Share Bloody Murder - i4free - CM Research/TV3 Poll - Party Hopping - Korean Turbulence - Washington Protests -
Zimbabwe Beatings
SHARE BLOODY MURDER: More than $2 billion was wiped off the NZ share market today. In one of the worst days since the
Asian Economic Crisis. Red ink washes leader boards as money is wiped off. The DF Mainland technology sector index
plummets 15%. Advantage falls 27%. Force Corporation share holders vote to put iHug acquisition on hold. Force Corp
hasn't given up hope yet. Analysts think cash strapped tech companies will struggle to get finance. Reserve Bank
Governor called to the Beehive to brief the PM. The NZ market lost 5%. Australia down 5%. South Korea down 11%. Hong
Kong down 8%. Nobody knows what will happen in Wall St overnight. Everyone has their fingers crossed.
I4FREE: The High Court has given an indefinite injunction to i4free telling Telecom that they cannot disconnect them.
Telecom is not yet conceding defeat. While i4free is a clear winner today a full hearing into the controversy has
CM RESEARCH POLL:
In the preferred PM stakes:
Helen Clark 42% up 6
Jenny Shipley 13%
Jim Anderton 4%
Richard Prebble 2%
Winston Peters 2%
In the Party Vote:
Labour 53% up 2
National 28% down 2
Alliance 3% down 2
ACT 3%
Green 5%
NZ First 2%
Helen Clark also has good results in questions on her leadership. Most remarkable result on sentiment about the way the
country is going, 42% think NZ is getting better 38% think it isn't. Helen Clark says she is pleased with the result.
PARTY HOPPING: The Greens have joined with National and ACT to oppose the bill. National's Tony Ryall says the bill is a
joke. Select Committee divided on the bill.
KOREAN TURBULENCE: Passengers from Korea arrived battered and bruised at Auckland airport after a 747 strikes clear air
turbulence of the equator. Seven people were treated in Auckland. Six of the injured passengers have been released.
WASHINGTON PROTESTS: Thousands of protestors were driven back by tear-gas and repeated baton charges from police. The
meeting of the IMF and World Bank goes ahead. Almost 700 have been arrested so far. Both sides are promising more of the
same tomorrow.
ZIMBABWE: Victims of Zimbabwe's land wars arrive in hospital happy to be alive. One farmer has been abducted and
murdered in front of a friend. Four others are feared dead for a while but they are found. Farmer with bloodied face
says that police did nothing to defend him. Police seem unable or unwilling to enforce the law. No indication that
President Mugabe will stop the beatings.