HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Feb 12=2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2007
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Feb 12=2

HONIARA - The Solomons government wants the Pacific Islands Forum to initiate talks
on an exit strategy for the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

(Solomons RAMSI, to come)

AUCKLAND - Hardline anti-whaling activists are threatening to sacrifice their ship
in Antarctic waters by ramming a Japanese whaler. (Whaling Showdown)

NORFOLK ISLAND - Two tourists have told a Norfolk Island court how they came across
the body of Janelle Patton while visiting a waterfall in 2002. (McNeill)

SYDNEY - Kylie Minogue has urged fans to ease up on her former actor lover Olivier
Martinez, who has been labelled a love rat in the wake of the glamour couple's split.

(Kylie)

SYDNEY - A forgettable end to the Australian cricket team's summer handed the Nine
Network a dream start to the 2007 official TV ratings season. (Ratings)

SYDNEY - The first contestant to be kicked off The Biggest Loser hits out at critics
of the show. (Loser, to come, embargoed to 2000 AEDT)

SYDNEY - Almost half of women continue drinking alcohol through pregnancy, and older,
wealthier, well-educated women are the worst culprits, new research shows. (Pregnant)

SYDNEY - Electronics group Panasonic will launch its next generation of armour-plated
notebook computers, which have been built to withstand rough outdoor use and constant
vehicle motion. (Toughbook)

CANBERRA - It may not get any worse for homebuyers after the reserve bank indicated
that last year's interest rate rises had been enough to dampen inflation. (Economy Lead.

N/L to come)

CANBERRA - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Australian terror suspect David Hicks
will not return home until he faces trial by the United States. (Hicks Downer. Hicks N/L
to come)

CANBERRA - Skilled migrants are coming to Australia in ever increasing numbers for
temporary work, a parliamentary committee has been told. (Visas)

CANBERRA - International aid is in crisis and a better way to help third world countries
would be to help their businesses, rather than their governments, says a new study. (Aid)

SYDNEY - NSW Premier Morris Iemma says he won't introduce recycled sewage into Sydney's
water supply, despite a new opinion poll showing most Australians would be willing to
drink it. (Water Iemma Lead. PollNSW N/L to come)

SYDNEY - A NSW coalition government will offer rebates to householders who install
solar hot water systems if elected next month, Opposition Leader Peter Debnam says. (PollNSW
Solar. See also PollNSW Property)

SYDNEY - While a downpour drenches Sydney, much of drought plagued NSW is missing out
on the rain, the NSW government says. (Weather NSW Drought. N/L to come)

SYDNEY - A truck driver has survived a 60-metre drop down an embankment beside the
F3 after his vehicle left the road near the Mooney Mooney Bridge north of Sydney. (Truck.

N/L to come)

SYDNEY - A Sydney mother who allegedly murdered her elderly father using a roll of
Gladwrap and a pillow is to face a Sydney court this afternoon. (Beltrame, to come)

SYDNEY - Newspaper articles accusing a NSW prison chaplain of having links with terrorists
were "highly inflammatory", a Sydney court has heard. (Al Barq)

MELBOURNE - Victoria's two most powerful police figures are in conflict again, with
Police Association secretary Paul Mullett accusing Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon
of colluding to undermine his union. (Police Vic Daylead. N/L to come)

MELBOURNE - The Victorian opposition has accused Premier Steve Bracks of disrespect
for parliament by refusing to appear at an upper house gaming inquiry. (Gaming Vic. N/L
to come)

MELBOURNE - Victoria's County Court chief judge today said journalists who refuse to
reveal their sources wear contempt convictions almost as a "badge of honour". (Contempt,
to come)

MELBOURNE - Police divers have found the body of a man who went missing in the Murray
River after two speedboats crashed near Moama on the NSW-Victoria border over the weekend.

(Boat)

BRISBANE - A man who has been charged with being a public nuisance after sparking a
massive search in a Sunshine Coast national park should have to pay back rescue costs
if he is found guilty, Queensland's opposition says. (Jump Lead. N/L to come)

BRISBANE - The Queensland government wants to change the law after a court upheld a
prisoner's discrimination complaint because he wasn't given meat prepared in the Muslim
way. (Diet. N/L to come)

BRISBANE - Two British men have been charged after 6kg of ecstasy tablets were found
inside a DVD player in luggage at Brisbane Airport. (DVD. N/L to come)

BRISBANE - Male cyclists taking part in a nude environmental protest ride in Brisbane
next month will be urged to equip themselves with one vital item - a sock. (Nude)

BRISBANE - Queensland coroner releases findings of an inquest into a man who died after
being sprayed with capsicum spray by police (Eddy, to come)

ADELAIDE - A driver has died after being hit by a stolen car as it was being chased
by police in Adelaide's northern suburbs early today. (Toll SA. N/L to come)

ADELAIDE - HIV-positive man continues his appeal against conviction for endangering
life by having sex with three women. (Parenzee, to come)

PERTH - Disgraced former West Australian premier Brian Burke's political lobbying activities
are expected to come under further scrutiny at fresh corruption hearings that begin today.

(Burke, to come)

PERTH - A farmer has suffered third degree burns after trying to flee a bushfire near
Albany, in Western Australia's south, early today. (Bushfires WA. N/L to come)

PERTH - West Australian police are searching for a man missing in the Ord River in
a crocodile-infested area of the state's far north. (Ord. N/L to come)

HOBART - The search for a fisherman missing off Tasmania's south-east coast has been
scaled down and could be called off by police tonight. (Fisherman)

AAP nf

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 2 SYDNEY

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