Thursday, 12 February 2015

Tony's at it again...the usual rubbish

Sydney terror raid: Robert Richter QC says statements by Tony Abbott could prejudice future trial of two accused men

By political reporter Anna Henderson and staff

Updated about an hour agoThu 12 Feb 2015, 5:58pm

PHOTO: Omar Al-Kutobi (L) and Mohammad Kiad (R) are accused of plotting an imminent terrorist attack. (Facebook)

RELATED STORY: Suspect in alleged Sydney terrorist plot 'filmed kneeling before IS flag'

MAP: Sydney 2000

A prominent Australian barrister says statements made by the Prime Minister about two men accused of a terror plot could prejudice a future trial.

Tony Abbott alleged in Parliament that one of the men arrested in Tuesday's terrorism raid in Sydney made a video threatening violence under an Islamic State (IS) flag.

He quoted detailed threats made by the man in the video, shown to the Prime Minister in a briefing this morning by the AFP and ASIO, that have not been aired in court.

Robert Richter QC accused Mr Abbott of using parliamentary privilege in an attempt to influence the judicial process "in a calculated political gambit".

PHOTO: Robert Richter QC says the PM's comments could impact the case.(AAP: Julian Smith, file photo)

Mr Richter said the statements might have a highly detrimental impact on the case.

"It's highly theoretical and the question depends entirely on what course the legal proceedings will take," told the ABC.

"For all I know there may be an application at some stage to stay proceedings on the basis that things were published which ought not to have been published which prejudiced a proper trial.

"I know that it's a long way down the track, but someone in a responsible position needs to be able to consider the fact that they should watch what they say, especially when, for a blatant political purpose, they are disclosing information that ought not at this stage be disclosed."

Mr Richter said if the statements had been made outside of Parliament, Mr Abbott would have been in contempt of court.

"To make those sorts of inflammatory utterances is calculated to influence the judicial process and it's being done for a political purpose," he said.

The Prime Minister's office has been contacted for comment.

VIDEO: Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks about alleged Sydney terror plot in Parliament

Mr Abbott told Parliament the two men made a video saying they would carry out their attack by "stabbing the kidneys and striking the necks".

Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, and Mohammad Kiad, 25, are accused of plotting an imminent terrorist act.

The men were arrested during a raid on a converted garage in the back yard of a house in Fairfield in Sydney's west.

Police alleged that during the raid they found a machete, a hunting knife, an IS flag and a video with a recorded message in Arabic in which one of the men allegedly talked about carrying out an attack.

Mr Abbott said he had been briefed by Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin and ASIO Director-General Duncan Lewis about the attacks that had been prevented, saying the men had made a "pre-attack video".

"Kneeling before the death cult flag with a knife in his hand and a machete before him, one of those arrested said this: 'I swear to almighty Allah we will carry out the first operation for the soldiers of the caliphate in Australia.

"He went on to say, 'I swear to almighty Allah, blonde people, there is no room for blame between you and us. We only owe you, stabbing the kidneys and striking the necks'.

"I don't think it would be possible to witness uglier fanaticism than this - more monstrous fanaticism and extremism than this - and I regret to say it is now present in our country."

PHOTO: Mohammad Kiad, one of the accused men, is a nurse who moved to Australia from Kuwait in 2012. (Supplied: Facebook )

The two men will remain in custody for at least a month, after their lawyer told Sydney's Central Local Court he was withdrawing their bail application.

The Immigration Department is conducting an urgent review into the men's cases.

Al-Kutobi is a student who fled war-torn Iraq for Australia, and Kiad is a nurse who moved from Kuwait in 2012.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said one of the men was suspected of coming to Australia with false documentation.

Appearing on Channel Nine this morning, Mr Dutton was asked about reports that one of the men entered Australia illegally.

"The initial advice to me allegedly one of the suspects may have come to Australia with some false documentation," he said.

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"At that stage, bearing in mind it was in 2009... over that long period about 50,000 people came on 800 boats.

"It was a difficult time for our intelligence agencies."

Investigators have said it was unclear who the men were allegedly planning to kill, and have refused to confirm reports that a police officer was a target.

"The type of act that we will allege that was going to be undertaken is consistent with the messaging coming out of [Islamic State]," NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said yesterday.

Kim Jong Il & Tony Abbott, goodness me, he really is such a dick

Open submarine tender could result in 'Kim Jong-il-class' fleet, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says

By political correspondent Emma Griffiths

Updated earlier today at 7:19amThu 12 Feb 2015, 7:19am

Kim Jong il looks at soldiers taking part in a military parade.

PHOTO: Former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died in December 2011.(Reuters: KCNA news agency, file)

MAP: Australia

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is mocking suggestions the Government should have an open tender process for Australia's next fleet of submarines, saying that could result in "Kim Jong-il-class submarines" or "Vladimir Putin submarines".

The Government has been under pressure over how it will award the multi-billion-dollar contract since it emerged the Prime Minister had reassured a Liberal MP that Australia's shipbuilding company would be allowed to compete in the lead-up to this week's vote on his leadership.

Mr Abbott said the Government would use a "competitive evaluation process" to make the decision.

But the MP in question, South Australian Liberal senator Sean Edwards, earlier this week said the Prime Minister had described it to him as an open tender process.

In Question Time, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asked: "If the Prime Minister did not promise Senator Edwards a full and open tender, what precisely did the Prime Minister promise to obtain his vote?"

Mr Abbott stood by his description of the process as one of "competitive evaluation" and accused the Opposition of wanting to allow "anyone to be able to compete".

"He might want the Russians to compete - the Putin subs is what we will get from the Leader of the Opposition," Mr Abbott told Parliament.

"We could have Kim Jong-il-class submarines, Vladimir Putin submarines.

"You cannot trust the Opposition with the defence of this country but you can with this Government."

Simple assurance given for Australian contractors: Edwards

Earlier this week, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews came under pressure to define the competitive evaluation process but offered no further detail other than to say it would consider technical aspects, cost and timing.

Senator Edwards also addressed Parliament on Wednesday and said he had been reassured that Australian contractors would be able to bid.

Russian president Vladimir Putin inside a C-Explorer 5 submersible

PHOTO: "Putin subs is what we will get from the Leader of the Opposition" - Tony Abbott (Reuters: Aleksey Nikolskyi)

"For the avoidance of confusion and doubt that has infected some in this place, I don't mind what you call the process," he said.

"Such specific terminology was never part of the assurance I sought. The assurance I sought was very simple. I asked for Australian companies like ASC to have the right to compete for the Future Submarine project on merit.

"That's the very assurance I got."

Senator Edwards has not backed away from his recollection of the conversation with the Prime Minister but said all that mattered to him was that local shipbuilders could compete.

The new submarines were expected to cost up to $40 billion.

ASC employs about 2,000 people and its future is said to rely heavily on involvement in the submarine contract.

Late last year then-defence minister David Johnston came under fire for declaring that ASC could not be trusted "to build a canoe". He was dumped to the backbench shortly after.

YotaPhone

Russian dual-screen YotaPhone places big bet on China

(Agencies)Updated: 2015-02-12 10:09

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Russian dual-screen YotaPhone places big bet on China

The Yotaphone 2, a double screen Android-based smartphone, is pictured in Helsinki January 29, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Russia's Yota Devices, the maker of a dual-screen smartphone which has so far proved a flopwith consumers, has reached its first mass market distribution deal with an agreement to sellphones in China through state-backed Potevio Co.

The YotaPhone has attracted a minor cult following among gadget enthusiasts with its distinctive,two-screen phone that seeks to stand out in a crowded, undifferentiated mobile market.

While the phone has a conventional screen for calls and other common phone functions, on theflip side it sports a second, always-on display that streams social media, text messages, maps,weather and breaking news and works as a mini e-book reader.

The YotaPhone has enjoyed the high-profile backing of President Vladimir Putin who wasphotographed handing one to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his November trip to China.

Moscow-based Yota said late Tuesday that Potevio would begin sales across China of its latestYotaPhone2 models this quarter. Potevio sold 36 million phones in China last year for a total of46 billion yuan ($7.4 billion), according to the company.

Yota Chief Executive Vlad Martynov said an earlier version of the YotaPhone, which sold poorlyin 20 countries where it was marketed, was merely a proof of concept, but that China held outpromise as the Russian handset maker's first mainstream market.

"China will be the biggest market in terms of volumes, no doubt about that," Martynov toldReuters in a phone interview.

Trying to stand out

Martynov said Yota had reached deals with the biggest online sales portals in China and signedup 20 top content providers to offer popular local features including social media, search, e-book, stock and weather information.

But entering the world's most competitive phone market poses significant challenges. Whilemore than 284 million phones were sold in China in the first nine months of 2014, according togovernment data, shipments fell 10.9 percent year over year.

Moreover, in excess of 90 percent of handsets were sold by domestic brands, which chargearound $200 for increasingly sophisticated smartphones, leaving less than 10 percent of themarket to foreign brands priced at $400 to $500 or more.

Wednesday, 11 February 2015

!!!!!!!!!Australia to compete in 2015 Eurovision Song Contest!!!!!!!!!!!

Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest

Geneva, Switzerland -

Yes, you read that right! After a prominent place in the interval act of last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Australia will compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, to take place on 19, 21 and 23rd of May in Vienna, Austria. Just for once, and for many good reasons!

This year, the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 60th anniversary. To give the anniversary celebrations an extra dimension and to walk the talk on this year’s themeBuilding Bridges, the EBU and host broadcaster ORF invited Australia to compete in the Grand Final of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. This brings the total amount of represented countries to 40.

In pictures: Australia at Eurovision throughout the years

Check out the Full gallery

The contest’s governing body, the Reference Group, and the EBU’s Television Committee accepted the proposal.

“It’s a daring and at the same time incredibly exciting move. It is our way of saying; let’s celebrate this party together!” says Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the contest on behalf of the EBU.

Michael Ebeid, Managing Director of broadcaster SBS, says: "We are very excited to have secured this historic opportunity for Australia to be represented on the world’s biggest stage at the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest and are honoured that the European Broadcasting Union has supported us to achieve this ambition. SBS has been broadcasting Eurovision for over 30 years and we have seen how Australians’ love of the song contest has grown during those years."

ORF Director General Dr. Alexander Wrabetz says: "The song contest has developed in its history to become the biggest TV entertainment event in the world. With the participation of Australia, together with our partners at the EBU and SBS, we have succeeded to lift it to a new global level and to build another bridge for the 60th anniversary. A bridge that spans the globe, starting from the heart of Europe."

Australia will be allowed to vote in both Semi-Finals, as well as the Grand Final. Along a professional jury, possibilities are currently being explored to allow the public to have a 50 percent stake in the Australian vote via televoting.

Q&A

What does this mean?

Broadcaster SBS, which has a long tradition of airing the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia, will send a contestant to Vienna, where the 2015 contest will take place. Their contestant, who is yet to be chosen, will participate directly in the Grand Final under exactly the same conditions as all other participants.

Can Australia vote? And can we vote for Australia?

Despite the time difference – it’s early Sunday morning in Australia while Europe watches the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday evening – the EBU’s international voting partner Digame is exploring possibilities to allow the Australian public to vote in both Semi-Finals and in the Grand Final. Viewers in all other 39 participating countries also have the possibility to vote for the Australian contestant. As usual, no one can vote for his or her own country.

Why does Australia take part directly in the Grand Final, and not in one of the two Semi-Finals?

To not reduce the chances of the current Semi-Final participants to make it to the Grand Final and because of the one-off nature of Australia’s participation, it was decided to add the country to the Grand Final, bringing the total amount of participants to 27, along with 10 qualifiers from each Semi-Final, host country Austria, and the so-called Big Five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom).

What if Australia wins? Would the contest take place down under?

No. In case Australia wins, SBS will co-host the Eurovision Song Contest in a European city, together with an EBU Member Broadcaster. Their participation is intended as a one-off, but in case of a victory, Australia will be allowed send a participant to the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

Could Australia or other countries outside of Europe take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in the future?

Australia’s Eurovision Song Contest participation is a one-off initiative. But throughout its 60 years of development, new elements have been introduced to keep the Eurovision Song Contest exciting, surprising and relevant to the spirit of time. Who knows what the future will bring, as excitement about this European tradition spreads to other countries around the world?

How and when will Australia choose its participant?

It is up to broadcaster SBS in Australia to decide how they wish to select their entry for Vienna. They will have to do so – like all other participating broadcasters – before the 16th of March, when all entries have to be submitted to the EBU.

Why Australia, and not other countries?

Australia has a long tradition of broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest and a loyal fan base watching the event every year. Broadcaster SBS from Australia is also an Associate Member of the EBU.