Woolworths investigates mushroom poisoning

CANBERRA residents who may be feeling ill after consuming mushrooms bought from a Woolworths supermarket are being advised to seek immediate medical attention following a possible Death Cap mushroom poisoning.

ACT Health is investigating after three patients from the same household attended Canberra's Calvary Hospital in the last 48 hours with poisoning symptoms.

They claim to have been affected by mushrooms purchased from a Woolworths in the suburb of Dickson on April 17.

"This appears to be an isolated incident and there have been no other recent reports of Death Cap mushroom poisoning in the ACT," the territory's chief health officer Dr Paul Kelly said.

In a statement on Saturday, Woolworths advised that customers follow ACT Health's recommendations, which include seeking immediate medical attention if they experience stomach aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

ACT Health also recommends throwing away any mushrooms bought from Woolworths in Dickson around that time as a precaution.

Woolworths says it is not aware of any other cases.

"We take customer safety very seriously and are working closely with our supplier and ACT Health to investigate the claims," the company said.

In Canberra in 2012, a man and a woman died and two others were poisoned but recovered after consuming a meal which contained Death Cap mushrooms.

"People are reminded not to pick and eat any wild mushrooms. It can be extremely difficult for even experienced collectors to distinguish Death Cap mushrooms from other edible mushrooms," Dr Kelly said.

The highly toxic Death Cap mushroom is a native to Europe but has spread around the world, with populations observed in Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. It resembles a common edible variety used in Chinese cooking.

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Egypt reports first case of MERS virus

AUTHORITIES have detected the first case of a SARS-like virus in Egypt.

State news agency MENA says a 27-year-old civil engineer was diagnosed on Saturday after returning from Saudi Arabia, where the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, has been centred.

It says the man was quarantined upon his arrival at Cairo airport on Friday and transported to a nearby hospital.

Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry said late on Friday five more people in the kingdom had died from MERS.

The ministry says 92 people have died and 313 have contracted the virus in Saudi since September 2012.

MERS can cause symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure.

King Abdullah fired his health minister on Monday as officials struggle to alleviate public concerns amid a spike in infections.

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Letter written aboard Titanic sells for $2

A LETTER written by a passenger on the Titanic describing the "wonderful passage" - hours before the ship hit an iceberg - has sold at auction for STG119,000 ($A216,343.97).

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge says the handwritten note was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder at an auction in Devizes, western England, on Saturday.

The price, including a fee known as the buyer's premium, topped the pre-sale estimate of STG100,000.

The letter was written by second-class passenger Esther Hart on April 14, 1912.

"The sailors say we have had a wonderful passage up to now," she said in the note to family in England.

Hours later the passenger liner described as "practically unsinkable" hit an iceberg and sank, killing more than 1500 people.

Hart was among about 700 survivors.

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US consumer confidence jumps

US consumer confidence surged in April, approaching the highest level since the recession began in 2007 as Americans reported greater optimism about their financial situation and the economy.

The University of Michigan says its index of consumer sentiment rose to 84.1 in April from 80 in March.

That's just a point below the 85.1 reached last July, which was the highest in nearly seven years.

Americans have cut back on debt and benefited from steady hiring and rising stock and home prices.

Just 28 per cent said this month that their finances were getting worse, down from 37 per cent in March and the lowest level since April 2007.

Americans were also slightly more optimistic about future hiring, the survey found, though the gains were slight.

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Pakistan airstrike kills 37

PAKISTAN Air Force jets have hit suspected Taliban hideouts in the north-western tribal region, killing at least 37 people and injuring 18.

The insurgents were attacked in Khyber, which borders Afghanistan, on intelligence that rebels involved in recent bombings were present, a military official said on Thursday, on the condition of anonymity.

The casualties could not be verified through independent sources because the area is remote and too dangerous for the media.

It was the first airstrike since a 40-day ceasefire with the Taliban ended April 10.

Violence has broken out again after the Taliban refused to extend the truce.

A policeman known for opposing the Taliban was the target of a suicide bombing Thursday that killed him and at least two civilians in the restive southern port city of Karachi, police officer Farooq Awan said.

"About two kilograms of explosives were used by the bomber," Awan said.

Another police officer said three people were injured in the attack.

No one took responsibility for the bombing, which came a day after government and Taliban representatives met in Islamabad to revive the stalled peace process.

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NSW students' paid trip to Anzac service

ONE hundred NSW school students will be among lucky ballot winners at next year's Anzac Day centenary service at Gallipoli.

The NSW government will put up $1 million to enable the students and chaperones to take part in the anniversary dawn service in 2015.

The service at Anzac Cove marks 100 years since the fateful Gallipoli landing on April 25, 1915.

Public and independent school students in Year 10, 11 and 12 next year will be able to apply for the school tour.

"The experience won't end when they return home," Premier Mike Baird said.

"Students will share their experiences and be leaders in honouring the Anzac legacy within their school and local community as the future guardians of our proud military heritage."

Australians hoping to attend the 2015 service had to enter a ticket ballot.

Following consultations between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, attendance at the centenary service was capped at 10,500 with 8000 for Australians.

Of those allocated to Australia, 400 double passes were for sons and daughters of Gallipoli veterans, 400 were for school students and 400 double passes were for current defence personnel.

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Globe to do worldwide Hamlet tour

FOUR centuries after his death, William Shakespeare is probably Britain's best-known export, his words and characters famous around the world.

Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London is setting out to test the Bard's maxim that "all the world's a stage" by taking Hamlet to every country on Earth, more than 200 in all.

The company describes the plan as "insanely ambitious".

Some suspect it's impossible, and Amnesty International has weighed in to point out the "dark irony" of taking a play about a conscience-troubled prince to authoritarian North Korea.

Hamlet opens on Wednesday with the first of three performances at the Globe.

Then the 16-strong cast and crew will board a schooner for Amsterdam, starting a journey that will take them to seven continents by plane, boat, train, bus and jeep.

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Amazon snares classic shows in HBO deal

AMAZON is teaming up with HBO, the first such streaming arrangement agreed to by the cable network, in a deal that will make available to Amazon Prime members some classic TV like The Sopranos and The Wire.

The online retailer has faced mounting pressure to boost its bottom line after a spate of furious growth.

As more Americans shop online, Amazon has spent heavily to expand its business into new areas - from movie streaming to e-readers and groceries - often at the expense of profit.

After hike prices for membership earlier this year in a nod to those investors, Amazon appears ready to expand its offerings further in a grab for streaming market share.

The multi-year content licensing deal between Amazon and HBO will bring a trove of shows to prime users.

Aside from The Sopranos and The Wire, others include Big Love, Deadwood and early seasons of Boardwalk Empire and True Blood.

Original movies including Too Big to Fail and Game Change will also become available, as will original comedy specials from Lewis Black, Louis C.K., Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Maher.

Prior seasons of other HBO programs, like Girls and Veep, will become available about three years after airing on HBO.

"Prime members can enjoy a collection of great HBO shows on an unlimited basis, at no additional cost to their Prime membership," said Brad Beale, director of content acquisition for Amazon.

The first batch of shows will be available on Prime Instant Video starting on May 21.

Glenn Whitehead, executive vice president of business and legal affairs at HBO, said that the company has always wanted to capitalise on its position as owners of its original programming.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed on Wednesday.

The companies also said that HBO's streaming service 'Go' will be offered on Amazon's new streaming device, Fire TV, likely by year's end.

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Sales of new US homes plunge 14.5%

THE number of Americans buying new homes plummeted in March to the slowest pace in seven months, a sign that real estate's spring buying season is off to a weak start.

The Commerce Department says sales of new homes declined 14.5 per cent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000.

That was the second straight monthly decline and the lowest rate since July 2013.

Sales plunged in the Midwest, South and West in March, but they rebounded in the Northeast, where snowstorms in previous months curtailed purchases.

New-home sales have declined 13.3 per cent over the past 12 months.

But median sales prices jumped 12.6 per cent during the past month to $US290,000 ($A310,600).

That's because new-home buyers in March bought more high-end properties compared to previous months.

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Pop star Chris Brown's US trial delayed

POP star Chris Brown's trial on an assault charge in Washington has been delayed for months.

Lawyers returned to court on Wednesday for what had been set as the start of Brown's trial, but prosecutors have told a judge they won't grant Brown bodyguard Christopher Hollosy immunity to testify at his boss's trial.

Hollosy was convicted on Monday as part of the same October incident in which both men are accused of punching someone outside a hotel.

Hollosy had said he wouldn't testify unless granted immunity or until his appeal is concluded, which will take months.

A judge scheduled a June status hearing in Brown's Washington case.

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William and Kate to cruise Canberra sights

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will kick off their tour of the national capital by planting a tree and taking in Canberra's cultural sights.

But a planned anti-war protest could make getting around for the royals difficult.

William and Kate will begin their day at the National Arboretum where they will become the first members of the royal family to add to the arboretum's collection in planting an English oak tree.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will then welcome them to Parliament House in an official reception where William is expected to make his second and final speech in Australia.

Monarchists are hoping to hand over a gift of a half boulder Opal to the duchess during that event.

Later, art will come to life at the portrait gallery where William and Kate will meet several of the artworks' subjects.

They will then head back to their home-away-from-home, the governor-general's residence in Yarralumla, for another reception.

However, police are concerned the royal couple could bump into protesters from the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance, who have planned an anti-war march around town on Thursday.

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Bieber seeks delay in US DUI trial

JUSTIN Bieber is seeking a delay in his trial currently scheduled to begin next month on Florida charges of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license.

The 20-year-old pop singer's lawyers filed a motion on Monday saying they need more time to prepare their case.

Bieber's trial is currently set for May 5 in Miami.

The motion says prosecutors do not oppose a delay, and a scheduling hearing is set for Wednesday.

Bieber was arrested on January 23 in Miami Beach after what police described as an illegal street drag race.

He was not charged with drag racing.

Alcohol breath tests found Bieber's level below the 0.02 limit for underage drivers.

Urine tests showed the presence of marijuana and an anti-anxiety drug in his system.

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Unilever says it will use less plastic per

UNILEVER PLC, the producer of countless disposable containers that clutter the landfills of the world, says it is adopting technology that will cut the amount of plastic it needs to use in each bottle by 15 per cent.

The technology, developed with Zotefoams PLC of Britain, injects tiny gas pockets into bottle walls, reducing the weight and amount of plastic used, without sacrificing robustness.

Unilever is introducing the technique first in its Dove body wash bottles, which - over the 33 million sold in Europe in 2013 - would mean a savings of 250 tonnes of plastic.

Spokesman Marc Potma said Tuesday the company will expand the technique to other product lines, then relinquish patent rights by 2015 so other companies that wish to employ the method can do so.

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NASA satellites used to protect reef

OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD techniques are being used to help protect one of the world's greatest natural wonders.

Researchers at James Cook University in north Queensland are using images from NASA satellites to study the impact of polluted land run-off on the Great Barrier Reef.

The researchers say river flood plumes from heavy rain or cyclones push polluted water, containing pesticides and fertilisers, into the reef.

Dr Caroline Petus, from the university's TropWATER program, says the publicly available images can be effectively used to map the extent, nutrient content and muddiness of flood plumes.

It replaces the need for costly and labor-intensive methods like using submerged data loggers or boats and helicopters to gather water samples, she said.

The images will be used develop river plume maps for the reef's seagrass and coral ecosystems, which are in decline.

"These maps will help our understanding of the resilience of these ecosystems to water quality changes," Dr Petus said.

"In the near future they should help us predict ecosystems' health changes associated with human activities or climate change."

Seagrass expert Dr Michael Rasheed said the new information would help researchers better understand flood plume impacts, leading to better management of the reef.

"It is often difficult to determine whether declines in seagrass beds are due to polluted river run-off or coastal development such as dredging around a port," he said.

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Comcast 1Q earns surge

COMCAST Corp says its first-quarter net income rose by 30 per cent as ad revenue surged at broadcast network NBC.

The results, released on Tuesday, beat Wall Street estimates and its shares edged up in morning trading.

Comcast is the largest cable company in the country with 22 million video customers and 21.1 internet customers.

It is in the midst of an expected yearlong review of its $US45 billion ($A48 billion) acquisition of No. 2 rival Time Warner Cable Inc.

Regulators are examining whether the combination would give it undue pricing power over customers and too much leverage with programmers.

Its net income in the quarter through March rose to $US1.87 billion, or 71 cents per share, from $US1.44 billion, or 54 cents per share a year ago.

Excluding one-time items, adjusted earnings came to 68 cents per share, beating the 64 cents expected by analysts polled by FactSet.

Revenue grew 14 per cent to $US17.41 billion from $US15.31 billion - also higher than the $US16.99 billion expected by analysts.

NBCUniversal revenue grew 29 per cent to $US6.88 billion while cable services revenue grew 5 per cent to $US10.76 billion.

Olympics broadcast rights boosted NBCU revenue by $US1.1 billion.

Even excluding the games, broadcast revenue rose 17 per cent, helped by Fallon's selection for NBC's late night slot, replacing longtime host Jay Leno.

The network was also boosted by more hours of The Voice and the popularity of new shows such as The Blacklist.

On the cable connections side, Comcast added 24,000 video customers during the quarter, the second quarterly gain in a row following a six-and-a-half year losing streak.

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UN warns boat turnbacks no long-term fix

CREDITING the Abbott government's border regime for a drop in the number of asylum seekers registering in Indonesia is premature, says the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which argues Australia can't work in isolation if it wants a long-term solution.

The number of asylum seekers registering in Jakarta has fallen from 100 people daily to about 100 people weekly since late December when Australia started turning boats back.

The federal government says it's another sign the military-led border policy is succeeding in deterring asylum seekers from taking risky boat journeys from Indonesia.

But the UNHCR's senior regional protection advisor Thomas Vargas says it's much too soon to make the link.

"There's no reliable information that connects the drop in registration numbers at the UNHCR with the policy that Australia is implementing," he told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"The (people) smugglers are not going to go away, they may just find a different way of doing things.

"That's why countries need to work together.

"Unilateral solutions and even bilateral solutions are not going to solve the problem.

"They may solve them in the short-term for some countries, but it's not going to solve the situation in full."

The comments followed a two-day workshop in Jakarta where Indonesia, Australia and 14 other countries discussed the protection of asylum seekers at sea.

While stressing the workshop was not a finger-pointing exercise, the UNHCR echoed the views of Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa who emphasised sharing - not shifting - responsibility.

More than 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers are in Indonesia, and the boat turnbacks have angered Jakarta.

UNHCR Southeast Asia regional coordinator James Lynch says Australia's policy is "commendable" in its aim of stopping people dying at sea.

But when one nation closes its door to asylum seekers it has reverberations for the region.

"What kind of signal is that sending the rest of the neighbourhood who are in fact, and have provided, some kind of temporary protection?" he said.

"What we would hope is that Australia would, if people enter their territorial waters ... at least allow people to disembark and have access to the asylum system."

The UNHCR remains concerned about Australia processing asylum seekers on Manus Island, its response to allegations of mistreatment by officials during a boat interception, and its talks with Cambodia about resettling refugees there.

"From our point of view resettlement is looking for durable solutions for refugees," Mr Vargas said of the Cambodia talks.

"A real solution is not to send them to a country that is just recovering from a horrible civil war."

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Halliburton posts $US622m Q1 net income

HALLIBURTON says it was profitable in the first-quarter after reporting a loss for the period a year ago.

Its latest results topped Wall Street expectations, and its shares edged up in premarket trading on Monday.

The Houston-based company reported net income of $US622 million ($A665.92 million), or 73 US cents per share. Revenue rose 5 per cent to $US7.35 billion.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected 72 US cents per share on revenue of $US7.26 billion.

A year ago, the company reported a net loss of $US18 million, or 2 US cents per share on revenue of $US6.97 billion. That included a charge for setting aside money for litigation over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Without the charge, its adjusted profit was 67 US cents per share a year ago.

Halliburton shares rose 45 US cents to $US61.35 in premarket trading.

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NSW police breath-test 60,000 during blitz

ALMOST 60,000 people have been breath tested by NSW police who have issued more than 2000 traffic fines and charged 58 motorists with drink driving during the Easter road blitz.

They've handed out 910 speeding notices and another 1,500 tickets for other offences since Operation Tortoise began on Friday.

On Sunday afternoon, a 25-year-old man was breath tested after Deniliquin police saw him swerve onto the wrong side of the road.

He allegedly blew 0.261, more than five times the limit, and was charged with high-range drink driving and is due before Finlay Local Court in June.

A 19-year-old woman was on Sunday morning charged after being caught behind the wheel with an alleged blood-alcohol concentration of 0.163.

She also caught the attention of police while driving down the wrong side of a Cronulla road.

In the early hours of Monday morning a man, 24, was allegedly clocked speeding through a 80km/h zone at 140 km/h.

"The driver was issued a traffic infringement notice for exceeding speed by more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended for a period of six months," police said.

Traffic and highway patrol's commander Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said it's disappointing people were drink-driving despite consistent warnings from police.

"If you're going out to have a drink you need to find another way home, driving is simply not an option," he said.

Despite the heavy traffic only two people have died, down from three during Easter last year.

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More than 400 charges in Operation Unite

MORE than 400 charges have been laid for assaults and drink driving offences in Western Australia during the eighth Operation Unite targeting alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

Total statistics from Thursday to Sunday night included 433 charges, 165 arrests and 200 summons.

They include 21 assaults, as well as 15 people caught driving under the influence, 43 people in excess of 0.08 per cent, 12 people in excess of 0.05 per cent and two people in excess of 0.02 per cent.

Specialist squads made up of officers from the Liquor Enforcement Unit and the Regional Operations Group joined the operation in WA for the first time.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said last week that the excessive consumption of alcohol was still the most significant factor contributing to night-time violence.

Operation Unite is not about restricting people from having a good time, it is about continuing to raise community awareness about the dangers of determined drunkenness and the impact it has on others, he said.

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Mourners arrive for Peaches Geldof funeral

MOURNERS have started to arrive ahead of the funeral of Peaches Geldof as a host of celebrities prepare to say farewell to the television presenter and model.

Bob Geldof is expected to lead tributes to his daughter later on Monday at the same church where the funeral of her mother, Paula Yates, was held.

Musician and television personality Jools Holland was among the first to arrive at St Mary Magdalene and St Lawrence church in the village of Davington, near Faversham in Kent.

Dozens of locals also looked on as cars began to arrive outside the church, which is where the 25-year-old socialite married musician Tom Cohen, the father of her children, in 2012.

The funeral of TV presenter Yates was held there after she died from an accidental heroin overdose in 2000, aged 41.

Bono and Annie Lennox are expected to be among the mourners who will attend the funeral, according to reports.

The Geldof family have said the service will be held in private.

Mystery still surrounds the sudden death of Geldof on April 7.

Her body was found at the home she shared with her husband and their two young sons, Astala, 23 months, and 11-month-old Phaedra, in Kent, after officers were called "following a report of concern for the welfare of a woman".

Former Boomtown Rats singer Geldof paid tribute to his daughter alongside his partner Jeanne Marine and Peaches' sisters Fifi Trixibelle, Pixie and Tiger, saying she was the "wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us".

Kent Police said it was being treated as a "non-suspicious, unexplained sudden death".

An inquest is not expected to be opened until after the results of toxicology tests are known.

Cars carrying flowers for the funeral arrived outside the church, which is next to Sir Bob's Davington Priory country estate, where Peaches grew up.

There were bouquets and cards left by well-wishers outside the entrance to the property's driveway.

Peaches' ashes are expected to be scattered in the estate's garden, where she played as a child, according to reports.

Written in chalk on the church's wall, a message read "RIP Peaches".

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Mickey Rooney laid to rest in California

Hollywood veteran Mickey Rooney has been laid to rest at a private funeral in California. Source: AAP

MICKEY Rooney has been laid to rest at a private funeral in California.

Family and friends of the Breakfast at Tiffany's star bid farewell to the beloved actor at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday, following a memorial service on Friday.

The funeral comes a week after Rooney's conservator and attorney Michael Augustine, and Rooney's estranged wife, Janice Rooney, debated on where to hold the send-off. The two parties eventually settled on the popular site, where other Hollywood legends are buried.

Rooney, 93, died on April 6.

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NAB lags on business customer ratings

NATIONAL Australia Bank continues to lag behind its major rivals when it comes to business customer satisfaction, despite a slight improvement.

NAB, Australia's biggest business lender, had an average customer satisfaction rating of 7.0 out of 10 in March, which lagged behind ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac, which all scored 7.4.

But according to the monthly DBM Consultants Business Financial Services Monitor (BFSM), NAB has improved its standing among small and medium sized business.

DBM Consultants director Maria Claridad said the NAB ranked alongside the Commonwealth and Westpac in both categories, with ANZ lagging behind.

However, the bank's performance had been weighed down by its relatively weak standing among micro businesses.

"The key is to delight the micro businesses, as they make up close to 90 per cent of all Australian businesses," she said.

"NAB's score amongst these businesses is 6.9, although it has shown signs of improving in recent months."

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