Berry crushed in financial crunch

Berry crushed in financial crunch	19.09.2008

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09/18/2008		Manaccom in software buy
IT and e-commerce group Manaccom said it has rescued one of its major software distributors from financial collapse

09/18/2008		Telstra to slash over 800 jobs
TELSTRA will slash between 800 and 900 jobs, and create an uber content division called Media

09/18/2008		Revolution in aisles with trolley TV
COMPUTERISED supermarket shopping trolleys that could revolutionise the way we shop are set to be trialled in Australia next year

09/18/2008		3D browser to change Net surfing
INTERNET users will be able to walk through their favourite sites as if they are characters in a computer game with a new 3D browser

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Latest Comments:

How can anyone condemn Mr Rudd, for acting in a subjective roll to Mr Bush. Australia needs USA`s support , America can get along fine without Australia.
Posted by: harry taggart of uk 7:37pm today

the only belittling going on here is that goofy Bob Brown and equally dead fish Nelson tryingto make political miles out of an absolute beatup on Rudd. When will these idiots realise the majority of Australians enjoy KR's human attitude. Do these pompous fools want him to keep a straight face, sit rigidly, adopt a yes sir, no sir whatever you say sir approach.For heavens sake lay off him, he is doing wonders for this country, its refreshing, its like a pleasant breeze. Have a look at the stupidity of Nelson's antics, now there is something to have a crack at.
Posted by: Kerry of Bennelong 7:34pm today

What a beat up. It was a casual acknowledgement, which anyone might do. Keep up the good work Kev.
Posted by: Chris Burrage of Tasmania 7:34pm today

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Kevin Rudd salutes George W. Bush
Later laughs and says it was just "a joke"
Kevin Rudd? Nope, never heard of him

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd flies to London tonight amid accusations of conduct unbecoming an Australian leader after he saluted US President George W. Bush.

Mr Rudd upset some in Australia with his casual salute to President Bush at a social gathering of NATO leaders following meetings in Bucharest, Romania.

Mr Rudd was briefly standing alone at the gathering of leaders from 26 countries when he saw Mr Bush, saluted, and strode over, smiling, to talk to the US President.

"It was just a joke," a laughing Mr Rudd said later.

"I was just saying hi to the president of the United States - I was just with him the other day.

"I went over and had a chat, actually."

But Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said the salute was inappropiate and Greens leader Bob Brown said it belittled Australia.

"I think it`s conduct unbecoming of an Australian prime minister," Dr Nelson said.

"Mr Rudd appears to conduct himself in one manner when he thinks the television is on him and in another when it is not.

"Australia is a confident, outward-looking country after more than 10 years of strong foreign policy development and we need a strong prime minister to represent our very best interests throughout the world."

The incident prompted some observers to recall the storm caused by Mr Bush in 2003 when he described Australia as a "sheriff" of the Asia-Pacific.

At the time, then prime minister John Howard laughed off Mr Bush`s comment as a joke, attributing it to the president`s Texas roots.

But Senator Brown has not forgotten it.

"There is a streak of John Howard`s deputy sheriff in Kevin Rudd`s slip-up," he said.

"It takes seasoned maturity to ensure Australia is never second-rated in the international arena and Mr Rudd is not there yet.

"We are not the 51st state of the USA and Mr Rudd`s salute carried a subservient connotation many Australians won`t like."

The salute has distracted from Mr Rudd`s achievements in Bucharest where Australia`s demands for NATO troops to carry a bigger burden in Afghanistan were partially satisfied.

"We have a significant commitment here but it`s not a blank cheque, it`s a commitment to the long term," he said.

"It has to be measured against the benchmarks we have set."

Australia, which has 1000 troops in the southern province of Oruzgan, has repeatedly called for NATO allies, particularly the Europeans. to take on greater responsibility in the more dangerous parts of Afghanistan.

In a declaration on Afghanistan, NATO and other coalition partners "agreed to support each other in sharing the burden".

As well, they committed to the more integrated civilian and military strategy being sought by Australia and other coalition partners.

But commanders of the NATO-led force have fallen short of their target of getting an additional 10,000 troops into the war zone.

Mr Rudd`s plan for the destruction of Afghan drug crops also failed to win support.

After less than 24 hours in the Romanian capital, Mr Rudd was tonight beginning a four-day visit to London.

Mr Rudd will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park before addressing a lunch of British and Australian business leaders.

Later, he will address the Progressive Government Conference and will head to the conference again tomorrow (AEDT).

The Prime Minister may get a rare day off on Sunday before a packed schedule of meetings on Monday, including a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle and a breakfast with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street.

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