The time is 21:45 (UTC) on August 23rd, 2006, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.
Lebanon
The human rights organisation, Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing war crimes by deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in Lebanon during the Israel-Lebanon conflict, calling the attacks "indiscriminate and disproportionate". Israel has rejected the charge.

India
"18 hours of mass hysteria" (according to the Sunday Times of India) broke out last Friday in Mumbai as hundreds of residents flocked to Mahim Creek, one of the most polluted creeks in India that receives thousands of tonnes of raw sewage and industrial waste every day[1] after reports that the salt water had suddenly turned "sweet".

Australia
Convicted terrorist Faheem Khalid Lodhi has been sentenced a 20 years prison time by the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia.
Netherlands
Police in the Netherlands have arrested twelve passengers after a US flight destined for Mumbai in India had to be escorted back to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. No further information about the arrests have been given.
Australia
The Australian federal government has annouced it will subsidise the breast-cancer drug Herceptin under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for women with HER2 positive cancer. Those with advanced breast cancer will continue to be eligible for special assistance from Medicare Australia independently from the PBS.

New Zealand
New Zealand finance minister, Michael Cullen, rejected providing a subsidy for the New Zealand's Auckland to Wellington passenger train service, Overlander, which Australian company Toll Holdings Limited plans to stop on September 30, 2006.
New Zealand's nineteenth Governor-General was sworn in today. The Honourable Anand Satyanand succeeds Dame Silvia Cartwright as the personal representative of New Zealand’s Head of State, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand. Dame Silvia concluded a five year term in office.

United Kingdom
A thirty-five year-old woman and a forty year-old man, both from Burnage in Manchester, have been arrested in connection with the deaths of a woman and her three young children.

United States
John Mark Karr, the man who last week admitted to killing six year-old JonBenét Ramsey on Boxing Day 1996, has been told by a judge that he will be sent to Coloado to face charges.

New Zealand
Thousands of spectators lined Queen St. in central Auckland, New Zealand to watch a parade of around 20 female porn stars riding topless on motorcycles.

sports – football or soccer
Earlier today former England-manager Bobby Robson underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his brain. A statement was made saying the surgery went "very well", and that the tumour has been completely removed.

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Wikinews:Briefs/August 23, 2006