Egypt asks YouTube to remove assault video

EGYPT is asking YouTube to remove a video of a woman being sexually assaulted in Tahrir Square during a rally supporting the country's newly-elected president.

PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Ehab Badawy said in a statement late on Thursday that the Egyptian Embassy in Washington made the request to YouTube, which is owned by Google Inc.

Officials with YouTube could not be immediately reached Friday.Badawy said the woman attacked asked President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi during a visit he made to her hospital to have the video taken down.Sexual harassment has long been a problem in Egypt, but assaults have increased dramatically both in frequency and ferocity in the three years since the ouster of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

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Ignition switch problem forces GM recall

GENERAL Motors is recalling more cars for problems with ignition switches.

GM is recalling nearly 512,000 Chevrolet Camaro muscle cars from the 2010 to 2014 model years.

A driver's knee can bump the key and knock the switch out of the "run" position, causing an engine stall.That knocks out power steering and brakes and could cause drivers to lose control.GM says it knows of three crashes and four minor injuries from the problem.GM says the Camaro switches met its specifications - unlike the switches at the centre of a recall of 2.6 million small cars.That problem has caused more than 50 crashes and at least 13 deaths.The Camaro key is concealed in the Fob like a switchblade, and GM said it would be replaced with a straight design.

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Abbott lays wreath at war cemetery

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, as his government drops the idea of creating a national war cemetery in Canberra to commemorate the Anzac centenary in 2015.

THE tomb is in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr Abbott on Friday viewed the elaborate changing of the Army soldier guard ceremony at the tomb, before laying the wreath."It's fitting that I should lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier here," Mr Abbott told reporters."I should pay tribute to the Americans who have fought for their country because many of them have been fighting for our country."He said Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Britons had all made sacrifices over the past century.The cemetery is the final resting place of more than 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans and their families.Mr Abbott raised the idea of creating a similar cemetery in Australia in 2013 at Legacy's national conference in Brisbane, describing it as "Australians' Arlington".The concept would involve interring significant ex-soldiers.But it is understood the concept has now been ditched after feedback from the veterans' community.The prime minister, who will host the G20 summit in November, also on Friday discussed financial and economic issues with US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen.Mr Abbott will receive a military welcome when he visits the Pentagon for talks with Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.He will then head to Houston, where he will deliver a speech to the Asia Society. Liquefied natural gas is also likely to be discussed during Mr Abbott's visit, with the biggest project occupying the minds of LNG industry figures being the Panama Canal expansion.It will allow massive Post-Panamax ships to take American LNG to the booming markets of Asia to compete against the Australian product.

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Greece makes record heroin bust

GREEK authorities say they have seized a record 1.1 tonnes of heroin, worth more than 30 million euros ($A43 million), near Athens and arrested 11 suspected traffickers.

A COASTGUARD statement on Friday said the operation, which followed a tip-off, was carried out in coordination with the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

The suspects, who were arrested late on Thursday, were identified as six Greeks and five foreign nationals.The coastguard wouldn't specify the nationalities further and it wasn't immediately clear where the heroin had come from.It said the drug ring had operated from a warehouse east of Athens and distributed the heroin in trucks to Greece and other European countries.Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said it was the largest quantity of heroin ever seized in Greece.

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Rogue Vic MP to headline comedy show

THE Geoff Shaw show rolls on with the suspended Victorian MP due to headline a comedy event on Friday night.

THE rogue Frankston MP will appear on stage for an hour at the Wheeler Centre with comedian Sammy J for a question and answer session.

Mr Shaw has made few public comments this week as his political future was decided with a parliamentary suspension on Wednesday.The Liberal-turned-independent was found by the privileges committee to have misused his parliamentary car and entitlements.The government passed a motion to suspend Mr Shaw until September 2, ordering him to repay more than $6800 and apologise to the parliament.The Victorian parliament is now locked at 43 votes on each side, with Speaker Christine Fyffe holding the casting vote.Premier Denis Napthine has looked to move on from Mr Shaw's suspension, challenging Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews to back tougher sentencing reforms when parliament sits in the June 24 sitting week."Does he support tougher sentences for drug traffickers? Does he support tougher sentences for pedophiles, or is he going to be a wrecker?" Dr Napthine told reporters on Thursday.Mr Andrews said Labor would not give the government a "free ride" to pass legislation."Our job is to hold the government to account," Mr Andrews told reporters."We'll work through every single bill they put before the parliament line by line, doing our job, fulfilling our responsibility.

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Applications for US jobless aid up

MORE Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but claims for jobless aid remain near pre-recession levels.

THE Labor Department said on Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits rose 4000 to a seasonally adjusted 317,000.

The four-week average, a less volatile measure, increased to 315,250.The figures are near the jobless claims levels before the outbreak of the Great Recession in December 2007.Applications are a proxy for layoffs, so the claims data show that employers are dismissing fewer workers.Last Friday, the Labor Department said employers added 217,000 jobs in May as the unemployment rate held steady at 6.3 per cent.The steady hiring, after the economy shrank during the first three months of the year because of the winter weather, points to faster growth ahead.Monthly job gains have averaged 234,000 for the past three months, up sharply from 150,000 in the previous three.The May unemployment rate, which is derived from a separate survey, was the lowest rate in more than five years.Gross domestic product fell one per cent in the first three months of 2013.Many economists expect that number could be further revised downward, while growth returns as warmer weather has generated more hiring and consumer spending.

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Twitter COO Ali Rowghani resigns

TWITTER says its chief operating officer, Ali Rowghani, has resigned from his post but will stay with the company as a strategic adviser to CEO Dick Costolo.

ROWGHANI joined Twitter in 2010 as chief financial officer and became COO two years later.

Before that, he served as CFO at Pixar Animation Studios.Twitter Inc says it will not name a replacement for Rowghani and did not give a reason for his departure.His responsibilities will be shifted to other executives.The San Francisco-based social media company has been trying to broaden its user base, most recently by luring in World Cup fans who want to follow teams and players using its service.

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Brangelina attend war summit

BRAD Pitt has joined Angelina Jolie at a London summit on sexual violence, lending the couple's star power to the campaign to end rape in war zones.

THE four-day London conference is organised by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Jolie, a United Nations special envoy.

They hope representatives of the more than 100 countries present will back a new protocol laying out how sexual violence in conflict zones should be investigated and prosecuted.They say they want to end the "culture of impunity" for wartime sex crimes.Pitt watched from the audience as Jolie and Hague spoke to delegates at the east London conference venue.Billed as the biggest-ever summit on the subject, the gathering has drawn diplomats, officials, charity representatives and survivors of wartime rape.Jolie said the meeting, which ends on Friday, was being held "for all the forgotten, hidden survivors who have been made to feel ashamed or been abandoned"."And for the children of rape - we want the whole world to hear their stories and understand that this injustice cannot be tolerated, and that sorrow and compassion are not enough," she said.Hague and Jolie have made an odd but effective double act as they've campaigned against sexual violence for the past two years.Hague said the Maleficent star "has the power to speak to the whole world, to raise awareness, change attitudes"."Governments like the one I am a member of hold in their hands levers of decision-making and action."And this combination can be formidable."

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Widow reveals Mayall heart 'event'

COMIC Rik Mayall suffered an "acute cardiac event" after returning from a morning run, his widow has said.

BARBARA Mayall said her family had received "thousands and thousands of messages of condolence" from around the world.

"We always knew that Rik was well loved but we are all overwhelmed by so many joining us in our grief," she said."We now know that our darling Rik suffered an acute cardiac event at our home around midday on June 9."The actor had just returned from his usual run and many people had seen him that morning, she said.Mayall thanked the press "for their discretion" and "all the wonderful coverage", adding: "It would have made him very happy."She added: "I am sure that you all know Rik's response would be something along the lines of.....' well thanks very much all of you.............now f*** off!!!'."Earlier, West London Coroner's Court said a post-mortem examination into Mayall's death had been inconclusive and more tests were being carried out in an attempt to determine how the 56-year-old star died.Mayall, who shot to fame playing poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones, was found dead at his London home on Monday.His career, which also included roles such as Lord Flashheart in Blackadder and the conniving Conservative MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman, stretched back to the start of the alternative comedy scene.

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Abbott says climate plan 'substantial'

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says the government's spending on tackling climate change is substantial in global terms.

Mr Abbott is under fire from Labor, the Greens and environment groups ahead of a meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington for not doing enough to tackle climate change.

Mr Obama has directed the states to find ways to cut emissions from power stations by 30 per cent by 2030, using whatever ways they consider fit including carbon pricing.

The prime minister, who will visit the White House on Thursday (US time), told reporters that climate change was real and an important issue for Australia.

He said if his government's $2.5 billion Direct Action plan was seen in the US context it would be a $40 billion program.

"I think that would be a very substantial program should something like that be put in place here in the United States," he said.

"If climate change does come up in further discussions in the US I will be pointing to the scale of what we are doing in Australia as evidence of our deep seriousness."

The two leaders will also discuss global security issues, trade and investment.

In Washington DC Mr Abbott will also meet with Republican and Democratic leaders including Eric Cantor, the House majority leader who lost his preselection on Wednesday.

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Flight 370 families seek information

ABOUT two dozen relatives of Chinese passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight have demanded more information at a Beijing building that houses the airline's regional office, more than three months after the plane disappeared en route to the city.

Under the tight watch of at least a dozen Chinese police and several building employees, the relatives were kept from entering the office building.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is thought to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean on March 8 with 239 passengers and crew on board, but a seabed search has found no trace of the plane.

"Please give us the truth and tell us the right way to find our beloved ones," said Dai Shuqin, whose sister was on the plane with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandchild.

"It has been extremely hard for us, and we can't take it anymore."

The relatives have long criticised Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government for not being more forthcoming with information.

They say they have been demanding the flight data of the plane, an analysis of its possible tracks and video footage of the passengers boarding the plane.

They say their goal is to account for the whereabouts of the plane and the people it was carrying.

Some relatives say they are in touch with lawyers, but that it's too early to discuss compensation until the plane is located.

"We do not care about compensation, but please let us know more information," said Zhang Qian, her tears falling as she spoke of her missing husband, Wang Houbin, 28.

"We've gone from days of wearing down jackets to now, summer, and we are still waiting."

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Science key to economy, Abbott says

THE Abbott government is weighing up a plan to allow schools to work with universities and the corporate sector to boost jobs in the science and technology sector.

But the move comes as the government slashes funding to key science bodies including the CSIRO.

Mr Abbott on Wednesday ended a two-day visit to New York at a school touted by US President Barack Obama in last year's State of the Union speech.

Pathways in Technology Early College High School operates within the Paul Robeson High School for Business and Technology in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York.

It operates in partnership with computer giant IBM and a university.

Students graduate with a high school diploma and an associate's degree, earning it the nickname of America's first "hollege" (high school and two years of college).

Unlike other US colleges, the associate degree comes at no financial cost to the student.

"I believe this is an innovative and valuable education model for us to consider in Australia," Mr Abbott said.

After four years at P-TECH, students may finish their undergraduate studies at City Tech or another institution, or they may be able to move directly into a career in IT.

Mr Abbott told reporters after the visit these type of schools were being examined as part of the government's "competitiveness statement" to be released next month.

"We do need to strengthen our effort in science and technology," he said.

"Science is at the heart of a country's competitiveness."

He said if it was rolled out in Australian schools then the government's new deregulated university and TAFE fee system would not apply.

However if it was based on universities or TAFE colleges then fees would apply.

"I am not being prescriptive here," he said.

Asked how he could cut funding to bodies such as the CSIRO while pushing a science agenda, Mr Abbott said the budget savings were "modest" and the government planned to set up a $20 billion medical research fund.

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Abbott sticks with climate ambition

AUSTRALIA won't be committing to a cut in emission targets beyond the existing pledge, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Mr Abbott on Tuesday met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The UN has scheduled a summit for September as a step towards a new global climate agreement to be reached in 2015 through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The summit is not part of the actual negotiating process, but the UN chief wants to use it to reinvigorate the climate debate as the potential for global action stalls.

Mr Abbott told reporters in New York his government supported "strong action" on climate change and was investing $2.5 billion on emission cuts.

But he would not be modifying the government's plan.

"It's very important that every country take strong action to limit the rate of growth of emissions," he said.

"We know in Australia what we are going to do - we are going to get our emissions down by five per cent by 2020.

"We will be a good global citizen, but what we are not going to do is clobber our economy."

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Abbott ducks Clinton's women comments

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says he's hopeful of being able to meet with Hillary Clinton while he is in the US.

But he won't be buying into her comments about Julia Gillard.

The former First Lady, secretary of state and potential Democrats presidential candidate is in New York promoting her new book, Hard Choices.

In the book Ms Clinton writes that leaders such as former Australian prime minister Gillard have faced "outrageous sexism which should not be tolerated in any country".

She goes on to say that women in public office face an "unfair double standard".

Mr Abbott told reporters in New York - where he rang the bell to open the stock exchange and laid a wreath at the National September 11 Memorial - that he acknowledged Ms Gillard faced "all sorts of difficulties" in office.

"But every prime minister faces all sorts of difficulties in his or her time as prime minister," he said.

Mr Abbott was the target of the now famous Gillard "misogyny" speech in federal parliament in October 2012.

He said he hoped to meet Ms Clinton while he was in the US.

"I think she was a highly creditable secretary of state, but beyond that I won't comment."

Meanwhile, the prime minister has extended the term of Australian ambassador to the US Kim Beazley by a year to take the former Labor leader's diplomatic post up to the next presidential election.

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Abbott gets official welcome in Canada

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has received a formal welcome with military honours in Ottawa.

Mr Abbott is the first Australian leader since John Howard in 2006 to visit Canada.

He began Monday with a bicycle ride, accompanied by Mounties, through the picturesque streets of the capital followed by breakfast with counterpart Stephen Harper.

The prime minister also made a courtesy call to Canada's Governor-General David Johnston.

Mr Harper has spared nothing in welcoming his conservative political friend, with Australian flags flying along all of Ottawa's main thoroughfares, military honours on historic Parliament Hill and a welcome ceremony in Confederation Hall.

The two leaders will hold talks on trade, investment and security before giving a joint media conference on Monday afternoon (Ottawa time).

Canada and Australia are working with 10 other nations towards an Asia-Pacific free trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

As the current president of the G20, Mr Abbott is also seeking Mr Harper's support for a two per cent growth target to be agreed at the Brisbane summit in November.

A business roundtable and formal dinner will round off the two-day visit before Mr Abbott heads to New York.

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Baden-Clay murder trial starts today

Gerard Baden-Clay in court. Illustration: Jonathan Bentley. Source: Supplied

BRISBANE real estate agent Gerard Baden-Clay will stand trial today for the murder of his wife.

More than 70 witnesses are due to be called to give evidence in a case expected to go for four weeks.

Baden-Clay has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Allison and interfering with the mother-of-three's corpse.

He reported her missing from the couple's Brookfield home on Friday April 20, 2012, and she was found dead 10 days later under Kholo Creek bridge at Anstead.

Potential jurors will be asked three questions: If they have ever expressed an opinion about Baden-Clay's guilt or innocence; if they or relatives lived in the area at the time; and if they attended a fundraiser or donated to any fund set up in connection to the case.

Baden-Clay, 43, is represented by barrister Michael Byrne QC, and solicitor Peter Shields.

Follow The Courier-Mail for rolling coverage of the case.

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Pension funds run eye over state assets

CANADA'S cashed-up pension funds are running the calculator over road and port projects in Australia.

Executives from the funds - which hold around $1.1 trillion in assets - are involved in talks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Trade Minister Andrew Robb, government officials and Australian business chiefs in Ottawa on Monday (Ottawa time).

It is understood that among the potential investments are the Port of Melbourne, which is earmarked for privatisation, the expanded Port of Hastings, the second stage of Sydney's WestConnex (M5 East) and Melbourne's East West Link.

Expressions of interest for the Port of Melbourne are expected to be called in early 2015 but the structure of the sale or long-term lease will depend on the outcome of the November state election in Victoria.

Labor has backed a 99-year lease project while the Napthine coalition government prefers a more corporate-oriented model.

Canadian pension fund Caisse has already shown interest in Australian ports, taking a stake in the Port of Brisbane last year.

Work on the business case and environmental assessment for Victoria's Port of Hastings expansion is expected to be completed by 2017.

The NSW government is considering making the second stage of the WestConnex road project a public-private partnership.

Mr Robb has been involved in a series of functions and roundtables in Ottawa.

The minister said that apart from infrastructure, there was a lot of interest in the service industries, tourism, resources and medical research and devices.

The long-running issue of lifting Canada's ban on majority foreign investment in uranium mines is understood to have been canvassed.

Mr Robb will take Australia's "open for business" message to Toronto, New York, Houston, while Mr Abbott and his business delegation will head to New York, Washington DC and Houston.

Canada is a top-10 source country for foreign direct investment in Australia with $26 billion invested.

The US is Australia's largest source of foreign direct investment with $658 billion directly invested.

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Trucker in Morgan crash lacked sleep

A WAL-MART truck driver accused of causing a New Jersey crash that critically injured Tracy Morgan and killed another comedian allegedly hadn't slept for more than 24 hours.

A court official on Monday said 35-year-old Kevin Roper was scheduled to face an initial court appearance on Wednesday. He remains free after posting a $US50,000 ($A54,100) bond.

Roper has been charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.

Authorities said the Jonesboro, Georgia, resident apparently failed to slow for traffic early on Saturday in Cranbury Township and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash.

Instead, his rig smashed into the back of Morgan's chauffeured Mercedes limo bus, killing comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair, authorities said.

The 45-year-old actor and comedian, a former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock cast member, remained in critical condition early on Monday.

Morgan's spokesman, Lewis Kay, said he was "more responsive" on Sunday after having surgery for a broken leg.

Kay said Morgan also suffered a broken femur, a broken nose and several broken ribs and is expected to remain hospitalised for several weeks.

He said Morgan's family is "tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans".

Tyrone Gale, who was driving the limo bus, told ABC News he was disoriented after the vehicle flipped over and could hear Morgan yelling for help.

"I climbed around and heard Tracy screaming for help," Gale said.

"I climbed up on the body of the limo bus ... but I couldn't reach them."

Wal-Mart President Bill Simon said in a statement the company "will take full responsibility" if authorities determine its truck caused the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board is working with state police to look at any issues in the crash related to commercial trucking and limousine safety.

Morgan, a New York City native, was returning from a stand-up performance at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware when the crash occurred.

In all, six vehicles were involved in the pileup but no one from the other cars was injured.

McNair, 62, of Peekskill, New York, was a close friend and mentor to Morgan, Morgan's ex-wife, Sabina Morgan, told the New York Daily News.

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Hey there, it's The Seekers, AO

AS one of the few bands from the 1960s still with their original line-up, The Seekers have proved their staying power. Now they're being recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley have been appointed officers in the Order Of Australia (AO) for their services to the performing arts.

Celebrating 50 years since they began their distinguished career, The Seekers have been on the road performing sold-out shows across Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Speaking from London after one of the supergroup's shows at the Royal Albert Hall, double bass player Athol Guy said there was a nice "royal connection" about their award and tour location.

"It was a perfect bit of timing because we've just finished our 50th-anniversary tour over here in London with two sell-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall, so there's a nice royal connection coming up to the Queen's birthday," he told AAP.

With each member being recognised for their career, whose hits have included Georgy Girl, I'll Never Find Another You and A World of Our Own, Guy said the honour was particularly special.

"It's a lovely moment for the four of us, to each individually be named in that way," he said. "Collectively, we've had so many honours as a group, it's hard to imagine that there'd be any more to come. And this one came right out of the blue for all of us."

The group suffered a setback in 2013 when singer Judith Durham was admitted to hospital with a cerebral haemorrhage after the first Melbourne show of their 50th-anniversary concert.

However, after three months of rehabilitation, doctors gave Durham the OK to perform.

"It's a very nasty thing to happen to anyone, but the lovely thing about it is I think it was her belief that she could always get back with us and finish that Australian tour," Guy said.

"It really kept her moving along in positive mode."

Durham said she hoped the award would encourage others.

"We were just four unknown, aspiring Australian musicians singing happy, uplifting, melodic and inspiring songs, and being true to ourselves," she said.

"We hope that this award might serve as encouragement to other Aussies to do the same.

"We are thrilled and delighted to accept such an honour."

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Tertiary education more accessible: Ziggy

FORMER Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski says tertiary education is now more accessible than ever before as he is honoured for his work in the sector.

Dr Switkowski, who is chancellor of RMIT University in Melbourne and chairman of NBN Co, has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours as an officer in the Order of Australia for his service in tertiary and education administration, scientific organisations and the telecommunications sector, business and the arts.

He said universities and employers were now mindful they were addressing a generation that was well informed, ambitious and flexible with relatively short-term horizons.

"Tertiary education is more accessible now than ever before," Dr Switkowski said.

"That's a direction that all governments have encouraged.

"It's good for the nation. We build up our pool of trained and intellectually curious people and I think we are a better country and society for it."

Participation in the tertiary sector had grown, with more than one-third of year 12 students undertaking some form of higher education, he said.

Dr Switkowski said he had been fortunate to embark on a business career, which had included chairing the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

"That enabled me to engage in the debate around clean energy, climate change and be an advocate for nuclear power in Australia, which was a very worthwhile and stimulating period," he said.

Helping Opera Australia become resilient and engaging with students and academics as chancellor of RMIT in Melbourne had also been rewarding.

Meanwhile, Sydney businessman and environmental advocate Geoffrey Cousins and former Westpac chief executive and Santos director Frank Conroy have been appointed members of the Order of Australia.

Mr Cousins has been recognised for services to the community through the establishment of the Starlight Children's Foundation and to the visual and performing arts.

"The Starlight foundation has been a massive part of my life," he said.

"In the early days we had no money, no staff, no support."

Mr Cousins said he was pleased to see the organisation grow to have a national presence and grant more than 8000 wishes to extremely sick children.

"It's tremendously satisfying to see that happen," he said.

Mr Conroy has been recognised for his service to the finance and banking sector, to corporate administration as well as the arts, health and secondary education.

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Clinton to decide 'when it feels right'

HILLARY Clinton says she will decide whether to run for president again "when it feels right for me to decide".

The former US secretary of state has told ABC News in an interview aired on Sunday potential Democratic rivals are free to choose what they would like to do.

Clinton said she was focused on promoting her new book and helping fellow Democrats in November's House of Representatives elections.

She said she will be "on the way to making a decision" on running for the White House by the end of 2014.

Asked whether she will testify before a select congressional committee investigating the deadly 2012 attacks on a US installation in Benghazi, Libya, Clinton said that would be up to the people running the hearing.

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Dr Harry Cooper, Wilkins, Munro honoured

VET Dr Harry Cooper, news reader Mike Munro and showbiz ace Richard Wilkins are among seven entertainment professionals who received Queen's Birthday honours.

The other four were the late radio announcer Keith McGowan, film and TV director and producer Sandra Levy, radio presenter Angela Catterns and Canberra-based ABC sports reporter Tim Gavel.

Cooper and Wilkins both received Member of the Order of Australia (AM) honours.

Cooper says he feels more like an ambassador for veterinary science than he does a TV identity. It's his third award in less than a decade for his services to veterinary science.

"I've been honoured by the profession, I was honoured by the university last year, because of my achievements, and now I have been honoured by my country," Cooper told AAP.

While many know Wilkins because of his entertainment reports on the Nine Network's breakfast show Today, it's his charity work for which he has been largely recognised.

Wilkins was 18 when the first of his five children, Adam, was born with Down Syndrome.

Since then he has tried to help out as many charities as possible and use his profile in Australia for the cause of raising money for the less privileged.

"Because of Adam I see more reason to say yes whenever I can to helping than saying no," Wilkins told AAP.

Munro received an AM for his services to television but also for his charitable work that includes being a board director for Alcoholics Anonymous for 10 years.

Levy received an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her work in the TV and film industry which dates back to 1971 when she was a director and producer of drama at the ABC.

Her other roles include CEO of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, executive director for development for the Nine Network and acting chair, deputy chair and board member for the Sydney Theatre Company (2001-2011).

McGowan, who died in December, received an OAM for his 54 years in radio at 17 stations across four states.

Like McGowan, Catterns (AM) has had an extensive career in radio, and among the stations she has worked at are Triple J, ABC Local Radio and 702 ABC Sydney.

Gavel (OAM) has worked with the ABC since 1988 and is a patron for the Early Morning Centre, which provides meals and services for the homeless and disadvantaged in Canberra.

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Aerial reenactment caps D-Day celebrations

NEARLY a thousand paratroopers have dropped out of the sky in Normandy - but this time in peace, instead of wresting western France from the Nazis as they did in World War II.

Drawing huge crowds who braved hot weather and lined the historic landing area at La Fiere, the aerial spectacle re-enacted the drama of the Normandy landings on Sunday and served to cap commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Among the planes ferrying paratroopers for the event was a restored C-47 US military transport plane that dropped Allied troops on the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise - a stone's throw from La Fiere - on June 6, 1944.

And the pilots who originally flew it took the controls again, 70 years later, remembering their experiences.

Sunday saw dozens of veterans escorted down a sandy path to a special section to watch the show alongside thousands of spectators - most of whom lined two sides of the field. Others took shelter in the shade as the lack of wind caused the sun to beat down hard.

Planes including the C-47 aircraft flew by loudly overhead several times, with two dozen military paratroopers - from countries including the US, Britain, France and Germany - jumping with each passage.

They were scenes reminiscent of the pivotal event, when around 15,000 Allied paratroopers were dropped in and around the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise on D-Day. It became the first to be liberated by the Allies and remains one of the enduring symbols of the Normandy invasion.

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