National Radio Midday Report

Fiji Uprising – Nadi Airport Open – Car Bomb – Level Crossings – TopCat – Oil Spill Emergency – Health Care Petition – Sex Trade – Telecommunications Deal – Murewhenua Claim – Karori Ducks – King Toppled

- FIJI UPRISING: The Fiji military continues to hunt for armed and dangerous renegade soldiers today. A day and night curfew imposed by the army in Suva made it a ghost town, with all shops closed and nobody on the street. The rebels escaped from Queen Elizabeth barracks after a gunfight yesterday. In news just to hand, 11 Soldiers have been captured and nine remain on the run. The death toll from yesterday’s gunfight has risen to 11.

- NADI AIRPORT OPEN: The main tourist areas in western Fiji are unaffected by the latest uprising. Nadi airport is still open and Air New Zealand says flights are continuing on schedule.

- CAR BOMB: A car bomb planted by Islamic militants near Jerusalem’s main Israeli market has killed two passers by as Israel and Palestinians seek to end 5 weeks of bloody clashes. The Palestinian Islamic jihad group claimed responsibility for the bomb.

- LEVEL CROSSINGS: Tranz Rail is warning motorists to take extra care on level crossing because there will be more freight trains on the rails in daylight hours. The company has revamped its schedule, with many trains previously running at night now running in the day.

- TOPCAT: The TopCat fast ferry will berth in Wellington in a few minutes at the end of its last voyage. The company blames speed restriction in the Marlborough sounds, the weak kiwi dollar and the high cost of fuel for making the operation unviable. The ferry will sail to Hobart on Saturday.

- OIL SPILL EMERGENCY: An inquiry says a series of blunders led to an incident in the Chathams in March, which triggered a national oil spill emergency.

- HEALTH CARE PETITION: More than 50 health care organisations have signed a petition calling for action to improve the health and welfare of children. The petition has been presented to the Prime Minister Helen Clark.

- SEX TRADE: The Human Rights Commission says there is an increase in the traffic of women lured to New Zealand to work in the sex industry under false pretences. The Commission has also said there is an increase in discrimination against disabled people, especially by potential employers.

- TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEAL: A strong work ethic, a highly qualified work force and positive marketplace have been given as the main reasons for New Zealand securing a major deal with the global telecommunications company Ericson.

- MUREWHENUA CLAIM: A Member of one of five Iwi involved in the Murewhenua claim says new representation agreed to yesterday allows for more democracy. Margaret Mutu from Ngati Kahu says it also allows for more accountability.

- KARORI DUCKS: Wellington’s Karori wildlife sanctuary will get four pairs of brown teal ducks.

- KING TOPPLED: Gary Kasparov’s 15 year reign as the king of chess has come to an end, as he was beaten by a 25-year-old former pupil 2-0, with 13 games drawn in the series.

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