McVeigh Execution – Gay Oakes Parole – Power Crisis – Abortion Statistics – Super Bill – Overseas Service Medals – Bush
On Climate Change – Prison Escaper
MCVEIGH EXECUTION: Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh has been executed. His was the first federal execution in 38
years, though 715 people have been executed in that time. McVeigh died at 12.14am NZT, 7.14am local time. He had no last
words, but released a poem instead.
GAY OAKES PAROLE: The brother of murdered Christchurch man Doug Gardiner say they are horrified at a parole board
decision to allow Gay Oakes to apply for parole two years early.
POWER CRISIS: Transpower says that reconfiguring the national grid to flow south from the north should ease pressure on
power prices.
ABORTION STATISTICS: Health professionals are concerned at the rise in teenage abortions. Statistics show the level of
teenage abortions rose 8% between 1999 and 2000. One impact on the number of abortions is thought to be concerns over
the safety of contraceptive pills.
SUPER BILL: Details of changes to the Superannuation Fund Bill made by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee will
be made public today when Parliament resumes. The PM says Labour is happy to rely on the support of NZ First to pass the
bill.
OVERSEAS SERVICE MEDALS: Former armed forces personnel are welcoming a commitment from the PM to fix anomalies in the
overseas service medal regime.
BUSH ON CLIMATE CHANGE: The US President George Bush has reaffirmed his opposition to the Kyoto climate change treaty,
on the eve of a trip to Europe. He says that the rest of the world produce 80% of greenhouse gases and that the Kyoto
Protocol is unfair on the US.
PRISON ESCAPER: Police looking for an armed robber who escaped from Rimutaka Prison last Thursday have his cell phone
number, but have not rung him yet.