Sydney business up in flames again

A Sydney fruit warehouse has gone up in flames in a suspected arson attack. Source: AAP

A FRUIT shop in Sydney's southwest has been gutted by fire for the second time in just more than a month.

CASULA Fruit Land was due to reopen this month after a suspicious fire damaged the business in late April.

However, the business's reopening date looks doubtful after another blaze gutted the fruit and vegetable shop on Saturday morning.Firefighters were called to the warehouse on the Hume Highway just before 6am.NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Tom Cooper said the store was severely damaged but crews stopped the fire spreading to neighbouring businesses in the shopping complex.Police Inspector Paul Smith said a car was smashed through the front door to gain entry to the shop before it went up in flames.He said police were investigating any potential links with Saturday's fire and the blaze in April.

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Twin Vic house fire deliberate: crews

TWO neighbouring homes have gone up in flames in a suspicious fire in inner Melbourne.

A WOMAN was the only resident present when the blaze ignited just after 3.30pm on Saturday and was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

MFB commander Rick Gili said damage to the adjoining homes in Highett Street, Richmond, was estimated at up to $800,000."It appears it's deliberate," he told AAP.Both houses are uninhabitable and other accommodation is being arranged for the residents.

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Fatal blast in Syrian town by Iraq border

A STRONG explosion in a town market in Syria near the border with Iraq has killed a number of people, Syrian state media and activists report.

SYRIAN state TV said Saturday's blast in the town of Mayadeen killed 30 people and wounded many others.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says eight people were killed and many others wounded, including some who are in critical condition.Mayadeen is about 60km from the Iraqi border in Syria's eastern oil-rich province of Deir el-Zour, which has seen heavy fighting among rival rebel factions as well as between government forces and opposition fighters.The blast came days after jihadists launched a wide offensive in northern and central Iraq capturing much of the border between the two countries.

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Cambodian workers in exodus from Thailand

More than 80,000 Cambodians have fled Thailand, fearing a crackdown on migrant workers. Source: AAP

MORE than 80,000 Cambodians have fled neighbouring Thailand to return home, fearing a crackdown on migrant workers under Thailand's new military government.

THE governor of Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, Kor Samsarouet, said on Saturday that more than 84,000 have returned this month through the border crossing at the west Cambodian town of Poipet, including 40,000 on Friday.

The trigger for the exodus seems to have been statements by Thailand's military government, which took power in a coup last month, that it would crack down on illegal immigrants and those employing them.Several were reportedly fired from jobs and sent home, and the belief spread that legal and illegal workers were being ejected.The numbers of those fleeing swelled as unsubstantiated rumours circulated that several workers had been shot dead by Thai authorities.

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Vic MP Shaw says parliament 'screwed' him

Suspended Victorian MP Geoff Shaw will be the main attraction at a comedy event on Friday night. Source: AAP

ROGUE Victorian MP Geoff Shaw has told a comedy show audience he's been "screwed by the parliament".

HEADLINING the event at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre on Friday, Mr Shaw was asked what he thought of parliament's decision to suspend him.

"(I was) screwed by the parliament, wasn't I?" he replied.Mr Shaw was suspended on Wednesday night until September 2, ordered to apologise and repay more than $6800 for misusing his parliamentary car and entitlements.Appearing onstage with comedian Sammy J, he was asked if he would, in fact, apologise and responded with: "To the people of Victoria, I'm exceptionally sorry."Earlier on Friday, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said he was waiting for a sign of contrition from the suspended independent MP.Dr Napthine said he had not heard from Mr Shaw since Wednesday's vote to suspend him."I have no plans to talk to the member for Frankston," Dr Napthine said."But I would say to the member for Frankston that he has been dealt the toughest penalty in the Victorian parliament's history for over 100 years - that should be a very, very serious lesson to the member for Frankston."The premier said Mr Shaw needed to have a good look in the mirror and change his ways, and should not wait until the end of his suspension to show the Victorian public he was sorry.Mr Shaw's suspension has left the Victorian government and opposition deadlocked on 43 votes apiece in the lower house, with the government requiring the Speaker's backing to pass legislation.

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Former POW Bergdahl back in US

A defence official says US soldier Bowe Bergdahl is due to arrive at a Texas facility on Friday. Source: AAP

THE US soldier freed in a controversial swap with the Afghan Taliban has arrived back in the United States, his latest step in a return to normality after five years in captivity.

THE Pentagon said Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl arrived on Friday in the middle of the night on a flight from Germany to San Antonio, Texas where he will continue treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center.

Bergdahl was handed over on May 31 in return for five senior Taliban detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects.The US Army sergeant had been recuperating at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, amid growing debate over the swap that secured his freedom, with some US politicians accusing President Barack Obama of capitulating to "terrorists".The Pentagon said in a one-paragraph statement on its website that in Texas the soldier will "continue the next phase of his reintegration process. There is no timeline for this process. Our focus remains on his health and well-being."US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel "is confident that the Army will continue to ensure that Sgt Bergdahl receives the care, time and space that he needs to complete his recovery and reintegration".Bergdahl is yet to speak to the news media about his ordeal and Pentagon officials have said his health has steadily improved in the days since his release.His disappearance from a base in eastern Afghanistan in 2009 has fuelled speculation the soldier deserted his post before being captured and may face prosecution by military authorities.Letters and other correspondence emerged this week suggesting Bergdahl was in a troubled state of mind before and during his deployment, and that he lacked confidence in his superiors."Leadership was lacking, if not non-existent," he wrote in a letter sent to family during his time in captivity obtained by The Daily Beast website.The letter, one of two sent to Bergdahl's family via the International Committee of the Red Cross, is marked by numerous spelling errors."The conditions were bad and looked to be getting worse for the men that where actuly the ones risking thier lives from attack," he wrote in a March 23, 2013 letter.Bergdahl also appeared to appeal for understanding over his disappearance, though he does not explicitly state that he deserted.

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Qld premier denies Facebook sacking

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has denied that a public servant was sacked for a Facebook post. Source: AAP

THE Queensland premier has denied a public servant was sacked for posting a Facebook message criticising the sacking of 14,000 government employees.

TROY Reeves began a six-week contract with Queensland Health on July 15 last year.

But his employment as a policy analyst at the Office of Chief Nursing was terminated two days later.Three days before starting his job, Mr Reeves had written a Facebook post criticising the government's first budget in 2012, which included mass retrenchments."There wouldn't be an unemployment problem in Brisbane if it wasn't for the fact that 14,000 sacked people are no longer spending the same amount of money in the economy," it said.The post was referred to Premier Campbell Newman's then media adviser Kylie Jacobson on Mr Reeves's second day in the job, right-to-information documents obtained by AAP show."What a f-wit," she wrote in an email to another media adviser for the premier, Kate Barwick.But a spokesman for Mr Newman said the correspondence between the two media advisers did not lead to Mr Reeves being sacked."Mr Reeves's termination is a matter for Queensland Health or the relevant department he was employed by," he told AAP."That had nothing to do with Kylie and Kate's email."Mr Reeves, a 35-year-old Masters graduate, was previously a Queensland Liberal Party member and Griffith University Liberal Club president.He has worked for Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Senator Ian Macdonald.

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US marshals to auction seized bitcoins

US authorities will auction off $US18 million in Bitcoins they seized from Silk Road. Source: AAP

THE US Marshals Service says it will auction about $US18 million in bitcoins seized last northern autumn from Silk Road, a website that was effectively the eBay of illegal drugs.

THE marshals said on Thursday that they will auction the virtual "coins", consisting of sets of numbers entered in an online public ledger, via the web on June 27.

Authorities say Silk Road generated more than $US1 billion ($A1.08 billion) in illicit business from January 2011 to October 2013, when alleged operator Ross William Ulbricht was arrested in a public library in San Francisco.Ulbricht has pleaded not guilty. The website took commissions in bitcoins, which are hard to track.The marshals are auctioning off 29,657 bitcoins in 10 blocks, which means buyers will need to pony up nearly $US1.8 million each.The Marshals Service is keeping another 144,342 bitcoins, worth about $US87 million at current rates, that were found on Ulbricht's computer. He's contesting their forfeiture.

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Jobless rate steady for third month

Unemployment is tipped to have risen in May, amid job losses linked to the wind down in mining. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA'S jobless rate is steady, but only because people are dropping out of the race for a job.

UNEMPLOYMENT remained unchanged at 5.8 per cent in May, beating economists' expectations of a rise to 5.9 per cent.

The static result came despite the economy having shed almost 5,000 jobs last month, the first fall in five months.AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver says while the jobless rate has held for three months, it "significantly understates" the current weakness in the job market.That's because the participation rate - which includes those in work, looking for work and ready to start work - continues to fall.It dropped to 64.6 per cent in May."If the participation rate had remained at its 2011 average level the unemployment rate would now be seven per cent," Dr Oliver said.Australia's participation rate has been trending lower since the global financial crisis."We've got the ageing population, people are retiring, leaving the labour force," JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy said."There could also be disgruntled workers leaving the labour force, and we are also seeing young people staying in education for longer, going to university and TAFE instead of actively seeking work."Today's data fits with the theme that the labour market is still a little bit soft, still losing jobs, and unemployment is likely to move higher as we progress through 2014."Dr Oliver said a dip in jobs growth was to be expected following a strong start to the year, with more than 100,000 positions created in the first four months of 2014.While some economists believe the jobless rate has peaked, Dr Oliver believes unemployment could return to six per cent before the labour market picks up later in the year."While the hit to confidence from the federal budget has increased the level of uncertainty, forward looking indicators for the labour market, including the ANZ job ads survey and employment intentions in the monthly NAB business survey point to stronger jobs growth ahead," he said.Thursday's figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed full-time employment rose 22,200 in May while part-time employment fell 27,000.That shows the jobs market is playing out nicely and running pretty much to plan, CommSec chief economist Craig James said."We seem to have gone through the first stage of recovery with more part time jobs coming on and now we are starting to see more full time workers coming through and part time workers being converted to full time staff," Mr James said."The solid lift in full-time job creation in 2014 should provide a boost to consumer sentiment... more full-time jobs lead to higher consumer spending.The figures should allow the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates on hold, unless the federal budget and warm autumn weather robs momentum from the economy, Mr James said.

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Govt providing certainty for jobs: Hockey

A FURTHER rise in full-time employment comes at an opportune time for Joe Hockey as he continues to peddle his poorly received budget.

THE jobless rate also remained at 5.8 per cent for a third straight month in May when economists had expected it to tick up to 5.9 per cent.

The treasurer dismissed suggestions that more than 100,000 full-time jobs were created since the turn of the year due to Labor leaving the economy in good nick, noting the former government left office with a forecast of a 6.25 per cent unemployment rate."It quite clearly appears that we have turned around the trajectory," Mr Hockey told reporters in Darwin on Thursday.New data showed the number of people in full-time employment grew 22,200 in May.However, overall employment eased 4800 because of a 27,000 drop in part-time workers.Mr Hockey took aim at Bill Shorten, saying the opposition leader had been proved "dead wrong" by claiming high-profile job cuts at Ford, Holden, Toyota, SPC Ardmona and Qantas would be the "end of all time"."Our decisions to provide stability, certainty and predictability have been proven right," he said.Labor's employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said the steady jobless rate was more to do with people giving up on finding a job.At 64.6 per cent the participation rate of those in work or actively seeking employment was lower than during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis."People have given up looking for work because of the ... lack of confidence in the economy and in this government to provide opportunities for work," Mr O'Connor told reporters in Melbourne.Earlier Mr Hockey told ABC radio the drop in consumer sentiment in response to the budget was entirely predictable."You will see over time that we will deliver on a stronger economy ... things are going to get better".In a speech on Wednesday, he lashed out at claims his budget is unfair saying the government must reward the lifters and discourage the leaners.Too many Australians rely on government payments, he told the Sydney Institute."It should not be taboo to question whether everyone is entitled to these payments," he said.Mr Shorten accused the treasurer of cynically dividing Australians with a budget that puts big business ahead of individuals.He also told the ACOSS annual conference in Brisbane the government's lax approach to tax evasion was especially galling at a time when it is making cruel and unfair cuts to pensions, schools and hospitals.Union "Bust the Budget" protest marches were held in Sydney on Melbourne on Thursday.

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'Knock-about bloke' Qld's top judge

Chief Magistrate Tim Carmody QC is believed to be the front runner to be Queensland's Chief Justice. Source: AAP

TIM Carmody is criticised for being inexperienced and too close to the government to be Queensland's top judge, but has stared down the naysayers.

HE was promoted from chief magistrate to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on Thursday, despite never serving in the court.

Attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie had a similar meteoric rise when appointed the state's top law officer after serving as an articled clerk and solicitor.Judge Carmody, QC, who was recruited as chief magistrate from the bar nine months ago, said he couldn't ignore the criticisms and acknowledged it was something the community would be worried about.He vowed to be a fiercely independent leader."If my views happen to coincide with the government's views that's pure coincidence," he said."There will be many times when I disagree with the government's position."In the end it (the criticism) was wrong. I can do this job, I will do this job, and I shouldn't not do this job because someone else says I shouldn't."Premier Campbell Newman described Mr Carmody as a self-made man and knock-about bloke, who once lived in housing commission in Inala, west of Brisbane."We need somebody who has a fine legal mind, who Queenslanders can relate to, who gets where they are coming from," Mr Newman said."He got to this day the hard way, through the sweat of his brow."He'll inspire Queenslanders because they will see they can do as he has done."But most of all we need a leader, to lead the entire legal system for the next decade and beyond."Several lawyers, including former Crown Solicitor Walter Sofronoff QC and former Supreme Court judge Richard Chesterman QC, have raised concerns about Judge Carmody's inexperience, lack of peer support and perceived closeness to the government, especially over anti-bikie legislation.Tony Fitzgerald said the appointment of Judge Carmody, who served as the counsel assisting his 1980s corruption inquiry, could damage public perception of the courts."People whose ambition exceeds their ability aren't all that unusual," he told AAP on Thursday."However, it's deeply troubling that the megalomaniacs currently holding power in Queensland are prepared to damage even fundamental institutions like the Supreme Court and cast doubt on fundamental principles like the independence of the judiciary."After serving on the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption, Judge Carmody became special prosecutor of official corruption arising from the landmark inquiry.From 1998 to 2002 he was Queensland's Crime Commissioner and was appointed a Judge of the Family Court in 2003, before returning to private practice in 2008.Before his appointment as District Court Judge and Chief Magistrate in September 2013, he served as Chairman of the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry.He'll replace Supreme Court chief justice Paul de Jersey, who becomes Governor next month.

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Girlfriend stomper gets five years in jail

WHEN Sydney man Trent Wainwright got angry at his 19-year-old girlfriend late one night, he threw her onto a concrete driveway, stomped repeatedly on her head and hurled a heavy terracotta pot at her.

WAINWRIGHT had been out drinking with work mates on January 16, 2010, and returned to their Mortdale home intoxicated, and apparently paranoid about some text messages she'd received on her phone.

Their relationship was already volatile but Wainwright was a man prone to fits of spontaneous rage.After the then 27-year-old was done with her she was unconscious, her head lying in a one-litre pool of her own blood.Her jaw bone and both eye sockets were fractured, her teeth loose and she had lacerations to her face.The damage left the young woman on a liquid diet for nearly six weeks and she still suffers from her injuries.But as the man who inflicted them was sentenced to a minimum of five years in jail on Thursday, he didn't show any signs of concern.Wainwright repeatedly interrupted Judge Stephen Norrish as he handed the now 32-year-old a maximum sentence of eight years and one month, even requesting a bathroom break at one point.Judge Norrish recounted how Wainwright had screamed at his girlfriend to "get out of the f***ing house", before lifting her up under her armpits and throwing her out the door.She lost balance and fell, hit her head on some concrete steps and lost consciousness, he told Downing Centre District Court.Wainwright then stomped on her head "with considerable force", before picking up a clay pot weighing nearly seven kilograms and throwing it against her head so ferociously it smashed.Afterwards, the court heard, he said: "the f***in' dumb bitch deserved it"."That's incorrect, Your Honour," Wainwright declared from the dock, prompting a glare from Judge Norrish, who ordered him to stop talking.Wainwright told police he thought his drink had been spiked that night and his girlfriend had provoked him by coming at him with a knife.This was dubious, Judge Norrish concluded, given no knife was found in or around the premises.Throughout the protracted matter Wainwright, who's been in custody for two and a half years, dismissed three legal teams and changed his plea on multiple occasions.Judge Norrish acknowledged Wainwright had suffered a "disturbed childhood" and had a range of mental health conditions.Regardless, he'd "caused serious injury to the victim when she was in no condition to defend herself".Wainwright will be eligible for parole in October 2016.

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Goodman upgrades 2014 guidance

GOODMAN Group has upgraded its 2014 financial year earnings guidance due to strong property fundamentals.

Goodman increased its forecast operating earnings outlook for the 2014 financial year to $600 million, a seven per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

However, the group's medium to long-term growth target remains at six per cent.

"The robust property fundamentals, growing contribution from Goodman's development and management activities and the strength and diversity of our global operating platform are key drivers of the group's earnings," the group said.

Goodman Group, which owns properties around the globe, recently said it was benefiting from the strength of international capital markets.

It also said the outlook remained positive, with robust property fundamentals and strong contribution from Goodman's development and management businesses in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

Operating earnings guidance for the 2015 financial year will be provided at the group's annual results on August 14.

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No evidence Rudd alerted on batts: lawyer

THE royal commission into Labor's home insulation program didn't hear any evidence that Kevin Rudd received and ignored safety warnings, the former prime minister's lawyer says.

Bret Walker, SC, has provided a written submission to the inquiry, which held eight weeks of public hearings in Brisbane this year.

The submission states while it had been publicly alleged that Mr Rudd was given at least 10 direct personal warnings about the program's safety, the inquiry had heard no such evidence.

"No party represented at the commission nor the commission itself suggested ... that the then prime minister failed to respond to direct warnings to him personally about safety risks," Mr Walker wrote.

Queenslanders Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney, and Marcus Wilson from NSW, lost their lives working under the $2.8 billion stimulus program.

In his submission supporting Mr Rudd's evidence, Mr Walker says the inquiry heard nothing that suggested the then prime minister personally failed to take steps to avoid or prevent the men's deaths.

He said ensuring workplace safety was the responsibility of the states and territories.

"No prime minister, including Mr Rudd, is responsible for enforcing workplace health and safety laws."

Mr Walker also said there was no evidence contending that the insulation program was initiated or designed by Mr Rudd.

The Fuller and Barnes families have lodged a joint submission outlining what they believe are the scheme's eight failures.

These include allowing foil insulation to be affixed with metal staples, the scrapping of training for all installers and the Commonwealth's failure to consider installer safety as a risk.

Written submissions have also been made by the Sweeney family, Mr Wilson's sister Jessica, the Home Insulation Industry Action Group and the State of Queensland.

Commissioner Ian Hanger, QC, has until August 31 to produce his report, but may recall witnesses if he intends to make adverse findings against them.

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WA animal poisonings worry RSPCA

THE RSPCA is calling for witnesses after reports of more than 40 animals being poisoned over the past six months in West Australia.

Since December, the not-for-profit organisation has investigated 29 cases of dogs being poisoned, seven cases of cat poisonings and five poisonings of birds and other wildlife.

An RSPCA spokesman said of the cases investigated, the majority of the animals died as a result of the poisoning or had to be euthanised.

Animals who survived poisoning were often left with ongoing health problems such as neurological and organ dysfunction, he said.

On Wednesday, the RSPCA received a report of a dog being poisoned at a home in the Perth Hills region suburb of Roleystone just four weeks after the owner's other dog died from poisoning.

The most recent incident comes only two days after two dogs were poisoned with snail pellets at a Singleton home near Mandurah.

RSPCA chief inspector Amanda Swift said poisoned animals could face a slow and agonising death.

"If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, they need to be taken to the nearest veterinary clinic immediately," she said.

People found guilty of poisoning an animal can face a fine of up to $50,000 and five years jail.

Anyone who has information or has witnessed any suspicious behaviour is urged to call the RSPCA cruelty hotline 1300 CRUELTY.

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Ministers talk security in Japan

Australia's defence and foreign ministers are in Japan for top level talks. Source: AAP

DEFENCE Minister David Johnston and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop are in Japan for top level talks as Australia and Japan move to deepen defence and security co-operation.

The ministers were meeting their opposite numbers in Tokyo on Wednesday for the fifth Australia-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial (2+2) Consultations.

That follows Prime Minister Tony Abbott's visit to Japan in April where he agreed on both a trade deal and future cooperation on defence science and technology, particularly joint research on marine hydrodynamics.

In practice, that means submarines, with Australia interested in Japan's new Soryu-class boats as it looks to replacements for the Navy's six Collins submarines.

The ministers are expected to conclude negotiations on the proposed Defence Science, Technology and Materiel Agreement, announced during Mr Abbott's visit.

The agreement will allow Australia and Japan to jointly develop defence technologies, establishing a basis to deepen defence cooperation, they said.

During the visit, Ms Bishop will meet Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and other senior Japanese ministers, parliament members and academics to discuss international and bilateral developments.

That will include the New Colombo Plan, under which students from around the region will receive scholarships to study in Australia.

Senator Johnston will meet Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera separately to discuss progress in bilateral defence engagement in areas such as logistics cooperation, exercises and training, and peacekeeping and disaster relief.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who reportedly is planning to visit Australia in July, wants Japan to play a bigger role on the global stage, loosening longstanding constitutional restrictions on the role of its defence force.

He has moved to ease tight restrictions on weapons exports, paving the way for greater defence co-operation with Australia.

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