HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Dec 5

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Dec 5

SUVA - Fiji's embattled prime minister remained defiant today as the military tightened
control of the nation in a "creeping" coup. (Fiji PM. Nightlead, Scene to come.)

CANBERRA - Fiji's embattled prime minister appealed to Australia for military help
to stave off a military coup but Australia refused, Prime Minister John Howard says. (Fiji
Howard. Fiji Aust N/L to come.)

BRISBANE - Tourism operators said they have experienced significant cancellations from
holidaymakers and anticipate will take up to 2 years for the industry to bounce back after
the coup. (FIJI TOURISM to come)

CANBERRA - Disgraced wheat exporter AWB will be stripped of its veto over wheat exports
with the power to be temporarily transferred to Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran. (AWB
LEAD to come. N/L to come.)

CANBERRA - New Labor leader Kevin Rudd and his deputy Julia Gillard will this weekend
launch a 10-day campaign tour. (LABOR TOUR. N/L to come.)

PERTH - The Australian navy is standing by to help rescue two people aboard a civilian
submarine rescue craft stranded on the ocean floor off the West Australian coast. (Remora.

N/L to come)

CANBERRA - Australia's export sector in the third quarter contributed to economic growth
for the first time since June 2001 - a timely input given that the domestic economy has
otherwise slowed against the backdrop of rising interest rates. (EXPORTS. Economy N/L
to come.)

CANBERRA - Federal parliament has approved the sale of Medibank Private, Australia's
largest health insurer. (Medibank Pass. N/L to come)

SYDNEY - Predicting the onset of mental illness could soon be as simple as smelling
a scratch-and-sniff card loaded with the aroma of roses or a whiff of petrol. (Scratch)

CANBERRA - Extreme drought conditions are forecast to cut Australia's 2006/07 winter
grains production by 62 per cent from last season to 15.5 million tonnes, the lowest level
in 10 years, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) said
today. (ABARE)

DARWIN - An ongoing feud between two families in a remote Northern Territory community
escalated when more than 200 people allegedly attacked each other with axes, spears and
homemade swords. (Feud)

PERTH - Australia's largest gas and electricity retailer AGL Energy has secured a 27.5
per cent stake in Queensland Gas Company Ltd (QGC) for up to $292 million. (QGC to come)

ADELAIDE - Shane Warne gave Australia a strong whiff of victory over England in the
second Ashes Test after a remarkable start to the fifth and final day at Adelaide Oval.

(Ashes. N/L to come.)

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KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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