Seoul - South Korea and Australia agreed Monday to begin preparatory talks for a bilateral free trade pact and to boost economic ties, the presidential office in Seoul said.

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak met visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and welcomed the recommendation of a study group that a trade agreement would benefit to both countries' economic growth and trade expansion, the office said.

It didn't specify when trade talks would start.

Melbourne, Aug 11 : Once known as the world’s heaviest man, Manuel Uribe, stepped out of the house for the first time in five months, accompanied by his girlfriend.

The 43-year-old, who once weighed nearly 560kg, went on a day trip to a lake in Northern Mexico, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He was taken from his home on a forklift, and loaded onto a platform truck.

Uribe has been dieting, and now weighs around 310kg.

Melbourne, Aug 11 : Olympic gold medallist swimmer Stephanie Rice has revealed on the website Facebook that she can let her hair down just like any other person.

Rice, who stands to make a fortune in endorsement dollars over the coming years, posted a number of pictures on her Facebook page showing that she too knows how to have fun, News. com. au reported.

The 20-year-old medley star from Brisbane was seen posing for the camera in a skimpy policewoman''s uniform alongside fellow Brisbane swimmer Bronte Barratt.

Melbourne, Aug. 9 : An adopted Indian boy has been reported missing after falling into Melbourne’s Yarra River. A Herald Sun report said that Victoria Police are hoping that the missing nine-year-old Yadav Munohur is still alive after failing to find him in an extensive search of the Yarra River and its surrounds in Hawthorn.

Munohur has not been seen since he pleaded with his mother to be allowed to go and play in Kooyong Park Thursday evening.

When she refused, the grade 4 student ran from the family''s Hawthorn apartment, and has not been seen since.

Melbourne, Aug 9 : Police officials Down Under thank the prevalence of ecstasy in Brisbane''s Fortitude Valley, as because of the substance they’re able to cope with the drunken violence.

Last week only 15 officers were rostered on to deal with up to 60,000 people in the entertainment precinct - one officer for every 4000 people.

A Central District officer who did not want to be named said they had about the same number of police rostered on Saturday nights as they did weekday mornings.

Melbourne, Aug 9 : Bosses Down Under have been asked not to swear at their workers, according to the workplace watchdog.

The Ombudsman has put employers on notice, warning that swearing at employees will not be tolerated, especially when it comes to discussing employment arrangements.

"Employers need to mind their Ps and Qs when dealing with staff," News. com. au quoted Workplace Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell, as saying.