Charlie Dempsey – Fiji Coup – Cancer Inquiry – Drink Driving – Lord Of the Rings – Piggery To Close – Middle East Peace
CHARLIE DEMPSEY: FIFA delegate Charlie Dempsey is asked by South Africa to explain himself. Dempsey’s daughter says that
majority of six of the 11 Oceania member nations agreed to Charlie Dempsey changing his vote. TV3 contacted 5 today who
denied giving permission. 4 nations were uncontactable. Western and American Samoa say they gave Dempsey the go ahead.
Dempsey insists he abstained for the benefit of Oceania Soccer. Today many delegates said they did not trust NZ Soccer.
FIJI COUP: The NZ Governments says it will consider imposing sanctions on Fiji following the signing of an accord to end
the hostage crisis. A spectacular failure for the Fijian military is how last night’s signing of an accord is being
described. Fiji’s military leaders appeared distressed when agreeing to an amnesty for the rebels. The 27 hostages are
expected to be released on Thursday. This morning villagers looted shops and burnt a Masonic lodge in the former Fijian
capital. Phil Goff says that NZ may impose sanctions against Fiji.
CANCER INQUIRY: A gynecologist, Dr Diane Van der Mark, at Gisborne Hospital broke into tears today when describing the
high levels of cervical cancer in Gisborne. The woman doctor says she felt there were more cases in Gisborne than ever
before in her practice. Inquiry was puzzled that she did not recall talking about the problem with her colleagues.
DRINK DRIVING: Police are to appeal a decision which could lead to 1000s of cases of drink driving being thrown out on a
technicality. The technicality relates to a label which should have read Minister of Science but which didn’t. Minister
George Hawkins says he has ordered a report on the case. A police spokesman says that they will fix the labels in the
interim to make sure more drivers do not escape.
LORD OF THE RINGS: A Wellington stuntman has plead guilty to receiving video-tapes of Lord of the Rings footage. The man
who has name suppression attempted to sell the tapes on the internet.
PIGGERY TO CLOSE: A piggery which has caused a stink in the Waikato is to close in three years time.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE: A political crisis in Israel is causing problems for a peace summit due to start shortly in the US.
Several parties have left PM Ehud Barak’s coalition. Only 11 of 24 Ministers were left in his cabinet at the end of the
day. The PM then made an appeal on TV to his public. Barak made several undertakings in his broadcast. Palestinians are
wondering what there will be to discuss at the summit. As the leaders prepare to travel to Camp David protests are
mounting in the streets. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says that leaders will have to take hard decisions.