8 Monday news bites (26 Sep)

1.Pauline Hanson considers running in the next federal election due to ‘disgust’ at PM Gillard.

From one red head to another – Pauline Hanson has called Prime Minister Julia Gillard the “worst Prime Minister we have ever had”, questioning the PM’s loyalty and announcing she would consider running for the next federal election because of her disgust at the way Ms Gillard is handling the country’s affairs.

Ms Hanson is currently filming Celebrity Apprentice.

2. Get home early or get assaulted, say doctors.

Fed-up doctors are calling for pubs and clubs to wind back their trading hours to help stem the flow of booze-fuelled violence. Doctors warn revellers should “get out of town” by 2am, because after that, “they’re liable to be assaulted”.

3. Saudi women granted the right to vote

In a move that is being applauded by the US and Britian, Saudi King Abdullah has granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections. Saudi Arabia applies a strict version of Sunni Islam and bans women from driving or travelling without the consent of a male guardian. 

4. 39 Refugees caught in limbo due to secrecy laws

Thirty-nine (mostly Tamil) refugees could be in detention indefinitely in Australia because of top-secret ASIO files that laws state cannot be viewed by the refugees or be independently reviewed.  A group of prominent lawyers and academics has asked the United Nations to intervene in the case.

5. Filmmaker calls for boycott over execution of Troy Davis

Controversial American filmmaker Michael Moore has called upon all Americans to boycott the state of Georgia following the state’s execution of Troy Davis despite global protest.

“I encourage everyone I know to never travel to Georgia, never buy anything made in Georgia, to never do business in Georgia,” said Moore, who was in Los Angeles on Friday as part of a book tour.  I will ask my publisher (Grand Central Publishing, part of France’s Hachette Book Group) to pull my book from every Georgia bookstore.”

6. Nutritionists dismayed at students’ taste for the latte lifestyle

An elite Sydney private girls’ school is being criticised after it was revealed the school has hired a full-time barista to serve coffee to students as young as twelve.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College recently employed a full-time barista to serve coffee to students in the  library’s Cyber-Cafe.

The news has distressed nutritionists who are concerned – amongst other things – that there is no limit on how many coffees the older students can purchase in one day.

7. Dreamworld tiger bites handler. Again.

For the second time in four months one of the tigers at Dreamworld’s renowned Tiger Island has bitten its handler. Yesterday morning one of the tigers bit the calf of a handler who was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital for treatment. The wound has been described as ‘not significant’.

8. Banana prices set to drop.

And now for some good news. For those of us who have taken out a second mortgage to pay for our banana-addiction this year, prices are set to drop. Sharply.  While three-quarters of Australia’s banana output was affected by the Cyclone Yasi in February this year, it was confirmed yesterday that the industry had now “turned the corner”. Consumers had been paying as much as $15/kg for bananas this year. Growers predict customers will soon be paying between $3-$4/kg at the checkout.

Today’s news has been brought to you by Bec.