TIMOR: Kiwi troops will arrive in East Timor tomorrow but they will have to borrow American radio equipment because
theirs is so old.
EQUIPMENT: Over 1,000 tonnes of equipment including 21 armoured personnel carriers will leave on a hired Dutch cargo
ship for East Timor tomorrow from Wellington port.
REFUGEES: The Prime Minister has said New Zealand may take up to 300 temporary East Timorese refugees, with the first
possibly arriving this week.
RETURN: Tens of thousands of refugees are streaming out of the hills and back into Dili to find everything destroyed.
AIRDROPS: The UN has suspended airdrops of food because the protein rich food was making the refugees ill. They have a
high starch diet.
LABOUR: Labour announced their tertiary education policy today, promising concessions on student loans, more funding for
institutions and incentives to encourage students into areas where there is a skill shortage.
ADS PULLED: The Engineers Union has been told it can not screen it’s anti government ads, that it paid over $100,000
for, by the Television Commercial Approval Bureau.
CRASH: A helicopter pilot died when his craft crashed in the Bay Of Plenty today.
TAIWAN: Four Kiwi firefighters returned from helping the Taiwan rescue effort after the big quake there today.
PETROL: All petrol companies have increased their petrol prices – the fifth increase in two months.
RAIL STRIKE: Railway staff went on strike today in Sydney, crippling the city. They are striking over cuts to the public
sector.
ENDS