National Radio Midday Report

Middle East – CYF – GE Cows – 14B – Lawyers Warned – S11 Report – Christine Rankin – Breath Tester – Sinking – Suharto – US/Korea talks – Herald Strike - Macedonia

MIDDLE EAST: In a breakthrough in the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to an American plan to return to the status quo before the Palestinian uprising, introducing a cessation of hostilities on the ground.

CYF: Child Youth and Family is promising to reduce the list of abused children awaiting attention and increase the number of social workers. Former Youth Court Principal Judge Mick Brown who wrote the report the changes are based on is heartened by the move.

GE COWS: The controversial herd of cows in Hamilton pregnant with genetically modified calves have started giving birth.

14B: The importers of 14B, the CD cleaner used as a so-called ‘party drug’, say they are looking at removing it from their sales website.

LAWYERS WARNED: Lawyers who work out of the Manukau District Court have been told they will have formal complaints laid against them if they fail to come up to scratch.

S11 REPORT: NZ Green MP Nandor Tanczos, who took part in last year’s S11 protests in Melbourne, is continuing his support for protesters in Melbourne despite a report that clears Victorian police of charges of using excessive force to break up the demonstration at the World Economic Forum last September.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: Department of Work and Income CEO Christine Rankin has made her last scheduled appearance before a Select Committee as head of DWI, saying staff are worried about a planned merger with the Social Police Ministry. Rankin is suing the Crown for not renewing her contract with the department.

BREATH TESTER: The Court of Appeal has decided police do not have to produce the maintenance record of a breath tester, used to incriminate a man charged with drink-driving who is challenging the reliability of the machine. Today’s ruling is likely to disappoint defence lawyers representing around 600 defendants in adjourned drink-driving cases.

SINKING: About 40 people including an entire soccer team are missing after a boat went down off the coast of Madagascar.

SUHARTO: Indonesia’s former discredited President Suharto is in a critical condition after collapsing in his home with dangerously low blood pressure and a weak heart. Doctors have fitted him with a pacemaker.

US/KOREA TALKS: Talks between the United States and Korea could be resumed as early as this week.

HERALD STRIKE: Striking journalists at the NZ Herald are being warned about the impact of their action of the newspaper, and ultimately their jobs.

MACEDONIA: The latest cease-fire in Macedonia is holding, despite an ambush by guerrillas.

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