Dog saves woman from killing herself

A German Shepherd, like the one pictured here, has been credited with saving a woman's life. Picture: Bob Barker Source: The Daily Telegraph

A FRENCH woman's loyal German Shepherd dog saved her from committing suicide by knocking aside a rifle she tried to fire into her heart, local police said.

The 63-year-old woman had walked into her garden in the southern town of Sorgues in the Vaucluse region, fired several test shots of a 22-calibre rifle and then turned the gun on her chest.

"At the moment she pulled the trigger, her dog jumped on her and diverted the shot," a local police officer said, adding that the dog "probably sensed things and knocked into her to save her."

The woman was found by her husband, conscious but suffering from a chest wound. She was taken to hospital but her injury is not considered life-threatening.

For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au

For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au

The SANE Helpline is 1800 18 SANE (7263) or at www.sane.org

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Shark alarm over drugs bombshell

The Cronulla Sharks remain at the centre of the ASADA investigation into drug use in rugby league. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph

TONIGHT'S NRL season opener has been reduced to a sideshow with revelations as many as 14 Cronulla players implicated in ASADA's anti-doping investigation have been threatened with immediate suspension.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal current Sharks players who have been contracted since 2011 - when sports scientist Stephen Dank worked at the southern Sydney club - are all part of the investigation.

As bookmakers suspended all Sharks-related markets last night it was revealed former ASADA senior counsel Richard Redman had been hired by Cronulla to help guide the club through the crisis.

There are serious concerns that two separate peptide-based supplements given to Sharks players might have contravened the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

Andrew Webster: Allegations cast shadow over entire season

Mr Redman was hired several weeks ago, shortly after Cronulla was identified as one of the six NRL clubs in the Australian Crime Commission report into performance-enhancing drugs, organised crime and match fixing.

According to a Sharks insider, Mr Redman has been reassuring players about their situation for the past fortnight. But the landscape changed dramatically on Tuesday morning when some players received a text message advising them to attend an emergency meeting.

There, Mr Redman gave the players an ultimatum - voluntarily stand down for six months or risk ASADA's maximum two-year ban. It is believed the players were given a 48-hour deadline to make up their minds.

There's major concern surrounding the Cronulla Sharks, and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's investigation into the club.

With the scandal threatening to completely overshadow this weekend's opening round, Cronulla officials last night went to ground.

Rothfield: ASADA investigation compounds Sharks' woes

The NRL and ASADA also refused to comment.

When approached yesterday, Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan denied any players would be stood down and miss Sunday night's season opener against the Titans. He refused to comment further.

As well as a casting a cloud over a number of current players in the Sharks NRL squad, there are also concerns the net could be widened to implicate ex-Cronulla players who have since moved to other clubs.

Sources stated as many as 22 players across the code are under the spotlight. A Sharks source last night said the players implicated in the scandal were concerned, rattled and distressed.

"They had no reason to question the club and its performance staff about what supplements they were taking," the source said.

NRL 360 weigh in on the ASADA investigation of the Cronulla Sharks.

"They trusted that what they were being given was safe."

Mr Dank left Cronulla after just four weeks, with club doctor David Givney concerned about the supplement program the club's players had been placed on.

The Daily Telegraph last month revealed at least one Sharks player was given the blood-thinning agent Warfarin. Mr Dank also used a room inside a former Bankstown medical centre to treat players away from the club.

Yesterday's news sent a scare through bookmakers, who shut down all markets relating to Cronulla. TAB Sportsbet closed its market at 4pm in response to rampant speculation that Cronulla's team could soon be demolished.

Spokesman Glenn Munsie revealed the Gold Coast had attracted $2300 of a total of $2700 wagered on the head-to-head market. There had also been $239 worth of bets on Cronulla to lose the most games this season.

"We won't open those markets until there's an official statement from either Cronulla, the NRL or ASADA," Munsie said.

"At the moment we don't know what's happening."

Sportsbet identified no suspicious betting but closed the markets as a precaution.

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Troll Tristan charged with assault

Are they Super XD Trollz, cyber-bullies or brats with brains? You decide if Nebz and Tristan from Facebeef have too much time on their hands.

INTERNET troll Tristan Barker has been charged by New Zealand police over an alleged assault of Today Tonight reporter David Eccleston.

The Seven Network journalist travelled to the Bay of Plenty region of Haumurana to interview Australia's most prolific troll.

He landed back in Sydney this afternoon and was receiving medical attention.

Today Tonight executive producer John Choueifate told News Ltd his reporter had arranged to meet and interview Mr Barker.

It is alleged that he turned up and in the course of the interview, Mr Eccleston was assaulted.

"He was understandably shaken, the matter has been reported to police," Mr Choueifate said.

Tristan Barker has been arrested and charged for an alleged assault in New Zealand on a TV reporter. Picture: Kerry Grant/ Herald on Sunday NZ

There is video footage of the alleged assault.

A New Zealand police spokesman said: "Following an allegation of assault at an address in Rotorua earlier this week an 18-year-old Rotorua man has been arrested and subsequently charged with common assault. He will appear in Rotorua District Court later the month. As the matter is before the court Police will be making no further comment."

Mr Barker's encounter with Today Tonight follows a nasty campaign against A Current Affair's host Tracey Grimshaw which saw manipulated images of the star in pornographic poses posted to the internet last year after the show began investigating the troll.

The assault allegations come on the same day Mr Barker's father avoided being dumped from this weekend's WOMADelaide festival after publicly supporting his son's online antics.

The event's promoters ignored calls to dump The Swamp Thing from the bill, featuring Michael Barker of former Split Enz and The John Butler Trio fame, despite his support for his son's antics online.

A spokesperson for the event said today that The Swamp Thing "will be appearing at Womadelaide this weekend".

Today Tonight reporter David Eccleston was allegedly assaulted by internet troll Tristan Barker.

"Other than that, we have no comment."

Tristan Barker has made international headlines for his cyber attacks. The 18-year-old is currently wanted for questioning by Melbourne police in relation to allegations of a sustained harassment campaign against a small business owner. Police cannot do anything until he returns from Rotorua, New Zealand where he is living with his father in the Haumurana region.

WOMADelaide's promoters had received a number of calls from concerned sponsors including Coles, but the festival has confirmed Barker's act will play this weekend.Matters intensified last night with Tristan Barker using Facebook to mobilise his 300,000-plus "fans" to bombard the internet site of Austereo's Triple M with pro-Hitler messages.

"Hitler never did anything illegal," wrote one poster under the name Melinda Winterford.

Triple M's Grill Team managed to have a rough time interviewing Tristan Barker who is dubbed 'Australia's worst internet troll'.

Internet troll Tristan Barker singing with his dad Michael Barker in bottom right corner, on drums.

The parents of internet troll Tristan Barker - musician Michael Barker and his wife Cathy.

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Gay Mardi Gras violence inquiry

NINE'S A Current Affair has interviewed the victim of alleged police brutality during Mardi Gras. See the full segment here. Credit: NINE

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has released more footage of a Mardi Gras incident between a reveller and police which has sparked widespread outrage.

A Mardi Gras reveller who was handcuffed when police apparently threw him to the ground has been charged.

Jamie Jackson the Mardi Gras reveller at the centre of the YouTube clip. Picture: Facebook Source: The Daily Telegraph

POLICE have begun investigations into two separate incidents of alleged brutality involving revellers at the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

In the first incident a man, 18, was arrested and charged with assaulting police, resisting arrest and using offensive language.

Footage on the website YouTube appears to show the man, Jamie Jackson, handcuffed and with a head wound, repeating: "I didn't do anything wrong."

A policeman is then seen to roughly push him to the ground and put a foot on his back, pinning him for about 20 seconds.

The incident allegedly happened about 10pm on Saturday on Oxford St near Riley St.

Police are also investigating officers' response to the alleged assault of another officer an hour later, near Crown St.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said police would investigate both incidents.

"We have not received a complaint from either of the gentlemen involved but we ourselves have initiated an internal complaints process," Mr Murdoch told the Wentworth Courier yesterday.

Police Minister Mike Gallacher said the Ombudsman would also review the incident.

The YouTube footage of the first incident also shows the officer telling a bystander to turn off a camera because its use was illegal.

Mr Murdoch said the demand was not part of police policy and it was against their media procedures.

More than 1000 extra officers assisted with Operation Cromwell at Mardi Gras, but Mr Murdoch said the allegations of brutality did not directly arise because western Sydney officers were brought into unfamiliar terrain.

In response to the Greens party suggestion that officers be screened before being assigned to an event such as the Mardi Gras he replied: "Leave policing to the police."

The two incidents and the graphic YouTube footage have tarnished what was planned as a parade celebrating the improvement of social acceptance of the gay and lesbian community on the event's 35th anniversary.

Mardi Gras organiser Peter Urmson said police presence in the three weeks of the Mardi Gras festival had been a lot stronger this year, and at times had been "heavy handed".

"We want a full, open and transparent investigation," he said.

"Mardi Gras was born out of the problem of police brutality and this shows there is still work to do.

"In prior years we've enjoyed a healthier relationship (with police) than we do today."

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Gang rape girl helps police

A young woman has been kidnapped and assaulted by a gang of young men in Sydney. SKY News

The area where the young woman walked - Merindah Rd, Baulkham Hills / Pic: Bill Hearne Source: The Daily Telegraph

A SCHOOLGIRL abducted and sexually assaulted by five men has given police vital information as they hunt for her attackers.

The 18-year-old victim yesterday spent several hours with specialist rape victim counsellors and investigators, recounting the horrific ordeal that began as she walked home from a party at Merindah Rd in Baulkham Hills early Sunday morning.

Today, police are expected to conduct a walk-through of the young woman's ordeal to gain more information about what took place.

At the high school she attends, classmates were called into a meeting and spoken to about the dangers of walking alone and given an update on the young woman's condition.

Police said it had taken almost three days for the highly traumatised young woman to be in a state where she could be interviewed.

Police said the victim was able to provide information about where she was taken during the three hours from when she was dragged into a car about 1am Sunday, until she was dumped in a Castle Hill street at about 4am.

"We are meticulously going through every detail, along with information from witnesses," a police spokesman said. Until now the best clue police had to track down the attackers was a description of the green-coloured sedan they were travelling in.

Police yesterday denied the car had been found.

School friends of the victim said they had been spoken to about staying safe and supporting the young woman when she returns to school.

"Everyone's pretty upset about it," one student said.

The school principal declined to speak about the incident or the support being offered to classmates.

The Hills Neighbourhood Watch program organiser Marilyn Stoneham said the young woman's attack had frightened people.

"This just doesn't happen here, we've never heard of anything like it out here, so it's very worrying," Mrs Stoneham said.

She said a Facebook page dedicated to safety in the Hills district had been inundated with people posting messages of concern since the attack, and the local police page had also been flooded with messages of support to the victim.

"All we can say to people is don't ever walk on your own, no matter where you are or how safe you think it might be," she said.

Anyone with information about the attack, who hasn't already contacted police, should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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Ted Baillieu resigns as Premier

Premier of Victoria Ted Baillieu resigns and says 'I love this state but a change in leadership is needed'. Watch the raw resignation media presser courtesy of TEN

TED Baillieu has quit as Premier of Victoria and Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party.

Mr Baillieu made the announcement after a snap Liberal party meeting was called at 7pm in Parliament.

The meeting lasted about 20 minutes and applause could be heard throughout.

At 9.51pm, Mr Baillieu was seen entering Government House to resign his commission as premier.

And at 10.40pm, Victoria's racing minister Denis Napthine was sworn in to the top job.

Mr Baillieu earlier announced: "This evening I have tendered my resignation as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in Victoria and I will shortly visit the Governor to tender my resignation as the Premier of Victoria.

"Can I say I love this state, I love the Liberal party and I love this role that I have had the honour to enjoy over the last two and a bit years.

"I have appreciated the honour immensely of being the leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party over the last seven years but it is apparent to me that a change of leadership is in the best interests of the government."

Mr Baillieu revealed Dr Napthine would be the new Liberal Party leader and Premier of Victoria.

"I want to put my full support behind the new leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party Denis Napthine and to indicate that I will be staying on in Parliament to support him."

Ted Baillieu avoids the cameras as he heads into Government House to officially resign as premier. Picture: Ian Currie

Dr Napthine is Minister for Major Projects. He is also the Minister for Ports, Minister for Regional Cities and Minister for Racing.

He paid tribute to Mr Baillieu saying he was "proud to have served in his government".

"Ted Baillieu certainly served the state very well," he said.

"I am honoured and proud to say he is not just a colleague but a great friend."

He said he was proud to lead the party.

"I look forward to providing strong, stable and positive government for the people of Victoria."

Big Ted walked instead of fought. Blog with Susie O'Brien

During the shock resignation speech, Mr Baillieu was brought to tears as he thanked his staff and family for their support.

"I want to thank the Deputy Premier Peter Ryan in particular, members of the National Party and the Coalition team, I want to thank the members of the Cabinet," he said.

"I want to thank also all my very special friends, timeless friends who shall remain nameless and I want, of course, to thank my wife Robyn and our three children, I also want to thank my extended family. I am sure I will be having a good close cuddle with many of them later this evening."

Ted Baillieu - A life in politics

Mr Baillieu paid tribute to the legacy of the Victorian state.

"Victorians enjoy a legacy I believe unmatched across this country, unmatched across the world and its an honour to stand in this room and understand that over 160 years this Parliament has represented not just a beacon of democracy but also an icon of what's possible.

"The core character of Victorians is one of aspiration and ambition and Victorians have since first settlement days...demonstrated that core character over and over again."

Mr Baillieu said the multicultural community it enjoys was it's strength.

"Above all I want to thank the people of Victoria for the trust they placed in me over several years, particularly those who were good enough to afford us the opportunity to be in Government in 2010."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard pledged to work with Dr Napthine for the good of Victoria and wished Mr Baillieu the best for the future.

"The resignation of Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu tonight is significant news for all Victorians," Ms Gillard said.

Denis Napthine is sworn in as premier at Government House. Picture: Ian Currie

"This decision must have been a very difficult one for Mr Baillieu and for his family. I wish Mr Baillieu all the best for the future."

"I will seek to work in the interests of all Victorians with Mr Baillieu's successor, Denis Napthine."

Opposition leader Tony Abbott also thanked Mr Baillieu for his service to the people of Victoria.

"For the last two years Ted has worked hard to address the problems left behind after 11 years of Labor neglect," he said. "Ted has put Victoria's finances on a sustainable footing and made significant investments in the infrastructure the state so desperately needs.

"In recent months Ted has successfully taken the fight to the federal government after Julia Gillard ripped $1.6 billion out of Australia's public hospitals.

"I have worked closely with Ted Baillieu over the last few years. Ted is a man of integrity and honour and I wish him well for the future.

"I congratulate Denis Napthine on his election as leader of the Victorian parliamentary Liberal Party and I look forward to working closely with him."

Mr Baillieu's resignation comes as Geoff Shaw, who earlier today quit the Liberal Party, released a statement saying Victorians had lost confidence in the Baillieu leadership.

He said: "This morning I advised the Premier of Victoria of my resignation from the Parliamentary Liberal Party, effective immediately.

Ted Baillieu announces he is stepping down as Victoria's Premier at Melbourne Parliament. Picture: Alex Coppel

"As always my focus is on how I can best represent the people of Frankston and at the moment I believe that is from the cross bench.

"Labor left Victoria in a mess and Victorian's elected a Coalition Government to fix the problems and build for the future.

"While the government has made significant progress in that direction, I believe my actions reflect the general loss of confidence Victorians are feeling in the leadership of the government."

Earlier, Deputy Premier Peter Ryan had defended the Premier saying he was "made for the job".

High time for leadership

Editorial: Suddenly, it was all over

Editorial: Napthine has trials to come

Mr Baillieu's leadership had been in the spotlight for his handling of the secret police tapes revealed by the Herald Sun on Monday.

Mr Ryan, who fronted the media this afternoon said the police crisis tapes were in the hands of IBAC, who will make a decision in due course.

Denis Napthine is taking over as Liberal leader after Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu's resignation.

"He (Premier Ted Baillieu) is doing a magnificent job on behalf of Victoria," he said.

"He is the Premier of a government which now has the most successful economic performance in the nation according to the ratings agencies.

"It is an outstanding performance in very difficult circumstances and we intend to ensure, we continue to govern Victoria under the Premiership of Ted Baillieu."

Emerging from a special Coalition party room meeting this morning, Mr Baillieu said the Coalition will continue to govern.

"I can tell you as I am sure you are aware Geoff Shaw has resigned as a member or the parliamentary Liberal Party," Mr Baillieu said.

"That means that he will, I understand, I haven't spoken to him but others have, that he will sit on the cross benches.

"He has, as I understand, indicated that he may not be here for today... but that aside, the government will continue to govern and we will continue to govern decisively in Coalition and we are looking forward to doing just that."

Mr Baillieu said he was confident the parliament would continue to be workable and said he hasn't spoken to the Governor.

"I'm not going to get into the details of what might or might not happen, what I can tell you is that we are committed, we have a very strong forthcoming agenda and we have been able to govern with a narrow margin and I believe we can continue to govern and we will continue to govern," he said.

Ted Baillieu makes his way out of Parliament in Melbourne after resigning as Victoria's Premier and Liberal leader. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mr Baillieu said Mr Shaw hadn't given any reasons for his departure.

"He has provided us with a very short letter and I think in that letter he indicates he wants to do this in the interest of his electors," he said.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews earlier said the government was in crisis.

"There is no one in the Baillieu Government today thinking about jobs, or hospitals or transport or schools, this is a government that has stopped governing," he said.

"The Premier is not so much running a government as running a complete and utter circus, it'd be funny if it weren't so serious."

Liberal Party colleagues yesterday admitted they were also "despairing" over the police crisis tapes ordeal.

The tapes, which were secretly recorded, and later obtained by the Herald Sun revealed a secret payout and job help for a former adviser that forced Mr Baillieu to refer to his chief of staff and party boss to IBAC.

In May, the  Sunday Herald Sun revealed claims Mr Shaw's parliamentary car had been used to frequently undertake long-distance deliveries for his private business.

Earlier today, Mr Ballieu distanced himself from the police tapes crisis, saying he had complete confidence in the pair involved - his chief of staff Tony Nutt and Liberal Party chief Damian Mantach.

New Premier Denis Napthine leaves the meeting after Ted Baillieu resigns. Picture: Ian Currie

"I don't know, and I can't make assumptions about the provenance or the origin of this material," Mr Baillieu said on Neil Mitchell's program on 3AW today.

"Nor do I know if this material has been previously supplied to the OPI or Ombudsman.

"The successor is IBAC and it is appropriate that they examine this material and assess whether any further consideration is required."

However, Mr Baillieu said he had referred the tapes to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission.

"I provided the information to IBAC, I've asked them to assess whether the matter requires further consideration," he said.

"IBAC has power to refer matters to other bodies, including Victoria Police and the ombudsman, as it seems fit."

He said he had not asked Mr Nutt to stand down, nor had he offered to stand aside while IBAC investigated the matter.

"I don't agree with standing down Tony Nutt," he said.

Mr Baillieu said he had now read "slabs" of the transcripts, published on the heraldsun.com.au on Monday.

Geoff Shaw in Parliament. Picture: Norm Oorloff

The Premier said he agreed that a third person on the tapes, Police Minister Peter Ryan's former adviser Tristan Weston, had gone through a difficult time personally and that his position had became untenable due to the OPI report.

The lack of action by the leaders of the Coalition has been slammed by the State Opposition, who accuse Mr Baillieu of running a "complete circus".

In Parliament, the Deputy Premier stood by his original testimony to the OPI over the police command crisis - which has been disputed in the secret tapes - saying it was Mr  Weston who was found to be at fault.

Mr Ryan said Mr Weston had been severely censored or "excoriated" by the OPI.

"I, at all times, co-operated very appropriately with the Office of Police Integrity. At all times I have told the absolute truth," Mr Ryan told parliament.

During Mr Ryan's attack on Mr Weston, Mr Ryan's former parliamentary secretary, Bill Tilley, was comforted by Liberal MP Christine Fyffe.

- with James Campbell, Annika Smethurst and Michelle Ainsworth

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan congratulates new Premier Denis Napthine. Picture: Ian Currie

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Little Jack's video message creates waves

Jack Scoble who has posted a YouTube video of support to a 7 year old boy in the UK who is waiting for a kidney transplant. Pic: Richard Gosling Source: The Courier-Mail

A MESSAGE of hope from a little boy on the Gold Coast has turned into an international media sensation.

Jack Scoble is a five-year-old kidney transplant survivor with long scar on his tummy to prove it.

Two years ago he was rushed to hospital where his horrified family was told he was dying from unexplained heart and kidney failure.

The Pacific Pines tot was in an induced coma for weeks and when he woke, he had to suffer through 13 hours of dialysis each day for a full year until he received an adult kidney donation.

Today Jack is a bright-eyed, bouncing survivor who loves Pixar films and Matchbox cars.

Earlier this week he and parents Darryl and Lizzie Scoble found a Facebook appeal page seeking a kidney donor for British boy, Matthew Pietrzyk.

The seven-year-old from Leicester is suffering from a rare genetic disorder that has destroyed both his kidneys and is pictured online with a sign reading: "Share your spare". Jack's reaction was immediate.

"He wanted to call him on the phone right away and encourage him. We had to try and explain he lived in a different country and we didn't have his number," mum Lizzie Scoble said.

Instead, the family made a short video and posted it to Matthew's Facebook page to offer support.

"I want to tell you to hang in there, buddy," Jack says in the video. "I got my new kidney after a whole year and even though I'm little, I remember how hard it was living on the machine and having injections very day until my new kidney came."

In the UK, the Leicester Mercury reported that the video message had given the Pietrzyk family hope.

"It just overwhelmed me and was so heartwarming," Matthew's mother said.

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Egypt balloon horror caught on video

Warning: disturbing images. A deadly air balloon accident in Egypt was caught on amateur camera. Vision courtesy Al Jazeera TV.

TERRIFYING video has emerged of a hot-air balloon catching fire before a fatal crash in Egypt.

The amateur footage, recorded from another balloon nearby, was broadcast by Al Jazeera TV today following the deaths of 19 people in the Luxor tragedy.

Smoke can be seen billowing from the stricken craft in an eerie silhouette against the rising sun. Then, the smoke trail goes down to the ground as the balloon collapses and plummets 300m.

Meanwhile, a photographer who witnessed the tragedy has posted an image taken moments before the accident with the words: ''I prefer to remember yesterday like this''.

San Francisco-based freelancer Christopher Michel was taking aerial photos from another balloon when catastrophe struck.

Two of the eight balloons before the tragedy. Picture: Christopher Michel

The ill-fated balloon was flying over the ancient city of Luxor when it caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field. 

The casualties included French, British and Japanese tourists.

GALLERY: More of Christopher Michel's pictures from Luxor

As family and friends come to terms with the loss of their loved ones, Michel relived the calm and serenity of the flight before the tragedy.

''I'm a freelance photographer and was shooting the ancient temples of Luxor from the balloon,'' Michel told News Limited.

''It was a smoky morning as the sun rose across the Nile. Incredible beauty harshly juxtaposed with terrible tragedy.

''The picture captures two of the eight balloons flying that morning.  It was taken just a few minutes before the tragedy.'' 

The photographer was unable to confirm whether one of the two balloons captured in the photo is the one that crashed.

Michel, who previously made a balloon excursion with an English pilot, said the Egyptian operation "didn't feel quite as professional" as that of his first voyage.

He told the BBC: "We flew over the ancient ruins. Just before landing in the cornfields, I heard an explosion and saw smoke. I think it was the balloon behind mine.

"I wasn't sure what had happened at first. It was only when we landed we heard the full extent of what happened."

"It's really, really tragic and everyone involved is in a lot of shock."

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'Women don't have what it takes'

Labor Finance Minister Senator Penny Wong says she's proud to be a Senator.
Source: The Australian

SOME women just don't have the confidence to become boss, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says in its latest Australian Social Trends report.

And it controversially suggests that female politicians are drawn to the Senate because they are not as ambitious as the lower house MPs who pine to become Prime Minister.

In Federal Parliament, 38 per cent of Senators are women - compared to just 25 per cent of MPs.

''This may be due to people regarding Upper House seats in the Senate as less desirable than seats in the House of Representatives, particularly ambitious people who aim their careers towards working in the House of Representatives where government is formed,'' the ABS says.

The observation raised eyebrows yesterday, with Labor Senator Penny Wong - who is the Minister for Finance and Deregulation - declaring she was ''very proud'' to be a Senator.

''The focus should be on increasing the number of women in the Federal Parliament, not about making one chamber an indicator of a woman's ambition,'' she told News Limited.

''The Senate does important work in examining the detail of legislation and policy.''

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she had always wanted to enter the Senate, to hold governments to account.

''I'm very proud to be a young woman in the Senate,'' she said.

''It comes with all the tough decisions about how to juggle work life and family, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.''

The ABS report says some women ''are seen to have a lack of confidence in their abilities and are less likely to put their hands up for promotion''.

''Whereas men are willing to put their hand up for a role where they may not tick some or all of the boxes, some women may only apply for the job if they feel confident they are a good fit for the job,'' it says.

The Federal Government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency director, Helen Conroy, yesterday said it was not true that men are more ambitious.

''Often it's said that women aren't as ambitious as men but that's just not right,'' she told News Limited.

''The overwhelming reason we don't have more women in leadership is the underlying cultural and structural barriers in organisations.

''Flexible work options and careers should be available to men and women so they can balance work and family life.

''This is a family issue, not a woman's problem.''

The ABS report shows that working mothers still spend twice the time as working dads in looking after the kids when they get home.

A woman in full-time work spends an average of six hours and 39 minutes each day taking care of kids - compared to three hours and 43 minutes a day for a man.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick yesterday said women still do the ''vast majority'' of caring for children, the disabled and the elderly.

''The social norm still is that women care and men work,'' she said.

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MKR baddies cooking for kudos

Nice as pie? Not likely. MKR gatecrashers Sophia and Ashlee in the kitchen. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

THEY certainly proved they can talk the talk by declaring "war" on Monday night's My Kitchen Rules, but guests were left divided as to whether or not gatecrashers Ashlee and Sophia dished up winners when finally put to the test in the latest episode.

The hot-tempered duo from New South Wales stepped into the kitchen for the first time, serving up a number of Vietnamese-inspired meals to their expectant guests.

The girls attempted to set the mood, seating their visitors with a flaming shot of absinthe - unfortunately this seemed to have the reverse effect, with Manu and Pete taking note of the "tension, anticipation and anxiety" when they walked into The Factory.

Promising to "bring it", the girls created a poached chicken salad with Asian herbs as an entree, which unfortunately failed to impress. "That dish only took me halfway to Vietnam", Steph commented.

After a lengthy wait in between meals, their main dish of shrimp and pork Vietnamese pancakes proved more successful - Manu declared they "kicked arse" - yet it was a shame the "babes" couldn't quite seem to get their pork tender enough.

Lime creme brûlée was on the menu for dessert, and after a few nearly-singed eyebrows with a monster blow torch, the pair managed to deliver their final dish for the evening unscathed.

While it was hit-and-miss with the judges, no one was more disappointed than Stefano who had "expected to dive into this pleasure of cream".

Given the showdown that ensued on Monday night around the table after Ashlee and Sophie revealed their inner brat and Angela accused the pair of having a "personality disorder", viewers tuned in expecting nothing less than an epic no-holds-barred culinary clash tonight. But, despite a few lingering scowls between the cooks and their competitors, manners were minded.

Knowing that the other teams were "coming to get them", the girls were hardly surprised with their score of 17 out of 50, but their judge's score of 47 took them to a total of 64 out of 110, pushing them to second on the leaderboard.

This meant we said goodbye to MKR's resident lovebirds, Stefano and Lisa. But that's ok, because they have a wedding to plan.

On Thursday night all teams are united and will be challenged under extreme conditions, but will the game gatecrashers stand a chance against the top teams?

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