and Redbank Plains accompanied by flash flooding.

Emergency Management Queensland advises people to move their cars under cover and away from trees, not to attempt to drive, walk or ride through flood waters and avoid using the phone during a thunderstorm.

The Department of Community Safety said about 60 calls had been received on Sunday, to help with minor flooding, leaking roofs and tarping.

Senior Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecaster Jonty Hall said weak storms throughout the day kept temperatures low.

"So we didn't see the heat which enhances the storms," Mr Hall told AAP.

On Saturday, Brisbanites only knew a ferocious storm was upon them when they were being pounded by almost cyclonic winds and hail.

The BoM was criticised for failing to issue a warning until five minutes after the storm began to hammer the inner city, with its Facebook page hit with negative messages.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Israel counts 800-plus Gaza airstrikes

ISRAEL'S military says it has struck more than 800 targets in the Gaza Strip as it expands a fierce air assault responding to rocket launches from the Palestinian territory.

The military's count early on Saturday included 180 overnight airstrikes. The campaign began on Wednesday with the assassination of the ruling Hamas militant group's military chief after days of heavy rocket fire from Gaza.

The Gaza Interior Ministry said Israeli aircraft had struck government and police compounds, smuggling tunnels and a three-storey apartment building.

Militants have struck back with about 500 rockets, including one unprecedented attack aimed at Jerusalem.

The Israeli military has also called up thousands of reservists and massed troops and armoured vehicles along the border with Gaza, signalling a ground invasion could be imminent.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

China to focus on ASEAN economic ties

CHINESE Premier Wen Jiabao is to focus on economic co-operation at the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings this week that will include US President Barack Obama.

Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said on Saturday that China was more interested in deepening economic ties in the region as a stabilising force in the global economy than focusing on lingering disputes in the South China Sea.

"We need to focus on co-operation and development and send correct signals to the market," Fu said. "We should not be distracted by some problems and deviate from our direction."

Tensions have been flaring over maritime disputes in the region, including rival claims by China, the Philippines and Vietnam to South China Sea islands and waters that are believed to be rich in gas and oil and straddle busy shipping routes.

Fu told a news conference that China and other countries bordering the South China Sea had successfully managed their disputes and prevented them from escalating into major conflicts.

"Dialogues, negotiations and management have given us peace and stability, allowing us to focus on economic development and make achievements," she said.

Fu reiterated China's stand of resolving disputes on a bilateral basis instead of bringing them up at regional or international meetings.

The meetings are scheduled to start on Sunday in Phnom Penh and are organised by the 10 members of ASEAN. China is not part of the group but holds talks with it. Leaders from Japan and South Korea are also to take part.

It had not been decided whether Wen would meet Obama separately, Fu said.

While in Cambodia, Wen will make a formal visit to the country and hold talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen. The two sides are expected to sign documents on economic technology and education.

Wen is then scheduled to make a state visit to Thailand before ending his trip on Wednesday. He will meet with members of the Thai royal family and hold talks with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on a range of issues, including trade and investment.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hong Kong customs seize ivory

HONG Kong customs officers have seized a shipping container carrying more than a tonne of ivory worth around $US1.37 million ($A1.33 million), officials said.

"569 pieces of ivory tusks, weighing about 1,330 kilogrammes" were seized on Thursday, officials said in a statement.

Customs officers made the southern Chinese city's largest seizure in October when they intercepted almost four tonnes of ivory worth about $3.4 million, hidden in shipments from Kenya and Tanzania.

The 1,209 pieces of raw ivory tusk and a small number of ivory ornaments were discovered in two containers masked "plastic scrap" and "beans".

The international trade in elephant ivory, with rare exceptions, has been outlawed since 1989 after populations of the African giants dropped from the millions in the mid-20th century to some 600,000 by the end of the 1980s.

But the illicit trade in Asia is fuelled by demand for ivory carvings and jewellery.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heated debate ahead as Senate flies solo

HEATED debates on illegal logging, carbon tax, dental health and asylum seekers are expected as the Senate flies solo next week.

Thirty bills, 29 from the government, nine of which are non-controversial, and one private member's bill from the Greens are on the agenda.

On Monday the upper house will consider two bills that request appropriation of the money needed to implement the recommendations of the Houston expert panel on asylum seekers.

It comes at a cost of $1.67 billion in 2012/13 and includes $267 million to build regional asylum seeker processing centres in Nauru and Manus Island.

What is needed is $668 million to bring the Nauru and Manus Island processing centres up to scratch.

The Australian Greens, who oppose offshore processing, are likely to prolong debate and draw attention to reports of mass hunger strikes among detainees on Nauru, reminiscent of self-harm incidents during the Howard government era.

Draft laws that introduce a crackdown on illegal logging in Australia and overseas will also draw the ire of the Greens and opposition on Monday.

The bill bans the importation and sale of any wooden products that contain illegally logged timber.

The opposition believes the plan will damage international relations and wants the start date pushed back. The Greens are expected to introduce amendments to strengthen the bill further.

On Wednesday, the Senate will turn its attention to a package of bills that ditches the carbon floor price and links Australia's emissions trading scheme to the price in Europe.

The changes are expected to sail through the Senate with the Green's support, however the opposition may drag out proceedings.

Debate on the federal government's new $4 billion dental scheme could also prove noisy.

The opposition will support the bill but is upset the government is winding up the chronic disease dental scheme, which was the brainchild of Tony Abbott when he was health minister.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Accused Sydney killer faces third trial

A SYDNEY jury has been told they must not draw any "adverse inference" from the fact a man accused of killing his gay lover is facing a third trial.

Philip Wan Por Leung, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of 72-year-old Mario Guzzetti, who died at the home they shared at Alexandria, in inner Sydney, on April 7, 2007.

Paramedics found Mr Guzzetti lying on his back at the base of a staircase, with a hysterical Leung cradling a pillow under his partner's head and rocking him from side to side.

The crown alleges the couple argued while Leung was making carrot juice, resulting in Leung striking Mr Guzzetti and applying pressure to his neck area.

In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Derek Price told the jury they had "heard there have been two previous trials".

"Due to matters of law, the accused is standing trial. You must not draw any inference adverse to the accused from that fact," he said.

Earlier, Leung broke down sobbing during evidence being given by Josephine DiFrancesca, a friend of him and Mr Guzzetti.

Ms DiFrancesca was questioned about a phone call she made to Leung on the morning of Mr Guzzetti's death.

"Did you hear Philip crying over the phone?" crown prosecutor Mark Hobart SC asked.

"Yes," she said, adding that she assumed something was wrong and called her husband to go to the house and check on the couple.

She said her husband found Leung holding Mr Guzzetti and told his daughter to call an ambulance.

Fiona Cunney, who lived next door, told the court she heard noises about an hour before paramedics arrived.

She said she heard "crushing sounds", like a shelf with pots and pans falling, and what she believed was Mr Guzzetti "singing opera" for about 10 seconds and then silence.

Leung later started crying "like a baby", Ms Cunney said, but she decided not to call police because she "didn't want to get involved".

Defence barrister Winston Terracini SC questioned her evidence, alleging Ms Cunney did not like Leung and had had prior arguments with him over renovation works.

Friend Raymond Carter said he was called to the police station where Leung was being held but could barely understand him.

He told the court Leung repeatedly screamed, "Mario is not dead," before saying he and Mr Guzzetti had argued while he was making carrot juice.

"Mario kept at me," Leung allegedly said.

Mr Carter, a former boyfriend of Leung's, added that he'd never witnessed any violence between the "loving and caring" couple but had heard of occasional arguments.

He said Leung was "stubborn" and "not a very diplomatic person" but never violent.

"He'd walk away, slam the door and it'd be a day or two before you'd see him," he told the court.

The trial before Justice Price continues.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baby had suspicious injuries: NSW inquest

THE mother of an eight-month-old baby girl who sustained "highly suspicious" and "traumatic" injuries while in the care of her nanny has wept during a Sydney inquest, telling the coroner she just wants to know what happened.

Melissa Pagett told Glebe Coroners Court on Thursday her daughter Emily was a "very happy little baby" who completed their family.

Emily was found dead on the morning of October 25, 2004, in her home 20km north of the tiny community of Enngonia in the northwestern NSW.

She was found with multiple broken ribs and a haemorrhage to her neck but an exact cause of death has not been established.

She and her two siblings had been left in the care of their nanny, Shiralee Robinson, for three days prior to her death while her parents attended a wedding in Mudgee.

Several family members cried in court on Thursday as a video of Emily's short life was played, including footage of her as a newborn, having a bath and snuggling with her dad.

"I'd just like to know what happened," Ms Pagett said through her tears.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Mark Cahill, said the inquest had heard evidence that the bruising to Emily's neck and the rib fractures were "suggestive of an assault ... imposed by a third party".

He referred to evidence given by two experts, paediatrician Dr Paul Tait and forensic pathologist Professor Roger Byard, who agreed the pattern of the injuries was "very unusual".

"Both Professor Byard and Dr Tait expressed the view that the injuries are highly suspicious," Mr Cahill said.

The injuries also appeared to be more consistent with the level of force used by an adult, he added.

"Given the nature and constellation of the injuries and given their traumatic nature, there is a suggestion, but it's no more than a suggestion, that death was associated in some way with the inflicting of these injuries," he said.

However, Mr Cahill said this was "a possibility and nothing more".

The inquest heard Ms Robinson told police she put Emily to bed with a fresh nappy around 6pm the night before she died, and found her cold and not breathing around 8am the following morning.

Emily's nappy was clean and she appeared to have been dead for some time before emergency services arrived at the scene.

"The only persons who had access to Emily were Ms Robinson and (Emily's siblings)," Mr Cahill said.

Ms Robinson had no history of violence, abuse or neglect involving the care of infants and she had been well liked by the family, the inquest heard.

Deputy State Coroner Sharon Freund will deliver her findings on Friday.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toyota recalls 2.77 million vehicles

Toyota has recalled 2.77 million vehicles worldwide over steering shaft and water pump defects. Source: AAP

TOYOTA Motor Corp says it's recalling 2.77 million vehicles across the world for a steering shaft defect that may result in faulty steering and a water pump problem.

Japan's top carmaker said no accidents have been reported related to these two problems announced Wednesday.

The steering issue could cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle, while the water pump problem could render it inoperable.

Some 1.51 million vehicles are being recalled for the steering defect in Japan and 1.25 million vehicles abroad, including 670,000 in the US.

Affected models include the Prius hybrid, Corolla, Wish and other models produced in Japan from 2000 to last year, and from 2000 to 2009 overseas.

Toyota is also recalling 630,000 vehicles spanning five hybrid models, including the Prius, for a defective water pump.

Last month, Toyota had a recall for faulty power-window switches.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Software mogul in hiding after murder

Software mogul John McAfee says he fears for his life if he hands himself in to Belize police. Source: AAP

ANTI-VIRUS software pioneer John McAfee says he is moving every four hours to avoid Belizean police who want to question him about the murder of his neighbour, a fellow American.

Belizean police said they want to question McAfee, 67, about the murder of Florida native Gregory Faull, who was found dead in a pool of blood at his home by his housekeeper on Sunday.

McAfee, founder of the eponymous anti-virus company, told CNBC television that he had been "accused of something I didn't do".

He said he was staying on the move out of fear for his own safety, worried that police want to "shake him down" and extort money from him.

A police report said that Faull, 52, was shot in the back of the head. There were no signs of a break-in, and a laptop and mobile phone were missing.

"We are looking for McAfee to interrogate him," police spokesman Raphael Martinez said. He emphasised that McAfee was "not suspected of murder".

Martinez added that the three people who worked for McAfee were being interrogated.

Police raided McAfee's mansion on Ambergris Caye, an island off the northeastern coast of Belize, late on Sunday to question the millionaire about the murder.

Earlier in the year, police searched McAfee's mansion looking for weapons and drugs, and detained him for several hours. The software millionaire, however, claimed he was arrested because he refused to make a donation to a local politician's campaign.

McAfee, who made millions when he sold his anti-virus software company in the early 1990s, has been living in Belize for the past four years.

Wired Magazine said McAfee had been hiding on his property during the police raid, burying himself in the sand with a cardboard box over his head so he could breathe.

"It was extraordinarily uncomfortable," McAfee told the magazine. "But they will kill me if they find me."

Asked about the shooting of his neighbour, McAfee said he knew "nothing" other than he had been shot. He even said he was worried that Faull's killers had actually been looking for him.

"Under no circumstances am I going to willingly talk to the police in this country," McAfee added.

"You can say I'm paranoid about it but they will kill me, there is no question. They've been trying to get me for months. They want to silence me. I am not well liked by the prime minister. I am just a thorn in everybody's side."

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

US official 'misrepresented' on budget

DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith says a US official is aggrieved about being deeply misrepresented when newspapers quoted him as saying the US was concerned about Australian defence budget cuts.

Mr Smith said the suggestion that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta were coming to Australia to express concerns about Australian defence spending was nonsense.

He said talks at the Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations in Perth on Wednesday were likely to be entirely consistent with other talks with Mr Panetta before and after the budget.

"It's quite straight forward. We are all under financial pressure when it comes to defence budgets," he told reporters.

Mr Smith said Mr Panetta was managing cuts from the US defence spending of half a trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

If the so-called "fiscal cliff" confronting the US was not resolved, Mr Panetta would have to manage a $1.2 trillion reduction over the same period.

In the May budget, a total of $5.5 billion was pared from the defence budget over the next four years.

Last week Fairfax newspapers reported US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, as saying the US was concerned and that would be raised at AUSMIN.

But Mr Smith said Mr Campbell had expressed concern about how he had been reported to Australia's ambassador to the US, Kim Beazley.

"Ambassador Beazley told me that the first thing that Assistant Secretary Campbell did was to tell Ambassador Beazley how aggrieved he was that he had been grievously misrepresented in the papers over the weekend," he said.

"I think that puts it in its appropriate context."

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Taser use by Qld police improving: report

A NEW report from Queensland's crime watchdog has found improvements in police use of Tasers but says some worrying practices persist.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) report found a decrease in the number of times police used Tasers, compared with last year.

There were declines both in instances of probe electrodes fired at the body and the use of "drive stun" mode, in which Tasers are held against the skin.

The CMC also found the number of people tasered despite being suspected of having a physical health condition has decreased slightly.

But the report said Taser use on indigenous people was of particular concern as they were more likely to suffer heart attacks and lung disease, placing them at greater risk of harm.

Indigenous people comprised 22.6 per cent of all people tasered, though they account for only 3.5 per cent of the Queensland population.

The frequency of multiple prolonged taser shocks on a single person had decreased considerably since the death of Antonio Galeano, 39, in June 2009, the CMC said.

Mr Galeano died on the floor of a home in Brandon, north Queensland, after he was tasered repeatedly when police were called to a disturbance at his girlfriend's house.

Senior Constable Craig Myles has admitted tasering Mr Galeano eight times in an attempt to subdue him, although the Taser he used registered 28 applications of 50,000 volts.

A Queensland police and CMC review recommended 27 changes to Taser policy and practices, 24 of which have been implemented.

The findings of an inquest into Mr Galeano's death will be handed down on Wednesday.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man charged over home invasion slashing

POLICE have laid more charges against a Brisbane man over a savage home invasion last month, in which an elderly woman's face was slashed open.

The 72-year-old woman disturbed a burglar after he climbed through a window of her Manly home on October 28, police say.

Her face was slashed in the attack and she was taken to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious lacerations.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Dugger from Wynnum CIB says the woman's physical injuries are healing but the attack has had a devastating impact.

"As you can imagine she and her family are quite traumatised," he told reporters.

Police have charged a 33-year-old Banyo man with grievous bodily harm, wounding, and break and enter.

He is due to appear in the Wynnum Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Oil Search PNG gas project costs blow out

The cost of a liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea has increased to $A18.34 billion. Source: AAP

OIL Search insists it will meet its funding share of the massive Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas (PNG LNG) after costs blew out by 21 per cent to $US19 billion ($A18.34 billion).

Oil Search managing director Peter Botten said he would be chasing further information from operator Exxon Mobil about the levels of foreign exchange exposure carried by the project.

It was not currently particularly transparent, he told an analysts' briefing.

The biggest share of the $US3.3 billion ($A3.18 billion) blowout was blamed on foreign exchange costs of $US1.4 billion ($A1.35 billion), including a high Australian dollar and PNG kina.

Delays from work stoppages by unhappy workers and land-access issues had added $US1.2 billion ($A1.16 billion.) Building and drilling costs, and adverse weather caused a $US700 million ($A676.43 million) hike.

The bad news was announced by project operator Exxon Mobil Corporation, which owns 33 per cent of the project compared to Oil Search's 29 per cent stake.

The project is Oil Search's most important - and the largest resources project in PNG.

Mr Botten said it was a difficult and disappointing day.

Oil Search still owed $US740 million ($A715.08 million) in equity share costs through to the end of 2014, including an additional $US300 million ($A289.90 million) in equity following Monday's statement .

"There is capacity we believe to cover this ... the indications from the operator and our initial discussion with the banks is that the capacity is there," Mr Botten told an analysts' briefing, adding that a re-financing of funds was due in 2013.

Exxon Mobil appeared to have assumed levels of productivity based on past results, when estimating project costs.

"I believe $US19 billion as presented to us - subject to further review - is a reasonably conservative number which should take us through to first sales with contingencies covering ongoing issues," Mr Botten said.

"The extent of the change is considerably beyond the upper end of what might have been expected from cash drawdowns and project progress to date."

There have been previous foreign exchange effects, bringing the total cost increases so far to $US2.1 billion ($A2.03 billion).

Santos, Japan's JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration, a unit of JX Holdings, and the Papua New Guinea government are also stakeholders in the project.

Santos expects to contribute an additional $US130 million ($A125.62 million) in equity.

Shares in Oil Search fell 25 cents to $7.11, while Santos dropped 25 cents to $11.02.

Mr Botten and Santos chief financial officer Andrew Seaton each said the PNG LNG project remained a "highly robust economic project".

The project is 70 per cent complete and remains on track for first production in 2014.

The project capacity had increased from 6.6 million tonnes a year to 6.9 million tonnes, Exxon Mobil said.

The project could double PNG's gross domestic product but is opposed by many landowners near its proposed pipeline, delaying progress and requiring security.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More