Israeli court finds former FM not guilty

Former Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman has been found not guilty of all charges. Source: AAP

AN Israeli court has found former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman not guilty of all charges in a graft trial.

Wednesday's decision clears the way for the powerful hardline politician to return to his post at the Foreign Ministry.

Lieberman, an ally and sometime rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been charged with fraud and breach of trust for allegedly trying to advance the career of a former diplomat who relayed information to him about a separate criminal investigation into Lieberman's business dealings.

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Court hears balcony murder accused 'rage'

Prosecutors in the murder trial of Sydney man Simon Gittany say he was an intensely jealous partner. Source: AAP

SHE was "completely and utterly isolated".

Controlled by her intensely jealous and possessive partner who tracked her every movement.

And Lisa Cecilia Harnum's life was brutally taken from her when her fiance threw her off the balcony of their high-rise Sydney apartment in a fit of rage because she was planning to leave him.

These are the allegations crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC, put to accused murderer Simon Gittany at the end of an intense day of cross-examination in the Supreme Court in Sydney.

To each of the eight questions, Gittany had the same emphatic answer: "Absolutely not."

The public gallery was packed on Wednesday for Gittany's second day in the witness box, which at times became heated as he repeatedly denied Mr Tedeschi's allegations that he was "extremely controlling, possessive and domineering".

The Crown alleges he threw 30-year-old Canadian Ms Harnum off their CBD balcony in a fit of rage on July 30, 2011.

Gittany has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The court has heard Gittany installed CCTV in his apartment and used a computer program to monitor Ms Harnum's text messages, emails and internet usage.

"The purpose of these surveillance and tracking devices and programs was so you could keep tabs on Lisa Harnum's every movement because of your intense jealousy and possessiveness," Mr Tedeschi said.

"Absolutely not," Gittany replied.

He said he only tracked Ms Harnum's texts because she had a shameful secret which she wouldn't divulge.

The court has previously heard Ms Harnum suffered from bulimia and was too afraid to tell Gittany.

A handwritten note that said: "There are surveillance cameras inside and outside the house" was found in Ms Harnum's pocket after her death, but Gittany said he didn't know what it was about.

The court also heard Gittany failed to tell police about an external hard-drive of the CCTV device which he kept hidden in his ceiling and later had removed.

But Gittany said he didn't think of it because police already had his computer, which contained the same material as the hard-drive.

Mr Tedeschi said Gittany was "apoplectic" and "berserk with rage" when he discovered two of Ms Harnum's acquaintances were helping her to leave him.

"I was angry, yes," Gittany replied.

He conceded he dragged a screaming Ms Harnum back into their apartment 69 seconds before she plunged to her death.

But he denied he continued to struggle with her once inside and he maintained he made her a hot drink while she sat on the lounge, before suddenly running towards the balcony.

Mr Tedeschi suggested there was no way this occurred immediately after Gittany "forcibly subdued her, forcibly stopped her from crying out for help and forcibly dragged her back into the apartment".

"She didn't even have an opportunity to take off her handbag before you threw her from the balcony," Mr Tedeschi said.

"No," Gittany said loudly.

Gittany also denied he deliberately tried to make out to police that Ms Harnum had killed herself in order to hide his own involvement.

At one point, Gittany was asked to close the open Bible beside him on the stand, with Mr Tedeschi suggesting he was reading it during questioning.

The judge-only trial continues before Justice Lucy McCallum.

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Morrison disappoints on Christmas Island

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is visiting Christmas Island and touring the detention centre. Source: AAP

CHRISTMAS Island residents are disappointed they didn't get a formal opportunity to voice their concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers during Immigration Minister Scott Morrison's visit.

Mr Morrison made his first official visit to Christmas Island on Wednesday and toured the detention centre housing 2184 asylum-seeker boat arrivals.

Mr Morrison, accompanied by Operation Sovereign Borders commander Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, arrived on the island off Western Australia late on Tuesday night for the 30-hour visit.

They met with Christmas Island residents on Wednesday night.

Christmas Island councillor Gordon Thomson told AAP many residents had been expecting a town hall-style meeting and were disappointed they did not get an opportunity to raise their concerns.

"It turned into a cup of tea session. He (Mr Morrison) went round talking to people individually," Mr Thomson said.

"It was more conversations where he got to dominate and do the talking. That's not satisfactory."

Mr Thomson said he would put his concerns to Mr Morrison in writing.

Jon Stanhope, the administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, cut short a week-long visit to the Cocos to meet with Mr Morrison.

In a statement on Wednesday night a spokesperson for Mr Morrison said: "A community afternoon tea had been arranged and the minister engaged with everyone who sought his attention. Local issues were discussed and useful feedback was obtained from the local community."

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Outlook bleak for Carnaby's black cockatoo

The outlook is bleak for a threatened bird species that's unique to WA's southwest, research shows. Source: AAP

THE outlook is bleak for a threatened bird species that's unique to Western Australia's southwest, research shows.

As the habitat of Carnaby's black cockatoo is progressively destroyed by land clearing, hundreds of members of the public volunteer their time to the annual Great Cocky Count one night each year to monitor numbers of the rare bird in the Swan Region, including the Perth metropolitan area.

While this year's tally of 5800 cockies was a 44 per cent increase over the past two years, numbers are still well below the 6700 recorded in 2010.

"Paradoxically, the increased numbers seen this year may not be a good sign," BirdLife Australia's threatened cockatoos project manager Matt Fossey said.

"The greater number of Carnaby's seen north of the Swan is probably due to parts of the Gnangara, Pinjar and Yanchep pine plantations being cleared - by about a thousand hectares a year - which has removed a vital feeding and roosting area.

"As a result, the cockatoos have been forced to move into areas where they are more easily observed."

Cockies were seen north of the Swan River, while numbers recorded at regular sites further south were well down.

Mr Fossey said the WA government should halt the clearing of Carnaby's habitat on the Swan Coastal Plain until a strategic assessment of the Perth and Peel regions had been completed.

The number of Carnaby's black cockatoos has declined by at least 50 per cent over the past 45 years.

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Aung San Suu Kyi to visit Australia

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R) will make her first visit to Australia this month. Source: AAP

AUNG San Suu Kyi will make her first visit to Australia in late November.

The Burmese opposition leader will attend public events in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne and meet members of the Burmese community from November 27 to December 2.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop first met Ms Suu Kyi in 1995 and said she was delighted to be able to welcome her to Australia.

"Australia has long been a staunch supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi's efforts to bring democracy to the Burmese people," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

Australia and other nations have been gradually easing their sanctions against Myanmar (Burma) as the country has allowed greater political and media freedoms in past few of years.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate accepted the invitation from former foreign minister Bob Carr back in June and remarked that she fondly remember growing up with the song Kookaburra Sat In The Old Gum Tree.

The former political prisoner won a parliamentary seat in April 2012 and she became opposition leader of the National League for Democracy.

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CSG projects face less hurdles in NSW: BCA

CSG projects in NSW could face fewer regulatory hurdles with a new plan for environmental approvals. Source: AAP

MINING companies wanting to develop coal seam gas (CSG) projects in NSW could soon face fewer regulatory hurdles, after the O'Farrell government signed up to a new federal plan for environmental approvals.

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) said the NSW government had helped overcome one of the barriers to CSG projects in the state by signing up to the Abbott government's approvals overhaul.

NSW on Tuesday followed Queensland's lead by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the federal government to create a "one-stop-shop" for environmental approvals.

The proposal promises to deliver faster approvals and eliminate regulatory duplication, but opponents claim it will erode crucial environmental protections by handing federal powers to the states.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the "same strict environmental standards" would apply, but businesses would only need to obtain one approval for projects instead of two.

"The federal government is on track to sign-on all states and territories within 12 months and fast-track the eradication of red and green tape for environmental approvals," Mr Abbott said in a statement.

BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the NSW government, which imports 95 per cent of its gas from interstate, had taken a critical step to securing its own gas supply.

"Today's MOU helps overcome one of the barriers to developing coal seam gas projects that would enable New South Wales to develop its own gas supply," Ms Westacott said in a statement.

NSW has been under pressure from the federal government to expand gas mining, including CSG operations, as they search for a solution to energy price spikes and a crisis in natural gas supply.

CSG has proved a powder keg in NSW, with the government the target of frequent protests from farmer and conservationists who warn expanding gas operations threatens agricultural land and water supply.

The NSW Minerals Council praised the O'Farrell government for supporting the plan they claim will address the "overly bureaucratic and cumbersome" approvals process in the state.

"We look forward to seeing fast progress on delivery of these promised reforms, so that the words expressed in the MOU are matched by real action," chief executive Stephen Galilee said in a statement.

The Minerals Council of Australia said the one-stop-shop would eradicate unnecessary green tape without compromising environmental standards.

But Greens senator Larissa Waters said the plan would "gut" environmental protections, and blasted the duplication argument being put forward by Mr Abbott and "his big business buddies" as a furphy.

"Tony Abbott is laying the groundwork to hand federal environmental approval powers to NSW, giving his conservative state cronies open slather over our nationally significant environmental assets," she said in a statement.

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Family of shot Sydney girl talk to police

The family of a teenage girl who was shot in her western Sydney home are now talking to police.

A schoolgirl has been shot at a home in Sydney's west, in what police say is a targeted attack. Source: AAP

AFTER a day of being condemned for their silence, the family of a teenage girl who was shot in her western Sydney home are talking to police.

On Tuesday morning, as the girl lay injured in hospital, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and the state's top officers vented their frustration at the family of the 13-year-old, who was shot by gunmen at her Blacktown home late on Monday night.

The men were reportedly looking to settle a score with the girl's brother, who is suspected of having links to the notorious Brothers 4 Life gang.

After having the door slammed in their faces, the men allegedly opened fire, hitting the girl in the back.

On Tuesday morning, Mr O'Farrell expressed outrage at the parents' lack of co-operation.

"What sort of parents, whose daughter's been injured in an attack like this, will not co-operate with police?" he asked.

Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas called on the family to take responsibility.

"This poor girl had nothing to do with anything, but someone in her family did," he said.

Late on Tuesday afternoon, it appeared the family's silence had been broken, with the premier issuing a statement saying family members were talking to police.

The girl's father told media on Tuesday his daughter was "settled", adding he was disappointed by the gunmen's actions.

"Everyone's disappointed in the community; they do the wrong thing," he said.

Inspector Dave Lagats said what police feared had become a reality after a string of recent shootings.

"Our greatest fears have now been reached ... an innocent person, a 13-year-old girl, has now become the victim of this type of senseless activity," he said.

Neighbours woken by the fracas thought they were hearing thunder or fireworks until the screaming began.

Father-of-three Sarn Pulefele lives two doors away on Sunnyholt Road and said he was woken by a loud bang.

"At first I thought it was thunder because I'd never heard guns before," Mr Pulefele told AAP.

"Then I got up and I could hear screaming. And then I realised someone's been shot."

A neighbour said police had been to the house before.

The latest incident comes after one man was killed and two were injured in shootings linked to Brothers 4 Life.

On Sunday, a 27-year-old man, named by media as suspected Brothers 4 Life gang member Michael Odisho, was found with multiple gunshot wounds at Winston Hills.

A man, believed to be the cousin of Brothers 4 Life boss Bassam Hamzy, was shot dead in Revesby a week ago and another man, Omar Ajaj, suffered multiple bullet wounds in the attack.

Police said it was too early to tell whether Monday's shooting was a revenge attack.

Mr Kaldas would not rule out that Hamzy might have influenced recent shootings from jail. He also refused to say whether the intended shooting target had been interviewed, or whether he was even at home during the attack.

However, Mr O'Farrell said a man had "fled out the back door" seconds before the shooting began.

The NSW opposition accused Mr O'Farrell of allowing gun crime to spiral out of control.

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Bold and the beautiful play at the Cup

Sunset hues of red, tangerines and bright yellows ruled the fashion stakes on Melbourne Cup Day. Source: AAP

THE bold and the beautiful lit up Flemington in the fashion stakes on Melbourne Cup day, with American swimwear model Kate Upton and AFL star Lance ''Buddy'' Franklin causing a stir.

Reds, tangerines and bright yellows popped in a crowd of about 100,000 people, who enjoyed a summery Cup.

Upton and Australian beauty Jennifer Hawkins chose fiery red numbers by Antonio Berardi and Yeojin Bae, respectively.

Franklin sat next to Upton on the Emirates balcony, and the pair set tongues wagging as they chatted and laughed.

The Sports Illustrated cover girl, who showed off her figure in a plunging red dress, said it was her first Melbourne Cup.

"I have been enjoying myself. It's so great here with the fashion and the horses," Upton said.

Former Spice Girl and Australia's Got Talent judge Geri Halliwell selected a vintage cream lacy dress for her outfit.

She won about $3500 after betting $500 on Fiorente, vowing to give the money to a Melbourne charity rather than splash out on a new pair of shoes.

"The only reason why I went for this one is because the lady that I'm staying at her house is Gai Waterhouse.

"Apparently she is the girl power of horse training."

US burlesque star Dita Von Teese and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora were also among celebrity guests to enjoy the Birdcage.

The crowd at the track was relatively well behaved, with only three arrests and 86 evictions by late afternoon.

Ciara Wallace, of Dublin, enjoyed her second Melbourne Cup with a picnic on the lawn.

"It's a brilliant day. The sun is shining and we are all having a crack," she said.

"The whole of Victoria gets into the buzz of the Melbourne Cup - that's what makes the Melbourne Cup."

Cleaner Emma Brasser, who was working a 13-hour shift, said the crowd was generally well behaved - so far.

"I haven't had any calls for throw ups yet, so I'm doing pretty well."

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Police minister slams 'gutless' critics

Queensland's police minister says a group that posted a video opposing anti-bikie laws is gutless. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND Police are investigating the source of an online video which warns premier Campbell Newman to "expect us".

The four-and-a-half minute clip was purportedly posted by activist group Anonymous Australia, who say the government's new anti-bikie legislation goes too far.

The clip, which has racked up 183,000 views and 1900 likes, is delivered by a person wearing the trademark Anonymous Guy Fawkes mask.

The clip is linked to the YouTube account of "Trojan Walker" which is linked to the Facebook account of a Daniel Walker.

At the start of the video, a pop up box emerges saying "expect us is out motto, not a threat".

Police have confirmed they are looking at the Anonymous threat, but wouldn't say if they are investigating Mr Walker.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey says the group has crossed the line.

"They are just gutless cowards, they have to hide behind a mask," Mr Dempsey told reporters.

"It is very disappointing and police will obviously investigate the matter thoroughly.

"I'm very confident with the police investigating the matter and we'll ensure the safety of everyone involved."

The international group of activists has targeted governments and multinational corporations and has been accused of hacking the FBI and ASIO.

AAP has sought comment from Mr Walker.

Trojan Walker says the media and Mr Newman's staff have turned the group's motto "expect us" into a threat.

"Okay, so what did we threaten to do? lol," he wrote on his YouTube account.

"I have never hurt anyone nor has anyone I associate with, but, we are watching, and he can expect his lies to be made public."

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Bird flu kills 12th person in Cambodia

A TWO-YEAR-OLD girl has become the 12th person to die of bird flu in Cambodia this year.

Cambodia's Health Ministry and the World Health Organization said in a joint statement Monday that the girl died from the H5N1 bird flu virus on October 26 after suffering from fever, difficulty in breathing and lethargy.

The statement said an investigation at the girl's village in western Pursat province revealed that two months before her illness, poultry had died suddenly at her grandparents' house, where she often stayed.

The H5N1 virus normally spreads between poultry but can sometimes spread from poultry to humans.

The number of deaths from bird flu in Cambodia this year is the highest since the disease surfaced in 2003.

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