Who will be the big ARIAs star?

Iggy Azalea is likely to feature in the nominations for the 2014 ARIA Awards. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia) Source: Getty Images

COULD the ARIA Awards have shifted to a Wednesday night to accommodate a special guest appearance by Katy Perry?

The American superstar has a night off in Sydney during her epic Prismatic tour and loves an awards ceremony.

ARIA bosses confirmed today the awards will return to The Star Event Centre and be held on November 26.

And now the record labels begin the intense lobbying to get their acts on to the stage not only as nominees but performers.

There will be a massive push to bring home some of the Australian acts who have taken the world by storm in the past 12 months including Sia, Iggy Azalea and 5 Seconds Of Summer.

Fans will be hoping to see 5 Seconds Of Summer on the ARIA Awards red carpet. (Photo by Andrew Estey/Invision/AP) Source: AP

Electronic soul man Chet Faker, who has spent most of the year touring the world, has confirmed he has booked the ARIAs into his November calendar.

It has been a strong year for emerging local talent on the ARIA charts with Justice Crew and Sheppard among those storming to No.1 on the singles charts.

Chet Faker will interrupt his international touring to celebrate his homegrown success. Picture: Nicole Cleary Source: News Limited

Faker, Hilltop Hoods, Jimmy Barnes, Vance Joy, Amity Affliction, Taylor Henderson and Angus and Julia Stone are among the Australian artists to top the album charts this year.

Music fans will again decide who will win Song Of The Year, Best International Artist — which Perry would be a strong contender to win — Best Australian live Act and Best Video. Voting for those awards and the nominees for the other categories will be announced on October 7.

It will be broadcast on Channel Ten.

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Dog chucks a tanty like a toddler

Puppy dog eyes ... this German Shepherd had a (hysterical) hissy fit when her owner tried to coax her out of the water. Picture: Laura Gibbs via YouTube Source: Supplied

WE'VE all seen extreme toddler temper tantrums — but this German Shepherd takes throwing a fit to a new level.

Bella the German Shepherd was having a tonne of fun playing in the water — until her owner told her it was time to go.

That's when the big dog turned into a big kid: howling, yelping and swimming further out into the lake.

And it seems Bella's little hissy fit worked for her.

Theatrical performance ... Bella refused to leave the lake despite her owner's gentle calls. Picture: Laura Gibbs via YouTube Source: Supplied

I can't hear you! ... Bella the German Shepherd yelped and continued swimming, ignoring her owner's calls. Picture: Laura Gibbs via YouTbube Source: Supplied

"She got to keep swimming after her wonderful theatrical performance," Laura Gibbs, who posted the video to YouTube in April, wrote.

"No dogs' hearts were actually broken in the making of this video."

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Terror group ‘kills French hostage’

Killed ... An image grim a video by group Jund al-Khilafah, or Soldiers of the Caliphate, shows hostage Herve Gourdel appealing to French President Francois Hollande to help free him. Picture: AP Source: AP

A TERRORISM watchdog says Algerian extremists allied with the Islamic State group have killed French hostage Herve Gourdel.

A group calling itself Jund al-Khilafah said after abducting Gourdel on Sunday that he would be killed within 24 hours unless France ended its air strikes against Islamic State group fighters in Iraq.

The French government has insisted it will not back down.

US terrorism watchdog SITE Intelligence Group says Jund al-Khilafah released a video online on Wednesday saying Gourdel had been killed.

He was a 55-year-old mountaineering guide from Nice.

The French government would not immediately comment.

Mountain guide ... Herve Gourdel, 55, has reportedly been killed after he was kidnapped on September 21, by Jund al-Khilifa, a group linked to radical Islamic State (IS) militants in the mountainous of Algeria. Picture: AFP/HO Source: AFP

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Police on high alert for terror reprisals

Numan Haider. Source: Supplied

POLICE are on high alert for revenge attacks against more officers following the shooting of teenage terror suspect Numan Haider.

As Chief Commissioner Ken Lay wrote to Victoria's 13,000 police officers, warning them to be prepared for any situation, it emerged:

AN EYEWITNESS has made a statement to police that another man in Islamic dress was near the scene in Endeavour Hills where the attack took place.

POLICE said they had no evidence of other parties being involved in the attack on the police, but that the investigation was in its early stages and interviews with family, friends and associates were being conducted.

SOURCES said the teen had earlier tried to lure the police to other locations, including a Hungry Jack's.

HAIDER had been picked up in an intelligence sweep of "chatter" about potential threats to Parliament House, and had followed the movements of government officials, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

THE teen's passport was cancelled a week ago after he made plans to fly to Syria.

Numan Haider's body is removed from the scene in Endeavour Hills. Picture: Getty Images

HIS rage may have been further­ fuelled by raids on his "Muslim brothers" in Sydney and a romance with a woman whom he converted to Islam that failed in recent weeks.

DEFENCE Force families were told to be on high alert after a soldier's house was approached in Sydney.

AND while police said there had been no specific threats about beheadings some police suspect that this was Haider's intention, and that it occur in a public place or on film.

TEEN TERROR SUSPECT'S JOURNEY TO JIHAD

A LOOK INSIDE THE RADICAL WORLD OF AL-FURQAN

A forensic officer gathers evidence. Picture: Nicole Garmston

PASSPORT BIND: FOREIGN AUSSIES STRANDED

EDITORIAL: TAKING A STAND AGAINST ISIL

MCGUIRE: COMMON GROUND EXISTS IF YOU LOOK FOR IT

BARTON: WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AGAINST TERROR

TERROR SUSPECT'S HEARTBREAK

BEZZINA: CALM NEEDED AGAINST TERROR THREAT

A bag of evidence is taken away. Picture: Nicole Garmston

RULE: THE TALE OF THE ENEMY WITHIN

The Islamic Council of Victoria refused to immediately condemn the dead teenager's actions.

Mr Lay defended the counter-terrorism officers' handling of the confrontation with Haider.

Last Thursday, Haider, 18, was one of five people seen thrusting brochures into shoppers' hands at the Dandenong mall, where he was often seen wearing an Islamic­ State-style flag.

Witnesses recalled seeing up to 15 police, who were in the mall, surround the teen outside the Hub arcade.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives at Westchester Airport in the US.

On Tuesday night Haider, who had an ISIL-style flag on him and a large knife tucked into his belt, attacked the two counter-terrorism agents with a small blade after shaking hands with them.

The Afghanistan-born teen, who has links to extremist­ Islamic group Al-Furqan, was hit in the head by a single bullet after stabbing the AFP agent in the head, neck and abdomen.

The Herald Sun has learned that the officers, whose identities will not be released, had attempted to find the teen at his Endeavour Hills home, which they searched, before arranging with him to meet outside the police station.

Haider's family would not comment about the incident yesterday. Relatives said his 20-year-old brother was "angry'' and that his mother, Suraya, had barely spoken since learning of her son's death.

A relative said the family had contacted police asking for Haider's body to be returned­ for burial.

Details surrounding the shooting death of an 18-year-old terror suspect in Melbourne have started to emerge.

Mr Abbott said the incident showed some Australians were capable "of very extreme acts" and would do their countrymen harm.

"The suspect did mount a fierce attack on both officers,"­­ Mr Abbott said.

"Obviously, this indicates that there are people in our community who are capable of very extreme acts. It also indicates that the police will be constantly vigilant to protect us against people who would do us harm," said the PM, who is in New York.

An eyewitness who saw a Muslim man in Islamic dress at the scene of the attack, said he saw Haider backing his Nissan Pulsar into a parking space and getting out shortly before the rampage.

The witness, who did not want to be named, said the last thing he heard was an officer­ shouting "put it down, put it down'' before a shot rang out.

"He was all over the shop when he was reversing ... it's like he was trying to (position his car) to get away.

"There were other people there — a man in white, an Islamic man, 50 to 60 metres away," he said.

"He may not have had anything to do with it. There were a couple of people there and that one guy stuck out."

Those close to the investigation said the officers had called the teenager to ask him for a meeting to give him some "life advice''.

Mr Lay yesterday said that the two police officers had given Haider options about a meeting, and he had also given them options, before it was decided to meet outside the Endeavour Hills police station.

Haider told the police officers he did not want to meet in the foyer, after becoming aware they had searched his house on Tuesday.

It is believed the officers had tried to talk to Haider at his home but he was out.

Several meeting points had been discussed with Haider, including at a local Hungry Jack's.

Several sources told the Herald Sun investigators are pursuing suspicions that up to three parties were involved in Tuesday's unprovoked attack.

Last Thursday, Haider was seen outside Dandenong Plaza, wearing camouflage pants and waving a black and white flag.

Intelligence services had found that Haider wanted to go to Syria to join the civil war against Bashar al-Assad's Government this month. This resulted in the suspension of his passport last week.

Both wounded police officers have had surgery, and were in stable conditions.

Police said they'd had "no choice" but to shoot the teen dead after being stabbed.

Mr Abbott was briefed on the incident while travelling to New York to attend United Nations meetings dealing with the Islamic State threat.

Harun Mehicevic, the leader of Al-Furqan in Springvale, refused to confirm that Haider had been involved with the group.

Mr Lay has written to all Victoria Police members warning them to be alert.

Originally published as Police on high alert for terror reprisals

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Seat wars: It’s Virgin v Qantas

Virgin Australia's new business class suites, to be installed on the A330 and 777 fleets. Source: Supplied

ECONOMY class cabins on some Virgin Australia aircraft are set to shrink to allow more big-dollar business suites on board.

Under a strategy unveiled by CEO John Borghetti in Singapore yesterday, Virgin Australia will redesign the cabins of its A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft from March next year, to better meet the needs of the corporate traveller.

The plan will see business seats on board the 777s grow from 33 to 37 as premium economy and economy seats are cut by 25.

Virgin Australia's new lie-flat business class seat. Source: Supplied

A330s will retain 250 "cheap" seats and lose four business seats to allow room for 20 new suites featuring lie flat beds, privacy screens and extra workspace.

Mr Borghetti said the strategy would deliver a greater return per seat for Virgin than the current format because of expected higher fares for the new suites.

Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti launches the airline's new business class suites. Source: Supplied

The cabin reconfiguration would mean up to 42 economy class seats would also get more leg space, Mr Borghetti said.

"There will be some seats in economy where there'll be enough enhancement in the seat pitch to allow us to sell it for a premium," said Mr Borghetti.

"The business case shows very strongly that the result will be improving. We wouldn't be doing it otherwise."

Virgin Australia's revolutionary new business class. Source: Supplied

The strategy follows on from Qantas' announcement last year of a new business class suite on its A330s being rolled out later this year.

Mr Borghetti said the Qantas design had given Virgin new ideas about its own redesign, which he believed would give it the upper hand.

"I think what we've come up with is exceptional," he said.

"What we want to do is not just maintain the leadership in the products we've established, we want to leapfrog, we want to go one step further."

Qantas unveiled its new A330 business class suite last year. Source: Supplied

The travel industry welcomed the innovation and ongoing rivalry between Qantas and Virgin.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Jayson Westbury said in a competitive environment the seat could "often be the factor that influences a business class passenger".

"You would be surprised how Australians gravitate to business class — particularly when it is a good product," said Mr Westbury.

An artist's impression of Qantas' new business class suite. Source: Supplied

Acting Tourism and Transport Forum chief Trent Zimmerman also welcomed the plans unveiled by Virgin.

"Innovation and improvement are critical in the extremely competitive world of global aviation and this Investment will ensure Virgin Australia can continue to offer world-class service and comfort," said Mr Zimmerman.

Qantas' new suites will beat Virgin to the marketplace and the airline remained confident of retaining the lion's share of the corporate dollar.

"The great thing about competition is that customers get to decide which product they think is better, rather than relying on all the hype," said a Qantas spokeswoman.

Why Virgin Australia claims its business seats are better

(with Qantas stats in brackets)

In the Boeing 777: Seat width 71cm (54.6cm)

Bed width: 71cm (61cm)

Bed length: 203cm (203cm)

Inflight entertainment unit: 43cm (30.7cm)

In the A330 seat width: 71cm (61cm)

Bed width: 71cm (63.5cm)

Bed length: 203cm (201cm)

Virgin's share of corporate market: 25-26 per cent

Qantas: 74-75 per cent

Where it will be by 2017 (according to Virgin): 30 per cent and rising

Qantas: 70 per cent and falling

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Council votes to allow sibling incest

Incest ... Siblings Patrick Stuebing and Susan Karolewski have had four children together. Picture: Supplied. Source: News Limited

GERMANY'S national ethics council wants to allow incest between siblings, saying the risk of disability in children isn't enough to warrant the law.

The Independent reports that the council made the recommendation after reviewing the case of Patrick Stuebing, a man who was adopted as a child and met his half-sister when he was 24 and she was 16.

The pair have four children together, however he was jailed for three years in 2008 and his sister, Susan Karolewski, was only allowed to keep one out of their four children.

Two of the children are disabled although it is unclear if that is a result of their parents being related.

Overnight, the German Ethics Council recommended that Section 173 of the German criminal code, which makes incest an offence under which offenders can be jailed for years, be repealed.

The chairman of the council, Christiane Woopen, was among the 14 members voting in favour of repealing the law, while nine people voted for the ban to continue and two abstained.

"The majority of the German Ethics Council is of the opinion that it is not appropriate for a criminal law to preserve a social taboo," the council said. "In the case of consensual incest among adult siblings, neither the fear of negative consequences for the family, nor the possibility of the birth of children from such incestuous relationships can justify a criminal prohibition.

"The fundamental right of adult siblings to sexual self-determination has more weight in such cases than the abstract protection of the family," the council added. "Incest between siblings appears to be very rare in Western societies according to the available data but those affected describe how difficult their situation is in light of the threat of punishment."

Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, a spokeswoman for Angela Merkel's CDU party, said the abolition of the law against incest would send the wrong message.

"Abolishing criminal punishment against incestuous actions within a family would go completely against protecting the undisturbed development of children," she told Deutsche Welle.

The Ethics Council's recommendation only covered incest between siblings and members did not recommend decriminalising sex between parents and children.

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Drama queen Laurina returns to The Bachelor

The final four — Penrith, Canterbury, South Sydney and the Roosters. Oh wait, I'm thinking of the rugby league. Source: Channel 10

LAURINA confessed to harbouring a secret, feverish lust for pies, Hurricane Amber turned into Volcanic Explosion Amber, and our old favourites tipped a winner.

All that and more in our Bachelor recap, covering the special reunion of Blake's many rejected worshippers. I mean, erm, Bachelorettes. Read on ...

MORE: Naughty nurses and sexy lifeguards

MORE: Has Jess already won The Bachelor?

"Sit down children. Let uncle Osher tell you a story about a magical mansion, full of terrifying princesses." Source: Channel 10

ANITA AND DIANA

Osher starts by asking the two scariest Bachelorettes, Anita the Hunter and Diana the Disney Princess, to discuss their first night on the show. As you may recall, the former spent most of that initial cocktail party stalking the other girls as they tried to enjoy some alone time with Blake.

"I was just very overwhelmed. Acted a little bit ... crazy, I think." Anita says. "I just needed to take a breath and take the situation in."

That's the beautiful thing about Anita. Sure, she's bonkers, but at least she has enough self-awareness to admit it.

"I'm just like, running like a deer with lights in my face," she explains. There you have it. Anita has officially confessed to being Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer in disguise.

"And if you ever saw her, you would even say she glows." Source: Channel 10

Diana reckons Blake should have halted production and declared her the victor before the first rose ceremony.

"I actually think, when I met him he should have been like, you're the one," she says. "And that's the end of the show!"

Sadly, that's rarely how entertainment works. Perhaps she should watch some more Disney films, carefully studying the way in which each movie's conclusion is kept until the very end.

"I've been looking for my Prince Charming for so looooong," Diana moans. I really can't imagine why.

"Diana, I can't believe that guy didn't at least return the gold crown you gave him." Source: Channel 10

LAURINA AND AMBER

These two clashed spitefully early in the season. Anita had finally hunted down some quality one-on-one time with Blake, and Laurina dared to interrupt it. That caught the eye of Hurricane Amber, who thought Laurina had an ulterior motive for appearing on the show anyway.

"It was like, is she here for love, or is she just here to take advantage of the situation and promote herself?" Amber says. "It was offensive to everyone here, who was here to fall in love."

Wait, this show is about love? They've never mentioned that before. Some thematic consistency would be nice.

"It just made me feel a little bit misunderstood," Laurina says of her showdown with Amber. "I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"I'm slowly dying inside." Source: Channel 10

Disappointingly, just as another screaming match beckons, Amber and Laurina decide to make up. Granted, make-up is one of Laurina's specialties.

"Thanks for being explosive, because it was awesome ... it was exciting, and we all ended up having a ball," she says.

"In the end, as time went on, I really did start to see another side of you. And I'm sorry that I had a huge misconception about you," Amber admits.

Another side? What other side? We never saw another side.

"I secretly still hate her heaps." Source: Channel 10

MARY AND AMBER ... YES, AMBER AGAIN

Mary is one of the Bachelorettes who entered the mansion late. She wasn't very popular with the other girls, and she knows it.

"It was like being fed to the lion's den," Mary says, describing her first night on the show. "Laurina death stared me a little bit."

"At that stage we really believed in the process," Laurina interjects, channelling the dense, cliche-riddled vernacular of a business executive. The process? It's just some bloke handing out roses, we're not talking about a corporate restructure here.

"Hey Laurina. You're fired." Source: Channel 10

Osher gives Amber a chance to explain away her numerous tantrums. She is not apologetic.

"When I'm mad, look out. When I'm sad, tears are a'flowin'. When I'm happy, love to laugh, love the LOLs," Amber says. Yes, she just said "LOLs" out loud. Next she'll refer to "the Facebook".

"Honestly, I just can't hold back. It's like this volcanic eruption inside of me that's just like, building, building, building, explosion, lava everywhere, explosions, Amber alerts, Amber alerts, it's all going nuts."

First Amber's a hurricane. Now she's a volcano. The woman is cycling through natural disasters faster than the American midwest.

"Are you still fond of Australian men?" Osher asks, with a little too much interest. Mate, of course she still loves Aussie men. We're bloody excellent.

"Just asking. It's an innocent question." Source: Channel 10

LAURINA, ROUND TWO

Laurina counters the accusation that she had another motive for appearing on the show by impersonating Diana.

"I'm 31 years old, you think I don't want to find love, and have babies, and live happily ever after?" she asks.

That's all very dull, so Osher changes to a juicier subject, bringing up her disastrous solo dates with Blake.

"(Skydiving) was so incredibly painful, it was like being whipped in the face," Laurina says. "Just pure pain. Like, I actually went into shock, I couldn't breathe for a second. And then I started feeling a bit traumatised, massively."

I've been skydiving. It doesn't feel like that. Perhaps my face is made of tougher stuff. Anyway, having amped up the melodrama, Laurina goes on to insist she has no issue with pies — OK, maybe she didn't appreciate being offered one by Blake, but usually she thinks they're totally delish.

"It wasn't that I can't enjoy a pie, like honestly, if I'm crazy famished, I'll get one from the servo and I'll eat it in the car and I'll get the pastry all over me. I can eat a pie!"

Those Four'N Twenty ads you always thought were aimed at blokes? Actually, Laurina was the target market all along.

"Seriously, I'll open my mouth like this and put the pie right in there. For real. No jokes. Stop laughing." Source: Channel 10

DISCUSSING LOUISE

The Bachelorettes have come up with a rather punchy nickname for Louise — "Stepford". If you don't get that reference, stop reading this and go brush up on your classic chick literature.

"She bakes, she cooks, she's got that whole Stepford Wife persona," says someone up the back whose name I forgot long ago.

"She's got that mix between ambition and being the homemaker, I think," Mary adds.

Chantal delves even deeper into the realm of psychoanalysis, suggesting the Bachelor is most interested in Louise's maternal qualities.

"Blake was brought up by two very strong women, so I think that Louise would have those really beautiful, nurturing, motherly qualities that he would find so attractive," Chantal says.

That screams "mummy issues" to me.

Louise from The Bachelor Source: Supplied

DISCUSSING JESSICA, LISA AND SAM

As you may recall, Jess told the other girls she had not kissed Blake during their first solo date. Now Osher shows them footage of her doing just that.

"Whoa, even tongue, Jessy! You little liar!" Amber says. "We call her magical Jess for a reason, because that is just magic."

"Why do you call her magical Jess?" Osher asks.

"Because of how she expresses herself at all times," Chantal replies, in a fair imitation of Jess's breathless simper. Nobody wants to mock Lisa though. She's almost as popular as Blake.

"She is personable, she's funny, you know she gets along with everyone," Holly says. "She stands up for someone when they're down, and she's hot as well. What more could you want in a woman?"

"They have so much fun, and I think in life, when you meet your partner, they're your best friend as well," Zoe adds.

Meanwhile, there's only one person on earth who adores Sam more than Blake does, and her name is Chantal.

"I just think Sam is such a beautiful woman. She's your quintessential Australian girl next door," she says.

"That was very real, what we saw there (Sam's highlights clip). It wasn't all gushy and mushy, it was like, wow ... jaw dropped."

Actually, it was pretty gushy. And very mushy. Just like everything else in this show.

We found one photo in which Lisa was not laughing. Source: News Corp Australia

PICKING THE WINNER

In his final interrogation, Osher asks some of the more prominent Bachelorettes to name Blake's future wife. I shall paraphrase their answers.

Zoe: I don't know. I have as much trouble committing to an answer as I had committing to some random bloke on national television.

Chantal: Very close between Jess and Sam. Sam. Or maybe Jess. I'm ridiculously confused here.

Anita: Jess. I stalked everyone incessantly, and she was easily the most impressive.

Laurina: Jess. And I'm definitely not feeling bitter towards her. I said I'm not feeling bitter. Urgh, someone bring me a comfort pie.

Kara: Lisa. We were best buddies before I got kicked off, and I'm a big fan of wishful thinking.

Diana: Jess. Because when it comes to relationships, love at first sight is far more important than any emotional depth.

Katrina: Jess. Because duh.

The Bachelor next screens at 7:30pm on Thursday, on Network Ten. Stay tuned right after the show for our recap. In the meantime, you can find Sam on Twitter: @SamClench

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Key Crows players lost faith in Brenton Sanderson

Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson discuss the sacking of Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson, the influence players may have had over the decision, and possible future coaches for the club.

BRENTON Sanderson has paid the price for losing the faith of key Crows players as the Adelaide Football Club began a nationwide search for its seventh AFL coach.

Despite having the best winning rate — 39 wins from 69 games, a 57 per cent success rate in three seasons — Sanderson on Wednesday was told the two-year, $1.2 million contract extension he was handed in December would not be honoured.

Sanderson, 40, and Crows chairman Rob Chapman on Thursday will have a joint press conference at West Lakes to explain a sacking that on Wednesday night was presented by the club as an agreement "to part ways".

Despite his contract, Sanderson was at risk after not following up his bright start in 2012 — when Adelaide played in the preliminary finals — with repeat finals appearances.

Brenton Sanderson has lost his position after three years in the top job at Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed.

The Crows have missed the major round in the past two years when Sanderson has delivered 11th and 10th rankings with a playing group considered sound enough to play finals.

A day after declaring "mediocrity was unacceptable" at the Adelaide Football Club — which is without an AFL premiership or grand final appearance since 1998 — Crows chairman Rob Chapman told Sanderson the club needed a new direction.

This followed a review of the Crows football program — by Chapman, fellow board members Andrew Payze and Mark Ricciuto and football chief David Noble.

A strong point of influence in this review was the feedback of senior players.

In the club's only official statement last night, Chapman said: "Brenton is a quality person and accomplished coach, but recent weeks have unearthed a need for change.

"Both parties have realised they have different perspectives on where we are at as a footy team.

"It is a tough decision, but one the club feels pushes us closer to realising our ambitions.

"We would like to thank Brenton for his contribution and wish him every success."

Sanderson, a former player at Adelaide, made no statement on Wednesday.

His future in AFL football could continue at Collingwood as an assistant coach working for his best friend, Nathan Buckley.

Who's your pick for Crows coach?

The field of contenders for Adelaide's seventh coach since its start-up season in 1991 is already vast and varied — former Crows captain Simion Goodwin, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn premiership player Stuart Dew who is an assistant coach at Sydney, former Brisbane coach Michael Voss, Geelong premiership coach and current Essendon stand-in mentor Mark Thompson and Collingwood assistant coach Scott Burns, who missed the job in 2012.

Sanderson's sacking still startled his coaching staff, particularly after the assistant coaches met Sanderson at the club's West Lakes base on Wednesday to plan the Crows' pre-season campaign that begins in November.

The dismissal — and how it was presented with no statement from the club until 6.17pm after three hours of media speculation — drew heated reaction from some of Adelaide's high-profile supporters.

Club ambassador and FIVEaa breakfast radio host David Penberthy took to Twitter to savage the board saying: "What a total dog act by the adelaide football club. So incompetently handled too. An embarrassment."

Sanderson's last public presentation as Crows coach was on Friday, September 5, at the Adelaide Football Club's awards night.

His review of the season was critiqued as lacking an inspiring vision for next season. His explanation of Adelaide's failure to reach finals for the second consecutive year was loaded with statistics that were taken as excuses, particularly by Ricciuto who joined the board in July.

Sanderson's coaching performances this season drew much criticism, particularly on match day when he failed to react to damaging match-ups.

But his results — 11 wins and 11 losses — this season reflected inconsistency and mediocrity the Crows board could not tolerate.

Do you think the Crows were right to sack Sanderson?

Brenton Sanderson when he was introduced as the Crows' new coach. Source: News Limited

BRENTON SANDERSON

Born: February 27, 1974

Playing career: 1992-2005

209 games (Adelaide 6; Collingwood 4; Geelong 199)

AFL senior coaching career: 2012-2014

69 games, 39 wins, 30 losses

Crows' finishing position under Sanderson

2012 — 3rd

2013 — 11th

2014 — 10th

Major coaching achievement:

2012 NAB Cup

Originally published as Key Crows players lost faith in Brenton Sanderson

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Wagner ‘The Recruit’, set for Power

Johann Wagner has been named the 2014 winner of The Recruit, beating Queensland's Bradie Foster.

Johann Wagner, Bradie Foster and Chris Moreland are fighting to be The Recruit winner. Picture: Martin Philbey Source: Supplied

PORT Adelaide last night signed explosive goalkicker Johann Wagner after the Port Lincoln product was crowned the winner of reality television series The Recruit.

The Port Lincoln product had the choice of his native Power, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney after beating finalists Bradie Foster and Chris Moreland to the rookie contract on offer from the FOX 8 series.

RE-LIVE THE LIVE FINALE IN OUR CHAT BELOW

It means the 23-year-old will continue working with Port Adelaide high performance guru Darren Burgess, who trained Wagner across the 10-week series and his salary will sit outside the cap unless he is upgraded and plays AFL games in 2015.

Delisted contestant and ruckman Padraig Lucey is set to follow Wagner to the AFL, almost certainly at Geelong.

The Recruit finalists Johann Wagner, Bradie Foster and Chris Moreland. Source: Supplied

The 201cm Irishman – a part-time pool lifeguard from County Kerry – is set to join the Cats as a Category B rookie.

Lucey has a gaelic football background and first kicked an AFL football 18 months ago via an AFL combine in Ireland run by fellow Kerry man and Sydney premiership play Tadgh Kennelly.

REPLAY MORLO'S LIVE CHAT

Michael Voss, who coached Wagner on the series, said his finishing skills and repeat speed would enable him to adapt to the AFL.

"He's got the one attribute that I know every single club desperately wants and that's penetration in his play," Voss said.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan with The Recruit's top three, Bradie Foster, Chris Moreland and Johann Wagner. Picture: Nicole Cleary Source: News Corp Australia

"He's got great character, he wants to learn all the time and every single challenge we put in front of him he adapted to and got better and stronger across the nine weeks."

Knocks had come on Wagner's kicking, but Power recruiting chief Geoff Parker said his athleticism would allow him to slot into Alberton.

"He's got speed, agility, good mark and knows how to kick a goal," Parker said.

"We'll get to work on him when he arrives at the club and hopefully he's prepared to work hard and get down to work straight away."

The Recruit coach Michael Voss with Michael Hutchinson and Bradie Foster. Picture: Adam Armstrong Source: News Corp Australia

Asked why clubs should choose him, Wagner said: "I've got sheer speed, good height, can play on talls, smalls, I've got strength, explosive power and like Vossy said I'm a good finisher."

Port president David Koch said Wagner should choose his club over the expansion sides if he was prepared for hard work.

"We'd love to make that eight-year-old's dream come true. If you're after a rockstar AFL lifestyle don't choose us," he said at last night's function at Crown.

The speed demon slotted eight goals for SA country against WA last year and former Crow Michael Doughty told him to nominate for The Recruit.

WA basketballer Reece Maxwell – delisted from the show last week – has also attracted strong AFL interest and can be signed as Category B rookies.

Foster, a 204cm Volleyballer from Queensland, and Geelong West-St Peter's midfield star Chris Moreland are also in talks with AFL clubs.

The Recruit has been commissioned to run a second season next year with the AFL Commission already ticking off the same unique draft process.

THE RECRUITS

1 Johann Wagner

2 Bradie Foster

3 Chris Moreland

4 Reece Maxwell

5 Padraig Lucey

6 Ryan Semmel

7 Brendan Goss

8 Nathan Jackel

9 Mark Cisco

10 Waylon Manson

11 Ryan Smith

12 Daniel Johncock

13 Michael Hutchinson

14 James Brackin

15 Tyrone Armitage

JOHANN WAGNER

Home town: Port Lincoln, South Australia

Position: Forward

Height: 189.5 centimetres

Weight: 86.5 kilograms

Current club: Central District Football Club (SANFL)

Originally published as Wagner 'The Recruit', set for Power

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Bus basher’s sorry letter to victim

A young woman who assaulted a 77-year-old partly-blind pensioner on a Gold Coast bus has been given a suspended jail sentence and slammed by a magistrate as a 'lout and an idiot.'

PARTLY blind pensioner Paul Buttigieg broke down yesterday when told that one of the two young women who savagely bashed him on a Gold Coast bus had just walked free from court.

"I hate them," said a tearful Mr Buttigieg, 77.

"I don't want to see them ever again."

ON VIDEO: Elderly man targeted in vicious bus attack

Larna Watmough was given a suspended sentence today and was abused when she left the building.

Despite being slammed by a magistrate as a "lout" and an "idiot" for the cowardly attack on "a defenceless old man", Larna Watmough escaped with a suspended two-month jail sentence.

Southport Magistrates Court heard 21-year-old Watmough – a cousin of NRL bad boy Anthony Watmough – and her friend Layni Cameron, 17, had unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on the retired jockey and screamed racial abuse at him and other passengers on the Surfside bus.

Mr Buttigieg, who had been on his way home from the local bowls club, was also spat on. Footage of the incident was played at the sentencing hearing before a hushed courtroom.

Larna Watmough outside court yesterday. Pic: Richard Gosling

But despite blasting the absolutely deplorable attack and telling Watmough she could go to jail for up to seven years, magistrate Gary Finger spared her ­actual time behind bars.

Prosecutor Danielle Hunt said Mr Buttigieg suffered bruising to both arms and a cut lip, and his prescription glasses were broken. Calling for a jail sentence, Ms Hunt said Watmough and Cameron had displayed "senseless, gratuitous violence ... which must be denounced by the court".

Defence lawyer Jodi Allen said the altercation came after Mr Buttigieg told Watmough and Cameron to "go back to where you came from".

Bus attack victim Paul Buttigieg at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club yesterday. Pic: Regi Varghese

She said a witness told of seeing Mr Buttigieg hit the girls as they got off the bus.

Watmough had admitted to having "stuffed up in a big way" and had written a letter of apology to Mr Buttigieg, which was tendered to the court. In it, she said: "If we ever do happen to see each other, I hope we can say hello and accept it was a mistake."

Mr Finger jailed Watmough for two months but ordered the sentence be wholly suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay $500 compensation and given 12 months' probation for the public nuisance charge.

The case against Cameron was adjourned.

Larna Watmough's apology letter to her victim. Source: Supplied

Larna Watmough's apology letter to her victim. Source: Supplied

Originally published as Bus basher's sorry letter to victim

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Gammy ‘offered to another Aussie couple’

Baby Gammy. Picture: Patrick Brown Source: Supplied

BABY Gammy was allegedly offered to a Victorian couple in a "frenzied scramble" to offload­ the boy after it was discovered he had Down syndrome­.

It was also alleged on the ABC's 7.30 that the boy's father, David Farnell, suggested the Thai surrogacy agency he had hired just "drop baby Gammy at the temple at night" — claims Mr Farnell has denied.

The developments have been revealed eight months after Gammy was abandoned in Thailand by his West Australian parents, who took his healthy twin sister Pipah back to Australia.

Country Victorian couple Kim and Brendan Cross told 7.30 they had been offered Gammy by Thailand Surrogacy — the agency hired by both the Crosses and Farnells — after struggling to conceive over two years.

"Maybe they thought this was an easy option for us to take this child instead of continuing on our path to have our own biological child," Ms Cross said.

"But of course we can't accept someone else's child.

David and Wendy Farnell deny asking for Gammy to be aborted. Picture: Channel 9

"(We were) mortified. We could not believe that someone would go through a process like this and give birth to a beautiful baby boy.

"Regardless of whether he had down syndrome or not, he is their flesh and blood."

A former employee of Thailand Surrogacy, who wished to remain anonymous, told 7.30 when this option fell through, Mr Farnell asked for Gammy to be aborted. When that was refused, Mr Farnell allegedly suggested taking the healthy girl home and abandoning her twin brother outside a temple in Bangkok.

"He said, 'there's a normal one, can I take the normal one?'," the employee claimed Mr Farnell had said.

"'Can you leave the abnormal one at the temple, can you leave him in Bangkok? No one will know about this.'"

Thailand Surrogacy chief executive Antonio Frattaroli backed his former employee's claims in an email to 7.30.

"They beg me to drop baby Gammy at the temple at night and run away," he said.

"They told me, don't worry Antonio, the monk will take care of the baby."

Mr Frattaroli said he was not aware of Gammy being offered to another couple, but said Mr Farnell did ask for an abortion.

Mr Farnell has denied ever asking for the child to be left at a temple.

Originally published as Gammy 'offered to another Aussie couple'

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Rivers’s doctor snapped selfie

Selfie with star ... Joan Rivers's doctor took a selfie with his unconscious patient before she went into cardiac arrest. Picture: AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau. Source: AP

JOAN Rivers' personal doctor reportedly snapped a selfie while the comedian was under ­anaesthesia and the physician was about to perform an unauthorised biopsy that led to her fatal cardiac arrest.

The New York Post reports that the doctor took the photo in the procedure room at Manhattan's Yorkville ­Endoscopy before performing the procedure on Rivers' vocal cords, according to CNN.

A staffer at the clinic told investigators about the doctor's behaviour, the cable-TV network said.

Rivers was at the clinic for an endoscopy to be performed by gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen.

Family grieving ... Melissa Rivers and her son, Cooper Endicott, depart the Joan Rivers memorial service. Picture: Taylor Hill/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

Cohen and the clinic's medical director finished their work on Rivers before her unidentified personal physician took it upon himself to perform the biopsy, CNN said.

But before performing the unauthorised procedure, the doctor allegedly pulled out his camera to snap a picture of himself with the legendary star while she was unconscious, according to the network.

It was during the biopsy that Rivers suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

Investigators believe that her vocal cords began to swell during the biopsy on August 29 and the flow of oxygen to her lungs was cut off, CNN said.

She died a week later.

Trailblazer ... Talk show host Joan Rivers, right, talks with guest, first lady Nancy Reagan, during her appearance on The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers. Picture: AP Photo, Reed Saxon. Source: AP

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US man ‘tried to swim to N Korea’

Dictator ... A US man arrested by border guards in South Korea was reportedly attempting to swim to North Korea because wanted to meet Kim Jong-un. Picture: AFP/KCNA VIA KNS Source: AFP

South Korean border guards arrested an American man who they believe was attempting to swim across a river to rival North Korea, a South Korean defence official said.

The man was apprehended Tuesday night while lying on a bank of the Han River in a restricted military area near the border, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to office policy.

The man told investigators that he tried to go to North Korea to meet leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unidentified government source.

The man, aged around 29, is a computer repairman from Texas who came to South Korea 10 days ago, the agency reported.

Arrest ... South Korean army soldiers stand guard at a military check point at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom. Picture: AP Source: AP

South Korea's Defence Ministry and the National Intelligence Service said they couldn't confirm the report.

Americans are occasionally arrested after entering North Korea illegally from China, but a US citizen trying to get in to the country from South Korea is unusual.

In the 1960s, several US soldiers walked into North Korea while on a patrol near the mine-strewn Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ.

Those army deserters later appeared in propaganda films and taught English in North Korea.

In 1996, American Evan C Hunziker entered North Korea by swimming across the Yalu River that marks the Chinese border.

Hunziker, who apparently made the swim on a drunken dare, was accused of spying and detained for three months.

Drunken dare ... In this Nov. 27, 1996 file photo, American Evan C. Hunzik, right, shakes hands with then-U.S. Rep. Bill Richardson after arriving in Japan after his release from North Korea. Picture: AP Source: AP

Hunziker, 26 at the time, was eventually freed after negotiations involving a special U.S. envoy.

The North Koreans wanted to slap Hunziker with a $100,000 criminal fine but eventually agreed on a $5000 payment to settle a bill for a hotel where he was detained. He killed himself about one month after his release.

About 27,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea to avoid poverty and political suppression since the end of the Korean War.

Some South Koreans have attempted to defect to the impoverished, authoritarian North, but such cases are rare.

Last year, South Korean soldiers shot and killed a man with a South Korean passport who officials said ignored warnings while swimming across the Imjin River toward North Korea.

Some Americans recently detained in North Korea include missionaries aiming to spread the gospel or draw attention to human rights abuses.

On Christmas Day in 2009, Korean-American missionary Robert Park defiantly walked into North Korea from China, calling for the dismantling of the North's prison camps.

Mr Park, who was deported from North Korea in February 2010, said he was tortured by interrogators.

North Korea is currently holding three Americans. The country's Supreme Court sentenced one of them, Matthew Miller, on Sunday to six years of hard labour after finding him guilty of illegally entering the country to commit espionage.

Rare case ... American Matthew Miller sits on the dock at the Supreme Court during his trial in Pyongyang on September 14. The court found Mr Miller guilty of espionage and sentenced Miller to six years of hard labour. Picture: AP Source: AP

North Korea says Mr Miller tore up his tourist visa upon arrival at Pyongyang's airport in April.

The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea.

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Bus basher’s sorry letter to victim

A young woman who assaulted a 77-year-old partly-blind pensioner on a Gold Coast bus has been given a suspended jail sentence and slammed by a magistrate as a 'lout and an idiot.'

Larna Watmough was given a suspended sentence today and was abused when she left the building.

Larna Watmough outside court yesterday. Pic: Richard Gosling Source: News Corp Australia

Bus attack victim Paul Buttigieg at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club yesterday. Pic: Regi Varghese Source: News Corp Australia

PARTLY blind pensioner Paul Buttigieg broke down yesterday when told that one of the two young women who savagely bashed him on a Gold Coast bus had just walked free from court.

"I hate them," said a tearful Mr Buttigieg, 77.

"I don't want to see them ever again."

ON VIDEO: Elderly man targeted in vicious bus attack

Despite being slammed by a magistrate as a "lout" and an "idiot" for the cowardly attack on "a defenceless old man", Larna Watmough escaped with a suspended two-month jail sentence.

Southport Magistrates Court heard 21-year-old Watmough – a cousin of NRL bad boy Anthony Watmough – and her friend Layni Cameron, 17, had unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on the retired jockey and screamed racial abuse at him and other passengers on the Surfside bus.

Mr Buttigieg, who had been on his way home from the local bowls club, was also spat on. Footage of the incident was played at the sentencing hearing before a hushed courtroom.

But despite blasting the absolutely deplorable attack and telling Watmough she could go to jail for up to seven years, magistrate Gary Finger spared her ­actual time behind bars.

Prosecutor Danielle Hunt said Mr Buttigieg suffered bruising to both arms and a cut lip, and his prescription glasses were broken. Calling for a jail sentence, Ms Hunt said Watmough and Cameron had displayed "senseless, gratuitous violence ... which must be denounced by the court".

Defence lawyer Jodi Allen said the altercation came after Mr Buttigieg told Watmough and Cameron to "go back to where you came from".

She said a witness told of seeing Mr Buttigieg hit the girls as they got off the bus.

Watmough had admitted to having "stuffed up in a big way" and had written a letter of apology to Mr Buttigieg, which was tendered to the court. In it, she said: "If we ever do happen to see each other, I hope we can say hello and accept it was a mistake."

Mr Finger jailed Watmough for two months but ordered the sentence be wholly suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay $500 compensation and given 12 months' probation for the public nuisance charge.

The case against Cameron was adjourned.

Larna Watmough's apology letter to her victim. Source: Supplied

Larna Watmough's apology letter to her victim. Source: Supplied

Originally published as Bus basher's sorry letter to victim

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Shock, tears and shattered hearts

A body has been recovered from a dam in the NSW Riverina region following the deaths of four people.

A ONE-line note was all that was left to explain the deaths of a respected farmer, his wife and three children in a suspected murder-suicide that has shattered a farming town.

Police will analyse the handwriting on the unsigned note to determine if it was written by Geoff Hunt, a grain farmer whose family were found shot dead at their Lockhart property, near Wagga Wagga, on Tuesday.

SISTER OF SLAIN MOTHER WAS REALITY TV CONTESTANT

SMILING HUNT FAMILY FACES HID A TERRIBLE TRUTH

Geoff and Kim Hunt with their children Phoebe, Mia and Fletcher / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Police spent almost 24 hours searching for Mr Hunt after the bodies of his wife Kim, 41, and children Fletcher, 10, Mia, 8, and ­Phoebe, 6, were found at the Watch Hill homestead.

Kim Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Kim Hunt with daughters Mia and Phoebe / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Police divers yesterday ­recovered a body, believed to be that of Mr Hunt, and a gun from a dam at the rear or the property. The case is being treated as a murder-suicide, with police ruling out any other suspects.

Phoebe, Fletcher and Mia Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Homicide Squad and local police will look at all aspects of the family's life to try to find out what led to the tragedy.

Kim and Geoff Hunt / Picture: Suppled Source: Supplied

A friend made the grisly discovery at the picturesque Boree Creek Rd farm, 60km west of Wagga Wagga, and alerted emergency services at 2.51pm on Tuesday.

The Hunt family property in Lockhart, NSW / Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

The Hunt family / Picture: Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

Superintendent Bob Noble said police and the community had been devastated.

"Some of the police ­involved here today live in Lockhart so as you can imagine, it has been a difficult investigation," Supt Noble said.

Kim hunt with daughter Phoebe / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

"The way we feel about it is insignificant compared to those people who are directly affected — family and friends.

"I spent some time at the school early this morning and there are little hearts breaking there all over the place."

A body has been recovered from a dam in the NSW Riverina region following the deaths of a four people.

The three children attended St Joseph's Primary School, which has just 73 students, in Lockhart and were involved in football and netball clubs.

Phoebe Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Kim Hunt with daughter Mia / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

"The Lockhart community is very strong and resilient and we know they will bond ­together and support one ­another in working through this difficult time," principal Debbie Sheather said.

Police at the scene on Boree Creek Road in Lockhart / Picture: Simon Dallinger Source: Supplied

Mrs Hunt was well known as an experienced nurse and road safety campaigner after a car accident involving her and daughter Phoebe in 2012.

Kim Hunt with daughter Phoebe / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Mrs Hunt suffered a serious brain injury, broken neck and spine and had a long journey back to health, but was determined to help the community she loved. She had worked in intensive care and in April returned to Lockhart Hospital, where black ribbons were yesterday tied outside, as a nurse educator.

Fletcher Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Mia Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

A local agronomist said the Hunts were "a happy, close family" and Mr Hunt was an "unassuming, calm-natured. likable fellow".

A note in the Lockhart hospital staffroom where Kim Hunt worked as a registered nurse. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Fletcher was due to play in the under-14 Lockhart AFL team against Holbrook in the preliminary final on Saturday.

"They were great community people, a beautiful family. They were involved in the football club.

Phoebe Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Kim and Geoff Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

We can't believe what happened," a Lockhart resident said.

"Never in a million years do you think this is going to happen. They were just a normal family. They were no different from your neighbour."

The property's dam with the farmhouse where the bodies were found in the background. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Supt Noble said investigators would speak to members of the community to try to work out what happened.

"Information's coming to hand. Clearly something wasn't right but we'll need to look at all the evidence put together," he said.

Police on scene at the family farm. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

A businessman in the Lockhart area told The Daily Telegraph he had seen Mr Hunt at a cropping meeting last week, and he appeared "completely normal".

"There was absolutely no indication that anything was wrong or that anything like this was about to happen. He appeared to be in fine spirits. He's a lovely guy, very easy going and he seemed happy and perfectly normal," the man said.

"All of the farmers are in the same boat and he certainly hadn't fared any worse than anyone else.''

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The man behind Apple’s magic

Apple unveils its long-anticipated smartwatch, venturing into its first new market in several years with a wearable device that combines health and fitness tracking with communications. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Apple's head of design, Jonathan Ive. Pic: Getty. Source: Supplied

HE'S been called a "design god", "genius" and given a knighthood in the UK.

But unless you're one of a legion of hardcore Apple fans, chances are you've never heard of the man behind their magical products, Jonathan Ive.

MORE: Should you buy a new iPhone?

MORE: What's missing from the Watch?

The 47-year-old is the driving force behind a 15-strong design team at the $650 billion brand which has been synonymous with the late Steve Jobs and now CEO Tim Cook.

He's responsible for the look and feel of the devices millions of us use each day including the MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPod, iPad and Apple Watch.

Jonathan Ive leads a 15-strong design team at Apple. Pic: Getty. Source: Supplied

Apple CEO Tim Cook with U2. Source: AFP

The 47-year-old London born designer serves as senior vice president of design reporting straight to CEO Tim Cook, according to his official bio on the company site.

He's worked at Apple since 1992 when he was poached from a design agency Tangerine, (not kidding) after designing the first PowerBook. When Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1996 the pair bonded over their passion for beautiful, simple products both inside and out and created the formidable team that helped turn Apple into a megaband.

MORE: Five things Apple didn't tell us

While Ive has a strong following in the tech community and features in Apple's videos and advertisements, he's not well-known outside this space. A rare interview with Time Magazine describes Ive as naturally shy and the most "unremarkable remarkable person you could meet."

"He's not particularly tall, is well built and bald(ish), has two-day-old stubble and dresses like dads do on weekends — navy polo shirt, canvas trousers, desert boots. He speaks slowly and softly in an Essex accent totally unaffected by living in America for more than two decades," it reads — a voice that has not gone unnoticed by Apple fans.

Before joining Apple, Ive was a silversmith who worked as a lecturer in craft, design and technology. He remembers taking radios and alarm clocks apart and reassembling them. He even did it to his iPhone recently, just to prove he still had the knack, Time reports.

He lives in San Francisco between PayPal founder Peter Thieland actor Nicholas Cage with his wife and twin sons.

The new iPhone 6. Source: AFP

Ive's products on display at the launch this morning. Source: AFP

Nowadays, his team of designers take their inspiration from far and wide. He reportedly consulted with sweet makers to come up with the jelly-bean like colours for the iMac and has travelled to Japan for metalwork inspiration.

In 2003, Ive was named Designer of the Year by the Design Museum London and awarded the title Royal Designer for Industry by The Royal Society of Arts. His work has also been featured at MoMA in New York and the Pompidou in Paris.

What do you think of Apple's latest products? Continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ

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Bachelor recap: knives out for Blake-hog Jess

Blake says it's too soon to be thinking about having sex with the Bachelor contestants.

Jess didn't come here to make friends. Source: Channel 10

AS LAST NIGHT'S episode of The Bachelor opens, the girls sit around Bachelor HQ, breathlessly exclaiming that they can't quite believe there are fewer of them on the show than there were last week.

Uh, did anyone think to give these ladies a quick run-through on how the competition actually works?

Bachelor fave Sam spills

Bachelor recap: Amber sent home

THE SOLO DATE

The episode's solo date is awarded to Queensland fashion designer Lisa, who's naturally thrilled. The others all give her their best "Happy on the outside, dying on the inside" faces:

"OMG babez so happy for uuuuu" Source: Channel 10

"You're gonna have the best tiiiiiime" Source: Channel 10

The date invitation states "You set my heart racing," and the girls are left pondering what on Earth this cryptic clue could mean.

"I'VE GOT IT I'VE GOT IT I'VE GOT IT," Mensa candidate Jess announces. "It means you're going to the RACES!"

Amazed by her intellect, the other girls rabidly scream in unison. You can feel the poor sound guy's ears bleeding.

Turns out, Jess is right: for her date, Lisa is whisked to the Royal Randwick Racecourse, where Blake is waiting, dressed as Carrie Bradshaw for some reason.

Bachelor Blake Garvey. Source: Supplied

Carrie Bradshaw. Source: Channel 10

With the racecourse closed off to the public for the day, Lisa and Blake are to pick a horse and jockey each for a private race.

Once the race starts, Lisa lets rip with a series of gravelly, impassioned screams, each louder than the one before. As her horse crosses the finish line first, she throws her head back and screams "Yes! Yes! I won!" while Blake sits, defeated, with his head in his hands.

Lisa decided to show her willingness to commit by placing a wedding cake jauntily atop her head. Source: Channel 10

Basically the entire sick spectacle is the sort of extended sex metaphor not entirely appropriate for a family timeslot. BAN THIS FILTH etc.

After the race finishes, the pair sit down to lunch and Lisa opens up about her hopes and dreams. Having kids? "It's definitely down my alley," she says, which seems a particularly crude description of childbirth.

Later on in the date, Blake gives Lisa what he calls a "victory massage" while whispering sweet nothings in her ear with those rich, velvety, Barry-White-on-Xanax tones of his.

The whole ordeal is VERY CREEPY.

"JUST A LIGHT REIKI WILL BE FINE, NO THANK YOU NOT TODAY PLEASE" Source: Channel 10

After all that the awkward touching, Lisa finally admits to Blake that she can imagine herself falling in love with him. For some reason, he then comforts her as though her cat's just been run over.

"It's OK sweetheart, Fluffy's gone to a better place and we'll get you a new cat before next school holidays" Source: Channel 10

Date finished, Lisa heads back to Bachelor HQ to regale the girls with the intimate details of her sexycreepy massage. They all feign smiles, but admit it's hard hearing such personal details about a guy they're crushin' on.

"I try to separate MY Blake that I'm dating with the Blake that Lisa's dating," Zoe tells the camera, smiling brightly despite displaying worrying early signs of Multiple Personality Disorder.

AN UNSPECIFIED MEDICAL EMERGENCY

The next morning, the girls awake to some disturbing news: after experiencing severe abdominal pains through the night, Laurina has been rushed to hospital.

Sam's got her priorities straight: "What does this mean for the rose ceremony?" she asks, absent mindedly picking at her toast.

The other girls have the presence of mind to at least cluck and coo about poor Laurina's health while silently rejoicing in the efficacy of their respective voodoo dolls.

THE GROUP DATE

For this week's group date, the girls descend on Manly's Q Station, an old quarantine station-turned-hotel that host Osher 'I Can't Believe It's Not Andrew G' Gunsberg describes as Australia's "most haunted" location.

"Thousands of immigrants came through this quarantine station to start a new life in Australia. However, for many, their journey ended here. Their bodies are buried on this property," spookmaster Osher informs the contestants.

Fun fact: I spent a weekend at Q Station last year and the only terror I experienced came via the deafeningly loud lovemaking noises of the middle-aged couple in the room next to mine, which still haunt me to this day.

Oh my, well isn't Blake just POURED into that top. Gee I hope nobody reads these captions Source: Channel 10

Renowned psychic Debbie Malone is also on hand to offer up her deeply scientific findings about Q Station: "It is extremely haunted here, so you should expect lots of visits from ghosts tonight," she announces.

The girls are led into the old quarantine hospital, each no doubt privately hoping there's still some remnant of the black death left alive on a surface to help thin out the ranks of the competition a little.

"Right this way, ladies. Mind the candles - I just watched The Craft." Source: Channel 10

Debbie, who sees "the past, the present and the future," announces that there are some spirits in the room because "I'm feeling really cold on my back."

Maybe you just need to toss on a jacket, Debs?

It's not long before Debbie starts reading the girls, and not in a fun, Paris Is Burning kinda way. After informing Jess she's a "1 and a 5" on the numerology charts ("B*tch please, I'm at least an 8.5" - Jess, probably), she turns her attentions to Sam, grasping at her jewellry and telling her she's prone to worry.

"YES," Sam thinks to herself. "THIS WOMAN IS GOOD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED WORRY BEFORE."

Blake interjects and asks Debbie if he's on the path to finding lasting love.

"Could be …. yeah … you could be," is her conclusive answer. Jackie Gillies must be choking on her La Mascara right now.

"How does Debbie sleep at night? Like seriously! Jesus," Louise says to camera, which sounds rather more accusatory out of context.

Debbie then leads the group on a spooky g-g-g-ghost tour of the station. Entering one room, she tells them that "When I've been in here I've actually seen some men sitting up there on the rafters just watching me," but doesn't specify whether they were netherworldly spirits or, say, workmen. I GUESS WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

"Smell that, girls? That's a ghost" "Debbie pls no not again" Source: Channel 10

Debbie's insights continue as they venture deeper into the hospital:

"I don't know what's going on over there … I don't know if it's spirits doing that? It's horrible," she says, gesturing to nothing in particular as the girls do their best to look scared.

"This is one of the places where you may actually SMELL a ghost," she announces in another room, which is at least more creative than blaming it on the dog.

Despite touring one of Australia's most fascinating historical sites, the girls have only one thing on their minds: Jess, and her concerted, thirsty efforts to cosy up to Blake through the whole group date.

THE ROSE CEREMONY

Having survived their group date despite Goosebumps levels of terror, the girls all mill around in the mansion for that awkward, penultimate waiting-around-for-the-rose-ceremony segment. To kill some time, Chantal decides to confront Blake one-on-one about the "general vibe" in the house that he and Jess are ridin' solo.

Jess: "Haterz gonna hate" Source: Channel 10

While she's doing that, the girls all turn on Jess, accusing her of playing dirty. She defends herself unapologetically — look, she didn't come here to make friends.

As the rose ceremony begins, Osher gives the girls an update on Laurina, who has already received her rose in hospital (*cough* PITY ROSE *cough*), where she's steadily on the mend.

"Waiting to find out if you get a rose is the most excruciating thing there is," says Jess, no doubt keenly aware that it was among the most feared of medieval torture practices.

Blake selects his ladies, and Sam, Louise, Zoe, Jess and finally Chantal live to flirt another day, leaving Lauren, one of the newer batch of contestants who never really got her moment in the limelight, out in the cold.

We hope Lauren's pumping The Corrs' I Never Really Loved You Anyway in that car. Source: Channel 10

Lauren, we hardly knew ye.

Side note: Sure, both Australian Bachelors so far have been hella-dreamy (Tim Robards in particular can get it, OKRRR), but why do all of these women react with such unwaveringly grateful joy when "awarded" a rose?

Just once I'd like to see a contestant scrunch her face up and say, "Yeah nah, mate. I'm off to join a womyn's circus. Peace out, bitches." *trapezes to waiting car*

Tune in for today's recap right after the next Bachelor episode, which screens 7:30pm Thursday September 11 on Network Ten. In the meantime, head over to Twitter and tell us what you thought of last night's episode, or if you too have ever fallen victim to the paper-thin walls at Q Station.

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New NRL wrestling tactic: The seatbelt

Tim Mannah produces a 'seatbelt' tackle. Source: Supplied

HERE is the new wrestling tactic NRL coaches fear will end in disaster during the finals series: "The Seatbelt''.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the seatbelt tackle is the cause of the increase in crusher tackles this season.

NRL coaches want the dangerous tackle stamped out immediately.

It is the tackle that fractured the spine of teenage Ipswich Jets fullback Ben White last week.

Veteran referee Bill Harrigan has chillingly warned: "It could ruin a player's career''.

The Seatbelt involves a defender wrapping his arms around an attacker from behind and holding him upright until the referee calls held.

Adam Clysdale makes a 'seatbelt' tackle. Source: Supplied

The defender then throws him to the ground and it often puts pressure on the attacker's neck.

The current ruck interpretations allow defenders one more movement once the referee calls held.

A simple solution is to stop allowing the extra movement.

Harrigan said the holding-up tactic was introduced by Ricky Stuart when he coached the Sydney Roosters, where a third man would hit the legs to topple an attacker.

It has evolved into a more dangerous tackle as now a third man in around the legs is penalised, requiring the extra movement from the defenders holding the attacker up.

Lote Tuqiri makes a 'seatbelt' tackle. Source: Supplied

"Then it was called dancing,'' Harrigan said.

"Ricky Stuart brought it in at the Roosters in 2002 and what they did is the first man hit and stuck to the ball, second man came in and held him up until the third man came in and they held his legs and toppled him over.

"It was a case of hit and hold as long as possible, then when the ref says held, you roll him down.

"There's not a thing you can do about it. It's all legal if done well.

"These type of tackles are dangerous and it can ruin a player's career.

"The referees in this finals series will be well aware of it, it's something we looked at during my time there.''

makes a 'seatbelt' tackle. Source: Supplied

Wrestling will be a major factor this finals series with teams such as South Sydney, Melbourne, Canterbury and Manly excellent exponents of the dark art.

Gold Coast coach Neil Henry said because of the crackdown on lifting tackles and shoulder charges, defenders had few options but to wrestle.

He said crusher tackles were almost always accidental.

"We're running out of ways to actually tackle people at the moment," Henry said.

"You're getting a lot of tackles where there is three in the tackle and you take the shoulder charge out of it and you take a bit of the lifting out of it so you have less contact and more holding.

"When three men are holding one player and he is sitting down backwards sometimes it's going to be pressure on the neck and a lot of the time it is accidental.

"I think you saw that with Sam Thaiday and he missed a game.

"I couldn't see too much with it, I just thought it was an unfortunate position to be in."

Originally published as New NRL wrestling tactic: The seatbelt

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The army that could stop IS

The PKK have teamed up with local peshmerga fighters around Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Source: AFP

EXTREMIST organisation IS is the greatest threat the world faces right now.

And one army is starting to take them down.

MORE: The real housewives of IS

This is the PKK, a group still officially known by Western governments as a terrorist organisation itself.

Kurdish forces on top of Mount Zardak, a strategic point east of Mosul. Source: AFP

A PPK fighter in Makhmur, southwest Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Source: AFP

An IS fighter at the Kurdistan Democratic Party HQ in the Christian village of Bartella, northern Iraq. Source: AP

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan) was a small Marxist sect set up in 1978 to fight the Turkish government for Kurdish independence.

It became famous for its band of female fighters, and infamous for raising money through illicit means including heroin and human trafficking, fraud and money laundering. Leader Abdullah Ocalan was arrested and imprisoned in 1999.

In March 2013, the PKK struck a peace deal with Turkey, ending almost 40 years of bloody conflict that saw 40,000 people die, according to al-Jazeera.

The peace process is not yet complete. The PPK is still a listed terrorist organisation in Europe and the US, and the Kurds remain one of the largest stateless ethnic minorities in the world.

But the party has reformed with a new aim — to stop IS.

PKK fighters guard a post bearing an image of jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan as they fight in an intensive security deployment against IS militants in the town of Makhmur. Source: AFP

IS militants have captured and tried to capture much of the semi-autonomous regions of Iraqi Kurdistan, The Independent reports.

Last month, the PKK began sending fighters to assist local Kurdish forces, the peshmerga, made up of fighters from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), with Western backing.

They succeeded in helping defend and retake cities in northwest Iraq and around the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil.

They also helped the Yazidis escape from Mount Sinjar — although reportedly at a price — and then began training Yazidis in Syria to help fight IS too.

The PKK is famous for its female fighters, pictured training in the mountains of northern Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region. Source: AFP

The PKK are adept at fundraising. They are now doing so openly in the Western world, and governments appear to be turning a blind eye.

"Britain and the other [NATO] states must see us as a friend," PKK Commander Cemshid Mardin told Channel 4 News. "We have fighters from all these countries.

"There are British citizens fighting with us which also include non-Kurdish people."

But there is still widespread criticism of the PKK, and fears their alliance with other fighters in the region could fall apart if the IS threat recedes.

Sakine Cansiz, founding member of the Kurdistan Workers Party. Source: AP

Some say PKK members are brainwashed, with rules banning sex and marriage.

Several Kurdish families claim their children were kidnapped and taken to live in primitive conditions in the mountains between Iraq, Turkey and Iran, to fight for the organisation.

But the PKK argues that members fight under their own free will.

Turkman Budak of the Kurdish People's Summit voiced the feelings of many when he told Channel 4: "At the end of the day, they say our people are dying there. Innocent people. Civilians dying every day and a lot of Kurdish men cannot ignore it."

PKK fighters guard a post in the Kurdish region. Source: AFP

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‘The whole thing is so surreal’

A body has been recovered from a dam in the NSW Riverina region following the deaths of four people.

The Lockhart property at the scene of the murder. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

CARERS for the Hunt family have spoken of their grief at finding members of the family they loved murdered in their home near Wagga Wagga.

David Hogg, managing director of Lifestyle Solutions, which provided support workers to the Hunt family in the wake of Kim Hunt's car crash in 2012 said his staff are devastated by the news.

MORE: Wagga Wagga community reeling after Lockhart shooting

"One of my workers came upon the scene when they turned up for work," he told news.com.au.

"We had four or five staff members working to support the family and they got to know the family, they got to know the kids and they really did become members of that family.

The Hunt family. Photo: The Daily Advertiser Source: Supplied Source: Supplied

"They cooked meals, helped with the children and provided general day-to-day support to Kim. They got to know the husband and the wife and the children through their work on a professional basis but they also got to know them on a personal level.

"They became part of the family, they became part of life on the farm in a rural community. They are finding this whole thing surreal. It's such a shock."

Police are investigating the discovery of the bodies of a woman and three children at a rural property in the state's south in Lockhart, NSW. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Police are continuing to comb the property after pulling a body and a gun from a dam near the home this afternoon.

It's believed the body is Geoff Hunt and Superintendent Bob Noble said police weren't looking for anyone else after Kim Hunt 41, and her three children Fletcher, 10, Mia, eight, and Phoebe, six, were found dead from gunshot wounds yesterday.

Phoebe, Fletcher and Mia Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: DailyTelegraph

A suicide note was also found in a ute that was left abandoned by the side of the dam.

Police investigating at the Lockhart property. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Mr Hogg said his staff spent "four or five hours a day" at the home and loved the family like their own.

"There was no indication of disharmony in that home. It blows my mind, the whole thing is so surreal, even from this distance. It's overwhelming."

Kim Hunt / Picture: Supplied Source: DailyTelegraph

Kim Hunt with daughters Mia and Phoebe / Picture: Supplied Source: DailyTelegraph

"They are all absolutely shattered and they are finding it very difficult to come to terms with what has happened."

"They are taking time off and we will make sure they have all the time they need and anything else to help them get through this.

The family was described by locals as "completely normal" Pic: Adam Taylor. Source: News Corp Australia

Earlier in the day a prominent businessman in the tight-knit community said he had seen Geoff Hunt at a meeting last week and he seemed "completely normal".

"There was absolutely no indication that anything was wrong or that anything like this was about to happen. He appeared to be in fine spirits. He's a lovely guy, very easy going and he seemed happy and perfectly normal."

The businessman, who didn't want to be identified, said the family had a difficult time since Kim's car accident but Geoff Hunt had "completely supported her that whole time."

"He was there for her, did everything for her, absolutely devoted himself to caring for her and the children ... It was a difficult time for all of them but he never complained about it. I can't understand how this has suddenly happened. I cannot stress enough that there was absolutely no any indication that anything like this was unfolding at home or whatever. I'm just shocked."

Superintendent Noble said the matter will be treated as a coronial investigation.

If you need help, contact Lifeline on 131 114, 24 hours a day, or visit the website

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Diggers ‘slaughtered prisoners’

Colonel William Holmes and officers of Australian Army at German wireless station Bita Paka in New Guinea in 1914 / Picture: Supplied Source: News Corp Australia

THE ABC will today claim that Australian troops in World War I took part in a "mass execution" of German troops following the battle of Bita Paka in New Guinea.

Australian soldiers on the road to the German wireless station at Bita Paka in 1914 / Picture: Supplied Source: News Corp Australia

The broadcaster's Radio National Breakfast program has obtained a single tape recording of a witness to the alleged slaughter, which the ABC says "appears to confirm the rumours" of prisoner executions.

"On this day, on September 11, in 1914, the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force landed near the town of Rabaul — then the capital of German New Guinea — and captured a German telegraph station," the Radio National report begins.

"Officially, six Australians, one German soldier and 30 ­native police died in that battle. The Australians won, but there have long been rumours of the mistreatment and execution of prisoners. Recently, an account by an eyewitness to that battle has been found — and it appears to confirm the rumours."

The ABC reports the tape ­recording was made in the early 1960s by a village elder identified as "Bob".

The tape was apparently discovered recently, packed away in a box in Queensland.

The Rabaul force sets sail on troop ship Berrima Augusy 1914 with mission to capture German wireless station at Bita Paka in New Guinea / Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited

Originally published as Diggers 'slaughtered prisoners'

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