Sydney  - US doctor Jayant Patel on Monday was committed to stand trial in Australia for the deaths of three of his patients in a Queensland hospital in what police allege was bungled surgery.

The manslaughter charges stem from Indian-born Patel's time as director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

Patel, 59, was extradited from Portland, Oregon, to face the charges.

Sydney  - The minister in charge of road safety in South Australia state said Monday he had difficult keeping up with all his traffic offences.

Tom Koutsantonis' penchant for speeding, running red lights and telephoning while driving have earned him 30 tickets and a suspended driving license.

"Well, look, I'll check all that, but from what I understand is that the fines have come in, I haven't seen them, they've gone overdue, they've gone to court, the fines come through, and the fine has been paid," he said.

Melbourne, Apr 19 : A 193cm tall woman Vanessa Elliot has revealed that she was always considered the odd one out in a crowd, until she found the Tall Women's club.

She says that though she doesn't always notice her towering height, people often remind her of that.

"The only time it''s brought to my attention is when someone else says something, and kids are the worst. They''re like ''Mummy, mummy, look - a giant!''," she said. "But, if I got defensive every time somebody said something, I''d be in that many fights. You just pretend you didn''t hear," The Courier Mail quoted her as saying.

London  - Father-of-two Lleyton Hewitt has gone to ground in Europe as Tennis Australia and the ITF row over whether a May 8-10 Davis Cup Asian zonal tie should be staged in the Indian city of Chennai.

Last November, up to 150 people died when Islamic extremists attacked luxury hotels and government building in what turned into a firefight.

India says the metropolis is perfectly safe, and the ITF agrees after conducting a security probe. But Tennis Australia is appealing that decision, asking for the tie to be played at a neutral venue.

Sydney  - Fijians in Australia Sunday condemned the imposition of military rule in their homeland and called on the Australian government to put pressure on the regime to restore democracy.

All of Fiji's judges were sacked last week after three Australian judges sitting as the Court of Appeal ruled that the military government of Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in the December 2006 coup, was illegal.

Sydney, Apr 19 : A drug that has been used to treat asthma sufferers for 40 years may help fat people shed up to five kilograms a week, say Australian researchers.

The main ingredient in Ventolin could be the key behind the magical weight loss.

A firm Down Under is planning to develop a slow-release capsule form of salbutamol, known as r-salbutamol. The company claims the drug can reduce body weight by 2 to 3 per cent a week and could be on the market in three years.