Indonesia – New National – Prisons Strike – Kyoto Protocol – Whale Sanctuary – Driver License Fees – Cook Strait –
Children’s Diet – Ashes Cricket
INDONESIA: President Abdurrahman Wahid has declared a state of emergency and called for the dissolution of the People’s
Consultative Assembly. President Wahid’s spokesman said he had ordered early elections. A top army general has said the
military will oppose the President’s move and the chief of police has ordered his police to ignore the order.
NEW NATIONAL: New National Party President Michelle Boag is looking to business interests to refinance the party. Boag
defeated the incumbent by 414 votes to 175. National’s new Maori Vice-President Wira Gardiner is pushing for five places
for Maori in the top 20 positions on the National list.
PRISONS STRIKE: The Corrections Department is in discussion with the defence forces over possible industrial action by
prison officers. Prison officers are seeking 6% pay rises. They have been offered 2%.
KYOTO PROTOCOL: Leaders of the industrialised nations have broken up their Genoa summit without coming to agreement
about the Kyoto Protocol and climate change.
WHALE SANCTUARY: New Zealand has been carrying out last minute lobbying as the IWC prepares to meet in London to
consider a NZ proposal for a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary. Revelations that Japan has bribed some nations to vote with
it mean the likely result is unclear.
DRIVER LICENSE FEES: While most drivers will soon have to pay more to renew their licenses, assistance may be given to
elderly drivers aged over 80, to ease the cost burden on their renewal fees.
COOK STRAIT: Tranz Rail is making good progress in clearing a backlog of passengers built up by gale conditions in the
Cook Strait. Several ferry sailings yesterday were cancelled due to 11m swells.
CHILDREN’S DIET: There is concern among nutritionists about dietary supplements aimed at children. Most children can get
all the nutrition they need from a balanced diet, they say.
ASHES CRICKET: Australia’s cricketers have coasted to victory in the second ashes test in the UK winning by eight
wickets with a day and a half to spare.