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0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY CHECHNYA - GROZNY - Russian troops say they've advanced into centre of city after heavy artillery and aerial bombardment. But Chechen rebels still counter-attacking. Special representative for Chechnya in Netherlands says battle by no means over. (BBC) U.N./IRAQ - WEAPONS INSPECTION - Iraqi officials criticise nomination of Swedish diplomat Rolf Ekeus to head new UN arms body, say it's aimed at "prolonging the embargo" against Iraq which has now been in force for nearly a decade. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's recommendation of Ekeus also rejecte illegible of the 5 Security Council permanent members. Rolf Ekeus was first head of the UNSCOM disarmament commission for Iraq. Live i/v with correspondent Nathan King.
0620 RURAL NEWS ALLIANCE DISPUTE - company and Meatworkers' Union will hold further talks this morning in effort to resolve dispute keeping Lorneville plant in Southland closed. Union secretary Gary Davis says main sticking point is proposed cut to pay rates, although chief exec Owen Poole points out proposed 4.5% cut is pay rates not take-home pay. (Kevin Ikin) LAMB EXPORTS - U.S. - Agriculture and Trade minister Jim Sutton says govt's main focus is on upcoming World Trade Orgn hearing, as lamb trade dispute take another turn. US has announced details of package worth $NZ200 million to help American sheep farmers with scientific and market research and guaranteed loans. Meat Industry Assn exec director Brian Lynch says the package is a disguised subsidy and Mr Sutton says package won't help American farmers produce more efficiently; American farmers welcome package although Peter Orwick, American Sheep Industry Assn, concedes US lamb business still has long way to go. (Diana Leufkens) ORGANIC BUTTER - Dairy Board takes first step into organics with release of organic butter in Britain. Board using product to test strength of organic market there and is using Austrian milk to manufacture the spread. (Kevin Ikin
0625 SPORTS STORY: AUSTRALIAN SPORT - i/v with correspondent Tim Gavel. (Australian Cricket Board making some controversial selections)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY: SERBIA - ASSASSINATION - police find wounded accomplice to assassination of Arkan. Serbian govt dismisses allegations it was behind assassination, but there's furious speculation as to who is responsible for the paramilitary leader's death. (BBC) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS SCIENCE REPORT: SARCOPHAGUS WOMAN - last year archaeologists unearthed stone sarcophagus under London's Spitalfields market, which contained skeleton of woman who lived and died during Roman occupation of Britain around 4th century AD. Scientists have no reconstructed what the woman looked like and determine where she came from. I/v with Museum of London's head of early history Headley Swain. (BBC) TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS OFFICIAL FIGURES - local finance markets face double test today with Reserve Bank's scheduled review of official cash rate and release of December quarter inflation figures from Statistics NZ. Reserve Bank widely expected to raise OC by half a percent but probably not today, even as inflation figures set to hit close to 2%. (Gyles Beckford) BUDGET - EXPORT SECTOR can look forward to some help in govt's first budget, along with outline of further assistance. In wake of yesterday's trade figures showing continued massive deficit of $2.6 billion, Finance minister Michael Cullen says help is coming for exporters. (Gyles Beckford) FINANCE/MARKETS AMP ASSET MANAGEMENT to merge local property business into new worldwide AMP property concern, setting up 5 regions to manage $30 billion worth of property Aim is to offer tailored property investments based on global holdings. Head o property in NZ, James Darkins, explains. (Gyles Beckford) TRANSALTA CANADA saying little about probable exit from NZ, except that it's i line with strategic move out of energy distribution and retail. Company is going through the deregulation of the Alberta electricity market. Mark Manderson, chief exec of Transalta subsidiary TEC, comments. (Helen Matterson) VIRGIN/SINGAPORE AIRLINES - Singapore Airlines says it's seriously considering invitation to join Virgin Group's planned no-frills airline in Australia. A Virgin/Singapore-owned Australian airline would raise further tensions between Singapore and Air NZ and might also pose problems for Star global aviation alliance, (Gyles Beckford) AUSTRALIA - TELSTRA telecommunications moving quickly to provide high speed internet services and content, is talking to specialist concern Road Runner, which provides internet access over high speed cable networks. Telecomms analyst Adam Spowers of HSBC Securities says the sector is still something of minefield. U.S. - INTEREST RATES - Federal Reserve's meeting nest month weighing on Wall St minds as analysts try to pick next move of chair Alan Greenspan. Many investors following predictions of Gail Fosler, chief economist of US Conference Board which brings together business leaders. Ms Fosler picking the Fed will increase interest rates by quarter of a percent but move to neutral bias. BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS EXPORT SECTOR - GOVT POLICIES - NZ's biggest export earners urge govt to be cautious in implementing policies they say will have major impact on future development. Meat, dairy, and forestry sectors say plans to scrap competition in ACC, repeal Employment Contracts Act, review environmental laws and revise food safety controls are among areas that pose challenges and risk stifling growth. (Stephen Harris); does Finance minister regard comments from primary sector as serious warning or merely as lobbying? I/v with Michael Cullen. (Mng Rpt) INDONESIA - LOMBOK RIOTS - fresh riots erups on resort island as hundreds of Christians sheltered with police or fled latest religious violence. Mobs have taken to streets looting Chinese homes and burning discotheque near main tourist area. Jakarta correspondent Richard Galpin says rioting directly connected with ongoing violence between Christians and Muslims in Moluccan Islands - he's i/ved. (Mng Rpt) GISBORNE COUNCIL ROW about way money was approved for millennium launch in London has escalated. $50,000 launch was attended by mayor John Clarke, the chief exec, and their wives. Issue was to have been discussed at council meeting yesterday but mayor failed to show up. Councillo Meng Foon says he wan some answers and ratepayers are furious; live i/v with mayor John Clarke. TV SPORTS - deputy PM Jim Anderton calls for return to live, free-to-air television coverage of major sports events, and legislation to enforce it. Broadcast rights for all major rugby and cricket matches involving NZ currentl held by pay TV network Sky TV. Comment also Sky's Nate Smith and NZRFU's David Rutherford. (Tony Reid)
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE: SAMOA - TRIAL - Samoan Attorney General Brenda Heather will today continue outlining case against 2 former cabinet ministers accused of murdering Public Works minister last July. Ms Heather has told court 2 men had been hired to kill the minister and suggested other cabinet ministers and a judge were also on the "hit list". Live i/v with reporter Karlum Lattimore. Māori CITIZENSHIP CASE - Immigration minister Lianne Dalziel wants investigation into role of South AK legal services company involved in selling of Māori citizenship. Confedn of Chiefs of United Tribes of Aotearoa last year illegible selling "citizenship of independent Māori state of Aotearoa" but this week a man from Kiribati, who bought into the scheme, was deported. Comment from Lianne Dalziel, Kiribati man's lawyer Joeil Baledrokadroka, and Eru Manukau, Confedn of Chiefs. (Julian Robins) GERMANY - SCANDAL - Christian Democratic Union in disarray as more allegations of corruption surface. Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl resigns post of honorary chair of CDU after party told him to clear up financial scandal or quit. Mr Kohl would not name donors from whom he accepted illegal secret funds, and quit. Questions now being asked about most other senior party members. Live i/ with correspondent Philip Crookes. CHECHNYA - GROZNY - Itar-Tass news agency quotes a Russian soldier as saying Russians "gradually expanding zone of control" in city, but correspondent Davi McGuffin says these reports remain unconfirmed by Chechens themselves - i/ved. (Mng Rpt)
0800 NEWS/WEATHER EXPORT SECTOR - GOVT POLICIES - country's biggest export earners urge govt to move cautiously in implementing policies they say will have damaging impact on their future. Why are farmers making their concerns about issues such as ACC known? I/v with Tony St Clair, Fed Farmers chief exec. (Mng Rpt) illegible COUNCIL ROW - mayor John Clarke says he didn't mislead council over money he received to attend millennium function in London last year. He's facing allegations he took $50,000 grant for millennium publicity launch befor councillor met to approve it. Audit NZ investigating. Live i/v with councillor Mmeng Foon and Alan Davidson. AUCKLAND - METROWATER - criticism in past few days of how Metrowater dealt wit group of people refusing to pay wastewater charges, but what should it do if people refuse to pay water bills? Live i/v with AK mayor Christine Fletcher. TV SPORTS - Deputy PM Jim Anderton wants legislation to ensure all significant national sporting events can be watched on free-to-air television. Pay television Sky's chief exec Nate Smith maintains its involvement in sport mean large amounts of money able to be invested in cricket, rugby and other games at all levels; NZRFU chief exec David Rutherford agrees rugby would suffer if pay television companies couldn't bid for rights; i/v with Jim Anderton and Chris Doig, chief exec of NZ Cricket. (Mng Rpt) TRAFFIC REPORT
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS TENNIS - AUSTRALIAN OPEN - state of court surface and champion's remarkable recovery from groin injury command attention of the Melbourne crowds. Live i/v with correspondent Dave Worsley. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Law Commission questioning whether legal defences availabl to victims of domestic violence, accused of killing abusers, are adequate or whether they should be strengthened. Commission releasing draft paper and asking for public submissions on whether new defences, such as diminished responsibility, should be allowed. I/v with Judge Margaret Lee, Law Commissioner in charge of project. (Mng Rpt) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS ROAD SAFETY - roading authorities say parliamentary select committee will have to allow for wide discussion because there's no easy fix to high road toll problem. Comment from AA's George Fairbairn, director of Land Transport Safety Authority Reg Barrett, and chair of Transit New Zealand Bob Brown. (Veronika Meduna) POLICE PAYOUT - CH detective receives PERF payout while facing charges of thef as a servant and using document to obtain pecuniary advantage. Live i/v with acting District Police Manager Jim Miller. AUCKLAND - POSTAL RULES - AK City Council spurns superstition and decrees number 13 can no longer be avoided by developers and homeowners. Live i/v with illegible of planning and regulatory committee, Juliet Yates.