The fatality this week during a live-fire exercise is incredibly sad ("Defence releases soldier's last letter to family and friends", October 23). It leaves me with a feeling of deja vu and incredulity that such close-quarters live-fire exercises are still carried out.

WHAT a delightful dilemma Australia's selectors find themselves in. During the Ashes they couldn't get it right, yet in this one-day series, they can't go wrong with batsmen and bowlers firing as the team eyes a 7-0 rout of England.

Peru's top court has ruled that workers cannot be fired for being drunk, a decision the Government says sets a dangerous precedent. The Constitutional Tribunal said the firing of a janitor was excessive because even though he was drunk, he did not offend or hurt anybody.

NEWCASTLE water police expect to complete this week an investigation of the firing of a flare that hit a 10-year-old girl in a New Year's Eve fireworks show at The Foreshore.

A poor season has brought a star into the firing line.