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Thursday 11th July 1996

International:

The female Chinese swimmers spearheaded by sprinter Le Jingyl are tearing the World swimming records apart in the lead up to the Atlanta Olympics. Trouble is they are walking chemistry bottles, if their unusually powerful physique and past record in steroid taking has anything to do with the equation.

Le is part of Zhou's squad who were at the centre of the drug controversy following the 1994 world championships in Rome where his elite swimmers took out 12 of the 16 gold medals before they were disqualified for taking steroids.

From out of nowhere Zhou's little squad of five elite swimmers have appeared threatening the hopes of Australia's elite and drug free swimmers like Samantha Riley and Susan O'Neill.

Political:

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday locked the government into a final stance on gun control resisting pressure from backbenchers to allow the "crimping" of firearms but giving Queensland farmers restricted access to high powered semi-automatic weapons.

The Prime Minister urged state governments to move quickly with legislation enforcing the restrictions saying that it was in the national interest that the gun control debate "be wrapped up as soon as possible".

In reply Sporting Shooters Association President Ted Drane has come out with all cylinders firing, first breaking the gun lobby's political arrangement with Kalgoorlie MP Grame Campbell - calling him racist and then forming his own party the Australian Reform Party which will effectively split the gun lobby vote down the middle. Graeme Campbell is furious, the move by Drane will effectively nullify any political clout that the gun lobby had in Australia.

Power hungry fools, but good for the average Aussie.

Business:

News Corporation Limited's earnings should be boosted by more than US$160 million (Au$200 million) following the record-breaking run of the movie Independence Day in the USA.

The movie's record run has outstripped Jurasic Park which took nine days compared to Independence Day's six to reach the US$100 million mark in gross earnings.

Sport:

As we approach the Olympic Games the Australian swimming squad are gearing up to take the world by storm. Among the most intriguing match ups is going to be the 1500m race between Daniel Kowalski and superstar Kieren Perkins who missed out on selection in the 400 metres freestyle because of an illness which drained his power.

As the big day dawns Perkins is coming back to top form putting enormous pressure, both physically and mentally, on Kowalski.

"I don't go out of my way to look at Perkins, but I know that he is there," said Kowalski. "I can't speak for Kieren, but I know within myself I'm tougher mentally than I've ever been before."

Social:

The world's first governing standard on sun protective clothing has been introduced by the Australian Standards Association. The standards, using a UPF (Ultra-Violet Protection Factor) number measures the resistance the material provides to damaging ultra-violet light.

Dr John De Launey, medical services director of the Skin and Cancer Foundation said, "SPF (sun protection factor used in sun tan oils) is a factor of the time it takes for the sun to redden the skin, and UPF measures resistance of the fabric."

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Going to the big smoke today for a major presentation mixed with some other client visits. Will miss the cockatoos and the Global Office but thems the breaks in bus. today.

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