Main stories in Wednesday's AM program

AAP General News (Australia)
03-17-2011
Main stories in Wednesday's AM program

SYDNEY, March 17 AAP - Main stories in Wednesday's AM program:

* Heavy snowfall across Japan's quake-affected northern region is making life increasingly
difficult for rescue crews and survivors, with roads closures and massive fuel shortages
forcing people to remain huddled together in temporary shelters as they await assistance.

* The US nuclear body says the spent fuel rods in reactor four of the crippled Fukushima
nuclear power plant north of Tokyo are now completely exposed, meaning significant levels
of radiation are most likely being released into the air.

* Confidence in Japan's response to its nuclear crisis has dropped even further as
the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency leaving for Japan to find out what's
going on.

* For Australian expatriates living in Tokyo the urge to leave is mounting as pressure
builds on electricity supplies, petrol and even water.

* Qantas is continuing normal flights into Tokyo but air crews are not staying on the
ground and are instead moving on to Hong Kong.

* Prime Minister Julia Gillard says if parliament does not introduce a price on carbon
this year it will miss its opportunity to make a transition to a clean-energy economy.

* Libyan warplanes have bombed a military airport in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi
as fierce fighting continues in the strategic town of Ajdabiya.

* Thirty-one Australians have been arrested in what international police say was the
world's largest internet pedophile ring.

* An international survey on alcohol consumption has found drinking it having a wide
range of detrimental effects on Australian women.

AAP nep/rl

KEYWORD: MONITOR AM PROGRAM

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