Coal collapses at Indian mine kills seven

AN official says at least seven villagers were killed and five others injured when a heap of coal collapsed on them at a coal mine in eastern India.

Dikken Mehra, a spokesman for state-owned Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd, says the villagers trespassed into the mine on Saturday to steal coal in order to sell it, a common occurrence at coal mines in India.

Mehra says that about half a dozen villagers are feared to be trapped in the debris and that rescue work is continuing.

The coal mine is about 650 kilometres west of Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa state.

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Abbott praises US for its race relations

THE US has bested Australia in overcoming historical racism by putting Barack Obama in the White House, Tony Abbott says.

The opposition leader came straight from the Top End, where he'd flagged a more engaged relationship with indigenous Australians and underscored his belief in constitutional recognition of Australia's first peoples, to address a diplomatic function in Sydney on Saturday night.

Mr Abbott told the Australian American Leadership Dialogue gala dinner that, like the US, Australia had tried to live by the ethos of treating others as they would be treated, but had not always succeeded.

"For all the difficult history ... you have got this so much more right than we have over the years," he said.

"Whatever I might think of the politics of President Obama, the fact that America elected him five years or so back is proof positive that in that great democracy, in that shining city on a hill, the content of a man's character counts for far more than the colour of his skin."

The night offered a breath of bipartisanship after six days of election campaigning, with former Labor leader Kim Beazley, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare and Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr sharing a stage - and a couple of hugs - with shadow immigration minister Scott Morrison and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop.

"I'm happy to give (Mr Clare) a hug because if you ask the Daily Telegraph, he's the third most sexy man in Australian politics," Mr Morrison joked.

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Obama denies bad relationship with Putin

PRESIDENT Barack Obama denies having a bad relationship with Vladimir Putin, even though he said the Russian leader can appear to have a "slouch" and sometimes looks "like the bored kid in the back of the classroom."

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Tokyo investors eye Japan, US data

TOKYO investors will be eyeing Japanese and US economic data next week, but trading is expected to be thin with many dealers off for a national holiday.

US economic figures including retail sales and industrial output are due out as markets look for clues as to when the US Federal Reserve will start rolling back its huge stimulus drive.

The Fed has said any pull back from its quantitative easing scheme rested on evidence of a solid recovery in the world's largest economy.

"If it is confirmed that the US economy is keeping in good shape, that would support the (Tokyo) market," Nomura Securities said in a client note.

Eurozone GDP figures will also be in focus while, closer to home, second-quarter economic growth figures for Japan will be eyed as Tokyo mulls a series of sales tax hikes aimed at chopping its mounting public debt, already the worst in the industrialised world.

There are fears that a drive to stimulate the world's third-largest economy could be cut short by raising taxes.

In the week to August 9, Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 5.88 per cent, or 850.97 points, to 13,615.19.

The Topix index of all first-section shares lost 4.62 per cent, or 55.26 points, to 1,140.91.

The tumble was largely due to a 4.0 per cent drop in the Nikkei on Wednesday as selling pressure soared because of a stronger yen and after Wall Street fell sharply.

On Friday, Tokyo stocks ended flat after zigzagging in and out of positive territory, with market heavyweight Nikon diving after a big drop in the camera giant's quarterly profit.

"The market remains in the summer doldrums," said SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi Nishi.

Next week, many traders will be off for national holidays.

"The markets could see some renewed buffeting if trading volume drops off even more than we have seen in recent weeks," said an equity derivatives trader at a foreign brokerage.

On Friday, Nikon dropped 14.29 per cent to Y1,726 after saying on Thursday its net profit fell 72 per cent in the April-June quarter as digital camera sales slumped, while slashing its sales and profit outlook for the fiscal year to March.

Toyota rose 0.16 per cent to Y6,170, Sony gained 0.83 per cent to Y1,943 while Sharp was down 0.74 per cent to Y401.

In Tokyo afternoon trading, the US dollar was nearly flat at Y96.66 from Y96.64 in New York on Thursday.

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European stocks mixed before weekend

EUROPEAN stock markets have traded mixed and the euro retreated from seven-week highs against the US dollar as traders banked profits ahead of the weekend pause.

London's FTSE 100 index on Friday gained 0.26 per cent to 6,546.46 points following strong British export data and approaching midday in the British capital.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 fell 0.16 per cent to 8,305.24 points and the CAC 40 index in Paris dipped 0.13 per cent to 4,059.15.

"Markets have hit a lull ... (amid) holiday mode after a busy two weeks dominated by economic figures and news from all the major policy decision makers," said Toby Morris, senior sales trader at CMC Markets, in reference to action being taken by global central banks.

On Friday, the world's second-biggest economy China reported industrial growth for July reached a five-month high.

Industrial production, which measures output at factories, workshops and mines, rose 9.7 per cent year-on-year, well above analyst expectations.

Authorities also announced steady expansion in retail sales and fixed asset investment, and a benign inflation figure of 2.7 per cent, unchanged on last month.

Analysts said the figures pointed to a more stable outlook for China's economy - seen as a key driver of global growth - after months of mounting pessimism.

The data came as Britain's biggest retailer, supermarket chain Tesco, said on Friday that it is in exclusive talks over combining its Chinese operations with those of China Resources Enterprise.

Tesco said the move was in line with the group's strategy of seeking to profit from fast-growing economies, and comes as China seeks to balance export growth with domestic consumption.

Tesco - the world's third-biggest supermarket group after French rival Carrefour and US retailer Wal-Mart in first place - said the proposed joint venture would create a business with annual sales of about STG10 billion ($A17.18 billion).

Shares in Tesco rose 0.87 per cent to stand at 372.3 pence in London morning deals.

Shares in Dutch telecom group KPN leapt by 18.0 per cent in response to a bid for full control by Mexican group America Movil.

The euro edged up to $US1.3383 from $US1.3380 in New York late on Thursday.

The US dollar nudged higher to Y96.68 from Y96.65 on Thursday.

On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold rose to $US1,306.61 an ounce from $US1,298.25 on Thursday.

Asian stock markets closed out the week mixed, while on Wall Street overnight US stocks snapped a three-day losing streak.

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FBI helps Kenya police probe airport blaze

Live: Friday night NRL

IT'S a big night of NRL action with two games that are likely to have a bearing on two ends of the table. Follow the action with our Match Centres!

Twitter 'embarrassingly behind' on rape threats

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How billionaires spend their bucks

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US man on shooting rampage kills four

US authorities say a grenade-wielding man on a shooting rampage in Dallas and DeSoto, Texas, has killed four people and wounded four others.

The suspect has been identified as Erbie Bowser, 44, but the names of the victims have not been released. Authorities say it appears he was trying to kill a former girlfriend. It is believed she is among the victims.

Officials say Bowser's rampage began about 10.30pm on Wednesday (1330 AEST Thursday) in Dallas at a home in Long Canyon Trail. He killed two people and wounded two others there, police said.

Bowser then went to a home in the Galleria Drive, in DeSoto, where he threw a hand grenade into the living room before shooting and killing two women, police said. He also wounded two children.

When DeSoto officers arrived, Bowser pretended to be among the victims. But officers quickly determined he was their suspect and took him into custody. Officers also confiscated a pocket knife from him.

Authorities say Bowser has tattoos indicating he may have been an Army Ranger. He has been arrested previously for violating a protective order and evading arrest.

A three-year-old child in the DeSoto home appeared to be unhurt and was turned over to Child Protective Services, police said.

As events were unfolding in DeSoto, Dallas police had received a tip about the suspect's identity. They found out about the DeSoto residence while checking past addresses and were on their way there when they heard about the incident at the home, police said.

There were reports that some of the wounded were in critical condition. Before some relatives left the scene in Dallas to check on the hospitalised victims, they gathered with dozens of friends in the parking lot of Charles Acton Elementary School to pray.

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Syria denies Assad motorcade attacked

SYRIAN authorities have denied media reports of an attack on President Bashar al-Assad's motorcade as he was on his way to a mosque, which rebel groups say they had carried out with rockets and mortars.

Several media outlets, including Saudi-based Al-Arabiya satellite channel, had reported on Thursday that a rocket attack targeted Assad's motorcade as he travelled to the Anas bin Malik mosque in central Damascus to join the prayers marking the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday.

"Regarding the information reported by Al-Arabiya, I can assure you that it is completely false," Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi told state television.

"The president arrived at the mosque driving his own car, he attended the prayer and greeted everyone in the mosque as he does every day when he meets people," Zohbi added.

The minister slammed reports of the attack on the motorcade as a "projection of the dreams and illusions of certain media and the governments behind them," adding that they were a "joke".

"Everything is normal," Zohbi added. "They wanted to spoil the celebrations for Syrians."

Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia is a strong supporter of the Sunni-led rebels seeking to oust Assad, a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog could not confirm the reported rocket attack but said mortar shells early Thursday hit the Malki area in central Damascus, near to where Assad was attending prayers.

The NGO did not report any casualties or victims in the shelling, which however indicated that rebels seeking to topple Assad are able to launch attacks despite relentless attempts by regime forces to clear the capital of insurgents.

Two rebel groups Liwa al-Islam and Liwa Tahrir al-Sham, meanwhile, separately claimed to have attacked the president's convoy.

"Liwa al-Islam's fighters used rockets to target Bashar al-Assad's motorcade near the Anas bin Malik mosque in the Malki area," the group said via Facebook.

An activist close to the group told the AFP Beirut bureau that the Islamist rebel brigade is one of the most active around the capital.

Another group, Liwa Tahrir al-Sham, also claimed the attack.

"We targeted Bashar al-Assad's motorcade using 17 120mm mortar shells, and we have confirmed that the motorcade was hit," the group said, also via Facebook.

Shortly after the reports emerged, Assad appeared in footage shown by state television sitting on the ground next to other dignitaries, looking relaxed and smiling during the morning prayer.

"Oh God, grant President Assad success, for the good of the country," Ahmed al-Jazairi, imam of the mosque said at the end of the prayer.

The Syrian president has rarely appeared in public since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. On August 1, he travelled to Daraya, a former rebel stronghold near Damascus, saying he was confident of "victory" against the rebels in a rare journey outside the capital.

On Sunday, Assad said that the only way to stamp out the uprising against him was "by striking it with an iron fist".

More than 100,000 people have died in Syria since the beginning of the country's bloody civil war in March 2011, sparked by the government's repression of demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.

The government has repeatedly blamed the violence in Syria on foreign-backed "terrorist" groups.

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Bomb kills 14 in Afghan graveyard on Eid

A BOMB has killed 14 women and children at a graveyard in eastern Afghanistan as the country celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, officials say.

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European stocks push higher

EUROPE'S main stock markets have mostly risen as traders responded to positive economic data and the latter stages of the current earnings season.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares dipped 0.02 per cent to 6,618.46 points approaching midday on Tuesday, as heavyweight miners retreated in value, offsetting news of a strong rebound for British manufacturing.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 advanced 0.30 per cent to 8,423.63 points after official data showed that German industrial orders had risen by 3.8 per cent in June.

The CAC 40 in Paris climbed 0.17 per cent to 4,056.86 points.

"After a decent run up in recent weeks, blue-chip mining stocks have cooled as lower metals prices take the steam out of the rally," said Matt Basi, head of UK sales trading at CMC Markets.

The euro climbed to $US1.3278 from $US1.3255 late in New York on Monday.

The US dollar edged up to 98.25 yen from 98.22 yen.

Sterling was steady against the European single currency, while it jumped to $US1.5376 from $US1.5352 on Monday.

Britain's manufacturing output rebounded with a bang in June, official data showed on Tuesday, providing further evidence of the country's broad-based economic recovery.

Output jumped 1.9 per cent in June from May, when it had fallen by 0.7 per cent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

Traders also digested further earnings updates, which along with improving European and US economic data, have helped to lift stock markets over the past month.

The DAX and CAC indices have each rallied by about 8.0 per cent in value since the start of July.

On Tuesday, shares in InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) jumped 3.0 per cent to 1,966 pence after the company announced a 25 per cent increase in first-half net profits thanks to a strong showing by its US operations.

Profit after tax jumped to $US340 million ($A381.98 million) in the six months to the end of June compared with net earnings of $US271 million in the first half of 2012, said the company that owns the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotel chains.

IHG added that it would pay shareholders a special dividend totalling $US350 million.

Asian stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday as investor concerns lingered over a potential tapering of US monetary stimulus, analysts said.

Hong Kong was dragged lower by a near five-per cent tumble for the share price of heavyweight HSBC Holdings.

On Monday, the banking giant announced a 22-per cent rise in half-year net profit on lower costs and falling bad-debt charges, slightly below analysts' estimates.

It warned that slower Chinese growth was affecting its main market Asia.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, the price of gold slipped to $US1,293.12 an ounce on the London Bullion Market from $US1,304.75 on Monday.

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Downer EDI wins NBN contract

Downer EDI has won a contract to roll out the NBN to 300,000 premises across Melbourne and Brisbane. Source: AAP

ENGINEERING company Downer EDI has been contracted to roll out the national broadband network (NBN) to properties in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Downer EDI has won contracts with NBN Co to deliver fibre optic broadband to 300,000 premises across the two cities, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Under the contracts, which will see up to 500 people employed, Downer will design and construct the local distribution network that runs fibre from a communications exchange through each street in a coverage area.

Downer already has contracts to roll out the network in northern New South Wales and to connect multi-dwelling units, such as blocks of flats, to the NBN in Victoria and NSW.

Meanwhile, NBN contractor Syntheo will pull out of work on the network early next year.

Syntheo, a joint venture between developer Lend Lease and communications company Service Stream, would complete work on existing contracts in Western Australia and South Australia, the company said in a statement.

But, it said, there'd be no further work beyond the completion of those contracts.

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UK singer Harvey backs Guantanamo detainee

• by: Jennifer Cockerell
• From: AAP
• August 05, 2013 10:33PM

PJ Harvey has recorded a song in support of the last remaining British resident at Guantanamo Bay.

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No schools deal between Qld, fed govts

The Queensland and federal governments have failed to strike a deal on funding for schools. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND'S hopes of getting billions of dollars in Commonwealth funding for schools appear to have dissolved along with federal parliament as the government goes into caretaker mode.

Both governments failed to strike a deal on education reforms by the deadline of 5.30pm (AEST) on Monday, when the House of Representatives was dissolved ahead of the September 7 election.

Earlier in the day both governments traded blows, each blaming the other for the inability to reach a deal.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the federal government's offer wasn't as generous as the agreement reached with Victoria over the weekend.

But his federal counterpart Bill Shorten said the Victorian government had been prepared to stump up extra money, while Queensland wasn't.

"The Victorian government's offer to us means that the Queensland government had to find an extra $1.3 billion ... and they're not willing to do it. It's a hoax," he said.

However by Monday afternoon it appeared the figure had risen by more than one billion, when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd accused the Queensland government of stalling.

He said Queensland would have to stump up $2.5 billion if it wanted to sign up under the same arrangement as Victoria.

"Given there's been months and months and months of negotiations with Mr Newman's Liberal National Party government in Queensland, why is it left to the last day?," he told reporters in Canberra.

Under the reforms, Queensland would receive $2.48 billion in additional funding over 2014-19.

Mr Langbroek said Canberra was asking the state to increase its indexation by three per cent, to Victoria's 1.3 per cent.

"Queensland is willing to sign up today, as long as we get exactly the same deal," Mr Langbroek said.

He accused the federal government of election point-scoring.

Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine hailed his state's education reforms deal as a great outcome and one which put the state in a "win win" position.

However Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the deal came at the expense of the education maintenance allowance, which helped the state's lowest-income families with school expenses.

And NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he's getting advice on whether his schools deal with the federal government needs improving after the one done with Victoria.

He dismissed suggestions Victoria had wrangled a better deal and said NSW's agreement had a "no-disadvantage" clause.

"No deal can be done with any other state or territory that gives them a bigger benefit than exists in NSW," he said.

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Russia slams flag desecration by US band

RUSSIA'S interior ministry has launched a criminal probe into flag desecration after a US rock musician stuffed a Russian flag down his trousers at a concert.

The band Bloodhound Gang scandalised Russia when a video was released showing its bassist, Jared Hasselhoff, stuffing the white-blue-and-red tricolour down his trousers and then throwing it into the crowd at a concert last week in Odessa, Ukraine.

The interior ministry said in a statement on Monday that it had opened a criminal case "after looking into actions that demonstrated disrespect to the Russian state flag by a musician from a foreign band".

According to Russian law, desecration of the national flag could lead to a jail sentence of up to one year.

Russia's Investigative Committee, a powerful agency that is an equivalent of the US FBI, said in a statement earlier on Monday that it was examining the incident.

It condemned "the cynicism of the said crime, which expressed clear disrespect for the Russian state.

"The investigation will evaluate everyone connected with this crime, from the actual perpetrators to its organisers," the Investigative Committee said, adding that it would send inquiries shortly to the US and Ukraine.

The band members were turned away from a festival where they were due to play in southern Russia on Saturday and flew out of the country after being told to pack their bags by the culture minister and having their visas cut short by the migration services.

Before they abruptly left Russia, the group apologised by saying at a news conference that it was a tradition that everything thrown from the stage to fans "takes a trip through the pants".

The video of the concert shows Hasselhoff telling the crowd: "Don't tell Putin," before pushing the flag into his unzipped trousers and pulling it out the back to jeers and cheers from the crowd.

As they flew out, the band members were egged by pro-Kremlin youth activists and assaulted by Cossacks, an ultra-conservative group.

Pro-Kremlin MPs called for them to be banned from Russia for life and said that the Russian organisers of their concert should face consequences.

Top ruling party official Sergei Neverov compared the rock band to US pop star Madonna, who criticised a law against "homosexual propaganda" to minors at her concert in Saint Petersburg last year. He said the musicians were "links in a single chain" and acting on someone's orders.

The US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul late on Sunday said on his Twitter account: "I find the action by Bloodhound Gang disgusting. I also condemn the violence against them."

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