The anti-genetic engineering lobby is welcoming legal proceedings lodged against the government and one of its agencies over the approval of a controversial GE project on cows. The group Mothers against genetic engineering - or MAdGE - is seeking a judicial review of the decision that allows AgResearch to carry out the research. But the crown research institute says if its approval for the experiments is overturned, it's likely the research will be abandoned - or taken overseas. Our environment reporter Liz Banas has more. PKGE
In Britain, a police officer has been stabbed to death and four others have been injured during a counter terrorism operation in Manchester. Police were trying to arrest a man in an operation linked to the discovery of the deadly poison ricin in London last week when they were attacked. Three people of North African origin have now been arrested. Ian Schoesmith is a producer with the BBC's Radio Five Live which is closely following the story. I asked him what happened. PREREC
[illegible] Securities Commission and the Stock exchange are launching an insider trading investigation into the trading of Fletcher Challenge Forest shares. This follows an 8 per cent rise in Fletcher's share price yesterday, which surprised brokers. Today, Fletcher announced that it would return 140 million dollars, or around 25 cents a share to shareholders late this year following the sale of cutting rights to some of its forests. I asked General counsel for NZSE Limited Elaine Campbell why the investigation was launched.
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The Medical Council says it is highly unlikely disgraced doctor Warren Chan, who was suspended and fined for botching several cosmetic operations, will practice in New Zealand again. The Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has found Dr Chan guilty of professional misconduct and suspended him from practising for three years and fined him 15-thousand dollars plus costs. Here's Brad Markham. PKGE
The Red Cross in Fiji says there have been reports of drownings in Labasa (LAMBASA), one of the towns hit by cyclone Ami. Its director general, Alison [illegible], (KEW-PIT) says phone lines are down but the news has come from people who have flown to Suva from Labasa. The Conservation Department has finally been able to get additional staff on to Kapiti Island today to begin investigating whether possums have been released there.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that anonymous letters had been recieved which claimed the pests had been released on this island sanctuary for native birds. But the weather has been hampering efforts to send staff. Joining me now is the department's area manager Ian Cooksley. LIVE
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