AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 9

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 9





Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Sheik Iran (SYDNEY)

Australia's leading Islamic cleric Sheik TAJ ALDIN ALHILALI has called for Muslims
to unite behind the hardline Iranian regime.

The Australian newspaper reports the mufti's called on the Islamic world to stand in
the trenches with the Islamic Republic of Iran .. which possesses the might and power.

The paper says Sheik ALHILALI .. who's in Tehran for the International Islamic Unity
forum .. told Alalam TV he's committed to the unity of the Islamic nation.

Meanwhile .. the controversial sheik is said to remain the mufti of Australia .. despite
reports of his dismissal.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has denied media reports it's dumped
him .. but AFIC president IKEBAL PATEL'S told Sky News ALHILALI's no longer being paid
for the position.



Toll National (SYDNEY)

The national Easter road toll has risen to 18 .. with the death of a woman in Victoria.

It takes the state's road toll for the holiday period to six.

The New South Wales Easter road toll stands at six .. while three fatalities occurred
on Queensland roads .. two in Western Australia .. and one in the ACT.

Tasmania .. South Australia .. and the Northern Territory remain fatality-free.



Timor (DILI)

Polls open across East Timor today .. with more than half a million of its citizens
due to elect a new president.

Locals have registered to vote in the election .. the first presidential poll since
the country was granted independence from Indonesia in 2002.

Eight candidates are vying to replace independence fighter XANANA GUSMAO as president
.. but experts predict none of them will earn the majority needed to win outright.



Workplace Fines (SYDNEY)

Large numbers of employers could face large fines for underpaying their workers ..

because the wages watchdog won't tell them what they are legally obliged to pay.

The Work Choices legislation has created thousands of new Australian Pay and Classification
Scales .. which set minimum wage entitlements.

But Fairfax newspapers report no government agency is publishing legally reliable copies
of them .. meaning an estimated two million workers cannot be sure they are being paid
properly.

And .. their employers don't have a definitive guideline explaining their legal obligations.



Rau (SYDNEY)

CORNELIA RAU's being forced into the NSW Supreme Court .. to seek compensation for
being wrongly detained for 10 months as an illegal immigrant.

Fairfax newspapers says lawyers for the German-born Australian resident confirmed their
launch of proceedings yesterday .. after negotiations with the federal government broke
down.

It's said talks failed to reach an agreement .. because of clashing opinions over who
was responsible for her detention.

Ms RAU's claim has been estimated as being worth one million dollars.



Climate Garrett (SYDNEY)

Labor's environment spokesman PETER GARRETT says the government's been left behind
on the issue of climate change.

Mr GARRETT says the dire predictions that droughts .. floods and storms will worsen
while sea levels rise .. exposed the complacency and denial which have hamstrung the government
on the issue.

He's told the Australian newspaper the focus on China's projected carbon emissions
.. at the expense of an Australian action plan .. doesn't encourage neighbouring nations
to embrace change.



Iraq Aust Compensation (SYDNEY)

The government has reportedly paid over 260 thousand dollars to Iraqis .. as compensation
for claims of personal harm or hardship caused by Australian soldiers.

News Limited newspapers say there were 37 individual payments for damage and injuries
resulting from car accidents .. ranging from 69 dollars to more than nine thousand dollars.

Other payments related to crop damage and shootings.



Easter Pope (VATICAN CITY)

Pope BENEDICT has celebrated Easter Sunday Mass on the steps of St Peter's Basilica
.. in front of thousands of pilgrims and tourists.

Wearing gold-coloured vestments .. the pope gripped a slender silver crucifix .. as
clerics sprinkled incense across the steps.

He's also expressed apprehension over the plight of Africans in several parts of the
world's poorest continent .. notably Zimbabwe .. Darfur and Somalia.

The Pope says prayer and a shared commitment to the common good is the only way forward
in Africa.



Briefly in other news ..




Treasurer PETER COSTELLO will be making an official visit to London and Washington
this week .. to meet those in charge of the bank of England and the International Monetary
Fund in the US.




The Al-Jazeera news channel has broadcast a video recording of what it says is one
of the most wanted members of SADDAM HUSSEIN's regime .. still on the run.




Greek authorities have announced plans to sue the owners of a cruise ship .. which
sank near the island of Santorini .. fearing a serious blow to the booming local tourist
economy from oil pollution.



in Sport ..



LEAGUE WRAP (SYDNEY)

Round four of the NRL will wrap up tonight with Cronulla hosting St George Illawarra
in a local derby at Toyota Park.

Both sides will be looking to make it two wins for season 2007 to join another six
sides on four points.

Yesterday .. Manly beat the New Zealand Warriors 13-10 at Brookvale Oval .. while the
Gold Coast downed Penrith 24-22 at CUA Stadium.





AFL WRAP (MELBOURNE)

Fremantle have suffered their second upset loss of the AFL season .. going down to
Essendon at Telstra Dome.

The Bombers beat the Dockers 19.8 (122) to 17.10 (112) yesterday .. to remain undefeated
after two rounds .. while the premiership-fancied Dockers are winless.

Port Adelaide notched their second win .. downing the Kangaroos 17.20 (122) to 15.14
(104) while Adelaide have their first win on the board .. thrashing the Western Bulldogs
16.14 (110) to 11.6 (72) at the MCG.



SUPER BRUMBIES (CANBERRA)

The Brumbies have surged into the Super 14 top four with a crushing 36-10 win over
the NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium.

They ran in five tries to one .. with champion five-eighth STEPHEN LARKHAM the star of the show.



MOTOR PRIX (SEPANG)

Double world champion FERNANDO ALONSO has raced to an emphatic victory at the Malaysian
Grand Prix.

British rookie LEWIS HAMILTON finished second .. to give McLaren their first one-two
finish since 2005.

Australian MARK WEBBER was tenth for Team Red Bull.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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