National Radio Midday Report

Mark Lundy – CPI Rise – Local Govt Reforms – Drug Bust - Timor Elections – Kashmir – Kyoto Protocol – Oz Elections – Lake Murder – Smoking Censorship – Albatross Chicks

MARK LUNDY: Depositions have begun at the Palmerston District Court for Mark Lundy, the man accused of killing his wife and daughter, Christine and Amber Lundy. A gruesome picture has emerged. In a bizarre twist, police say Mark Lundy left the scene dressed as a woman jogger complete with blonde wig.

CPI RISE: Consumer prices rose 0.9 percent in the three months to the end of June, driven up by higher petrol prices, but with rising food prices contributing too.

LOCAL GOVT REFORMS: Local Government Minister Sandra Lee has been accused of not consulting with Maori adequately over Local Government reforms.

DRUG BUST: Lower Hutt police have ended year-long drug operation with the arrest of three men this morning that they describe as key men in a major cannabis ring, on drug and money laundering offences.

BOOZE BUSES: There is growing evidence that “booze buses” are discouraging drink drivers.

TIMOR ELECTIONS: In East Timor, campaigning has begun peacefully for the territory’s first free elections, but United Nations peacekeepers are taking no chances on security, with the possibility of political violence by pro-Jakarta militias always there.

KASHMIR: The bitter dispute over Kashmir has erupted ahead of the final day of talks between India and Pakistan.

KYOTO PROTOCOL: Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says he’s optimistic of achieving progress on Kyoto Protocol on global warming during talks in Germany.

OZ ELECTIONS: The Australian federal candidates meeting today in Adelaide, but the minister’s attention will be on the continuing count in the federal by-election for the outer Melbourne seat of Astin.

LAKE MURDER: Police investigating the killing of a man whose body was found in a Waikato hydro lake want to talk to anybody who had recently visited the nearby reserve.

SMOKING CENSORSHIP: Anti-smoking group ASH says it will lobby the Government to censor movies that excessively portray smoking, following similar attempts in Australia to put age restrictions on movies with actors smoking.

ALBATROSS CHICKS: A record number of chicks have survived at the albatross colony in Otago.

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