AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 26

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 26
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Boat (CANBERRA)

Another boatload of asylum seekers has been intercepted off Australia's northwest coast
.. the third in ten days .. and the eighth this year.

The boat .. carrying 54 passengers and two crew .. was intercepted by the navy yesterday
before it reached Australian waters.

Home Affairs Minister BOB DEBUS says the people from the boat have voluntarily transferred
to HMAS Albany .. and will be taken to Christmas Island .. where they'll undergo health
.. security and other checks.

The interception came as another boatload of asylum seekers were taken ashore on Christmas
Island .. and less than two weeks after an asylum seekers' boat exploded .. killing five
Afghans and injuring dozens.

Shadow foreign minister JULIE BISHOP says the influx has been caused by changes to
our border protection laws .. allowing asylum seekers to expect they'll be released into
the community before their refugee applications are processed.



Anzac National (SYDNEY)

As commemorations come to a close on the 94th Anzac Day .. Australians have shown that
as the ranks of veterans dwindle .. the numbers of those honouring them swells.

In cities and towns around Australia .. at Gallipoli and on the western front .. tens
of thousands have honoured the 1.8 million Australians who've gone off to war .. and the
102 thousand who never came back.

At all ceremonies Australians have been urged to keep faith with the Anzac spirit.

Defence Minister JOEL FITZGIBBON ventured to remote parts of Afghanistan on Anzac Day
to spend time with Australian troops.

And Treasurer WAYNE SWAN told a commemoration at the Washington National Cathedral
.. that young Australian men and women are now fighting alongside Americans in Afghanistan
.. principally to stop terrorism.



Crisis Swan (SYDNEY)

Treasurer WAYNE SWAN says Australia's being dragged into recession by the downturn
in the global economy .. but we're better positioned than other developed nations.

Speaking from Washington .. Mr SWAN's said the mood was sombre at the meeting he's
attended of ministers from the world's 20 leading economies.

But he says there wouldn't be a finance minister in that room who wouldn't swap places with him.

Mr SWAN says the RUDD government's working to cushion the Australian economy from the
effects of the global recession .. and to maximise the opportunities when global growth
returns.

The treasurer's also attending the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank.



IMF Protest (WASHINGTON)

More than 100 protesters .. upset with the way world leaders have handled the economic
crisis .. have clashed with police outside the meetings International Monetary Fund and
World Bank in Washington.

Authorities used batons and pepper spray when activists tried to march in a prohibited
street .. pushing several of them to the ground.



Med Flu (MEXICO CITY)

The World Health Organisation says a deadly new swine flu strain that's killed at least
20 people in Mexico City and sickened more than a thousand .. could become a pandemic.

Some fear it may be too late to contain the outbreak.

The disease has already reached Texas and California .. although there've been no deaths.

However .. Mexico City says schools are closed and all public events suspended until
further notice .. including more than 500 concerts .. sporting events and other gatherings.

The virus is a mix of human .. pig and bird strains .. deeply worrying to experts around
the world.

The WHO has convened in Geneva to consider whether to declare an international public
health emergency .. which could close borders and restrict trade.

There's no vaccine against swine flu .. and it's not clear how effective human flu vaccines are.



Pension (SYDNEY)

Single aged pensioners may lose one-third of an anticipated 30 dollar a week pay increase
in the forthcoming budget.

Fairfax media reports the government's considering increasing the pension by only 20
dollars a week .. so it can boost unemployment benefits.

The Newstart payment for unemployed singles is 453 dollar a fortnight .. while the
single aged pension is 570 dollars.



Bikies NSW (SYDNEY)

New South Wales' outlaw bikie gangs are planning to put aside their rivalries today
to form a council .. as they face harsh new laws to stop their escalating violence.

Senior club members will meet at a Rebels clubhouse at Leppington .. in southwest Sydney
.. to launch the New South Wales Bikers Council.

Sydney QC GEOFFREY NICHOLSON will act as their legal adviser .. and says they'll comment
on new bikie laws and offer some objectivity.

The move follows months of escalating bikie violence .. including a brawl in the domestic
terminal at Sydney airport last month which left one man dead.



SAfrica Vote Zuma (PRETORIA)

JACOB ZUMA has claimed a resounding victory for his African National Congress in general
elections .. and pledged to form a government for all South Africans.

With a 66 per cent majority in parliament .. the ANC is set to elect ZUMA as president
when the new legislature convenes on May 6.

The ANC took 264 seats in the 400-member parliament .. just two short of the number
needed to change the constitution at will.



SriLanka (COLOMBO)

The UN's humanitarian chief is due in Sri Lanka today .. as international concern over
tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the island's warzone fuels a White House call
for an immediate ceasefire.

So far the Sri Lankan government's resisted all calls to halt an offensive that's now
on the brink of wiping out guerilla group .. the Tamil Tigers .. who've been fighting
for an independent homeland since 1972.



Minogue (MELBOURNE)

Pop princess KYLIE MINOGUE'S island getaway off the coast of Victoria has been sold
.. and is set to become a high-profile health retreat.

News Limited says horse racing identity GRAEME LITTLE bought the French Island property
.. which has been on the market since February last year .. for a seven-figure sum this
week.



Briefly in other news ..



in Sport ..



LEAGUE (SYDNEY)

An imperious display by St George Illawarra five-eighth JAMIE SOWARD has guided the
Dragons to a 29-0 Anzac Day NRL victory over the Roosters yesterday.

In other action yesterday, Melbourne survived a spirited Warriors fightback to snatch
a 14-all draw, while North Queensland proved too good for Manly, winning 26-12.

Today, Canberra host the Bulldogs and Wests take on Newcastle at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.




AFL (PERTH)

Fremantle broke its 2009 duck and eased the pressure on coach MARK HARVEY with a convincing
21-point AFL victory over Sydney at Subiaco Oval last night.

North Melbourne skipper BRENT HARVEY is facing up to three months on the sidelines
after dislocating his elbow in the Kangaroos' shock 36-point loss to Richmond.

Hawthorn have held off West Coast for a tough 18-point win.

Youngster DAVID ZAHARAKIS has booted the winning goal in the final minute to give Essendon
a thrilling five-point win over Collingwood in the annual AFL Anzac Day blockbuster at
the MCG.

And today, Geelong take on Brisbane, the Western Bulldogs will host Carlton and Melbourne
wraps up round five against Adelaide.



TENNIS DAVIS AUST (NEW DELHI)

India's sports minister MANOHAR SINGH GILL has reacted strongly to Australia's decision
to boycott their Davis Cup tie in Chennai, saying the objections are unjustified.

Australia have declined to play the Asia-Oceania group 1 third-round tie from May 8-10
citing security fears, despite the International Tennis Federation insisting Chennai is
a safe venue.



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