HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 20:00, April 27

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2001
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 20:00, April 27

MAJOR STORIES MOVED SINCE THE 15:30 NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard today hit back at a rebuke from China over his
support of the United States' stance on Taiwan. (US Taiwan Aust Nightlead)

CANBERRA - The latest spat between Australia and China is a minor side issue to Prime
Minister John Howard's broader diplomatic agenda of pleasing the United States. (US Taiwan
Aust Analysis)

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard today denied the government was hiding negative
economic news from Australian voters. (Economy Nightlead)

CANBERRA - US President George W Bush has written to Prime Minister John Howard indicating
support for a free trade deal between the two countries. (Trade)

MELBOURNE - Petrol prices hit record highs in Victoria and Tasmania ahead of the weekend
as the NRMA produced evidence of regular fuel price hikes on holidays. (Petrol Nightlead,
see also sidebars, factboxes)

MELBOURNE - Ansett would launch a $20 million marketing campaign next week in the wake
of the recent grounding of its 10 767-200 aircraft, chief executive Gary Toomey said today.

(Ansett Advertising)

PERTH - Former West Australian premier Richard Court formally quit politics today ending
a dynasty which held one of the state's top Liberal seats for almost half a century. (Court
Nightlead)

PERTH - The departure today from West Australian politics of former premier Richard
Court ends a long and historic chapter for the fiercely-Liberal political dynasty. (Court
Profile)

SYDNEY - Australia's immigration program will be increased by 6,000 places to boost
economic growth and offset an anticipated drop in population growth. (Immigration Ruddock
Nightlead)

CANBERRA - A new study showing there were seven jobless people for every vacancy has
renewed pressure on the federal government to come up with a new plan to tackle unemployment.

(Jobs ACOSS Nightlead, see also Jobs Acoss Qld Nightlead)

MELBOURNE - Thousands of protesters are expected to take part in an "anti-capitalist"

bid to shut down the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) building in Melbourne on Tuesday.

(M1 Vic)

BRISBANE - The high-rise building housing Brisbane's stock exchange will almost shut
down next Tuesday when hundreds of anti-globalisation protesters blockade the site in
a stand against global trade. (M1 Qld)

CANBERRA - A Senate Committee today called for major changes to Australia's superannuation
system, after hearing concerns about its complexity and compliance requirements. (Super)

MELBOURNE - Workers in gas marks laid wreaths and feigned death during an International
Day of Mourning ceremony held in Melbourne today. (Mourn Vic)

BRISBANE - More people have died at work than at war but today was the first time they
were remembered with a special church service in Brisbane on the eve of the International
Day of Mourning. (Mourn Qld, see also Mourn SA)

PERTH - Lang Hancock's last known words were a message to his wife Rose, warning that
if she did not leave him alone she would lose everything, a Perth court was told today.

(Hancock Nightlead)

MELBOURNE - The defence team for alleged Nazi war criminal Konrads Kalejs today hit
a snag, with a key witness refusing to come to Australia to testify. (Kalejs)

BRISBANE - Australia's next Governor General Peter Hollingworth today revealed how
he was persuaded by Prime Minister John Howard to take up his new "calling". (GG Hollingworth)

CANBERRA - Angered by a spate of raunchy billboards, women's affairs ministers today
vowed to wage war on sexist advertising. (Women Nightlead)

SYDNEY - PMP Ltd shares slumped to a record low today after Australia's competition
watchdog blocked the magazine and publishing company's proposed merger with rival Independent
Print Media Group (IPMG). (PMP)

MELBOURNE - Eddie McGuire is under renewed pressure over his dual role as Collingwood
president and host of Channel Nine's top rating AFL program The Footy Show. (AFL Nightlead)

AAP mo

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL UPDATED

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