National Radio Midday Report

Air NZ Profits Down – Murder Investigation – Kiwi Bank – Vet Strikes – Milk Plant Closure – Virus Import Blocked – Brazilian Prison Uprising – Afghanistan Killings – Zimbabwe Censorship – Wahid Allegations – Special Needs – Tainui Loss – Nazi Web Sites

- AIR NZ PROFITS DOWN: Air New Zealand’s profits have nose-dived to just $3.8m in its first result since it took over Ansett Australia. It has been hit by high fuel profits, unfavourable exchange rates, and problems with its Australian operation.

- MURDER INVESTIGATION: Police and forensic experts are focusing on a disused West Auckland section, where a woman’s body, believed to be that of Marie Jamieson, was found.

- KIWI BANK: National Leader Jenny Shipley has given a strong indication that a National government would sell the Kiwi bank, expected to be given the go ahead this afternoon. A joint Labour and Alliance caucus will be briefed by NZ Post, and will vote separately. That is expected to be a formality, with cabinet already approving the bank.

- VET STRIKES: Meatworkers suspended because of the vet strike are running out of money and are signing up for the dole.

- MILK PLANT CLOSURE: Nelson’s only milk plant is to close, with 14 staff affected. The 12 full time and two casual staff will be offered jobs at other Mainland plants around the country.

- VIRUS IMPORT BLOCKED: The Ministry of Agriculture has cancelled the permit it grated a northland man to import the canine distemper virus in the hope it could be used to kill stoats that kill kiwis, because of the threat it may pose to dogs and seals.

- BRAZILIAN PRISON UPRISING: In Brazil, troops have taken control of 29 prisons across Sao Paulo state, taking control of the country’s biggest ever prison inmate uprising. Amnesty International’s Brazilian researcher says the riots were probably sparked by poor conditions in the jails.

- AFGHANISTAN KILLINGS: Afghanistan’s ruling Teliban movement is denying any involvement is the mass killing of more than 170 civilians in the centre of the country. Human Rights Watch made the allegations against the party.

- ZIMBABWE CENSORSHIP: Opposition politicians in Zimbabwe say the Government has begun a campaign to silence critics ahead of the upcoming election, including the expulsion of foreign media.

- WAHID ALLEGATIONS: Indonesian President Wahid has offered to answer questions from police over two multi million dollar scandals in which he’s been implicated, but he has resisted calls for his resignation.

- SPECIAL NEEDS: The principal of a school with one of the country’s largest special needs units says he often has to take on children rejected from mainstream schools that don’t want to take on the responsibility.

- TAINUI LOSS: The Chairman of the Tainui Executive says he expects Tainui to face another loss in the current financial year.

- NAZI WEB SITES: A Jewish organisation in Germany plans legal action against Internet service providers hosting neo nazi or other extreme right wing web sites.

© Scoop Media