National Radio 8am Bulletin

Petrol Prices – S11 Protests – Middle East Peace Process – Sierra Leone Hostages – Health Reporting – Electricity Dispute – Otago Flooding – Murder Inquiry Boosted – Korean Unity – Woods Vs Waite

- PETROL PRICES: Oil companies are warning motorists lower prices could be months away, despite Opec agreeing to increase production. Protests over petrol prices continue in several European countries including Britain, Belgium and Denmark. France is returning to normal after a week of protests.

- S11 PROTESTS: Australian police will be out in force as protestors target the S11 World Economic Forum in Melbourne today. Big demonstrations are expected, with Police estimating crowds of 10,000, but others expecting up to 50,000. New Zealand Green MPs Sue Bradford and Nandor Tanczos will protest, while finance minister Michael Cullen will be attending the forum.

- MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: The Palestinians have postponed the declaration of an independent state for at least two months to allow more time for a peace agreement to be developed with Israel.

- SIERRA LEONE HOSTAGES: One British soldier died and one was hurt in a British attack on a terrorist base in Sierra Leone. Six British Soldiers and one Sierra Leonian officer, held hostage since August, were freed in the operation.

- HEALTH REPORTING: Hospitals and other health services could face new requirements for reporting and dealing with medical mishaps if new proposals from a working party are accepted by the Director General of Health.

- ELECTRICITY DISPUTE: Meridian Energy and Contact Energy will take a multi million dollar dispute over the cost of electricity to the Auckland high Court today.

- OTAGO FLOODING: Farmers along the North Otago coast are mopping up after a weekend of flooding which farmers said was the worst for 6 years. Many lambs have died in the persistent damp.

- MURDER INQUIRY BOOSTED: The search for the killer of the Palmerston mother and daughter will be boosted today as new recruits join the investigation team. Police are conducting house to house inquiries.

- KOREAN UNITY: Athletes from North and South Korea will march together under a special flag of unity at the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night.

- WOODS VS WAITE: World golf no 1Tiger woods has a one stroke lead against New Zealander Grant Waite after seven holes in the final round of the Canadian Open in Ontario.

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