EYEWITNESS NEWS. 18/06/1985

News, weather and current affairs.
Main stories:
Confusion around the TWA airliner hijacking in Beirut continues. America’s naval fleet, based in the Mediterranean, steams toward the Lebanese coast although military action seems unlikely.

Dennis Marshall, opposition spokesman for meat and wool, urges caution over New Zealand’s $600 million trade deal with Iran. The deal will make Iran New Zealand’s fourth biggest trading partner.

Police follow strong leads in the mysterious disappearance of a young couple from a camp site in Palmerston, East Otago. Foul play is not suspected.

Unemployment has fallen for the fourth month in a row, total unemployed at the end of May 1986 was 82,000.

The Space Shuttle, Discovery, has successfully launched the first of three communication satellites.

Two African stow-aways on board the NZ aid ship Ngahere, fail in their bid to remain in Australia. They will be returned to NZ.

The Russian trawler, Artemis, has been seized and four charges laid against the ship’s Master.

The Cook Strait cargo ferry, Sealink, has been seized following charges of unpaid stevedoring costs.

Neil Billington discusses the Middle Eastern situation in regard to the TWA hijacking with Dr Ron MacIntyre, Canterbury University Political Scientist.

The group HUG (Heterosexuals Unafraid of Gays) has formed to support the Homosexual Law Reform Bill currently before Parliament.

Interview with an Australian mother, Lydia, who is bringing her son up following the teachings of Russian Biologist Egor Chaikovsky(?). His method of underwater training is said to create Super Humans.