Australia smashed its temperature record in the year to the end of June, beating a high set during the most recent El Nino weather event in the Pacific. Buried in the Bureau of Meteorology's monthly
The Federal Government has criticised crew members aboard the anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin for throwing stink bombs at Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters. The Sea Shepherd activists bombarded the deck of the Nisshin Maru with bottles and packets containing foul-smelling and slippery substances earlier today, about 175 nautical miles off the coast of the Australian Antarctic Territory. In a statement issued earlier today, Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson described the confrontation as ''non-violent chemical warfare'' designed to disrupt the processing of whales harpooned at sea. But Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith condemned the actions of the Steve Irwin crew today, saying the Australian embassy in Tokyo had been told that three or four crew members on the Japanese vessel were treated by a ship's doctor as a result of the bombardment. ''I absolutely condemn actions by crew members of any vessel that cause injury - or have the potential to cause injury - to anyone on the high seas,'' Mr Smith said in a statement. The minister said while the Government was committed to bringing an end to Japan's whaling activities in the Southern Ocean, it ''strongly discourages activity which could be illegal or unsafe (or) which could lead to injury or loss of life at sea''. Captain Watson said the bombs were made from ''organic, non-toxic materials designed to harass and obstruct illegal whaling operations''. The confrontation took place after a 24-hour chase in which the Steve Irwin gradually closed on the bigger vessel. Captain Watson said four uniformed and armed Japanese Coast Guard officers appeared on the decks of the Nisshin Maru to videotape events. An audio tape playing over loudspeakers warned: ''This is the Nisshin Maru captain. Stop your destructive actions immediately. If you dare to board this vessel you will be taken into custody and restrained as illegal intruders under Japanese law.'' Sea Shepherd has pursued the Japanese fleet for three months without catching up with the Nisshin Maru, which is the key vessel in the seven-ship operation. After shaking off a tailing Japanese trawler on Saturday, the Steve Irwin located Nisshin Maru and two harpoon-equipped catcher ships hidden among heavy ice in Porpoise Bay, which is about 2200 nautical miles south-west of Hobart. Captain Watson said they homed in on a signal from an electronic surveillance bug planted by activists on the catcher ship Yushin Maru No.2 He said while the catcher ships scattered, the Nisshin Maru broke out of the bay and steamed north last night with the Steve Irwin in pursuit. ''They seem to be heading for some nastier weather north of us,'' Captain Watson said. ''Perhaps they think they may be able to lose us. I hope not. ''It's been a long haul but finally we have our teeth in their stern. We will try to hold on for as long as fuel and weather allow us to do so.''
INNOVATION Minister Kim Carr will launch a concerted push to secure production of hybrid cars for Australia when he meets senior executives of Toyota in Tokyo tomorrow. Senator Carr will brief the senior management of Toyota in Japan about the Rudd Government's review of the automotive industry being undertaken by former Victorian premier Steve Bracks. The Government is keen to use its proposed $500 million green car fund to convince Toyota to set up production of hybrid vehicles
Japan's Sharp Corporation and Tokyo Electron will establish a joint venture to develop production equipment for solar cells, the Nikkei business daily reports. The venture will develop equipment for thin-film solar cells, which need less silicon than conventional solar cells, at Tokyo Electron's production site in Yamanashi Prefecture west of Tokyo. Sharp is investing heavily in the solar cell market and is building a 100 billion yen factory for thin-film solar cells in Osaka Prefecture. Tokyo Electron is the world's second-largest chip equipment maker. The venture will be capitalised at about 100 million yen. Tokyo Electron will take a 60% stake while Sharp takes the remaining 40%. REUTERS
WITH EastLink due to open in the middle of this year, inner-city Melbourne will need to brace itself for the additional traffic that will hit the end of the Eastern Freeway.
A series of brief violent storms yesterday afternoon and overnight led to pockets of heavy rainfall around the state, with one area receiving a one-in-20 year downpour. The Bureau of Meteorlogy has issued a storm warning, expected to include severe thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall and flash flooding, for the Illawarra, Central Tablelands and Central West Slopes districts. The storms are moving from west to east and there is a possibility of further severe storms in Sydney this afternoon and tonight, bureau meteorologist Chris Webb said. -------------- Do you know more? Message 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764) or email us with information. -------------- Cringila, in the Illawarra, received 44 millimetres of rain in 30 minutes, a once-in-20-year event, Mr Webb said. Oakdale, in Sydney's south-west, received 35 millimetres in 30 minutes and Bilpin, in the Blue Mountains, received 70 millimetres in 90 minutes, he said. There was also heavy rainfall in Strathfield where 17 millimetres of rain fell in just 15 minutes. The State Emergency Service was kept busy in the Illawarra region with 100 requests overnight, spokesman David Webber said. In the south of Sydney there were 35 requests for assistance, he said. Most of the requests were about trees that had fallen down and water inundation caused by flash flooding, Mr Webber said. Commuters on the F3 freeway are having a frustrating morning with heavy delays southbound due to an earlier accident. The Roads and Traffic Authority is warning of extensive delays on the road.
MELBURNIANS can expect water restrictions to remain for several years until massive infrastructure projects are completed, including the desalination plant due to begin operating in 2011. The city's water supply is in better shape than at this time last year but a drier autumn looms. Water Minister Tim Holding said yesterday some restrictions would continue until major projects were completed. Water Services Association of Australia executive director Ross Young said Melbourne ended February with its catchments 35.5% full, up from 34.2% at this time last year. He attributed the increase to a fall in water consumption, down 9% on the previous year, and more summer rainfall, 10% above average. However, Mr Young said dry soil throughout the state meant higher rainfall was not delivering the boost to reservoirs that might be expected. The streams that fill Victoria's reservoirs were flowing at only 58% of the long-term average flow. Water storage levels in Ballarat were at just 9.5%. Meanwhile, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission yesterday warned that flooding rains in Queensland and above-average summer rainfall in the upper Murray River would bring little or no relief for Victorian irrigators. Total inflows into the Murray system are still only a quarter of the long-term average. Victorian irrigators will receive only 42% of their entitlements this financial year, with worse likely for next year. With CHRIS HAMMER
Like to mix beer and wine when you're drinking? Fancy some wine on ice cubes when the weather's hot? Perhaps a ''green'' beer made with sensitivity to the environment will quench your thirst?
