AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 22Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630
Bali (DENPASAR)
Another suspect in the Bali bombing has been named after eight suspects took part inreconstructions in Java of meetings they allegedly held to plan the attacks.
Chief investigator Inspector General I MADE MANGKU PASTIKA says the emergence of thename ZULKARNAEN is perhaps the most important thing to come from the reconstructions.
He says ZULKARNAEN was commander of a little-known militia linked to terrorist groupJemaah Islamiah.
The re-enactments in Solo were an effort to uncover more about the suspects' allegedroles in plotting the October 12 explosions, which killed more than 180 people.
Similar re-enactments will be held today in Lamongan in East Java, near where two mainsuspects -- brothers AMROZI and MUKHLAS -- lived.
Police will tomorrow take the suspects to a chemical shop in Surabaya, an East Javacity, where AMROZI allegedly bought materials used in the Bali bombings.
Iraq (BAGHDAD)
UN weapons inspectors have spread across Iraq, as the US begins informing the UnitedNations of sensitive intelligence on the exact locations of factories and stores of weapons.
Meanwhile Britain is gearing up to fight alongside US forces in what appears to beincreasingly likely military operations to disarm Iraq.
Washington was previously reluctant to share information with the UN, fearing it mayfall into unfriendly hands.
The New York Times says the US is sharing state-of-the-art satellite imagery of sitesat which US intelligence believes Iraq has been developing chemical and biological weapons.
US President GEORGE W BUSH's cancellation of a trip to Africa next month has fuelledfurther speculation on US war plans.
Bushire NSW (MELBOURNE)
Three separate bushfires are burning in the Kosciusko National Park on the NSW andVictorian border.
Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman KEVIN MONK says it'sbelieved the fires were sparked by lightning strikes on Friday night, but weren't detecteduntil late yesterday.
He says there's only a moderate southerly wind, but conditions are particularly drynorth of the Great Dividing Range.
Each fire had burnt through about 60 hectares of land.
About 65 Victorian firefighters have joined their NSW counterparts in fighting the blaze.
Meanwhile, firefighters in Western Australia are enjoying a rest after three days ofrunning battles with bushfires.
WA fire service spokesman RAY BUCHAN says the state's firefighters rely on volunteerfirefighters, and many of them have been on the job since Thursday morning.
The only fire not under control is on the Nullarbor near Balladonia, and Mr BUCHANsays that will burn itself out.
Afghan (KABUL)
A military helicopter has crashed in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing all seven Germanpeacekeepers aboard and two children on the ground.
It's not clear what caused the helicopter crash, however witnesses say it was not shot down.
In Berlin, the German Defence Ministry says the crash will be investigated by German experts.
The helicopter was on a routine patrol over the city, and crashed in an area wheremany refugees live.
Detention Ruddock (PERTH)
Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK says it's likely a new company will take over managingAustralia's detention centres from the Australian Correctional Management.
Mr RUDDOCK says although negotiations are in the early stages, he believes the governmentwill get better value for money if it negotiates a contract with international prisonsoperator Group 4 Falck.
He says the department has called for tenders into the management of the detentionof asylum seekers and unlawful non-citizens at immigration facilities around Australia.
The contract includes providing services including security, health, educational andrecreational programs.
Meningococcal Vic (MELBOURNE)
In the Victorian town of Portland, a woman has died from meningococcal disease, ashealth authorities wind up the mass vaccination of more than 2,000 residents.
The Portland woman, 30, who died from meningococcal disease yesterday, was among agroup of four who fell ill last week.
Victoria's chief health officer Dr ROBERT HALL says a man, 42, who died in BendigoBase Hospital on Thursday from the disease is unrelated to the Portland cases.
A mass vaccination of all residents aged between 15 and 30 in the southwest Victoriancoastal town was organised after four cases were confirmed on Friday.
The tests confirmed three 19-year-old men and a 30-year-old woman from Portland contractedthe disease last weekend.
Yesterday 1,600 people received meningococcal C vaccinations and a further 800 weretreated today.
Obesity(MELBOURNE)
Doctors are being encouraged to prescribe their patients a dose of exercise and goodfood rather than drug medications.
Under a federal government initiative to boost the health of Australians, doctors willnow be able to officially prescribe lifestyle scripts from early next year.
Federal Health Minister KAY PATTERSON says the initiative is designed to give patientsconcise, consistent information from a trusted, credible authority.
The advice could include eating and exercise tips for obese people or patients withhigh cholesterol, or ways to quit smoking or reduce alcohol intake.
Senator PATTERSON says the lifestyle scripts will provide another option to popping pills.
Venezuela Aust (CANBERRA)
The Australian government is urging Australians in Venezuela to leave.
The Department of Foreign Affairs' upgraded travel advice says Venezuela's nationalstrike is fuelling political tensions.
DFAT says dependents of Australian embassy staff have been authorised to leave, andall travel to Venezuela should be deferred.
It says Australians who choose to remain in Venezuela should not travel to Amazonasstate or to any area within 75 kilometres along the Venezuelan border with Colombia.
Toll National (SYDNEY)
Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE says he'll review traffic penalties in the state afteran horrific start to the holiday season.
So far eight people have been killed on the nation's roads during the holiday period,with seven people killed in Queensland and one in New South Wales.
Mr BEATTIE has appealed to motorists to use their heads while on the road, and sayshe'll review traffic penalties.
(Eds: National road toll figures are for the period 0001 December 20 to 2359 January 5AEDT. Some states and territories have different periods.)
BRIEFLY . . .
About 20 protesters in mock body bags lay outside the British Consulate in Melbourne todayto draw attention to the consequences of a war on Iraq, with protesters urging the Australianand British governments NOT to support a US-led attack on Iraq.
Telstra says it expects Australians will spend more than four and a half million hourson the telephone on Christmas Day and the phone company says it's gearing up for a recordnumber of calls.
IN SPORTS NEWS . . .
Tri Aust (PERTH)
Australian captain RICKY PONTING has won the toss and decided to bat in the day-nightcricket match against Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground.
It's hot and humid in Perth with a chance of thunderstorms.
Australia has made three changes with allrounder BRAD HOGG, wicketkeeper RYAN CAMPBELLand quick ANDY BICHEL in for the injured pair of SHANE WARNE and ADAM GILCHRIST, whileJASON GILLESPIE is 12th man.
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper ROMESH KALUWITHARANA has been recalled in favour of THILAN SAMARAWEERA.
CRICKET AUST (SYDNEY)
STUART MACGILL has replaced the injured SHANE WARNE in the Australian team for thefourth Ashes cricket Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting onBoxing Day.
If MACGILL plays, it'll be his first Test since taking match figures of seven for 174against South Africa in Sydney in January.
The New South Wales 31-year-old has an outstanding Test record with 82 wickets from17 matches at an average of 25.
ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP
AAP RTV/jtb
KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP
No comments:
Post a Comment