1.   THE construction group, Costain, said yesterday it was appealing against a US court ruling banning the sale of its Australian coal mining business.

2.   Australian coal miners are tough, better paid than the iron miners and well organized.

3.   Australian coal producers and Japanese steelmakers are divided over expectations of Japanese steel output for next year.

4.   A dormant Australian coal mine could be developed if Southern can persuade the government to build a new rail line to reduce transportation costs.

5.   How many Australian coal miners does it take to change a light bulb?

6.   It announced a review of French contracts for Australian coal and said France was prepared to renounce its purchases of Australian uranium if the Australian government asks it to.

7.   The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported earlier today that the French foreign ministry has said it will consider cancelling contracts to import Australian coal and uranium.

8.   The company also must decide whether to include its Australian coal assets in a spinoff or sell them separately.

9.   The prices Australian coal producers charge Japanese consumers are industry benchmarks, largely determining prices around the world.

10.   While the Japanese act in unison, Australian coal producers follow self interest and tend to boost output whenever prices improve, encouraged by Japanese consumers.