AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 21

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 21
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Haneef decision (BRISBANE)

Former terror suspect MOHAMED HANEEF has won his latest court battle to return to Australia
.. but the new Rudd federal government might still appeal the decision in the High Court.

The full bench of the Federal Court has dismissed an appeal lodged by Howard government
lawyers against a judge's decision to reinstate Dr HANEEF'S visa.

Chief Justice MICHAEL BLACK has handed down the decision in Melbourne.

Counsel representing new Immigration Minister CHRIS EVANS has applied for the judge's
decision to be stayed .. pending a possible appeal to the High Court.

But STEPHEN KEIM SC .. representing Dr HANEEF .. has opposed the application .. saying
there's no justification for it and his client's life shouldn't be disrupted any further.

Dr HANEEF's other lawyer PETER RUSSO says a decision is yet to be made about whether
or not his client will also seek compensation.

Mr RUSSO says even if he regains the right to work in Australia .. he might not return
.. and his client's main aim was to clear his name.

Dr HANEEF is currently in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca on the annual Muslim pilgrimage.



Hicks (ADELAIDE)

A federal magistrate has ruled DAVID HICKS remains a risk of taking part in terrorist
acts .. and will be subject of a control order when he's released from jail.

HICKS will be placed under a curfew and have to report to police three times a week
when he walks out of jail next week.

The conditions have been included as part of a control order on the confessed terrorism
supporter .. sought by the Australian Federal Police .. his lawyers did not oppose the
AFP's application.



Cornwall (SYDNEY)

Child sex offender and rapist RAYMOND BARRY CORNWALL is back in a police cell .. after
being recaptured near Wollongong.

CORNWALL's been taken to Wollongong police station after being spotted by an off duty
officer at Stanwell Park.

The officer called for backup and CORNWALL was arrested after a short chase.

On Wednesday .. CORNWALL breached the tough conditions of his release by absconding
from his Parramatta accommodation .. just 30 minutes after being fitted with an electronic
ankle monitor.

The officer who spotted CORNWALL .. was a 40 year old veteran of the force .. and was
jogging on the beach at the time.

Chief Inspector MARK LAVERS of Wollongong Police says the senior sergeant is very experienced
and very fit.

Inspector LAVERS has told Macquarie Radio he doesn't want to be named .. but has done
a really good job.



Folbigg (SYDNEY)

Convicted baby killer KATHLEEN FOLBIGG has lost her appeal against her conviction for
the murder of four children.

40 year old FOLBIGG is serving at least 25 years for killing the children .. between
19 days and 19 months old .. from 1989 to 1999.

She was found guilty by a NSW Supreme Court jury in 2003 on three counts of murder
and one count of manslaughter.

Her original appeal against conviction and sentence was dismissed .. but she was allowed
to reopen her bid after startling new evidence came to light.

The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected FOLBIGG'S appeal .. finding there was
an overwhelming case against her.

It's found amateur searches of the internet by jurors in her case .. hadn't resulted
in a miscarriage of justice.



Quake NZ (WELLINGTON)

A state of emergency has been declared for the centre of the eastern New Zealand city
of Gisborne .. after a powerful 6.8 earthquake flattened buildings and caused widespread
damage.

No major injuries have been reported since the quake hit late yesterday on the east
coast of the north island .. despite it being felt as far as Dunedin on the South Island.

The centre of the city .. home to 42-thousand people .. has been cordoned off by police
.. after two buildings collapsed.

Engineers are now assessing the damage .. while essential services have been restored.



Miners (MELBOURNE)

Mining is expected to restart within 24 hours in part of the Bendigo mine unaffected
by a toxic fume outbreak .. in which eleven miners were injured yesterday.

CESAR MELHEM from the Australian Workers' Union Victoria says the area where the explosion
occurred at Perseverance Corporation gold mine at Fosterville .. is still closed.

But he says a risk assessment is underway to enter the unaffected section of the mine
.. and production will resume by at least tomorrow .. possibly earlier.

He says the affected part of the mine will remain closed until a formal investigation
takes place .. which could take weeks.

MARK MITCHELL from Perseverance Corporation says it's essential to make absolutely
sure the unaffected section of the mine is safe.



Cluster (SYDNEY)

Authorities have ruled out the likelihood of a cancer cluster at Sydney's Concord Hospital
after a five-month investigation.

The Public Health Unit inquiry .. which was prompted by the cases of several women
who had been diagnosed with breast cancer .. identified 24 women from three different
areas of the hospital with the disease.

Hospital General Manager DANNY O'CONNOR says the study has found no evidence of an
excessive number of breast cancer cases in any one particular area of the hospital.

He says it's now important to reassure staff the working environment is safe and healthy.

Sydney Cancer Centre director of research BRUCE ARMSTRONG says analysis indicates the
cases of breast cancer were within the number of cases expected in any sample of the general
community.



Swiss Chaplin (GENEVA)

Screen legend CHARLIE CHAPLIN's Swiss retreat is set to become a museum dedicated to
his life following the sale of the house.

The house .. overlooking Lake Leman .. was CHAPLIN's home for the final 25 years of
his life .. and will now house a permanent exhibition .. a 200-seat cinema .. a shop and
a restaurant.



in Finance ..




At 1108 AEDT, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was UP 41.9 points at 6218.8, and the
all ordinaries index was UP 37.7 points at 6282.5.

The Australian dollar was trading at 85.91 US cents, UP from Thursday's local close
of 85.86 US cents.

It was at 59.92 euro cents, UP from 59.75 euro cents on Thursday.

In Sydney, the spot price of gold was $U797.10 per fine ounce, DOWN $US3.95 from Thursday's
local close of $US801.05.



in Sport ..



Cricket India (MELBOURNE)

A damp field has delayed the start of play on day two of India's tour match against Victoria.

Despite the ground being bathed in sunshine, play is unlikely to start until noon (AEDT)
with the heavy rain which fell at the Junction Oval yesterday continuing to have an impact
on the match.

One end of the wicket is still damp from when water seeped under the covers yesterday,
and the bowler run-ups are also still damp.

The umpires will inspect the wicket again at 11.30am.

India will resume at three for 110, with SOURAV GANGULY on 51 and RAHUL DRAVID 33.



Tennis Open Betting (MELBOURNE)

Australian Open organisers have taken a stand against tennis match-fixing, introducing
anti-corruption measures designed to stop illegal gambling during next month's tournament.

Tennis Australia have unveiled its anti-corruption policy, which include a match-fixing
hotline to report alleged corruption, a ban on unauthorised use of laptop computers courtside,
and increased security measures designed to restrict access to players.

It follows claims of suspicious betting activity on several overseas matches this year,
as well as players claiming they had been approached to throw matches.

The Open is the first Grand Slam tournament to introduce such measures.

AAP RTV gh/plh


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