Fed: Howard says all clear for $43.5m stemcell research grant

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Fed: Howard says all clear for $43.5m stemcell research grant

An independent investigation has cleared a $43.5 million federal grant to controversialstem cell researcher Professor ALAN TROUNSON.

Professor TROUNSON's National Stem Cell Centre won the five year grant in May afterit was selected from 11 applicants to set up Australia's first Biotechnology Centre ofExcellence.

But in August, Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD asked Allen Consulting Group chairman GEOFFALLEN to investigate the integrity of the process of awarding the grant.

Mr HOWARD says Mr ALLEN's concluded that the process used in selecting the NSCC representsthe high end -- or even marks new standards -- of best practice in the integrity of suchprocesses.

Mr HOWARD's accepted Mr ALLEN's recommendation that the grant proceed.

The report was commissioned after opponents of stem cell research accused ProfessorTROUNSON of misleading federal MPs during a heated and divisive parliamentary debate onlegislation to allow the research.

AAP RTV toc/rp

KEYWORD: STEMCELL (CANBERRA)

Qld: Cancer patients to help vaccine research

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Qld: Cancer patients to help vaccine research

Queenslanders suffering prostate, kidney or testicular cancer will be asked to helpdevelop a vaccine for the cancers by donating tumour tissue.

Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology and the Princess AlexandraHospital have signed an $800,000 research deal with UK-based biotech company ONYVAX.

The study will focus on urological tumours with the aim of developing a vaccine.

Queensland University of Technology Associate Professor JUDITH CLEMENTS says patientswith urological cancers will be asked by their doctors to donate cells from tumour biopsiesto the research.

She says tumour cells will be grown in the lab from the patients' tissue to betterunderstand how they work.

Tumour cells will be examined by ONYVAX for characteristics that may make the tumoursvulnerable to vaccine therapies.

AAP RTV jfs/ldj

KEYWORD: UROLOGICAL (BRISBANE)

SA: Toyota looks to China to boost exports

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SA: Toyota looks to China to boost exports

ADELAIDE, April 8 AAP - Toyota Australia hopes to add China to its growing list ofexport countries.

The company said today it wanted to ship Melbourne-built Camrys to China to furtherbolster its export trade, which rose to a record $1.4 billion last year.

But general manager of exports and distribution, Tony Barlow, admitted the task wouldnot be easy.

"With the introduction of the new model Camry during the third quarter of 2002, ToyotaAustralia hopes to further expand its opportunities overseas and our international mindsethas now extended to China," Mr Barlow said in a statement.

"This task will not be easy and we are faced with strong competition from other Toyotaplants from around the world."

Toyota officials, federal Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane and the Australian Ambassadorto China David Irvine were in China at the weekend to hand over six Camrys to be usedby Australian government agencies in Beijing.

Toyota said it hoped that providing the Australian agencies with the cars would assistthe company in gathering vital information on the Chinese market and its unique requirements.

Mr Barlow said Toyota had also been encouraged by the Australian government to looktowards China as an export destination and it welcomed that assistance.

In 2001, Toyota exported almost 60,000 vehicles to 33 different markets with the largestshare going to various Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emiratesand Kuwait.

AAP tjd/was

KEYWORD: MOTOR TOYOTA

Fed: ACCC should investigate mobile phone price hikes: Labor

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Fed: ACCC should investigate mobile phone price hikes: Labor

CANBERRA, Jan 15 AAP - Labor has called on Australia's competition watchdog to investigaterecent mobile phone price hikes.

Opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner said since the federal election,there had been significant increases in mobile phone charges.

He said Telstra had lifted its flagfall charges from 20 cents to 25 cents, and itstext message services from 22 cents to 25 cents.

Optus was also looking to increase its text message charges.

Mr Tanner said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) should investigateboth companies to ensure …

FED: John Farnham tops list of Australia's favourite singers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2001
FED: John Farnham tops list of Australia's favourite singers

SYDNEY, Aug 28 AAP - He might be a bit older and carry a few more kilos than he used
to, but John Farnham is still winning votes as Australia's most popular male singer.

A survey of 511 Australians aged 14 and over found the 52-year-old Australian singer
was still their favourite male performer with four per cent of the vote.

On the other end of the musical scale, controversial US rapper Eminem - whose lyrics
have been branded violent and homophobic - came second with 2.5 per cent.

Canadian singer Celine Dion was the most popular female singer or performer, with seven
per cent of the vote, followed by Shania Twain on 4.5 per cent and Madonna on three per
cent.

When it came to bands, the oldies but goodies were at the top of people's lists.

The top three included The Beatles at 5.5 per cent, U2 on three per cent and The Eagles
on two per cent.

The artists that topped the lists were voted in by such low percentages as Australians
were extremely diverse in their musical tastes, said Michele Levine from the survey group
Roy Morgan Research.

Respondents were not given a list to choose from and so came up with thousands of favourite
entertainers, she said.

Morgan Research conducted the survey for entertainment business clients.

AAP rk/arb/las

KEYWORD: SINGER

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Popov supports Touretski

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Fed: Popov supports Touretski

Four times Olympic gold medallist ALEX POPOV is supporting his coach of 11 years, GENNADI
TOURETSKI, who's been charged with possessing banned anabolic steroid drugs.

The Russian swimmer says he's never had cause to question his coach.

He says he's had an association, both socially and professionally, with TOURETSKI for 11 years.

And he says he's never had any need to question his credibility or his ethics.

The coach will face Canberra Magistrates Court tomorrow on a charge under the poisons
and drugs act, which carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment.

TOURESTSKI, who's expressed his innocence through his lawyer, is suspended with full
pay from his role as swim coach at the Australian Institute of Sport.





The charge follows the burglary of TOURETSKI's Canberra home on April 1, when his safe,
containing medals and other possessions, was stolen.

Police later recovered the safe from a Canberra dam.

Police have refused to provide details about the alleged drug or its discovery.

AAP RTV mb/mss/jtb

KEYWORD: TOURETSKI POPOV (CANBERRA)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Inquiry recommends forgery charges=2

AAP General News (Australia)
01-19-2001
Qld: Inquiry recommends forgery charges=2

Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE says he won't comment on the people who had been referred
to the Director Of Public Prosecutions.

But he says no public or Labor Party funds will be used in the defence of those facing
legal action.

Mr BEATTIE says the Shepherdson …