Happy Slim Dusty Day, Australia

Slim Dusty. Source: Supplied

KEITH Urban and Nicole Kidman are leading a push to celebrate Slim Dusty with a national day on the 10th anniversary of his death.

As his fans prepare to mark the occasion with a fundraising concert for his legacy, the Slim Dusty Centre, Urban and Kidman added their considerable weight to the call for wider recognition of Dusty's contribution to Australia's cultural legacy.

The husband and wife have released a joint statement to call for Slim's birthday, June 13, to be entrenched as an annual commemoration of the legendary bush poet.

"Slim Dusty is not only the voice of Australian country music, but the voice of the spirit of Australia," Urban wrote in a statement endorsed by Kidman.

"I was honored to not only know him, but to call him a mate. We toured together, we recorded together, and I was forever changed by his passion for the music, the people, and the country he loved so much.

"Smart as a whip, funny as hell, as loyal as the day is long, and the perfect personification of what an Aussie is all about! Nic and I are both proud to add our voices in support of recognising June 13 nationally, as Slim Dusty Day."

Lee Kernaghan leads the A-list roster of artists who will perform at the Rooty Hill RSL in NSW on June 13 to mark Slim's birthday and raise funds for the "living museum" to be established in his honour in his birthplace of Kempsey.

Kasey Chambers and her estranged husband Shane Nicholson, The McClymonts, Adam Harvey and others will perform on the night in honour of the country music legend.

Tickets are available via rootyhillrsl.com.au/slim-dusty-birthday-bash

View the original article here

Stones may visit Australia on tour

Mick Jagger live in concert in London on November 29, 2012. Source: AFP

THE Rolling Stones could still visit Australia on their upcoming tour - with the rockers saying more shows may yet be added.

"Normally when you announce a tour like this, you announce part of it, you leave it to be, you see what happens, you might do a date here and another date there. You don't want to be completely hand fast, so you do leave some dates in between," Mick Jagger said in an interview Thursday. "So we'll see what happens."

The Stones announced this week that they'll kick off their 50 and Counting tour in Los Angeles; the date will be announced later. The second show is in Oakland, Calif., on May 5. They'll also visit Las Vegas, Toronto, Chicago and Boston, and wrap in Philadelphia on June 18.

On Friday, the band said second shows have been added in Toronto and Chicago.

The announcement came months after the foursome performed a sold-out, five-city stint in New York, New Jersey and London.

Jagger called those shows a test.

"We just said, 'Let's do these five shows before Christmas and see how it goes and see if we enjoy it, see if the audience seems to have a good time, and if that works, then we'll try to see if we'll do more,'" he said. "We still wanted to keep it kind of limited. We didn't want to have that yawning (tour) of hundreds of shows lined up for the next 18 months. I just thought it would be good if we booked a small tour, and then, you know, if we want to do more, we'll do more."

The Stones have at least three days in between tour stops, a sign that more shows may be added. Or the time could be used for rest.

"I think it's a little bit of both," Keith Richards said in a separate interview Thursday. "The band wants to pace themselves, but at the same time ... I guess what's been announced is the bare-bones and we will play it by ear from there."

The Stones' last global tour kicked off in 2005 and wrapped in 2007.

Jagger, 69, said he's getting older - and performing can be tough.

"I just have to train a lot and keep really fit. I want to do these moves, but I can't do them because if I did, I'd probably screw up," he said, laughing. "You just got to do what's within your capabilities. I don't want it to look wrong, so I'm going to stay within my boundaries."

The Stones' recent tour featured special guests such as Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga, and there could be more surprises onstage.

"I have a feeling there's more openness about playing it the same way," Richards said. "I can't name names or make promises, but that area of the show is open."

The veteran band, which also includes Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, will headline the Glastonbury Festival on June 29 and will perform at London's Hyde Park on July 6. Former bandmate Mick Taylor, a member of the Stones from 1969 through 1974, will be a special guest throughout the tour.

"I realised how much, not just (how I) myself have missed it, but I could tell from the other guys. They don't say so, but I can tell," Richards said of performing together. "It's what we're good at."

View the original article here

Australia should build a Silicon Valley

Ben Huh, co-creator of I Can Has Cheezburgers, picture in 2008 in New York City. Picture: Joe Kohen/WireImage Source: Getty Images

• LOLcats entrepreneur Ben Huh talks to news.com.au
• Huh says Australia should build its own Silicon Valley
• 'National broadband is a great idea, but at what cost?'

THE MAN who introduced the web to LOLcats visited Australia last week, and had a few things to say about the tech culture Down Under.

South Korean entrepreneur Ben Huh, bought popular website I Can Has Cheezburger - a site dedicated to cute pictures of cats with misspelled captions - in 2007, when the site was in its infancy.

Since then the site has made Huh a multi-millionaire and he has gone on to launch other popular websites including Know Your Meme and Failblog - which is dedicated to documenting human stupidity.

In town to promote computer company, Dell, Huh told news.com.au that he was really excited to be here, but was sad Australia was losing so much of its tech talent to the US. The Federal Government should be trying to build a Silicon Valley of its own and encourage local talent to stay and work locally.

"The culture of entrepreneurism is there, he said. People are willing to take risks but we need to be willing to be bolder about the challenges they tackle.

"Policies and government structures play a big role in that."

He said Australia was making progress but was not there yet.

"Australia is suffering from a brain drain where risk takers are moving to the US," he said.

One thing the government should do to encourage innovation locally is stop taxing people for money they don't yet have, he said.

In Australia if you are given stock options in a start-up company, you are taxed for those shares immediately, even if you have yet to earn anything from them.

In the US, people do not have to pay taxes on stock options until they have been paid out, he said.

"Imagine walking into a casino and they told you upon entry 'we're going to tax you now for money you haven't earned, in case you earn $10,000'," he said.

"At face value that seems like a terrible idea; having to pay taxes on something that may not be worth anything."

Huh said the entrepreneurial spirit was strong in Australians. He said the government should be cultivating that by allowing them to foster a local community of innovators and allow them to keep challenging themselves.

"Nothing is essential to innovation except making it easier to take risks, " he said.

But will the National Broadband Network help in fostering this innovation? Huh said government-funded fibre was a huge political risk but also a little bit brave.

"Fibre is not essential to innovation, but it will lead to innovation," he said. "I just don't know how much."

Huh said if it comes down to return on investment, fibre was best left up to private industry.

"But if the government wants to spend that money, then that's their choice. It's a pretty brave move.

"I think national broadband is a great idea but at what cost?"

Huh said the US had "terrible fibre" but said the best stuff could be found in Kansas where Google was installing fibre optic broadband "because iIt has decided to dump a crap load of money there".

He said part of the problem in the US was the lack of competition. Huh said the Australian Federal Government should learn from the US example by creating competition between Internet providers.

He acknowledged though, that it would take "political courage".

"Spending billions on infrastructure to wire up the country ... you'd need to weigh up the odds," he said

"A lot of people smarter than me are trying to solve the problem but $34 billion (to build the NBN) doesn't seem like it's going to lead to innovation."

View the original article here

Rolling Stones bypass Australia

Bypassing Oz: Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones at the 02 Arena in 2012. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

THE Rolling Stones have announced dates for their 50th anniversary world tour - and have bypassed Australia.

The tour starts in Los Angeles in May and will tour the US through until June.

The Stones will also play the Glastonbury Festival in the UK on June 29, before a show in London's Hyde Park on July 6.

The Hyde Park show will see Melbourne band the Temper Trap open for the Stones on a bill that also includes the Vaccines and Gary Clark Jnr.

The gig marks 44 years since the Stones played a pivotal show in Hyde Park in 1969, two days after the death of founding member Brian Jones. The Hyde Park show was also the first gig for guitarist Mick Taylor.

Taylor abruptly cancelled his Australian tour, due to start next week, citing illness. However Taylor, who was in the band until 1974, has been announced as a special guest on the Stones' new tour.

Australian fans hoping for a tour will be disappointed - the Stones played shows in the UK and US as recently as late last year.

But the band may announce further dates - including possible Australian shows - after their UK and US performances.

In a statement, frontman Mick Jagger said the extra dates were added so the band could continue to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

"We did a few shows in London and New York last year... and had such a good time that we thought... let's do some more," Jagger said.

"It's a good show. Lots of the classic stuff everyone wants to hear... with a few little gems tucked in here and there. The stage is shaped like lips and goes off into the venue so I get to run around in the crowd. It's great fun to be able to get that close to the audience."

Last year at the launch of their documentary Crossfire Hurricane Jagger said the band had plans to tour Australia.

Their last visit here was 2006.
 

View the original article here

Australia should build a Silicon Valley

Ben Huh, co-creator of I Can Has Cheezburgers, picture in 2008 in New York City. Picture: Joe Kohen/WireImage Source: Getty Images

• LOLcats entrepreneur Ben Huh talks to news.com.au
• Huh says Australia should build its own Silicon Valley
• 'National broadband is a great idea, but at what cost?'

THE MAN who introduced the web to LOLcats visited Australia last week, and had a few things to say about the tech culture Down Under.

South Korean entrepreneur Ben Huh, bought popular website I Can Has Cheezburger - a site dedicated to cute pictures of cats with misspelled captions - in 2007, when the site was in its infancy.

Since then the site has made Huh a multi-millionaire and he has gone on to launch other popular websites including Know Your Meme and Failblog - which is dedicated to documenting human stupidity.

In town to promote computer company, Dell, Huh told news.com.au that he was really excited to be here, but was sad Australia was losing so much of its tech talent to the US. The Federal Government should be trying to build a Silicon Valley of its own and encourage local talent to stay and work locally.

"The culture of entrepreneurism is there, he said. People are willing to take risks but we need to be willing to be bolder about the challenges they tackle.

"Policies and government structures play a big role in that."

He said Australia was making progress but was not there yet.

"Australia is suffering from a brain drain where risk takers are moving to the US," he said.

One thing the government should do to encourage innovation locally is stop taxing people for money they don't yet have, he said.

In Australia if you are given stock options in a start-up company, you are taxed for those shares immediately, even if you have yet to earn anything from them.

In the US, people do not have to pay taxes on stock options until they have been paid out, he said.

"Imagine walking into a casino and they told you upon entry 'we're going to tax you now for money you haven't earned, in case you earn $10,000'," he said.

"At face value that seems like a terrible idea; having to pay taxes on something that may not be worth anything."

Huh said the entrepreneurial spirit was strong in Australians. He said the government should be cultivating that by allowing them to foster a local community of innovators and allow them to keep challenging themselves.

"Nothing is essential to innovation except making it easier to take risks, " he said.

But will the National Broadband Network help in fostering this innovation? Huh said government-funded fibre was a huge political risk but also a little bit brave.

"Fibre is not essential to innovation, but it will lead to innovation," he said. "I just don't know how much."

Huh said if it comes down to return on investment, fibre was best left up to private industry.

"But if the government wants to spend that money, then that's their choice. It's a pretty brave move.

"I think national broadband is a great idea but at what cost?"

Huh said the US had "terrible fibre" but said the best stuff could be found in Kansas where Google was installing fibre optic broadband "because iIt has decided to dump a crap load of money there".

He said part of the problem in the US was the lack of competition. Huh said the Australian Federal Government should learn from the US example by creating competition between Internet providers.

He acknowledged though, that it would take "political courage".

"Spending billions on infrastructure to wire up the country ... you'd need to weigh up the odds," he said

"A lot of people smarter than me are trying to solve the problem but $34 billion (to build the NBN) doesn't seem like it's going to lead to innovation."

View the original article here

Australia should build a Silicone Valley

Ben Huh, co-creator of I Can Has Cheezburgers, picture in 2008 in New York City. Picture: Joe Kohen/WireImage Source: Getty Images

• LOLcats entrepreneur Ben Huh talks to news.com.au
• Huh says Australia should build its own Silicon Valley
• 'National broadband is a great idea, but at what cost?'

THE MAN who introduced the web to LOLcats visited Australia last week, and had a few things to say about the tech culture Down Under.

South Korean entrepreneur Ben Huh, bought popular website I Can Has Cheezburger - a site dedicated to cute pictures of cats with misspelled captions - in 2007, when the site was in its infancy.

Since then the site has made Huh a multi-millionaire and he has gone on to launch other popular websites including Know Your Meme and Failblog - which is dedicated to documenting human stupidity.

In town to promote computer company, Dell, Huh told news.com.au that he was really excited to be here, but was sad Australia was losing so much of its tech talent to the US. The Federal Government should be trying to build a Silicon Valley of its own and encourage local talent to stay and work locally.

"The culture of entrepreneurism is there, he said. People are willing to take risks but we need to be willing to be bolder about the challenges they tackle.

"Policies and government structures play a big role in that."

He said Australia was making progress but was not there yet.

"Australia is suffering from a brain drain where risk takers are moving to the US," he said.

One thing the government should do to encourage innovation locally is stop taxing people for money they don't yet have, he said.

In Australia if you are given stock options in a start-up company, you are taxed for those shares immediately, even if you have yet to earn anything from them.

In the US, people do not have to pay taxes on stock options until they have been paid out, he said.

"Imagine walking into a casino and they told you upon entry 'we're going to tax you now for money you haven't earned, in case you earn $10,000'," he said.

"At face value that seems like a terrible idea; having to pay taxes on something that may not be worth anything."

Huh said the entrepreneurial spirit was strong in Australians. He said the government should be cultivating that by allowing them to foster a local community of innovators and allow them to keep challenging themselves.

"Nothing is essential to innovation except making it easier to take risks, " he said.

But will the National Broadband Network help in fostering this innovation? Huh said government-funded fibre was a huge political risk but also a little bit brave.

"Fibre is not essential to innovation, but it will lead to innovation," he said. "I just don't know how much."

Huh said if it comes down to return on investment, fibre was best left up to private industry.

"But if the government wants to spend that money, then that's their choice. It's a pretty brave move.

"I think national broadband is a great idea but at what cost?"

Huh said the US had "terrible fibre" but said the best stuff could be found in Kansas where Google was installing fibre optic broadband "because iIt has decided to dump a crap load of money there".

He said part of the problem in the US was the lack of competition. Huh said the Australian Federal Government should learn from the US example by creating competition between Internet providers.

He acknowledged though, that it would take "political courage".

"Spending billions on infrastructure to wire up the country ... you'd need to weigh up the odds," he said

"A lot of people smarter than me are trying to solve the problem but $34 billion (to build the NBN) doesn't seem like it's going to lead to innovation."

View the original article here

Why Fall Out Boy love Australia

American band Fall Out Boy. Supplied by Universal Music. Source: Supplied

US punk-pop stars Fall Out Boy have credited Melbourne for restoring their health.

The band, with hits including Thnks fr th Mmrs, imploded at Rod Laver Arena while on a 2009 world tour.

Lead singer Patrick Stump said: "I remember specifically sitting in Melbourne Airport knowing it was actually over.

"Nothing came out of anger or hate. You spend too much time around people and it becomes a good idea to spend time apart.''

Guitarist Joe Trohmann added: "Sorry Melbourne. It's not your fault. But this is where the end of Fall Out Boy happened.

"If anything, you led to our health and wellbeing.''

The band reformed this year and will release a new album, Save Rock And Roll, in April.

Stump said the album title alludes to bands that take themselves too seriously.

He said: "They're missing the big picture.

"Some bands are so focused on how cool, how real, and how indie they are, that they're invalidating themselves.''

Joe laughed: "It makes it hard to relate to them.

"The more seriously you take yourself, the more people look at you and say: `WTF is your problem?'''

View the original article here

Google Chromebook reaches Australia

The new Google Chromebook utilizes cloud storage for all your files. Source: Supplied

THE Google Chromebook, a product that has been available in the US for more than two years, has finally hit Australian shelves. But what is it and why would you want one?

> The basics

It looks like a cheap laptop but it's different to the style of laptop you are probably familiar with. Think of this as the terminal that you can use while the main brain of the computer is stored elsewhere. The machine boots up quicker than a Windows laptop, and it is fast and simple to switch between users.

A Chromebook runs on Google's operating system, which is called ChromeOS.

The Chrome web browser is at the heart of the computer. You don't install programs like you would on a Windows-based laptop, you load apps through the Chrome store.

While some Chromebooks have memory card slots, you typically don't store your files on the machine. This is a machine that's made to interact with cloud storage.

You start up the machine and access your files through Google Docs, Gmail or Google Drive.

If you plan on travelling overseas to places where you may not get wi-fi, then this may not be the device for you.

But if you're always online, then this is a cheap and very portable option.

And because your files are stored in the cloud, you don't lose them if you should happen to lose your Chromebook.

> The models

There are two models coming to Australia. The Samsung Chromebook ($349) has a VGA camera, an HDMI port and two USB ports. It weighs 1.1kg, is 17.5mm thick and promises 6.5 hours of battery life.

The Acer Chromebook ($299) is slightly thicker and heavier at 25mm and 1.38kg, has three USB ports, an HDMI port and a memory card slot. It promises up to four hours of battery life. Both models have 11.6-inch displays and come with 100GB of Google Drive Cloud storage for two years.

View the original article here

Google Chromebook reaches Australia

The new Google Chromebook utilizes cloud storage for all your files. Source: Supplied

THE Google Chromebook, a product that has been available in the US for more than two years, has finally hit Australian shelves. But what is it and why would you want one?

> The basics

It looks like a cheap laptop but it's different to the style of laptop you are probably familiar with. Think of this as the terminal that you can use while the main brain of the computer is stored elsewhere. The machine boots up quicker than a Windows laptop, and it is fast and simple to switch between users.

A Chromebook runs on Google's operating system, which is called ChromeOS.

The Chrome web browser is at the heart of the computer. You don't install programs like you would on a Windows-based laptop, you load apps through the Chrome store.

While some Chromebooks have memory card slots, you typically don't store your files on the machine. This is a machine that's made to interact with cloud storage.

You start up the machine and access your files through Google Docs, Gmail or Google Drive.

If you plan on travelling overseas to places where you may not get wi-fi, then this may not be the device for you.

But if you're always online, then this is a cheap and very portable option.

And because your files are stored in the cloud, you don't lose them if you should happen to lose your Chromebook.

> The models

There are two models coming to Australia. The Samsung Chromebook ($349) has a VGA camera, an HDMI port and two USB ports. It weighs 1.1kg, is 17.5mm thick and promises 6.5 hours of battery life.

The Acer Chromebook ($299) is slightly thicker and heavier at 25mm and 1.38kg, has three USB ports, an HDMI port and a memory card slot. It promises up to four hours of battery life. Both models have 11.6-inch displays and come with 100GB of Google Drive Cloud storage for two years.

View the original article here

Ora 'moving to carefree Australia'

Rita Ora out and about in Sydney last month. Picture: KHAP / Grey Wasp / Splash News Source: news.com.au

RITA Ora is house-hunting in Australia because it's so laid back she could perform topless if she wanted to.

The 22-year-old British singer is currently on tour Down Under and confesses she's fallen in love with the country.

The Hot Right Now hitmaker took the stage at the Future Music Festival in Sydney over the weekend.

After the gig she admitted she loved performing in a place so relaxed she could rip off her shirt on stage on a whim.

"I love playing any festival outside London. You get away with a lot of stuff," she told The Sun.

"You can take your top off - and over here, no one cares," Rita added.

The star confessed she's constantly begging bosses at Roc Nation to send her to our shores.

But soon she won't have to because she’s looking for a place of her own she can always come back to.

"I'm always saying to my label, 'Please find me a reason to go to Australia,' she said, adding, "I'm looking for a house.'

Rita is in good company. The singer admitted a few other famous pals had warned her she might fall in love with Australia after spending some time there.

"I love the beach. Pink, Mark Ronson and Lily Allen told me it was amazing over here," she gushed.

A move to Australia would be a big leap for Ora. She recently admitted she was so broke as a teen she slept on a beach during a holiday in Spain to avoid paying up for a hotel.

"I was on holiday in Barcelona when I was 17, with my older sister. I was on the beach and I actually had no money, so I slept on the beach for two nights!" she recalled to Kyle and Jackie O.

View the original article here

'Spice Girls to tour Australia in 2014'

The Spice Girls, pictured here during the opening night of their musical, Viva Forever. Picture: Source: news.com.au

ALL five Spice Girls will reportedly tour Australia in 2014 - yes, all five - even Victoria Beckham.

2DayFM breakfast duo Kyle and Jackie O made the "exclusive" and unconfirmed announcement on their radio show this morning.

"This is very much an exclusive announcement that I have heard about," Jackie O told listeners.

"All the Spice Girls will be touring Australia. No official announcement has been made, but I have a source, a very reliable source."

When Kyle questioned if it was their close friend Mel B, Jackie replied: "I cannot reveal my source, but a very very good source and yes they'll be touring next year, here in Australia ... including Posh."

There has yet been no official announcement on the tour from promoters or the singers themselves.

The Spice Girls left many Aussies disappointed in 2008 when they cut their world tour short and cancelled all Australian dates due to "family and personal commitments''.

Contrary to Jackie O's announcement this morning, a month ago UK newspaper The Mirror reported that it was unlikely the group would tour as Beckham and Geri Halliwell had had a "falling out".

There had also been constant rumours that Beckham had wanted to distance herself from the group and concentrate on her career as a fashion designer.

All five members recently reunited to perform at The London Olympic Games closing ceremony but Posh tweeted that she was a pop star “just for the night".

Talk of a rift was also rampant when she missed a photo call for the launch of their musical Viva Forever and was the first to leave the after party.

Manager Simon Fuller also reportedly refused to put the tour on the road without Beckham.

View the original article here

Australia in flu vaccine breakthrough

A researcher checks flu samples in Budapest, Hungary. A flu epidemic has been declared throughout Hungary while more than fifty thousand patient got the virus, causing at least ten deaths. Source: AP

AUSTRALIAN scientists have helped design a new drug that could be effective against resistant strains of the flu virus.

The drug has worked in laboratory models so far, according to research published today in the journal Science.

Researchers say it will be seven years before it is available to the public.

The breakthrough is the result of a global collaboration between scientists from the CSIRO, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bath.

It is hoped the drug will be effective against future strains of the flu virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, the flu kills about 500,000 people a year, with up to 2500 deaths occurring in Australia.

The scientists hope the new drug will be effective as a first line of defence during any future epidemic or pandemic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Jenny McKimm-Breschkin, a member of the team that developed Relenza, the original flu drug, says understanding exactly how flu viruses become resistant to drugs has helped in the design of a better flu drug.

CSIRO researchers have shown viruses continually mutate and some have become resistant to available treatments, Dr McKimm-Breschkin said.

This season's flu shot did almost no good at protecting people over 65 from the worst and most dominant flu strain spreading around the world, according to a United States government study.

Professor Steve Withers, the leader of the research team for the past seven years, said that although further studies were required to determine efficacy against a broader range of flu strains, the findings were "extremely positive".

Despite recent improvements in vaccine production, when a new strain of flu emerges it can take several months before vaccines are available to the public, said Prof Withers of the University of British Columbia.

View the original article here

Australia in flu drug breakthrough

A researcher checks flu samples in Budapest, Hungary. A flu epidemic has been declared throughout Hungary while more than fifty thousand patient got the virus, causing at least ten deaths. Source: AP

AUSTRALIAN scientists have helped design a new drug that could be effective against resistant strains of the flu virus.

The drug has worked in laboratory models so far, according to research published today in the journal Science.

Researchers say it will be seven years before it is available to the public.

The breakthrough is the result of a global collaboration between scientists from the CSIRO, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bath.

It is hoped the drug will be effective against future strains of the flu virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, the flu kills about 500,000 people a year, with up to 2500 deaths occurring in Australia.

The scientists hope the new drug will be effective as a first line of defence during any future epidemic or pandemic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Jenny McKimm-Breschkin, a member of the team that developed Relenza, the original flu drug, says understanding exactly how flu viruses become resistant to drugs has helped in the design of a better flu drug.

CSIRO researchers have shown viruses continually mutate and some have become resistant to available treatments, Dr McKimm-Breschkin said.

This season's flu shot did almost no good at protecting people over 65 from the worst and most dominant flu strain spreading around the world, according to a United States government study.

Professor Steve Withers, the leader of the research team for the past seven years, said that although further studies were required to determine efficacy against a broader range of flu strains, the findings were "extremely positive".

Despite recent improvements in vaccine production, when a new strain of flu emerges it can take several months before vaccines are available to the public, said Prof Withers of the University of British Columbia.

View the original article here

Australia in flu drug breakthrough

A researcher checks flu samples in Budapest, Hungary. A flu epidemic has been declared throughout Hungary while more than fifty thousand patient got the virus, causing at least ten deaths. Source: AP

AUSTRALIAN scientists have helped design a new drug that could be effective against resistant strains of the flu virus.

The drug has worked in laboratory models so far, according to research published today in the journal Science.

Researchers say it will be seven years before it is available to the public.

The breakthrough is the result of a global collaboration between scientists from the CSIRO, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bath.

It is hoped the drug will be effective against future strains of the flu virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, the flu kills about 500,000 people a year, with up to 2500 deaths occurring in Australia.

The scientists hope the new drug will be effective as a first line of defence during any future epidemic or pandemic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Jenny McKimm-Breschkin, a member of the team that developed Relenza, the original flu drug, says understanding exactly how flu viruses become resistant to drugs has helped in the design of a better flu drug.

CSIRO researchers have shown viruses continually mutate and some have become resistant to available treatments, Dr McKimm-Breschkin said.

This season's flu shot did almost no good at protecting people over 65 from the worst and most dominant flu strain spreading around the world, according to a United States government study.

Professor Steve Withers, the leader of the research team for the past seven years, said that although further studies were required to determine efficacy against a broader range of flu strains, the findings were "extremely positive".

Despite recent improvements in vaccine production, when a new strain of flu emerges it can take several months before vaccines are available to the public, said Prof Withers of the University of British Columbia.

View the original article here

Australia in flu vaccine breakthrough

A researcher checks flu samples in Budapest, Hungary. A flu epidemic has been declared throughout Hungary while more than fifty thousand patient got the virus, causing at least ten deaths. Source: AP

AUSTRALIAN scientists have helped design a new drug that could be effective against resistant strains of the flu virus.

The drug has worked in laboratory models so far, according to research published today in the journal Science.

Researchers say it will be seven years before it is available to the public.

The breakthrough is the result of a global collaboration between scientists from the CSIRO, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bath.

It is hoped the drug will be effective against future strains of the flu virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, the flu kills about 500,000 people a year, with up to 2500 deaths occurring in Australia.

The scientists hope the new drug will be effective as a first line of defence during any future epidemic or pandemic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Jenny McKimm-Breschkin, a member of the team that developed Relenza, the original flu drug, says understanding exactly how flu viruses become resistant to drugs has helped in the design of a better flu drug.

CSIRO researchers have shown viruses continually mutate and some have become resistant to available treatments, Dr McKimm-Breschkin said.

This season's flu shot did almost no good at protecting people over 65 from the worst and most dominant flu strain spreading around the world, according to a United States government study.

Professor Steve Withers, the leader of the research team for the past seven years, said that although further studies were required to determine efficacy against a broader range of flu strains, the findings were "extremely positive".

Despite recent improvements in vaccine production, when a new strain of flu emerges it can take several months before vaccines are available to the public, said Prof Withers of the University of British Columbia.

View the original article here

Australia in flu vaccine breakthrough

A researcher checks flu samples in Budapest, Hungary. A flu epidemic has been declared throughout Hungary while more than fifty thousand patient got the virus, causing at least ten deaths. Source: AP

AUSTRALIAN scientists have helped design a new drug that could be effective against resistant strains of the flu virus.

The drug has worked in laboratory models so far, according to research published today in the journal Science.

Researchers say it will be seven years before it is available to the public.

The breakthrough is the result of a global collaboration between scientists from the CSIRO, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bath.

It is hoped the drug will be effective against future strains of the flu virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, the flu kills about 500,000 people a year, with up to 2500 deaths occurring in Australia.

The scientists hope the new drug will be effective as a first line of defence during any future epidemic or pandemic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Jenny McKimm-Breschkin, a member of the team that developed Relenza, the original flu drug, says understanding exactly how flu viruses become resistant to drugs has helped in the design of a better flu drug.

CSIRO researchers have shown viruses continually mutate and some have become resistant to available treatments, Dr McKimm-Breschkin said.

This season's flu shot did almost no good at protecting people over 65 from the worst and most dominant flu strain spreading around the world, according to a United States government study.

Professor Steve Withers, the leader of the research team for the past seven years, said that although further studies were required to determine efficacy against a broader range of flu strains, the findings were "extremely positive".

Despite recent improvements in vaccine production, when a new strain of flu emerges it can take several months before vaccines are available to the public, said Prof Withers of the University of British Columbia.

View the original article here

Australia in flu vaccine breakthrough

A researcher checks flu samples in Budapest, Hungary. A flu epidemic has been declared throughout Hungary while more than fifty thousand patient got the virus, causing at least ten deaths. Source: AP

AUSTRALIAN scientists have helped design a new drug that could be effective against resistant strains of the flu virus.

The drug has worked in laboratory models so far, according to research published today in the journal Science.

Researchers say it will be seven years before it is available to the public.

The breakthrough is the result of a global collaboration between scientists from the CSIRO, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bath.

It is hoped the drug will be effective against future strains of the flu virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, the flu kills about 500,000 people a year, with up to 2500 deaths occurring in Australia.

The scientists hope the new drug will be effective as a first line of defence during any future epidemic or pandemic.

CSIRO scientist Dr Jenny McKimm-Breschkin, a member of the team that developed Relenza, the original flu drug, says understanding exactly how flu viruses become resistant to drugs has helped in the design of a better flu drug.

CSIRO researchers have shown viruses continually mutate and some have become resistant to available treatments, Dr McKimm-Breschkin said.

This season's flu shot did almost no good at protecting people over 65 from the worst and most dominant flu strain spreading around the world, according to a United States government study.

Professor Steve Withers, the leader of the research team for the past seven years, said that although further studies were required to determine efficacy against a broader range of flu strains, the findings were "extremely positive".

Despite recent improvements in vaccine production, when a new strain of flu emerges it can take several months before vaccines are available to the public, said Prof Withers of the University of British Columbia.

View the original article here