AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 23

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2006
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 23
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Bushfires Vic (MELBOURNE)

Rain and easing winds overnight have helped Victorian firefighters .. with the dramatic
change in weather stopping three bushfires in their tracks as they approached almost 100
people stuck on Mt Buller skifields.

About 50 firefighters are backing up resort teams to help save assets on the mountain
top .. including ski resorts.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment says about 30 alpine resort staff
had made the choice to defend properties .. meaning they've been stuck on the mountain.

Fire authorities hope to clear Mount Buller Road .. after closing it yesterday .. blocking
access to the mountain top.

Earlier alert messages for several regions have now been withdrawn .. but Woods Point
residents have been told to remain cautious .. with a fire continuing to threaten.



Baby Charge (SYDNEY)

A 53-year-old man will face a Sydney court today .. charged over the stabbing murder
of a nine-month-old baby girl in Sydney's south-west.

Neighbours called police to a Campsie home yesterday morning .. after hearing screams
and seeing an elderly man carrying the baby girl .. who'd been stabbed in the neck.

The baby died before ambulance officers arrived.

The 53-year-old will face Paramatta Local Court later today.



Toll (NATIONAL)

Two women have been killed .. after their car was torn in two in a three-car collision
in Tasmania's north-west.

Two cars .. travelling in opposite directions on the Bass Highway at Doctors Rocks
.. collided just after two o'clock yesterday afternoon.

A Subaru wagon also collided with the cars as its driver tried to avoid the crash.

Two women in a Honda Civic hatchback died instantly.

It's the first fatalities of the Christmas-New Year period.



Indon Bashir Aust (CANBERRA)

Australian authorities remain convinced radical cleric ABU BAKAR BASHIR was involved
in the 2002 Bali Bombings .. despite him being cleared by an Indonesian court.

The Indonesian Supreme Court ruled that BASHIR didn't give his blessing to the bombings
.. overturning his conviction on conspiracy charges in the attack that killed 202 people
.. including 88 Australians.

But JOHN HOWARD says he's powerless to do anything .. no matter how angry the families
of victims might be.

BASHIR says he could now pursue a damages claim against the Indonesian government for
wrongful imprisonment.



UK Women (LONDON)

A 48-year-old truck driver has appeared in court .. charged with the murder of five
prostitutes in Ipswich.

STEVEN WRIGHT has been ordered to remain in custody .. and will reappear for a court
hearing on January 2.

Police arrested WRIGHT on Tuesday at his home in the red-light district .. near where
several of the women were last seen.

A 37-year-old man .. identified in news reports as TOM STEPHENS .. who had been arrested
in the case on Monday .. was released on bail without charge pending further inquiries.



Blood (MELBOURNE)

Two deaths are being investigated and doctors warns dozens more people are at risk
.. after the type of blood they received in transfusions wasn't screened for bacteria.

An investigation has found more than 100 incidents involving bacterially contaminated
platelet transfusions have affected people since September 2004.

Two deaths are currently being investigated over the contaminated blood .. but it isn't
known how many blood transfusions have made people seriously ill.

Several Melbourne hematologists say the lack of universal screening is unacceptable
for a blood supply system regarded as one of the world's safest.



Chaytor (SYDNEY)

Embattled NSW MP STEVEN CHAYTOR's court hearing .. for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend
.. has been moved forward .. giving Labor some breathing space before next year's state
election.

The main hearing was to be shortly before the March election .. but it's now due to
be heard on January 15.

Mr CHAYTOR may've won a last-minute reprieve from disendorsement as a Labor party candidate
.. with ALP officials reportedly saying they'll now hold off disendorsing the 30-year-old
at a meeting on Thursday.

Meanwhile .. internal ALP polling shows support for NSW Labor has plummeted.



Warne Charity (SYDNEY)

A charity set up by SHANE WARNE has failed to deliver the 50 thousand dollars it promised
for the reconstruction of a Sri Lankan cricket ground .. wrecked by a tsunami.

The Shane Warne Foundation told Sri Lanka's Galle International Cricket Club the cost
of producing fund-raising wristbands had been greater than the amount collected.

Club director and former Test cricketer JAYANANDA WARNAWEERA says he'll give the charity
three months to hand over the money or he'll sue.



Briefly in other news ..





The court case of a Lismore P-plater .. accused of dangerous driving resulting in the
death of four of the 17-year-old's mates .. has been adjourned until March.





A lawyer says women diagnosed with breast cancer .. while working at the ABC's Brisbane
studios .. may pursue a class-action lawsuit.





The first international talks on North Korea's nuclear program since it tested an atomic
bomb have ended .. with Pyongyang vowing to bolster its arsenal in response to US pressure.





Former world champion cyclist PHIL ANDERSON is facing a possible jail term .. after
breaching an intervention order involving his ex-wife.





There are concerns the elderly will be left malnourished .. with Meals on Wheels charging
twice the price for less food in some parts of NSW.



And in sport ..

ASHES (MELBOURNE)

The Australian cricket team will resume training today .. as it tries to go four-nil
up in the Ashes series.

Meanwhile .. former England captain MICHAEL VAUGHAN says he has no idea who will lead
the team after this Ashes series.

ANDREW FLINTOFF has led England in the Tests and VAUGHAN will return from injury for
the one-dayers which also involves New Zealand.





CYCLING AUST (SYDNEY)

Troubled cyclist JOBIE DAJKA has been thrown a career lifeline.

Cycling Australia will allow the former world keirin champion to resume competition
.. only 18 months after assaulting the Australian head coach.

But DAJKA won't be eligible for any Australian team until next November.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV els/

KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.