West Timor UN Deaths – NZ PM Meets Wahid – Mangaroa Apology – Truth In Sentencing – CYFS – French Patrol - West Coast Trust - Web Law – Entrepreneur
WEST TIMOR UN DEATHS: The UN is evacuating all UNHCR staff from West Timor following an attack on a UNHCR office in Atambua in which at least three aid workers were killed. Following the attack three NZ helicopters rescued remaining UN staff.
NZ PM MEETS WAHID: The NZ PM has expressed NZ’s concerns to Indonesian President Abdurachman Wahid at the Millennium Summit in New York.
MILLENNIUM SUMMIT: The US President has called for the UN to be equipped to deploy peace-keepers rapidly. Tony Blair says a new contract is needed between states and the UN.
MANGAROA APOLOGY: A Wellington lawyer who represented inmates who were beaten by prison officers seven years ago wants to know why no-one was charged by police. The inmates were systematically beaten sometimes by up to 10 guards at a time.
TRUTH IN SENTENCING: The Minister of Justice says an ACT bill voted down in Parliament last night was not a good way to address community concerns about violent crime sentences. The Truth In Sentencing Bill would have meant that sentences as handed down would have to be served.
CYFS: The Child Youth and Family Service is moving to assure the public that it can cope with an influx of child at risk notifications. The service is trying to entice back former workers.
FRENCH PETROL: Fuel protests gripping France are threatening to escalate. Taxi drivers and farmers have joined truckers in their protests against fuel costs as most of the country runs out of petrol.
WEST COAST TRUST: Local bodies on the West Coast are preparing to set up a trust to administer a $92 million compensation fund.
WEB LAW: Internet retailers are coming under closer scrutiny from the Commerce Commission. Michael Hill Jeweller has been fined for advertising watches on its web-site that are no longer available. The Consumers Institute says many businesses seem to believe cyber-space is out of reach from the law – it is not.
ENTREPRENEUR: A undersea robot cabling entrepreneur Bill Day has been awarded an entrepreneur of the year award in Auckland.