Jim McIlroy, 6 September 2008
BRISBANE — ”The Sri Lankan government is a racist regime which has conducted a decades-long reign of terror against the Tamil people”, Dr Brian Senewiratne, a Queensland medical specialist of Sinhala origin, said at a film night featuring My Daughter the Terrorist on August 30.

Improved compliance by international students studying in Australia has prompted an easing of student visa assessment levels for 43 countries in one or more education sectors. Strong growth in the student visa program with 278 000 visas granted to international students in 2007-08 – an increase of 22 per cent on 2006-07 – combined with the improving visa compliance of many international students, are positive signs for Australia’s international education industry. Of the 43 nations, more than half (23) including Brazil, Botswana, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand, will be reduced to assessment level one in one or more education sectors.  This will enable these applicants to join the growing number of students applying for their initial student visa online using the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) eVisa facility.

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong MP, Minister for Climate Change and Water
Transcript
Interview with Tony Jones, Lateline, 2 September 2008
JONES: And just a short time ago I spoke to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong. She was in our Parliament House studio in Canberra. Penny Wong thanks for joining us.
WONG: It's good to be with you.

Five tamil civilians, including two children, displaced recently from Mannaar district were killed Saturday evening when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery attack on Puthumu'rippu village, situated 7 km southwest of Ki'inochchi town. Three civilians were rushed to Ki'inochchi hospital in critical condition, according to medical sources. The SLA attack, targeting the village, densely populated by IDPs, comes a day after Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) dropped leaflets threatening heavy casualties to civilians in Vanni unless they moved from LTTE administered Vanni.

From QBE Riverfire, the biggest show of them all, to Frogforest, this year’s Riverfestival is a vibrant celebration of the Brisbane River and the people who live in this beautiful river city.The International Riversymposium and Thiess Riverprize are important parts of Riverfestival and we welcome the many international and national delegates that are participating in these events this year.You will discover wonderful new events, such as Sunsuper RiverBBQ, which is the beginning of a fantastic new initiative called RiverSunday; free events that all the family can enjoy.

The two largest tunnel boring machines to ever operate in Australia moved a step closer to starting work beneath Brisbane streets following the signing of a $90 million contract today.Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said the signing of the contract between Thiess John Holland and German company Herrenknecht was a major step forward for the massive Airport Link road and tunnel project."When complete, this project will allow motorists to bypass 18 sets of traffic lights between Bowen hills and the Airport, cutting the trip to as little as nine minutes," Mr Lucas said. "Combined with the construction of the next stage of the Northern Busway from Windsor to Kedron and the Airport Drive connection flyover this is the biggest road and tunnel project in Australia's history."

Date :  29, 30 & 31 Aug 08
Time :  29th -    4pm-10pm , 30th -  10am-10pm , 31st -  11am-  5pm 
Venue :  Mt Gravatt Show Grounds, Logan Road, Mt Gravatt, Qld-4122

Wars, either it be civil or global, always take the lives of more innocents than combatants.  This was demonstrated on August 14, 2006 in Sri Lanka, where, while engaged in first aid training, 62 children were wantonly massacred by the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) aerial bombardment at the Senchcholai orphanage in Kilinochchi.  The world paid little attention while the people in Eelam shed tears for weeks. Although the Tamils mark the conclusion of the second year after their death, the Sri Lankan government still continues to bombard civilian institutions with impunity.  In the guise of fighting terrorism for its own political and economic benefits, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) still shows no compunction in deploying thousands of armed soldiers to hunt down more innocent Tamils. The tragedy is that the international community (IC) remains silent while the Tamils continue to fight for their own survival.

British-born hip-hop artist MIA has countered accusations that she supports terrorism after US chart success put the spotlight on her political views. Sri Lankan rapper DeLon said the singer's artwork and lyrics condoned the actions of the Tamil Tigers. MIA is herself the daughter of a militant Tamil Tiger activist. In a statement, the US-based artist described her music as "the voice of a civilian refugee" and said: "I don't support terrorism and never have." DeLon's accusations came in a YouTube video, in which he rapped over MIA's single Paper Planes while showing graphic images of violence connected to the Tamil Tigers.