AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 24

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 24
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Iraq Aust (CANBERRA)

Two Australian soldiers have been injured by a roadside bomb while on patrol in southern Iraq.

But Defence says their injuries aren't believed to be life-threatening.

Two Australian light armoured vehicles were patrolling DHI QAR province .. north of
AN NASARIYAH .. about 6.30 last night local time .. when a home-made bomb was detonated.

The injured soldiers were in the first vehicle .. which was seriously damaged in the
blast and destroyed by a subsequent fire.

Defence says one soldier has lower leg injuries .. and the other less serious wounds.



Meanwhile .. the Prime Minister says one reason he won't withdraw Australian troops
from Iraq .. is because it would humiliate the United States.

JOHN HOWARD says it would be a colossal blow to American prestige around the world
.. if the coalition pulled out of Iraq and appeared to have lost the war.

He's told ABC radio America's power and support is important for Australian security
.. and he won't support a policy that weakens it.



Iraq Blast (BAGHDAD)

Nine US soldiers have been killed and 20 wounded .. in a suicide car bombing at a US
base north-east of Baghdad.

The attack's occurred in Diyala province .. a volatile area that's been the site of
fierce fighting between US and Iraqi troops .. Sunni insurgents .. and Shi'ite militias.



Russia Yeltsin Howard (BRISBANE)

JOHN HOWARD says BORIS YELTSIN will be remembered for his contribution to democracy in Russia.

The former Russian president died overnight .. aged 76.

Mr HOWARD says the momentous occasion .. when Mr YELTSIN stood on a tank outside the
Russian parliament and held back the counter-revolution by the former Soviet regime's
old guard .. was an extraordinary event.

He's told ABC radio Mr YELTSIN has a place in history .. even though he later lost
a lot of credibility on economic issues.



ANZAC Billson (CANBERRA)

Australians heading for Gallipoli to mark Anzac Day .. are being warned there's a high
threat of a terrorist attack in Turkey.

Veterans Affairs Minister BRUCE BILLSON says the Gallipoli peninsula isn't considered
to be more of a target than any other area in the country .. and first class security
arrangements are in place.

But he's told the Nine Network visitors should exercise a high level of caution ..

and those considering travelling to the border with Syria .. should think again.



Veterans Howard (CANBERRA)

The Prime Minister's hinted war veterans could be in line for extra government assistance
.. just a fortnight out from the federal budget.

The suggestion's arisen during a talkback session on ABC radio .. when a caller criticised
the failure of veterans' benefits to keep pace with the cost of living.

But Mr HOWARD refused to elaborate .. when pressed by the radio host.



Workplace Howard (BRISBANE)

The Prime Minister says employers can't use the Work Choices phrase .. operational
reasons .. to sack a worker and re-advertise their job at a lower salary.

His comment follows a landmark ruling in the Industrial Relations Commission .. that
Work Choices gives companies broader grounds to sack workers .. under the guise of operational
reasons.

The commission found .. no valid reason for a sacking need be considered .. when the
phrase "for operational reason" is used.



Climate Milne (CANBERRA)

The Australian Greens want greenhouse gas emissions cut by 80 per cent by 2050 .. but
say they haven't calculated the cost.

Greens Senator CHRISTINE MILNE says the boom in California at the moment .. as well
as the energy revolution in Germany and Japan .. show moving out of old electricity generation
into solar and renewables .. creates jobs and huge amounts of investment.

She's told ABC TV the Greens haven't done economic modelling for their plan .. saying
that's the job of government.



Climate US Crow (NEW YORK)

Singer/songwriter SHERYL CROW is suggesting a cheeky solution to wipe away global warming
.. save trees by limiting each trip to the loo to one piece of toilet paper.

According to a statement on her website .. CROW says people are industrious enough
to make it work with only one square per restroom visit .. except on those pesky occasions
where two to three could be required.



Briefly in other news ..




The fire danger season for Adelaide's Mount Lofty Ranges has been extended until the
end of next month .. because of the drought.




Leaked minutes of a meeting .. reveal maritime authorities had agreed to ban private
boats from around the Sydney Harbour Bridge .. before the ferry disaster that claimed
four lives on March 28 when a 10-metre cruiser and a Sydney Ferries HarbourCat collided
under the bridge.




The Vatican's second-highest ranking doctrinal official has forcefully branded homosexual
marriage an evil .. and denounced abortion and euthanasia as forms of terrorism with a
human face.




Veterans Affairs Minister BRUCE BILLSON says pubs and clubs that ban the traditional
Anzac Day game of two-up .. are admitting they can't manage their own patrons.



In Finance ..




At 1104 AEST .. the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was DOWN 21.9 points to 6,187.3 .. and
the all ordinaries index was DOWN 19.1 points to 6,173.1.

The Australian dollar was trading at 83.27 US cents .. DOWN from 83.45 US cents at
Monday's close.

It was at 61.36 euro cents .. DOWN from 61.44 cents on Monday.

In Sydney .. gold bullion was trading at $US688.50 per fine ounce .. DOWN $US2.35 from
$US690.85 at the local close on Monday.



in Sport ..



WC07 Woolmer (SAN JUAN)

The body of slain Pakistan cricket coach BOB WOOLMER has been released by a coroner
and will be returned to his native South Africa.

Deputy Police Commissioner MARK SHIELDS .. who has been leading the homicide investigation
.. is working with a funeral home to repatriate the body as soon as possible.

A coroner's inquest scheduled to begin today has been postponed indefinitely because
of undisclosed developments in the case.



AFL Eagles Cousins (MELBOURNE)

Former West Coast captain BEN COUSINS could fly home to Perth as soon as this weekend
.. ending his drug rehabilitation program in California.

COUSINS headed to the US for treatment last month .. after being suspended indefinitely
by the club for failing to meet training requirements.



AFL Rising (MELBOURNE)

Collingwood's SCOTT PENDLEBURY has been rewarded for an impressive display in last
Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide .. by earning the round-four nomination for the AFL
Rising Star Award.

PENDLEBURY kicked two goals .. gathered 20 disposals and laid five tackles in wet conditions
at the MCG .. in the match which the Power won by 18 points.



League Warriors (WELLINGTON)

Utility back MICHAEL WITT has signed a contract extension to stay with the New Zealand
Warriors until the end of the 2009 NRL season.

The former Parramatta and Manly halfback joined the Auckland-based club this year on
a one-year deal and has appeared in all five games to date.

ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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