Obesity link to male breast cancer 

BEING obese increases a man's risk of breast cancer by nearly a third, research has shown.

Other risk factors include enlarged male breasts, and having an extra X chromosome besides the one men normally inherit from their mothers.
Around 100 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia and about 400 each year in the UK, but the causes of male breast cancer are poorly understood.

Kylie arrives at Brit Awards

KYLIE Minogue has arrived at the Brit Awards in a black knee-length rubber dress with a huge bow detail accompanied by her sister Dannii.

The Voice coach was among the arrivals at the most glamorous night of the year for the UK music world on Wednesday at London's O2 Arena.
A slimline Boy George attracted attention with his new towering quiff and what appeared to be a graze around the left side of his face, although he is well known for his elaborate experiments with make-up.

Clashes 'not part of US-Russia chessboard' 

US President Barack Obama says he doesn't view violent clashes in Ukraine and Syria as part of a "Cold War chessboard" where the United States competes with Russia.

Obama said that although Russia had influence on both governments, the turmoil in the two countries had risen among people insisting on fundamental rights.
Obama said he wishes Russia will eventually back those values, but, "Right now there are times when we have strong disagreements".

Ukraine leader, protesters announce truce 

UKRAINE'S embattled president and leaders of the protests that have been roiling the country have agreed on a truce to halt the violence that has killed 26 people.

A protest leader was quoted as saying the government pledged not to attack an opposition encampment in central Kiev while further negotiations unfold.
President Viktor Yanukovych met with opposition leaders and the two sides agreed to halt the violence and to hold talks on ending bloodshed, a statement on the presidential website said.
The statement did not give any further details.

Bikie and gang members hit with gun ban 

MORE than 220 people in NSW have been banned from possessing firearms, the majority of them members of bikie and other criminal gangs.

NSW Police say those issued with Firearm Prohibition Orders include 44 members and associates of the Brothers For Life gang, 42 members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang and 39 men associated with Assyrian organised crime networks.

Search called off for missing fishermen 

POLICE have called off the search for two brothers-in-law who went missing while fishing off Cape Jervis, south of Adelaide, on Sunday.

A helicopter carried out a final grid search of the area on Wednesday morning, but did not locate the men or their 4.6-metre half cabin boat.
Police believe the boat has sunk.

Pyne wants more practical teacher training 

 TEACHER training is set for an overhaul with Education Minister Christopher Pyne wanting more focus on the practical aspects.

An eight-member ministerial advisory group will report by the middle of the year on how education degrees at universities can better prepare new teachers.
"There is absolutely no reason at all why Australia, as one of the wealthiest countries in the world ... shouldn't have the best teacher training in the world," Mr Pyne told reporters in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Vic police fear bikie payback attacks 

SIXTY Victorian properties linked to the Comancheros have been raided amid police fears of a payback involving the Hells Angels.

At least 18 people were arrested, including the Comancheros' Victorian vice president, when police swooped early Wednesday morning.
Firearms, drugs including large quantities of steroids, ammunition, cash, tasers, swords and explosives were seized at 58 of 62 addresses targeted.

Principal accepts incompetence over abuse 

A CATHOLIC principal believed a pedophile teacher was a risk to students but gave him the benefit of the doubt and didn't report a serious child sex abuse complaint against him.

Terence Hayes has taken the stand for a second time at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Brisbane.
The primary school principal received a complaint from a schoolgirl in 2007 about inappropriate behaviour by teacher Gerard Byrnes, including the most serious allegation that he "had put his hands up our skirts".

Hockey backs AFP over Seven raids 

FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey has backed the federal police after they controversially raided Seven Network's offices.

Dozens of officers searched the network's inner-Sydney offices on Tuesday, looking for evidence of a lucrative interview with Schapelle Corby.
The network denies a deal has been made with the convicted drug smuggler.
Mr Hockey was on Wednesday asked whether he agreed with Seven that the raids were "overkill".
"I support the AFP," he told reporters in Sydney.