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

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2004
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 18
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630

Bakhtiyari (ADELAIDE)

The federal government has told a family of asylum seekers to get out of Australia,
after moving them from suburban Adelaide to immigration housing in South Australia's north.

ROQIA BAKHTIYARI and her six children have been sent to Port Augusta early this morning
and given no time to pack their belongings.

Her husband ALI remains at the Baxter detention centre on Port Augusta's outskirts.

The family say they're from Afghanistan, but the government says they're from Pakistan
and could safely return.

Immigration Minister AMANDA VANSTONE says the BAKHTIYARI family has cost taxpayers
more than half a million dollars by having 20 claims heard and refused by the courts.



Celebrex (MELBOURNE)

The Pfizer drug company says it has no plans to withdraw the painkiller Celebrex from
the Australian market, despite an apparent increased risk of heart attack for some users.

Pfizer has announced on its website that a US study has found patients taking between
400 and 800 milligrams of the drug have a two-and-a-half times greater risk of major heart
problems.

A spokesman for Pfizer in Australia says the company won't make any further statement
about Celebrex until Monday.

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration says in its December bulletin that all
drugs in the same class as Celebrex should be regarded as having an increased risk until
more is known.

Australian Medical Association president BILL GLASSON has urged Australians taking
the drug to talk to their GPs but not to panic.



Iraq Aust Rudd (BRISBANE)

The federal opposition has called on the government to give it an urgent briefing on
the grenade attack on Australian troops in Iraq.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD says he particularly wants to find
out if everything possible is being done to ensure the security of all Australian personnel
in the Iraq war zone.

No-one was injured in the attack, but Mr RUDD has told AAP it's a sobering reminder
that Baghdad is a war zone for the hundreds of Australians still in the city.

Asked if the opposition will be calling for Australian troops serving in Iraq to return
home, Mr Rudd has said Labor will be working cooperatively on the best approach for all
personnel.

He says it's clear that Australian forces will be remaining in Iraq next year.



Charles Opposition (BRISBANE)

The federal opposition says the government is making an excessive number of political
appointments to international posts.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD says in the past eight years, the Howard
government has announced 19 political appointments to diplomatic posts around the world.

He says there were only 10 such appointments in 13 years under the former Labor government.

Mr RUDD says Labor isn't opposed in principle to making political appointments to Australian
diplomatic posts where they can be of use to Australia's long-term national interests.

But he says the government of Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD is making so many such appointments,
they're starting to behave like kids in a lolly shop.

His comments come after Mr HOWARD reportedly gave Liberal MP BOB CHARLES the post of
Australia's consul-general in Chicago.



Mideast (JERUSALEM)

Israeli Prime Minister ARIEL SHARON's Likud party and the opposition Labour Party have
agreed to form a national unity government.

A spokesman for SHARON says the Labour Party will have eight ministerial posts under
the accord, which is expected to be signed tomorrow.

Labour leader SHIMON PERES would be a deputy prime minister at the prime minister's office.

A spokesman for PERES says all obstacles to the coalition have been removed and it
will be formalised within 36 hours.

SHARON has been without a parliamentary majority for more than six months and needs
the coalition with Labour to implement his plan to pull Israeli soldiers and settlers
out of the Gaza Strip next year.



Nuclear IAEA (WASHINGTON)

US Secretary of State COLIN POWELL says he's told the head of the UN nuclear watchdog
agency that he ought to step down after completing his second term.

POWELL says it shouldn't have surprised anyone when the State Department publicly called
this week for the removal of MOHAMED ELBARADEI when his second term ends next summer.

He hasn't directed any public criticism at ELBARADEI, who's run the International Atomic
Energy Agency since 1997.

But it's believed the US is unhappy about his role in reporting progress in weapons
inspections in Iraq early last year while the US was trying to rally support for an invasion.

Australian Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER has said the United States has asked him
to challenge ELBARADEI for the job, but he's declined.



Coast Malaysia (KUALA LUMPUR)

Malaysia has joined Indonesia and New Zealand in criticising Australia's anti-terror
plan, saying it threatens the sovereignty of Australia's neighbours.

Australia announced on Wednesday it planned to closely monitor ships far beyond its
territorial waters to boost the country's defences against terrorist attacks and protect
its offshore oil and gas facilities.

But The New Straits Times quotes Malaysian Prime Minister ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI as
saying the plan could impinge on the sovereignty of other nations, and create problems
in the region.

The Australian plan has already drawn fire from Indonesia and New Zealand.



Xmas Suicide (SYDNEY)

A prominent welfare group says Christmas can be a time of stress and depression.

Sydney Wesley Mission Superintendent GORDON MOYES says the festive season can be a
time of contradictions.

He says people expect a happy day, but in reality it could be a time when people of
different generations, beliefs and values came together, resulting in disappointment and
conflict.

Mr MOYES says families should sit down and work out what's important to them before
they get caught up by advertising, and the dictates of friends and family.

He says as people prepare for Christmas, they should be aware of those around them
and any marked changes in behaviour that might indicate thoughts of suicide.



Virgin (MELBOURNE)

Budget airline Virgin Blue has renewed its call for federal government agencies to
buy tickets from whichever airline has the best fare of the day.

The move comes after regional airline Regional Express axed flights between Sydney
and Canberra after racking up $9 million in losses in the face of competition for government
travel contracts from Qantas.

Virgin Blue suspended its Sydney-Canberra service in September this year because the
government was slow to take up the policy of buying the best fare of the day.

Its government relations adviser, JOHN CALLAGHAN, says the airline won't fly the route
again until public servants and politicians actively seek the best fare.



Xmas Security (SYDNEY)

The federal government warns that air travellers risk having Christmas presents in
their luggage confiscated if they violate security rules.

Acting federal Transport Minister JIM LLOYD says more than 4 million passengers will
pass through security screening at Australia's major airports during December, including
the Christmas break.

Mr LLOYD says travellers should pack small and valuable items in their carry-on luggage
before they reach the screening point to save time when they get there.

However, he says sharp objects, such as knives, scissors and corkscrews should be left
behind, even if they're wrapped as a present.




BRIEFLY IN NEWS . . . . . . .




A 28-year-old man charged with rape and attempted rape in Australia has been arrested
in the Hollywood area by members of a fugitive task force.




US authorities have arrested a woman they allege came to the home of an eight-months-pregnant
woman -- purportedly to buy a dog -- then strangled her and cut the baby from her womb.




A new nationwide poll in the US says nearly half of all Americans believe the their
government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans.




AND IN SPORT . . . . . . . . .



NBL BULLETS (Brisbane)

The Brisbane Bullets have received an 11th hour clearance to play replacement import
BRIANT MATTHEWS in Saturday night's National Basketball League clash with the Sydney Kings.

The Immigration Department finalised the paperwork on the 22-year-old American today
and the Bullets were notified he could start Saturday night's game.



SOCCER CHAMPIONS (LONDON)

Chelsea manager JOSE MOURINHO has gotten the draw he wants with the English soccer
league leaders paired with RONALDINHO's Barcelona in the first knockout round of the Champions
League.

Nine times champions Real Madrid will play old rivals Juventus, while Manchester United
will face AC Milan.

Champions Porto will face Inter Milan and Arsenal will take on Bayern Munich.




ENDS EVENING BULLETIN

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