National Radio Midday Report

Teresa Cormack – Drop-in Closure – Logging Trucks – Microlite Crash – Fuel Review - Northern Ireland – Weapons Decision – Reserve Bank Legislation – Agent Orange – Motueka Fire – Trading Hours – Body Found – Car Parts

TERESA CORMACK: Police hunting for the killer of Teresa Cormack say they’ve made a breakthrough. They say advances in DNA technology mean they now have a profile of the killer, and have eliminated all of the suspects they had. Teresa Cormack was killed after being abducted on the way to school in Napier 14 years ago. Justice Minister Phil Goff says the Government has no plans to pay compensation to suspects that are now cleared of the killing.

DROP-IN CLOSURE: The closure of a Dunedin drop-in centre has left nearly 100 people, many with psychological problems, wandering the streets, according to the centre’s co-ordinator.

LOGGING TRUCKS: There are calls for drivers of logging trucks to slow down as police investigate two crashes involving logging trucks near Taupo this morning.

MICROLITE CRASH: A microlite plane has crashed into a house west of Hamilton. Police report that the pilot has died.

FUEL REVIEW: The fuel industry says the price of fuel will rise if recommendations made by the Government to improve fuel quality are taken up.

NORTHERN IRELAND: The Irish Republican Army has made an unprecedented offer to give up its weapons. The Irish and British Governments are welcoming the offer. Sin Fein leader Jerry Adams has called it a hugely historic breakthrough. Meanwhile, Britain has announced the deadline for leaders to respond to a new peace package to be extended, possibly until next Monday. Catholic and Protestant leaders say they need more time to consider a joint British/Irish peace plan.

WEAPONS DECISION: A Californian Supreme Court decision says victims cannot sue weapons manufacturers for damages when they are injured by criminals using them illegally.

RESERVE BANK LEGISLATION: Government legislation reducing the powers of the Governor of the Reserve Bank has the support of all parties in Parliament.

AGENT ORANGE: Investigations are being made into allegations that Agent Orange chemicals were dumped in the Hutt Valley and the Cook Strait 30 years ago.

MOTUEKA FIRE: Motueka Police say they have no firm leads in this morning’s fire that destroyed a small cottage where two young sisters were killed on the Weekend.

TRADING HOURS: Retailers say legislation to introduce more liberal shop trading hours doesn’t go far enough.

BODY FOUND: A body found south of Alice Springs is not that of missing British tourist Peter Falconio.

CAR PARTS: Striking car parts worker will today decide whether to end industrial action that is crippling the Australian automobile manufacturing industry.

© Scoop Media