Radio New Zealand Midday News

Pathology Crises – WINZ Assurance – Japanese Whaling – More Police – Minors Rescue – Putin for President – ACT on ACC – Gerry Adams – Acid Dump – Jailed German – Panama Control –PHARMAC Action – Ads Cut – Internet Porn

PATHOLOGY CRISIS: One of NZ’s top forensic pathologists said there is a need for more pathologists and for an organisation to coordinate forensic pathology services.

WINZ ASSURANCE: Minister of Social Services Steve Maharey is seeking assurances that proper procedures were followed in the out of court settlement with a former WINZ manager who was suspended after it was revealed the department chartered private aircraft for a conference last year.

JAPANESE WHALING: Author of the a research study which indicated there was an international black market for whale meat says Japanese whaling can’t be justified on scientific grounds. A Greenpeace spokesperson says the Government should consider a legal challenge to Japanese government to stop the whaling.

MORE POLICE: Commander of the Australian peacekeeping force in East Timor Major-General Peter Cosgrove says more police from other countries are needed.

MINERS RESCUE: A rescue operation underway in South Africa to rescue nine miners trapped 2 kilometres underground in a mineshaft for the past 4 days

PUTIN FOR PRESIDENT: Rusia’s PM and acting president Vladimir Putin has formally entered the Russian Presidential race to succeed Boris Yeltsin.

ACT ON ACC: ACT says government is deliberately trying to close down opposition to ACC reforms by not giving interested parties the time to put in their submissions to select committee.

GERRY ADAMS: The leader of Sein Fein Gerry Adams has met with President Clinton and says his party has a commitment to the peace process.

ACID DUMP: A Canterbury Regional Council manager says he is appalled at the dumping of 200 litres of dangerous acids on the banks of the Waimakarere River. He says early testing shows the acid could have catastrophic effects on the environment and on children in the area.

JAILED GERMAN: The former East German communist leader at the time of the Berlin Wall’s fall is beginning a six and a half year jail sentence for the deaths of hundreds of people shot by guards when they attempted to gain access to West Germany.

PANAMA CONTROL: The US millitary is worried that China is gaining control over the Panama Canal – recently declassified Pentagon reports show.

PHARMAC ACTION: PHARMAC considers legal action on an American Company who has said it will pull it’s anti-depressant by the end of this month over breach of contract.

ADS CUT: TVNZ is to halve the number of commercial breaks on weekday television in respond to pressure from both the public and advertisers. It will reduce advertising from 12 minutes per hour to eight.

INTERNET PORN: Internal Affairs Department says the internet is making it more difficult to crack down on objectionable material.