The former journalist who ended John Howard's political career used her first speech to Federal Parliament to champion wage equality for women. 

 

McKew's Equal Pay Plea

Australia's government stepped up its campaign against Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters Thursday by releasing grisly surveillance pictures of the slain carcasses of a minke whale and a calf being hauled aboard a ship. 

The images were taken by an Australian customs ship that has tracked the Japanese fleet in the Antarctic Ocean for the past month gathering evidence for a diplomatic and legal battle against whaling. 

Moving with uncommon speed, Congress gave final approval on Thursday to a $168 billion economic rescue package, including rebates for taxpayers and tax breaks for businesses, that lawmakers and President Bush hope will set off a rush of springtime spending and spark the slowing economy. 

from Crikey …. 

Romney's out, unless of course Al-Qaeda step in... 

US correspondent Guy Rundle writes from Chicago: 

France unveils super-fast train …..

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has attended the launch of a new high-speed train made by engineering giant Alstom.The AGV (Automotrice Grande Vitesse) train will travel at up to 360km/h (224mph), powered by motors placed under each carriage, the company says.

Nine ways in which the Earth could be tipped into a potentially dangerous state that could last for many centuries have been identified by scientists investigating how quickly global warming could run out of control. 

The Federal Opposition says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is creating problems for the economy by talking up the challenge of inflation. 

The official interest rate is expected to be lifted to its highest level in 12 years today and the Government warns it may be some time before homeowners get any relief. 

The spending package for the fiscal year that begins October 1 included no big surprises, especially since its key elements had already been reported in detail in recent days.

Canadian farmers are warning against growing the first GM food crop to be approved in Australia. 

Mr Macdonald says a separation of GM and non-GM canola will happen and his state is the only one imposing conditions on farmers. 'Our system in New South Wales requires an application by a proponent before an expert committee,' he said. 

Senator Joyce says Mr Rudd should already have plans for the country and a summit will achieve little. 

Queensland Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce says the '2020 Summit' planned by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd shows he has no ideas of his own. 

Australian families have helped to drive Shell into the record books, after the oil giant posted a $A35.5 billion profit. 

Motoring group NRMA said the company owed a thank you note to Australian motorists, after it turned a profit of almost $4 million every hour of last year. 

Tony Blair has been holding discussions with some of his oldest allies on how he could mount a campaign later this year to become full-time president of the EU council, the prestigious new job characterised as "president of Europe".  

Brazil's Government is unwilling and unable to halt destruction in the Amazon rainforest despite emergency measures it announced last week to curb rising deforestation, environmental expert say. 

High commodity prices and increased land use elsewhere in Brazil are driving ranchers and farmers deeper into the Amazon in search of cheap land, environmentalists say.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared his support for John McCain's presidential bid, handing the Republican front-runner a prized endorsement ahead of the state's key primary.

Governor Schwarzenegger told a press conference he was backing Senator McCain after touring a solar technology plant in Los Angeles together with the Arizona senator and former Republican contender Rudolph Giuliani.

from Crikey ….. 

Look at Mick Keelty's new 5 year contract negotiated just before the election - making sure he was a winner either way.