AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 30

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 30
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Climate (SYDNEY)

The federal government says new figures from the Treasury show the blocked emissions
trading scheme will leave low-income earners 190-dollars a year better off than they are
now.

The Rudd government says the analysis shows 2.9 million low-income earners would benefit
from the ETS's 49 billion dollar compensation package.

Fairfax papers report the Treasury figures indicate 90 per cent of low-income families
would recover 120 per cent of the costs borne because of the ETS.

The figures contradict claims from the opposition that average household bills would
rise sharply because of the changes.



China UK (LONDON)

Britain has summoned China's ambassador to the Foreign Office to protest the execution
of a Briton despite repeated appeals for clemency.

Junior foreign minister IVAN LEWIS says he's made it clear that the execution of AKMAL
SHAIKH was totally unacceptable and that China's failed in its basic human rights responsibilities
in this case.

He says in particular China's court hadn't considered the representations made about
Mr SHAIKH's mental condition.

The 53-year-old father of three had been convicted of drug smuggling .. and the execution's
triggered a sharp diplomatic chill between London and Beijing.



Cambodia Aust (PHNOM PENH)

An Australian man has been murdered in a popular Cambodian seaside resort.

Police have identified the victim as 47-year-old JOHN EDWARD THOMPSON .. who was killed
early on yesterday in the southern town of Sihanoukville.

Police say they have not yet concluded what the motive was .. and have also declined
to say how the man was killed .. but local reports say he was clubbed to death with wooden
sticks in a robbery.

A spokesman for the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh said they have been informed of
the death by police.



Indon McJannett (JAKARTA)

An Australian man's been arrested at Bali airport .. after customs officers allegedly
found two grams of marijuana in his luggage.

ROBERT PAUL MCJANNETT was arrested after arriving in Bali with his adult son on a Virgin
Blue flight from Perth last night.

Bali police allege the 48-year-old was carrying the marijuana in a plastic bag in socks
in his luggage .. and tried to flush it down the toilet when officers caught him.

If found guilty .. he's facing more than five years' jail.



Bushfires WA (PERTH)

An out of control .. unpredictable and fast moving bushfire has destroyed several homes
and continues to threaten others in Toodyay area of the Western Australian wheatbelt.

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has issued emergency warnings for Toodyay
and for Dandaragan 300 kilometres north east of Perth.

Residents of the Toodyay area have been advised to leave their homes immediately.



Petrol (CANBERRA)

Motorists are being warned to expect a three to five cent per litre jump in petrol
prices over the coming weeks.

Asian crude oil prices have hit 14-month highs .. and Australian prices are expected to follow.

The wholesale petrol price averaged 113.1 cents a litre in the week ending Christmas
Day .. but has been rising steadily over the past week to 114.5 cents a litre.

Commsec economist CRAIG JAMES says the only good news is that our high dollar means
petrol prices will move to around one-dollar-20 .. rather than one-dollar-50.



Toll National (BRISBANE)

The national holiday road toll stands at 54 this morning .. with the last fatality
occurring in Victoria yesterday .. taking that state's toll to 14.

Police say a 45-year-old Melbourne man died when his car collided with another car
after hitting an embankment.

Seventeen people have died in New South Wales .. 14 in Victoria .. two in South Australia
.. eight in Western Australia .. eight in Queensland .. four in Tasmania .. and one in
the Northern Territory.

The Australian Capital Territory remains fatality-free.



Boat (MELBOURNE)

At least 50 Sri Lankan refugees rescued from a boat in October have been deported from
Indonesia to other countries .. including Australia.

The Australian government hasn't confirmed the group of ethnic Tamils are on their
way to Australia to be resettled .. but an Indonesian official did.

The officials also says 47 of the 78 Sri Lankans rescued have been or are being flown
to Romania and Australia for resettlement.



US Plane Explosive (WASHINGTON)

US media have published photos of the singed underwear allegedly worn by a Nigerian
terror suspect to hide explosives .. in his failed attempt to blow up an airplane over
the United States.

The pictures provided by the FBI also show a packet of powder explosives that had been
sewn into the crotch of the undergarment .. as well as a charred, partially melted plastic
syringe that held a liquid acid to detonate the bomb.

It's alleged the specially modified briefs were worn by 23-year-old suspect UMAR FAROUK
ABDULMUTALLAB during his Christmas Day attempt to bring down the Detroit-bound Airbus
A330 with 290 people on board.



Briefly in other news ..



Machete (MELBOURNE)

A nationwide police hunt is on to find two fugitive Melbourne brothers .. accused of
being part of a machete attack last month in which a bouncer's foot was almost severed.



Creek (BRISBANE)

Police in Brisbane will resume their search this morning for a young boy feared drowned
.. after he was swept away in a flooded creek.



in Sport ..



Twenty WA (PERTH)

A side injury to West Indian master blaster CHRIS GAYLE has rubbed salt into the wound
for Western Australia as South Australia posted a 29-run Twenty20 win at the WACA Ground.

GAYLE smashed five fours and three sixes but was unable to lift his adopted side to
victory with the Warriors bowled out for 167 in the 19th over.

Pakistan's SHAHID AFRIDI was named man of the match for his haul of 4-19 in front of
a sell-out crowd of 17,308.



Cricket Aust (MELBOURNE)

Australia need seven more wickets and Pakistan 252 runs on the final day of the first
Test at the MCG.

Pakistan will resume on three for 170 .. chasing 422 to win .. with Captain MOHAMMAD
YOUSUF unbeaten on 45 and UMAR AKMAL 27 not out.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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