Libby Trickett confident of improvement

“I’m through comfortably to the semi-final in the fastest time that I’ve done in my comeback, the first time under the minute since I’ve come back,” said Trickett.

“To do that in a heat is exciting and hopefully with a little more rest and recovery ansd freshness I can go faster tonight.”


Trickett in the past has always either had to psyche herself up or calm herself down before but for this meet she is taking an entirely different approach.


“I’m aware of how to get my body ready and my body knows how to get me ready to race so I’m sort of letting it do its thing which I’ve never done before,” she said.


“I’m sort of just letting things happen naturally which sounds a little peculiar but after this long in the sport if you can’t just let things happen a bit more than you’re probably doing the wrong thing.”


Coutts , the five-times gold medallist at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, took the opportunity of the heat swim to test a new Arena swim suit. The suit only arrived two days ago and while she would not normally use such an important race as a trial run, she decided it was far safer to experiment in the heats rather than in the semis or final.


“I haven’t decided,” said Coutts, when asked if she would use it at the business end of proceedings. I’m just going in there to see what I can do, do some pb’s and secure some spots in the team.”

Libby Trickett in search of individual berth LIVE tonight

 She might be renowned more as a 100m freestyle-butterfly specialist but it is the one-lap splash-and-dash that has always delivered for her and who’s to say it’s not going to happen again after her excellent heat swim at the Olympic selection trials in Adelaide this morning.


With the pressure of making the London Olympic team removed from her shoulders after she qualified as a relay swimmer with her fifth placing in the 100m freestyle last night, Trickett free-wheeleed for a 25.12sec clocking.


That placed her third overall but with Swedish veteran Therese Alshammer (25.06sec) not permitted as a foreigner to progress beyond the heats, that leaves only Alexandra Purcell of the Gold Coast (25.05sec) ahead of her heading into tonight’s semi-finals.


But a sister act of Cate and Bronte Campbell stands in her way after leading the field into the final. 


Trickett, a two-time world champion and Athens Olympic bronze medallist in the 50m, has already achieved her biggest goal of selection and admitted earlier today the prospect of a top-two finish was in the back of her mind.

RENEGADE MALI SOLDIERS IN COUP BID

BAMAKO, Mali—Disgruntled soldiers have stormed state TV and radio in Mali's capital and cut off broadcasts in a growing fallout over a northern rebellion where Tuareg separatists are besting the military.


Soldiers say Defense Minister Gen. Sadio Gassama was visiting a military camp near the presidential palace in Bamako on Wednesday when unhappy young troopers started firing into the air. They then stoned the general's car, forcing him to leave the camp in haste.


Soon after, they stormed the offices of the state broadcaster, yanking both TV and radio off the air.


The soldiers said that the campaign in northern Mali is badly managed, short of arms and food supplies. They also said the government must take better care of the families of soldiers killed in the rebellion that started mid-January. Tens of thousands of people have fled within Mali and others to four neighboring countries.


The Obama administration said it is monitoring the unrest in Mali, including reports of a possible coup in the African nation the U.S. has long held up as an example of a thriving democracy.


Meanwhile an independent source said President Amadou Toumani Toure, earlier holed up in the palace as shots were traded outside, had managed to leave the premises.


A mutiny over the way government is handling a Tuareg insurrection in the north began on Wednesday afternoon and turned into an apparent coup attempt as soldiers seized control of the government broadcaster and attacked the presidential palace.


After an hours-long media blackout, a message flashed on television promising "a declaration from soldiers in an instant" from just before midnight local time while music videos played in the background.


At 1530 AEDT, a group of uniformed soldiers appeared on the screen. However, the sound equipment appeared not to be working and shortly afterwards the view again switched to music videos.


The one speaking was identified on the screen as Lieutenant Amadou Konare, spokesman of the National Committee for the Establishment of Democracy.

Nathan Tinkler hits a billion on the rich list

Gina Rinehart has topped off a dramatic 12 months by sweeping to top place on the BRW Rich 200 list with a fortune of $10.3 billion.

It is the first time any member of the Rich 200 has broken through the magical $10 billion mark and underlines the dramatic impact the mining boom has had on the ranks of Australia's wealthy.

Rinehart was well ahead of the surprise second place on the list Ivan Glasenberg, the South African-born, Swiss-based chief executive of Glencore. His wealth was estimated at $8.8 billion courtesy of last week's float of the world's biggest commodity trader.

Andrew Forrest, the head of Fortescue Metals Group, was in third place with a fortune of $6.18 billion, while Anthony Pratt, who succeeded his late father as head of packaging giant Visy Industries, was in fourth with $5.18 billion.

Clive Palmer – who is set to list his coal company Resourcehouse on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the next few weeks – was ranked fifth with a fortune of $5.05 billion.

While Gina Rinehart has never been far from the headlines in the last 12 months thanks to her strident opposition to the Government's mining tax and her surprise investments in media companies Ten Network and Fairfax Media, the sheer size of the increase in her fortune is staggering.

Not only is she the first woman in the list's 28-year history to lead it, but she also made the biggest fortune ever to be recorded by the BRW Rich 200, with her wealth more than doubling from $4.75 billion last year.

Overall, the rich list gained a 23 per cent rise in wealth to $167.25 billion, and five new billionaires took the total to 35.

Most appearances on this year's list were self-made, with only 17 per cent inheriting their wealth. The number of women in the list remained at 15 in line with last year, BRW said.

Greens: immigration inquiry a witch-hunt

Australia's Government has dismissed an Opposition move to set up an inquiry into the immigration detention network as a political stunt.

Simon Cullen reports from Parliament House the Opposition says the detention network is out of control... and there needs to be a wide-ranging parliamentary inquiry.

The Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, says she's open to the idea.

She says, "We need to make sure that any inquiry would look at how to get people out of detention - not just find ways to keep them in."

A spokesman for the Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, says the Coalition's move is just a stunt.

There is some support inside Labor - Government backbencher, Ed Husic, says he'd be happy to back an inquiry, "I think that we do need to have this process open.

While the Greens said they would try to negotiate with Mr Morrison in the coming days, Senator Hanson-Young took aim at the Liberal Party record.

"Let's not forget that this is the party of children behind razor wire . This is the party who has driven, in this term of government, a very nasty approach with their simple slogan of stop the boats but no solution to deal with the humane needs of asylum-seekers, she said.

"I'm not interested in just allowing for an inquiry that ends up being a witch-hunt and is simply a propping-up of what is a failed and inhumane system.

Regional independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor did not return calls from The Australian yesterday, however Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie said he was inclined to support the opposition's motion".

I look forward to discussing the matter with Scott Morrison in Canberra this week," he said.

The independent member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, said he was willing to listen to the opposition, however he thought inquires in general were a "waste of taxpayer money".

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen yesterday said the Coalition push was not an attempt for genuine reform.

This government is open and accountable about its immigration detention system, unlike the Howard government," a spokesman for Mr Bowen said.

Real inquiry would look at the Coalition's terrible record on detention."

On the Greens aversion to the inquiry, Mr Morrison said the issue of mandatory detention was already covered in the terms of reference. "I've said clearly that, and I quote, 'impact of existing and prospective government policies' would be looked that includes mandatory detention.

Greece votes on where austerity axe falls

Yesterday's market rally on the back of the Greek parliament's decision to move forward with a €78 billion ($105 billion) package of cuts, tax rises and privatisations shows how much investors are hanging out for a resolution of Europe's debt crisis.

Yet it also suggests investors are not too familiar with the classics: the parliamentary vote wasn't a Trojan Horse, but it wasn't a gift from Greece that cured Europe's woes, either.

Last night, the parliament met again amid savage street demonstrations, this time to approve plans for the implementation of the austerity package.

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The numbers on the first vote suggested that this, too, would be approved. The second vote clears the way for the payment of another €12 billion to Greece out of last year's first rescue fund and adds momentum to talks about a second bailout package.

It sparked a worldwide share rally yesterday. In Australia, the ASX200 index shot up by 78.5 points to be above 4600 points again. The euro firmed, European bond spreads narrowed as risk tolerance increased and commodity prices and the Aussie strengthened.

The theory is that the Greek vote and the gathering plans for another rescue package head off a Greek government bond default. Such a default could have pitched Europe's other basket cases into crisis. A cascade of defaults could expand beyond the obvious suspects, Ireland and Portugal, into economies with more economic gravitas and financial counterparty risk, notably Spain and Italy.

Several banks and shopfronts were smashed, while a socialist dissenter who backed the government at the last minute, Alexandros Athanassiadis, was briefly assaulted by protesters after leaving parliament on foot.

Smoke billowed from a post office beneath the Finance Ministry before a fire was put out. Rioters set up burning barricades along Syntagma Square, where demonstrators have staged a sit-in for the past month. Streets were littered with chunks of smashed marble and ripped-up paving stones that had been thrown at police.

A burnt-out van remained within yards of parliament more than a day after youths set it alight.

A general strike that began on Tuesday paralysed the country, grounding planes, leaving ferries docked and stranding tourists during the busy summer season.

Police said yesterday that 49 officers had been injured, one seriously when he was hit in the face by a chunk of marble. Forty-three protesters were detained, with 17 arrested. Emergency services said they had treated 99 protesters and passers-by for injuries.

Across Europe, officials hailed the vote as an act of "national responsibility". "That's really good news," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on her way out of an economic forum in Berlin. Germany is Greece's biggest creditor.

Stephen Parry

Stephen Shane Parry (born 31 October 1960), Australian politician, has been a Liberal Party member of the Australian Senate since July 2005, representing the state of Tasmania. He was elected Government Deputy Whip in the Senate in November 2006 and elected Government Whip in April 2007 in succession to the late Senator Jeannie Ferris. Senator Parry is currently the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees.

Early life

Stephen Shane Parry was born on October 31, 1960 in Burnie, Tasmania to William Stephen Parry and Patricia Dawn Evans. He was educated at Burnie's Marist Regional College, and following matriculation enroled at the Tasmanian Police Academy in Hobart.

Career

Parry was employed as an officer with the Tasmanian Police from 1977 to 1986, and was promoted to Detective in 1983. After leaving the Police force, he completed a certificate in Mortuary Science at the Australian College of Funeral Service and was a funeral director from 1986 to 2004. He was President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association. Parry was also president of the Burnie Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2000 to 2004, and a director of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2000 to 2005.

Politics

In 2004, as a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, Parry was elected to the Australian Senate for the state of Tasmania. He was elected Government Deputy Whip in the Senate in November 2006 and Government Whip in April 2007 in succession to the late Senator Jeannie Ferris. Senator Parry was elected Opposition Whip after the 2007 federal election and on 16 February 2009, in addition to his role as Whip, he was appointed Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.

Stephen Parry is married with two adult sons.

In accdordance with Senate traditions, on the 04 July 2011 Senator Stephen Parry replaced Allan Ferguson and was elected by the Senate, as the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees.

Becoming Human

Becoming Human is a British supernatural drama webisode series and a spin-off from the TV series Being Human. Created by Toby Whithouse, it was written by Brian Dooley, Jamie Mathieson and John Jackson) and stars Craig Roberts as the teenage vampire Adam (previously seen on Being Human), Leila Mimmack as the werewolf Christa and Josh Brown as the ghost Matt. A composition of the eight episodes (including the finale) was aired on BBC Three at 9:00pm on 20th March 2011.

Plot

Becoming Human continues the adventures of Adam, a 46-year-old vampire in the body of a 16-year old boy, who had originally appeared in the second episode of the third series of Being Human. This episode provided his backstory - Adam had been protected by his parents (who had fed him with their own blood) up until they died of old age, following which he had come under the protection and encouragement of Mitchell, Annie, George and Nina. During his brief time with them, they had encouraged him to live a better and more moral life, keeping his vampire nature undercover, resisting the urge to prey on humans for blood, and surrounding himself with "good" people to encourage his own better behaviour. As Becoming Human begins, Adam has moved elsewhere and is trying to live a normal life as a "human", which at this point involves joining a school and getting some qualifications.

On his first day at the school, Adam manages to embarrass and ostracise himself - his pop-culture references are thirty years out of date and his social skills bizarre. However, he meets another pupil, Christa, who is hiding the fact that she is a werewolf. Christa has also been being followed by a fat, melancholy boy whom she believes is a stalker but whom no-one else can see. When both she and Adam are sent for detention and encounter the boy again, Adam realises that he is a ghost. The ghost introduces himself as Matt and turns out to be a missing student from the school: there are posters up regarding his disappearance, but due to his unpopularity few people have paid attention.

Adam quickly realises that because Matt's ghost is lingering rather than passing on to the afterlife, there must be something unresolved about his death. They discover that he has been murdered, and the three of them set about trying to solve the murder. The task is made more difficult by the fact that Matt's own memories of the event are unclear, and he often blurs them or misleads for various reasons of his own. Among the suspects Adam and his friends investigate are the school bully Danny Curtis (who used to make jokes about Matt's weight and love of eggs), Brandy Mulligan (the "Perfect Plastic" with a dark family secret) and Mr Swan (the foul-tempered PE teacher who verbally abuses students and staff members, including Adam and Christa's six-form tutor Mr Roe).

A sub-plot of the show deals with the uneasy relationship between the trio, which has elements of a rivalry, friendship and love triangle. It is revealed that Matt had a three-year-long unrequited crush on Christa which ultimately led to him being in the boys' toilets he died in, scribbling "an anonymous declaration of love" on the cubicle wall with a key when the murderer attacked him. It's suggested that Adam and Christa also might have feelings for each other, although both deny it. Adam frequently makes crude passes at Christa and takes opportunities to kiss her or be seen doing so (although its unclear whether this is human or vampire-influenced behaviour), while Christa outspokenly rejects and dismisses him. In spite of this, Matt is subject to occasional outbursts of jealousy. Adam, meanwhile, is also trying to deal with his vampire urges and is frequently tempted to "punish" the murderer (once they are discovered) by feeding from them, with Christa acting as moral restraint and Matt struggling with his own desires for revenge.

Following several false leads, a major breakthough is made when Mr Roe lets slip to the trio that Mr Swan has ordered him to clean the same boys' toilets that Matt was drowned in. 

They eventually discover that the CCTV cameras between the toilets and the gym are missing, further implicating Mr Swan in the murder. They begin to suspect that Matt's body is hidden in the gym, because Christa can smell it the day before the full moon. They investigate the gym the night of the full moon-when a werewolf's senses are at their peak- only for Christa to start changing. Matt and Adam discover that they are trapped- someone locked the doors. Matt and Adam lure the transforming Christa into the gym's supply cupboard and barricade the door. In the morning, she is released and they wonder where Matt's body could've been. They initially fear that Christa may have eaten it during her time as a werewolf; but Matt succeeds in finally locating his body- still in the cupboard hidden among cleaning tools.

Mr Swan finds them and they question him, accusing him of the murder. He tells them that Mr Roe had keys to the gym and access to the security cameras, and the trio realise that Roe was listening to their conversations the entire time during detention (while pretending to be listening to music on headphones) and had already fed them a false lead regarding Brandy Mulligan. At this point, Roe appears and knocks out Swan with a baseball bat. Matt uses a chalkboard to ask Roe why he committed the murder, and Adam grabs him by the throat as Roe tells them that he was tired of being pushed around by people, so he "pushed back". Someone had apparently keyed Roe's car, and he'd seen Matt running away from the scene (Matt was innocent, though- he was running from the girl's locker room, where'd he'd been caught peeping). Roe then followed Matt into the toilets and saw Matt carving a symbol of his love for Christa. Roe assumed that Matt was writing yet another insult towards him, so he drowned Matt in a fury.