MH370 search at 'critical juncture'

An underwater drone is continuing its Indian Ocean search for the Malaysia Airlines plane wreck. Source: AAP

THE effort to find missing flight MH370 is at a "very critical juncture", Malaysia's transport minister says as authorities mull whether to reassess a challenging search of the Indian Ocean seabed that has so far found nothing.

"The search for today and tomorrow is at a very critical juncture. So I appeal for everybody around the world to pray and pray hard that we find something to work on," Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Saturday.

The jet is believed to have crashed in deep and remote waters far off Western Australia.

But with no results from the multi-national search operation for the Boeing 777, which vanished on March 8 carrying 239 people, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday set a one-week deadline to locate the plane by mini-submarine.

The Australian-led search effort is relying on a single US Navy submersible sonar scanning device to scour an uncharted seabed at depths of around 4,500 metres or more.

Technical hitches, including the fact that the torpedo-shaped Bluefin-21 is operating at the extent of its depth limit, made for a slow start to the search.

Launched from an Australian naval vessel, the device has so far made six deep-sea scanning runs but has detected nothing.

"We have pursued every possible lead presented to us at this stage, and with every passing day the search has become more difficult," Hishammuddin, who is heading up the Malaysian government's response to MH370, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

As the search and rescue effort expected to be the costliest in aviation history wears on, authorities have indicated alternative methods may be needed, including possibly deeper-diving devices.

Hishammuddin said adjustments "may include widening the scope of the search and utilising other assets that could be relevant in the search operation", but he stressed the search would not be abandoned.

Earlier on Saturday Australian officials said experts were analysing data relayed by the underwater drone on its sixth mission and it had embarked on its seventh.

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NSW deaths push road toll to seven

THE nation's Easter road toll stands at seven following two fatal NSW collisions.

The latest death was that of a cyclist, killed instantly when struck by a car on Sydney's north shore on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the male driver of the Mercedes sedan was uninjured but had been taken to hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Two-and-a-half hours earlier, a man was killed when his car and a truck collided in the state's north at Tyndale.

The deceased driver is yet to be identified, while the man behind the wheel of the truck and his passenger both suffered non life-threatening injuries and were taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and witnesses are urged to come forward. A report will also be prepared for the Coroner.

The deaths follow tragedies in Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland over the holiday period.

Three of the fatalities were on WA roads and involved young men aged 17-20.

A Chinese tourist was killed in Tasmania and a Queensland woman died after being struck by a car.

The 67-year-old woman died on the way to hospital on Thursday after she was hit by a station wagon while crossing the road in Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.

On Thursday afternoon, a 17-year-old boy died after being thrown from a car which rolled several times on the Gnaraloo-Quobba Road near the West Australian town of Carnarvon.

The East Carnarvon boy was taken to Carnarvon Regional Hospital but was unable to be revived.

Hours later, a 20-year-old man was killed when his Ford Falcon ute hit a tree on Collie-Williams Road near Collie.

His passenger, a 22-year-old man from Bunbury, was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital after a passing motorist pulled him from the burning wreckage.

On Thursday night, a 19-year-old Bruce Rock man died after his car hit a large tree near Bruce Rock east of Perth.

Also on Thursday, a 32-year-old Chinese tourist died following a head-on collision on a Tasmanian highway.

The woman from China was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by her 30-year-old husband.

Their Volkswagen hatchback collided with the Hyundai delivery van on the Bass Highway, west of Port Latta.

The couple were taken to the North West Regional Hospital, where the woman died. The man has undergone multiple surgeries and is in a serious condition.

(EDS: The Easter road toll figures are for the period 0001 April 17 to 2359 April 21)

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Brisbane lines up to greet royalty

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Brisbane to another strong crowd reception. Source: AAP

ONE could have been forgiven for thinking One Direction was in town.

Queenslanders haven't turned out to see a youthful royal couple woo a crowd since the early years of Charles and Diana's marriage some 31 years ago.

In true style, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge won the hearts of 10,000 people along the streets of Brisbane's South Bank precinct under a clear blue sky and 28C heat.

Adoring royal watchers offered flowers and soft toys for nine-month old Prince George, who was absent on the couple's fourth day in Australia.

In some areas, 20-deep crowds lined the streets and held up their mobile phones hoping for a glimpse of his glamorous parents.

Brenda Stephens, a 73-year-old former British Air Force nurse, was among those who shook hands with Prince William, a former RAF pilot, after an eight-hour wait in the sun.

"I've just had a triple bypass so it was really special to me to shake the Duke's hand," she told AAP.

"He's a very charming man."

The avid royal watcher also managed to see the couple from a front row vantage point, with tears in her eyes, despite passing out earlier in the day waiting for their arrival.

Even republicans were enthralled, with Agnes Delos Santos happy to wait hours.

"This is history ... their visit to Brisbane," she said.

Inside Brisbane's Convention and Exhibition Centre starstruck rugby league greats Johnathan Thurston and Jharal Yow Yeh nodded seriously as they briefly chatted with the duke.

But as Prince William moved to greet another dignitary, the beaming sporting heroes high-fived each other and fist-pumped like school boys.

In the same room, the youngest person to sail around the world solo, Jessica Watson, was impressed by the duchess.

"You feel like you know them, and they treat you like you do," she told AAP.

But not everyone was so welcoming, with a crowd of about 30 Aboriginal rights activists chanting "No treaty, no peace" and "Always was, always will be Aboriginal land" before police disbanded them.

Outgoing Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley and Premier Campbell Newman had dashed back to Brisbane from Amberley, near Ipswich, to greet the royal couple for the second time in a day.

Afterwards, as they walked outside, cheers and shrieks followed them as the royals made a street walk, stopping to chat to the old, young and everyone in between.

Sue Gillies was there with her daughters Rebecca Gillies, 27 and Jodie Taranto, 34 from 7.30 in the morning.

"It was worth it," Rebecca said.

"It would have been nice if they'd sent Harry."

The duchess needed an army of helpers to pass on the gifts handed over security barricades - everything from modest posies of carnations, to stuffed kangaroos, chocolate bunnies, and a soccer ball bearing a map of Australia.

After more than half an hour greeting the crowds, the royal couple then climbed into a car, bound for the airport and a full schedule of events in Sydney on Easter Sunday.

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Off-duty policeman over the limit

AN off-duty policeman has been caught drink driving in Victoria.

The officer encountered a random breath testing site on the Old Princes Highway, at Beaconsfield in Melbourne's south-east, just after 8pm (AEST) on Friday.

The Leading Senior Constable is alleged to have recorded a blood alcohol level of .077 per cent, which is mid-range offence.

The officer was issued a penalty notice for $433, which also carries a loss of license for six months.

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Speeding man overtakes Vic police car

A YOUNG man in Australia on a student visa allegedly drove his hire car more than 150km/h on a Victorian highway in peak Easter holiday traffic.

Police say the Chinese man was observed overtaking a tourist bus and numerous cars, including an unmarked police car, at high speed on the Bass Highway on Friday afternoon.

He was intercepted by highway patrol officers just before 5pm (AEST) after driving in holiday traffic and in excess of the highway's 100km/h speed limit.

The 22-year-old allegedly told officers he was "running late to get to Phillip Island".

Police did not impound the vehicle as it was a hire car, however, the man is facing multiple charges including driving at a dangerous speed.

He will face court on a date to be set.

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Cambridges wow a stunning Sydney

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join thousands of Australians at the Royal Easter show. Source: AAP

IT'S been a very Good Friday for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and for their host - Sydney.

The bright young stars of the British royal family have attracted thousands to every event they've had since arriving in Australia on Wednesday, and this perfect, autumn day was no different.

From their visit to the Royal Easter Show to stepping onto the famous sands of Manly beach, there was no let up in the enthusiasm.

Kate wowed by wearing a white cotton lace dress by Australian designer sisters, Nicole and Simone Zimmermann to Friday's events.

But it wasn't just about cheering crowds. The royal couple also spent an hour with sick children and their families at the Bear Cottage hospice in Manly, one of only two such hospices in Australia and a cause very close to Kate's heart.

The duchess, who is royal patron of the East Anglia Children's Hospice in the UK and has also visited children's hospices in Malaysia and New Zealand.

In her first speech of the Australian visit, the duchess told parents, staff and kids, it was "wonderful to be here today".

"The haven that you have created here is inspirational, and there is so much that you can share with each other as you continue to support and nurture those in your care," the duchess told the packed room that included Prime Minister Tony Abbott and NSW Premier Mike Baird.

She also used the opportunity to thank Australia for their welcome.

"To be here together as a family has been very special and we will always remember it with fond and happy memories," she said.

"Thank you for inviting us here and for such a generous welcome."

Everyone who has had the chance to say hello to Kate or William - or just catch a glimpse of them - has been delighted.

Sophie Martyr, 16, was still shaking after making the presentation to the royal pair at Bear Cottage.

"It was amazing, it was unforgettable," she told AAP.

At the show, Margaret Bryant and her pals Margaret Wright and Marie Whiteman - all in their 80s - arrived in Sydney from Cowra at 3am (AEST) to see the Cambridges.

"They're such a lovely couple. They're so much in love," Ms Bryant from Cowra told AAP.

"I thought they were spectacular and I'm glad they've come," Ms Wright said.

Kate and William took in some displays at the show, with Kate light-heartedly ribbing her husband when inspecting a display featuring alpaca wool.

"The princess said (the Duke) should put some on his head," said Lyn Cregan, 67, from Glen Innes.

"She pointed at him and said 'You need it more than me.' He laughed."

However, like many eight-month-olds, Prince George was deemed too young to see the show - but it didn't mean he was forgotten.

A trolley was brought to cope with number of presents being offered by the crowds - including books, Possum Magic and Peppa Pig toys and bouquets.

At Manly, there was barely room to move behind the cordoned-off areas. The royal couple were delighted with the late afternoon surf lifesaving display. There was also another present for George - a surfboard.

Kate told former world ironwoman champion Naomi Flood that she was loving being in Australia.

Prince William chimed in: "We are just trying to see more."

That will happen on Saturday, when for the first time they head interstate to Amberley RAAF base and Brisbane.

On Sunday, they'll visit Taronga's Zoo before moving camp to Canberra. Next week, Uluru and Adelaide are on the itinerary.

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Kate delights kids during hospice visit

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited Bear Cottage as part of their visit to Sydney. Source: AAP

IT was the simple things that the Duchess of Cambridge did that made the difference. A personal greeting and chat, a smile, singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star alongside small children facing the biggest fight.

There were no airs and graces, just a young mother bringing smiles to sick young children being cared for at Bear Cottage in Manly, one of only two children's hospices in Australia.

The palliative care of sick children is a cause close to Kate's heart, as she is the royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices in the UK and has visited similar centres in Malaysia and New Zealand.

While Kate toured the centre's playroom, quiet room and music therapy garden, meeting with children some of whom were wheelchair bound or confined to stretchers, Prince William met privately with families.

Wearing a cream lace Zimmermann dress, Kate sat on a wooden garden bench and played a drum, singing the nursery rhyme with the children taking part in music therapy.

During an informal afternoon tea attended by families and centre staff as well as NSW Premier Mike Baird and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the duchess made her first speech of the visit.

"It really is wonderful to be here today - having the chance to meet you all and to see the incredible work of Bear Cottage," the duchess said.

"The haven that you have created here is inspirational, and there is so much that you can share with each other as you continue to support and nurture those in your care."

There was a special moment for 16-year-old Daniel Howarth, who suffers from a lung disease and had a Union Jack flag strapped to his wheelchair.

"Very nice to meet you, Daniel," Kate said.

His dad Adam, 44, said it was amazing for Daniel to meet the duchess.

"We explained to Kate that Daniel's got chronic lung disease and cerebral palsy and we've been coming here for 10 years after major surgery," said Mr Howarth, who was at the centre with his wife Deborah, 43, Daniel, and 10-year-old son Lachlan.

"Daniel likes sport, Chelsea, so she was asking us all about sport and telling us her husband supports Aston Villa, and we talked a little about the English Premier League. She's so natural, engaging and friendly."

Sophie Martyr, 16, wearing a red bandanna after undergoing cancer treatment, was still shaking after presenting the couple with an artwork painted by Bear Cottage kids.

"It was amazing, it was just unforgettable," Ms Martyr told AAP.

"He (William) asked me about how I'm going and how I'm feeling."

Bear Cottage nurse Philly Smith, 44, talked with the duke in the garden.

"I think he made the families feel very special," Ms Smith said.

"One of the children is a similar age to his so he talked about that."

The royals then left - 20 minutes late - but before getting in the royal motorcade, Kate thrilled the crowd by meeting a number of fans and receiving flowers and a toy footy.

On his way out, Mr Abbott said it was a "fabulous afternoon for Bear Cottage".

"These are magnificent people here. There are some very special and brave kids here," Mr Abbott told AAP.

"To get this visit from Prince William and the duchess is just extraordinary."

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Easter road toll stands at four lives lost

AUSTRALIA'S Easter road toll now stands at four after a tragic opening to the holiday long weekend in both Western Australia and Tasmania.

Young men aged 17 to 20 account for three of the deaths, all in WA, and the fourth fatal crash involved a Chinese woman who was on holiday in Tasmania.

All of the fatal crashes occurred on Thursday and authorities have not reported a road death on Good Friday.

On Thursday afternoon, a 17-year-old boy died after being thrown from a car which rolled several times on the Gnaraloo-Quobba Road near the WA town of Carnarvon.

Police said the East Carnarvon boy was a passenger in a Nissan Patrol when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

People who had been following the vehicle stopped and performed CPR on the boy until ambulance crews arrived. He was taken to Carnarvon Regional Hospital but was unable to be revived.

The 17-year-old male driver was treated for cuts and bruises.

Hours later, a 20-year-old man was killed when a Ford Falcon ute he was driving hit a tree on the Collie-Williams Road near Collie at about 3pm (WST).

His passenger, a 22-year-old man from Bunbury, was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital after a passing motorist pulled him from the burning wreckage.

On Thursday evening and again in WA, a 19-year-old Bruce Rock man died after his car hit a large tree on Narembeen Rd near Bruce Rock east of Perth.

In Tasmania, the 32-year-old Chinese woman was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by her 30-year-old husband, also a Chinese national.

Their Volkswagen hatchback was involved in a head-on collision with a Hyundai delivery van on the Bass Highway, west of Port Latta, on Thursday afternoon.

The couple were taken to the North West Regional Hospital, where the woman died. The man has undergone multiple surgeries and is in a serious condition.

A 31-year-old Burnie man who was driving the van suffered minor injuries but has been released.

(EDS: The Easter road toll figures are for the period 0001 April 17 to 2359 April 21)

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Call for sanctions against N. Korea

Michael Kirby, the head of a special UN inquiry, has urged the UN to slap sanctions on North Korea. Source: AAP

THE United Nations Security Council should slap targeted sanctions on North Korean officials responsible for grave human rights abuses, the head of a special UN inquiry says.

Michael Kirby told an informal meeting of the Security Council convened by Australia, France and the US that he also wanted the reclusive regime hauled before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.

"More monitoring and engagement alone cannot suffice in the face of crimes that shock the conscience of humanity," said Kirby, a former Australian High Court justice. "Perpetrators must be held accountable, it is necessary to deter further crimes."

North Korea did not send a representative and the meeting was snubbed by China, Pyongyang's sole major ally, and Russia.

"A new generation of senior officials now surround the supreme leader Kim Jong-Un," Kirby said.

"They must be made to understand that they will themselves face personal accountability if they join in the commission of crimes against humanity or fail to prevent them where they could.

"The commission of inquiry therefore recommends to the Security Council the adoption of targeted sanctions against those individuals most responsible for crimes against humanity."

Kirby said the proposal to refer North Koreans to the ICC had found favour with most countries present, but UN diplomats said any move would likely face fierce opposition from China, the North's economic lifeline.

In March, the UN's top rights body also called on the Security Council to act against officials responsible for a litany of crimes against humanity in North Korea.

Kirby's commission of inquiry on North Korea released a hard-hitting report on the nuclear-armed totalitarian state in February that documented a range of gross human rights abuses, including extermination, enslavement and sexual violence.

North Korea refused to co-operate with the probe and said the evidence was "fabricated" by "forces hostile" to the country.

After the meeting, US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power praised council members for joining other countries for the first time to discuss the North's "tragic human rights situation in North Korea".

"We heard directly from the authors of a thorough, objective and credible UN report, and from victims of North Korean atrocities themselves," she said.

"These firsthand accounts - horrific stories of torture, rape, forced abortions and forced infanticide, extermination and murder - paint a chilling picture of the regime's systematic and remorseless repression of its citizens."

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Christians mark Good Friday in Jerusalem

The crucifixion of Jesus is being remembered in prayers and processions throughout Jerusalem. Source: AAP

LOCAL Christian Arabs and pilgrims from around the world have made their way down the cobbled Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, where Jesus is believed to have walked to his crucifixion.

Thousands of worshippers, some bearing wooden crosses, walked through the walled Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where they believe Jesus was crucified and buried before rising from the dead three days later.

The city was also busy on Friday with Jewish worshippers celebrating the week-long festival of Passover, which commemorates the Exodus of the biblical Israelites from captivity in Egypt.

Israeli police meanwhile limited access to Jerusalem's flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque compound, fearing more unrest after days of clashes.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said men under the age of 50 were barred, but there were no restrictions on women.

Dozens of Palestinians were wounded in clashes with police at the site on Wednesday and Sunday after Jewish visitors were allowed onto the compound.

Jews believe the mosque compound is on the site of the first and second biblical temples, their holiest place, and refer to it as the Temple Mount.

Today the site hosts the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosques, and is the third holiest site in Islam.

It has frequently been a flashpoint in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Vic man in court over partner's murder

A man wanted over the fatal stabbing of his partner in a busy Melbourne street remains at large. Source: AAP

A MELBOURNE man allegedly murdered his partner after they'd been in court about a family violence order, a court has heard.

Craig McDermott, 38, is charged with murdering his de facto wife of 18 years, Fiona Joy Warzywoda, in a Sunshine shopping strip on Wednesday.

McDermott, of Sunshine North, briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday afternoon.

Ms Warzywoda was in Sunshine Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning over a family violence order in place against McDermott.

The mother of four left her solicitor's office just three minutes before she was killed, police said on Wednesday.

She was stabbed multiple times in front of lunchtime shoppers in Sunshine's busy Hampshire Road shopping district.

Passers-by performed CPR but could not save the 33-year-old Melton West woman.

McDermott handed himself in to police on Thursday morning.

Prosecutor Tim Bourbon said police would speak to a number of eyewitnesses and examine a significant amount of CCTV footage.

"The incident occurred in a public place," he told the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

"The CCTV footage covers the lead-up to the incident."

The footage may also include Ms Warzywoda's death, he said.

Magistrate Peter Reardon agreed to allow the media to publish the fact that there was a family violence order, saying it was in the public interest to highlight cases of domestic violence.

"The victim, or the affected family member, had attended Sunshine Magistrates Court," he said.

"Subsequently she was murdered.

"In light of recent events ... in these circumstances it is in the public interest and just."

McDermott appeared in the dock with his left hand heavily bandaged.

He was remanded in custody for a committal mention on August 7.

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Numbers man Baird vows to transform NSW

MIKE Baird has vowed to restore trust in the government and transform NSW after his sudden rise to premier replacing Barry O'Farrell.

The former banker, who had served as treasurer in the O'Farrell government, was elected Liberal leader unopposed on Thursday.

The top job was vacated following Mr O'Farrell's resignation for giving misleading evidence to the corruption watchdog about a $3000 bottle of wine.

The party room elected Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian as deputy Liberal leader after ministers Pru Goward and Anthony Roberts pulled out of the running.

In his first media conference as incoming premier, Mr Baird said the community was "incredibly disappointed and shocked" by the events over the past 48 hours.

The committed Christian said he would be announcing a set of integrity measures in the coming days and weeks to restore trust.

"What is absolutely challenging for any government is when you lose the trust of the community," he told reporters, flanked by his wife and three children.

"My job, Gladys's job, the government's job, is to restore it," Mr Baird said.

He paid tribute to Mr O'Farrell, saying he was a man of integrity.

"We have made a great foundation," he said.

"But I don't want to just stabilise NSW - I want to transform it."

Mr Baird, who is a surf buddy with Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Sydney's northern beaches, said he looked forward to working with the federal leader.

"I have to say it's a pleasure to work alongside a prime minister such as Tony Abbott," Mr Baird said.

Mr Abbott said the new premier would make a fine leader.

"I have known Mike for many years and I know he will discharge his responsibilities with integrity and honour," the PM said.

Mr Baird, the son of former federal MP Bruce Baird, decided to run for premier following a family meeting on Wednesday night.

"We were all apprehensive about what it would mean and that it would be a tough few years ahead but we still said he should do it because we thought he would do a great job," Bruce Baird told Sky News.

But NSW opposition leader John Robertson said Mr Baird was an ideologue.

He said he must answer questions about the appointment of Nick Di Girolamo, who is at the centre of a corruption inquiry, to the board of State Water Corporation in mid-2012.

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Aust journalist faces 7 years in Thai jail

AN Australian journalist and a Thai reporter have faced court in Phuket on charges of defaming Thailand's navy in an online news report which alleged security forces were involved in people smuggling.

Alan Morison, 66, formerly of Melbourne, and local reporter Chutima Sidasathien, face prison terms of up to seven years as well as fines of 100,000 baht (A$3,300) if found guilty of criminal defamation and breaches of the Computer Crimes Act.

Prior to the hearing, Morison told AAP both he and his female colleague would refuse to pay bail as a matter of protest, even if it meant being jailed during the trial.

"We've said in principle that we won't pay bail as a matter of protest against the law, but it appears as though (their lawyers) are less happy with us going to jail so the bail is likely to be paid by others whether we want it to be paid or not," he said.

Morison is editor of the online English language news service Phuketwan which last July published a story which carried excerpts from a Reuters report alleging the Thai military was involved in trafficking refugees from Myanmar's ethnic Rohingya minority to Malaysia.

Outbreaks of ethnic conflict in Myanmar in recent years have led to thousands of Rohingya, who are largely denied citizenship in Myanmar, to flee the country.

But the boats often drift into Thai waters. The Reuters report alleged Thai naval forces and police cooperate with human traffickers to send Rohingya to primitive camps until families can pay a ransom.

Morison says the charges, filed by the navy, are a "set up" and part of efforts to shut down his website which has long reported on the trafficking of Rohingya.

Human rights organisations and the media have called for the charges to be dropped.

A spokesman from US-based Human Rights Watch, Brad Adams, called the trial "unjustified".

The navy "should have debated these journalists publicly if they had concerns with the story rather than insisting on their prosecution under the draconian Computer Crimes Act and criminal libel statutes," Mr Adams said.

The Bangkok-based Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand said it shared the view of the UN Human Rights Commissioner "that such a prosecution serves only to stifle media freedom on an issue of profound importance to the rights of a persecuted people".

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Oil slick not linked to MH370: authorities

The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will push on over the Easter long weekend. Source: AAP

AN oil slick in the southern Indian Ocean is not linked to a missing Malaysian Airlines jet, Australia's search agency says.

The slick was found in a focus search area on Sunday, further raising hopes that the global effort to find flight MH370 might have narrowed in on the patch of ocean where the airliner went down on March 8, carrying 239 passengers and crew.

But late on Thursday, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) ruled out any connection.

"Preliminary analysis of the sample collected ... has confirmed that it is not aircraft engine oil or hydraulic fluid."

Despite the news the search will continue throughout the Easter long weekend, with both aerial and underwater sweeps planned.

A Bluefin-21 underwater drone is scanning the Indian Ocean seabed, more than 2000 kilometres northwest of Perth, but is yet to find the wreckage.

The JACC also refuted US Navy claims from earlier in the week that the drone would take up to two months to sweep the search area.

In its latest statement, it revealed that the underwater search area has been "significantly narrowed" in recent days.

The drone has also been cleared to reach depths of more than 4.5 kilometres, with a small but acceptable level of risk.

"This expansion of the operating parameters allows the Bluefin-21 to search the sea floor within the predicted limits of the current search area."

But there has been criticism of the Bluefin-21 system, which has to surface to download information for analysis.

Richard Gillespie, who led the search for aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart's plane in the Pacific Ocean has told CNN that the Bluefin-21 "didn't work for us".

The US Navy has offered Australia the use of its Orion-towed search system, which can send back real-time data.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is confident the search is focused on the right area, based on acoustic signals detected by a pinger locator towed by an Australian Navy vessel.

He told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that the best leads would be exhausted in about a week.

"If we don't find wreckage, we stop, we regroup, we reconsider," he said.

Saturday will mark six weeks since the disappearance of flight MH370.

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Ford to sell Lincoln cars in China

FORD says it will sell high-end Lincoln cars in China for the first time later this year when it opens eight dealerships in seven cities.

Lincoln is a late comer to China's luxury car market, but Robert Parker, president of Lincoln China, said on Thursday the brand is being introduced after thorough research.

At Lincoln dealerships, Chinese customers will be greeted with a waterfall, considered auspicious, and their new Lincoln car will have a custom fragrance pleasing to Chinese noses, Parker said.

"The Chinese do not like the new car smell, so we change the smell," he said.

Lincoln cars sold in China also will have padded backseats because of China's higher expectations for backseat comfort, he said.

In the past year, China's government has renewed a perennial crackdown on corruption and ostentatious spending by officials, which has crimped spending on luxury goods.

Parker said he believes there is strong interest in Lincoln among Chinese luxury car consumers and that the company aims to open 60 dealerships in 50 Chinese cities and offer five models by 2016.

John Zeng, an analyst at LMC Automotive, said Lincoln will face an uphill battle in a crowded Chinese luxury car market dominated by European brands.

"Compared with German brands, they have a long way to catch up," Zeng said. "So for a brand like Lincoln, they need very competitive models to succeed in this market."

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Sydney boy aged four hit by car, dies

A YOUNG boy who was run over by a car in Sydney's west has died in hospital.

The four-year-old was crossing a residential road in Westmead on Tuesday afternoon with his mother and brother when he was hit, leaving him with serious head injuries, police said.

Paramedics tried to revive the child at the scene before taking him to Westmead Hospital, where he later died.

"The child's mother sustained minor injuries in the collision and was also taken to Westmead Hospital for treatment. The other child was not injured," police said.

The woman driver wasn't hurt and has been taken for mandatory blood and urine tests.

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It's a royal croc block for George

Prince George and the NT's crocodile George will not meet in Sydney due to quarantine restrictions. Source: AAP

THE royals aren't the only ones who cause a kerfuffle when travelling - it has proven so difficult to fly George the royal crocodile from Darwin to Sydney to meet his namesake that the two remain tragically separated by the tyranny of distance.

Young Prince George won't be accompanying his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, when they visit the Northern Territory next week.

That means he won't be able to meet his crocodile namesake at Crocasaurus Cove, named George after he hatched on December 12, the day the royal pregnancy was announced.

"We did try to get the crocodile George to meet Prince George in Sydney, but unfortunately quarantine regulations did not allow the crocodile to get into Taronga Zoo," Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday.

"We don't know if there's any friendly political rivalry there, because I understand (NSW Premier) Barry O'Farrell is very keen for the bilby to be showcased to the royals, and the Territory wanted to showcase our crocs, because we do have the best and biggest crocodiles ... it's very unfortunate the crocodile won't get to meet the royals."

Flying crocodile George to Uluru to meet William and Kate is too logistically difficult, Mr Giles said.

Instead, the chief minister will take a group of nine secondary school students from around the NT for a half-hour meeting with the royal couple.

"This is an unreal opportunity," said Emma Kellaway, a year 12 student at Taminmin College.

"I'm very excited," said Tarra Brain, from Casuarina Senior College.

Grace Tozer, from Palmerston Senior College, wants to ask the duchess what it's like being swept up in the royal life despite not being born into it.

When teachers approached the family of Chevez Kirkman, from the remote community of Mutitjulu near Uluru, they weren't sure how they would react.

"We thought, oh jeez, some people still think of it as the invasion and all that, but when his father heard he'd been selected he was absolutely beside himself with excitement," Terry Brown, deputy principal of Nyangatjatjara College, told AAP.

The duke and duchess touch down in Yulara on Tuesday, and will present graduation certificates to students of the National Indigenous Training Academy before walking around Uluru.

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Vic govt to consider IBAC changes

VICTORIA'S corruption watchdog could be beefed up after complaining it can't investigate some claims.

The Victorian government says it will consider changes to the integrity regime after the year-old watchdog called for stronger investigative powers.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) says there are cases where it has felt unable to investigate corruption claims because the allegations do not meet a high enough threshold under the legislation.

The IBAC also wants parliament to consider making it mandatory for heads of public sector bodies and local councils to notify it of corrupt conduct, as is already the case in other states.

The change should apply at the very least for more serious matters within the public sector, IBAC says.

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark said the government would carefully consider the various recommendations and suggestions made by IBAC.

In its report on its first year of operation, IBAC says it has been hamstrung by restrictions in the legislation which set it up.

"There have been corrupt conduct allegations where IBAC has not felt able to commence investigations because of threshold restrictions in the IBAC Act," IBAC says in the report released Tuesday.

Not all the cases were suitable to be referred elsewhere and this may have undermined its objectives, it says.

IBAC also wants powers to investigate misconduct in public office, as is the case under other Australian integrity regimes.

In addition, it flagged the need for stronger protection for whistleblowers.

The watchdog says there are cases where people who have disclosed information appear not to qualify for whistleblower protection and this may deter whistleblowers coming forward with valuable information.

Mr Clark said the government has made clear it will monitor the IBAC legislation and take into account feedback from the IBAC commissioner about amendments.

"The government will now carefully consider the various recommendations and suggestions made by IBAC," he said.

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PM keen to get 2nd airport off the ground

Western Sydney residents want the federal government to hurry up and approve a second airport. Source: AAP

LADIES and gentlemen welcome to Sydney's Badgerys Creek Airport.

The federal government has ended decades of indecision about Sydney's second airport, confirming work will begin in 2016 at the site, 56km west of the CBD.

But please remain seated - flights aren't due to touch down until the mid-2020s.

"There's been decades of procrastination here so we do want to get cracking," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.

Private sector investment will cover the $2.5 billion bill for construction, including a 2.5km runway through paddocks, while the commonwealth will pick up planning and design costs.

In its initial stages the government forecasts a "modest" operation with a single runway and mix of intra-state, interstate, international and cargo flights.

Billions of dollars and some 60,000 jobs are expected to flow from the airport development by 2060, which has the in-principle support of Labor.

"When we see the detail we will be out there examining it," opposition transport spokesman Anthony Albanese told Sky News, while offering support for the announcement.

But Mr Abbott faces possible internal party dissidence over his hints at a curfew-free airport.

"We deserve what's best for our community and I don't support a 24-hour airport," Western Sydney Liberal MP Fiona Scott said.

Community consultation will be a compulsory part of the planning process, with concerns about aircraft noise and air pollution already being voiced.

The operator of Sydney Airport has first dibs on running the new facility, with two years to confirm their interest.

"Let's hope that they have a look at this and don't beat around the bush but quickly decide," an eager Mr Abbott told Fairfax Radio.

If Sydney Airport declines, the government will swiftly approach the open market and is confident of attracting strong interest.

Sydney Airport acknowledged the announcement, but pointed to the need for improved transport links and fuel lines for the Badgerys Creek site.

"The government's approach will be roads first, airport second," Mr Abbott said, adding that light rail services would be a state government responsibility.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell is expected to meet with the prime minister on Wednesday to reveal further details of transport upgrades for the region.

Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss told ABC TV he expects the NSW government will build a rail line offering improved service to Western Sydney.

"Perhaps there could be a station at Badgerys Creek in due course," he said, but added that a rail line to the airport in the early stages is unnecessary.

Caltex, which supplies fuel to Kingsford Smith Airport, has a pipeline which runs from Botany via Silverwater, nearby Badgerys Creek.

Airlines will decide which of the Sydney airports they will use.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce welcomed news of the "vital" facility for Sydney and Australia and hoped the airline will be involved in the planning process.

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Chinese pork firm execs get $US597m reward

CHINESE pork producer WH Group has issued shares worth $US597 million ($A636.02 million) to two of its executives as a reward for their contribution in the acquisition of US giant Smithfield Foods, a company filing shows.

WH Group, formerly known as Shuanghui International Holdings, is the world's largest pork producer, and the company is seeking a Hong Kong listing to raise more than $US5 billion in what would be the world's biggest initial public offering (IPO) for a year.

In a listing document published Tuesday on the WH Group website, the firm said chief executive and chairman Wan Long was issued 573.1 million shares last October.

Yang Zhijun, an executive director in charge of investment, mergers and acquisitions, was also issued 245.6 million shares in the same month, the document showed.

The allotment will give Wan and Yang an approximately 3.92 per cent and 1.68 per cent stake respectively in WH Group upon completion of the firm's IPO.

The company said the share awards, with an estimated fair value of $US597 million at grant date, were "to recognise and reward their contributions to the acquisition of Smithfield".

The share allotment to Wan and Yang, part of WH Group's $US639 million share-based payouts last year, had cut into the company's profits, leading to a loss of $US67 million in 2013 compared to $US468 million of profit in 2012.

In May last year WH Group, under the Shuanghui name, agreed to buy Smithfield Foods in a deal valuing Smithfield at $US7.1 billion, making it the largest-ever Chinese acquisition of a US company.

The pork firm could not be reached for comment but its chief financial officer Guo Lijun had told state media the one-off non-cash share awards would have no impact on its operational results after it went public.

Based in central China's Henan province, WH Group is involved in the production, slaughter and distribution of pork, a key ingredient in Chinese cuisine. It is also a shareholder of Spanish meat firm Campofrio Food, according to its website.

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Woolies breached shopper docket agreement

Retailer Woolworths has breached an agreement it had with the ACCC over its fuel shopper dockets. Source: AAP

MOTORISTS will still be able to get big fuel discounts by combining supermarket and petrol fuel discounts offered by retail giants Coles and Woolworths, a court has found.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had argued that a Coles petrol discount of 14 cents breached undertakings the company had agreed with the consumer watchdog.

The undertaking prevented Coles from offering a discount of more than four cents, when it was contingent on a supermarket purchase.

But Justice Alan Robertson on Monday found that Coles' 14 cent discount was not in breach of that agreement.

He said that although the total discount that customers were able to get at the fuel pump was well above the four cents, the full offer was not linked to supermarket purchases.

"In my opinion, four cents per litre of the offer only was contingent on supermarket purchases and 10 cents per litre of the offer only was contingent on an acquisition of goods or services from Coles Express," he said.

ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said he was disappointed by the decision.

"We will carefully consider the judgment and its implications for competition in fuel markets and any detrimental price impact on fuel consumers," he said.

Justice Robertson did, however, find that Woolworths had breached the ACCC undertakings in its eight cents discount.

Customers were able to obtain an eight cent per litre discount on fuel if they spent at least $30 in a Woolworths supermarket as well as $5 or more at a petrol station.

The consumer watchdog had argued this was in breach of its undertaking with the retailer because the discount was only available to customers who made a supermarket purchase.

A Woolworths spokeswoman welcomed the decision, saying it provided it with clarity.

"We said at the time when we sought a declaration from the Federal Court that we accepted we needed to make our discounts independent of each other, and this change was implemented some time ago," she said in a statement.

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Stocks to watch at close on Monday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange at the close on Monday:

API - AUSTRALIAN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES - in trading halt, last traded at 56.5 cents

Drugs wholesaler and pharmacies operator Australian Pharmaceutical Industries is set to make an announcement about the carrying value of its assets.

BRL - BATHURST RESOURCES - in trading halt, last traded at seven cents

Bathurst Resources, which has cut jobs and delayed the start to its controversial Escarpment open-cut coal mine on New Zealand's Denniston Plateau, may raise up to $NZ6.87 million ($A6.41 million) in a discounted share placement.

ELD - ELDERS - down 0.5 cents, or 4.55 per cent, at 10.5 cents

Agribusiness Elders has appointed two more non-executive directors who it says will add to the depth of financial management and agricultural experience on the board.

WDC - WESTFIELD GROUP - down 13 cents, or 1.2 per cent, at $10.44

WRT - WESTFIELD RETAIL TRUST - down two cents, or 0.65 per cent, at $3.04

Shopping centre group Westfield's split of its Australian and New Zealand assets from its international operations has been backed by financial services firm KPMG.

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Body of woman found in SA

SA police hope tourists in a motorhome can help shed light on the disappearance of a Frenchwoman. Source: AAP

A BODY believed to be that of missing French tourist Aurelie Lhorme has been found at the base of a cliff on South Australia's far west coast, police say.

Ms Lhorme, 30, was last seen in her parked car near the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre, near the Nullarbor Plain, on Saturday night.

"Police can confirm that the body of a woman has been found at the base of a cliff near Head of Bight," police said in a statement on Monday evening.

"The body is yet to be formally identified."

Police Special Tasks and Rescue officers abseiled down the cliff on Monday and confirmed the body of a woman had been found.

Staff at the centre had spoken to her after she appeared to be sleeping in her car on an access road.

Her car was found in the same spot the following morning, along with her mobile phone, wallet and passport.

A search on Sunday, involving an Aboriginal tracker, failed to find the woman and resumed on Monday.

Police want to speak to the occupants of a Jayco motorhome, which was parked next to the whale watching centre on Saturday night, who may have had contact with Ms Lhorme.

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Man charged with murder of elderly woman

A MAN who allegedly beat an elderly woman to death has been charged with murder.

Police found the 61-year-old woman with severe head injuries when they were called to a Redfern home on Friday night on reports she was being assaulted.

"She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where she died a short time later," police said in a statement.

They arrested a man, 38, at the scene and took him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

He was under police guard until he was released on Monday afternoon, taken to Redfern police station and charged with murder.

Bail was refused and he's due before Central Local Court on Tuesday.

Investigations are continuing and police have asked for any witnesses to come forward.

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Youth jobs in national service: Lambie

COMBAT youth unemployment with national service.

That's what Palmer United Party senator-elect Jacqui Lambie suggests.

The former Australian Army soldier who joins the upper house in July wants to see a greater utilisation of military national service.

"You can put them in for 12 months, I'm not saying they sign on for war," she told ABC TV on Monday night.

Such a stint would arm young people with valuable experience for the workforce, Ms Lambie said.

"It's got to be better than being on the dole."

Ms Lambie said she hasn't discussed her plan with party leader Clive Palmer or other PUP colleagues, but wanted to throw the idea into the public arena.

She said volunteer and charity sectors are also crying out for manpower.

"We need to do a bit of tough love," Ms Lambie said.

"If you're not going to go out and volunteer yourself for charity services ... then you know what, it's time to cut your dole back."

The idea does not stretch to conscription, but Ms Lambie said young people should stand for their country.

"If war shows up on our shores then we're in trouble," she added, citing a shortage of military personnel.

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French tourist missing in western SA

A FRENCH woman has disappeared in a remote part of South Australia.

Aurelie Lhorme, 30, was last seen in her parked car near the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre, near the Nullabor Plain, on Saturday night.

Her car was found in the same site the following morning, however Ms Lhorme has not been seen since.

Police say they are concerned for her welfare as her mobile phone, wallet and passport were left in the car.

The search will resume on Monday morning.

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Ita heading south as category one

Cyclone Ita will menace the Queensland coast for at least another day bringing torrential rain. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND - cyclone one day, sunshine the next.

Premier Campbell Newman is pleading with southerners not to cancel their Easter breaks, as the far north dries out and cleans up after Cyclone Ita.

"The sun, by the way, is shining again," he said.

"You're bound to have a great time."

On Sunday, the premier choppered into Hope Vale and Cooktown, which bore the brunt of Ita when it crossed the coast as a category four storm on Friday night.

He predicted it would take about eight to 12 weeks to "really crack the back of the recovery task".

"It's good that there is no loss of life but I can't stress enough (that) people have got to sit tight."

About 50 buildings were damaged in Cooktown and another five written off.

The town's water supply was critically low and it's hoped power can be restored to the water treatment plant by Sunday night.

In Hope Vale, the banana farm which sustains the local economy was razed.

While the sun was shining in the towns on Sunday as well as in Cairns, the danger is not over yet.

Cyclone Ita is expected to remain its category one status until late on Monday as it weaves on and off the coast south to central Queensland.

Up to 15,000 homes are without power and regional towns are flooding.

On Sunday evening, the popular tourist destinations of Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays were being lashed by 90km/h winds, and up to 400mm of rain could soak some areas.

Just north, Bowen copped 200mm in a short period of time, overloading the storm water system.

While there has been no reports of property damage as of yet, Mr Newman says the situation is worsening.

"There is an issue where the Don River is rising very fast and expected to peak at 9pm, and that may well cause flooding problems again," Mr Newman said.

On Monday morning, the premier will travel to Ingham where sugar cane crops have been flattened. The town is cut in two by a swollen creek and the Bruce Highway remain closed to its south.

Mayor Rodger Bow warned locals there was raw sewerage in the water and people risked disease if they ventured out.

"We had severe rain, about 300mm, and I don't know what kilometre an hour winds, but we have trees blown down," Cr Bow said.

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Man who stole Sydney cab charged

IT'S hard to find a free cab on the weekend but one drunk Sydney man may have gone too far.

When a taxi driver stopped to break up an argument on a Bondi road in the early hours of Sunday morning, one of the men involved slid behind the wheel and took off.

He was tracked to a Randwick street by the cab's GPS unit, but when police tried to stop him, he sped away.

Police caught the 26-year-old a short time later and breath tested him.

He allegedly blew 0.189 and was charged with high-rang drink driving, taking a car without consent, resisting police and failing to stop.

Bail was granted and he's due before Waverley Local Court in May.

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Motorcyclist killed in Victorian collision

A WOMAN is dead after her motorcycle and a ute collided in northeast Victoria.

Police said the collision happened on Happy Valley Road at Rosewhite on Sunday afternoon.

The motorcyclist died at the scene, while the ute's female driver suffered minor injuries.

The state's road toll stands at 77, six higher than the same time last year.

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Greens call for Vic clean energy fund

The Greens want the Victorian government to start a clean energy fund to make solar panels cheaper. Source: AAP

THE Greens want the Victorian government to establish a state-based clean energy fund to make solar panels more affordable.

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne call for the creation of a Victorian Solar Fund to help homes and businesses deal with the upfront costs of solar panels.

Senator Milne said the fund would make money for the state and reduce power bills.

"Australia is a leader in solar science but is underinvested in solar power, depriving us of jobs that the community is calling out for," she said on Sunday.

"We can create the financial incentives to put solar panels on roofs, for no money down, delivering immediate savings on electricity bills."

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