AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 27

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 27
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


BABY INSURANCE (SYDNEY)

There's strong opposition to a new policy allowing expectant mothers to take out insurance
on their unborn child .. in case of birth defects.

Fairfax says ING has announced the policy .. which allows women between 16 to 40 years
old to claim up to 50 thousand dollars for defects like Down Syndrome .. and 10 thousand
for a stillbirth.

The NSW Midwives Association is accusing ING of marketing fear to expectant mothers
.. and says reality is there are very few mothers who suffer complications during pregnancy.

The AMA also says statistics show that most pregnancies have a normal outcome.



CAMERAS (SYDNEY)

Teachers could be closely monitored on video cameras .. as part of a policy to help
determine who deserves a pay rise.

The Australian Secondary Principals Association is behind the idea .. which it will
put to the federal government as it looks into ways to reward good teachers.

The Sun-Herald says there are some concerns about a breach of children's privacy ..

and about how much such a scheme would cost.



TIMOR TROOPS (MELBOURNE)

200 Australian troops will be withdrawn from East Timor .. after security there says
the country is now stable.

The PM's decision comes after President JOSE RAMOS HORTA returned home from Australia
and lifted a state of emergency .. following attacks on him and Prime Minister XANANA
GUSMAO in February.

The decision means a rifle company group won't be replaced when it completes its tour
of duty today.



MCKENNEY (SYDNEY)

TODD MCKENNEY's been charged after he was found unconscious in a Sydney park from a
drug overdose.

The Sunday Telegraph says the Dancing With The Stars judge was found by passers-by
Friday afternoon in Rushcutters Bay.

He was revived by ambulance officers .. and later charged by police with possessing the drug GHB.

MCKENNEY's told the paper he thinks his drink was spiked and the drug was planted on
him at a party the night before at Potts Point.

He'll face court in May and says he'll defend the charges.



BUSHFIRES VIC (MELBOURNE)

Firefighters in Victoria continue to battle a blaze east of Melbourne .. as locals
prepare to evacuate.

Fire authorities say at this stage there are no communities under threat .. although
the fire in the Bunyip State Park is only 1.5 kilometres from homes.

So far the fire's spread across 800 hectares after starting yesterday .. and is nine
kilometres southeast of Gembrook.



ZIMBABWE RESULTS (HARARE)

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says it will invite candidates to verify the results
of the March 29 presidential elections from Monday .. before the results are made public.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says its leader MORGAN TSVANGIRAI beat
veteran President ROBERT MUGABE outright in the poll.

The MDC accuses MUGABE of delaying results to rig victory and has rejected the possibility
of a run-off.



OLY08 FLAME KOREA (SEOUL)

The Beijing Olympic torch has touched down in South Korea .. after a troubled relay leg in Japan.

The torch arrived at Incheon airport under tight security .. before police escorted
a convoy carrying it to downtown Seoul.

It had just come from Japan where protesters hurled rubbish and flares at it .. and
brawled with Chinese supporters in Nagano.

Pro-Tibet activists are planning similar protests in South Korea .. with thousands
expected to demonstrate.



ANZAC STATUE (SYDNEY)

Sand from Gallipoli has been placed beneath the feet of a statue of a New Zealand digger
on Sydney's Anzac Bridge.

The statue will be officially unveiled today in a ceremony to be attended by New Zealand
Prime Minister HELEN CLARK and NSW Premier MORRIS IEMMA.

The covered statue was installed yesterday morning .. opposite the existing statue
of an Aussie digger.



Briefly in other news ..




Alcohol and tobacco remain the most popular drugs amongst Australians .. according
to a report out today.




Sydneysiders are being warned their city is running out of burial plots .. with NSW
government estimating the city's greater metropolitan area will be full in a little over
40 years.




The So You Think You Can Dance judges will show off their moves in tonight's grand
finale .. which will see contestants JACK .. RHYS .. KATE or DEMI crowned "Australia's
Favourite Dancer".




And .. Big Brother returns for its eighth series tomorrow night .. with GRETEL KILLEEN
replaced by shock jocks KYLE and JACKIE O.



in Sport ..



AFL WRAP (MELBOURNE)

The Western Bulldogs have maintained their unbeaten start to the AFL season .. thrashing
West Coast by 60 points at Telstra Dome overnight.

Port Adelaide has beaten Carlton by 21 points .. while during the day Adelaide overwhelmed
Carlton to win by 30 points.

Today .. the Brisbane Lions host Melbourne .. North Melbourne and Sydney meet at Telstra
Dome .. and Hawthorn plays Richmond at the MCG in a twilight game.



LEAGUE WRAP (SYDNEY)

The Storm has claimed its fourth straight win to join Brisbane and the Gold Coast at
the top of the NRL ladder.

The reigning premiers edged out North Queensland 12-10 in Townsville last night.

Also last night .. Manly has taken a 30-22 victory over the Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval.

In today's games .. the Titans hosts the New Zealand Warriors .. and Wests Tigers play Cronulla.



SUPER WRAP (SYDNEY)

The NSW Waratahs have taken a giant step towards securing a home semi-final .. with
a 25-10 bonus-point victory over the Sharks in last night's Super 14 blockbuster at the
Sydney Football Stadium.

The Waratahs are now second place on the table.

In Hamilton .. the Chiefs beat the Queensland Reds 32-20 .. while in South Africa ..

Wellington Hurricanes downed the Central Cheetahs 38-10 .. and the Stormers beat the Highlanders
26-16.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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