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There is increasing concern the South Pacific is becoming a destination for child sex tourists. Child prostitution has been identified as a growing problem in Fiji by a United Nations report. But the children's rights organisation ECPAT is warning that the problem exists right through the South Pacific. ECPAT works to prevent the prostitution, pornography and trafficking of children - it says that the region's child prostitution is being driven by tourists avoiding Asian countries now cracking down on such activities. And it says the coup in Fiji is making the problem worse by increasing poverty. Joining us now is Shaun Evans - a law enforcement liaison officer with the South Pacific Forum based in Fiji. LIVE IV
Peace is slowly returning to the Middle East following this week's peace talks, although sporadic clashes between Israelis and Palestinians are still occuring.
Both sides have begun implementing measures agreed at the talks in an effort to end nearly three weeks of violence which has killed more than a hundred people. While there have been some clashes, the overall level of violence is decreasing - I asked the BBC's Jerusalem correspondent Duncan Kennedy for the latest. IV
Meanwhile President Clinton has lead tributes to the 17 sailors who were killed in a suspected terrorist attack on a US warship last week. He was among those who attended a memorial service in their home port. Hundreds of grieving relatives and friends gathered with senior government and military figures at a very emotional service in Virginia. Robin Brandt reports. PKGE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALBRIDGE
Landcare Research scientists have gone before the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, warning that New Zealand will be unable to control possum numbers [illegible] the help of genetic engineering. The Commission is now in its fourth day of public hearings - today also saw the release of a report suggesting the public is more favourable to the use of gene technology if it is for pest control. Our environment reporter Bryan Crump compiled this piece. PKGE
New Zealand has won its first medal at the Paralympics with Mark Inglis claiming the silver in the one kilometre cycling for his disability category. He finished in 1 minute 23 seconds, about two seconds behind Radovan Kaufman of Slovakia who claimed the gold in the event. Joining us now is the chef de mission for the Paralympics Dave Curry. LIVE IV
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There's widespread support for suggestions by the Minister of Corrections, Matt Robson, to allow some convicted criminals to serve part time sentences. Mr Robson is suggesting locking up convicted criminals only on weekends or at night, as a way of reducing the growing prison population. He says such programmes overseas are cheaper than full-time imprisonment, keep people in work and near their families, and help reduce re-offending. As Patrick O'Meara reports, his idea is winning support. PKGE
A petition to parliament calling for a ban on space saver tyres has been rejected by a Parliamentary Select committee. Nearly eight thousand people signed the petition after two women were killed in a car fitted with a space saver tyre in Auckland three years ago. The tyres are used as spares because they take up less room in a boot - they are meant to only be used at low speeds and in an emergency. The Transport Select Committee has rejected a ban but does support better publicised guidelines for their use - the chairman of the Committee is Harry Duynhoven - he joins me now. LIVE IV
Suicide counsellors say there have been thousands of people have called in to a special nationwide helpline set up last night for the controversial TV programme on youth suicide. The TV3 drama looked at the circumstances surrounding three deaths and went ahead despite fears that it would lead to an increase in suicide attempts. Bruce Mackie from LIfeline helped set-up the 70 phone lines staffed by trained counsellors - he says the response has been [illegible] with and the calls are still coming through. He says a sample survey shows most are from people wanting help for themselves, and are across all age groups. IV
The Rugby Union and Accident Compensation Corporation are investigating research suggesting that the number of rugby spinal injuries could be reduced if players were screened for existing spinal problems. The study at Christchurch's Burwood Hospital found up to one in 12 such injuries are preventable prompting calls for a screening programme to help doctors detect existing conditions. John MacDonald has more. PKGE
Police have found another bag which they believe probably belonged to the murdered Timaru woman Lisa Blakie. Police yesterday recovered a suitcase from a water race near Christchurch and this morning they recovered a green kit bag, similar to a large duffle bag, which is also likely to have belonged to the slain 21-year-old. Miss Blakie's body was found on Waitangi Day this year. She had disappeared several days earlier while hitchhiking from Christchurch to Greymouth. I asked Detective Inspector Rob Pope about the latest discoveries. IV
Updating you from the wires - and several people have been injured in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo by an apparanet suicide bomb attack. The suicide bomber set off explosives in the city centre minutes before the country was due to swear in its new cabinet. No one has claimed responsibility for the blast but the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been blamed for several such bombings in the past. WRIT
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