AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 5

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 5
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Aust Stocks (SYDNEY)

Stock markets have fallen around the world over rising fears of another economic downturn
and the Australian share market has followed suit, falling by around four per cent at
today's open.

Banks dropped sharply, with ANZ shares falling by more than five per cent, Westpac
and National Australia Bank by more than four per cent, and Commonwealth Bank by more
than two per cent.

At 10.13am (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 168.6 points, or 3.94 per
cent, at 4,107.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 180.6 points, or by 4.149
per cent, to 4,172.3.

On the ASX 24, the September share price index futures contract was down 159 points
at 4,083 with 23,012 contracts traded.



Economy Swan (BRISBANE)

Federal Treasurer WAYNE SWAN says moved to reassure the markets, saying Australia's
on stronger economic ground than Europe and the United States.

Shortly after the local market opened down this morning, Mr SWAN told reporters Australians
shouldn't forget the nation's economic credentials are among the strongest in the developed
world.

He says there's a world of difference between the situation here and that in Europe and the US.



Boat (CANBERRA)

The United Nations' children's agency says it's extremely concerned that unaccompanied
minors may be deported from Christmas Island under Labor's asylum seeker swap deal with
Malaysia.

The first boatload of people to be sent back overseas arrived on Christmas Island yesterday.

Immigration Minister CHRIS BOWEN says there are 36 adults and 19 people who are either
clearly, or claiming to be, minors.

Fourteen of the children are unaccompanied and UNICEF Australia is calling on Mr BOWEN
NOT to send them to Malaysia for processing.



Freeman (SYDNEY)

Kings Cross night club owner ADAM FREEMAN's expected to front Sydney's Central Local
Court later today, to face drug related charges after being extradited from Thailand.

The 28-year-old son of the late underworld figure GEORGE FREEMAN left Australia in
December, after a friend was allegedly caught with twenty kilograms of ecstasy.

New South Wales police today confirmed Mr FREEMAN was escorted by police on a flight
from Thailand early this morning, to face charges over the alleged manufacture and supply
of amphetamines worth more than three million dollars.



Tiger (MELBOURNE)

Singapore-based Tiger Airways says it's never considered pulling the plug on its Australian
operations as it continues to be suspended from the air for safety reasons.

Newly-installed group chief executive CHIN YAU SENG says the company remains confident
that Tiger will fly again in Australia and win back passengers.

Tiger's been grounded since July 1 for safety reasons, after two incidents where pilots
approached Tullamarine and Avalon airports at too low an altitude, and concerns over issues
like pilot training and aircraft operations.



Retail Hockey (SYDNEY)

Federal opposition treasury spokesman JOE HOCKEY says the Australian retail sector
needs greater flexibility, with shops allowed to open through the night to compete with
online rivals.

The domestic retail sector is under the pump with latest data showing retail spending
down 0.1 per cent in June, the second consecutive month of decline.

A growth in online sales is said to be partly to blame.



Beckett (SYDNEY)

ROSEANNE BECKETT says it's ludicrous she must prove her innocence after murder convictions
against her were quashed after spending 10 years in jail.

Ms BECKETT, formerly CATT, is suing the NSW government for compensation, claiming she
was maliciously prosecuted.

A NSW Supreme Court judge today ruled that she must first prove her innocence in relation
to five charges, which the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped after the Court of
Criminal Appeal said they should be re-tried.

Outside court, Ms BECKETT said she plans to appeal, adding it's ludicrous the DPP and
the crown are again asking her to prove her innocence after a court found she'd been conspired
against.



US Rocca (LOS ANGELES)

Former AFL star SAV ROCCA is in legal hot water in the US and it has nothing to do
with his work visa problems.

A woman has filed a lawsuit against ROCCA and his former NFL team, the Philadelphia
Eagles, claiming she suffered severe, diverse and permanent injuries two years ago after
ROCCA called for a ball he kicked into the stands to be thrown back to him.

DEBRA A CAMPANA'S lawyers say the Eagles were careless in not having procedures and
personnel in place to return footballs from the stands.

ROCCA, who now plays with the Washington Redskins, has been stranded in Australia unable
to secure a US work visa.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS:


US Babies (READING)

In the United States, a woman who says she secretly gave birth to five babies in her
bathtub and hid the bodies in a closet, has pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced
to the maximum 20 to 40 years in prison.



Platform (SYDNEY)

A man's in hospital with a broken back after being dragged ten metres by a train in
Sydney's west.



Crawl (BRISBANE)

An elderly woman has been found crawling on the ground after being left to wait for
an ambulance in the car park of a Brisbane health clinic.



Lautner (SYDNEY)

Twilight star TAYLOR LAUTNER is heading to Australia to promote his new movie Abduction.



IN FINANCE:



At 1107 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 was DOWN 165.8 points at 4,110.7, while the
broader All Ords was 181.1 points LOWER at 4,171.8.

The Australian dollar was at 104.61 US cents, DOWN from 106.89 US cents at close yesterday.

It was at 74.22 euro cents, DOWN from 74.6 euro cents at yesterday's close.

The price of spot gold in Sydney is $US1,644.10 per fine ounce, DOWN $19.20 from yesterday's
local close of $US1,663.30 per ounce.



IN SPORT:


RL Titans (BRISBANE)

Premiership winner and Dally M medallist PRESTON CAMPBELL has had a change of heart
and announced he will retire at the end of the 2011 NRL season.

The Gold Coast Titans veteran initially said he wanted to help the likely wooden spooners
rebuild next season.

However, CAMPBELL has changed his mind ... telling teammates this morning he will bow
out at the end of this his 14th year in the NRL.

CAMPBELL has played 262 NRL matches, including 98 for the Titans.

He made his first grade debut in 1998 for the now defunct Gold Coast Chargers ... before
winning a Dally M with Cronulla and a title with Penrith.



Gol PGA (AKRON, OHIO)

Australian are dominating the leaderboard with ADAM SCOTT closing to within one stroke
of compatriot and leader JASON DAY at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational PGA event at Firestone
Country Club in Ohio.

DAY hit a sublime seven-under-par 63 with seven birdies, with SCOTT at six-under through
14 holes thanks.

TIGER WOODS is one-under-par through 15 holes in his comeback from injury.



WC14 Aust (BRISBANE)

Football Federation Australia have confirmed the Socceroos will begin their World Cup
qualifying campaign in Brisbane on September 2 against Thailand.

Australia and Thailand are in Group D along with Saudi Arabia and Oman, with the top
two teams going through to the fourth round.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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