AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 27

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 27
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Flu Wrap (SYDNEY)

Canada's become the third country to confirm human cases of swine flu .. as global
health officials consider whether to raise the global pandemic alert level.

More than 80 people have been killed by the virus in Mexico .. six have been diagnosed
in Canada .. and 20 in the US .. where the outbreak has been declared a public health
emergency.

The virus appears to have spread as far away as New Zealand where 13 students have
reported flu like symptoms after returning from Mexico .. 10 of the group will find out
later today or tomorrow if they're infected.

In Australia .. two people in Queensland and two in New South Wales .. also recently
returned from Mexico .. have been cleared of the virus

The Australian Medical Association says Australia is well prepared to deal with a deadly
outbreak saying the nation's health system has strong communication networks and has stores
of the anti-viral agent Tamiflu.

Meanwhile .. the World Health Organisation's emergency committee plans to meet tomorrow
to decide whether to lift the threat level .. while countries including China .. Russia
.. and Taiwan are already looking at putting anyone with symptoms of the deadly virus
under quarantine.

The WHO is considering whether to issue non-binding recommendations on travel and trade
restrictions .. and even border closures.



Mortgage (SYDNEY)

The federal government will lift the limit for hardship mortgage assistance .. to try
to stop struggling homeowners from losing their properties as the credit crunch bites.

News Limited reports people with mortgages of up to 500-thousand dollars will now be
eligible to ask lenders for help .. up from the current cap of 312-thousand-400.

Banks and mortgage lenders will decide whether to give the assistance .. which can
come in the form of extending a loan contract or granting a repayment holiday.

News Ltd says the plan .. to be announced today .. should be in place by November.



Afghan Aust (CANBERRA)

A senior Australian commander says the top military chief in Afghanistan wants more
Australian troops to train and mentor local forces.

Brigadier JOHN CALIGARI has told ABC Radio General DAVID McKIERNAN frequently says
he needs more personnel to mentor the Afghan National Army.

He says the general wants more mentors because the only way they'll get out of there
is if Afghani soldiers learn to stand up and take responsibility for the security.

There are currently more than 1000 troops in Afghanistan .. and the Rudd government
is tipped to increase Australia's military presence by expanding the training team.



Allowance (SYDNEY)

Federal Superannuation Minister NICK SHERRY has defended a decision to give federal
MPs an extra 90 dollars a week.

Fairfax reports the Independent Remuneration Tribunal has increased their electoral
allowance by 4700 dollars to 32 thousand.

Senator SHERRY has told Macquarie Radio there hasn't been a rise in the allowance for
nine years and it's been a long time coming.

He says the money is used to fund local raffles .. charities to sporting organisations
and is not a pay rise.



Toddler (BRISBANE)

A man's been remanded in custody over the alleged attempted murder and rape of his
two-year-old son.

The 35-year-old man appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court today charged with attempted
murder .. rape and indecent dealing with a child.

Police say they found his son with serious injuries at their Collingwood Park home
.. southwest of Brisbane .. yesterday morning.

The boy is in a critical condition and is being treated in the Mater Children's Hospital.

The man will reappear in court on June 10.



Bird (SYDNEY)

Former NRL star GREG BIRD has pleaded guilty to a public mischief offence .. but denies
assaulting his girlfriend.

BIRD is accused of glassing KATE MILLIGAN in the face at his Cronulla apartment last August.

Police also allege BIRD attempted to deceive them when he claimed his flatmate was
responsible for Ms MILLIGAN'S injuries.

In the Downing Centre Local Court today .. barrister JOHN DAILLY SC entered a guilty
plea for BIRD for public mischief .. he's pled not guilty to two assault offences and
making a false accusation.

The matter's been adjourned until later today.



SriLanka (COLOMBO)

The Sri Lankan government has rejected a ceasefire offered by Tamil Tigers.

The UN and the Group of Eight industrialised nations called for the truce in a bid
to ease the humanitarian crisis in the county's north .. where thousands of civilians
are trapped in the war zone.

Defence secretary GOTABHAYA RAJAPAKSE says there's no need for a truce .. as the military
is on the verge of defeating the separatist forces .. who've fought for 37 years for the
creation of an independent Tamil homeland.



Briefly in other news ..



Gorge (PERTH)

Police and emergency service workers are attempting to retrieve the body of a man from
a deep gorge .. in Western Australia's Kimberley .. after ge fell into it yesterday.



Dog (SYDNEY)

A malnourished dog had its tail slammed in the door of a vehicle and was dragged 30
metres down a southern Sydney street by its owner.



Lion Nathan (SYDNEY)

Australia's second biggest brewer Lion Nathan is set to be bought out by Japan's Kirin
.. the deal's now being taken to Lion Nathan sharholders.



US Hampton (HAMPTON)

An 18-year-old former student has shot the night manager and a pizza delivery man in
a dormitory at Hampton University in Virginia .. before turning the gun on himself ..

all three are in hospital.



UK Bafta (LONDON)

Naturalist DAVID ATTENBOROUGH .. actor KENNETH BRANAGH and comedy duo FRENCH and SAUNDERS
have been honoured with gongs at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards.



in Finance ..



Finance Markers RADIO MORNING

At 11.20 (AEDT) .. the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was UP 60.7 points at 3773, while
the broader All Ordinaries Index ROSE 59.9 points to 3728.1.

The Australian dollar was at 71.73 US cents .. UP from Friday's local close of 71.33 US cents.

It was at 54.33 euro cents .. UP from 54.15 euro cents on Friday.

The spot price of gold in Sydney was $US915.55, UP $4.85 from $US911.70 per fine ounce on Friday.



in Sport ..



Golf Women (DENIA)

Australia's team of NIKKI GARRETT and JOANNE MILLS has finished tied second in the
European Nations Golf Cup in Spain.

GARRETT and MILLS combined for a final-round 71 to finish four behind the Dutch team
of CHRISTEL BOELJON and MARJET VAN DER GRAAFF.



Golf PGA (NEW ORLEANS)

American veteran JERRY KELLY has won his first PGA title in seven years .. fighting
back after squandering the lead to win the 8.5 million dollar Zurich Classic by one stroke.

Australian ROD PAMPLING closed with a one-over 73 to finish tied 13th.



Motor Indy (KANSAS CITY)

Some cruel misfortune for Australian driver RYAN BRISCOE has allowed New Zealander
SCOTT DIXON to win the Road Runner Turbo Indy 500 in Kansas City.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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