AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 24EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630
SARS (GENEVA)
A major hospital in Beijing has been closed amid the country's SARS outbreak, and patientsand more than 2,000 employees were under observation for the disease.
An official says the People's Hospital of Beijing University is being disinfected.
The move comes as the World Health Organisation extended its SARS travel warnings toinclude Beijing, north China's Shanxi province and the Canadian city of Toronto.
In a statement posted on its website, WHO says its travel warning is issued to protectpublic health and reduce opportunities for further spread of the disease.
The number of cases of SARS worldwide has now reached more than 4,470 in more than20 countries, and 251 deaths.
SARS Aust Labor (CANBERRA)
The federal opposition says Australian tourism faces a major crisis over the SARS outbreakbut the federal government has offered little more than a token response.
Opposition tourism spokesman GAVAN O'CONNOR says the impact of SARS on the tourismindustry is growing every day.
He says some sections of the industry are reporting a downturn in bookings of up to 90 per cent.
Mr O'CONNOR says Tourism Minister JOE HOCKEY should convene an urgent meeting of theTourism Ministers Council early next week to update the National Tourism Crisis Plan.
Meanwhile, the Australian developers of a breakthrough influenza drug will join forceswith US investigators to find a treatment.
Victorian-based Biota Holdings, with the CSIRO and pharmaceutical giant GSK says thecompany may have a wealth of potential SARS treatments either already developed or inthe pipeline.
LABOR CREAN (MELBOURNE)
Federal Opposition Leader SIMON CREAN says Labor backbencher KIM BEAZLEY should stopdestabilising the party and give a public assurance he won't challenge the leadership.
At a press conference in Melbourne to discuss Medicare, Mr CREAN's been swamped bymedia questions about the BEAZLEY threat.
Mr CREAN says a Labor government would increase the availability of GP bulk billing,create more university places and secure the environment.
But he says these good message aren't getting across because of the leadership spat.
New South Wales Premier BOB CARR says the federal Labor leadership squabble is damagingthe party at national level.
IRAQ OIL (BASRA)
US engineers have began restoring the lifeblood of Iraq's shattered economy, pumpingcrude oil for the first time since the war.
Although the oil isn't for export, the quick startup means one of Iraq's largest fieldscould be back to prewar production levels within weeks.
A massive pilgrimage to Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Karbala has ended peacefully,despite repeated calls from religious leaders to show hostility to occupation forces.
And, the United States says it has captured four more members of SADDAM HUSSEIN's regime.
The US Central Command has named the men as the director of military intelligence,ZUHAYR TALIB ABD AL SATTAR AL NAQIB, air defence force commander MUZAHIM SA'B HASSAN AL-TIKRITI,and Trade Minister MUHAMMAD MAHDI AL-SALIH.
The command says coalition special forces have also captured the head of the Americandesk of the Iraqi intelligence Service SALIM SA'ID KHALAF AL-JUMAYLI.
IRAQ CONTRACTS (SYDNEY)
Trade Minister MARK VAILE's rejected suggestions Australian companies will receivepreferential treatment for billion-dollar contracts to rebuild Iraq.
Mr VAILE will lead a delegation of 12 Australian companies to the US on Sunday fortalks about contracts with the US Agency for International Development.
ANZAC AMBASSADOR CANBERRA)
Turkey has lashed out at travel warnings advising Australians of security threats duringAnzac Day ceremonies at Anzac Cove.
Authorities are closely monitoring intelligence revealing possible terrorist strikes.
Turkey's ambassador TANSU OKANDAN has told ABC television the Australian travel warningsare an overreaction.
He says his country's already boosted security arrangements at Anzac Cove in responseto Australian concerns.
Treasurer PETER COSTELLO will represent the Australian government at services at AnzacCove at Gallipoli while Defence Minister ROBERT HILL will be at the dawn service on HMASKanimbla in the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, RSL president Major-General PETER PHILLIPS says any anti-war protest onAnzac Day would be a cheap shot.
He says Anzac Day's not a day for protest.
New South Wales police have also warned against anti-war demonstrations.
MEDICARE HOWARD (CANBERRA)
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says a planned $900 million shakeup of the health systemwill not damage the access of all Australians to treatment under Medicare.
Under the changes, to be unveiled by Mr HOWARD next week, doctors will be paid between$1 and $6.30 extra to bulk-bill pensioners and low-income families.
But New South Wales Premier BOB CARR says the federal government's health funding proposalto the states isn't enough to cover rising health costs.
And Victorian Premier STEVE BRACKS says his state will seek to negotiate a better outcomeunder a proposed new health funding agreement with the Commonwealth.
KOREA HOWARD (CANBERRA)
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says by agreeing to talks with the United States, NorthKorea shows it's learned a lesson from the resolve shown by Washington in dealing withIraq.
But North Korea has taken a tough public stance on the second day of its nuclear talkswith the United States in Beijing.
It warns that tension on the Korean Peninsula is so bad war could break out at any time.
Relations between Washington and Pyongyang hit rock-bottom after US President GEORGEBUSH described the North as part of an axis of evil along with Iran and pre-war Iraq.
MIDEAST (RAMALLAH)
World leaders have welcomed welcomed an agreement between Palestinian leader YASSERARAFAT and his prime minister-designate over the make-up of a new Palestinian Cabinet.
The Palestinian leader reached an agreement with MAHMOUD ABBAS just seven hours beforea midnight last night deadline.
The deal paves the way for the unveiling of a long-awaited road map to peace.
Meanwhile, Israeli police say a suicide bomber's blown himself up at a train stationin the central Israeli town of Kfar Saba, killing himself and a bystander and injuringten.
ANZ UNION (CANBERRA)
Unions say the ANZ Bank should commit more resources to frontline staff in the wakeof its record half-yearly profit of $1.14 billion.
ANZ announced today its net profit rose nine per cent.
Finance Sector Union branch secretary GEOFF DERRICK says the result is a credit tothe ANZ workers who've worked to maintain customer service levels despite reduced staffnumbers.
And Labor says the ANZ Bank's record first-half net profit highlights the squeeze onhouseholds from high bank fees.
NRMA (SYDNEY)
NRMA members have reacted angrily to an announcement it will hike fees for its roadside services.
The insurer is facing a $91 million loss this financial year, and also plans to slash$20 million in costs following a major operational review.
People with basic care membership face a hike of 23 per cent while premium care customerfees will jump by 33 per cent.
AND BRIEFLY . . .
A teenager has been jailed for a maximum of 14 years over two sexual assaults, includingone linked to a series of gang rapes in Sydney's west.
A New South Wales coroner has criticised medical practices at a Sydney detention centrewhere a Thai prostitute died as a result of heroin withdrawals.
AND IN SPORTS . . .
CRICKET AUST (PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD)
Australia has retained the Frank Worrell Trophy with a 118-run victory over the WestIndies in the second Test in Trinidad.
Australia won before tea on the final day when the Windies were dismissed for 288 intheir second innings in pursuit of 407 for victory.
Windies captain BRIAN LARA top-scored with 122 before falling to STUART MacGILL after lunch.
SOCCER CHAMPION (MANCHESTER)
Real Madrid has reached the Champions League semi-finals after a stunning RONALDO hat-trickin their 4-3 defeat to Manchester United in the quarter-final, second leg at Old Trafford.
Real advanced 6-5 on aggregate and now meet Juventus in the last four next month.
LEAGUE DRAGONS (SYDNEY)
St George Illawarra is struggling with injuries on the eve of its ANZAC Day NationalRugby League clash with the Sydney Roosters.
Lock SHAUN TIMMINS has been ruled out with a thigh injury while MARK GASNIER is indoubt for the match at Aussie Stadium with a calf problem.
ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP
AAP RTV wz/sco
KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP
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