AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Feb 15

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Feb 15
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Egypt (CAIRO)

The political protests that toppled the regime of Egypt's strongman HOSNI MUBARAK have
given way to a nationwide explosion of pay strikes.

A pressure group tracking industrial action says workers in banking .. transport ..

oil .. tourism .. textiles .. state-owned media .. and government bodies .. are striking
to demand higher wages and better conditions.

The Centre for Trade Union and Workers' Services says it's difficult to say exactly
how many people are striking and where .. with the salary gap between management and staff
a major issue.



Iran (TEHRAN)

In Iran .. riot police have fired tear gas and shot paintballs at protesters .. who
turned what they say was a Tehran rally in support of Arab uprisings .. into an anti-government
demonstration.

The clashes broke out at Tehran's prominent Azadi (Freedom) Square .. when crowds of
opposition supporters began chanting "Death to Dictator!" .. a slogan used by protesters
against President MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD after the disputed 2009 presidential election.



Indon Bashir (JAKARTA)

Indonesian Muslim cleric ABU BAKAR BASHIR has rejected allegations he was the leader
of a terrorist network found training in Aceh.

He says a string of fresh charges against him have been fabricated .. and he's simply
defending Islam.

The trial of the ageing cleric resumed yesterday amid heavy security at the South Jakarta
District Court .. with prosecutors reading out a 93-page indictment detailing the seven
charges against him.

The trial's been adjourned until February 24.



Shooting (SYDNEY)

It's believed one of the three men injured in another shooting in Sydney's west is
a member of the IBRAHIM family.

Police have urged unwilling informants to come forward after the shooting .. at Old
Guildford on Sunday night .. which they say may be linked to criminal gangs.

TV reports have indicated one of the victims is believed to be HASSAN `SAM' SAYOUR
.. the nephew of nightclub entrepreneur JOHN IBRAHIM.

Detectives are waiting for medical clearance to interview the three wounded men ..

who all remain in hospital in stable conditions.



Hospitals Rudd (MELBOURNE)

Foreign Affairs Minister KEVIN RUDD has given his backing to the health reforms overseen
by Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD with state premiers this week.

Mr RUDD has told ABC TV's Lateline program after several years, the government has
achieved a major national health reform.

Ms GILLARD reached a deal with the states and territories to overhaul hospital funding
on Sunday .. with the federal government providing more than 16 billion dollars in new
money from now to 2020 .. replacing the one negotiated by Mr RUDD in April 2010.



NZ Gillard (AUCKLAND)

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD will touch down in Auckland this morning .. for two days
of talks aimed at further tightening trans-Tasman ties.

Ms GILLARD will hold meetings with her New Zealand counterpart JOHN KEY to progress
work on a Single Economic Market .. a program to remove red tape for businesses operating
in both countries.

Talks are also likely to include other regional issues .. such as ongoing instability
in Fiji .. whaling .. illegal boat arrivals .. and promoting the trans-Tasman relationship
at the Rugby World Cup.

But the New Zealand Green Party has blocked her from speaking during a formal sitting
of parliament.



Parly Qld (BRISBANE)

Queensland's flood and cyclone victims will be remembered at a special parliamentary
sitting in Brisbane today.

Premier ANNA BLIGH has announced this year's first sitting day will be a day of reflection
on the devastation and heartbreak brought by both natural disasters.



Meanwhile .. work continues to remove asbestos from properties affected by the disasters.



Electricity OFarrell (SYDNEY)

An electricity expert says NSW will suffer a hike in power prices because of the sale
of the state's electricity assets.

Professor TONY OWEN was hired to advise the state government three years ago by former
premier MORRIS IEMMA .. recommending major investment and full privatisation.

Instead .. the Labor government recently signed a 5.3 billion dollar deal for part
privatisation .. and Professor OWEN's told the Seven Network NSW will now suffer higher
prices because of it.



Wikileaks Aust (CANBERRA)

JULIAN ASSANGE says the federal government has acted obscenely and worked against WikiLeaks.

In the latest of a series of media interviews .. Mr ASSANGE has attacked Prime Minister
JULIA GILLARD and Attorney-General ROBERT MCCLELLAND.

He's told ABC Television his decision to leave Australia was based on intelligence
that suggested the Australian government would not effectively protect him from the United
States.

He's now living in rural England as he fights his extradition to Sweden to face sex
charge allegations.



Green (CANBERRA)

A pregnant woman says she was left alone at a New South Wales public hospital .. where
she miscarried her child while waiting for surgery.

HEATHER GREEN says she was calling out for help as she miscarried at Blacktown Hospital
last Wednesday .. almost a full day since she first arrived.

It's prompted an apology from the hospital and a promise from Health Minister CARMEL
TEBBUTT to look into the incident.



Gay (MELBOURNE)

High profile Catholic priest Father BOB MAGUIRE says he would marry a gay couple ..

but not in church.

The 75-year-old says it's his duty to help people in need .. including homosexual couples.



Royals Wedding (LONDON)

Prince HARRY has been confirmed as best man for the April 29 wedding of his big brother
WILLIAM .. with a raft of royal youngsters and friends also joining the line-up of attendants.

Clarence House has also announced that KATE MIDDLETON has asked her sister .. PHILIPPA
"PIPPA" MIDDLETON .. to be maid of honour .. while four bridesmaids aged between eight
and three .. and two page boys .. will also attend her.



Royals Dress (LONDON)

A see-through knitted dress .. that some believe played a key role in bringing KATE
MIDDLETON and Prince WILLIAM together .. will be auctioned off in London next month.

MIDDLETON wore the transparent lace dress over black lingerie at a 2002 charity fashion
show at the University of St Andrews when the two students were just friends.

The piece of royal history is expected to sell for around 13-thousand dollars at Kerry
Taylor Auctions on March 17.



AND IN SPORT:


SOCCER AL (MELBOURNE)

Brisbane Roar players have dominated the A-League team of the year selected by the
players' union .... seven are in the starting 11.

And Brisbane's ANGE POSTECOGLOU won more than 70 per cent of the vote for coach of the year.

Meanwhile, MARK VIDUKA has been officially made a legend of Australian soccer ....

voted by his peers.

The 35-year-old VIDUKA is only the fourth player to receive the ALEX TOBIN MEDAL.



AFL INJURIES (MELBOURNE)

Key Collingwood defender NATHAN BROWN may not play this season after rupturing the
anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at training yesterday.

Fremantle utility GARRICK IBBOTSON is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an ankle injury.



LEAGUE STORM (MELBOURNE)

Melbourne Storm are preparing to start their NRL season without star fullback BILLY
SLATER ... whose recovery from shoulder surgery is slower than expected.



LEAGUE TIGERS (SYDNEY)

Wests Tigers backrower LIAM FULTON will miss just one NRL trial match after getting
from a double discount on a dangerous throw charge for his ugly tackle on JOHNATHAN THURSTON
in the All Stars clash.



CWC11 AUST (BANGALORE, India)

Australia's momentum from the one-day series win over England is under threat in tonight's
final World Cup warm-up game against South Africa in Bangalore.

The pitch is expected to favour slow bowlers as it did on Sunday when tournament co-hosts
India used spinners to beat Australia.



SHIELD TAS (HOBART)

An unbeaten 160 from Tasmanian captain GEORGE BAILEY lifted the Tigers to a five-wicket
victory in their Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria in Hobart.

The win cements Tasmania in second place on the table, four points adrift of New South
Wales, but 12 points clear of the third-placed Victorians.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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