HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, April 8

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HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, April 8

MELBOURNE - Australia's biggest bank denied today it had abandoned country customers,insisting that the closure of 56 branches in rural areas and the announcement of 2,000staff redundancies was "a good news story". (NAB Fronter to come. Also to come - NAB N/L(finance) and NAB Union N/L)

CANBERRA - The Vatican was concerned about Australia's treatment of asylum seekers,retired Catholic Cardinal Edward Cassidy said today after returning from Rome. (Boat Cassidy.

Boat N/L to come.)

CANBERRA - Investor confidence hit a two-year high in the three months to April andis set to rise further as economic conditions improve, a new survey has found. (Economy.

N/L to come.)

CANBERRA - Health and education were likely to bear the brunt of budget cuts foreshadowedby the federal government, the opposition warned today. (Terror McMullan)

CANBERRA - The ABC was meeting its charter obligations but could do better on strategicplanning and measurement of audience size and needs, an audit report has found. (ABC.

(N/L to come.)

SYDNEY - ANZ Banking Group Ltd has enjoyed a 30 per cent jump in the number of peoplesigning up for new accounts following the introduction of low fee options. (ANZ)

SYDNEY - A federal Liberal backbencher has flagged the possibility of Australia sendingpeacekeepers to the Middle East, a day after the prime minister ruled it out in the shortterm. (Mideast Aust. N/L to come.)

CANBERRA - About 59,000 senior Australians who missed out on a new tax concession wouldreceive a payment or a lower tax bill within weeks, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)said today. (Tax Seniors)

CANBERRA - Australia's first two female premiers will lead the push to increase femaleparliamentary representation within the Labor Party. (Labor Women N/L to come.)

MELBOURNE - An Australian genetics pioneer today cast doubts over reports an Italianscientist had used a cloned egg to help a woman become pregnant. (CLONING AUST. More tocome)

SYDNEY - BHP Billiton Ltd today said it was targeting a return on capital of greaterthan 15 per cent by 2006. (BHP N/L to come.)

MOSCOW - Freestyle victories to Olympic champions Grant Hackett and Ashley Callus assuredAustralia's place at the top of the gold medal tally on the final night of the world shortcourse swimming championships. (Swim World Nightlead)

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KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL