BCC has refused to renew Brisbane Transport chief Alan Warren's contract. Photo: Harrison Saragossi

Brisbane City Council has sacked the man who made Brisbanes buses run on time for the past 14 years, opening the door to privatising Brisbanes profitable bus runs.

The council opposition says the lord mayor is secretly clearing the decks for privatisation.

However Brisbane City Council last night said Brisane Transport had received an extension to run its bus services until September 2015, which would be well after the next state election.

The council runs Brisbane Transport, the states biggest provider of bus routes and the employer of 2700 employees.

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In 2011 it ran 1200 buses on 245 routes, providing 63,859 bus services a week and 1465 school runs, which dropped to about 235 routes in early 2012.

A review of the councils bus routes in 2013 cut that number of routes to 225 and resulted in major changes to about 80 routes.

The Queensland government last year let the private sector compete against Brisbane Transport for Greater Brisbanes most-profitable routes.

Alan Warren, who has headed Brisbane Transport for 14 years, offered to renew his contract in November 2014, but that has been rejected by BCCs civic cabinet.

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Brisbane Transport chief set to tap off

30 minutes ago

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published: July 28, 2014

The Army in Hawaii has landed Black Hawk and Kiowa Warrior helicopters on the decks of underway Navy ships in the past as the land service seeks to prove its sea-based flexibility.

During the current Rim of the Pacific exercises, the Army added some firepower, landing AH-64E Apache Guardian gunships on the amphibious ship USS Peleliu.

"The reason it's interesting and different is because the Apache is a land-based piece of equipment," said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Gottschling, an instructor pilot with the 1st Armed Reconnaissance Battalion.

"By training us how to do the ship landings on a larger ship, it enables us to forward project our force by doing the cross-training with the Navy and the Marines."

The Apaches also were to test their ability to provide a counteroffensive role against simulated enemy attacking ships.

Eight of the latest model Apache Guardians were shipped to Hawaii in June from Fort Carson, Colo., for RIMPAC, separate training in Hawaii, and for a new deployment model being tested by U.S. Army Pacific.

Longer term, the Army plans to replace its aging Kiowa scout helicopters at Wheeler Army Airfield with Apache gunships.

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Army tests Apaches during RIMPAC exercises at sea

By Bridget Mcgrouther

Published: 10:00 EST, 27 July 2014 | Updated: 02:59 EST, 28 July 2014

Boarding the brand new Regal Princess felt rather familiar, possibly because I was lucky enough to have attended the christening of sister ship Royal Princess by the Duchess of Cambridge last summer.

At the celebrity-spangled christening party wed rubbed shoulders with the likes of Brucie and Biggins in elevators and on dancefloors, but this time we were welcomed by a new star in the making Blackpools very own deputy cruise director, Dan Appleby. Never heard of him?

Well, chances are you will soon along with hotel general manager Dirk Brand and other crew members, if youve been tuning in to the ITV documentary The Cruise Ship.

Brand new: Regal Princess has 17 decks and 16 bars and is taller than 15 double-decker buses

Arriving in the hub of Regal Princess, I recognised the awe-inspiring Atrium like an old friend, with its glittering chandeliers and marble spiral staircases encompassing three decks.

Here, a classical pianist and string quartet gently lulled passengers sitting around the Piazza, International Cafe, Vines wine bar and Gelato ice-cream parlour.

Regal Princess has 17 decks and 16 bars, is taller than 15 double-decker buses and longer than the height of Londons Shard. Its a giant and, since I had time to spare before our introductory tour, I ventured out on deck where I watched the boats, gondolas and water taxis in the busy Venetian harbour below. What a sensational location for a sailaway!

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Are you brave enough for the Regal SeaWalk?

Building Decks With ChanManV #8 - Paladin Midrange
This is a hearthstone video about building a defensive paladin deck I played to legend this season. Link to the deck - http://chanmanv.tv/post/92417466260/my...

By: ChanmanV

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Building Decks With ChanManV #8 - Paladin Midrange - Video

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Step aside, female model-DJs.

A Japanese restaurant-lounge, Haru, is spicing up the nightlife scene here by inviting Japanese Adult Video (AV) actresses to spin the decks.

In the last few months, two sexy Japanese adult entertainment stars, Namiki Yu and Misaki Rola, have already hit our shores, performing at Haru on separate occasions.

Tonight and tomorrow, AV actress Rei Kawashima will be dropping the beats on the decks in Haru, from 11pm till late.

Other than deejaying at the Magazine Road club, the 24-year-old will also put up a short cultural Japanese dance performance. Mr Lee Jia Jun, 27, owner of Haru, told The New Paper: "Getting the AV actresses to make appearances here is a novelty. It's value-added entertainment for our mostly Japanese expat clientele."

He added: "The performances by the AV actresses are not sleazy. They will usually do more commercialised acts such as hosting, dancing, singing or DJ-ing."

The past two appearances by the AV actresses have attracted a capacity crowd of more than 150 people in the lounge.

FIVE-FIGURE FEE

Mr Lee revealed that the club pays the actresses a five-figure appearance fee and that he is looking to make it a bi-monthly event. Haru is not the only nightlife establishment here that has such gimmicks to draw customers.

Last year, the now-defunct Club Lava spent $40,000 inviting busty Chinese model-actress Gan Lu Lu, 28, to make an appearance for its opening night.

The rest is here:
Japanese AV stars with a spin

Warcraft Hearthstone decks Malidicin Naxxramas.3/3
Modo completo de La Malidicin de Naxxramas 3/3 Primera Semana.

By: Tube tutorials

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Warcraft Hearthstone decks Malidicin Naxxramas.3/3 - Video

DJ Paradise - Decks in the Park
Paradise will be performing at the monthly Decks in the Park at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

By: FOX 4 News - Dallas-Fort Worth

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DJ Paradise - Decks in the Park - Video

Opening 40 Hearthstone Decks - 2 Legendaries and loads of duplication
Opening 40 Hearthstone packs. Out of that, we got 2 Legendaries (both the same, can you believe the odds), not so many Epics, average Rares and a whole load of Commons. Out of the 200 cards...

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Opening 40 Hearthstone Decks - 2 Legendaries and loads of duplication - Video

Hearthstone: Heroic Naxxramas Grand Widow Faerlina Walkthrough Guide By Warshack
Rob tearing his way through the second Heroic boss in the first Arachnid Wing in Hearthstone. Let us know what you think! Please subscribe...follow us... like us... if not, we know who you...

By: Integration Nation Network

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Hearthstone: Heroic Naxxramas Grand Widow Faerlina Walkthrough & Guide By Warshack - Video