Supermarkets on Inflation – Inflation – OPEC – Congo – Gaming Inspectors – Depleted Uranium – Rugby World Cup – Youth Court

SUPERMARKETS ON INFLATION: The country’s two biggest supermarket chains are warning that more price rises are looming. Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises both say they will be raising prices.

INFLATION: The CTU says higher inflation will increase pressure for wage rises this year. Two-thirds of all items rose in price in the December quarter. Unions however say they will probably link wage rise demands with productivity improvements.

OPEC: The major oil producing countries OPEC have decided to cut oil production by 1.5 million barrels per day. The question now is what is Iraq doing. Iraq hasn't been exporting anywhere near capacity for some time. Another concern is whether the winter in the US will be cold.

CONGO: Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are insisting that President Kabila is still alive. The Congo government may be playing for time. A huge swathe of Central and East Africa is in turmoil.

GAMING INSPECTORS: The Casino Control Authority want casino inspectors spending less time in casinos and more time in the community looking at gaming machines.

DEPLETED URANIUM: Almost 1300 NZ servicemen are being questioned on their contact with depleted uranium while working in the Balkans.

RUGBY WORLD CUP: The Australian Rugby Union is adamant that its staging of the 2003 World Cup is not threatened by its ban on Fijian players. “I am surprised that the only people making a song and dance about this are the NZRFU officials,” says an Aussie. The NZRFU says that NZ officials asked for clarification from the IRB as a subhost to the tournament.

YOUTH COURT: The chief Youth Court Judge is calling for the public to take a greater interest in what happens in the court. Reporters can cover the court but rarely do. Judge Curruthers says it is essential that the court be seen more.

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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