**** CKPT FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 8 *******
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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ATTACK POLICE: The police say tasers could have stopped two police officers being stabbed with a screwdriver. They say the pair was attacked by a man after a police chase in Auckland yesterday evening. A 34-year old Auckland man has been remanded in custody facing four charges in relation to the stabbings. Joy McArthur was at the Auckland District Court today and filed this update. PKG
FIJI COUP: To Fiji, where the military dictatorship is becoming increasingly impatient with opposition to the coup. Now there's a warning to the head of the Great Council of Chiefs to endorse the new regime or be replaced. Commodore Frank Baimimarama's attempts to legitimise his takeover has been frustrated by the reluctance of key institutions to take part. He has appointed himself interim- President, but is keen for the Great Council of Chiefs, or GCC, to reconfirm the legal President Josefa Iloilo as the head of state. Former military commander Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who is also a former head of the GCC, is trying to organise a meeting between the Commodore and the current Council Chairperson for this weekend. He says it's time the Chiefs accepted what has happened.
The military is still looking for two government chiefs who went into hiding after ordering a $20 thousand dollar spending limit on the army and all other departments. Our correspondent in Suva Vijay Narayan says the military could have money troubles if the situation drags on. PRE REC
BULLYING ALLERGIES: Allergy New Zealand says bullying in school has taken a new tack with children with food allergies regularly being subjected to teasing that can in fact be life threatening. Monique Devereux filed this report. PKG
POLICE ATTACK (2): Back to uor lead story - the police say tasers could have stopped two police officers being stabbed with a screwdriver. They say the pair was attacked by a man after a police chase in Auckland yesterday evening. A 34-year old Auckland man has been remanded in custody facing four charges in relation to the stabbings. Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg is representing the accused man and she's also part of the anti-taser campaign. LIVE
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1720 BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
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FIJI COUP(2): Back to Fiji now where there has been a raid on the finance ministry. Our reporter Phillipa Tolley is there. LIVE
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1730 HEADLINES
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SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
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ROBBERY CANCER: A man jailed for robbing a holiday home for cancer sufferers may get to serve his sentence at home - but only if he can help get his alleged partner-in-crime to take his place behind bars. Taranaki's House for Karen was set up in memory of Karen Van Dillen, who died from melanoma. But thieves struck before it opened, and farm-hand Kevin Bishell confessed he was one of them. The judge called it a low-down mean-spirited burglary - and told Bishell any application for home detention depends on the evidence he gives against his co-accused who goes on trial next week. Here's our Taranaki reporter Craig Ashworth. PCKG
SECURITY TRAVEL: New Zealanders flying to Australia will soon have to carry their hand creams and gels on board in a plastic bag. From March 31st next year air passengers entering or leaving Australia will only be allowed to take on board small quantities of liquids, aerosols and gels, just like travellers into the United States or Europe. The tight new rules follow the arrest in the United Kingdom of terrorism suspects, plotting to blow up airliners using liquid explosive smuggled aboard in hand luggage. New Zealand's Ministry of Transport manager for safety and security Bruce Johnstone says it won't be long before this country follow suit. PREREC
AIR NZ US: Air New Zealand is out to convince American travellers that a trip to New Zealand is the best self help therapy they can buy. They have commissioned a report from a former NASA scientist detailing the psychological and physical benefits of a trip to New Zealand. And Air New Zealand's general manager of Internal Airline Ed Sims says the results are impressive. He joins us now. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS WITH ERU REREKURA
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AID CHAD: A New Zealand aid worker has been forced to abandon her work in a refugee camp in Chad as fighting in the wartorn Darfur region in neighbouring Sudan escalates. Maureen Duffy, from the charity Child Fund New Zealand, has been working with families in refugee camps on Chad's border for the last five months. Now with fighting increasing and aid workers being targeted, the United Nations has ordered an evacuation of all of its staff and recommended aid workers do the same. The national director of Child Fund Paul Brown says Maureen is devastated to be leaving. He joins us now. LIVE
IRAQ US: President Bush has ruled out early talks with Iran and Syria on tackling Iraq's unrest, after meeting Tony Blair at the White House. Their talks came a day after a US damning report called for such a move as part of a change in strategy on Iraq. The two leaders agreed that a new way forward was needed on Iraq. The ABC's Kim Landers reports from Washington. PKGE
TECHNOLOGY PACIFIC: Pacific Island pre-schooolers in South Auckland are getting a helping hand to paddle the digital waka. A survey, by the City of Manukau Education Trust, shows Pacific Islanders living in Manukau have very little access to communication technolgy and IT equipment. Now a new programme is being rolled out at 10 Pacifica preschools. They each get a computer, a digital camera broadband internet connection and training for both adults and pre-schoolers. Here's our Pacific Issues Correspondent Richard Pamatatau. PCKG
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