National Radio Midday Report

Cancer Treatment – Apple Industry – Sea Search – Icy Roads – Michael Winteringham – Soy Sauce – Lake Omapere – Indonesian Violence – Middle East – Yugoslav Parliament – Dairy Owner – Marie Jamieson

CANCER TREATMENT: A call has been made by National for Auckland cancer patients to be sent to Australia to get faster radiation treatment. A woman had to have her breast removed after waiting too long for radiation treatment. National says Auckland cancer patients are waiting 20 weeks for radiation treatment, and have called on the Health Minister fund the moving of patients to Australia for treatment.

APPLE INDUSTRY: The Apple Industry’s foreign currency crisis is beginning to impact on the Hawkes Bay economy. Many growers in Hawkes Bay have delayed winter pruning or have got out of the industry altogether. Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton has sought legal advice over whether apple exporter Enza has broken law in charging growers for foreign exchange losses.

SEA SEARCH: The Navy frigate Te Kaha is searching an area north of NZ where a distress signal was picked up this morning. At this point it is not known what vessels are in the area and who could have sent out the call.

ICY ROADS: Police are appealing to motorist to drive more carefully in icy conditions, which have taken two lives this week and contributed to other accidents.

MICHAEL WINTERINGHAM: State Services Commissioner Michael Winteringham is now appearing before a Parliamentary Select Committee and is being asked to explain a remark he made at the Christine Rankin case, where he said he may have suppressed sensitive information. Mr Winteringham said he made a rather ham-fisted reply to a question and regrets the impression that may have been made.

SOY SAUCE: The Health Ministry is proposing emergency food standards for soy based sauces following a British study that found high levels of cancer causing chemicals.

LAKE OMAPERE: Scientists say there is no mystery about the introduced weed growth choking shallow Lake Omapere and say grass carp should be introduced before Spring to control the growth. The Environment Ministry is proposing no action.

INDONESIAN VIOLENCE: Police in Indonesia have confirmed at least 18 people have been killed in an outbreak of violence on an island.

MIDDLE EAST: The Spiritual leader of the militant Palestinian Hamas movement says it will use all means to protect itself after Israel confirmed it was extending its policy of assassinating Palestinian militants.

YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT: The extradition of former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic continues to shake the Yugoslav federation. The Prime Minister resigned in protest and the collapse of his administration has now been accepted by the federal parliament.

DAIRY OWNER: A 64-year-old Wanganui dairy owner fought off two attackers who attempted to rob his store.

MARIE JAMIESON: Police investigating death of Marie Jamieson have distributed leaflets over a more extensive area than previously in an attempt to get more information.

© Scoop Media