National Radio Midday Report

Adoption Law – Wairarapa Toddler – Grandmother Pleads Guilty – No Euro For Denmark – GDP Down – Endangered Species – RU486 – Fungi Research – PM To Timor – Trudeaux Dies – Smoke Alarms – Olympic Walk – Salmonella – Bomb Scare

- ADOPTION LAW: The Law Commission has recommended a major revamp to the adoption law. The commission says the law hasn’t changed substantially since 1955, but society’s attitudes have changes greatly. A major recommendation is a new Care of Children that act would spell out the responsibilities and rights of parenthood.

- WAIRARAPA TODDLER: Two Carterton women have been remanded in custody after appearing in Masterton District Court to face charges in the manslaughter of a Carterton toddler. They appeared on charges of manslaughter, willful harm and failing to provide the toddler with the necessities of life. A third person appeared charged with failing to provide the necessities of life.

- GRANDMOTHER PLEADS GUILTY: In the Whanagrei District Court a grandmother accused of seriously injuring her granddaughter has pleaded guilty to three charges of harming her granddaughter and failing to provide for her.

- NO EURO FOR DENMARK: European leaders and central banks have move swiftly to reassure financial markets that Denmark’s rejection of the Euro will not undermine the currency.

- GDP DOWN: New Zealand’s economy shrank in the three months to June as businesses and households tightened their belts. Statistics New Zealand said the gross domestic product was down 0.7 per cent in the quarter.

- ENDANGERED SPECIES: The World’s biggest conservation group, the World Conservation Union, has warned that thousands of plants and animals may disappear forever. They published the most comprehensive list of endangered animals ever published.

- RU486: Pro choice campaigners in US have won the latest round in the abortion debate. The US Government has given doctors the green light to prescribe the abortion pill, RU486, which terminates a pregnancy without surgery. An application to approve the drug in New Zealand will be considered by Medsafe next year.

- FUNGI RESEARCH: Christchurch research on marine fungi aimed at finding a cure for cancer and HIV has received a funding boost from the government.

- PM TO TIMOR: Prime Minister Helen Clark is flying to east Timor today for a two day visit to New Zealand peacekeepers there.

- TRUDEAUX DIES: Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeaux has died aged 80 after suffering from prostrate cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

- SMOKE ALARMS: The Government is considering making smoke alarms compulsory for all new homes following concern over the number of people dying in house fires.

- OLYMPIC WALK: New Zealand walker Craig Barrett continues to fall back in the Olympic 50km walk, he’s now in 15th place after being in the leading pack early in the race.

- SALMONELLA: The public has reported 79 sightings of dead birds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in response to an appeal for help following an outbreak of salmonella.

- BOMB SCARE: Police have reopened roads in Central Wellington after a Bomb scare at ANZ bank proved to be false.

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