National Radio Midday Bulletin

COUP: The General who has toppled the Pakistani government has said he had no choice after the government tried to politicise the armed forces. Government buildings, TV stations and the homes of Ministers have been secured by the military. All is reported to be calm in Pakistan. Don McKinnon is worried by the development and is a step backward for democracy in Pakistan.

IRD CHANGE: Sweeping changes are being proposed into the culture of the IRD. A select committee has finished an inquiry into the department and found that suicides were not the fault of the IRD although the IRD does have a culture of fear.

WINZ: WINZ has investigated over 120 soldiers who were receiving benefits on top of their pay.

AIRLINES: The airlines pilot union are meeting today with the possibility of breaking the Ansett deadlock.

BOUMAU MURDER: One 25 year old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he changed his plea to guilty.

TONGAN OVERSTAYERS: A lawyer approached by Tongan overstayers is advising people to be aware of a Maori-run citizenship scam in which immigrants pay for citizenship which never exists.

NATS: The National Party is promising that drug dealers and money launderers will have their assets removed unless they can prove they were legitimately purchased.

SCIENTISTS: Scientists will today inspect the breached dam in the Poerua valley which burst yesterday to assess its stability.

JURY: The jury is expected to retire this afternoon to consider whether a 20 year old Napier man tried to murder a teenager and her neighbour with a knife.

PHARMAC: Pharmac has told the Court of Appeal that drug companies are wrong in thinking they can re-patent a drug if another use for the drug becomes known.

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