TV1 News

Nobel Prizes Received – Troops Stay On – Abortion Records – Wairarapa Toddler – Economy Class Syndrome – US Elections

- NOBEL PRIZES RECEIVED: A New Zealander, 73 year old Alan McDiarmand, has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in developing plastics in electronics. The professor from Philadelphia, USA, says he still feels at home in New Zealand. He has just received his prize in Stockholm. The Peace Prize went to the President of South Korea for his work in reconciling North and South Korea.

- TROOPS STAY ON: New Zealand Troops, who were to come home in May next year, will be in East Timor till 2002. It will take the number of rotations to East Timor to five rotations. They are also due for a pay increase, although it is not yet known how much. The government says they hope to make the pay increase effective by June next year.

- ABORTION RECORDS: Two inquiries are underway as old abortion records have been found on the site of an empty hospital, The Rawhiti Trust Hospital, and the medical community is outraged by the secrecy breach. The files contain confidential information about women who’ve had abortions. They were in a locked office.

- WAIRARAPA TODDLER: There has been an unusual twist in the first day of deposition hearings for the three family members facing charges relating to the death of the Wairarapa toddler. The lawyer for one of the three applied for blanket suppression of all evidence, saying evidence being revealed could prejudice the high profile case. The judge agreed to an interim suppression.

- ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME: Air NZ and Qantas are being sued over the so-called economy class syndrome. Ten passengers who suffered blood clots in cramped economy class seating are suing. Air NZ says they have not yet heard from the complainants.

- US ELECTIONS: Lawyers for the US presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush are preparing for tomorrow’s court case at the Supreme Court. Democrat Al Gore has said he will concede if the court finds in George W. Bush’s favour tomorrow. The Supreme Court hearing starts at 5am NZ time tomorrow.

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