AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 29

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 29
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Jackson Drugs (LOS ANGELES)

Coroners say MICHAEL JACKSON's death was a homicide and the singer had a lethal cocktail
of six different drugs in his body when he died.

Ending several weeks of feverish speculation following JACKSON's sudden death in Los
Angeles in late June .. the county coroner's office has issued a brief statement ruling
the superstar's death was unlawful.

The statement said while acute intoxication from the powerful anaesthetic propofol
was the primary cause of death .. JACKSON had also suffered from the effects of other
drugs in his system.



US Kennedy (BOSTON)

EDWARD KENNEDY's family and friends have gathered around the US senator's coffin for
an Irish-style wake featuring prayer .. song .. and humour.

The invitation-only evening is the last event before KENNEDY's funeral early tomorrow morning.

Vice President JOSEPH BIDEN and California governor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER among the
guests at the memorial .. promised by family to be a celebration of KENNEDY's life.

The political giant died earlier this week from brain cancer at the age of 77.



US Dugard Stepfather (ORANGE)

The stepfather of kidnapped schoolgirl JAYCEE DUGARD says the now 29 year-old feels
guilty about the bond developed with her captor of 18 years.

CARL PROBYN says JAYCEE is on a guilt trip because her bond with PHILLIP GARRIDO has
been broken .. after being freed earlier this week.

PROBYN has revealed very little about the family reunion but says JAYCEE looks almost
how she did when she was kidnapped in 1991.

GARRIDO and his wife NANCY have pleaded not guilty to 28 charges including kidnapping
and rape in a US court today.



Timor GG (CANBERRA)

Governor-General QUENTIN BRYCE will travel to East Timor this weekend to represent
Australia at celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of independence.

While August 30 isn't strictly the anniversary of independence it marks ten years since
around 450 thousand East Timorese voted in a referendum to become the world's newest independent
nation .. ending 24 years of occupation by Indonesia.



Leadership NSW (SYDNEY)

Two NSW government ministers have today rallied behind Premier NATHAN REES .. saying
there'll be no leadership spill to oust him.

Speculation about Mr REES' future as premier first surfaced within months after he
was appointed the state's top job in September last year .. and has intensified in recent
weeks ahead of a Tuesday's caucus meeting.

However police Minister TONY KELLY says a lot of the speculation is the result of competition
between media outlets and says the premier has his support.

Meanwhile at a separate press conference .. Treasurer ERIC ROOZENDAAL has told reporters
he isn't expecting a leadership spill and that Mr REE's still has the support of the caucus.



France Oasis (LONDON)

Oasis founding member NOEL GALLAGHER says he's quitting the British rock group in the
middle of its European tour because he can no longer work with his brother LIAM.

On the bands website NOEL writes he is quitting OASIS with some sadness and great relief
.. and has apologised to all the people who bought tickets for the shows they were scheduled
to play at.

The GALLAGHER brothers have had a notoriously stormy relationship since Oasis were
formed in 1991.



Briefly in other news ..



Taxi (BRISBANE)

A Queensland taxi driver is being credited with preventing a tragedy after stopping
a very drunk driver on a Cairns highway.



Cold (SYDNEY)

Staff at a western Sydney hotel have been locked in a cold room during a robbery.



US Airport (SAN FRANCISCO)

Air traffic controllers at a major control centre in California have been forced to
use just personal mobile phones to guide dozens of aeroplanes for 15 minutes .. after
the communications system briefly crashed.



in Sport ..



AFL WRAP (MELBOURNE)

Reigning premiers Hawthorn and Essendon will battle for the last place in the finals
at the MCG today while the winner of the Carlton versus Adelaide match will finish fifth.

Geelong host Fremantle .. Sydney play Brisbane at the SCG and Port Adelaide host North Melbourne.

Last night West Coast thrashed Richmond by 80 points .. the first time for new Tiger
BEN COUSINS playing against his old team in Perth.



League Action Wrap (SYDNEY)

There are three NRL matches today .. Gold Coast are at home to the Tigers .. South
Sydney host St George Illawarra .. and Melbourne Storm welcome the Roosters.

Last night Brisbane moved to fourth place on the ladder after beating the Cowboys 16-10
in Townsville.

While parramatta five-eighth DANIEL MORTIMER scored a hat-trick of tries to help crush
Penrith 48-6 at Parramatta .. extending the Eels' winning streak to seven games.



League Bulldogs (SYDNEY)

Amid all the hoopla surrounding HAZEM EL MASRI's farewell at ANZ Stadium tomorrow
.. Bulldogs coach KEVIN MOORE says his players are fully aware they still have two competition
points to play for.

The Bulldogs have a host of activities and ceremonies planned around their clash with
the Warriors to mark the final regular season home game for their retiring winger .. and
are hopeful of attracting a crowd in excess of 40 thousand.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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