National Radio Midday Bulletin

Russian Elections – Clinton Abandons Talks - Lytleton Port Dispute: - Rodney Amalgamation - Gavin Dash Inquiry - Economy Picks Up - Oil Spill - Te Papa Team - 2000 Academy Awards - Piano Dispute - Ansett Bought - Death Not Suspicious - Burglary Attack

RUSSIAN ELECTIONS: Russia’s acting President Vladimir Putin appears on his way to victory after getting just over half the votes in the Russian election with 57 per cent of the total vote counted.

CLINTON ABANDONS TALKS: President Clinton is on his way back to Washington after failing to get Syria to agree on when it would agree to resume peace talks with Israel.

LYTLETON PORT DISPUTE: A union spokesperson says wharf workers at the port of Lyttleton have agreed to work longer shifts without overtime payments in an attempt to resolve a bitter waterfront dispute.

RODNEY AMALGAMATION: The Mayor of the Waitakere City Council Bob Harvey says part of the troubled Rodney district could be amalgamated into his area.

GAVIN DASH INQUIRY: Wellington police investigating the disappearance of a university student have seized two cars belonging to a man they have spoken to as part of their inquiry.

ECONOMY PICKS UP: Official figures show the economy last year recorded its strongest growth last year for nearly four-years.

OIL SPILL: The second oil spill in four months near Knights Island off the coast has led to calls for a shipping ban in the area.

TE PAPA TEAM: A team pointed to review Te Papa has been attacked by a Wellington City Council has been attacked by a Wellington City Councillor who says it has an Auckland bias.

2000 ACADEMY AWARDS: Hollywood’s biggest stars are gathering in Los Angeles for the Academy Awards ceremonies after earlier glitches threatened the ceremony.

PIANO DISPUTE: On the eve of the awards doubts about the authenticity of New Zealand Director Jane Campion’s Academy Award winning film ‘The Piano’ have led to calls that she should lose her Oscar.

ANSETT BOUGHT: Ansett New Zealand has a new owner after News Limited sold it’s ownership to a group of Australian businesses. A name change will be announced in April.

DEATH NOT SUSPICIOUS: Police investigating the death of a man who collapsed on a street on Saturday night in central Wellington say there are no suspicious circumstances.

BURGLARY ATTACK: Police say burglary seems to be the motive behind an attack on a man in Auckland found critically injured down an alleyway in the red-light district. .

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