National Radio Midday Report

DNA Testing – Stabbing – Tree Chopped – Kiwi Bank – Pay Gap – Lisa Blaikie – Fiji Coup – Pornographic Website – Teenage Gunman – Peace Talks – Peace Keepers – Charles Perkins – Black Market Paua – Argentine Ant

- DNA TESTING: The Police Commissioner has said he has asked area managers to review the number of DNA samples they take. The Police Association says a reduction in DNA testing will reduce police effectiveness. Budgetary concerns are behind the move.

- STABBING: A 24-year old man has been remanded in custody charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent after as multiple stabbing in a Tauranga retail store yesterday. A pregnant woman had her jugular vein cut and sustained other injuries. A shop assistant was also inured as he came to the woman’s aid.

- TREE CHOPPED: The landmark pine atop one tree hill will be felled tomorrow.

- KIWI BANK: Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has hinted at the shape of the Kiwi Bank proposal to go before Cabinet next month. He has indicated the bank will offer a full range of services and charge lower fees than its competitors.

- PAY GAP: A new survey shows the gap between pay rises of company bosses and their workers is closing.

- LISA BLAIKIE: Christchurch police have confirmed the luggage found in a water race belonged to murdered hitchhiker Lisa Blaikie.

- FIJI COUP: The treason trial of Fiji coup leader George Speight has been adjourned today to allow the prosecution to study the evidence.

- PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITE: The Department of Internal Affairs says New Zealand’s censorship laws cannot stop a local web site showing live sex acts.

- TEENAGE GUNMAN: A teenager is being questioned in Phoenix Arizona after he took a class of children and their teacher hostage at a school. No one was injured. The boy, who was armed with a gun, is thought to be 13-14 years old.

- PEACE TALKS: A senior Palestinian official has said US President Bill Clinton has invited Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to the White House for further peace negotiations, following the breakdown of the peace agreement struck in the Middle East last week.

- PEACE KEEPERS: An advance group from new rotation of New Zealand peace keeping soldiers will arrive in east Timor shortly to join the United Nations force.

- CHARLES PERKINS: A State funeral is being held in Sydney for Aboriginal leader Charles Perkins today.

- BLACK MARKET PAUA: The Ministry of Health is warning people about the dangers of buying paua on the black market. The gut of paua may contain the toxic algal bloom.

- ARGENTINE ANT: The Argentine ant has spread to Northland. It was first discovered in Auckland 10 years ago.

© Scoop Media