AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 18

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2010
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 18
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Boat Capsize Riot (MELBOURNE)

More than 100 asylum seekers staged separate protests on Christmas Island late yesterday
.. following Wednesday's boat tragedy.

Last night detainees protested outside the detention centre .. where they held up signs
and chanted pleas for help from the United Nations.

The first protest started about two in the afternoon Western Australian time .. in
an area called Phosphate Hill .. and involved about 50 people.

Meantime authorities are yet to announce whether emergency teams will continue the
search and recovery operation today for survivors of the Christmas Island boat accident.

The official death toll stands at 30 .. and Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD says there's
little chance any more people will be found alive.



Retail (MELBOURNE)

The growing trend to shop online to avoid paying GST has prompted a government inquiry
into Australia's retail sector.

The federal government has today announced a Productivity Commission inquiry into the
future of the sector and a crackdown on businesses rorting the system to avoid paying
tax.

Traditional retailers want the government to scrap the one thousand dollar GST-free
threshold for imported goods .. arguing it puts them at an unfair disadvantage in competing
with online stores.

Assistant Treasurer BILL SHORTEN says the case for lowering the threshold has significant
opposition .. including the cost of collection and consumer objections.



US Green (LOS ANGELES)

An Australian farmer has walked out of a US court a free man after a jury acquitted
him of allegations he raped a woman during a wild night of drinking and partying in Manhattan.

29 year-old DAVID GREEN .. a sheep and cattle farmer from northern New South Wales
.. has been locked up in New York's infamous Riker's Island jail for the past 18 months
awaiting trial.

After being freed .. an emotional GREEN said he was looking forward to a steak and a beer.

He also said he is planning to hit back hard at the 28-year-old Long Island woman who
accused him of the rape by filing a one million dollar civil lawsuit against her.



Assange (LONDON)

WikiLeaks founder JULIAN ASSANGE insists the site will continue its work despite what
he calls a smear campaign being run against him.

Overnight ASSANGE spoke from the English mansion where he's confined on bail as he
fights Sweden's attempt to extradite him on allegations of rape and molestation.

He told US television network ABC there appears to be a secret grand jury investigation
against him or his organisation and that their were more smears on their way .. but didn't
go into detail.

ASSANGE promised to focus on clearing his name .. but said his first priority was to
his work which will continue at a faster pace .. now that he's back in charge.

US officials are investigating WikiLeaks and considering charges against ASSANGE over
the release of secret US diplomatic cables.



Kids

Two policemen suffered minor burns overnight .. when they crawled into a buring house
at Dubbo west of Sydney .. after being told four children were inside.

The children were later found safe and well in a neighbour's house.

Police say emergency services were called to the home where a woman and four children
lived at 9.30 (AEST) last night .. and found it well alight.

Two Constables entered the burning house .. crawling towards the lounge room .. but
had to withdraw due to the heat and flames .. and tried to get in through the windows
.. before the children were found with neighbours.

One officer has minor burns to his arms and head .. while the other has minor burns to his face.



Weather Qld (BRISBANE)

Energex says the more than 32 thousand south-east Queensland homes that lost power
yesterday .. during the region's third straight day of storms .. have been reconnected
this morning.

Most were on the Gold Coast .. in Brisbane's northern suburbs .. Caboolture and areas
west of Ipswich.

More than 17 thousand lightning strikes and 100 kilometre winds were recorded when
storm cells swept over the region from about six in the evening .. however the State Emergency
Service says it was a relatively quiet night compared to the previous two days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a possible storm for Brisbane this afternoon.



Korea US (WASHINGTON)

The United States has insisted that a South Korean live-fire drill poses no threat
to the North and has warned Pyongyang against further provocative action.

State Department spokesman PHILIP CROWLEY says a country has every right to train and
exercise its military in its own self-defence .. and North Korea should not undertake
further provocative action.

His remarks came after North Korea's military threatened to strike with deadly firepower
if South Korea goes ahead with the drill on a border island.



UK Hurley (LONDON)

English actress ELIZABETh HURLEY says she's bored of the fuss surrounding her separation
from husband ARUN NAYAR .. and insists rumours she's preparing to file for divorce and
move to Australia are untrue.

The pair's relationship hit headlines early this week when the News of the World reported
the actress had spent two nights at a London hotel with Australian cricket ace SHANE WARNE
last week.

HURLEY has tweeted that she's taken no steps towards divorce and is staying in the
UK .. labelling the speculation silly.



Briefly in other news ..



Terror Sweden (STOCKHOLM)

The father-in-law of the Stockholm suicide bomber has denounced the 28-year-old attacker
as a brainwashed terrorist who rejected all the good that Sweden gave him.



US Tax (WASHINGTON)

US President BARACK OBAMA has savoured a big win .. signing a 860 billion dollar tax
law after a contentious deal with Republicans.



Germany Economy (FRANKFURT)

German business confidence has ended the year at an all-time high .. as Europe's top
economy heads for record growth thanks to a welcome recovery in domestic demand.



in Sport ..



Cricket Aust (PERTH)

Day three of the third Ashes test at the WACA will see Australia try to bat all day
in a bid to build a match-winning lead against England.

Australia will resume their second innings on 3-119 .. that's an overall lead of 200.

SHANE WATSON is on 61 and MIKE HUSSEY 24.

MITCHELL JOHNSON claimed 6-38 yesterday to help skittle England for 187.



Shield NSW (SYDNEY)

NSW skipper STUART CLARK has won the toss and chosen to bat in the Sheffield Shield
match against Queensland at Blacktown Oval today.

Quick MARK CAMERON is 12th man for the table-topping Blues while NATHAN RIMMINGTON
is carrying the drinks for the Bulls.



Shield Tas (HOBART)

Four wickets to Western Australian paceman MICHAEL HOGAN has put the Warriors back
into their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

The impressive figures of 4-33 to HOGAN helped restrict the Tigers to 4-163 ... a lead
of 55 runs.

MARK COSGROVE was the last man out when he was bowled for 100.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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