HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Dec 25

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2008
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Dec 25

SYDNEY - Australians are expected to fork out more than $14 billion during the traditional
post-Christmas sales, retail industry experts say. (Xmas Sales, to come)



SYDNEY - Hundreds of needy and homeless people around have enjoyed a Christmas meal
thanks to various charity organisations, while churches around the city report average
attendance at services. (Xmas NSW, to come)



MELBOURNE - Hundreds of Melbourne's disadvantaged and homeless have been treated to
a special meal this Christmas, while churches have reported mixed attendances. (XMAS Vic,
to come)



LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II urged people to learn from unsung heroes when times are
tough in her annual Christmas Day message to Britain and the Commonwealth on Thursday.

(Xmas Queen), with Text. Eds: Embargoed until 1930 AEDT today.



SYDNEY - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has admitted he still hasn't done all his Christmas
shopping. (Xmas Rudd)



SYDNEY - The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has called on all
Australians at Christmas time to think of people who have lost their jobs due to economic
turbulence. (Xmas Pell)



SYDNEY - Christmas feasts are an environmental problem, accoring to an environmentalist.

(Xmas Food)



SYDNEY - One man is dead and another is injured following a light plane crash in rugged
NSW terrain, police say. (Plane 2nd Update). Wrap to come.



MELBOURNE - A Victorian man has died in a light plane crash on Christmas morning in
south Gippsland. (Paddock Wrap)



MELBOURNE - Consular officials have made contact with an Australian teacher arrested
in Egypt for allegedly trying to smuggle 2,000-year old animal mummies and religious figurines
out of the country. (Egypt Aust 3rd Update)



BALI - Drug runners Schappelle Corby and Renae Lawrence receive no further sentence
reduction (Indon Corby, to come)



LOS ANGELES - Rove McManus has flopped in his US prime time TV debut. (US Rove)



MELBOURNE - Victorian Premier John Brumby will spend the Christmas period musing over
a successor to embattled MP Theo Theophanous who is facing a rape charge. (Theophanous)



SYDNEY - The national holiday road toll has risen to 26 following the death of a cyclist
in Western Australia. (Toll National)



MELBOURNE - Two women were seriously injured when their car rolled during an apparent
drag race in Melbourne's north. (Drag)



SYDNEY - Police have used a Taser stun gun to subdue a 23-year-old man in Sydney's west. (Taser)



BRISBANE - A 36-year old man has been stabbed to death in north Queensland. (Stabbed)



PERTH - A cyclone warning is current for coastal communities on the Western Australia
coastline, from Port Hedland to Mardie, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advises. (Billy)



SYDNEY - Emergency services have had a whipround for a Sydney family who lost their
presents in a Christmas tree fire. (Tree Update)



MELBOURNE - Fire fighters have pulled a woman to safety from her burning unit in inner
Melbourne. (Unit)



BRISBANE - A north Queensland fish farmer has had more than 300 short finned eels stolen
and another 200 left for dead. (Fish)



SYDNEY - A 50-year-old Sydney man has been charged with possessing around $13,000 worth
of heroin. (Heroin)


IN SPORT

MELBOURNE - Australia's selectors have made only one change to their bowling attack
for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, recalling Nathan Hauritz for fellow off-spinner
Jason Krejza. (Cricket Aust Update). Wrap to come.



SYDNEY - Sailors are preparing to spend some rest time with family and friends on Thursday
before one final burst of pre-race activity prior to the start of the Sydney to Hobart
on Friday. (Sail SydHob). Wrap to come.



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