Sydney - Farms are being bought up on Sydney's western fringes and turned into housing estates. Most locals don't like it.

Some of those upset at the encroachment of Australia's largest city on their traditional lands have legitimate concerns. The greenery is disappearing, the extra traffic is disruptive, the semblance of country life is lost.

Others just fear strangers. The new families often come from the suburbs where Muslim immigrants congregate - and bring with them demands for mosques and Islamic schools.

Wellington - Single women have a problem finding a husband or partner in New Zealand - they outnumber men.

There are 35,000 more women in the prime marrying age group of 20 to 45, according to Statistics New Zealand and the situation is so bad that a 32-year-old Kiwi woman has as much chance of finding a partner her age as an 82-year-old.

Taipei - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Thursday condemned the mobbing of Chinese envoy Chen Yun-lin, telling the Taiwan public that his efforts toward reconciliation with China is not selling out Taiwan to Beijing.

"Assembly and demonstrations must be legal," Ma said at a news conference and, referring to the head of the opposition DPP, added, "The Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman promised to abide by the law, but what happened at the Regent Hotel yesterday is regrettable."

Toky

Los Angeles - Media conglomerate News Corp reported a drop in quarterly net income of 30 per cent, blaming softness in TV advertising and a weak performance by its usually thriving film studio.

The company controlled by magnate Rupert Murdoch said profit slumped to 515 million dollars down from 732 million dollars a year ago. However revenue climbed 6 per cent to 7.5 billion dollars.

The company's cable and satellite TV units performed strongly. But they were hampered by a revenue drop of 31 per cent at its film studio where flops like Meet Dave, Mirrors and Space Chimps failed to match the smash hit success of The Simpsons in the corresponding quarter a year ago.