Scientists believe they may be on the cusp of developing a possible cure for some types of blindness.

Several potential fixes—including gene therapy, stem-cell therapy and a modified version of vitamin A—are currently being tested in people with a rare eye disorder called Stargardt disease.

The work, if it pans out, could pave the way to treat the most common type of vision loss known as age-related macular degeneration, scientists say. An estimated 4.2 million Americans are blind or visually impaired, a number that is expected to increase 70% in the next two decades as the population ages. (Check out this blog post for resources to keep track of developments in research.)

"It's a fundamental breakthrough," Paul Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, says about the latest research. "These opportunities didn't exist 10 years ago," he says.

It isn't clear whether the experimental therapies will work. The clinical testing is still at an early stage. And many prospective treatments that show promise in animal trials later fail when studied in people.

The latest developments aimed at halting, or even reversing, vision loss follow decades of research into what causes people to lose their sight. Blindness can have many origins. Scientists have identified nearly 200 genes that play a role in vision loss due to degeneration of the retina, which is located at the back of the eye and contains millions of light-sensitive cells known as rods and cones.

Scientists also have gained a better understanding of the complex biochemical interactions involved in eyesight, says Eric Pierce, director of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary's Ocular Genomics Institute. Potential treatments triggered by this research have shown promise in preliminary testing in animals. Now, clinical trials in people are under way.

Stargardt disease affects some 30,000 Americans. In children, it is the leading cause of degeneration of the macula, part of the retina. There is currently no effective treatment. Scientists say Stargardt is a good candidate to begin looking for a blindness cure because it is linked to a single gene, thus making it relatively easy to target. Evidence suggests that age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt in part share similar origins.

The disease is caused by the body's inability to properly process vitamin A, which provides the fuel for photoreceptor cells in the eye to sense light. In a normally functioning eye, vitamin A, once used up, is pumped out of the cell and recycled. In Stargardt, because of a defective gene known as ABCA4, vitamin A remains trapped in the cells in clumps. Retinal cells eventually die and vision is lost.

In his laboratory, Ilyas Washington, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, sketched for a visitor the molecular structure of the dangerous clumps of vitamin A that remain trapped in the retinal cells.

By identifying the part of the vitamin A molecule where the clumping takes place, Dr. Washington was able to devise a "better" molecule that doesn't clump as readily but still performs its needed role in the retinal cells. Administering the rejiggered vitamin A to animals with the Stargardt gene defect showed promise, he says.

Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, in Boston, licensed the technology from Columbia University and expects to begin testing pills containing the modified vitamin A in as many as 100 patients in an early-stage trial that could start early next year.

Leonide Saad, Alkeus's chief executive, says he doesn't know at this point whether the pills can restore lost eyesight. But if given early enough, he says he believes they could halt the further deterioration of vision. "We [could] prevent you from going blind," he says. Dr. Washington doesn't receive compensation from Alkeus but could receive a financial reward from Columbia if the technology succeeds, Alkeus says.

Advanced Cell Technology, in Santa Monica, Calif., is testing 24 patients with Stargardt and 12 patients with the most common type of age-related macular degeneration to see whether injecting healthy retina cells can improve vision.

The firm says it has developed a technology allowing it to create the retina cells from human embryonic stem cells without destroying embryos. So far in the early-stage trial, nine Stargardt patients have undergone the surgery, and some have improved their vision, says Gary Rabin, the company's chief executive. He says one patient who could only make out her hand before the surgery, was able to count her fingers within a few weeks after the procedure. She could also see five or more letters on an eye chart, he says.

British firm Oxford BioMedica OXB 1.44 % is studying a gene therapy that injects Stargardt patients with a healthy ABCA4 gene. An early-stage trial to test the approach in as many as 28 patients began last year. So far, there are no signs of side effects from the gene therapy in at least four patients who have undergone the surgery, says Stuart Naylor, the company's chief scientific officer.

"It's really exciting times and [provides] a lot of hope for people with retinal degeneration," says Stephen Rose, chief research officer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a nonprofit that funds research for retinal degenerative diseases.

Edward Babin, of Berwyn, Penn., says he is hopeful the drug development work can help his two sons. Both boys, now ages 19 and 16, were diagnosed with Stargardt disease a few years ago and had to stop playing football and ice hockey after their vision deteriorated, Mr. Babin says. They can't watch television, or use a computer without special software.

"When they were diagnosed, we were told, 'I'm sorry, but your sons are going to be blind,' " Mr. Babin says. "Now, I'm convinced they're going to be functional people by the time they're 30 years old."

Researchers are also exploring other causes of blindness to develop possible cures. In one study, gene therapy is being tested on patients who are legally blind as a result of a mutation in a gene known as RPE65. This defect causes one form of a rare eye disease called Leber's congenital amaurosis.

In a first round of testing that finished in 2009, 12 patients, ages 8 to 45, received an injection of corrected genes in one eye. Nearly half regained enough eyesight to no longer be legally blind. None of the patients suffered from side effects from the gene therapy. Eleven of the patients are now receiving the gene therapy in their other eye, in a second round of testing expected to finish in the fall.

"I think it's going to be a steppingstone" to the application of gene therapy to other eye diseases because "it's basically demonstrated that the general approach that's used is safe," says Jean Bennett, one of the study's leaders who is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Write to Jonathan D. Rockoff at jonathan.rockoff@wsj.com

Summary: Scientists believe they may be on the cusp of developing a possible cure for some types of blindness. Tests are underway in people with a rare eye disorder. The work, if it pans out, could pave the way to treat the most common type of vision loss known as age-related macular degeneration.


Hillary Clinton declared Donald Trump unqualified to be president Thursday, citing as her proof a list of the presumptive GOP nominee’s “irresponsible, reckless, dangerous comments.”

“I have concluded he is not qualified to be president of the United States,” Clinton told CNN’s Chris Cuomo in an interview.

The likely Democratic presidential nominee has previously avoided answering the question, but said recent statements from Trump on everything from North Korea to NATO underscored the risk of his presidency in her mind.

“The threat that Donald Trump poses is so dramatic — to our country, to our democracy, and to our economy,” Clinton said.

The former secretary of state, in particular, said Trump could not be trusted to keep the nation safe, pointing to the mysterious crash of a Cairo-bound EgyptAir flight over the Mediterranean early Thursday morning.

“It does appear it was an act of terrorism,” Clinton said of the crash. She added that Trump’s support of a ban on Muslims entering the country would only exacerbate terrorism.

Clinton also refused to respond to Trump’s accusation that her husband, former president Bill Clinton, raped women. “I know that is exactly what he is fishing for,” Clinton said, refusing to engage.

But Before Clinton can turn her full attention to the presumptive Republican nominee, she first has to contend with a lingering primary challenge from Bernie Sanders, whom Clinton called on to do his part to unify the Democratic Party.

“I will be the nominee for our party, Chris,” Clinton said. “There is no way I won’t be.”

Clinton said she was “very disturbed” by the chaos surrounding a Nevada Democratic State Convention this weekend, but said she is confident the party will ultimately come together to defeat Trump.

Asked if she was considering Sanders to be her vice presidential pick, Clinton refused to play ball. “I’m not going to answer that question,” she said flatly.

Summary: Clinton cited as her proof a list of the presumptive GOP nominee's "irresponsible, reckless, dangerous comments."


Specialist divers have been searching a village pond for the gun used in the fatal shooting of a man at a pool party in Surrey.

Police called in the underwater team to help recover the weapon and ammunition, still missing after the shooting at Headley, near Epsom.

The 34-year-old victim, who is yet to be formally identified, is believed to be from the Croydon area.

Two suspects arrested after the shooting on Monday remain in custody.

A 38-year-old man from London is being held on suspicion of murder. A 30-year old woman is being questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender.

More than 400 people were at the private party at a hired house in the village.

The annual event had been organised by reggae dancehall artist Jason White and his girlfriend Summerlyn Farquharson.

He told BBC Newsbeat they used seven security staff with metal detectors to check all the guests as they arrived.

The divers, from Specialist Group International in Dorking, returned to Headley earlier and part of the village remains sealed off.

Summary: Specialist divers are searching a village pond for a gun used in the fatal shooting of a man at a pool party in Surrey.


There are still plenty of monsters on the new-look “Sesame Street,” now on HBO. But the human population is dwindling: The long-running cast members Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado and Roscoe Orman have been released from the show.

Mr. McGrath, 84, a member of the original cast in 1969, played the music teacher Bob, and sang some of the show’s most beloved songs, including “People in Your Neighborhood.” His departure leaves Loretta Long, who plays Susan, as the only remaining member of the original human cast.

Mr. Delgado, 76, originated the role of Luis, a handyman, in 1971. Mr. Orman, 72, played the science teacher Gordon starting from 1974. The departures will contribute to the show’s aim of reducing story lines and focusing on “familiar faces each week” — a goal that Brown Johnson, executive vice president and creative director at Sesame Workshop, told The New York Times about earlier this year.

A representative for “Sesame Street” confirmed that the three actors were no longer under contract, but said they would appear next season and may be brought back in future episodes.

“Since the show began, we are constantly evolving our content and curriculum, and hence, our characters, to meet the educational needs of children,” the representative said in a statement.

A version of this article appears in print on July 29, 2016, on page C2 of the New York edition with the headline: Longtime Cast Members Let Go by ‘Sesame Street’. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

Summary: Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado and Roscoe Orman were all part of “Sesame Street” for more than 40 years.


A farmer has been fined after dumping 40 tonnes of industrial waste outside a village.

William Johnston, of Walsham-le-Willows, Suffolk, admitted dumping the rubbish, described as building material and household waste, last April.

Suffolk Police said it was a "potential danger to motorists and other members of the public".

The 44-year-old admitted the whole episode was "hugely embarrassing" and "regrettable" as he left court.

He dumped the rubbish, described as building material and household waste, at the side of Finningham Road on 9 April last year.

Updates on this story and others from Suffolk

Police officers and the Environment Agency removed the waste, which they believe was unloaded using a tractor and trailer.

Johnston was fined £1000 plus costs of £1600 after pleading guilty to fly-tipping at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court.

In a statement, he said the rubbish had been unlawfully dumped on his own land before he moved it, and he later paid £4,000 for it to be cleared up from the side of the road.

Jonathan Reed, prosecuting on behalf of Mid Suffolk District Council said he was pleased the court had recognised the "severity of the offences as well as the dangers to users of the highway."

Summary: A farmer is fined after dumping 40 tonnes of industrial waste at the side of a road


He developed about 40 experimental and licensed animal and human vaccines, mostly with his team from Merck of Whitehouse Station, N.J. His role in their development included lab work as well as scientific and administrative leadership. His colleagues said he routinely credited others for their roles in advances.

Vaccine development is complex, requiring an artistry to safely produce large amounts of weakened live or dead micro-organisms. "Maurice was that artist: no one had the green thumb of mass production that he had," Dr. Offit said.

The hepatitis B vaccine, licensed in 1981, is credited as the first to prevent a human cancer: a liver cancer, known as a hepatoma, that can develop as a complication of infection from the hepatitis B virus.

One of Dr. Hilleman's goals was to develop the first licensed vaccine against any viral cancer. He achieved it in the early 1970's, developing a vaccine to prevent Marek's disease, a lymphoma cancer of chickens caused by a member of the herpes virus family. Preventing the disease helped revolutionize the economics of the poultry industry.

Dr. Hilleman's vaccines have also prevented deafness, blindness and other permanent disabilities among millions of people, a point made in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan presented him with the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific honor.

Dr. Hilleman also discovered several viruses and made fundamental discoveries about the way the influenza virus mutates.

Because scientific knowledge about viruses was so limited when he began his career, Dr. Hilleman said that trial and error, sound judgment and luck drove much of his research.

Luck played a major role in the discovery of adenoviruses. Dr. Hilleman flew a team to Missouri to collect specimens from troops suffering from influenza. But by the time his team arrived, influenza had died out. Dr. Hilleman, fearing that he would be fired for an expensive useless exercise, seized on his observation of the occurrence of a fresh outbreak of a different disease. His team discovered three new types of adenoviruses among the troops.

Dr. Hilleman was a discoverer or co-discoverer of a number of other viruses, including hepatitis A; rhinoviruses; and SV40, a monkey virus that causes cancer and that was included in the earliest human polio vaccines.

In the early 1950's, he made a discovery that helps prevent influenza. He detected a pattern of genetic changes that the influenza virus undergoes as it mutates. The phenomenon is known as drift (minor changes) and shift (major changes). Vaccine manufacturers take account of drift in choosing the strains of influenza virus included in the vaccines that are freshly made each influenza season.

Shifts can herald a large outbreak or pandemic of influenza, and Dr. Hilleman was the first to detect the shift that caused the 1957 Asian influenza pandemic. He read an article in The New York Times on April 17, 1957, about influenza among infants in Hong Kong -- cases that had escaped detection from the worldwide influenza surveillance systems.

Dr. Hilleman, who directed the central laboratory for worldwide military influenza surveillance, was sure that the cases represented the advent of an influenza pandemic. So he immediately sent for specimens from Hong Kong and helped isolate a new strain of influenza virus.

Dr. Hilleman also demanded that breeders keep roosters that would otherwise have been slaughtered so they could fertilize enough eggs to prepare 40 million doses of influenza to protect Americans against the 1957 influenza strain.

Dr. Hilleman stood 6-foot-1, wore reading glasses that rested on the tip of his nose and described himself as a renegade. He often participated in scientific meetings, where he could be irascible while amusing his colleagues with profane asides.

At one of many meetings with this physician-reporter, a Thanksgiving Day dinner during a conference at the World Health Organization in Geneva in the 1980's, Dr. Hilleman said he was driven by a goal to get rid of disease and by a belief that scientists had to serve society.

At Merck, he played a major role in the hierarchy and had direct control over his research.

Maurice Ralph Hilleman was born on Aug. 30, 1919, in Miles City, Mont. His mother and twin sister died during his birth.

In 1937, he went to work in the local J.C. Penney's store where he helped cowpokes, as he described his customers, pick out chenille bathrobes for their girlfriends, and he was well on the way to a career in retailing until his oldest brother suggested that he go to college.

After graduating from Montana State University in 1941, he received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Chicago and then joined E.R. Squibb & Sons. There, he developed a vaccine against Japanese B encephalitis to protect American troops in the World War II Pacific offensive.

In 1948, he moved to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and stayed until 1957, when Vannevar Bush, then chairman of Merck and a former director of the federal Office of Scientific Research and Development in World War II, persuaded him to direct a virus research program for the drug company.

After retiring as senior vice president for Merck research laboratories in 1984, Dr. Hilleman continued to work on vaccines, saying they were needed for at least 20 diseases, including AIDS.

Dr. Hilleman is survived by his wife, Lorraine, a retired nurse; two daughters, Jeryl Lynn of Palo Alto, Calif., and Kirsten J. of New York City; two brothers, Victor, of Fontana, Calif., and Norman, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and five grandchildren.

His daughter Jeryl Lynn is at least in part responsible for the mumps vaccine. In 1963, when her salivary glands started to swell with the disease, Dr. Hilleman swabbed her throat and went on to isolate the virus. He then weakened it and within four years had produced the now-standard mumps vaccine. The weakened strain bears her name.

Summary: Dr Maurice R Hilleman, microbiologist who developed vaccines for mumps, measles, chickenpox, pneumonia, meningitis and other diseases, saving tens of millions of lives, dies at age of 85; much of modern preventive medicine is based on his work; he is credited with having developed more human and animal vaccines than any other scientist, helping to extend human life expectancy and improving economics of many countries; his career and accomplishments reviewed; photo (M)


The grapes at Chatsworth are managed by garden custodian Ian Webster, who walks through the grape-houses most days.

The thought of all the work he does is inspiring but leaves me feeling faintly exhausted. I ask Ian how much of his technique applies to those of us who grow more usual varieties such as 'Black Hamburg' or even the garden-centre variety 'Italia', which I have in my greenhouse.

If you want perfection, he says, all of his expertise can be applied to home-grown grapes - but you won't need to use any heat.

Ian starts the grape year in early January, opening up all the doors and vents of the vinery to "let the cold pour in".

The gardeners have to remove the top 2in of soil from the raised beds every winter to refresh it. The soil is then pH-tested and lime is spread in areas that fall below 6.5. Ideal grape growing soil is between pH 6.5 and 6.7.

The soil is replaced by a mix of about two-thirds loam and one-third sharp sand (no peat) with some charcoal added to keep the soil sweet. This is spread over the beds and lightly watered in. After a week it is top-dressed with blood, fish and bone and again lightly watered.

So, with the doors open day and night, Ian then chooses the coldest day to prune the vines. If done in too mild a spell, the cut wood bleeds and weakens the plants. All new growth is reduced back to usually one bud per spur (which gives you bigger bunches), or sometimes two buds, with all others entirely removed and the spurs tied in firmly, using Flexi-Tie.

Next, Ian - using a blunt knife - scrapes all the loose bark from the main vine stems and around the spurs. This does two things - it gets rid of overwintering pests and, by loosening the bark around the spurs, allows the new shoots to grow through more easily in the spring. The whole place then has a massive spring clean, with every pane of glass, every metal strut, scrubbed down with Jeyes Fluid. With grapes and all their potential pests and fungal diseases, you have to be scrupulously clean.

There is then a pause until March, when heat is turned on in one of the houses to bring the grapes into harvest earlier than is natural. The temperature is brought up gradually (to 65C) and the floor damped down, increasing the humidity and creating a perfect microclimate to force fruit for the middle of August. By doing this in one house and not the other, the fruit then comes in succession. Ian closes all the ventilators and keeps the doors closed, ventilating only on the very hottest days. Any draughts on new growth can spell disaster.

When the growth reaches 6in, raffia ties are spaced 6in apart between the support wires. The growth is thinned down to one shoot (or sometimes two per spur) and these laterals are tied to the raffia. Without this, the new growth naturally reaches towards the glass and will be scorched.

The vines start to flower in mid April - the whole glasshouse fills with a sweet honey scent - and Ian needs to ensure that every truss gets good pollination. He walks down the vines and "taps the rods" to distribute the pollen, doing so every day for a week while they're flowering.

Once the berries are set, they swell very quickly to the size of a pea - and must then be thinned. At least half of the berries in every bunch are taken out with scissors to allow the others to develop.

That's one heck of a job, but has to be done for fat and healthy fruit and it also helps to reduce the chances of powdery mildew. And at least half the total number of bunches are removed altogether to prevent the vine from becoming exhausted. Ian says that if you fail to do this, the plant will take a while to recover.

You also need to stop the new growth at least two leaves behind the bunch - and keep stopping them in the next few weeks. Any young shoots coming in the axils below the bunch should be removed, too. This encourages all the goodness into the one bunch per spur.

As the season goes on, ventilation is increased. At this point you have to watch your fruit like a hawk "walking the crop over" - keeping your eyes peeled for the greyish dust on a berry with powdery mildew, or the cobwebs of red spider mite, or cotton wool on any joints of mealy bug.

At Chatsworth they use sulphur vapour to prevent the outbreak of fungal diseases and biological control for the likely pests in a greenhouse. Good old-fashioned jam pots - with a drop of water added - keep the wasps at bay.

Finally, the grapes swell and begin to colour in August, when Ian floods the beds with water and then covers them with white polythene.

This holds the moisture in the soil but also stops the damp rising into the fruit and encouraging botrytis. There is no water on the beds from that moment until the following spring.

In the later-cropping house, the beds are covered with reflective silver sheets, which throws any light up on to the fruit and gives the grapes more colour.

Tips for growing grapes at home

• Ian recommends three varieties for growing at home: 'Black Hamburg', 'Mrs Pince' (a black variety) and 'Foster's Seedling White'

• Grapes are hungry plants so feed regularly with a balanced feed such as blood, fish and bone every six weeks or a liquid feed (such as seaweed fertiliser) every three weeks.

• Beware of extreme fluctuation in temperature - try to keep it constant by regulating ventilation.

• Remember to renew any string ties that are tying up the rods every year.

• Pollinate around midday when the atmosphere is dry.

• When thinning, do not touch the grapes, use a small stick with a V notch in the end to steady them, and small pointed scissors.

• Do not walk on the vine root area, this can cause compaction and damage the crop.

• Never spray the foliage or grapes with water during the growing season.

• A neglected vine can be restored with heavy pruning, but only in the depths of winter when it is very cold.

• Always try to have the greenhouse floor dry in the evening and overnight.

• Clean up shoots and prunings after thinning and de-shooting in summer or they will spread disease.

Zesty grape and almond cake

Serve this as a pudding with crème fraîche, or as a cake. It keeps well - for 4 or 5 days, like a polenta cake, but lighter in texture and more moist.

Serves 10-12 as a pudding

100g light soft brown sugar

300g Muscat grapes (halved and de-seeded)

Zest of 1 lemon, 1 lime and 1 orange

1 heaped tbsp flaked almonds

• Cream together the butter and caster and light soft brown sugars until pale and fluffy.

• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

• Mix in the citrus zests.

• Sift flour, ground almonds and baking powder together and then fold into the mixture.

• Spoon the mixture into a loose-bottomed cake tin (9 inch) lined with baking parchment and scatter the grapes evenly on top.

• Sprinkle on the Demerara sugar and flaked almonds and bake for about 50 minutes at 175°C (fan oven, add 10C if not fan oven) until risen, golden and springy to the touch.

Roasted fennel and grape flatbread

This is one of the easiest breads to make. Just shove all the ingredients together, leave to rise, roll out and leave for a short second rising and bake. We had this with fried sea bass fillets and a tomato, chive and chilli salsa. This recipe makes two loaves. You can store one easily wrapped in tinfoil and left in a cool place for 2-3 days and then heat through in a warm oven for 10 minutes.

Makes 2 flat breads which each serve 8

1lb 1oz/480g strong white bread flour

3½fl oz/100ml extra virgin olive oil plus 8 tbsp

10½oz/300g muscat grapes (halved and deseeded)

• Place flour, salt, sugar, olive oil and yeast into a mixer with a dough hook attachment.

• Turn onto a slow speed and gradually add warm water to form a dough, mix for 5-6 minutes. If you don't have a KitchenAid, just mix and knead by hand.

• Turn out into a greased mixing bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for an hour, until it has doubled in size.

• Meanwhile, thinly slice the fennel, season quite generously, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in tin foil and roast in the over at about 180C/350F/gas 4 (add 10C/25F for non-fan oven) for 30 minutes until soft and aromatic. Leave to cool.

• Toast the fennel seeds in a dry frying pan until they crackle and pop. Then crush roughly in a pestle and mortar and leave to one side.

• Turn the dough out onto a floured worktop and divide in half.

• Roll each piece out into a circle about ½in thick, place on a greased baking sheet and leave to rise a little for about 15 minutes. Then use your thumb to make deep impressions on the surface. These will help to trap the olive oil and prevent your bread from rising too much.

• Brush 2 tbsp olive oil over each flatbread, scatter the roasted fennel, halved grapes, chopped fennel and roasted fennel seeds evenly and brush each with another 2 tbsp olive oil.

• Leave to rise for another 20 minutes, then bake at 190C/375F, gas 5 (add 10C/25F for non-fan oven) for about 15 minutes.

• Cool on a wire rack. While cooling brush again with the remaining olive oil. Serve warm or cold.

Buy one grape 'Black Hamburg' (Schiava Grossa) in a three-litre pot for £11.99 or buy two for £19.98 and save £4. To order, call 0844 873 0789 or visit gardenshop.telegraph.co.uk/offers.

Summary: The lucious and luxurious taste of grapes gives you a feeling of living the   good life. Sarah Raven gets tips from Ian Webster, who manages the grape   vines at Chatsworth House.


Two men who were allegedly running a home drug laboratory have been arrested in Alice Springs.

Last Wednesday, July 27, Border Force and the Australian Federal Police intercepted postal packages from China sent to Alice Springs, one containing a large quantity of glassware and drug manufacturing equipment and the other containing drug chemicals.

On Wednesday this week, police raided an Alice Springs home, finding a clandestine drug laboratory, allegedly containing a large amount of chemicals and equipment, believed to be used in manufacturing of Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA, a psychedelic drug similar to ecstasy).

Police believe there were enough chemicals on site to make up to three kilograms of MDA.

Two men aged 30 and 35 were arrested and charged with several drug possession, supply and manufacture offences.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear in the Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday.

Summary: Two Alice Springs men will face court on drugs offences after a police raid uncovered a clandestine home drug laboratory.


Motoring groups warned that new levies would hit drivers already struggling to cope with high prices at the pumps and lower the resale value of diesel vehicles.

Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: “Some drivers will feel betrayed and misled because they were encouraged to go for the dash for diesel.

“In the 1990s there was a near hysteria about carbon dioxide, and yet nobody looked at the bigger picture.

“The drivers thought they were doing the right thing, but now they are being told that it has serious health implications. They are being made to feel guilty for something that they were encouraged to do.

“There is no doubt that other cities, encouraged by EU legislation, will look to introduce similar restrictions on diesel cars.

“I think it’s highly likely that the Treasury might slap an extra penalties on diesel vehicles.”

In 2001, Gordon Brown, the then chancellor, overhauled vehicle excise duty so that cars that emitted a higher level of carbon dioxide faced a higher level of vehicle excise duty.

Labour introduced the new regime despite official warnings that diesel vehicles emit “10 times the fine particles and up to twice the nitrogen dioxide”.

The move prompted a “profound” shift towards diesel cars, which produce lower levels of carbon dioxide because they are about 20 per cent more efficient than petrol engines.

Over the past decade, the number of diesel cars on Britain’s roads has risen from 1.6 million to more than 11 million and accounts for a third of vehicles.

However, diesel vehicles produce high levels of nitrogen dioxide, which can lead to respiratory disease and has been linked to 7,000 deaths a year.

Frank Kelly, the chairman of the Department of Health’s committee on air pollution, said the public were still being misled about the benefits of diesel cars.

He said: “I have full sympathy with the public who have not been provided balanced information on this issue.

“Even today if you go to buy a new car you are provided with lots of information about its CO2 emissions and nothing in respect to the pollutants it emits.

“The whole scenario is a very good example of why government policy needs to founded on best science available – not just one aspect, as it was in this case.”

Prof Stephen Glaister, the director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases people make.

“Drivers do not want to go to the garage one morning only to find what was previously worth a lot of money has plummeted in value overnight because politicians have suddenly moved the goalposts. People with the oldest, dirtiest diesels will feel the financial squeeze most. They face paying more to use their cars and getting less for them when they try to sell.”

According to official figures, some 18 cities across Britain will fail to meet EU clean air targets for nitrogen dioxide emissions by the end of the decade.

Bristol, Birmingham and Leicester are all considering introducing levies for diesel cars to cut emissions, while Labour is considering plans for a national network of low emission zones in cities that would limit access for diesel vehicles.

There are growing fears that the charges could affect vehicles including school buses and hearses.

In London, only diesel vehicles that meet the Euro 6 emissions standard will be exempted from the charge.

Matthew Pencharz, the Mayor of London’s environment adviser, suggested that successive governments are to blame for a “generation of dirty diesels”.

He added: “These measures can help us to meet EU emission limits ten years ahead of government projections and will deliver significant health benefits to all Londoners.”

The latest government statistics show that in 2011, the nation’s 28.5 million cars emitted 150,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, but a further 97,000 tons were given off by just 400,000 HGVs.

Government sources said rates of vehicle excise duty are unlikely to change for diesel vehicles.

Summary: As Britain is sued by the European Commission for breaching pollution limits,   drivers of diesel motor vehicles are warned that they face higher costs


LONDON—The price of Brexit is starting to catch up to consumers here.

The June vote by Britain to leave the European Union triggered a steep drop in the British pound, putting foreign companies and importers—including electronics manufacturers, clothing retailers and car makers—in a bind: Do they raise prices in Britain to compensate for the falling value of sterling-denominated sales? Or do they hold tight, protecting market share at the expense of profit?

In recent days, many of them have decided on price increases. Others are warning higher prices are on the way.

U.S. and Asian electronics makers, whose component costs are typically in currencies like the dollar and yen, both of which have risen strongly against the pound, have been among the first to move. The pound is currently down more than 10% against the dollar since the June 23 vote.

Small shops along London’s Tottenham Court Road, long a marketplace in the city for electronics goods, said suppliers, including Dell Inc. and HTC Corp. , have raised prices for many products by about 5% to 15% in recent days.

“Prices have definitely increased on all electronics,” said Sohel Amin, a manager at electronics outlet Itbex UK Ltd.

Texas-based Dell said in a recent statement the stronger dollar will have a direct impact on some of the products it sells to U.K customers. Sally Moore, a spokeswoman for the company, said the rate and timing of the increases vary across products, without offering details.

Taiwan-based HTC said last week it would boost the U.K. price of its new Vive virtual-reality headset by about 10%, from £689 ($918) to £759. It cited “recent currency valuation changes.” An HTC representative declined to comment more specifically on the pricing of other products.

Camera lenses and other components from Japan have been “especially up compared to before,” said Yalcian Sezen, manager at Sunrise Photographic Ltd.

On Thursday, Steve Dirnberger, a 30-year-old freelance videographer and travel blogger from South Africa, was shopping for gear for a wedding shoot in the U.K. and said he was surprised by the prices.

“It came to a lot more than we expected,” he said.

Apple Inc. iPhones and iPads aren’t yet going up. The company hasn’t adjusted prices to account for currency moves for any of the devices it sells here.

Germany’s Continental AG —the world’s second-largest automotive supplier by revenue—said Wednesday it had raised prices for its tires in the U.K., thanks to the big currency move. The company declined to say by how much. Car makers themselves haven’t yet disclosed any price increases, but executives in recent days have said it is only a matter of time.

“Everybody is now waiting for somebody to make the first step in terms of pricing adjustment,” said Carlos Tavares, the chief executive of Peugeot-maker Groupe PSA, during an earnings call last week.

British clothing and home-products retailer Next PLC warned customers Wednesday that a price increase was likely. Hennes & Mauritz AB last month said the uncertainly surrounding Brexit would affect U.K. sales but didn’t say whether it would raise prices.

There isn’t yet comprehensive price data across sectors in the six weeks since the Brexit vote. But economists have raised inflation forecasts more generally, based on the falling pound and expectations of sharp imported inflation.

In its inflation report released Thursday, the Bank of England projected annual, non-energy import price inflation to reach 6% in the first quarter of next year, up from 1.3% in the year-ago period. It cited the falling pound and said inflation would feed into higher consumer prices eventually.

Market-research firm Euromonitor raised its baseline inflation forecast for the U.K. after the Brexit vote. It has revised its forecast for next year up 0.7 percentage point, to 2.3%, and up 0.8 percentage point, to 2.7%, in 2018.

Big food retailers don’t appear to have raised prices, and may not for some time. Many have hedges that insulate them somewhat from higher import costs. Competition between British grocers has also made it hard to pass along price rises, but analysts expect higher food prices eventually.

“Historically one third of the movement in currency has fed through to food inflation, although shorter term hedging has normally resulted in a 5 to 9 month delay in the effect feeding through,” wrote Bernstein analyst Bruno Monteyne.

The currency moves have been a boon to British exporters and their customers overseas. Aydin Kurdash sells handmade shoes that average around £750 a pair through his London-based Gina Shoes Ltd., which exports to Europe and the Middle East. He expects to lower prices in those markets—perhaps by as much as $150 a pair—when the company rolls out its lineup for next season.

“Our costs have come down,” Mr. Kurdash said. “And our products have become more competitive as a result of the low pound.”

—Saabira Chaudhuri contributed to this article.

Summary: Six weeks since the Brexit vote, electronics makers, clothing retailers, car and car-parts makers have begun to raise prices, or warn of imminent increases, because of the falling British pound.


Cars, smartphones, jewelry and cash are among the many valuable items most people expect thieves to target. As a result, Americans take precautions to keep such possessions safe. Not many, however, would think to lock up their Nutella, pregnancy tests or Tide laundry detergent. Yet, these everyday, ordinary household products are among the most commonly stolen goods.

Some stolen items seem unusual because their value is not easily visible. For example, thieves steal catalytic converters for the platinum. Frank Scafidi of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) gave the example of manhole covers, as well as a variety of other metal objects, that are often stolen to be resold as scrap metal. Incidents of these kinds of theft have risen considerably, likely due to the rising price of metals like copper, and platinum.

Similarly, the production of maple syrup relies heavily on weather patterns. With poor sugaring conditions in recent years, the price of sap and maple syrup have risen considerably, increasing the potential reward for thieves targeting the product. Another grocery item, steak, has also become more vulnerable to shoplifting due to rising prices.

Another explanation for unusual incidents of theft is unmet demand. In the case of shrubbery theft, for example, collectors are willing to pay large sums for rare and valuable plants –even illegally. Nutella, which is relatively expensive and in high demand, is a commonly stolen product, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

According to Rich Mellor, senior advisor at the National Retail Federation (NRF), the “easiest thing to steal is getting stolen, not necessarily for its desirability.” So, while intrinsic value and price increases are important factors, a thief ultimately wants to avoid getting caught.

24/7 Wall St. consulted the National Retail Federation and the National Insurance Crime Bureau to identify a variety of commonly stolen objects. We also reviewed various news sources to identify 10 of the strangest things thieves steal.

Here are the 10 weirdest things thieves steal.

Procter & Gamble and Arm & Hammer are not the only ones to discover the value in laundry detergent. Thieves have too. This relatively expensive everyday household product is found in nearly every home, which can partly explain its appeal as a stolen good. Consistent demand makes a product much easier to sell. In particular, Tide — a recognized, easy to spot brand — is traded on a regular basis for drugs, other illicit items, and sometimes right back to stores looking for better profit margins. Additionally, the lack of serial numbers on the packaging makes detergents very difficult to track.

Among organized retail crime gangs allergy medicines in particular have become quite popular, according to a 2013 crime survey conducted by the NRF. Part of the value of allergy medications may be the consistently high demand for the product, as many people suffer from allergies. According to Rich Muller at the NRF, however, people are often more willing to suffer through allergy symptoms than buy antihistamines. As a result, a cheaper, boosted product has more success among consumers. While recreational use of antihistamines could be another explanation, stolen allergy medicines are re-sold primarily for intended use.

Pregnancy tests were among the most shoplifted items last year, according to the NRF. Younger thieves may lift pregnancy tests to avoid embarrassment. According to the NRF, however, the tests are targeted by organized crime groups for their resale value. Like detergent, demand for this product is so consistent that they can be sold for near-retail prices.

Among the base metals popular at scrap yards are platinum, rhodium and palladium, all of which can be components in catalytic converters. The price of these metals has risen considerably in recent years, which may partly explain the rise in catalytic converter theft. Platinum prices, for example, have risen substantially, from around $1,000 per ounce five years ago to just under $1,400 per ounce this month. Catalytic converter theft has become so widespread in places like California, that the state passed laws that mandate documentation of the car part’s sales. According to Frank Scafidi of the NICB, however, there is only so much legislation can do without proper enforcement. Recyclers can easily recognize when they are dealing with criminals, but have little incentive to turn them away.

Weighing more than 300 pounds in some cases, and typically located on lit and visible streets, manhole covers do not seem like a worthwhile steal at first. But in the last few years, as base metal prices have risen, so have thefts of manhole covers. Thieves have been known to disguise themselves as construction workers and make off with the large discs single-handedly. In countries such as Colombia, where stealing manhole covers has become quite common, thieves have customized trucks with holes in the floors to steal the covers more discreetly. In addition to the costs incurred by utilities and municipalities from these thefts, missing manhole covers cause considerable danger to the public. Relatively high prices for base metals such as iron have encouraged thieves to commit a variety of other unusual crimes, including the theft of fire hydrant caps, gravesite vases, and stadium bleachers, likely to be sold for scrap. Manhole covers are typically made of iron, while many other valued items contain copper, also coveted among thieves, as its price has roughly doubled since 2009. The metal is essential in plumbing, electrical systems, and fiber optics.

For the rest of the list, click here.

Read more from 24/7 Wall Street: Ten Brands That Will Disappear in 2014 Five Unusual Alternatives to Investing in Gold America’s Least Healthy States

Summary: Today in 'wtf crime'


Google Inc. said it may leave China after an investigation found the company had been hit with major cyber attacks it believes originated from the country -- a move that would amount to a high-profile rebuke of China by a major U.S. firm.

The attack targeted as many as 34 different companies or other entities, according to two people familiar with the investigation, which has been under way for weeks.

Investigators are probing whether the attack is linked to the Chinese government or intelligence services, one person familiar with the investigation said. The attack has piqued the interest of U.S. intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency, this person added.

Google said it suffered a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China" in mid-December, which it said resulted in "the theft of intellectual property." The company said it found evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human-rights activists.

A company spokesman declined to identify the other companies affected, saying only that it was in the process of notifying the companies and working with U.S. authorities. A spokeswoman for Adobe Systems Inc. ADBE -1.32 % said Tuesday that the software company experienced an attack that appeared to be related to the attacks Google described.

For Google to withdraw from China would be an extremely rare repudiation by a Western company of what is almost universally seen in business circles as one of the world's most important markets. The country has 338 million Internet users as of June, more than any other country. Even the public suggestion that it is considering such a move is likely to infuriate Chinese authorities. Google's statement could complicate matters for other tech companies sensitive to being seen as accomplices of the Chinese government.

Google said it will be talking with Beijing in coming weeks about how it might operate in China without censorship, long a thorn in the side of Western Web companies operating there. "We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results" on Google's China Web site, Google.cn, the company's chief legal officer, David Drummond, said in the post.

"We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China," he wrote.

Chinese officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment. The government in the past has repeatedly defended its handling of the Internet, and has rejected accusations that China is responsible for cyber attacks against foreign entities.

Google's statement was hotly debated within the senior ranks of the company, according to two people familiar with the matter. Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt was concerned about the potential backlash, but operating in China has been a concern of Google co-founder Sergey Brin in particular, these people said.

Google launched its Chinese-language google.cn search engine in 2006, agreeing to censor some of its results, a move that drew fire from human-rights groups and Web-industry officials who are critical of any restrictions on the Internet. Tensions between Google and the Chinese government began soon, escalating in 2009 when China reprimanded Google and accused it of having pornography on its sites. Google's video-sharing site, YouTube, has also been largely inaccessible within China since around March.

Google's move comes as it has been in negotiations with Chinese officials over various Google services in China. Last year, to placate Chinese officials, Google agreed to remove some links on its China homepage.

The company said only two Gmail accounts appeared to have been accessed. A spokesman said none of Google's services experienced significant disruptions.

"These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered -- combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the Web -- have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China," Mr. Drummond wrote.

If Google decides to stay, it runs the risk that its threat to withdraw will worsen its already rocky relationship with Chinese authorities, who wield ultimate power over all Internet companies doing business there and could, ultimately, force Google's departure anyway. Google's business in China goes beyond its search service -- Chinese wireless carriers, for example, have been planning to sell mobile phones using the U.S. company's Android operating system.

Human-rights advocates praised Google. The company's decision "spotlights the importance of freedom of expression and privacy online," Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

The attacks appear to have been launched from at least six Internet addresses located in Taiwan, which is a common strategy used by Chinese hackers to mask their origin, said James Mulvenon, director of the Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis at Defense Group Inc. a national-security firm.

They also hijacked the Internet address of a San Antonio-based firm, Rackspace, which is one of the largest Internet-hosting companies in the U.S. They siphoned off the stolen data from Google and other companies to the San Antonio site before sending it overseas, Mr. Mulvenon said. A Rackspace official said, "A server at Rackspace was compromised, disabled, and we actively assisted in the investigation of the cyber attack, fully cooperating with all affected parties."

The attackers used at least seven different types of attack code in their effort to identify and steal data from Google, said Rafal Rohozinski, a principal at the SecDev Group, a Canadian security consulting firm that discovered a major Chinese spying operation on the Dalai Lama last year.

The attack on Google is similar to an earlier one that affected computers belonging to the office of the Dalai Lama and many foreign embassies, people familiar with the episode say. In that incident, dubbed GhostNet by the researchers who detected it, victims were sent emails that appeared to come from someone they knew, but were really sent by a hacker. When the recipient opened an attached document, a piece of computer code installed itself on the victim's computer allowing the hacker to take control of the computer.

In a statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "We have been briefed by Google on these allegations, which raise very serious concerns and questions. We look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyber space is critical in a modern society and economy." An administration official said there were no reports of federal systems being affected by the attack.

Google's revenue in China is relatively small, with analysts estimating only a few percentage points of Google's nearly $22 billion in 2008 revenue came from the nation. But the country's massive number of Internet users has made it strategically important for Google, as it tried to extend its dominance in search and search advertising around the globe.

Search market in China reached revenue of two billion yuan ($293 million) in the third quarter of 2009, 28% higher than a year earlier. As of that quarter, Google had 31.3% market share, compared with Baidu's 63.9%. Their competitors now all have less than 1% market share, according to Analysys International.

Google suffered another setback in September when Kai-Fu Lee, the high-profile former Microsoft Corp. executive it had hired in 2005 to lead its China operation, left for his own Chinese Internet-investment venture.

Google may go the way of other Internet companies, such as eBay Inc. and Yahoo Inc., which abandoned expansion plans in China in recent years -- although none of them in the publicly critical way that Google is suggesting. Both transferred their China businesses to local players in exchange for equity stakes.

Foreign Internet companies have all struggled in China both against tough commercial competition and also government regulation and censorship. The common assumption, however, is that no matter how onerous the limitations and challenges faced by foreign companies in China, the market is too big to walk away from.

Google would be the most high-profile Western company in recent years to draw a line under the kind of compromises it is prepared to make. A number of foreign companies exited China after the Chinese army crushed protesters around Tiananmen Square in 1989. But they mostly came back in the following years.

—Andrew Browne and Ben Worthen contributed to this article.

Write to Jessica E. Vascellaro at jessica.vascellaro@wsj.com, Jason Dean at jason.dean@wsj.com and Siobhan Gorman at siobhan.gorman@wsj.com

Summary: Google said it may leave China after a probe found the company had been hit with major cyber attacks it believes originated from the country -- a move that would amount to a high-profile rebuke of China by a major U.S. firm.


1. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth, water, mirin, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic and sugar to a boil.

2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. In a bowl, soak the rice noodles in very hot water until pliable, about 10 minutes. Drain the noodles and add them to the boiling water. Cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and transfer to 6 shallow bowls.

3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Season the salmon filets with salt, add them to the skillet skin side down and cook over high heat until browned, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook until medium-rare, about 4 minutes longer. Set the filets on the noodles.

4. Add the bok choy to the boiling broth and cook until bright green, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, divide the greens among the bowls and spoon in the broth. Garnish with the scallions and serve.

Summary: Patrick Dunlea was booted off Top Chef Season 5's first episode because his salmon and bok choy were lackluster and his black-rice noodles were mushy. Gail Simmons amps up the broth with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger and garlic and uses white-rice noodles instead of black (they're easier to find), cooked briefly to keep their texture firm.


Typhoon Test Pilot Nat Makepeace, who is based at BAE Systems’ Military Air & Information site in Warton, Lancashire, said:

“Looking at the display from this viewpoint really gives the viewer an idea of the incredible agility which Typhoon possesses.

“This is an aircraft which already provides air forces with a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft and this display demonstrates that the significant work being done to ensure Typhoon’s capability evolves to meet future threats is very well advanced.”

Nat’s display, performed throughout the two air shows, won the Steedman Display Sword at the RIAT event.

The sword is presented by the Royal International Air Tattoo in memory of the late Air Chief Marshal Sir Alasdair Steedman, chairman of the International Air Tattoo (1981-1988) for the best flying demonstration by a UK participant.

The display was intended to demonstrate the significant progress being made towards the realisation of Phase 2 and 3 enhancements for Typhoon, which will deliver improved long-range capabilities to the aircraft. Flight test programmes for the P2E and P3E packages are ongoing.

Summary: A UK Eurofighter Typhoon, featuring the latest weapons fit, performed a spectacular display for crowds across the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and Farnborough International Air Show, with BAE Systems’


Paisano, a pizza restaurant in New Mexico, was criticized last month for trivializing the Black Lives Matter movement with a sign promoting its olive tapenade that read “Black Olives Matter.” It was quickly taken down, but the slogan has since reappeared.

Rick Camuglia, the restaurant’s owner, is now selling $20 T-shirts and $25 hats donning the off-putting phrase, and he says that they’re quite popular. “We’re sending T-shirts to Alaska, from sea to shining sea and from coast to coast and from border to border,” he told the Daily News.

When the original sign first began getting attention, it was mocked on Larry Wilmore‘s recently cancelled “The Nightly Show.” Executive producer Rory Albanese played an overly-stereotyped caricature of an Italian chef, “Luigi Albanese,” the fictional owner of the restaurant. He profusely apologized for the offensive sign before changing it to “All Olives Matter.”

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is once again receiving negative feedback. One person wrote on Paisano’s Facebook page, “Way to double down on your stupidity.” Another called the stunt “disgusting,” and some said they will no longer patronize the establishment.

Others showed support for the restaurant. One Facebook user responded to those who were offended by the slogan with, “quit being such pansies.”

Camuglia told the Daily News that it was not his intention to be political. “It was simply a culinary statement that I wanted to be taken literally: Black Olives Matter,” he said. “We use the best-quality olive in our tapenade and it matters what we put in our food.”

Summary: Some called the stunt "disgusting."


09/06/2016 AT 04:30 PM EDT

is fangirling over a certain

reality star caught up with

(a.k.a. Carrie Bradshaw) at husband

's concert where she paid her a big compliment.

Source: Kim Kardashian / Snapchat

While posing together for a smizing selfie, 35-year-old Kardashian turned to 51-year-old Parker and said, "You're like my idol."

Source: Kim Kardashian / Snapchat

A smiling Parker laughingly replied, "No, you're nuts."

But the accolades didn't stop there.

Kardashian, bedecked in a silver sequined, long sleeve dress, said to Parker: "You're like the most amazing person on the planet."

Source: Kim Kardashian / Snapchat

actress, whose character was widely recognized for her fashion-forward wardrobe, wore a black tank, white knitted sweater and her hair up in a bun. While posing for photos after the concert, Parker invited West into the pic. "Babe," she said to the designer-musician.

"The one and only babe," Kardashian echoed as Kanye overtook the lens with his smiling face.

A day following West's concert, Kardashian traded in her glittery nighttime attire for a jean look that she paired with

while venturing out in New York City on Tuesday.

returns Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. ET on E!

Summary: Long live Carrie Bradshaw


A man murdered on a western Sydney street was shot at point blank range as his fiancee sat next to him.

The 29-year-old had just paid a brief visit to a house in Sydney Street, St Mary's at 7pm on Friday and was returning to his car where his fiancee was waiting, Deputy Chief Inspector Grant Taylor told reporters on Saturday.

As he was getting into the car, two men wearing balaclavas, who detectives believe are members of an outlaw motorcycle gang, pulled up in a silver Holden Commodore and shot him several times with semi-automatic hand guns.

One shooter got out of the car and shot the victim once more at point blank range as he lay in the gutter.

Then the killers drove off.

"They certainly wanted to make sure this individual was deceased," Insp Taylor said.

"(The fiancee) was very, very lucky not to be killed herself.

"A number of projectiles entered the vehicle she was sitting in and by the grace of God they missed."

Police do not believe the victim had formal links to a outlaw bikie gang but say he was "closely aligned" with one.

His body has not been formally identified by family so his name is yet to be released.

Investigators want to know if any members of the public witnessed the silver Holden Commodore loitering in the area.

"This vehicle was either lying in wait and was aware that the deceased was at this location or the deceased was followed from the Lidcombe area," Insp Taylor said.

Summary: A 29-year-old man murdered by balaclava-clad men in Sydney's west was spayed with bullets while his fiancee sat next to him in his car.


When Tony Abbott had an "excellent" trip to Asia in 2014 to finalise the Japan free trade agreement and make "giant strides" towards one with China, his government's standing with voters went down.

It was a mystery, the former prime minister said on Tuesday as he tried to explain a similar dip for the Turnbull government.

Primary vote support for the coalition has dropped below 40 per cent in the latest Newspoll - lower than when Mr Abbott was at the helm.

The Coalition's vote has dipped below 40 per cent. (File/AAP)

He insists his successor Malcolm Turnbull has had a good fortnight, making a modest but significant move towards budget repair with a $6.3 billion savings bill.

But that is not always reflected in the polls, as he found out following that Asia trip in 2014.

"It was a wonderful week for Australian diplomacy and the polls went down," he told radio 3AW.

"These things are a bit of a mystery for all of us."

The poll, published in The Australian, shows Labor has a two-party preferred lead of four percentage points over the coalition - 52 to 48 per cent - its largest since Mr Turnbull took power.

Mr Turnbull remains the preferred prime minister over Bill Shorten but less than one-third of voters are satisfied with his performance and more than half are dissatisfied.

The former prime minister is still offering tips to boost popularity, including talking about economic and national security even if budget repair does not get through the difficult Senate.

"I note that Malcolm Turnbull has recently been ratcheting up the arguments on budget repair," he said.

The poll shows the coalition's primary vote has fallen three points in the past fortnight to 38 per cent and is down four points since the election 12 weeks ago.

Primary support for Labor has risen one point to 37 per cent, while the Greens have gained one point to 10 per cent and other parties and independents have climbed a combined one point to 15 per cent.

In the final Newspoll under Mr Abbott's leadership in September last year, the coalition's primary vote was 39 per cent.

When asked about the coalition's slump in support, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten took aim at Mr Turnbull's leadership.

"Frankly I don't need an opinion poll to know that Malcolm Turnbull is now Australia's great national disappointment," he said in Brisbane.

"Australians are marking Mr Turnbull down because the Right-wing tail of the Liberal government is wagging the Liberal government dog."

Summary: The coalition's primary vote has dipped below 40 per cent for the first time under the Turnbull government, lower than where Tony Abbott was a year ago.


So, Tom Watson, maybe American golfers aren’t awful at Ryder Cup foursomes after all?

Two years after the former U.S. Ryder Cup captain famously began a team meeting by declaring that his players “stink at foursomes,” the Americans stormed to a first-day 5-3 lead powered by a sweep of the format in which players take turns taking shots.

On a brisk gray morning in the upper Midwest, the Texas duo of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed opened the competition by taking the first two holes against a powerful European pair of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. The early lead fortified a U.S. lineup desperately trying to stop a losing streak that has lasted eight years and three Ryder Cups.

By midday, in front of a roaring gallery of some 40,000, the U.S. had staged two startling late comebacks in foursomes to claim a 4-0 lead and shift the pressure to a European team known for playing free and loose. The Europeans responded as they have for most of the past two decades in this competition, charging back to win three of the four afternoon fourball matches, where each player plays his own ball, to trim the deficit to a manageable size.

The first team to 14.5 points wins, though defending champ Europe can keep the cup with 14-14 tie.

No Ryder Cup team had swept the foursome matches on the first morning since 1975, when Arnold Palmer was the U.S. captain. Palmer, known as “The King,” died Sunday at 87. In his honor, U.S. players wore pins with Palmer’s logo—the rainbow umbrella—on their uniforms.

“It’s about having full trust in your partner,” Rickie Fowler said of alternate-shot play. Fowler partnered with Phil Mickelson to beat Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan by a single hole, or “one-up” in golf parlance.

The Americans won the foursome matches every which way. Spieth and Reed went wire-to-wire. Mickelson and McIlroy were down two holes with four to play, and won the next three. After falling behind, Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker won five straight to close out the match. Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar took a five-hole lead to the ninth tee and finished the match on the 14th green.

It was dramatic turnaround from two years ago, when Europe won seven of the eight foursome matches.

And yet U.S. captain Davis Love III chose to start the event with foursomes, which, if form held, would have put the Americans in an early hole and opened him up to serious second-guessing. “I listened to players like Phil Mickelson, who said, ‘we’re good at foursomes, we like it.’”

They certainly played like they did, even when they weren’t at their best. The Johnson-Walker duo grinded their way through an ugly front nine that reached a high point when Walker drained a knee-rattling 15-foot putt to save him and Johnson from a two-hole deficit. Then Garcia, who had lost just two of his 13 previous foursome matches, missed makeable putts that likely could have put the match away, and the Americans seized the opening. Walker powered a five-hole run with clutch putts on 13 and 14.

On the 15th fairway, vice-captain Tom Lehmann leaned over to Walker’s wife, Erin, and whispered, “He’s a star.”

By the time Kaymer fluffed his wedge from the rough next to the 15th green, it was the Europeans who looked like they stunk at the foursome format.

Mickelson had trouble executing early on, spraying drives off-target and relying on Fowler’s solid work off the tee and words of encouragement to keep the match close. Mickelson, who spent the past two years advocating for a change in the U.S. approach to Ryder Cup management and ripped 2004 captain Hal Sutton earlier in the week, said he had never felt more pressure in the event.

Given Mickelson’s rough week, Love said he asked his veteran star if he wanted to sit out the opening match. “That would have been a totally weak move,” Mickelson said. “Put me out there. I enjoy that pressure.”

Summary: Ryder Cup 2016: The Americans sweep the first wave of foursomes—something they are usually terrible at; Europeans scratch back in afternoon


A tiny black kitten was lucky to escape a blaze that destroyed a bikies clubhouse in Dandenong. (9NEWS)

A small black kitten has been plucked to safety from a burning Rebels motorcycle gang clubhouse in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south-east.

Firefighters were called to the suspicious blaze at the England Street clubhouse after 4am, and quickly brought it under control.

There were no injuries in the fire, however the factory has been completely destroyed.

Nearby neighbours say they haven’t caused any trouble before.

The blaze destroyed the factory. (9NEWS)

Investigations into the cause of the blaze are ongoing.

The fire comes just two days after properties in the same region were raided by police.

Four people were arrested and drugs were seized when officers swooped on the four properties in Melbourne's southeast on Wednesday.

The raids were in response to an affray between Rebels members, and members of a rival bikies gang.

The singed Rebels clubhouse. (9NEWS)

Members of the Echo Taskforce, designed to look into bikie-related activity, have been on the scene to investigate.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2016

Summary: A suspicious fire has destroyed the Rebels motorcycle gang clubhouse in Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast, this morning.


Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

The Niners' miserable performance this season has been partly blamed on years of poor drafting by General Manager Trent Baalke.

The Niners' miserable performance this season has been partly blamed on years of poor drafting by General Manager Trent Baalke.

A fan holds up a non-aerial sign calling for the firing of 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke during the Oct. 23 game against the Buccaneers.

A fan holds up a non-aerial sign calling for the firing of 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke during the Oct. 23 game against the Buccaneers.

San Francisco 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke walks onto the field during pregame warm ups against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California.

San Francisco 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke walks onto the field during pregame warm ups against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California.

Image 4 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

1. Tackle Anthony Davis. Another richly talented player with his combination of size and athleticism. Davis nevertheless was benched at Rutgers because of a poor attitude. Taken 11th overall in the 2011 draft, Davis retired prematurely from the 49ers not once, but twice.

1. Tackle Anthony Davis. Another richly talented player with his combination of size and athleticism. Davis nevertheless was benched at Rutgers because of a poor attitude. Taken 11th overall in the 2011 draft,

Image 5 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

2. Cornerback Perrish Cox. The 49ers signed Cox from Denver, and he played well for them in 2014 by intercepting five passes and defending 16. But the 49ers determined that he wasn't worth signing to a long-term deal and they were right. After signing a three-year, $15 million deal in Tennessee, Cox has been a disappointment.

2. Cornerback Perrish Cox. The 49ers signed Cox from Denver, and he played well for them in 2014 by intercepting five passes and defending 16. But the 49ers determined that he wasn't worth signing to a

Image 6 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

3. Linebacker Aldon Smith. After being taken seventh overall in 2011, Smith averaged nearly a sack a game during his brilliant early career. However the 49ers ignored Smith's substance abuse issues and evidence of inner demons. Smith was eventually released after repeated arrests.

3. Linebacker Aldon Smith. After being taken seventh overall in 2011, Smith averaged nearly a sack a game during his brilliant early career. However the 49ers ignored Smith's substance abuse issues and evidence

Image 7 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

4. Safety Taylor Mays. The former USC safety's size and speed were freakish. However the former second-round pick (2010) simply didn't put the time in and never learned the nuances of his position.

4. Safety Taylor Mays. The former USC safety's size and speed were freakish. However the former second-round pick (2010) simply didn't put the time in and never learned the nuances of his position.

Image 8 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

5. Running back LaMichael James. Another second-round selection, James never lost the delusion that he was a star. When James didn't earn playing time, he constantly took to twitter to voice his concerns.

5. Running back LaMichael James. Another second-round selection, James never lost the delusion that he was a star. When James didn't earn playing time, he constantly took to twitter to voice his concerns.

Image 9 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

6. Cornerback Chris Culliver. Long, lean with a willingness to tackle, Culliver could cover after being taken in the third round of the 2011 draft. However, after four years and a bizarre hit-and-run incident, the 49ers were uninterested in signing him to a second contract.

6. Cornerback Chris Culliver. Long, lean with a willingness to tackle, Culliver could cover after being taken in the third round of the 2011 draft. However, after four years and a bizarre hit-and-run incident,

Image 10 of 20 | 49ers who didn't pan out

7. Linebacker Chris Borland. A talented, tackle-mad player at Wisconsin the 49ers picked in the third round of the 2014 draft, Borland voiced concerns about head injuries even while he was in college. The 49ers ignored those concerns. Borland subsequently played one season and then retired because of concussion fears.

7. Linebacker Chris Borland. A talented, tackle-mad player at Wisconsin the 49ers picked in the third round of the 2014 draft, Borland voiced concerns about head injuries even while he was in college. The 49ers

San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly, left, is greeted by New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, right, at the end of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. New Orleans won the game.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly, left, is greeted by New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, right, at the end of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. New Orleans won

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram carries the ball toward the goal line for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ronald Blair (98) hangs on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif.

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram carries the ball toward the goal line for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ronald Blair (98) hangs on during the first half of an NFL football game,

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Marcus Cromartie stands on the sideline late in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Marcus Cromartie stands on the sideline late in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers slides in front of free safety Vonn Bell #48 of the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Francisco 49ers 41-23.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers slides in front of free safety Vonn Bell #48 of the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Santa Clara,

Wide receiver Brandon Coleman #16 of the New Orleans Saints rushes past cornerback Tramaine Brock #26 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The New Orleans Saints defeated the San Francisco 49ers 41-23.

Wide receiver Brandon Coleman #16 of the New Orleans Saints rushes past cornerback Tramaine Brock #26 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Santa Clara,

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) fumbles during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) fumbles during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif.

Wide receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints is congratulated by Willie Snead #83 after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.

Wide receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints is congratulated by Willie Snead #83 after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on November

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald carries the ball on a 65-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald carries the ball on a 65-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara,

New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz, center, reacts after missing a 48-yard field goal as holder Thomas Morstead (6) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. 49ers cornerback Keith Reaser, right, gestures. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz, center, reacts after missing a 48-yard field goal as holder Thomas Morstead (6) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers,

'Fire Baalke' plane grounded before 49ers game

A plan to fly a banner demanding that Trent Baalke be fired over Levi's Stadium during the Niners-Saints game was scuttled when the plane's pilot became "unavailable."

More than 90 people donated $2,250 through GoFundMe to have a plane circle over the stadium Sunday towing the message calling for the sacking of the 49ers general manager. An update on the GoFundMe page, which was created by Graham Grealish of Santa Clara, explained that the efforts to find a second plane for the fly-over were unsuccessful.

But the fundraisers remain optimistic that they will be able to find pilots for home games on Nov. 20 and Dec. 11.

On Sunday, 49ers fans didn't need an aerial banner to foment insurrection against Baalke, owner Jed York or coach Chip Kelly. The Niners' brutal performance accomplished the same goal.

The Saints racked up 41 points and 571 yards against the NFL's worst defense. San Francisco became the first team in NFL history to allow a 100-yard rusher in seven straight games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Among the contributors to the Fire Baalke campaign were a "Vernon Davis" and a "Jim Harbaugh."

Grealish created a similar campaign in 2015 calling for York to sell the 49ers.


Jaguar has unveiled its second SUV, which also happens to be its first electric car.

Jaguar may have been one of the last automakers to introduce an SUV, but it’s no copycat.

A sports car built in the 1950s on unused chassis of the hugely successful D-Type Le Mans race car.

The wise, witty, dapper, and sophisticated Brits make for good evildoers.

Jaguars have always been many things, but economy cars?

Summary: Jaguar is a British luxury and sports car manufacturer that features luxury cars with innovative designs and legendary performance.


In the Marc Anthony-Jennifer Lopez partnership, there’s no question as to who’s in charge.

“She’s always been the boss! I don’t know what’s changed,” Anthony, 38, told PEOPLE at Tuesday’s Los Angeles premiere of the couple’s movie El Cantante, which Lopez, also 38, also produced.

“That’s the first thing a man has to know,” he says. “Absolutely, no question about it.”

In the film, Anthony portrays Puerto Rican salsa pioneer Hector Lavoe, and Lopez plays his wife Puchi. Do Anthony and Lopez – married since June 2004 – share their screen characters’ passion?

“Absolutely, we’re passionate,” Lopez told PEOPLE. “We’re all passionate in a different way.”

The couple will again join forces when they tour together this fall – a first for them, and the first time Lopez does a live-concert road trip.

“I think we’ll travel in the same bus, but we’ll get ready in separate buses,” said Anthony, before his wife quickly interjected: “Only because I have hair and makeup and all kinds of people. And then when he starts getting ready, he takes hours.” The pair laughed.

“I nap up to 15 minutes before I go onstage,” Anthony admitted. Fortunately, his wife plays by his rules: “So I can’t make noise when I’m getting ready,” Lopez explained.

The tour kicks off Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, with Lopez already having picked up tips from her constantly touring husband.

“I had a tutorial for two-and-a-half years now,” she said. “I went on two tours with him from beginning to end. I saw every single show. So I’m like ready. I’m ready.”

And do they think the couple that works together and plays together can manage to stay together? “We wouldn’t put ourselves in this position if it was going to cost us in any way,” he says. “We truly enjoy each other.”

Summary: Prepping for their tour together, he tells PEOPLE his wife’s “absolutely” in charge


Groupon has received a $250 million investment from Comcast-backed Atairos Management.

Atairos is a $4 billion independent fund launched this year by Comcast and headed by former Comcast Chief Financial Officer Michael Angelakis, who will join Chicago-based Groupon's board of directors.

He plans to help Groupon find ways to work with Comcast, connecting Groupon's local deals and shopping to the media giant's subscribers and advertisers.

Tom White, a senior analyst covering U.S. Internet companies for Macquarie, noted that this investment followed February’s news that e-commerce giant Alibaba had taken a 5.6 percent stake in Groupon.

"We're not surprised that some investors are seeing value in Groupon down at these levels,” White said, referring to Groupon’s low share price. He has an overperform rating and $3.50 target on the stock.

Still, White said Groupon is early in its transformation from daily deals site to the full-fledged online marketplace it’s trying to become under new CEO Rich Williams ⇒. If it succeeds, Groupon could attract more investor or even takeover interest, he said.

"There are a lot of different platform companies that could potentially find value in that, or at least be willing to take the risk that Groupon's going to be the one that succeeds there," White said.

Groupon also announced it will add $200 million to a share buyback program that grew to $500 million last summer. That program will continue through April 2018, the company said.

Shares of Groupon (Nasdaq: GRPN) rose more than 11 percent midday Monday, topping $4.30.

Groupon didn't make anyone available for comment.

Atairos purchased $250 million in convertible notes that will be due in 2022.

Summary: Groupon has received a $250 million investment from Comcast -backed Atairos Management.


Former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd lost her fight to have her name removed from the birth certificate of the son she had via surrogate, and she must continue paying child support for the 1-year-old boy being raised by her ex-husband, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Monday’s ruling by a Pennsylvania court of appeals was hailed by the owner of the agency who arranged the surrogacy as ” a victory for all families formed through assisted reproductive arrangements.”

“This will allow parents and carriers to feel secure,” Melissa Brisman, owner of the New Jersey-based Reproductive Possibilities, tells PEOPLE. “A great decision for the surrogacy community.”

The ruling upholds a lower court’s April decision that Shepherd is the legal mother of the baby, named LJ, she had with ex-husband Lamar Sally. Shepherd and Sally used a donor egg for the pregnancy, which was carried by surrogate Jessica Bartholomew. Months into the pregnancy in May 2014, Shepherd and Sally split.

Shepherd’s attorney and manager did not return requests for comment on Monday’s ruling. But in August, the star told PEOPLE she went through with the surrogacy despite her marital problems because she feared Sally would break up with her.

“My situation was a sense of, I didn’t state what I needed and what I wanted and what I didn’t want for being scared of somebody leaving the relationship,” she said. “There are consequences to everything, but I was scared to say, ‘That’s not going to work for me. I don’t want that.’ ”

“I am appealing the ruling that happened and he gets his settlement every month,” Shepherd, who has a 10-year-old son Jeffrey from a previous marriage, added of Sally. “He’s happy. There nothing I can do. It’s out of my hands. You move on and I have a son. I have to take care of him so everything is good.”

Since the child’s birth last year, Shepherd has fought to prevent having her name on the birth certificate. It was not originally put on the certificate because she was not present at the birth and refused to acknowledge she was the mother, resulting in litigation, Brisman has told PEOPLE.

After a judge ruled in April that Shepherd must pay alimony and child support, Shepherd fought the decision before a three-judge panel on Oct. 5 in Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Shepherd can still appeal Monday’s decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

“I think this is the first case in the nation where one of the intended parents has tried to opt out of the contract when the pregnancy was in play,” Craig Bluestein, a legal representative for the child, previously told PEOPLE. “This is very important because gestational carriers need to know that, if they are intending other people to be parents, that the carrier’s name won’t be on the birth certificate as mother and carry with it all the responsibilities of being a mother, including child support for a child you never intended to parent.”

Summary: An attorney says the ruling sets a precedent in Pennsylvania and is a “victory” for families using surrogates


For more than 30 years, the standard

) Happy Meals have been exactly the same -- a burger or chicken nuggets, fries and a soda. But no more. In an attempt to help youngsters make healthier food choices, the fast food chain

big changes Tuesday morning to its kid's-meal-in-a-box.

For starters, each Happy Meal will include a fruit or vegetable. The default option will be a package of apples, but customers will also have the choice of carrots, raisins, pineapple, or oranges, depending on the store location and the growing season. McDonald's toyed with the inclusion of fruit in previous Happy Meals, giving children the option to choose fruit over french fries. But because virtually no kid (or adult) is likely to select a few slices of apple over a packet of fried potatoes, McDonald's has wised up and is now including both, automatically. Another improvement is the switch from "Apple Dippers," where the fruit was accompanied by caramel sauce, to the newer version, which is simply apples, minus any sugary topping.

French fries are getting a makeover too -- or, at least, a trim. Previously, the Happy Meal included 2.4 ounces of fried deliciousness. In the new Happy Meal announced today, that portion has been cut significantly, down to 1.1 ounces. Given the high fat, low nutrient value of fries, this is encouraging. And, for parents who want to cut out the fries altogether, McDonald's will offer the option to double up on the fruit or veggies instead (though parents have to ask for it).

Drinks are also being revamped. Prior to this announcement, a soda was automatically offered with the Happy Meal. Now, sodas will no longer be advertised as part of the deal. Instead, parents will have to specifically request the artificial drinks in lieu of the 1% milk offered with the meal. Additionally, McDonald's is introducing a fat-free chocolate milk for Happy Meals.

According to McDonald's, in total these changes represent, on average, a 20% decrease in calories, a 15% decrease in sodium, and a 20% reduction in saturated fat.

While these changes are a step in the right direction towards healthier eating habits, the fact remains that McDonald's is not the healthiest of food preparers. Only a few weeks ago, McDonald's

-- including Burger King, International House of Pancakes (

) -- and more than 15,000 restaurants nationwide, in promising to offer a children's meal that includes an entree, a side and a drink, and still comes in under 600 calories. In case you're wondering if that is a difficult goal to achieve, it's not. According to the

, so eating more than 600 calories in any single meal is a significant chunk of the day's total calories.

The changes will hit restaurants in September, and should be available nationwide by next April. For those watching their wallets as well as their waistlines, the good news is that the price of a Happy Meal will not increase despite these changes. The bad news is that even when it comes to a Happy Meal, you still have that age old problem: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. As the


Sunday, October 27th 2002, 1:00AM

Backstreet Boy Nick Carter spent the last decade of his life as the dream date for millions of American girls. With his puppy-dog eyes, shaggy blond hair and goofy sense of humor, he was the very embodiment of the teen-pop phenomenon pretty, happy and bland.

Now Carter, 22, has momentarily stepped away from the Backstreet fold and, of all things, he's decided he wants to be a rock star. Clad in a T-shirt, scruffy jeans and some vaguely punkish leather wristbands, he's taken on all the accoutrements of faux rebellion and is slated to release his first solo album, "Now or Never," on Tuesday.

While he still manages to croon a few syrupy power ballads, several of Carter's new songs have a harder-rocking edge. But don't expect to hear anything in the vein of Korn or even Pearl Jam. Carter takes his cues from more "classic" sources, such as Bryan Adams, Journey and Bon Jovi.

"I went retro, big time, on some of the songs," Carter says. "I grew up with a lot of that stuff. Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi, Journey. I'm always full of energy and I wanted something that could express that."

The song that stands out the most is "Girls in the U.S.A.," a hard-rock anthem that recalls late-'80s hair metal bands, such as Poison and Warrant. Elsewhere, Carter makes his declaration of independence with the guitardriven "I Stand For You," on which he sings, "I'm free to do what I want, free to do it my way."

It wasn't a big secret that Carter was chafing in his role as the No. 1 cutie in Backstreet Boys, the group that reinvented teen pop in the late '90s. Several years younger than his bandmates, he wanted to get wild while the others with the exception of party guy A.J. McLean, who went through rehab last year began to settle down.

But Carter's decision to embark on a solo career wasn't terribly popular in the Backstreet camp. Brian Littrel and Kevin Richardson are notoriously competitive about Backstreet's position in the pop charts and, after trailing rivals 'N Sync for the last few years, they felt Carter's going solo might hurt the group, especially since he is widely considered Backstreet's star member.

"Nick is obviously the frontman, the idol," says Cara Lynn Shultz, associate entertainment editor at Teen People. "He was the one that girls daydreamed about, the one that made girls write 'I heart Nick Carter' on their notebook. He's cute and he's charming and he takes a hell of a photo."

Intra-band conflict over Carter's solo plans got even worse when he announced that his career would be managed by The Firm, an outfit that Backstreet had just fired. So as Carter promotes "Now or Never," his bandmates are busy recording demos and laying plans for a new record without him. But Carter will be there when Backstreet begins recording its next album.

"There were a lot of emotional feelings in the beginning," Carter says. "But the fact was that they understood a lot of it afterwards, because it is that personal to me. Because with them, they want to get married and they want to start families, and I just want to rock out and sing and play music and have fun.

"And they see that it's helping me," he says. "It's making me a better person."

Part of Carter's recent personal development came with a few headlines attached. In January, he was arrested outside Pop City, a nightclub near his Tampa-area home. He was charged with resisting arrest and ultimately pleaded guilty and agreed to perform community service.

The incident was minor, but Carter says it taught him that he might not have been choosing his friends so wisely. Since then, he's tried to take on more responsibility, especially since embarking on his solo project. He's tried to tone down his normally hyperactive personality and to focus. And he's aware that he won't have his bandmates to fall back on if the album falters.

"I feel like it's all riding on me, big time," he says. "If I mess up, it's my fault. If things go bad, it's my fault."

Carter is the first member of Backstreet or 'N Sync to go solo, but not by much. Two weeks from now, Justin Timberlake will issue "Justified," which is already shaping up to be a major success.

It's inevitable that the two most recognizable members of the two best-selling bands in recent history will have their sales and successes linked to one another. But Carter downplays their connection.

"I don't even compare myself with him," says Carter, who has not yet heard Timberlake's album. "I just do my own thing and I feel like I'm in my own little category. I'm doing rock. He's doing R&B. I support what he does. I hope he's successful."

While Carter may brush aside analogies to Timberlake, music-business insiders have already begun handicapping the race between the two young men. While Timberlake's first single, "Like I Love You," is the nation's sixth most-played song on radio, Carter's "Help Me" peaked at 36 and recently slipped to 38. Even on Backstreet-friendly MTV, Carter's clip for "Help Me" languishes in the low 20s, while Timberlake's is a top 5 favorite.

If Carter wants his next single to stay in rotation, it'll quickly have to gain the attention of young fans. Otherwise, it'll fall prey to a Backstreet backlash, says Sean Ross, editor of Airplay Monitor.

"To some extent, the airplay that these acts are getting is almost despite their success from a couple of years ago," Ross says. "Top 40 program directors certainly had an attitude about these acts, even when they were playing them. So a couple of years after the epicenter of teen-pop mania, any record that these artists put out can expect to get some initial airplay, but it can't expect the benefit of the doubt."

With Carter, Timberlake and Christina Aguilera all releasing albums within the next few weeks, this fall will widely be considered a litmus test for whether or not teen-pop stars can reinvent themselves for older audiences. Carter sees it as a challenge, but mostly he's just glad to be on his own for a while.

"You never know: There may be some people who may not like you as an individual, so you're just taking a chance," he says. "But I like it because I'm a kind of dangerous guy in a way. I like excitement. I like adventure. But I really think that this is just a lot of fun." *