Melbourne, Mar 11 : An Australian scientist has claimed that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) may adapt so that it is no longer a life-threatening virus.

Speaking ahead of the launch of Adelaide University''s Robinson Institute, Roger Short, a professor from Melbourne University''s medicine faculty, said it was not in the virus''s interest to kill its host.

"If we look into long term future, if humans survive that long, it seems likely that over time the virus, which mutates incredibly rapidly, will eventually adapt so it doesn''t kill us," News. com. au quoted Short, as saying.

Sydney, Mar. 11 : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and his side have deservedly retained their position as the best Test cricket side after handing out a two-nil series defeat to the South Africans, but if they add a canny spinner and improve catching around the bat, they will be hard to beat.

According to Peter Roebuck, Australia''s new team is a work in progress, but adds that lessons in cricket history should not be ignored.

Melbourne, Mar. 11 : Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds has shred his dreadlocks to raise 10,000 dollars for the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia.

The Courier Mail quoted his agent, Matt Fearon, as saying that the Queensland all rounder, who hadn''t "seen his own head for about five years", had gone in with "the normal nerves about a new look".

"He''s looking fresh; I think he looks more responsible. Certainly, he''s more streamlined," Fearon added.

Melbourne (Australia), Mar. 11 : Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds will have one last chance to stake his Ashes claim when Queensland take on Victoria in this year’s Sheffield Shield final.

Fox Sports quoted Queensland Bulls teammate Martin Love as saying: "He (Symonds) probably doesn''t have the runs on the board at this stage to warrant (Ashes) selection – but runs in a final always counts.

"This is probably his last chance to get some big runs on the board," Love added.

Sydney  - The big bounce

Melbourne, Mar. 11 : An Indian woman, who was killed in an alleged hit-run accident last night, had just applied for permanent residency in Australia, the Herald Sun reports.

Thirty-three-year-old Aman Preet Sanhotra died when a B-double truck hit her at the corner of Melbourne's Broadhurst Avenue and High St, Reservoir, about 10.40 p. m.

The woman''s cousin, Gagandeeb Singh, said she was just five minutes from home when the accident happened.