Syrian opposition still unsure on talks

THE question of whether Syrian opposition representatives will participate in the upcoming Geneva II peace conference was set to dominate a second day of talks in Turkey.

"There are differences we cannot hide, as most of the participants want guarantees that the current regime will not have any role in (a) future Syria," opposition member Salem al-Mousalet said on Saturday.

The international meeting in Switzerland, due to start on Wednesday, will seek to negotiate an end to the nearly three-year-old Syrian conflict by clearing the way towards a transitional government.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition has repeatedly said the peace conference should lead to a transitional government with no future role for President Bashar al-Assad and his family.

Assad's government has rejected this demand.

A source inside the meeting, at a secret location on the outskirts of Istanbul, said there were "heated debates" on Friday about the number of delegates who would participate in the conference.

The delegation might include around 15 members, who will represent all parties in the National Coalition, he added.

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

EU advice sought on Kit Kat ruling

An EU advice has been sought on whether the shape of a Kit Kat should be registered as a trademark. Source: AAP

A UK judge deliberating on a legal dispute relating to the shape of a Kit Kat has decided to have a break - and wait for a decision from a European court.

Justice Richard Arnold is analysing a High Court argument between confectionery giants Nestle - which sells Kit Kat bars - and Cadbury.

Nestle wants to register the three-dimensional shape of a Kit Kat as a trademark. Cadbury has objected.

The judge heard legal argument from both sides at a hearing in London in December - and outlined his thoughts in a published ruling.

He said aspects of European trademark law were "unclear". And he said he would seek clarification from the Court of Justice in the European Union.

"Certain aspects of the relevant law remain unclear," said Justice Arnold.

"I have decided it is necessary to seek clarification of the law from the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to determine the (dispute)."

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen's granddaughter gives birth to girl

QUEEN Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips has given birth to a girl, Buckingham Palace says.

Zara gave birth at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital to her first child, which weighed 7lbs 12oz.

The father, Mike Tindall, a former England rugby star, was present at the birth of his daughter, who is 16th in line to the throne.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike's parents, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news.

"The baby's name will be confirmed in due course."

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Another Australian killed in Syria: report

THE federal government is working to confirm reports that another Australian has been killed in Syria.

"We are aware of unconfirmed reports of an Australian death in Syria," A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

"As a matter of course, whenever contacted by next of kin in relation to a reported death of an Australian overseas, the department follows up."

DFAT says it would welcome any further information the media is able to provide.

The reports come just days after a Sydney woman Amira Ali and her husband Yusuf Ali were killed in the war-torn country.

At least seven Australians have died in fighting in the country since the civil war began in 2011.

DFAT is reminding Australians that it does not have an embassy in Syria so its capacity to deliver consular help is "extremely limited".

It continues to advise Australians in Syria to leave.

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Suntory buys spirits maker Beam for $13bn

BEAM, the maker of Jim Beam and Marker's Mark alcohol brands, has agreed to be acquired by Japan's Suntory Holdings Ltd. for approximately $US13.62 billion ($A15.18 billion).

You have reached your daily Guest Access
limit of 2^* FREE ARTICLES.

^*Subject to change

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syrian mortar attack kills at least 19

A mortar attack has killed at least 19 people in the central Syrian city of Homs. Source: AAP

A MORTAR attack has killed at least 19 people in the central Syrian city of Homs.

The official SANA news agency said late on Sunday mortar rounds slammed into the pro-government Ghouta and Karm al-Shami neighbourhoods of Homs.

It blamed "terrorists" for the attack, employing the term the government uses to describe those trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rebels often lob mortar rounds into pro-government neighbourhoods of cities and towns, while the president's forces indiscriminately strike rebel-held areas with artillery, air strikes and surface-to-surface missiles.

Syria's civil war has killed more than 120,000 since the crisis began in March 2011.

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic man charged after triple fatality

A MAN has been charged following the deaths of three people, including a pedestrian, hit by a car in Melbourne on Sunday night.

Nei Lima DaCosta, 29, of Richmond, has been charged with three counts of culpable driving, three of negligently causing serious injury and one of reckless conduct endangering life.

Police say a 45-year-old man was crossing Dandenong Road in Oakleigh with his wife when he was fatally hit by a white Kia hatchback about 11.40pm (AEDT). He died at the scene.

The hatchback then collided with a silver Ford sedan, killing husband and wife passengers and leaving the car's driver in critical condition.

DaCosta was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries following the crash.

Police questioned and charged him after he was released from hospital on Monday.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Homicide rate drops again in Puerto Rico

There were 883 cases of homicide in Puerto Rico last year compared with 1004 in 2012. Source: AAP

PUERTO Rico closed 2013 with 883 homicides, a figure 12.1 per cent lower than in 2012 and the second straight annual decrease since 2011, when the Caribbean island experienced its bloodiest year in recent history.

That is confirmed by data on type-1 crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, physical abuse) published this week by the Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico.

According to the figures, there were 883 cases of homicide, compared with 1004 in 2012 and 1136 in 2011, the highest number on the island since 1940.

Aside from crimes of that type, the numbers of other kinds of offences declined last year. There were 26 rapes (down 18.8 per cent), 6016 robberies (down 4.4 per cent), 2395 cases of physical abuse (down 12 per cent), 29,360 cases of theft and embezzlement (down 3.9 per cent) and 5530 vehicles stolen (down 5.4 per cent).

All varieties of type-1 crimes showed declines compared with the previous year, something Puerto Rico Police Superintendent James Tuller Cintron says is a result of "the daily commitment of our forces".

"These statistics reflect the work being done by police every day to improve the quality of life in Puerto Rico," he said in a statement.

"(But) these results are insufficient and tell us not to be satisfied and to work harder."

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

WA bike rider dead after police pursuit

A motorcyclist has died after being chased by police for failing to stop for a roadside breath test. Source: AAP

A MOTORCYCLIST has died after a brief police pursuit in suburban Perth.

WA Police's major crash squad and internal affairs are investigating Saturday's fatal crash in Hillarys, north of Perth.

A police spokesman said a man on a Ducati motorcycle approached a booze bus on West Coast Drive about 8.40pm (WST) but failed to stop for a breath test.

In the ensuing pursuit, the motorcyclist sped onto nearby Hepburn Avenue, where he slammed into a BMW being driven in the opposite direction.

The 28-year-old rider from Beldon was seriously injured and died at the scene.

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More