Gambler rewards honest US cabbie with $10K

A US gambler who left behind $US300,000 in a cab has handed over $US10,000 to the honest driver. Source: AAP

A POKER player who left $US300,000 ($A338,275) in the back seat of a Las Vegas taxi made good on his promise this week, handing over a $US10,000 reward to the honest cabbie who returned the stash.

Yellow Checker Star Cab Company CEO Bill Shranko confirmed Friday that Gerardo Gamboa had been paid by the poker player. The cab company also honoured the driver's good deed by naming him employee of the year, awarding him $US1000 and giving him a gift certificate to a Las Vegas steakhouse.

It's unclear how Gamboa plans to spend the belated Christmas gift. He did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Friday.

The tale, first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, started Monday when Gamboa accepted a fare at the Bellagio casino. A hotel doorman noticed a brown paper bag on the back seat and handed it to him; Gamboa thought it was sweets.

The driver said he had another passenger by the time he began wondering what kind of chocolates were in the brown paper bag. He peeked inside at a traffic light and spotted the cash.

"I told my passenger, 'You are my witness on this'," the 13-year taxi driver told the Las Vegas Sun, "and then I immediately called my dispatcher".

Gamboa took the six bundles of $100 bills to the company's main office, where Las Vegas police and casino officials linked it to the poker player.

It took several hours to verify the identity of the owner and return the cash. Authorities aren't identifying the poker player.

Before he learned about the anonymous gambler's gift, Gamboa said he wasn't in it for the money.

"If he doesn't give me anything, that's OK," Gamboa told the Sun earlier this week. "I'm not waiting for any kind of return. I just wanted to do the right thing, and I appreciate what the company did for me."

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China one-child policy change approved

CHINA'S top legislature has sanctioned the ruling Communist Party's decision to allow couples to have a second child if one parent is an only child.

It's the first major easing in three decades of the restrictive national birth planning policy.

Implemented around 1980, China's birth policy has limited most couples to only one child, but has allowed a second child if neither parent has siblings or if the first born to a rural couple is a girl.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the standing committee of the National People's Congress approved a resolution on Saturday to formalise the party decision.

It says the national lawmaking body has delegated the power to provincial people's congresses and their standing committees to implement the new policy.

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Searchers for tramper find body

A BODY has been recovered from the bottom of a 100-metre cliff in Nelson Lakes National Park in New Zealand by searchers looking for British tramper Andrew Wyatt.

The body is yet to be formally identified, police say.

The body was below the Lake Constance Bluff, which is on Mr Wyatt's intended route between Blue Lake Hut and Waiau Pass.

Four ground teams, one dog team and a communications team were flown into the park by Air Force Iroquois on Friday to resume the search for Mr Wyatt after the weather improved.

He had been missing for 12 days.

The search was suspended on Christmas Day due to bad weather.

A helicopter spent three hours visiting all the huts in the area on Monday.

Mr Wyatt arrived in New Zealand on November 21 and was last seen on December 15 at Blue Lake Hut.

He planned to walk the Te Araroa Trail that links Cape Reinga to Bluff.

Police have been in daily contact with Mr Wyatt's parents in the UK.

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Sydney woman charged with attempted murder

Police have charged a woman with attempted murder after a man was stabbed in Sydney's west. Source: AAP

A WOMAN who allegedly stabbed a man numerous times on Christmas Eve at a granny flat in Sydney's west has been charged with attempted murder.

Police said they were called to a house on Woodville Road, Guildford after reports of a fight between a man, 43, and 26-year-old woman, about 12.30pm (AEDT) Tuesday.

After returning home, the man was assaulted in the house's granny flat by the woman and two other men, police believe.

They allege the woman stabbed the man three times in the neck, arm and shoulder, before the fight spilled out onto the road.

The man and woman collapsed, and the two other men fled the scene in a ute.

The pair were taken to hospital and the woman was arrested on her release.

She has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

She was granted conditional bail yesterday and will face Parramatta Local Court on January 16.

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Man badly burned preparing Christmas lunch

A NSW man was airlifted to a burns unit after being injured in an explosion while preparing lunch. Source: AAP

A NSW man is being airlifted to a specialist burns unit after being injured in an explosion while he prepared Christmas lunch.

The 62-year-old man in Shell Cove was found by police and rescue services with burns to his face, arms and legs.

Police were told the man was preparing the family's Christmas lunch when the explosion occurred.

They are investigating reports the gas bottle to the barbecue was connected incorrectly.

The man was airlifted to Concord Hospital for treatment.

Police hope to speak with the injured man once he is well enough to get a clearer idea of how the explosion happened.

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WA police concerned for missing woman

Police are concerned for a woman who disappeared from Albany, a day after arriving from Queensland. Source: AAP

POLICE are concerned for a 79-year-old woman who disappeared from Albany on Christmas Eve, a day after arriving from Queensland.

Joan Hanson went missing from Caledonia Crescent at Goode Beach at 5.30pm (WST) on Tuesday.

Police say they are concerned for the welfare of Ms Hanson, believed to be suffering dementia and unfamiliar with the area.

She is of small, slim build and has grey hair.

She was wearing glasses, light-coloured trousers, a yellow-brown shirt, a yellow zip-up sleeveless vest and white shoes when she went missing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Operations Centre on 131 444.

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Vic shoppers battle last-minute crowds

LEGO and Barbie have been selling for more than 100 years between them but are still among the most sought-after Christmas gifts in Victoria this festive season.

Shoppers leaving it late had to battle big crowds throughout the state, with around seven per cent of Victorians buying last minute presents on Christmas Eve, the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) says.

More than $1.46 billion will be spent nationwide in the two days before Christmas, with Victorians stumping up around $233 million on presents alone.

David Jones regional manager Lyn James said despite continuing growth in online shopping, many Victorians still preferred to visit retail stores and purchase gifts personally.

"People love the stores and the experience of being able to touch and feel what they want to buy," Ms James said on Tuesday.

"The trend is definitely around the very last minute," she said.

"This Christmas for children it has been about Lego and Barbie," Ms James said when asked about top selling items.

For adults, it's all about smelling good this festive season with perfumes and cologne among the top stocking stuffers.

Retailers are predicting about $29.6 billion in sales across the Christmas period, a jump of 5.4 per cent on 2012.

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Alleged Hells Angel charged over drug haul

AN alleged Hells Angels bikie has been charged after a police raid uncovered crystal methylamphetamine with a street value of $42,000.

Police also seized $1190 in cash and a small amount of cannabis during the search of a home at Brassall, in Ipswich.

A 30-year-old Brassall man has been charged with two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug paraphernalia and possession of explosives (ammunition and fireworks).

He will face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

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NZ shares rally with 'bargain-hunting'

NEW Zealand shares have rallied as offshore investors saw value in a market that has lagged global peers in recent days.

The NZX 50 Index rose 41.444 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 4722.635 on Monday. Within the index, 33 stocks rose, 11 fell and six were unchanged. Turnover was $93 million.

A2 Corp led gainers, rising 6.7 per cent to 80 cents.

Hallenstein Glasson Holdings rose 4.5 per cent to $3.70, leading some retailers higher after Paymark said spending in the first three weeks of December was 6.9 per cent up on the same period last year, suggesting retailers may be in for a strong Christmas.

Michael Hill International rose 3.7 per cent to $1.41 and Kathmandu rose about three per cent to $3.48. Warehouse Group slipped 0.5 per cent to $3.65.

Among market heavyweights, Fletcher Building rose 1.8 per cent to $8.54 and Telecom rose 1.3 per cent to $2.34. Auckland International Airport gained two per cent to $3.55.

"There's been a few people looking to pick up a bargain," said Greg Easton, an adviser at Craigs Investment Partners.

"We've lagged the rest of the world."

Guinness Peat Group fell 1.7 per cent to 58.5 cents after saying the UK Pensions Regulator had issued warning notices over two of its pension plans.

Chorus, the network operator, fell 1.4 per cent to $1.445.

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Goodman Fielder sells biscuits business

FOOD producer Goodman Fielder is selling its biscuits business in Australia to Green's Foods, generating proceeds of $17 million.

But the company will record a non-cash impairment of between $50 million and $55 million in its half year accounts as a result of the sale.

The business produces sweet and savoury biscuits, with brands including Paradise, Cottage, Vive and Veri Deli.

Goodman Fielder chief executive Chris Delaney said the transaction was consistent with the company's strategy of focusing on core categories and brands.

Goodman Fielder also produces spreads, flour and dressings, with brands including MeadowLea, Olive Grove and White Wings.

"The biscuits business is not core to our grocery division, and we formed the view that this business can maximise its potential under different ownership," Mr Delaney said.

Green's, which is Australian-owned and operated, said the acquisition would secure the jobs of more than 300 employees.

It said the acquisition of Goodman Fielder's biscuits business would make Green's the second largest Australian-based biscuit manufacturer and the largest Australian-owned biscuit company.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of February 2014.

Shares in Goodman Fielder were 1.5 cents higher at 66.5 cents on Monday.

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Iraqi general among 24 killed in attack

Twenty-four Iraqi military personnel have been killed in an attack in western Iraq. Source: AAP

TWENTY-FOUR Iraqi military personnel, including a senior commander, have been killed in an attack in western Iraq, according to police.

A series of back-to-back bombings on Saturday occurred as troops were raiding a hideout of insurgents with suspected links to al-Qaeda in Anbar, west of Baghdad.

The senior officer killed was identified as Major-General Mohammed al-Karawi, the commander of the Iraqi army's Seventh Division.

The dead also included intelligence officers, police said.

At least 35 soldiers were wounded in the attack, which prompted the authorities to put security forces on heightened alert in the mainly Sunni province, media reports said.

Military reinforcements have been sent to Anbar in preparation for the launch of a large-scale campaign in the area, reports said.

In the aftermath of the attack, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed an "iron-fist" policy to tackle the insurgents.

"I call on personnel of our brave army to strike with an iron fist against the heads of the evil minority, and pursue them everywhere until Iraq is purged of their wickedness," he said.

An increase in attacks by insurgents in recent months has raised the prospect of a return to the violence that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

According to UN estimates, 659 people were killed in attacks in Iraq in November.

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Man critical after CBD assault

Police would like to speak to this man in relation to a serious assault in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday morning. Source: Supplied

Police would like to speak to this man in relation to a serious assault in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday morning. Source: Supplied

A MAN has come forward over a bashing in Brisbane CBD overnight, which left another man with critical injuries.

A man voluntarily attended Petrie police station a short time ago and is currently speaking with detectives.

The other man is still in hospital in a critical condition with life threatening injuries.

EARLIER, police relased CCTV images of a man as part of ongoing investigations into the serious assault of a man in Brisbane's CBD.

Police are searching for a man who intervened in a couple's fight, seriously injuring a 38-year-old man in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The couple were arguing on the footpath of Queen Street near the intersection with Wharf Street around 4am when an unidentified man stepped in, seriously injuring the 38-year-old.

Brisbane region detective inspector Ian Park said the partner of the injured Arana Hills man was by his bedside in hospital.

"She's very upset obviously by what's happened," he said.

He said the man today remained in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition with serious injuries after being resuscitated at the scene.

Insp Park said alcohol may have been a factor.

"I guess it's a fair assumption that at 4 o'clock there is going to be alcohol involved, so we would appeal to people to just be careful with alcohol and look after themselves and each other and not to drink to excessive levels, which is always a deadly cocktail."

There were reports that people performed CPR on the man before paramedics arrived.

Alessandro Vosolo, who is staying on the 44th floor of the building, said the fight sounded violent and lasted less than four minutes.

"Fighting, screaming, arguing like guys getting thrown around, that sort of thing," he said.

One witness said he was on the 20th floor of the hotel and heard the fight.

"A dude got beat up... We heard it but then police rocked up."

Police insp Park said a number of witnesses had already been interviewed but appealed for more people to step forward, particularly the man, understood to be Caucasian and in his 30s, who was involved in the fight.

The injured man was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition.

"Initial information suggests that a man and a woman were seen arguing on the footpath of Queen Street near the intersection with Wharf Street when another man intervened just before 4am," police said in a statement.

Police said the two men were then involved in a fight in which a 38-year-old Arana Hills man sustained a serious head injury.

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Detective inspector Ian Park said police were also investigating the assault of a man who got into a fight with a hotel staff member at the Orient about 4.30am.

A 37-year-old man fell down the stairs and suffered serious head injuries when his head hit the concrete pavement.

"I believe the may have been a disagreement between this person and a staff member but as to what actually took place is subject to investigation," Insp Park said.

The man was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he is in a serious condition.

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In a third incident, a man was allegedly glassed in the face at the Family Nightclub on McLachlan St in the Fortitude Valley about 3am Sunday.

Police said a 19-year-old was struck in the face with a glass, receiving cuts to his cheek area. Police said the man did not have life-threatening injuries.

A spokesman said security staff and patrons stopped the alleged attacker and held him until police arrived.

A 20-year-old Calamvale man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. He is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday morning.

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