Olympics – Petrol Crisis – German Petrol Protests – Dr Competency – Mussel Algal Bloom – Indonesia – Lundy Murders –
Public Transport
OLYMPICS: The Olympic Flame is welcomed into downtown Sydney by hundreds of thousands of people. Last night an estimated
1 million people thronged the city to welcome the flame. John MacBeth says the city has come alive. Blyth Tait has been
appointed flag bearer and captain. Many of the NZ team will not be attending the opening ceremony because they are
competing tomorrow.
PETROL CRISIS: Protestors appear to be ending their protests against petrol prices in the UK. The protestors said they
had made their point and did not want to lose public sympathy. Tony Blair criticised oil companies for announcing price
increases immediately after the protests ended – the protestors threatened to resume – and the oil companies backed
down..
GERMAN PETROL PROTESTS: German petrol protests have started as have protests in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. Belgian
drivers are giving up their protests.
DR COMPETENCY: A law change is being advanced urgently to enable the Medical Council to suspend medical practitioners
for misconduct.
MUSSEL ALGAL BLOOM: The mussel industry is waiting anxiously to find out whether a toxic algal bloom on the West Coast
will reach Marlborough.
INDONESIA: NZ Foreign Minister Phil Goff will shortly meet with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister to discuss East and West
Timor.
LUNDY MURDERS: The deaths of a mother and daughter in Palmerston North have left some in the city anxious and fearful.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A survey looking at attitudes to public transport found that one in seven would never use public
transport – even if it was free. The attitude was particularly prevalent among men with company cars.