Drugs Billionaire - UK Flu - Kayacker Killed - Cullen Says No To Big Apple Trip - Chechnya - Jill Dando - Greenpeace
Whaling Protest - Support Coastguard
DRUGS BILLIONAIRE: The High Court in Auckland is expected to hear a case tomorrow on the case of a Billionaire who
admitted to importing. Finding the man's name on the internet is easy. The man's Lawyer says that suppression properly
done should . Lawyer Tim Allen however says trying to control it would be "extraordinary". Newsagents selling foreign
newspapers could find themselves in trouble as could an Auckland Internet publisher who has shown how to find the name.
UK FLU: Britain has started the year with a millennium bug of sorts. As many as 3 million people are affected and
official figures probably understate it. Call centers across Britain are treating the . In the US the epidemic has taken
hold in 14 states. In NZ the situation is being monitored. Public campaigns for immunisation will begin later in the
year. The jab will be available next month.
KAYACKER KILLED: A kayacker has been killed. He is the third to be killed in recent accidents on NZ rivers.
CULLEN SAYS NO TO GOING TO BIG APPLE: Finance Minister Michael Cullen has ruled out a suggestion from ACT that he go to
New York to see rating agencies to try to fend of a ratings regrading. He says a panic visit would achieve nothing as
the rating agencies knew what the fiscal policy of the government was.
CHECHNYA: Russian forces have resumed a bombardment of Grozny, if they ever stopped. Officially there is a pause in the
bombardment for Christmas but it is difficult to see. Russian troops are in control of parts of the city. Soldiers from
some units say 50% or more of their units have been killed. Tonight Russia has admitted that their commander at Argun is
under attack from the Chechens. The Russian public is still receiving a sanitised version of the war but coffins are
expected to start arriving back soon.
JILL DANDO: The killer of Jill Dando may have fled to Australia. UK police want to question an obsessed fan who fled to
Australia the day after she died. Earlier he had sent her obsessed emails.
GREENPEACE WHALING PROTEST: Hose battle between Greenpeace and Japanese whalers in Southern Oceans. Protestors hose the
whalers back with their own water cannon.
SUPPORT COASTGUARD: Boaties have made record number of calls for assistance by Coastguard in Auckland. 5000 calls lodged
since Christmas day. Coastguard says it wants more support from the boating public. They say they need more members to
keep people out of trouble. Coastguard says $68.50 is a small price to pay for insurance and to have a rescuer
available.