Greece predicts return to growth in 2014

GREECE'S deputy finance minister says the economy is expected to emerge from its recession and grow slightly next year.

Christos Staikouras said on Thursday that the 2014 budget projects economic growth of 0.6 per cent next year.

He spoke as he presented the budget, submitted to Parliament moments earlier by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras.

Staikouras said the economy is expected to contract by four per cent this year, slightly less than the originally expected 4.5 per cent.

He said the conditions are being created for Greece to return to the international bond markets next year.

It has been priced out of them by high interest rates since 2010, and relies on international rescue loans.

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Cops to target Byron Bay schoolies

A BIG police operation will target Byron Bay as thousands of revellers descend on the northern NSW town to celebrate schoolies.

Schoolies began in Queensland on Sunday and has its start in NSW this Saturday, with Byron Bay expecting about 10,000 school leavers to hit town through until December 1.

Police said a highly visible operation including local cops, riot squad, dog unit, mounted unit and highway patrol would be targeting Byron Bay.

The operation will target alcohol-related offences, illegal drug use and supply, and anti-social behaviour.

It'll be focused in and around pubs and clubs, car parks and beaches and criminal behaviour, police said.

Tweed and Byron Police Detective Superintendent, Stuart Wilkins, urged school leavers visiting the area to act responsibly.

"Alcohol impairs your judgment and leads to poor decision-making, so know your limits and don't take risks that could lead to you becoming a victim of crime or an offender," he said in a statement.

"Most importantly, if at any time you think something is not right or you need urgent assistance, call Triple Zero."

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UK PM 'following' escort agency on Twitter

British Prime Minister David Cameron has been following a high-class escort agency on Twitter. Source: AAP

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has been following the exploits of a high-class escort agency on Twitter.

One of the prime minister's official accounts was linked to the Carltons of London's feed on the micro-blogging site, technology news website The Register found.

It claims to be London's "finest luxury boutique escort agency" catering for the needs of a "select and small group of elite gentlemen".

The agency also offers a corporate service for those looking to secure a big deal who "need something special to swing them in your favour".

But Downing Street indicated the agency may have first been followed under Gordon Brown's premiership.

The @Number10gov account is the official Twitter feed for the office of the Prime Minister and automatically followed anyone that chose to follow it until 2009 - while the former Labour leader was in power - when the practice was stopped.

"We have stopped following this particular account," a Downing Street spokesman said.

"Prior to 2010, an auto-follow process was used, meaning that @Number10gov automatically followed anyone who followed the account. This was common practice at the time for many corporate accounts, but was discontinued in 2009.

"As a result of this legacy, the @Number10gov account follows almost 370,000 accounts and we have taken steps to un-follow as many as possible that are inactive, spam or inappropriate. This work is ongoing."

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Cyclone warning issued for southern India

A TROPICAL cyclone over the Bay of Bengal is likely to hit coastal areas of India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh over the next 24 hours, with evacuations set to begin soon, officials said on Thursday.

Cyclone Helen is predicted to bring winds of up to 120km/h, as well as heavy rainfall.

Storm surges of up to 1.5 metres at the time of landfall are expected near the city of Machillipatnam on Friday afternoon, India's Meteorological Department said.

The storm was expected to cause "extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts. Minor damage to power and communication lines due to uprooting of large trees", the IMD said in a statement.

Fishermen have been warned not to venture out to sea.

State disaster management official VK Ekbote said the storm was changing course, and evacuations would begin on Friday once officials were able to confirm precisely where it would make land.

The storm is expected to be significantly less intense than Cyclone Phailin, which hit India's Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states last month, with wind speeds of over 200km/h, claiming 40 lives.

Cyclones often form over the Bay of Bengal, bringing widespread destruction and flooding to India's southern and eastern coasts.

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Aussie tour a long shot for Python show

MONTY Python haven't ruled out eventually touring their reunion show to Australia although John Cleese has joked it would be easier to travel to another planet.

The remaining members of Monty Python will perform together in London's O2 Arena in mid-2014, more than 30 years after their last stage performance.

The veteran comedy troupe - Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Cleese - announced the news at a press conference in London on Thursday.

Asked by AAP if they would consider taking the show Down Under, Cleese said: "The only problem with Australia is there are planets closer than that."

Palin added: "I'd like to play Darwin, it always gets left out. Coober Pedy?"

Idle, however, insisted a future Australian date wasn't out of the question.

"The (Sydney) Opera House is one of the finest places to play," he told reporters.

"I've played there a couple of times, it's fabulous, so who knows."

The July gig is billed as a "one and only" show, but the team entertained the idea of a wider world tour.

The veteran comedians kicked off Thursday's press conference at the Playhouse Theatre by simultaneously talking over the top of each other.

Host Warwick Davis then appeared on stage to restore order.

The quintet lined up behind the wrong name cards and answered questions addressed to other members of the team.

The first question was from a Spanish journalist who asked why Monty Python was reuniting now.

"Nobody expected the Spanish inquisition," Palin quipped.

Idle said the real reason was "we are all trying to pay for Terry Jones's mortgage".

"And if we left it too long it would be too late."

The team will be doing some material never performed live before.

"There'll be quite a lot of that," Idle said, before pointing out that most people find new songs to be the low point of most concerts.

The Pythons have amassed millions of fans for their groundbreaking, anarchic comedy series and films, which also launched their own successful solo careers.

Monty Python's Flying Circus was made for TV between 1969 and 1974 and generations of fans can recite lines and whole sketches.

The team went on to make films including Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975) and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979).

Sixth Python Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989, aged just 48, and nine years later the five remaining members appeared together on stage at the Aspen Comedy Festival in the US.

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UK police free women held as slaves

New laws to veto mine licences

PREMIER Barry O'Farrell has announced new legislation which would give him the power to cancel mining licences which were the subject of recent ICAC inquiries.

Police crash tackle man in surf

A MAN was crash tackled in the surf by police in a dramatic midnight arrest involving jet skis and a helicopter at a Schoolies week beach.

Sandy Hook, the game. Seriously?

A SYDNEY man is under fire for after developing a video game where players can recreate the Sandy Hook massacre in which 20 children were killed.

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Ryanair opens new destinations for 2014

Blunder allowed priest to abuse

CHILD sex abuse victim's warning about a clergyman who assaulted him ignored because the offender had a common name.

New laws to veto mine licences

PREMIER Barry O'Farrell has announced new legislation which would give him the power to cancel mining licences which were the subject of recent ICAC inquiries.

Police crash tackle man in surf

A MAN was crash tackled in the surf by police in a dramatic midnight arrest involving jet skis and a helicopter at a Schoolies week beach.

Indonesians burn Aussie flag in spying row

POLICE in Jakarta are on standby at the Australian embassy over fears protesters demanding the cutting of diplomatic ties will riot.

Sandy Hook, the game. Seriously?

A SYDNEY man is under fire for after developing a video game where players can recreate the Sandy Hook massacre in which 20 children were killed.

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Pedestrian dies in crash near Townsville

A PEDESTRIAN has died after being hit by a car at Nome, near Townsville.

The woman died at the scene when she was hit on the Bruce Highway at about 9pm (AEST) on Thursday, police said.

The woman driving the car was taken to Townsville Hospital for observation.

The highway was closed for several hours and the Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

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Controversial health website launched

PRIVATE health fund nib has launched a controversial website that allows patients to rate the cost and service levels of health practitioners.

The searchable Whitecoat website is open to all Australians and lists 30,000 "extras" providers such as optometrists, dentists and chiropractors.

"Whitecoat represents a new way of connecting consumers and providers," says the fund's Rhod McKensey.

It is particularly useful for people who have moved to a new area or need a treatment for the first time.

The 13,000 comments featured so far have been collected from clients over the past 12 months and are 90 per cent positive, he says.

The fund says it has consulted widely to overcome issues and providers will be able to opt out of the ratings and comments.

But some health organisations are concerned the ratings system will be unfair and that the site breaks advertising guidelines.

The Australian Dental Association has advised members not to participate at all.

"We can't see the benefit," says vice president Dr Carmelo Bonanno.

Cost comparisons are difficult because treatments might appear the same but might involve different materials and different degrees of difficulty, he says.

"We also have concerns about breaching advertising guidelines for dentists."

The Dietitians Association of Australia is advising its members to opt out of the rating and comments section.

"A directory showing people what's available in their area is fantastic," says spokesperson Kate Di Prima, and accredited practising dietician.

But she is concerned the ratings system will reflect the subjective view of a single person and there are too many variables for valid price comparisons.

"A consumer-driven health profession that embraces choices is the future," says Chiropractors' Association of Australia CEO Andrew McNamara.

He is concerned, however, that the site complies with health profession guidelines.

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Huntsman spider found at UK warehouse

A FEARSOME-LOOKING giant spider common in Australia has given workers at a British warehouse a fright after travelling over from Asia.

The 17-centimetre-long huntsman spider came over to East Sussex after stowing away in a shipping container packed with BMX parts in Taiwan.

It is believed to have been locked up for six weeks as the container made its way thousands of miles across the oceans before reaching the UK.

Shocked staff at Seventies BMX Distribution in St Leonards-on-Sea discovered the arachnid lurking in their delivery while unpacking the boxes.

Warehouse manager Joe Woodburn said he thought the spider was plastic at first as it wasn't moving.

"My mate saw it on the box I was holding. He froze and couldn't get his words out fast enough," Woodburn said.

"...the minute it was in the sunlight it started to warm up and it was running around and jumping up the side of the box."

RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard was called out to deal with the animal, but admitted she was not the biggest fan of eight-legged creepy-crawlies.

"I got the call through as collection of a tarantula, but as soon as I saw it I knew it wasn't a tarantula," Ms Ballard said, adding she's been called out to collect a scorpion in the past, but has never come across a spider like it before.

"I managed to secure the spider in the container and took it to the RSPCA's wildlife centre nearby, but I must admit I was worried all the way that it would get out and escape in my van."

The spider has now been housed at Drusillas Zoo Park in Alfriston, near Eastbourne, but RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley said it does not generally pose a big threat.

"Huntsman spiders can give you a nasty bite, but they aren't likely to cause too much harm unless you suffer an allergic reaction," he said.

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