Main stories in today's AM program

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2008
Main stories in today's AM program

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - Main stories in today's AM program:

* In China, the flag has been raised in Tiananmen Square on the first day of the Beijing
Olympics.

* A large crowd gathered at Tiananmen Square, shouting patriotic and pro-Olympic slogans.

* Yesterday a BBC pollution reading suggests that air pollution levels in Beijing were
worse than World Health Organisation standards.

* The World Anti-Doping Authority has issued a stern warning to sprinters - clean up
the sport or become irrelevant.

* The Rudd government is moving to distance itself from the previous government's attitude
towards the United Nations.

* Attorney-General Robert McClelland says he is moving Australia towards becoming a
good international citizen by supporting the outlawing of "water boarding". The government
could be placed in a difficult position by supporting a UN protocol against torture -
tasers are banned under the protocol.

* School principals say a decision on what goes into a national primary school curriculum
will be politicised and overcrowded.

* As the world's attention turns to the Olympics, candidates in the Northern Territory
will be focusing on the finish line of their very short election campaign.

* With the world running out of oil, attention has turned to the ownership of the North Pole.

* The National Rugby League and Canterbury Bulldogs will again go to court to attempt
to stop Sonny Bill Williams playing rugby union in France.

AAP pbc/rl

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