US driver survives plunge off cliff

A driver who survived a 90-metre plunge told rescuers he intentionally drove off the ocean cliff. Source: AAP

A DRIVER who plunged 90 metres off a Southern California ocean cliff was rescued after firefighters waded into the surf to free him from the car.

KNBC-TV says the 19-year-old man, who was in hospital in a critical condition, told paramedics that he intentionally drove off the cliff.

Authorities were called to the scene at about 2am local time on Friday.

They found the car being slammed by waves.

Firefighters, lifeguards and local police helped in the rescue. The driver was finally pulled free and flown to hospital.

The crash site is on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, about 32 kilometres south of downtown Los Angeles.

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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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SA bushfire under control

A serious bushfire south of Adelaide has been contained the Country Fire Service says. Source: AAP

FIREFIGHTERS have protected a South Australian country town from an out-of-control bushfire, with two fire crew volunteers injured while quelling the blaze.

An emergency alert was issued at 3pm (AEDT) on Saturday about a serious bushfire burning towards the town of Mallala, north of Adelaide.

About 200 Country Fire Service (CFS) personnel battled the blaze at Lower Light with 35 appliances and the help of water bombers.

A CFS spokeswoman said firefighters contained the blaze after it had travelled seven kilometres in three hours.

"The fire was fast-moving and came close to a farming community and within three to four kilometres of the Mallala township," she said.

"But fortunately CFS firefighters managed to protect the township."

A male CFS firefighter was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening chest injuries.

A female CFS firefighter was treated at the fire for smoke inhalation.

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Port Hedland evacuates due to cyclone

A cyclone warning has been issued for coastal areas along Western Australia's northern coast. Source: AAP

SHIPS are being moved from a major port in Western Australia ahead of a developing tropical cyclone expected to hit on Saturday night.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says a tropical low north of WA is expected to develop into a tropical cyclone by Saturday night as it moves southwest.

The low is 340 kilometres north-northwest of Broome, moving at nine kilometres an hour.

The Port Hedland Port Authority began the evacuation of 29 vessels in the inner and outer anchorage areas on Saturday morning.

Another 12 ships in the inner harbour also began evacuating on Saturday.

The port authority said in a statement it anticipated the last vessel would leave the shipping channel by 3am on Sunday.

Gale-force winds and widespread rainfall are expected to hit the Port Hedland area on Sunday.

Winds with gusts of up to 100km/h are forecast to develop through Saturday night on the west Kimberley coast between Cape Leveque and Broome.

BOM advises gales and heavy rainfall may extend to Exmouth and adjacent inland areas on Sunday night and Monday.

If the tropical low system develops as BOM expects, a severe tropical cyclone will likely hit the Pilbara on Monday or Tuesday.

A cyclone warning is in place for coastal areas from Cape Leveque to Whim Creek.

The State Emergency Service is urging residents in or near coastal communities between Dampier Peninsula and Onslow in the Kimberley and Pilbara to prepare emergency kits.

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Union blasts Vic govt over ambo ads

The ambulance union and the Victorian opposition have slammed state government ads as a waste. Source: AAP

THE Victorian opposition and the ambulance union have criticised state government advertisements labelling a pay offer to paramedics as "generous", saying they are a waste of money.

The full-page advertisement ran in a number of newspapers on Friday with a message from Health Minister David Davis as a pay dispute continues.

This is the second time that the advertisements have run this month.

Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie says the ads are a waste of taxpayer dollars.

"We believe it is a misuse of money," Mr McGhie told AAP.

"The minister would be better off focusing on trying to resolve this dispute, given negotiations are ongoing and scheduled in January."

Premier Denis Napthine said the advertisements are intended to put out community information about the offer.

"It's important we inform paramedics directly, their families and the broader community of the pay offer, the fair and reasonable pay offer we've put on the table," Dr Napthine told reporters on Friday.

Paramedics are being offered a 6 per cent pay rise and a $1,500 bonus if they sign the deal by January.

Deputy Opposition Leader James Merlino says one ad would pay a full-time paramedic's wage for a year,

"These full-page ads are costing Victorians hundreds of thousands of dollars," Mr Merlino told reporters on Friday.

Mr Merlino said the government needed to negotiate in good faith with paramedics rather than put ads in the paper.

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Xenophon too greedy over Xmas: Palmer

Senator Nick Xenophon has called for Clive Palmer (pic) to release details of his Senate deal. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer says Nick Xenophon is being greedy if he expects to get everything on his Christmas list.

Senator Xenophon called for Mr Palmer to publicly release the details of his deal with the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP) on Friday.

The federal MP says he kept his promise to do so on Christmas Day, but he only released hard copies of the deal at his electorate office.

"It was released on Christmas Day, but he didn't get a chance to come and see it, he was down in South Australia all day, the poor old bastard," Mr Palmer told AAP by telephone from a boat on a tuna-fishing trip.

Senator Xenophon said there was huge public interest in the deal, which could decide if legislation was passed or blocked.

"My understanding of the Christmas present is that normally you have it delivered to you, you don't have to pick it up," he said.

"Releasing it on Christmas Day and then telling journalists to come and pick it up from his office is just silly, he should stop being cute. Clive, stop being cute."

But Mr Palmer said Senator Xenophon was being greedy and he should be happy with the Christmas gifts he's already received.

"It wasn't just for Nick, it was for the people of Australia, I know he wants everything for Christmas, but that's a bit greedy," he said.

"I mean what did he get for Christmas already, I heard he got a hair-dryer and Brylcreem, his favourite things, but he wanted even more."

Mr Palmer said the full details of the deal would likely be available on his website by Monday.

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Taxi smashes into Sydney bank

A taxi driver who ploughed his cab through the front of a bank in Sydney's CBD has been fined. Source: AAP

A TAXI driver who ploughed his cab through the front of a bank in Sydney's CBD has been fined.

The driver, 67, drove his cab into a palm tree on Elizabeth Street, before crashing into the bank about 10pm (AEDT) on Thursday.

Neither the driver nor his two passengers was injured.

He was issued with a traffic infringement notice for negligent driving.

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Thieves target Prada in Melbourne

Thieves have raided the Prada store in Melbourne, stealing goods worth tens of thousands of dollars. Source: AAP

THIEVES have smashed their way into a high-end Melbourne fashion store, stealing goods worth tens of thousands of dollars in a raid lasting only minutes.

Four men in a dark sedan drove up to Prada in Collins Street at about 4.30am (AEDT), forced open the security grille and smashed the front door with a sledgehammer, police said.

The men left the store up to three times to load up their car, dropping some goods on the footpath.

Dozens of bags and purses with an estimated value of many tens of thousands of dollars were taken, police said.

"It's been fairly well planned," Detective Leading Senior Constable Heath Biram told reporters.

"They were carrying literally everything that they can carry."

Within five minutes of the heist, a man got out of his car to pick up three bags the thieves had dropped on the footpath.

Police want that man to contact them, saying the bags may contain evidence. He could also face theft charges.

A delivery truck driver who saw the theft and called police tried to block the sedan as it got away, but it drove around him and veered on to to the tram tracks.

Officer Biram said the car drove away with its headlights off.

He said there was a fair amount of traffic in the area at the time and police are disappointed that more drivers have not come forward with information.

The thieves were wearing long-sleeved tops, pants and gloves and three wore fancy dress masks.

Police are considering whether the burglary is linked to similar thefts at Giorgio Armani and Chanel on the same strip last year.

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Motorcyclist dies in Alice Springs crash

A 24-year-old man died after losing control of his motorcycle on a dirt road in Alice Springs. Source: AAP

A 24-YEAR-OLD man died after a single motorcycle crash in Alice Springs.

Police say the man lost control on a dirt road and hit a tree near the Todd River on Wednesday night.

The death takes the national holiday road toll to nine.

The national road toll period runs from 12.01am on December 23 until 11.59pm on January 3, 2014, local times, in line with the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board.

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Woman leaves toddler in car, goes shopping

A woman is expected to face charges after leaving a child locked in the car while she went shopping. Source: AAP

A WOMAN is expected to face charges after leaving a 17-month-boy locked in the car while she went shopping for the Boxing Day sales.

Police have been told a woman drove to attend the sales at a Doncaster shopping centre in Melbourne's north east about 9.30am (AEDT).

She parked in an undercover car park and went alone to the shops, leaving the boy locked in the car.

A passer by spotted the boy about half an hour later and told security, who removed the child after an unsuccessful bid to find the car owner.

The Doncaster woman, 27, was found about 11am (AEDT) and spoken to by police.

She is expected to be charged with leaving a child unattended and being a learner driver without being accompanied by a licensed driver.

The child was checked over by paramedics and found to be fine.

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Toddler saved after falling into pool

A QUICK-THINKING family member used CPR to save a toddler who fell into a pool on the NSW Central Coast.

The two-year-old girl was pulled unconscious from the backyard pool on Thursday afternoon, but she was breathing by the time paramedics arrived and she regained consciousness.

CareFlight director Ian Badham praised the quick action of the family member.

The girl was airlifted with her mother to The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

"Because she had been underwater for a while, she was taken to the hospital to be checked out and kept under observation," Mr Badham said.

She remains in a stable condition.

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Nine road deaths dampen festive season

NINE people have died on Australian roads this festive season, including two friends killed in a single-vehicle incident in NSW on Boxing Day.

A man, 31, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash on the NSW Central Coast. A second man, 22, was trapped in the wreckage and died before he could be released.

The crash, which occurred just before 5am (AEDT), left three other men aged 29, 22 and 27 in hospital.

Police said they hoped to speak to the injured men, all from Sydney suburb Auburn.

In Canberra, a motorcyclist died after losing control of his bike late on the evening of Christmas Day.

The 22-year-old hit a traffic island in the inner-north suburb of Lyneham about 11pm on Wednesday.

He died in Canberra Hospital.

In Perth, a 17-year-old boy died after falling off the back of a utility on Christmas evening.

Police say the boy suffered severe head injuries when he fell from the tray of the Nissan ute.

A 24-year-old man in the Northern Territory was killed after losing control of his motorcycle on a dirt road near the Todd River in Alice Springs on Christmas Day.

Two Victorian women killed in a head-on collision two days before Christmas were the first fatalities for the 2013 Christmas period.

A 69-year-old Queensland man died on Christmas Eve when his car hit a tree near Bundaberg.

On Monday night police found a man dead in a sedan spilt in two following a high-speed crash into a tree north of Moree in NSW.

The deaths take the national toll to nine, compared with 16 recorded by Boxing Day in 2012.

The national road toll period runs from midnight on December 23, 2013, until midnight on January 3, 2014, local times, in line with the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board.

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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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Locals help out after Grinch steals gifts

GENEROUS people have been playing Santa and dropping off gifts for two Victorian families whose gifts were stolen from under their Christmas trees.

Police at Wodonga near the Victoria-NSW border are calling the thefts "an unthinkable act of heartlessness".

But they say they have been overwhelmed by the number of donated presents that have been arriving at the police station throughout Christmas Day.

The Salvation Army also gave presents to the children at one of the homes.

"The occupants of the houses were asleep and realised all their gifts were missing when they went to open them this morning," a police spokeswoman said.

The two homes are on different streets, Wilca Way and Hartwig Road, on the southern end of the town.

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AmEx to pay $US75.7m in settlement

American Express will pay at least $US75.7m over what authorities say was misleading marketing. Source: AAP

AMERICAN Express has agreed to pay at least $US75.7 million ($A84.92 million) to end an investigation into what regulators say was misleading marketing of some discontinued card products.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said on Tuesday American Express led consumers to believe that an account protection product would work for up to two years when the benefits usually lasted no more than three months, and it didn't properly explain the enrolment process for a product intended to protect against identity theft.

It said 85 per cent of consumers who signed up didn't complete the enrolment process, but they were billed anyway.

The agency also said that the company misrepresented the terms of a "lost wallet" product that was offered to Spanish-speaking customers in Puerto Rico, and it did not provide written materials in Spanish.

The New York-based company said it agreed to pay $US16.2 million in fines and repay at least $US59.5 million to customers.

American Express said it has set aside enough to cover most of the costs of the settlement with the FDIC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency. It has already made most of the payments to customers.

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