HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 19:30, Dec 18 = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2009
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 19:30, Dec 18 = 2

SYDNEY - The Australian academic who branded Santa Claus a global ambassador for poor
health and risk-taking has been hit by an avalanche of criticism. (Med Santa Reax)



CANBERRA - The Australian public service has been put on notice by the federal government
to boost its disabled workforce. (Disability Update)



SYDNEY - A former Serbian paramilitary commander has resoundingly lost his defamation
case, with a judge finding he raped a woman and committed the war crime of torture. (Vasiljkovic
Wrap. Pix available)



SYDNEY - Three Sydney restaurateurs have lost their defamation case against a food
critic, with a judge finding his bad review qualified as "comment". (Coco Wrap. File pix
available)



SYDNEY - A man who stabbed a talented footballer through the heart after finding him
in bed with his estranged girlfriend has been jailed for at least eight years. (Lovett)



SYDNEY - Police have identified a deaf and mute teenager found wandering the streets
of Epping, in Sydney's north. (Mute Update )



MELBOURNE - Smokers and monarchists will be the big losers when new law changes come
into effect in Victoria in the New Year. (Changes Vic)



MELBOURNE - A drug and alcohol affected Melbourne learner driver who nearly killed
a friend when he crashed a speeding car has been sentenced to youth detention. (Karkar
Wrap)



MELBOURNE - Six Melbourne men have been ordered to stand trial for murder after a fatal
stabbing at a suburban football oval. (Smith Wrap)



MELBOURNE - It's back-to-the-future in Victoria as police dusted off speed detecting
gear rarely seen in two decades as part of their Christmas driving campaign. (Aegis Wrap)



MELBOURNE - Police are appealing for a man to come forward after a possible attempted
kidnapping of a two-year-old girl in Melbourne's south on Friday. (Kidnap)



BRISBANE - A judge described as "fearlessly independent" has been appointed to head
Queensland's anti-corruption watchdog. (CMC Wrap. Pix available)



BRISBANE - The mother of a teenager murdered 20 years ago has made an emotional appeal
for witnesses to come forward, as cold case investigators offered witnesses immunity from
prosecution. (Mason Wrap)



BRISBANE - Increasing violence in society is being reflected in the schoolyard and
principals should have direct power to expel students, parents in Queensland say. (Expel)



ADELAIDE - An employee who worked on the butcher's counter at an Adelaide supermarket
has tested positive for hepatitis A, prompting a health warning. (Hepatitis)



PERTH - Western Australia's health department chief, one of Australia's highest paid
public servants, has quit his job after a falling out with the state government over budget
cuts. (Health WA)



PERTH - The pilot of a survey aircraft that crashed near a small Nullarbor Plain town
is being treated for minor head injuries, the Royal Flying Doctor Service says. (Plane
2nd Update)

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KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL UPDATE 2 SYDNEY

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