Food Prices – Fat Tax – Fire Service Contract – George Bush Protests – Depleted Uranium – Dairy Merger – Solomon
Islands – Nepal – Bay of Plenty Murder – Tree Theft
FOOD PRICES: Community, Health and Welfare groups are sounding warnings about rising food prices leading to unhealthy
diets, especially for poor people.
FAT TAX: A nutrition lobby group has suggested taxing some foods in order to encourage healthier diets. The group is
also suggesting taxing TV watching.
FIRE SERVICE CONTRACT: The Fire Service is on the verge of an historic industrial agreement that could bring to an end a
decade long dispute over the Fire Service contract.
GEORGE BUSH PROTESTS: Mounted police in the Swedish City of Gothenberg have had to quell protests aimed at the visit of
US President George W. Bush. President Bush has dismissed European concerns over the US withdrawal from the Kyoto
Treaty.
DEPLETED URANIUM: A survey on NZ armed service personnel exposure to depleted uranium shows little evidence of any
medical problems caused by radiation. Half the survey forms have not yet been returned however.
DAIRY MERGER: The two Dairy Companies involved in a giant merger are warning their farmers that they are running out of
time to cast their proxy votes. The industry votes on the merger on Monday.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: There is a claim that unarmed NZ and Australian peace-keepers in the Solomon Islands are being
repeatedly shot at because armed rebels do not respect them.
NEPAL: An official investigation has concluded that Nepal’s Prince Dipendra shot his family and then shot himself.
BAY OF PLENTY MURDER: A homicide investigation is underway in the Bay of Plenty following the death of a man by stabbing
during what appears to be a home invasion incident.
TREE THEFT: A prison term handed down to a West Coast tree stealer yesterday should discourage others who might steal
native timber, says Forest and Bird.