Main stories in ABC's World Today

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2007
Main stories in ABC's World Today

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - Main stories in ABC's World Today:

* The US government has today publicly released the details of its new case against
Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks. The Office of Military Commission has released a
charge sheet to support its allegations that the Australian provided material support
for terrorism and was involved in a murder attempt. But David Hicks' military lawyer,
Major Michael Mori, says there's little new in the allegations, and while charges may
now be served within weeks, it's still likely to be more than a year before David Hicks
faces trial. The federal Labor party says this means the US government has failed to meet
Prime Minister John Howard's deadline on the future of the Australian who has been held
by the US now for more than five years.

* As directors and former directors of the James Hardie company prepare their defence
against civil charges, the action by Australia's corporate watchdog is being closely watched
in the US. James Hardie shares are listed on Wall Street and the company has been reaping
huge profits from the recent housing boom in the US. But US asbestos compensation activists,
who have been battling corporate loopholes for years, say they're optimistic that the
civil case in Australia will provoke tougher action from US regulators.

* A paraglider was sucked up by a storm front in northern NSW into the realm normally
reserved for jet aircraft and survived. A 28-year old German paraglider was sucked up
30,000 feet (10,000 metres) - higher than Mount Everest - and while she lost consciousness
and suffered frostbite, she made it back down alive. An elite Chinese paraglider caught
in the same storm has died. Both were practising for next week's world championships and
organisers are describing the survival of even one of the paragliders as extraordinary.

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