Thursday, January 03, 2008
Blaze continues to burn in Perth
Firefighters have battled throughout the night to contain a bushfire which has destroyed four homes and damaged several more on the outskirts of Perth.[MORE]
Israeli troops kill 7 Palestinians in Gaza clashes
Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen and four civilians during a raid into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Thursday, witnesses and hospital officials said.[MORE]
British police prepare to head to Pakistan
A team of British police is preparing to leave for Pakistan to help investigate the killing of Benazir and Bhutto and hopes to be ready in 24 hours, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.[MORE]
Afghanistan calls on Iran to delay decision on refugees
Afghanistan's Government has called on Iran to delay its decision to expel or punish more than a million Afghan refugees living there without proper documents.[MORE]
Top End braces for cyclone
Residents in the remote Northern Territory community of Wadeye are being warned to expect extreme weather within the next 24 hours as a low pressure system is expected to turn into a cyclone.[MORE]
Indian boy shot dead in second school shooting
A boy was shot dead at a school in a central Indian village by an older student on Thursday, police said, less than a month after a similar deadly shooting at a school outside New Delhi.[MORE]
Cargo ship sinks in Sea of Azov, at least 3 dead
A Bulgarian cargo ship with 11 crew on board sank in rough weather in the Sea of Azov on Thursday, drowning at least three seamen, rescue officials said.[MORE]
Hewitt crushes Acasuso to advance in Adelaide
Top seed Lleyton Hewitt made light work of Argentine Jose Acasuso in reaching the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International 6-2, 6-2 at Memorial Drive in Adelaide on Thursday evening.[MORE]
Two found dead in suspected murder-suicide
A man and his teenage daughter have been found dead in a home in Sydney's north-west, in what police suspect was a murder-suicide.[MORE]
Iraqis will fill US troop withdrawals: Petraeus
US commander General David Petraeus says the impending drawdown of some 30,000 US troops from Iraq will not disrupt the "relentless" pursuit of Al-Qaeda as Iraqis are ready to take their place.[MORE]
Hundreds flee as high waves strike Indonesia coast
High waves lashed hundreds of homes in eastern Indonesia, forcing about 1,000 people to flee but causing no casualties, an official said.[MORE]
Kenya opposition rally postponed: party official
Kenya's main opposition party postponed a "million-man" rally on Thursday after police used tear gas and water cannon to disrupt the planned protest against last week's presidential poll results.[MORE]
Climate change research pioneer dies, aged 82
Leading climate change scientist and the co-founder of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has died.[MORE]
Pakistani crisis appears to ease after vote date set
Pakistan's political crisis appeared to stabilise on Thursday with parties looking ahead to elections in which the party of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is set to make gains.[MORE]
Five killed in new Israeli strikes on Gaza
Five Palestinians, including two women, were killed in Israeli ground and air raids in Gaza on Thursday, local medical sources said, in the latest Israeli action against the Hamas-ruled territory.[MORE]
Flash flooding expected as low hits SEQ
The State Emergency Service (SES) is warning south-east Queensland residents to be aware of flash flooding throughout the region.[MORE]
Lethal injection to replace gunshot in Chinese executions: report
China's condemned prisoners are likely to be executed with a lethal injection rather than the previously preferred method of a gunshot to the back of the head.[MORE]
Lions devour S African man at game farm
Police say a South African man was killed and eaten by lions at a game farm in the country's North West province.[MORE]
Crews battle East Gippsland blazes
Firefighters are hoping to bring three bushfires burning in Victoria's East Gippsland region under control by the weekend.[MORE]
Children's Commissioner to review case of murdered 10yo
Acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas has asked the Children's Commissioner to review the case of a 10-year-old girl who was murdered at Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, on New Year's Eve.[MORE]
Council to investigate toddler's near-drowning
The Glen Eira City Council is investigating how a toddler nearly drowned in a public pool in Melbourne's south-east this afternoon.[MORE]
28 arrested in E Timor over possible human trafficking
UN and East Timorese police have arrested 28 foreign nationals as part of investigations into illegal immigration and possible human trafficking in East Timor.[MORE]
Former Philippines leader Estrada eyes movie comeback
Disgraced former Philippine president Joseph Estrada says he will stage a comeback, but only on the silver screen where he plans to star in a comedy.[MORE]
Ivory Coast grenade blast kills 7 children
A grenade blast has killed seven children at a school in the Ivory Coast after a pupil found the device nearby and removed the pin while playing, local authorities said.[MORE]
Six killed in India temple stampede
Six worshippers have been crushed to death and a dozen injured in southern India as thousands of devotees rushed to offer prayers at a Hindu temple during a religious ceremony, police said.[MORE]
