HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 18:30, Dec 31

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2003
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 18:30, Dec 31

MAJOR STORIES MOVED SINCE THE 14:45 NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

TIMARU - Two Australians were among three mountain guides and a climber killed after
being caught in an avalanche on one of New Zealand's highest mountains this morning. (NZ
Avalanche Nightlead)

WELLINGTON - Australians Andrew Platt and Dave Gardner and New Zealanders Dave Hiddleston
and Paul Scaife and were tonight named as the climbers who died in an avalanche on Mt
Tasman in the Southern Alps. (NZ Avalanche Names)

NZ AVALANCHE SECOND NIGHTLEAD to come

SYDNEY - The Australian dollar said goodbye to 2003 by notching up yet another six-year
high today, ending a year in which it climbed a staggering 33 per cent. (Dollar Nightlead)

SYDNEY - The Australian dollar's meteoric rise should peak in 2004 but not until it
has hurdled 80 US cents. (Yearender Dollar)

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard today put national security at the head of his
government's agenda for 2004, an election year. (Eve Howard)

SYDNEY - New Year's revellers have begun jostling for prime positions on Sydney Harbour
for tonight's fireworks display. (Eve Scene)

To come: EVE NSW NIGHTLEAD, EVE VIC NIGHTLEAD, EVE AUST NIGHTLEAD after 21:30 aedt

GOLD COAST - The Australian father of September 11 victim Kevin Dennis today angrily
rejected reports he would receive millions in compensation from the United States for
the death of his son. (Terror Aust Dennis)

GOLD COAST - A former New Zealand champion wakeboarder drowned in a swimming pool on
the Gold Coast last night after passing out underwater. (Drowning Nightlead (pics available))

ADELAIDE - About 100 Gypsy Joker bikies were today escorted by unprecedented police
numbers from South Australia across the Victorian border. (Bikies Nightlead)

CANBERRA - Aboriginal leader Lowitja O'Donoghue today entered the debate surrounding
a hunger strike on Nauru, calling on Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone to take action
to end it. (Detention Nightlead)

CANBERRA - The nation's capital moves to a small village in north-western NSW from
tomorrow. (Anderson)

BRISBANE - Indigenous communities in Queensland were today mourning the death of respected
Aboriginal elder Beryl Wharton. (Wharton)

SYDNEY - A horrific crash in Queensland that killed three members of a family, and
deaths in almost every other state and territory, have pushed the national Christmas-New
Year road toll to 63. (Toll National Nightlead)

LOS ANGELES - Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman and Julian McMahon
take a bow. (US Top Ten)

BRISBANE - Gympie gold miners will know in two weeks if they will lose their jobs due
to an act of God more than 1,000km away. (Gympie Gold)

SYDNEY - Indian captain Sourav Ganguly sees dismissing Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden
cheaply as the key to a series-winning victory in the fourth Test with a query over Australia's
batting depth. (Cricket Aust Nightlead)

SYDNEY - Brad Williams has been squeezed out of the Australian one-day team in a worrying
sign for the iron-jawed speedster as he attempts to avoid the Test axe. (Tri Aust Nightlead)

EDS NOTE - stories JELLYFISH ex-Brisbane and MOWBRAY ex-Melbourne skedded earlier will
not be moved tonight.

AAP mo

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL UPDATED

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