The federal government has filed a statement of claim of $487,000 against the seal hunt protest vessel Farley Mowat, owned by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, to recover the costs it has incurred to maintain the ship since it was seized last April.

Israel has resealed a border crossing with the Gaza Strip that it had temporarily opened to allow in a limited amount of food and fuel. Israeli officials said they took the step after a rocket was fired at Israel late on Monday.

When he won the election, he was known as Kevin 07. But in the 12 months since, his unrelenting work ethic has earned him the nickname Kevin 24/7, while his penchant for foreign travel has prompted others to call him Kevin 747. According to the Sydney

Freddie Mercury has died aged 45, just one day after he publicly announced he was HIV positive. The lead singer for rock group Queen died quietly at his home in west London of bronchio-pneumonia, brought on by Aids, his publicist said.

DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) - The Dalai Lama warned Sunday of the "great danger" facing the Tibetan people as he addressed leading exiles who vowed continued support for his policy of seeking greater autonomy from China.

MEXICO CITY - Hiroshi Nohara is on a layover at the Mexico City airport. It has lasted almost three months, and he has no plans to leave.

KABUL (Reuters) - Violations of children's rights are increasing in Afghanistan with more attacks against schools, more children killed and more evidence of child sexual abuse, the United Nations said on Sunday.

The number of applications for children to be taken into care in England has risen sharply after the case of Baby P, government agency Cafcass has said.

"To be starved outside without any sleeping material, warm clothes, clean clothes or food under the house," Wada said about the abuse. "To be hit with a bat over and over."

The Federal Government says it will consider an Opposition proposal that shareholder votes on executive salaries be made binding. Currently, shareholders can vote on whether to accept executive remuneration packages, but the outcome is only advisory.