TV1 News

Ecstasy Haul - Telecommunications Competition – Petrol Up – Australian Storms – California Power – Internet Twins

- ECSTASY HAUL: Customs has seized more than 25,000 ecstasy tablets in a record haul. A short time after customs officers found the tablets three men were arrested. Two of the arrested are Aucklanders in their thirties, the other a visiting Hong Kong man. The haul suggests there is enormous demand for the drug. The three men are charged with importing drugs. The charges have a maximum penalty of 14 tears in prison.

- TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION: Telecom admits competition has forced them to drop the price of line rentals in Wellington and Christchurch. Other areas where Telecom do not face competition from Telstra Saturn have not had their prices reduced. But Telecom says they will not wait for competition before they drop prices in some of those areas. Telecom is also about to face more competition in the mobile phone business.

- PETROL UP: Petrol prices on the way up again, with OPEC cutting production by five percent.

- AUSTRALIAN STORMS: Another ferocious storm has hit the East Coast of Australia, just days after the Sydney storms. Golf ball sized hail lashed Queensland. A man was electrocuted by falling power lines.

- CALIFORNIA POWER: California is imposing rolling power cuts because there isn’t enough power to go around. The blackouts last 1-2 hours. Without the blackouts the power could cut altogether, when supply cannot meet demand. The state senate met today to pass urgent legislation to keep power flowing. Power cuts are expected to continue for another two days.

- INTERNET TWINS: Twin baby girls bought over the Internet who are the centre of a custody battle are drawing increasing controversy in Britain. A British couple bought the babies after the twins had already been sold to a couple in America. The Natural mother took the twins from the American couple on a visit after they had been placed with them for two months, then sold them on to the British couple.

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