AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 10Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430
Afghan explosion (KABUL)
A massive explosion in eastern Afghanistan has killed at least 26 people and wounded dozens.
The defence ministry says the blast -- near the city of Jalalabad -- tore through thepremises of a road building agency.
A spokesman says it's unclear if the blast was caused by a truck bomb or the accidentaldetonation of construction explosives.
The spokesman says the latest report is 26 people dead and 80 wounded, while more than40 houses near the compound were badly damaged.
A UN security officer says there are two speculations: first that the explosive materialthat went off belonged to the company and second that explosive devices were placed ina truck and then blown up by a remote control.
Pakistan hospital (TAXILA)
A grenade attack on a hospital chapel near the Pakistani capital has left at leastfour dead and 26 wounded, the second time within days a Christian target has been hit.
Two Pakistani nurses and a paramedic are among the dead, while one of the attackerswas found dead at the scene.
Hospital workers and witnesses say the assailants hurled grenades as staff were emergingfrom a church service at the Christian Hospital in Taxila, 25 kilometres west of Islamabad.
US childporn (WASHINGTON)
The US customs service says 15 people have been charged with taking explicit photographsof their children or children in their care and sending them over the internet to an internationalchild pornography ring.
Customs officials say 45 children were victims and have been removed from the careof those indicted.
The defendants include nine people from the US, along with six residents of Denmark,Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The indictment alleges that members of the ring, referring to themselves as "the club",traded messages across the internet requesting photographs.
The US investigation began in November with a request for help from the Danish nationalpolice, who were acting on a tip-off about an international child pornography ring.
Iraq Germany (BERLIN)
German Chancellor GERHARD SCHROEDER has sharply ruled out joining any military attackon Iraq, signalling a major split between the United States and Germany.
SCHROEDER told public television that Germany won't join any US-led action againstIraq and he won't be changing his mind after the September 22 general elections.
SCHROEDER is the first major European leader to publicly state his country's refusalto join any military intervention.
The new French government has expressed reservations, while Britain's Prime MinisterTONY BLAIR has come under increasing domestic pressure not to back a US strike.
The 15-nation European Union has so far not officially commented on US preparationsto topple the regime in Baghdad.
Zimbabwe farmers (HARARE)
The Zimbabwean government is warning white farmers they'll be punished by law if theydefy orders to vacate land targeted for black resettlement.
The government has ordered 2,900 of the country's 4,500 white farmers to hand theirfarms over to landless blacks -- those who refuse face jail.
Hundreds of farmers withdrew to urban areas before a government deadline yesterday.
But farm officials say it's impossible to tell how many left for good and how manyare just biding their time in the relative safety of towns.
Critics say President ROBERT MUGABE'S forcible program of land distribution is exacerbatingserious food shortages.
Russia floods (SHIROKAYA BALKA)
At least 35 people have been killed by flash floods on Russia's Black Sea coast, wherepanicked holidaymakers saw tents, bungalows and cars swept away in the deluge.
Witnesses say local authorities gave no warning prior to the disaster, which struckyesterday, and no help arrived until today.
Witnesses say they saw people drown before their eyes when a wall of water gushed downfrom a mountain, sweeping dozens of cars and two buses into the sea.
Emergency ministry officials say most of the dead are women, but didn't elaborate.
Local authorities have declared Monday a day of mourning, when flags will be flownat half mast and entertainment programs pulled from the television.
Mideast (JERUSALEM)
A Palestinian has been killed by Israeli tank fire as the two leaderships exchangerecriminations of murder and terror.
A Palestinian civilian standing in front of his house was shot dead by Israeli troopsimposing a curfew on the reoccupied West Bank town of Tulkarem.
And two Palestinian militants carrying belts of explosives were also arrested by theIsraeli army in nearby Qalqilya overnight.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister ARIEL SHARON has launched a stinging verbal attackagainst YASSER ARAFAT'S Palestinian Authority.
ALP (CANBERRA)
Unions will lose power to rank-and-file members under new Labor Party reforms proposedby party elders NEVILLE WRAN and BOB HAWKE.
The pair authored the National Committee of Review Report following Labor's third consecutivefederal election loss in November.
In their report released yesterday, they recommend measures to stop branch stacking,to boost female and rural and regional representation, and to give rank-and-file membersmore say in the party's operation.
Union power will be diluted through dumping the 60:40 rule in favour of union delegatesand introducing 50:50 representation.
Opposition Leader SIMON CREAN has hailed the proposed reforms as a blueprint for theALP to win the next federal election.
Cricket Aust (SYDNEY)
Australia has cancelled its cricket tour of strife-torn Pakistan, throwing into doubtthe future of international matches between the two countries.
Concerns that player safety could not be guaranteed has forced the Australian CricketBoard decision -- the second time in six months the ACB has cancelled a tour.
ACB chairman BOB MERRIMAN says Australia is willing to play the series scheduled forOctober at a neutral venue.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board late today revived threats to boycott matches against Australia.
It says it is deeply disappointed and feels that it's a decision enforced on the AustralianBoard by their government.
The International Cricket Council says it will help Pakistan and Australia find analternate venue for the Test series.
Sleepout (SYDNEY)
About 25,000 people across Australia have felt the winter chill overnight - sleepingunder the stars to raise money for the homeless.
Mission Australia's National Winter Sleepout marks the end of National Homeless Persons' Week.
The sleepout is now in its 15th year.
Mission Australia's Sydney regional manager JOHN SOUTH says local communities are moreinvolved this year than ever before and that shows greater understanding of the plightof the homeless.
The Girl Guides have held Sydney's largest sleep-out this year at Taronga Zoo.
BRIEFLY . . .
CHARLTON HESTON has revealed that doctors have told him he has symptoms similar toAlzheimer's disease.
Police in Britain are following what they say are significant leads after checkingthe hard disk of a computer from the home of one of two 10-year-old missing girls.
A Cathay Pacific jet with 378 people on board was forced to make an emergency landingshortly after takeoff from Hong Kong International Airport when an engine failed.
State and territory police ministers have struck a deal with the federal governmenton a model for the Australian Crime Commission.
AND IN SPORT . . .
Golf women (TURNBERRY, Scotland)
KARRIE WEBB is the clubhouse leader on the second day of the British Open golf at Turnberryin Scotland.
The Australian ignored a strong wind and rain showers to car a second round 71 to beseven under par.
WEBB leads by two shots from South Korea's defending champion SE RI PAK, who had a72, and American 1996 winner EMILEE KLEIN, who posted a 71.
League Broncos (BRISBANE)
The Sydney Roosters have boosted their National Rugby League premiership hopes withan upset 28-18 win over the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium.
The Roosters scored five tries to three, with JUSTIN HODGES receiving the man of thematch award against his former club.
Soccer Aust (MELBOURNE)
The federal government's launched an inquiry into Soccer Australia in what appearsto be the first step towards a bid to host the 2014 World Cup.
The Australian Sports Commission will conduct an independent review into all aspectsof the game's national ruling body.
ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP
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KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP
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