HEADLINES & NEWS
Afghanistan has been pounded by American warplanes for the fifth successive night in what Washington is describing as the heaviest air raids yet. The Afghan's ruling Taliban says the week-long blitz has so far killed more than two hundred people, including women and children. Frightened residents in the capital Kabul say warplanes have again been screaming overhead, fired at by Taliban anti-aircraft guns. They report being rocked by a dozen strong explosions as bombs struck targets just outside the city. The raids are designed to force the Taliban to surrender Osama bin Laden, the man Washington accuses of masterminding September's devastating attacks on New York and Washington.
[illegible] bombardments have prompted an exodus of refugees into Pakistan but the [illegible] say that bin Laden remains alive and well.
The US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld concedes there have been civilian casulaties but a State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, denies that civilians are being deliberatley targetted. AUDIO CUTS
Meanwhile, President Bush has gone on nationwide-TV, telling the American people he's pleased with the results so far from the war on terrorism and that the government remains on "full alert". And he's thanked nations around the world for their help in efforts to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. Our Washington correspondent Steve Mort filed this report. PKGE
Pakistan is on high alert with fears there will be violent protests in many cities against the Americans and the British over the attacks on Afghanistan. I asked the BBC's correspondent in Islamabad Zaffar Abbass why violence is expected today. Days after taking over the leadership of the National Party by toppling Jenny Shipley, Bill English has reshuffled National's lineup, promoting three new faces to the frontbench. To explain who they are - and why [illegible] are thre - I'm joined by our political editor, Al Morrison. LIVE IV
BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
An Auckland doctor who strangled his terminally-ill mother has been sentenced to three years in jail for manslaughter. Christopher Simpson admitted killing 82-year-old Marjorie Simpson, but claimed he was insane at the time. Our reporter Julian Robins has been covering the case, he told me the defence asked the court not to send Simpson to jail. PREREC WITH DROP INS
Voters in this year's local body elections, have missed the deadline for mailing their voting forms, but its still not too late to ensure their vote counts. On the line now is the electoral officer for Auckland Dale Ofsoske (off-soss-kee). LIVE
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with STEPHEN HEWSON
New Zealand's fifth largest company, Contact Energy, is the target of a takeover by its largest shareholder, Edison Mission Energy, which wants full control. Contact generates 25 percent of New Zealand's electricity and supplies energy to 480 thousand customers. The takeover price has been called fair by Edison, but the market thinks otherwise, with share prices rising above the takeover offer as Eric Frykberg reports. PKGE
Returning to our lead story - and the Bush administration is expected to shortly propose spending two billion US dollars to guard against biological or chemical terrorism following last month's hijack attacks. The move comes after concerns that anthrax detected in Florida could be the result of such an attack. The threat of bio-terrorism is also taking centre stage at a Washington meeting of health ministers from around the world. Radio New Zealand reporter Rae Lamb is in Washington for the meeting, she says while bio-terrorism was not on the agenda it was the first thing the ministers wanted to talk about. PREREC
Meanwhile, one month after the attacks on New York and Washington, memorial services have been held across the United States. In the ruins of the World [illegible] Centre, recovery workers stopped their efforts in the rubble of the twin towers to hold a short service to mark those who lost their lives in the attacks. Our New York correspondent Nathan King filed this report. PKGE
In Australia, the controversy over the treatment of boat people continues with the head of the Refugee Council saying dumping asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea could destablise the PNG government. Nearly 200 mainly Iraqis rescued from a sinking boat near Australia's Christmas Island this week are being taken to Papua New Guinea under a deal announced by the Australian government. The deal includes funding construction of a refugee centre there. But the chair of Australia's Refugee Council William Maley is critical of the move, saying PNG is a country with many problems. I asked him why accepting the refugees puts the PNG government at risk. PREREC
There are more arguments today over the use of 10-80 poison, with claims that an aerial drop of posioned pellets in an internationally recognised hunting area has devastated the deer population - killing up to 90-percent of the animals. The drop was made in the Blue Mountains north-east of Gore, to reduce the possum numbers which are threatening the TB free areas of West Otago and [illegible]. Nathan Mills reports. PKGE
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