0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY PALESTINE - POPE'S VISIT - Pope John Paul II makes plea for Palestinian homeland at start of visit to Bethlehem. (BBC) EUROPEAN UNION - ESTONIA - growing mood of scepticism about changing character of EU and about whether Estonia should be keen to join. (BBC)
0620 RURAL NEWS MEGA MERGER - Kiwi Dairy Co wants to bring in independent negotiator in last-ditch attempt to break deadlock preventing formation of mega merger with NZ Dairy Group. Only last week, Kiwi rejected idea of independent valuation but milk supplier Davbid Hopkind says company has bowed to suppliers' wishes. illegible also from national dairy farmers' chair Charlie Pedersen. RNZ News understands arbitrator will be asked if Kiwi worth more than NZ Dairy Group as well as whether it's worth less. (Diana Leufkens) A.C.C. CHANGES - SELF EMPLOYED - Fed Farmers president Alistair Polson says self-employed should be able to get fair deal from ACC for first time as result or changes to new legislation. (Kevin Ikin) MEAT BOARD - FUNDING - independent auditing body, Boston Consulting Group, says Board's funding for some of its activities is inadequate. Chief exec Neil Taylor says that leaves Board with choice of cutting back on some of its work or increasing spending. (Kevin Ikin)
0625 SPORTS STORY U.S. SPORTS - live i/v with Paul Witteman, "Sports Illustrated". (NCAA college basaketball tournament; footballer wants contract that will make him highest paid in US. When team seeks to trade him, no takers)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY TURKEY - WATER - Middle East water shortages already at point where there are fears next regional war could be fought over water. Turkey believes it has solution, at a price - plans to sell water. (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS MANA NEWS TREATY ISSUES - GREENS - Māori spokesperson Nandor Tanczos says party hopes to be positive influence in Parliament for Māori.
0650 BUSINESS NEWS UNITED NETWORKS lines network signals it's planning to broaden itself into more general utlities company, will buy North Island gas pipelines fo CH-based Orion for $550 million. Comment from corporate development manager Tom Chignall. (Gyles Beckford) MEGA MERGER - Kiwi writes to Dairy Group, asking it to agree to independent assessment of each other's worth. (Diana Leufkens) FINANCE/ MARKETS INL SHARES - reports of share-buying raid by unknown party. Speculation is that move is internet related, given INL's control of Sky Television and INL's own move to get online in next couple of months. (Gyles Beckford) TOWER CORPN - chiefe xec James Boonzaier says rumours of merger talks not surprising but Tower has held no talks of any sbustance on this matter. (Catherine Walbridge) DIRECTORS' FEES - TOWER CORPN - attempt by some shareholders at annual meeting to limit rise in fees. Meeting asked to approve rise by $130,000 to $360,000 a year. (Catherine Walbridge) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS SENTENCING - Justice minister Phil Goff plans to introduce law setting guidelines for judges to follow when imposing sentences and non-parole periods for serious crimes. Plan revealed during debate in Parliament on Degrees of Murder Bill introduced by National MP Brian Neeson. Comment from Phil Goff, Brian Neeson, Nandor Tanczos, and Stephen Franks. (Kathryn Street); live i/v with Phil Goff and Brian Neeson. PETROL PRICE - Economic Development minister Jim Anderton asks Commerce Commission to investigate possibility that oil companies are fixing petrol price. Road Transport Forum and Fed Farmers, representing major users of petrol and diesel, believe oil companies are playing fair. (Claire Silvester); live i/v with Jim Anderton. MEGA MERGER - dairy industry merger hangs in balance after series of farmer meetings. Time running out for merger because new application should be made to Commerce Commission by tomorrow if it's to be processed before empowering legislation lapses in September. Live i/v with national dairy farmers chair Charlie Pedersen.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE MARS POLAR LANDER - NASA - reports NASA knew that spacecraft, which disappeared last December, was likely to fail but kept information secret. Emerges that engineers knew about fatal design flaw with braking thrusters. Independent report on loss of spacecraft sent to White House before being made public. Live i/v with BBC's Science editor Dr David Whitehouse. PALESTINE - POPE - Pope John Paul II tells Palestinians they have a right to their own territory, visits refugee camp. I/v with correspondent Paul Miller. (Mng Rpt) HOUSE BUYERS' RIGHTS - should real estate agents and their clients be required to reveal to prospective buyers that former tenant of property died of AIDS? AK man claiming compensation, under Fair Trading Act, for losses resulting from purchase of house tenanted by man who died of AIDS, 2 years before house sold. (illegible Gregory-Hunt) WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL may shed up to 10% of staff, is considering selling, as going concenr, its CitiOperations business which provides basic functions of rubbish collection, street cleaning and drainage maintenance. CitiOps has to tender for council contracts against external providers and report says it's finding it increasingly difficult to win business in open market. Live i/v with chief exec Gary Poole.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER SENTENCING - Justice murder Phil Goff says National MP's Degrees of Murder Bill will be "parked" while he looks at other sentencing options, including new law setting guidelines for judges. Are judges too soft ? Live i/v with Stuart Grieve QC, member of Law Society's criminal law committee. CENTREPOINT - after long legal battle, High Court approves payment of $1.3 million to Bert Potter and a gorup of supporters to sever ties with Centrepoint commune. Each of the 25 individuals in the group will receive $49,000. Live i/v with lawyer Frank Hogan. PESTICIDES - Northland campaigners against spraydrift fear any review of 2,4D by Pesticides Board, which excludes the public, will be a whitewash. Lawrie Newman, who won compensation case for illness caused by spraydrift has been told he can attend bord's meeting but members of Northland Toxins Awareness group want to make submissions. Live i/v with Lawrie Newman and John Reeve, registrar of Pesticides Board. U.S. - TOBACCO RULING - Supreme Court rules Food and Drug Administration should not be allowed to regulate tobacco products, rules FDA overstepped authority in 1996 when it issues unprecedented sweeping regulations for cigarettes. Ruling sends battle against tobacco companies back to Congress but activists say they have little confidence Congress will act. Live i/v with correspondent Bill Wax. FERRY WASH - Transport minister Mark Gosche on board Lynx fast ferry, en route to seeing first hand effects of ferry wash in Marlborough Sounds. Controversial wash blamed for erosion and for putting boaties and swimmers at risk. He's i/ved live.
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS INDIA - CLINTON VISIT - President Clinton addresses Parliament, warns India of dangers of nuclear proliferation. (BBC) U.S. - FEDERAL RESERVE warns yesterday's interest rate rise probably won't be the last. Expected quarter percent rise takes US interest rates to highest level in 5 years, in continuing attempt to keep inflatoin at bay. I/v with Wall illegible correspondent Richard Quest. (Mng Rpt) SAMOA - TRIAL of 2 former cabinet ministers accused of murdering Works minister last July continues. Second of the accused, Toi Aukuso Cain starts his defence. Live i/v with reporter Karlum Lattimore who's following the case. INTERNATIONAL PAPERS U.S. - CUBAN BOY - judge dismisses case brought by relatives of 6-year old Elian Gonzales in Miami who say boy will be in danger if he's returned to his father in Cuba. Boy has been in US since November when he was rescued from the sea after trying to reach US with his mother who drowned. (Robin Brandt, Feature Story) RUSSIA - PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN - latest opinion poll puts Vladimir Putin even further ahead of nearest rival, visits mainly Moslem region of Tatarstan which has gained a large amount of autonomy. What sort of tension is there between Mr Putin and leadership in areas such as Tatarstan? I/v with correspondent Owen Fay. (Mng Rpt) FRUIT AND VEG REPORT with Jack Forsythe.