The Australian government has announced new legislation which would block gay and lesbian couples from adopting foreign children.

The bill, prohibiting recognition of foreign adoptions, will be introduced in the next session Parliament, which begins next week.

Queensland Democrat senator Guy Bartlett has slammed the legislation, warning it as an example of the government's "wedge politics", intentionally divisive prior to this year’s election.

"It won't even prevent an adoption; it will just leave children who have been adopted with reduced legal and social recognition and protection, and a less stable family environment," Senator Bartlett wrote on website.

"As soon as the family walks through Australian customs, the child will cease to have two legal parents and one of the parents will cease to have any legal rights or responsibilities for their child."

Gay groups have also expressed dismay wth Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson Rodney Croome saying the bill "threatens to legally sunder existing families."

While many Australian states have legalised rights for gay couples, the federal government firmly defines marriage between a man and a woman. Prime Minister John Howard has confirmed opposition to gay marriage despite an ongoing Human Rights and Equal Opportunity's investigation into the inequalities faced by same-sex couples.

The UK Government is considering installing X-ray cameras on lampposts to spot armed terrorists and other criminals.

According to a leaked memo seen by The Sun, "detection of weapons and explosives will become easier" if the scheme drawn up by Home Office officials is adopted.

However, officials acknowledged that it would be highly controversial as the cameras can "see" through clothing.

"The social acceptability of routine intrusive detection measures and the operational response required

in the event of an alarm are likely to be limiting factors," the memo warned.
"Privacy is an issue because the machines see through clothing."

The Sun reported that the memo, dated January 17, was drawn up by the Home Office for the Prime Minister's working group on security crime and justice.

It noted that some technologies used for airport security had already been used in police operations searching for drugs and weapons in nightclubs.

"These and other could be developed for a much more widespread use in public places," it said.

"Street furniture could routinely house detection systems that would indicate the likely presence of a gun for example."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We don't comment on leaked documents".

this is terrible. what a terrible thing to happen. i'd hate to be nearly swallowed by a shark. anyone else got any good swallowing stories??

FROM BBC NEWS:
Diver escapes from shark's jaws

An Australian diver has escaped from the jaws of a Great White shark which had grabbed him by the head.

Eric Nerhus, 41, was diving off Cape Howe on Australia's south-east coast when he was attacked. A fellow diver said the three-metre (10-foot) shark bit Mr Nerhus from the head down, crushing his face mask inwards and breaking his nose.

He managed to break free and was hauled aboard a waiting boat. His condition is described as serious but stable. "Eric is a tough boy, he's super-fit," his friend and fellow diver Dennis Luobikis told reporters.

"But I would say that would test anyone's resolve, being a fish lunch." Mr Luobikis, Mr Nerhus and his son - as well as other friends - were fishing for abalone off the coast, some 400km (249 miles) south of Sydney, when the attack happened.

"He was actually bitten by the head down, the shark swallowed his head," Mr Luobikis said. The shark then took a second bite, this time seizing Mr Nerhus by the body and biting into his torso.

Mr Luobikis said his friend "pushed his abalone chisel" into the shark's head, managing to wrestle himself free before the shark swam away. He was hauled aboard the boat by his 25-year-old son, and taken to hospital where doctors said he was suffering from blood loss and shock.

Shark attacks are not uncommon in Australian waters, the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says. There are around 15 a year - one of the highest rates in the world. An average of one a year is fatal.

[img2=left]forum/images/news/purcell.jpg[/img2]Scotland’s most senior councillor has come out amid escalating media scrutiny of his private life.

Steven Purcell, 34, the youngest-ever leader of the Glasgow City Council, confirmed on Saturday that he had split from his wife of five years after coming to terms with his sexuality.

"Over the past couple of weeks the rumours surrounding my marriage have increasingly become a distraction to me. I wish to set out in public the facts surrounding the issue,” he told The Herald.

"For the last year my marriage has been in trouble and some months ago my wife and I separated. One of the issues we have been facing up to is the fact that I have realised I'm gay.”

"Now that they are aware of the situation, and that Katrina and I are clear that they understand the issues, I want to dispel the rumours and get on with the important job I am privileged to do as leader of the city council."

Purcell’s wife Katrina did not find the news of Purcell’s homosexuality particularly surprising and said that she will continue to support him. The couple do not have children. "It did not come as a shock to me to find out Steven was gay and I now intend to offer him continued friendship and support and otherwise to get on with my own very busy life."

"This has been a difficult time both for me and Steven," she continued. "And I'm naturally very sad that we have had to announce our separation.

Purcell, who has been a councillor for only a year, has been praised by Tony Blair for his efforts to focus on social projects in Glasgow.

[img2=left]images/news/indianprince.jpg[/img2]VADODARA, India — India’s royal house of Rajpipla, one of its former princely states, is still reeling from the revelation last year that one of its offspring, a prince, is gay. Manvendra Singh Gohil, who grew up in a world of prestige and privilege as a maharajah’s son, created a scandal when he told a local newspaper last year that he is gay. And despite the backlash, Gohil says he’s happy because he’s finally living an honest life, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Some residents in Gohil’s hometown burned his photos. His parents publicly disowned him, their only son. Homosexual sex remains a crime in India, though few prosecutions are brought to court. Though India’s royal families don’t have political power, they retain wealth and influence. Gohil suffered under his country’s societal norms, enduring an arranged marriage he told the Times he couldn’t consummate followed by divorce and a nervous breakdown. Gohil keeps busy with HIV and AIDS work through an organization he founded.