Highlights of the AAP National wire at 21:15 Dec 8, 1998.

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1998
Highlights of the AAP National wire at 21:15 Dec 8, 1998.

MAJOR ITEMS MOVED ON THE AAP NATIONAL WIRE SINCE THE 1530 HIGHLIGHTS:

MELBOURNE - Two leading Test cricketers were secretly fined by the Australian Cricket Board
(ACB) during the 1994 tour of Pakistan for taking money-for-information from an Indian
bookmaker. (CRICKET BRIBES AUST LEAD, trying for more)



DARWIN - A tropical storm more powerful than Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed Darwin in 1974,
narrowly missed the city today but emptied its fury instead on the nearby Tiwi Islands.
(THELMA NIGHTLEAD, see also THELMA MCADIE, THELMA DARWIN LEAD, THELMA WA)



SYDNEY - Undercover officers have smashed a major international drug ring, seizing a record
$50 million haul of high-grade cocaine. (COCAINE NIGHTLEAD, see also COCAINE BANANA)



CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard was today warned by the opposition and green groups
to reject pressure from the United States to make Australia the worlds nuclear waste dump.
(NUCLEAR N/L)

CANBERRA - The federal government today rebuffed a compromise from the Australian Democrats
on its planned 30 per cent private health insurance rebate, setting the scene for its defeat.
(INSURANCE NIGHTLEAD, see also INSURANCE WOOLDRIDGE, INSURANCE PARLY, INSURANCE REPORT,
INSURANCE DEBATE)



CANBERRA - Pension day will become a thing of the past under a bill passed through the
Senate today. (PENSIONS PAY N/L)



SYDNEY - More than 25 New South Wales politicians will be grilled by the states corruption
watchdog over taxpayer-funded jaunts to holiday destinations and other parliamentary rorts.
(EXPENSES N/L)



CANBERRA - More than 90 per cent of Australian businesses were aware of the year 2000
computer problem but only slightly more than half intended to do something about it, figures
released today show. (Y2K AUST)



CANBERRA - Australian shoppers are expected to spend up big this Christmas despite the
Asian crisis, new surveys today suggested. (ECONOMY NIGHTLEAD)



MELBOURNE - National Mutual Holdings Ltd today unveiled two acquisitions in the Asian life
insurance markets while announcing a 31.7 per cent slump in annual net profit to $205.3
million. (NATMUT)



MELBOURNE - Socceroo striker Mark Vidukas stunning walk-out on Glasgow Celtic could be
linked to Croatian mobsters planning to cash in on his multi-million dollar transfer from
Croatia Zagreb. (SOCCER VIDUKA N/L)



MELBOURNE - England's frustration at dominating a drawn match boiled over at a lanky
Victorian first gamer as tempers flared at the MCG here today. (CRICKET ENGLAND N/L, see also
CRICKET ENGLAND THORPE N/L, CRICKET AUST N/L, CRICKET HAIR N/L)



MELBOURNE - The first major surprise of the Presidents Cup was sprung in the US team bus on
the way to Royal Melbourne golf club today. (GOLF PRESIDENTS N/L, see also GOLF PRESIDENTS
CHALMERS, GOLF PRESIDENTS COURSE, GOLF PRESIDENTS RYDER)



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KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL (UPDATE)

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