National Radio Midday Bulletin

Microsoft Decision - Fletcher Buyout - BOP Missing - Rower Rescue - Waipareira Trust - Pig Petition - Illness Increase – PM In Coma - Bosnian War-crimes - Gonorrhea Increase - Burdett Case

MICROSOFT DECISION: Computer Software giant Micrsoft has been told it has broken the law by a United States Federal Court judge who ruled in a landmark decision that the company had seriously violated Federal antitrust laws. Lawyers for the company say they will fight the decision.

FLETCHER BUYOUT: The local share-market has risen strongly on the announcement that Fletcher Challenge subsidiary Fletcher Paper has been sold to a large Norwegian Company. The Engineers Union is encouraged that the Norwegian company buying Fletcher paper has guaranteed working conditions will not change for the next two years. An umbrella group of forest growers says the willingness to invest in new technology will be one of the advantages of the buyout.

BOP MISSING: The search for three people missing after their fishing boat overturned in the Bay Of Plenty has been called off. Only one of the four people out

ROWER RESCUE: A helicopter is on standby to pick up the stricken French solo rower who abandoned the voyage from New Zealand to South America dangerously ill with blood poisoning and possible gangrene in his leg. The Maritime Safety Authority is Coordination the rescue.

WAIPAREIRA TRUST: The Prime Minister is widening her probe to investigate the Waipareira Trust after allegations the Maori Trust acted inappropriately in its financial dealings.

PIG PETITION: A petition of seventy five thousand signatures will be released this afternoon attempting to ban inhumane practices involving the handling of pigs including the use of dry-cell stores.

ILLNESS INCREASE: An Auckland Hospital spokesperson says the cold weather has caused an influx of patients and hospitals around the area are having to transfer patients to other hospitals or discharge them where possible.

PM IN COMA: The Japanese Prime Minister is clinging to life in a coma after suffering a stroke. Meanwhile, the current cabinet may resign and are presently electing a new Prime Minister this afternoon.

BOSNIAN WARCRIMES: A senior aide of a Bosnian Serb leader has been arrested on suspicion of being directly responsible for war crimes in the Bosnian war.

GONORRHEA INCREASE: Government health officials say they are still trying to find out why the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea has increased dramatically in the past few years.

BURDETT CASE: The Crown Prosecutor has begun making his closing address on the retrial of the man accused of murdering Susan Burdett.

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