Two a penny

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A massive wildfire tore through outlying suburbs north of Athens early Sunday, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee in dramatic overnight evacuations, Fire Service and local officials said.

The fires near the capital raged for a third day, blackening thousands of hectares of rugged land covered by pine forest or thick bushes. Anti-aircraft missiles at a nearby base were removed as flames approached, the army said. Fires are out of control on many fronts,” greater Athens local governor Yiannis Sgouros said.”The situation is tragic.After daybreak, planes and helicopters resumed water drops following an eight-hour pause that allowed the wildfire to spread across parts of Mount Penteli and reach suburban homes.A state of emergency was declared in greater Athens, in the worst destruction seen here since massive fires struck southern Greece in 2007 and killed more than 70 people. Clouds of black smoke filled the capital’s skyline and obscured the sun.Deputy Fire Chief Stelios Stefanidis said no casualties had been reported by early Sunday, despite the overnight evacuations of hundreds of hillside homes on the outskirts of the city.Authorities evacuated two large children’s hospitals, camp sites, and homes in villages and outlying suburban areas threatened by blazes that scattered ash on streets across the city. .The fires, which started late Friday, were reported in an area more than 25 miles (40km) wide.Residents battled the fires outside their homes with hose-pipes and even branches, and many ignored evacuation orders that were called out over loud speakers in fire-stricken towns.Winds of up to 50 kilometers per hour were forecast Sunday, while Stefanidis said the thick smoke was hampering water drops. Volunteers and army conscripts joined hundreds of firefighters to help fend off the flames. Volunteers and army conscripts joined hundreds of firefighters to help fend off the flames.”Some of the threatened areas were in the vicinity of the town of Marathon, from which the modern long-distance foot race takes its name. “A massive effort by authorities is taking place to deal with this very difficult challenge.Elsewhere in Greece, serious fires were reported on the islands of Evia and Skyros.Municipal officials in that area said the fire was threatening the archaeological site of Rhamnus, home to two 2,500-year-old temples.

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About a dozen protesters faced the rain today to stick a summons on Social Development Minister Paula Bennett’s door.

The protest, organised by Socialist Aotearoa was over National’s cutting of the Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) and Ms Bennett’s revealing of beneficiaries’ private information.

The mothers said without it they would not be able to continue courses which would help them get jobs.

Ms Bennett has been under fire this week for revealing the welfare payment details of two solo mothers, on benefits, who complained about the Government’s decision to scrap the TIA.

“We think it’s disgraceful that people are trying to scapegoat on the poor and the unemployed and single mothers for the problems in society,” said Socialist Aotearoa member Joe Carolan.

The protesting group, a coalition of community, disabled and trade union groups, was at Ms Bennett’s West Auckland office today. .

“We are in a huge economic crisis at the moment where 50,000 people are going to lose their jobs so we need more support and more training for the unemployed in this period. We need all the help we can get, not to be yet again discriminated against by the Government.

“As a single parent and a student myself I know how hard it is to try and complete some training.

“It’s going to significantly affect my ability to keep studying.”

She said the cut would mean she would not have money for travel, text books and it would affect her ability to afford childcare.”

The summons, stuck on to Ms Bennett’s door, called for her to attend a hearing of “the people’s court” to defend her actions in cutting the TIA and revealing the personal information of the two beneficiaries.”

Ms Ferguson said she would keep studying regardless, but it would be “incredibly difficult.

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The hearing is set for next Saturday, at her office

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A case involving an HIV-positive man charged with infecting others with the disease has aroused plenty of fear, the New Zealand Aids Foundation said today.

Glenn Richard Albert Mills, 40, now faces 28 charges including wounding or attempted wounding with reckless disregard, infecting with a disease and attempting to infect with a disease. .

Fourteen of those charges were added today as a result of publicity arising from his earlier appearances in Auckland District Court and the lifting of name suppression the previous month.

She said the numbers coming to the foundation to have HIV tests had gone up by 40 per cent since Mills’ name was released.

Aids foundation executive director Rachael Le Mesurier said she knew it was “a scary time for many people”.

“We’re also aware that a lot of people have realised that they might have put themselves at risk with somebody else.

“We’re very aware that some of these people may have had contact with the accused,” she said.

While Mills is alleged to have knowingly infected, or tried to infect others, it was far more likely for people to get HIV from partners who didn’t know they had the disease.”

Ms Le Mesurier said the Mills case was unusual.

“The best answer is to use condoms and to get yourself tested as regularly as you can,” she said.

Ms Le Mesurier said everyone who was concerned about the possibility that he or she might have contracted HIV should get tested, either by the foundation or by a GP.

The new counts concerned offending that was alleged to have occurred between April last year to May this year.

The latest complainants against Mills include two females aged 23 and 28 and five men aged between 18 and 28.

The new charges arose after publicity about the case and the lifting the previous month of suppression of Mills’ name and photo.

The offences were alleged to have happened in Auckland and Wellington and, in relation to one male complainant, on the “high seas”.

He is accused of attempting to infect the others with the virus and with attempting to cause them grievous bodily harm.

Of the new complainants, Mills is accused of infecting two of them with HIV and resulting in them grievous bodily harm.

On the previous charges, which were laid before the law change, he was remanded until November 24 for a depositions hearing, which is expected to take four days.

He was remanded in custody to reappear on September 23 for a pre-committal hearing under the new trial process that came into effect the previous month and did away with oral depositions.

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Seven months ago Owen Franks had never played a Super 14 match.

Now the 21-year-old tighthead prop is preparing to start against the Springboks in Sunday morning’s Tri Nations test at Absa Stadium, having been picked to replace Neemia Tialata who suffered a knee injury in last weekend’s 22-16 defeat to the ‘Boks in Bloemfontein.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made just one other change to his starting side, bringing Jimmy Cowan back in for Brendon Leonard at halfback.

Although Tialata has played 36 tests, the introduction of in the inexperienced Franks, who has made three appearances as a substitute for the All Blacks this season, should not be viewed as a risky selection. . Later in the season Owen then leapfrogged Bronson Murray as the starting tighthead.

A technically sound scrummager, he also possesses a high work-rate around the field and rose to prominence with the Crusaders earlier this year when his older brother, Ben, who made one appearance against Munster for the All Blacks on last year’s end of year tour, was forced to sit a large chunk of the season with a broken foot.

If Franks continues to improve under the tutelage of All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron he will be targeting a place in the 2011 World Cup squad as the management continue to seek replacements for Carl Hayman and Greg Somerville.

Linwood, a club that produced prominent All Blacks Fergie McCormick and Tane Norton, is proving a fertile environment for grooming brothers that have represented their country.

Franks, who was born in Motueka before moving to Christchurch as a youngster where he attended Christchurch Boys’ High School, is a member of the Linwood club and worked his way through the national secondary schools and under-21 teams before earning his Crusaders stripes.

Franks made his provincial debut against North Harbour as a 19-year-old in 2007 but battled to get starts with Canterbury behind Somerville and Campbell Johnstone. The Bachop brothers, Graeme and Stephen, and Aaron and Nathan Mauger, are also former All Blacks that represented the east Christchurch club. Cron is understood to be enthusiastic about the young man’s ability to scrum so well at such a young age.

Recently All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen revealed that Owen, who weighs around 116kg was several kilos heavier than Ben, who returned to the Crusaders squad late in the season after his rehabilitation.

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They’re not expecting gang members or troublemakers to get on board, but Palmerston North police want hosts to list their festivities on the police party register.

The register introduced in October last year allows party planners to tell police about the time, location, size and type of drink on offer at their future celebrations.

There have been 28 parties registered since the scheme began, but Sergeant Lance Kennedy said the numbers had thinned out in the past two months.

There had been fewer “riotous” parties since the register was introduced, he said.

Mr Kennedy started the register after a series of out-of-control parties in the city, including one that saw 150 young people rioting on Ferguson St last October. “If it means we prevent one or two riots, or somebody doesn’t get their letterbox smashed, then it’s worth it.

“It’s so they know there aren’t going to be idiots turning up, but if they do we have the information and can go around and sort it,” he said.”

Although people who registered were usually organised and unlikely to start trouble, they could still have their parties gatecrashed by troublemakers, he said. You wouldn’t get 300 people just turning up to a Mongrel Mob party.

“We don’t expect the Mongrel Mob or The Mothers to register with us, but with those groups you don’t get those huge numbers. .”

The register the first of its kind in New Zealand looks set to spread throughout the country, with Wanganui police likely to start a similar scheme this year.

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A woman has told of hearing Lesley Elliott’s “blood-curdling” scream when she saw her daughter being stabbed.

Shelley Ann Jones, who took Lesley Elliott’s 111 emergency phone call on January 9 last year, told the High Court in Christchurch that she was sent home to recover after taking the call.

Elliott dialled emergency services when she heard her daughter screaming as Clayton Weatherston attacked her in the bedroom at Elliott’s Dunedin home.

Clayton Robert Weatherston is on trial, accused of Sophie Elliott’s murder in Dunedin.

Jones said she heard a “very unpleasant” scream from Elliott when she saw her daughter on the ground.

Weatherston denies murdering Elliott, but accepts he is guilty of her manslaughter. It was a real scream when you know that it’s really happened.

“[It was] blood-curdling.. It was just . unsettling,” Jones said..”

It then said: “Inft can’t get in,” and noted the caller, Lesley Elliott, said she heard a “thumping” noise.

Jones’ computer entry about the telephone call stated: “Daughter attacked by partner. Female screaming .

Jones recorded: “Door opened. ..’

‘Killed her. ‘He’s killed her.’”

After the call was terminated, Jones said she took a break.’ ‘Blood everywhere.”

Sophie Elliott’s university supervisor Robert Alexander, is now giving evidence.

“I was quite pale and shaking so they told me to take the rest of the day.

“There was a lot of abuse.

“There was a lot of abuse. There were a lot of put-downs in the relationship,” Alexander said.

He described seeing Elliott the day before she was killed.

She had come to thank him and farewell him before she moved to Wellington to start a job at the Treasury later in the week. Elliott had ended up talking to him about Weatherston for almost two hours.

“She said to me, well, you don’t want to know about the other stuff, do you?” Alexander said.

Elliott talked about rumours being spread about her by Weatherston at the Treasury, in Wellington.

“She was aware that he was telling people that she was crazy,” Alexander said.

Cross-examination of Alexander by defence counsel Greg King is now under way.

MOTHER GIVES EVIDENCE

Earlier the court heard how Sophie Elliott “lost it” and “went at” her former boyfriend two days before he allegedly murdered her.

Sophie Elliott’s mother Lesley was giving evidence at the Christchurch High Court earlier today.

Lesley Elliott said her daughter was very upset about how she had become aggressive towards Weatherston in his Otago University office on January 7 last year.

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Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency on Sunday to quell political unrest and vowed to take tough action against protesters after they forced cancellation of an Asia summit.

Troops fired into the air when anti-government protesters stormed Thailand’s interior ministry on Sunday after Abhisit declared the emergency.

Supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra stormed the venue of an Asian summit in resort of Pattaya, forcing some leaders to flee by helicopter. They mobbed the prime minister’s car as he drove away from the ministry, beating it with clubs.

The cancelled summit has undermined confidence in the government and dealt another blow to the economy, analysts said.

After declaring victory there, they have been gathering all day in central Bangkok and by 1200 GMT their numbers were estimated at around 40,000.

Abhisit appeared on television to warn the Thaksin supporters to stop or face tough measures allowed under the emergency.

Thaksin now lives in self-imposed exile but his absence has not healed the divisions between the royalist, military and business elite, who say he was corrupt, and the poor who benefited from his populist policies. It is necessary for the government to adopt the measures allowed in the emergency decree, in order to get the nation back to peace,” he said in a televised statement, hours after his car was attacked.

”We want to ask you to stop such action.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees security matters, implored the security forces to do their job.

Some armoured vehicles have appeared on the streets but no action has been reported by security officers. Actions must be taken promptly and order be restored as soon as possible.

”Police and military officers must fully and forcefully carry out their jobs lest more damage is done.

A journalist at the Interior Ministry said soldiers initially made no effort to stop the protesters from entering the premises but later fired into the air to stop others getting in. Your superiors and I will take responsibility for all your actions,” he said in a statement on television. Others danced on top of the vehicles.

Some protesters had disabled the tracks of two armoured cars near police headquarters.

An army spokesman said on television the public should not be alarmed at the movement of such vehicles. Witnesses also saw armoured vehicles at the foreign ministry.

A demonstration at Abhisit’s office, Government House – the focus of the protests since late March – had earlier appeared to be winding down as people left the capital ahead of the three-day Thai New Year holiday from Monday. This was not a coup, but part of the security measures Abhisit has ordered, he said.

Leaders of the red-shirted, pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) said they had ”arrested” one of the prime minister’s security guards, claiming he had shot dead a protester at the ministry.

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Up to 300 police with riot shields were about 200 metres (yards) from the site.

A reporter saw the man’s badge, confirming he was part of Abhisit’s detail.

A reporter saw the man’s badge, confirming he was part of Abhisit’s detail. He said the guard was badly beaten up when he was brought to the Government House site where demonstrators later treated his wounds.

Speaking from a makeshift stage, UDD leader Jakrapob Penkair said the Thaksin supporters were ready to defend themselves.

“They are trying to force us into a people’s war. We will bring more people to Government House because the best way to defend ourselves is with numbers,” he said.

A reporter saw more than 100 petrol bombs, wooden stakes and metal poles. Surgical masks were being handed out.

Police said they had arrested Arismun Pongreungrong, a popular singer prominent in the UDD’s disruption of the summit, and were holding him at a police station north of Bangkok.

Abhisit suffered a political humiliation when the summit he had presented as a sign of the country’s return to normality had to be cancelled after the ”red shirts” broke into the venue.

Thaksin’s supporters say Abhisit only became premier last December as a result of parliamentary defections the army engineered. They want new elections, which they would be well placed to win. . Patareeya Benjapolchai, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, said he was concerned.

”It’s really up to the government now how it manages the situation within this five-day break. What happened was a loss for the country. The Asean summit was supposed to be a step-up for our economy,” Patareeya told .

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Teens accused of resulting in $30,000 damage

– Monday, 23 February 2009

Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with an early morning rampage in which at least over $30,000 worth of damage was done to parked vehicles in Auckland. . It is also alleged they set fire to council wheelie-bins.Police allege the youths were travelling in a white station wagon and randomly throwing rocks and bottles through car windows.Police said they thought more damage might have been done but had gone unreported.On the same night a rock was also thrown through a bedroom window in which a mother and her child were sleeping.Police said Newmarket, Remuera, Orakei, Mission Bay, Kohimarama, St Heliers, Glendowie, Glen Innes, Pakuranga and Half Moon Bay were the areas affected. They urged anyone who believed their property might have been damaged on that night to contact them.

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Boy in blue bears weight of funeral

in Auckland – Saturday, 31 January 2009

/The
BURDEN: A young constable bore the weight of both the police force and the Tongan community yesterday as he carried his cousin’s coffin.

A young constable bore the weight of both the police force and the Tongan community yesterday as he carried his cousin's coffin from a makeshift chapel in the backyard of his extended family's South Auckland home.
Naitoko was farewelled at a moving ceremony attended by more than 1000 mourners.
Police accidentally killed his cousin, 17-year-old Halatau Naitoko, during a shootout on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway on January 23. She later sobbed uncontrollably.
His heavily pregnant mother, Ivoni Fuimaono, wailed with grief as she lent over her dead son's coffin, kissed his forehead and stroked his hair. "His [Naitoko's] mother requested it," he said.
Asked to act as a pallbearer, Naitoko's cousin, Constable Joseph Ahotalafolau, 19, donned his dress blues for the occasion.
Standing beside the unfilled grave, relatives spotted a forbidden plastic flower on top of the coffin and called on the long arm of the law to retrieve it.
Although Ahotalafolau had permission from his bosses to wear his uniform, they were unaware of the special role he would play at the service or at the burial.
Ahotalafolau said few of his police colleagues had talked to him about his cousin's shooting.
Holding on to his feet, they lowered the young constable into the grave so he could reach the offending bloom."
But his uniformed presence at the service symbolised just how far Naitoko's family had come in forgiving the police for his death.
"It's been a bit hard.
Pastor Vosailangi Sikalu speaking through an interpreter told the gathering the blood of an innocent boy had been spilled.
Forgiveness was also the theme of the service attended by Police Minister Judith Collins, Commissioner Howard Broad and other central and local government figures. "Let that be the message to the Government officials and dignitaries, the minister of police, the police commissioner, even to the beloved policeman who fired the fatal shot.
"That blood is crying out for forgiveness," he said. "All he wanted to do was fulfil his obligation to his family," she said."
His aunt, Paea Sime, said Naitoko was a good and loyal son who worked hard to help his mother, and feed his younger siblings, even to buy nappies for his sister's baby."

. "He was killed in the line of his duty

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Proof needed to secure certificates

Thursday, 15 January 2009

Law changes designed to curb identity theft will come into effect this month.
From January 25, anyone ordering a birth, death, marriage, civil union or name-change certificate must offer proof of identity to obtain the document, unless the paper is a historical one.
The bill had a troubled passage through Parliament, and the previous Labour-led government took more than a year to secure enough support to pass the legislation. .
What had initially seemed a non-contentious proposal aimed at preventing criminals from obtaining the personal documents of someone else and using them for nefarious purposes was challenged by genealogists, historians and media concerned about the denial of access to previously public documents.
Older documents freely available without proof of identity include birth certificates from a 100 years or more ago, death certificates of stillbirths 50 years ago or more, marriage certificates dating from before 1929, and death certificates from before 1959.
When applying for a recent document, people need to sign a statement that proves their identity, and have the statement signed by a person such as a justice of the peace, doctor or teacher.
"While maintaining public access to the registers, these new requirements also provide better safeguards for people's personal information," Registrar-General Brian Clarke said.