AAP National News Wire Round Up for Midday, April 1

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2001
AAP National News Wire Round Up for Midday, April 1
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130

Yugo Milosevic (Belgrade)

Former Yugoslav president SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC is still holed up in his Belgrade residence,
surrounded by armed police.

Authorities have cut power and water supplies to the villa but there's no sign of surrender.

Police union leader MIROSAV VASIC has told local television that some 30 to 50 armed
henchmen thwarted an attempt to take MILOSEVIC by force.

MILOSEVIC, who's wanted on charges of corruption and abused of power, has told police
he won't be taken alive.

Bradman coin (CANBERRA)

The late Sir DONALD BRADMAN is to appear on the 20-cent coin for a limited period only.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the new coin will be in circulation simultaneously
with the existing 20-cent coin featuring the platypus.

Australian Republican Movement chairman GREG BARNES said yesterday the government should
be deleting the queen, retaining the platypus and adding the Don.

Mr HOWARD says the new coin will be an enduring symbol of the great affection the Australian
people hold for the memory of Sir DONALD.



Poll Howard (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the idea of holding the federal election earlier than
necessary is a bit ridiculous.

He's dismissed suggestions he should bring forward the election, due by December this
year, because a de facto election campaign is creating business uncertainty.

Mr HOWARD says he's always intended to run the full three years.

Poll Reith (CANBERRA)

With the opinion polls showing coalition support at historic lows, Defence Minister
PETER REITH says the government is obviously not travelling as well as it would like.

But he says that as the election nears, people will focus on not only what the government's
done but the risks entailed if they vote for Opposition leader KIM BEAZLEY.

He's told Channel Nine that voters should not forget that Mr BEAZLEY presided over
high unemployment as employment minister and Budget deficits as finance minister.



Dollar Hanson (CANBERRA)

One Nation leader PAULINE HANSON says foreign takeovers of Australian companies should
be banned while the dollar remains below 60 US cents.

She says that otherwise, foreigners are simply buying up successful Australian companies
on the cheap.

She's told Channel Seven she wouldn't allow the sale of gas producer Woodside Petroleum
to the international company Shell, which is currently under review by the government.



Shipbuilding (CANBERRA)

Defence Minister PETER REITH has denied knowledge of an alleged secret report recommending
closure of some shipyards.

Mr REITH says he's unaware of a report by JOHN PRESCOTT, the chairman of the Australian
Submarine Corporation, addressing rationalisation of defence industries, including shipyards.

He's also denied knowledge of an alleged payment of $116,000 to Mr PRESCOTT for the
report during an interview on Channel Nine.

Mr REITH declined to directly answer a question on whether Australian shipyards, which
rely heavily on defence contracts, will be closed.



RAAF (BRISBANE)

The Royal Australian Air Force is celebrating its 80th birthday in Brisbane today.

Veteran Affairs Minister BRUCE SCOTT says the RAAF can be proud of its heritage which
dates back to its proclamation in 1921.

He says the RAAF has developed from a small fledgling service into one of the best
equipped and trained air forces for its size in the world.



Rescue (SYDNEY)

Two fishermen washed into the water on Sydney's northern beaches this morning were
lucky enough to have a rescue helicopter passing overhead at the time.

The men from the New South Wales Central Coast were spotted in the water near Avoca
by the crew of the Hunter region Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter about 7.50am (AEST).

Chopper service spokesman BRUCE TARRANT says the chopper was on its way to Sydney with
a critically ill patient at the time.

The crew tossed life jackets to the men and hovered in the area until the service's
primary chopper, Lifesaver 1, arrived to winch the men to safety.



Lightning (DARWIN)

The Northern Territory Football League grand final was thrown into chaos last night
when lightning blacked out Darwin's Marrara Stadium three minutes before full time.

The match was in danger of being postponed for a week until the NTFL managed to restore
lights to three of the four light towers after 20 minutes.

Under NTFL bylaws, a match must be abandoned if power cannot be restored within 30 minutes.

The Palmerston Magpies were two goals ahead of the Darwin Buffaloes when the lights
went out at 6.55pm (ACST).

The Magpies extended their lead to win their first flag in 20 years 11.7 (73) to 8.13 (61).



Srilanka blast (COLOMBO)

A powerful explosion has ripped through a packed stadium during a concert in northwestern
Sri Lanka.

Police have yet to confirm casualties, but an official from the radio station that
organised the concert says the blast killed six people and injured more than 150.

The official from Sri FM says the blast followed a fight between two local gangs.

Pakistan Stampede (MULTAN)

Pakistan police say a stampede outside a shrine in eastern Punjab province has killed
30 worshippers and injured another 100 people -- 35 of them seriously.

Hundreds of people surged through the gates of the shrine of Baba Farid Shakargang
in Pakbattan Sharif, some 170 kilometres east of Multan.

The stampede occurred as the gates to the shrine opened to start the festival that
marks the anniversary of the saint's death several centuries earlier.

Briefly in other news

A 10-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after a four-wheel-drive hit
a pole in north-east Melbourne.



Four gay couples have exchanged rings and vows at Amsterdam's City Hall in the first
same-sex marriages recognised by any country.



A plane carrying 22 people has crashed in a field in Texas, but there are no reports of deaths.

In sport...

League Hopoate (Sydney)

Controversial rugby league winger JOHN HOPOATE has announced his resignation from the
West Tigers club.

HOPOATE has issued a statement through his manager WAYNE BEAVIS, saying he believes
his decision is in the best interests of the club, its sponsors and its supporters.

It followed widespread publicity given to his appearance before the National Rugby
League judiciary last week when he received a 12 match suspension for unsportsmanlike
conduct in jabbing his fingers into North Queensland players' anuses.

Tennis Masters Men (Miami)

ANDRE AGASSI has beaten Australia's PATRICK RAFTER 6-0 6-7 (7-2) 6-2 in their semi-final
of the ATP Tennis Masters Series event in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Third seed and three-time champion AGASSI will face fellow American JAN-MICHAEL GAMBILL
in tomorrow's final.

GAMBILL beat RAFTER'S Davis Cup teammate LLEYTON HEWITT 7-5, 6-4 in yesterday's first semi-final.

Australian Open champion AGASSI is seeking his second consecutive Masters Series title
from as many events this year after winning earlier this month in Indian Wells, California.

AAP RTV /jmt

KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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