0600 NEWS/WEATHER
0609 NZ NEWSPAPERS
0611 NEWS STORY CHECHNYA - FIGHTERS - estimated 3000 leave Grozny in past few days. Chechens say Russian forces are hunting them down. (BBC) INTERNET RADIO - area growing rapidly, number of stations broadcasting through internet growing by 100 a month. (BBC)
0620 RURAL NEWS LAMB WEIGHTS - surfeit of feed this season means lambs piling on weight, worrying meat companies who are warning farmers they'll be penalised for sending in overweight lambs. AFFCO's livestock manager Athol Murray says companies already reducing prices paid for heaviest lambs; farmers revelling in season that pastoral farmers have dreamed about after past few rough years. Comment from Rob Davison, Meat and Wool Boards' Economic Service. (Kevin Ikin) FLY STRIKE - farmers reporting more incidents this season, especially around Canterbury, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. AgResearch scientist David Cole explains why. (Diana Leufkens) AVOCADO EXPORTS - U.S. -0 avodcados shipped in special new packs arrive in good condition as hoped. Wooden pallet designed by scientists to allow for burst of metabolic energy as fruit ripens, allows air flow between cartons. (Diana Leufkens)
0625 SPORTS STORY: AUSTRALIAN SPORTS - i/v with correspondent Tim Gavel. (Mng Rpt) (drug allegations against swimmer Ian Thorpe)
0630 NEWS/WEATHER
0635 NEWS STORY: U.S. - BUDGET - President Clinton unveils his final budget, proposes hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending on health insurance and eduction. Republicans say they'll oppose it, opening up prospect of fierce political battle up to presidential election in November. (Feature Story) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS illegible NEWS CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES - Conservation minister Sandra Lee is asked to set up conservation commission to ensure genuine partnership with Māori. TRAFFIC REPORT
0648 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS IHUG/FORCE MERGER - internet service provider Ihug to gain effective sharemarket listing through merger with cinema company and property developer Force Corpn. Ihug director Nick Wood says deal provides some of content company has been seeking. Comment also from Force chair Peter Francis. (Helen Matterson) JOB SURVEY - ANZ Bank Job Ad Series shows job growth down in January in what's seen as minor blip in labour market. Chief economist Bernard Hodgetts believes employment scene will continue to improve. (Helen Matterson) FINANCE/MARKETS CLEAR/VODAFONE - Clear Communications says it's put last significant building block in place with agreement to offer Vodafone's mobile phone services, seen as necessary complement to Clear's established toll and data services. Comment from chief exec Tim Cullinane. (Gyles Beckford) BEST STAFF USE - US-based employment consultancy setting up in NZ, offers advice on career development and workforce planning for individuals and companies. On individual level, guarantees satisfaction in helping person find job they want. Comment from senior vice president Bonnie Maitlen. (Gyles Beckford) A.C.C. REVIEW - insurance industry's assault on govt's plan to restore ACC monopoly shows no sign of abating. US insurance risk analst Greg Krohm appearing before select committee today on behalf of Insurance Concil. Mr Krohm supports private workplace insurance but concedes there's no overwhelming body of evidence to suggest private sector is better at providing cost-effective, more economic coverage. (Gyles Beckford) BUSINESS BRIEFS
0700 INTRO/NEWS DEFENCE - FIGHTER JETS - ACT leader Richard Prebble claims US govt is preparing to sweeten F-16 deal by lowering $270 million price, says he has evidence US prepared to finance deal for Philippines to buy NZ's aging Skyhawks. Defence minister Mark Burton says no such proposal has been put to him. Live i/v with Mr Prebble; live i/v with Mr Burton. MIDDLE EAST - ISRAEL/LEBANON - Israel carries out heavy bombing raids throughout Lebanon following killing of 6 Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah in Israeli-occupied buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Beirut correspondent Christopher Hack says raids will escalate situation re peace talks with Syria - i/ved. (Mng Rpt) WHANGAREI FATAL FIRE - Fire Service expects to be able to release later today details of cause of fatal house fire which killed 2 four-year olds. Chief Fire Officer Rob Saunders says man on property tried to save the children but was forced back by flames - i/ved live. AFGHAN HIJACK - sick hostage released, bringing number of those released at Stansted Airport to 9. More than 150 remain on plance. Live i/v with correspondent Paul Chapman. BLAKELY KILLING - mystery surrounds last few days of 20 year old Timaru woman Lisa Ann Blakely who was found dead in Porter River between CH and West Coast on Sunday. Last confirmed sighting of her was on Wednesday at Yaldhurst. Live i/v with Det Insp Rob Pope.
0730 NEWS/WEATHER NZ PAPERS FINANCE UPDATE: A.C.C. REVIEW - Insurance Council says govt should heed evidence that shows privatising workplace insurance led to 50% reduction in fatal accidents. PM Helen Clark defends plan to remove private insurers and says she won'tq ccept short term results reported by insurance companies; live i/v with Insurance Council chief exec Chris Ryan;live i/v with Associate ACC minister Ruth Dyson. TAINUI FINANCES - lessons from big losses being taken on board by other Māori tribal leaders, who are reluctant to criticise Tainui openly but make it clear they prefer conservative management of their Treaty settlement funds. Comment from Treaty Negotiations minister Margaret Wilson, former Governor General Sir Pual Reeves, and Ngai Tahu's Sir Tipene O'Regan. (Eric Frykberg) CANCER SMEARS - Cancer Society says Health Funding Authority acting responsibly by ordering review of up to 20 breast specimen cases first analysed by retired Gisborne pathologist Michael Bottrill, whose cervical smear work is under investigation. Live i/v with Health correspondent Rae Lamb.
0800 NEWS/WEATHER DEFENCE - FIGHTER JETS - ACT leader Richard Prebble claiming US govt prepared to sweeten deal. Live i/v with Nick Berry, senior analyst at Centre for Defence Studies in Washington, who's been following the F-16 issue closely. INDONESIA - WIRANTO - President Wahid says he'll pardon Gen Wiranto if he's found guilt of atrocities in East Timor, whereas last week he called on him to resign. Why is he appearing to backtrack? I/v with correpondent Mark Bowling. (Mng Rpt) U.S. - BUDGET - President Clinton unveils last budget, with proposals to increase spending on health insurance and education. Republicans against it. Live i/v with correspondent Mary Tillotson. PARLIAMENT - MAIDEN SPEECHES by Willie Jackson, Sue Bradford, Phil Heatley and Mita Ririnui. (Kathryn Street) MāORI HEADS - Mokomokai Trust negotiates return of all remaining preserved Māori heads from Australia. Trust's Dalvanius Prime concludes negotiations with museum in Adelaide and private collector in Tasmania, says he needs help from govt for this and future repatriations - i/ved live. TRAFFIC REPORT
0830 NEWS/WEATHER/SPORTS SAMOA - TRIAL - gunman allegedly hired to kill PM gives evidence in trial of 2 cabinet ministers accused of murdering a third minister. I/v with correspondent illegible Ah Mu. (Mng Rpt) AUSTRALIA - RADIO TALKBACK - star Alan Jones concedes he made mistake by failing to disclose multi-million dollar endorsement deals to public but says he didn't mislead listeners. Colleague John Laws saying little in wake of criticism from inquiry prompted by revelations he did a million dollar deal to promote image of banks on his programme. I/v with ABC current affairs reporter in Sydney, Alison Caldwell. (Mng Rpt) FILM ARCHIVES - NZ Film Archive ends 7-year official search for rare NZ film footage. More than 7,000 cans of film have been recovered, including some dating from beginning of last century. (Mark Torley) INTERNATIONAL PAPERS ALASKA AIRLINES jet, with sparks streaming from tail, makes emergency landing minutes after takeoff from San Francisco International Airport. Nobody injured, but incident comes 1 week after Alaska Airlines plane plunged into Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 people on board. At least 3rd time since January 31 crash that plane of MD-80 design has been forced to land after experiencing in-flight problems. Live i/v with correspondent Richard Arnold. AFGHAN HIJACK - British negotiators adopting "softly softly" approach in effort to bring hostage drama to peaceful conclusion. Despite almost constant communication with hijackers, no clear picture of who they are or what they was has emerged. (RTR)