Syrian opposition still unsure on talks

THE question of whether Syrian opposition representatives will participate in the upcoming Geneva II peace conference was set to dominate a second day of talks in Turkey.

"There are differences we cannot hide, as most of the participants want guarantees that the current regime will not have any role in (a) future Syria," opposition member Salem al-Mousalet said on Saturday.

The international meeting in Switzerland, due to start on Wednesday, will seek to negotiate an end to the nearly three-year-old Syrian conflict by clearing the way towards a transitional government.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition has repeatedly said the peace conference should lead to a transitional government with no future role for President Bashar al-Assad and his family.

Assad's government has rejected this demand.

A source inside the meeting, at a secret location on the outskirts of Istanbul, said there were "heated debates" on Friday about the number of delegates who would participate in the conference.

The delegation might include around 15 members, who will represent all parties in the National Coalition, he added.

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Conditions ease as SA sees property loss

TWELVE homes have been lost in South Australia as thousands of hectares lay scorched across the state.

But easing weather conditions have enabled firefighters to gain the upper hand on a large blaze in the Eden Valley on Saturday night.

Residents of the small town of Truro were issued an emergency warning on Saturday afternoon, as the large fire made a run towards the Sturt Highway.

The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) warned that the blaze, which has burnt through more than 22,500 hectares since Friday, was putting lives and homes at risk.

But by about 8pm (CST) the CFS had downgraded the alert to a watch and act.

However, the CFS said weather conditions were erratic, so people should remain vigilant.

The downgrade came after about 160 firefighters were supported by nine aircraft at the fire throughout Saturday, a CFS spokesman told AAP.

The fire was one of five out-of-control blazes in the state.

Also of concern was a fire at Bangor in the southern Flinders Ranges, where the CFS said conditions were continually changing.

A watch and act alert was issued in the afternoon, with residents urged not to return to the area until advised.

But the CFS spokesman said crews had experienced a "pretty reasonable day", with milder conditions allowing firefighters to get the better of some blazes.

"We have had a day where we have been able to consolidate a lot of fires and nothing new has kicked off."

Five homes have been lost in the Bangor blaze, with two destroyed in the Billiat park region and five lost in Eden Valley.

However, the CFS said the number could increase as damage assessment crews were deployed.

There has been substantial stock losses.

Premier Jay Weatherill said it would be an achievement if the state came through the fires without loss of life or substantial property loss.

For those who have been affected, disaster relief assistance would be made available.

"For those people who have lost their homes and other property including livestock, this will be devastating," Mr Weatherill said in a statement on Saturday.

"We will respond to each and every one of those families to make sure that they have the support they need to be able to cope with the losses that they've suffered."

CFS assistant chief officer Rob Sandford said while firefighters had gained the upper hand, he called on people to remain on alert.

"Anywhere where we have had a fire in the last seven days, people need to be vigilant because whilst the threat may have reduced with the cooler temperatures, the wind is still reasonably strong and gusty," he told the ABC.

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EU advice sought on Kit Kat ruling

An EU advice has been sought on whether the shape of a Kit Kat should be registered as a trademark. Source: AAP

A UK judge deliberating on a legal dispute relating to the shape of a Kit Kat has decided to have a break - and wait for a decision from a European court.

Justice Richard Arnold is analysing a High Court argument between confectionery giants Nestle - which sells Kit Kat bars - and Cadbury.

Nestle wants to register the three-dimensional shape of a Kit Kat as a trademark. Cadbury has objected.

The judge heard legal argument from both sides at a hearing in London in December - and outlined his thoughts in a published ruling.

He said aspects of European trademark law were "unclear". And he said he would seek clarification from the Court of Justice in the European Union.

"Certain aspects of the relevant law remain unclear," said Justice Arnold.

"I have decided it is necessary to seek clarification of the law from the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to determine the (dispute)."

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Two face UK terror charges against Syria

TWO men are due to appear in London court charged with travelling to Syria intending to commit acts of terrorism.

Yusuf Sarwar and Mohammed Ahmed - both 21 and from Birmingham, central England - were arrested at Heathrow Airport on Monday after arriving on a flight from Turkey.

The men stand accused of travelling to Syria on or before May 15, 2013 via Istanbul, Turkey, "with the intention of committing acts of terrorism" and preparing to engage in acts of terrorism.

They will appear on Saturday at Westminster Magistrates Court in London.

Police have said the case is not connected to the arrest on Friday of another 21-year-old from Birmingham on suspicion of attending a terrorist training camp in Syria.

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Pressure mounting after Sydney drunk brawl

A brawl left three men in hospital in Sydney amid pressure for action on alcohol-related violence. Source: AAP

PRESSURE is mounting on the NSW Government to explain why it hasn't acted on an approved alcohol-related violence plan following a serious assault in Sydney.

Three men were knocked unconscious early on Saturday morning in a brawl in Sydney's CBD.

According to police, a group of people was sitting in Martin Place when several men approached.

A fight started and three men were knocked unconscious.

Two men, aged 24 and 30, were taken to St Vincent's Hospital with head injuries.

A 30-year-old man was also taken to hospital with face lacerations.

Two days ago - and following weeks of public pressure - Premier Barry O'Farrell revealed the government would urgently consider measures to tackle alcohol fuelled assaults in Sydney.

Among the suite of measures that would go before cabinet were proposals to improve the regulation of alcohol licensing, he said.

But the ABC reported on Friday that Mr O'Farrell had a plan sitting on his desk for the past 16 months.

A leaked email from September 2012 reportedly shows that cabinet approved "in principle the introduction of a periodic fee system to commence from July 2013", the ABC reported.

Hospitality Minister George Souris says he will not comment on cabinet meetings.

Shadow Health Minister Andrew McDonald accused the government of running for cover.

"They are hiding, they are hoping it will go away," he said on Saturday.

"This will not go away. It is far too important."

Dr McDonald said the non-implementation of the plan was because the government was in the "pocket of the liquor lobby".

He said it was only a matter of time until the next tragic death.

On Friday friends and family farewelled 18-year-old Daniel Christie, who was fatally punched in Kings Cross on New Year's Eve.

The attack on Daniel Christie took place near the spot where Thomas Kelly was fatally assaulted in 2012.

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Fires continue to burn in Vic's Mallee

FIRES that have burnt 40,000 hectares in Victoria's Mallee region are expected to continue through the weekend.

Several bushfires are burning out of control in the Mallee with firefighters bracing for the aftermath of a strong southwesterly wind change Friday evening.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the fires were now 40,000 hectares in size.

He said it would be a very difficult fire for firefighters once the strong south-westerly wind change moved through.

"We could only hope that they get on top of it by the end of the day but our assessment is this fire will continue to be a going fire into tomorrow and the weekend," he said on Friday.

Twelve aircraft and six dozers are supporting about 300 firefighters in the battle to control the blazes occurring mainly in parkland and reserves.

The towns of Tempy and Gypsum on Friday afternoon received their second emergency warning in as many days, with Pier Milan also on alert, before the advice was downgraded.

Hopetoun West, Hopevale and Kenmare were put on an emergency alert for Friday evening with a bushfire headed south from Paradise Flora and Fauna Reserve towards Kenmare.

Residents in all the towns are being told that leaving their homes is the safest option and relief centres have been set up in Beulah and Ouyen.

Mildura incident controller Damian Kerr said crews worked in difficult conditions to contain several major blazes before the strong south-westerly change and another day of severe weather conditions in the state's northwest on Saturday.

Visibility in the area was low, and the Sunraysia Highway was closed between the Calder Highway and the township of Speed.

Firefighters were also focusing on a 20,000-hectare blaze in the Big Desert Wilderness Park near the South Australian border.

That fire was impacting on the Red Bluff Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Firefighters were battling a number of other fires which have merged near the Lake Albacutya Freeway Track in south-eastern Wyperfeld.

Fires are also burning near Rocket Lake in Murray Sunset National Park and next to Underbool Track in Wyperfeld National Park.

Both national parks have been closed along with Hattah Kulkyne National Park.

Authorities are urging people to stay informed and travellers in the area should plan their trip.

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Arsonists light Vic urban fringe fires

Police say twelve fires have been deliberately lit across Victoria with conditions worsening. Source: AAP

ARSONISTS have deliberately sparked 12 fires in Victoria as soaring temperatures and strong winds create the most dangerous fire conditions since Black Saturday.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said police believe 12 of the 68 fires burning across the state were deliberately lit.

Most of those fires were sparked on the urban fringes of Melbourne, including three grass fires in Epping, in the city's north.

Detectives are now investigating those fires.

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said it was a disgraceful act for anyone to deliberately start a blaze on a day of high fire danger.

"There are no words that can be used to describe the lowlife that would light fires in these situations," he told reporters.

"They are putting lives at risk."

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Queen's granddaughter gives birth to girl

QUEEN Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips has given birth to a girl, Buckingham Palace says.

Zara gave birth at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital to her first child, which weighed 7lbs 12oz.

The father, Mike Tindall, a former England rugby star, was present at the birth of his daughter, who is 16th in line to the throne.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike's parents, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news.

"The baby's name will be confirmed in due course."

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UK retail sales jump in Christmas period

UK retail sales have jumped more than expected during the crucial Christmas period despite poor weather before the holiday.

The Office of National Statistics says retail sales leapt by 2.6 per cent during December compared with the previous month.

Economists had predicted a rise of 0.2 per cent.

Friday's report was surprising because major chains such as Tesco had reported dismal figures for the period, and suggests the retail sector is supporting the economic recovery.

The statistics office says there was a record 8.7 per cent month-on-month increase in the quantity of goods bought at department stores.

But small stores led the charge.

Marc Ostwald, a strategist with Monument Securities, says that surge may have come from the poor weather, which may have prompted consumers to shop locally.

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Another Australian killed in Syria: report

THE federal government is working to confirm reports that another Australian has been killed in Syria.

"We are aware of unconfirmed reports of an Australian death in Syria," A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

"As a matter of course, whenever contacted by next of kin in relation to a reported death of an Australian overseas, the department follows up."

DFAT says it would welcome any further information the media is able to provide.

The reports come just days after a Sydney woman Amira Ali and her husband Yusuf Ali were killed in the war-torn country.

At least seven Australians have died in fighting in the country since the civil war began in 2011.

DFAT is reminding Australians that it does not have an embassy in Syria so its capacity to deliver consular help is "extremely limited".

It continues to advise Australians in Syria to leave.

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Missing man feared daughter's relocation

Water police have joined the search for Greg Hutchings and daughter Eeva Dorendahl(pic). Source: AAP

A NSW man may be missing with his four-year-old daughter after discovering his former partner might have been planning to move to Finland with the child.

Greg Hutchings and his daughter Eeva Dorendahl, 4, were last seen on Pottsville Road at Pottsville in northern NSW on Saturday.

Mr Hutchings had arranged to meet his former partner, Eeva's mother, in Pottsville around midday but he never showed.

Mr Hutchings' family have since revealed the 35-year-old may have been concerned Eeva was going to go overseas.

His sister, Sheri Hutchings, said the discovery of a Finnish passport was possibly the catalyst.

"Greg has lived and loved that little girl with the lightest of love and would never compromise her safety," she wrote on her Facebook page.

"He has been concerned that Eeva's mum might relocate them to Finland without Greg's knowledge.

"His discovery of a secret Finnish passport for Eeva has probably been the catalyst for his hesitation in returning Eeva to her mum."

Ms Hutchings said she had complete trust Eeva was safe, happy and very well cared for.

Police would not comment on whether a passport was a motive for the disappearance.

Emergency services, including jet skis and a police helicopter, continued the search for Mr Hutchings and Eeva around Pottsville on Tuesday.

Crews scoured waterways and beaches but could not find the missing pair.

Tweed Police Inspector Gary Cowan said the pair had camped in the area before.

"It's an area where the dad and daughter have been camping before so if they have gone to ground for whatever reason, they've probably got food and water there," he told the ABC on Tuesday.

The search is expected to continue throughout the night and into Wednesday.

It has been reported Eeva was due to return home to the Sunshine Coast with her mother after staying with Mr Hutchings in Pottsville.

Mr Hutchings is of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, with short brown curly hair and of a thin build.

Police say he was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, grey trousers and carrying a black backpack.

Eeva is also of Caucasian appearance, with long blonde hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing an oversized blue and white-coloured shirt and multicoloured board shorts.

Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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NSW cyclist dies following crash

A FEMALE cyclist has died four days after a crash south of Sydney.

Emergency services were called to McKell Avenue at Waterfall on Saturday morning after reports a cyclist and a car had collided.

Officers found a 35-year-old woman with serious injuries.

Police were told the woman was riding along the road when she collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction.

Police say the woman died in hospital on Tuesday.

Inquiries into the crash are continuing, police say.

A 23-year-old man died late on Monday night when his car ran off the road and hit a tree late at Salamander Bay near Port Stephens.

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China expects 3.6bn Lunar New Year trips

CHINESE officials say they are expecting citizens to make 3.6 billion trips during the Chinese New Year travel period that starts on Thursday.

The holiday is the most important one in China and represents the world's largest seasonal migration of people as families reunite.

The Year of the Horse starts on January 31. The Spring Festival transportation period lasts 40 days from January 16.

Lian Weiliang, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, says they expect 200 million more journeys than in 2013.

Lian also told a news conference on Tuesday snow and bad weather could hamper the mass migration.

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Banana ban for health-kick monkeys

MONKEYS at a British zoo have been banned from eating bananas - because they are too unhealthy.

Animal nutritionists have likened giving bananas to the primates at Paignton Zoo in Devon to humans eating too much cake and chocolate.

The monkeys have been on a health kick and have been avoiding food that is too sweet and sugary - including bananas.

Amy Plowman, head of conservation and advocacy, said: "People usually try to improve their diet by eating more fruit - but fruit cultivated for humans is much higher in sugar and much lower in protein and fibre than most wild fruit because we like our fruit to be so sweet and juicy.

"Giving this fruit to animals is equivalent to giving them cake and chocolate.

"Compared to the food they would eat in the wild, bananas are much more energy-dense - they have lots of calories - and contain much more sugar that's bad for their teeth and can lead to diabetes and similar conditions.

"It can also cause gastrointestinal problems as their stomachs are mostly adapted to eating fibrous foods with very low digestibility."

Plowman said it had not been too hard to wean the monkeys off bananas and give them vegetables instead.

"They didn't get a choice but - unlike children - they couldn't complain."

A typical monkey diet now features lots of green leafy vegetables, smaller amounts of other vegetables and as much browse - leafy branches - as possible, especially for the leaf-eating monkeys.

A specialist pellet feed gives them the correct balance of nutrients, while small amounts of cooked brown rice can be scattered around enclosures to encourage foraging.

Animals do still get bananas if they are unwell and the keepers need to make sure they take medication.

"Putting it in a piece of banana works really well, as it's such a treat now," Plowman said.

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Man charged as dying passenger abandoned

A MOTORBIKE rider has been arrested for allegedly leaving a passenger who died on a Queensland road.

Police were called to Jambin-Dakenbah Road in Biloela about 4am (AEST) on January 10, where they found a man who died despite medical efforts at the scene.

Police allege the man sustained fatal injuries while he was a passenger on a motorbike a 28-year-old man was riding.

The rider, from Argoon, has been charged with a string of offences, including dangerous operation of vehicle causing death.

He was also charged for leaving the scene of the incident without getting help.

He will appear in Biloela Magistrates Court on January 29.

Police issued a special thanks to the Jambin and Biloela communities for their assistance in the case.

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WA bushfire destroys 49 homes

Four people are unaccounted for and 46 homes have been destroyed by a bushfire in the Perth hills. Source: AAP

FOUR people feared victims of a bushfire that razed 49 homes in the Perth hills region have been found safe, while firefighters are still battling to control the blaze.

The one death attributed to the fire was that of a 62-year-old man in Hovea who collapsed on the roof of his house on Sunday while preparing for the disaster.

The fire, which tore through 650 hectares in the Shire of Mundaring on Sunday and also destroyed two sheds, was contained on Monday but firefighters were still battling to control it.

A watch and act alert remains for the eastern part of Parkerville, Stoneville and Mount Helena.

One resident tried to get back to their house on Monday afternoon and suffered burns to the hands and feet.

Noelene Michels, from Helena Valley, said she knew her house was close to the fire zone and that her son was still there, but she could not reach him due to roadblocks.

"We think it is ok, but we can't get through to check," she said.

Sally and Gary Elwood, from nearby Narla Way, already knew their home of 30 years was gone.

"I am a bit shocked, but until I physically see, it won't hit me fully, but I have seen it on Facebook so I know it is ours," Ms Elwood said.

"I know it is gone, but my glass is half full - the kids are fine, everyone is fine. We will just rebuild, at 48 - bloody hell."

Mundaring Shire president Helen Dullard said many residents were relieved to escape the flames.

"Visually, it was a very ugly fire. It was scary," she said.

People who lost their homes will be escorted to the ruins on Tuesday.

The fate of livestock and pets is unknown but residents are bracing for the worst, while some firefighters have been treated for heat exhaustion and bee stings.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis believes a power pole on private property caused the fire.

He said the blaze could have been much worse and wiped out hundreds more homes.

"We pray this is the last fire we see like this, but there are no guarantees," he said.

"We deal with the lottery dealt out by Mother Nature."

Mr Francis admitted he was frustrated that the fire preparation message was not getting through.

The WA government will donate $1 million to the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund to help victims.

It will also provide $3000 to those whose homes had been destroyed and $1000 for damaged houses.

Western Power says about 700 properties are without power - and will remain so for days - and more than 150 poles will need to be replaced.

"Poles and equipment are being delivered in preparation for the rebuild, which is not expected to be able to start before Wednesday," a spokeswoman said.

Insurers have declared the fire a catastrophic event.

Attorney-General George Brandis said the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment would also be provided to eligible residents.

People can claim a payment of $1000 for each adult and $400 for each child.

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Airbus logs record 2013

AFTER tallying a record number of plane orders and deliveries last year, Airbus is admittedly facing a high bar in 2014.

The European aerospace conglomerate said on Monday it delivered 626 planes last year, a company record but still 22 fewer than US rival Boeing Co.

The companies enjoyed a banner year as airlines gobbled up their offerings to renew or build their fleets, cut fuel costs and plan for continued growth in air travel.

Airbus' orders last year rose to 1169, nearly twice its expectations, leading some executives to caution against any precise predictions about how many they'll tally this year. The order backlog - jets it plans to deliver in coming years - sits at a record 5559.

"The market was extremely bullish ... more bullish than John or me would have thought, and probably Boeing," said Airbus' top executive Fabrice Bregier, meeting with journalists along with commercial director John Leahy.

Some of the biggest demand came from once-struggling US airlines as well as from emerging markets, particularly Asia.

"The real story for some of you is, where does it go from here?" said Leahy.

"The fact is, we cannot as an industry continue at this level. But what we are doing is we're continuing to increase production."

"The point is, we are in a growth industry," he added.

Losing out to Boeing in the delivery tally "doesn't matter to us at all," Leahy said.

"I think we're happy with what we've got. It's a duopoly, with a 50-50 split here. I don't really care if they have two more aeroplanes or we have two more."

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Protesters claim win at NSW mine site

COAL mine protesters claim they've achieved their purpose following an ongoing blockade in north western NSW.

About 30 activists on Monday blockaded heavy vehicles at the Maules Creek mine site at Boggabri.

The trucks and machinery are used to build roads and a rail line at the site.

Two people attached themselves to a bulldozer via a cable.

Leard Forest Alliance spokeswoman Georgina Woods claimed one of the attached protesters had been arrested and taken away by police. Confirmation has been sought from NSW Police.

"We stopped a full day's work so we have achieved our purpose," Ms Woods told AAP.

Ms Woods said if the road to Whitehaven Coal's $767 million open-cut mine is cut through the forest, animals, plants and sacred Aboriginal sites would be lost.

She said protesters would remain at the site for weeks to come.

Whitehaven Coal chief executive officer Paul Flynn said the protesters had not changed the operation.

"The protesters there today...have not given rise to any material change to our operations at all," he told ABC Radio.

Protesters also blockaded the site in December after the Federal Court dismissed an application by the Northern Inland Council for the Environment (NICE), which had called for the approval granted by former Environment Minister Tony Burke to be overturned.

Police cut the activists free before arresting them.

Whitehaven has previously said the project would create 800-plus jobs and enjoyed support from most local residents.

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Instant messaging to surge in 2014

INSTANT messaging services on mobile phones are likely to carry more than twice the number of messages sent by text in 2014, according to global predictions by Deloitte.

As 50 billion instant messages are set to be dispatched, 21 billion text messages are expected to be sent - a rapid lift from 2012, when 11 instant messages were sent for every 10 texts, the firm said.

While instant messaging services - such as WhatsApp and Snapchat - may win the battle for volume this year, text messaging will be victorious in revenue terms, according to the technology report, which will be launched tomorrow.

Text messaging is expected to continue to generate significantly greater revenues until 2018, by which point global text message revenues are expected to have started falling.

Deloitte expects instant messaging services on mobile phones to continue to supersede text messages and all other forms of communication, including email and phone calls.

Despite the burgeoning volumes of messages carried over instant messaging services, text messages are expected to generate more than STG60 billion ($A110.64 billion) in 2014, equivalent to about 50 times the total revenues from all instant messaging services.

Deloitte predicts that the fastest-growing part of the smartphone market in developed countries will be among the over-55s.

About 47 per cent of this group will own smartphones by 2014, an increase from 40 per cent in May-June 2013.

The first text was sent on December 3, 1992, when Neil Papworth, a 22-year-old British engineer, used his computer to send the message "Merry Christmas" to an Orbitel 901 mobile phone.

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Syrian mortar attack kills at least 19

A mortar attack has killed at least 19 people in the central Syrian city of Homs. Source: AAP

A MORTAR attack has killed at least 19 people in the central Syrian city of Homs.

The official SANA news agency said late on Sunday mortar rounds slammed into the pro-government Ghouta and Karm al-Shami neighbourhoods of Homs.

It blamed "terrorists" for the attack, employing the term the government uses to describe those trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rebels often lob mortar rounds into pro-government neighbourhoods of cities and towns, while the president's forces indiscriminately strike rebel-held areas with artillery, air strikes and surface-to-surface missiles.

Syria's civil war has killed more than 120,000 since the crisis began in March 2011.

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Miners electrocuted in Mexico mine

Two miners have been killed and three more injured by an electric shock in a silver mine in Mexico. Source: AAP

TWO miners have been killed and three others injured by an electric shock in a silver mine in the northern Mexican town of Bermejillo.

The National Union of Mine and Metal Workers said on Saturday the accident occurred in a mine operated by the Canadian firm Excellon Resources on Thursday, though the company failed to report the accident until the following day.

In its report, Excellon said the workers were immediately taken out of the mine after the accident and rushed to a hospital, where two of them died.

"Both employees were experienced and well trained, so that words cannot express the depth of our sorrow for their loss," the company said.

But according to the union, the short-circuit was "caused by a lack of supervision, non-existent safety measures and the scant interest in such matters on the part of the company" and the municipal, state and federal governments.

The union called on federal authorities to "stop the constant violations" by Excellon Resources, a company that for years has committed "systematic violations" against "workers' rights in terms of hygiene, safety and freedom of association".

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Canberra soldier missing in the US

US authorities are searching for a missing Australian Army soldier last seen on New Year's Eve. Source: AAP

US authorities are searching for a missing Australian Army soldier who was last seen in freezing conditions on New Year's Eve.

New York State police say the soldier, Captain Paul McKay, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Forest rangers and a special response team are conducting the search.

Captain McKay, an Afghanistan veteran, emailed his father from a Best Western motel in Saranac Lake on December 30 to say he was leaving him all his possessions, Fairfax Media reports.

"In this email ... he shared some financial information and some other information that would lead us to believe he didn't plan on going back," Saranac Lake Police Chief Bruce Nason said.

The 31-year-old Canberra man was last seen walking on railway tracks near Saranac Lake the next day, wearing winter weather clothing and carrying a large backpack.

While Saranac Lake has had average daily lows of minus 16C in January, Chief Nason said the clothing Captain McKay had been seen in was an encouraging sign.

"This coupled with his military training and physical fitness make it likely that he is well prepared to survive in winter conditions," Chief Nason said.

US police believe Captain McKay was headed for Lake Placid in the state's north.

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Homicide rate drops again in Puerto Rico

There were 883 cases of homicide in Puerto Rico last year compared with 1004 in 2012. Source: AAP

PUERTO Rico closed 2013 with 883 homicides, a figure 12.1 per cent lower than in 2012 and the second straight annual decrease since 2011, when the Caribbean island experienced its bloodiest year in recent history.

That is confirmed by data on type-1 crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, physical abuse) published this week by the Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico.

According to the figures, there were 883 cases of homicide, compared with 1004 in 2012 and 1136 in 2011, the highest number on the island since 1940.

Aside from crimes of that type, the numbers of other kinds of offences declined last year. There were 26 rapes (down 18.8 per cent), 6016 robberies (down 4.4 per cent), 2395 cases of physical abuse (down 12 per cent), 29,360 cases of theft and embezzlement (down 3.9 per cent) and 5530 vehicles stolen (down 5.4 per cent).

All varieties of type-1 crimes showed declines compared with the previous year, something Puerto Rico Police Superintendent James Tuller Cintron says is a result of "the daily commitment of our forces".

"These statistics reflect the work being done by police every day to improve the quality of life in Puerto Rico," he said in a statement.

"(But) these results are insufficient and tell us not to be satisfied and to work harder."

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WA bike rider dead after police pursuit

A motorcyclist has died after being chased by police for failing to stop for a roadside breath test. Source: AAP

A MOTORCYCLIST has died after a brief police pursuit in suburban Perth.

WA Police's major crash squad and internal affairs are investigating Saturday's fatal crash in Hillarys, north of Perth.

A police spokesman said a man on a Ducati motorcycle approached a booze bus on West Coast Drive about 8.40pm (WST) but failed to stop for a breath test.

In the ensuing pursuit, the motorcyclist sped onto nearby Hepburn Avenue, where he slammed into a BMW being driven in the opposite direction.

The 28-year-old rider from Beldon was seriously injured and died at the scene.

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Syrian govt shelling kills more than 20

GOVERNMENT shelling has killed more than 20 people in the central Syrian city of Homs.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday the number is expected rise because dozens of people were critically wounded in the shelling of the rebel-held Waer area.

The Observatory said the shelling happened on Saturday. The activist collective, the Local Coordination Committees, published similar information.

Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been widening an air assault on rebel-held areas in recent weeks, targeting opposition-held residential areas and killing civilians.

Syrian rebels have also targeted Assad-loyal areas with indiscriminate mortar fire.

On Sunday, Syria's state media said rebel-fired mortar shells killed two people in the Assad-loyal Zahra area of the city.

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