Checkpoint. 2003-04-09

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Year
2003
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144345
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Audio
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Rights Information
Year
2003
Reference
144345
Media type
Audio
Item unavailable online
Credits
RNZ Collection

As dawn breaks on the eve of the third week of war in Iraq the sound of gunfire is being heard again in central Bagdad Tanks and troops of the U.S. third infantry division have extended their control over parts of the centre of the Iraqi capital - resistence is reported to be sporadic but fierce with artillery and gunbattles taking place. Overnight US tanks, warplanes and artillary continued to pound central city targets - the Americans now control a large enclave on the western banks of the Tigris. It's still not certain whether Saddam Hussein was caught up in an an attack on the residential district of Mansur where it's thought he was meeting members of the Iraqi leadership. British security sources say they believe he escaped the attack by several minutes. READER
But as the fighting continues so too does the number of casualties - stretching hospitals to their limits. The BBC's Rageh Omar reports. PKGE
A Pentagon official says they are still trying to determine whether or not [illegible] President Saddam Hussein survived that bombing raid in a residential area. CUT
The Department of Child Youth and Family Services is to keep an open file on children who may have been abused by Jules Mikus the paedophile who last year was convicted of raping and murdering 6 year old Teresa Cormack. The department has been investigating its involvement with Mikus over the years when social workers knew he had convictions for child sex abuse but allowed him to continue living with children. The department's chief social worker Shannon Pakura says between 1977 and 2001 Mikus was "influential" in ten families containing a total of 18 children. She says the immediate priority is to care for those who've been harmed by Mikus and to keep the file open so more cases can be added to it. Shannon Pakura joins us now. LIVE
Power blackouts are looming as a possibility this winter if households and businesses do not start saving energy now. A key electricity industry group is urging people to make five percent savings in a bid to avoid bigger cuts in winter. The Grid Security Committee's winter co-ordinator, Patrick Strange, says he hopes to see a fall in electricity use as soon as Monday. He joins us [illegible] LIVE
BUSINESS with JOHN DRAPER
The government is refusing to table a letter in parliament containing an apology from Prime Minister, Helen Clark to the United States for her comments on the war in Iraq. The opposition repeatedly demanded to see the letter during another heated parliamentary question time which saw a government minister and a National MP ordered from the chamber. Our political reporter Mark Torley was there. PKGE
A survey has confirmed that there is a teacher shortage in secondary schools with more than 40 percent starting the year with staff vacancies. Education Minister Trevor Mallard says he's concerned there were 266 secondary teaching vacancies at the start of this year, but the situation is manageable. The survey shows vacancies are mostly concentrated in certain subjects, especially science, technology and English. The secondary teachers union the PPTA in January predicted there would more than 370 vacancies and late last year said the figure could be as high as 900. But the President Phil Smith doesn't think the union got it markedly wrong. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
Returning to our earlier story, the Pentagon says US forces are now moving around Baghdad at will. This follows another day of fierce fighting and growing numbers of civilian casualties. The US military is also expressing regret for the deaths of three journalists killed by US fire. Our Washington Correspondent Steve Mort reports. PKGE
Our correspondent Simon Marks is in Jordan and he joins me now. LIVE
In a significant move the New Zealand Medical Association has added its voice to calls from the medical profession to ban direct to consumer advertising of prescription medicine. Advertising drugs such as xenical and viagra has already drawn fire from other doctors groups such as the Royal College of GPS but the Medical Association has until now reluctantly accepted the practice. Now it's had a change of heart, which may well be enough to convince the Health Minister to ban direct advertising. Joining me now is the New Zealand Medical Association's chairman Doctor Trisha Briscoe. LIVE
Tauranga police say two officers who dropped off a drunk man on the roadside who was later runover and killed did nothing wrong. 32 year old John Hamilton from Taupo died after being struck by a car on a rural road, 90-minutes after police dropped him off drunk nearby. His widow Jo-Ann Hamilton has accused the police of running her husband out of town and she wants an independent investigation carried out. But Senior Sergeant Bruce Glover of Tauranga police says the officers followed correct procedure and he joins me now. LIVE
The tourism industry is looking to improve training for staff working in the backpackers accommodation saying it's the fastest growing sector in tourism. Eleven staff from various South Island youth hostels are part of a training pilot programme which was launched in Queenstown today and aims to eventually offer on the job training throughout the country. The scheme enables workers to gain formal tourism industry qualifications without leaving their jobs - and organisers believe many people will jump at the opportunity. Robyn Cubie reports: PKGE
MANA NEWS
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