National Radio Midday Bulletin

TELECOM AND EMERGENCY CALLS: Telecom is investigating whether customers in Central Otago could make emergency calls during the snow dump over the weekend. Over 200 houses had their phone lines effected by the snow, 200 sections of line were damaged and over 200 poles had to be replaced.

ELLIS APPEAL: The Court of appeal has been told a miscarriage of justice occurred in the trial of convicted child sex offender Peter Ellis. Judith Ablett-Kerr QC said Ellis never received a fair trial as the jury was biased. She also said the evidence of six children needed to be handled extremely carefully.

BARRIER DEATH: Police say locals on Great Barrier Island are concerned the killer of a resident hermit may be living among them.

KID CRIME: CYPFA are reviewing the way they dealt with a 13 year old who committed a home invasion style robbery last week.

LOWER RETAIL: Retail activity has fallen for two months in a row reflecting a drop in consumer confidence of two per cent between March and June.

ANSETT: One Hundred and eighty Ansett flight attendants walked off the job this morning for meetings over employment conditions. However all people made their flights thanks to stand in staff.

TIMOR POLICE: Four New Zealand police observers in East Timor have been moved to a safer city following more militia firing on UN staff.

PAKISTAN – INDIA: US President Bill Clinton has had talks with the Pakistani president for three hours to try to resolve the growing Kashmir crisis. The Indian president declined to attend.

WHAT BECOMES: The Corrections Department will not budge on their refusal to screen What Becomes of the Broken Hearted to inmates.

STENT STEPPING DOWN: Health And Disability Commissioner Robyn Stent is stepping down from the job she took on in 1994.

RUGBY BRAWL: Australian police have spoken to three New Zealand A players following a brawl in Canberra after their game against the ACT Brumbies.

TOYOTA HYBRID: Toyota have revealed a new car which can switch from electric batteries to petrol. It is much more efficient and environmentally friendly. Toyota have yet to decide whether to commercially release it in New Zealand.

KUWAIT: Liberals have made huge progress in the Kuwaits general elections, providing hope that women may soon get the vote.-

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