Sydney  - Severance payments worth more than a year's base salary would need shareholder approval under proposed changes outlined Wednesday by Australian officials.

"The community has been rightly offended by the excessive golden handshakes in firms where directors and executives are rewarded for poor company performance," Treasurer Wayne Swan said.

"The government's reforms will empower shareholders to more easily reject such payments where they are not in the interests of the company, the shareholders or the community," he said.

Under current law, there is no need for shareholder approval until a termination payment is valued at more than seven times a base salary.

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar. 18: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson’s girlfriend Jessica Bratich is keen to make a bid for world karate titles again.

The 27-year-old gave up the sport when she left Perth to be with Johnson in Queensland, but the pair moved back to the West Coast last year and she is ready for another assault on the world titles, reports news. com. au.

Bratich was the first Australian woman to win a medal at the karate world titles in more than a decade with a bronze in

Melbourne, Mar 17 : Legendary singer John Farnham has returned to the recording studio in a bid to make a dazzling comeback.

The biggest selling Australian artist, who took a break from his singing career nearly two years ago, has proceeded with plans to recommence his career.

Farnham and Glenn Wheatley are currently working on the comeback plan.

They were wined and dined by Sony Music Australia boss Denis Handlin on the eve of Farnham''s historic return to the stage with Coldplay at Saturday''s Sound Relief concert.

Sydney, Mar. 17 : New Zealand inched closer to its quest for a place in the final of the Women''s Cricket World Cup by defeating India on Tuesday by five wickets at the North Sydney Oval here.

Despite India's 207 runs in 49.4 overs, the 78-run opening partnership between Pulford and Haidee Tiffen put Kiwis on course for victory.

Anjum Chopra (52) and Mithali Raj (21) pulled India out of trouble and managed to get over-200 score for the second time in the tournament.

Sydney, March 17 : Scientists have developed a new computer-driven technique that makes use of a code hidden in tiger stripes to help them identify poached pelts of the endangered animals.

Poachers and illegal traders have pushed many tiger species to the brink of extinction, slaughtering them for their coveted pelts.

But each tiger's markings are unique, like a fingerprint.

Now, according to a report by ABC News, a new computer-driven technique can match images of live animals with illegally traded skins, identifying when and where poachers made their kills.

Melbourne, Mar 17 : Model Lara Bingle has flown to South Africa to spend some time with Australian cricketer and fiancé Michael Clarke.

Bingle has put her social commitments on hold to be with Clarke who has few days off this week during the Australian cricket team''s South African tour, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The 21-year-old model has reportedly been flying high on the list of TV networks to host a bikini babe quest.