Middle East Peace – Cancer Inquiry – Fiji Economy – G8 – Dangerous Road – Waitangi Claims – Lord Of The Rings
MIDDLE EAST PEACE: A senior Palestinian official has warned of violence if the talks at Camp David fail. Discussions
continue between Arafat and Barak. Madeleine Albright is leading the US team. A spokesman says that despite President
Clinton’s absence the talks will continue. Warnings have also been given that simply extending the talks does not mean
there will be a resolution.
CANCER INQUIRY: Evidence at the Gisborne Inquiry shows that 68 women were falsely assured that their smears were okay
when they had severe abnormalities.
FIJI ECONOMY: A Suva garment factory that specialises in jeans is to close and will shed 300 jobs. The plant for the
factory came from NZ. Clothing accounts for 75% of exports to Australia.
G8: Leaders of the industrialised nations have held an unprecedented meeting with leaders of developing nations. The
leaders of Algeria and South Africa berated the G8 for not dealing to debt as they had promised.
DANGEROUS ROAD: Transit NZ says that five deaths on SH1 north of Wellington does not justify speeding up work on
Transmission Gully. Transit says the main problem on the road is drivers travelling too fast for the conditions.
WAITANGI CLAIMS: The government’s plans to encourage treaty claimants to go into direct negotiation with the crown is
causing some concerns for the Waitangi Tribunal. Morrie Love says the direct negotiation option has always been open but
has been used by few.
LORD OF THE RINGS: Another man has been arrested for theft from the Lord of the Rings. A 39-year-old man appearing this
morning faces 4 charges.