National Radio Midday Report

Japan Economy – Fiji Chiefs – Parent Sentenced – Child Dental Health – King Vs Doctors – Daniel McCarthy – Shed Burns – Augusto Pinochet – Yugoslavia – Aussie Economy – Foot And Mouth – Gaye Oaks

- JAPAN ECONOMY: Japan, the world’ second biggest economy, is on the brink of recession. The Japanese Finance Minister has told parliament the government must take action. Government debt is higher than in any other developed nation, prices are falling and the banking sector is in disarray. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research sees no immediate risk to New Zealand’s economy from the news.

- FIJI CHIEFS: Fiji’s great Council of Chiefs has rejected a court of Appeal ruling that has declared the interim government illegal. The chiefs reasserted their support for the interim government.

- PARENT SENTENCED: An Auckland woman who admitted causing her five-year-old son’s death with a sustained beating has been sentenced to 6 years jail.

- CHILD DENTAL HEALTH: Cheap soft drinks and expensive milk has been blamed for an epidemic of rotting teeth in New Zealand’s toddlers by the Dental Council.

- KING VS DOCTORS: A second doctor’s organisation is challenging the Health Minister over the withdrawal of GPs from maternity care.

- DANIEL MCCARTHY: Daniel McCarthy, a son who killed his father two years ago has dropped his claim on part of his father’s $2m estate.

- SHED BURNS: The biggest packing shed in central Otago has burned to the ground. About half of the export apples coming out of the region are packed in the shed.

- AUGUSTO PINOCHET: The Appeal Court in Chile has ruled that military dictator Augusto Pinochet must stand trial for human rights abuses arising from his years in power, but has decided to reduce the charges against him.

- YUGOSLAVIA: Yugoslavia has accepted an invitation to move its troops into part of the buffer zone between Kosovo and the rest of Serbia to drive out Kosovar Albanians striking into Serbia. Meanwhile, the UN War Crimes Tribunal has offered a possible compromise in the stand-off with Yugoslavia over the case against former President Slobodan Milosevic. The UN has suggested that part of the trial be held in Belgrade.

- AUSSIE ECONOMY: Australian PM John Howard has moved to inject life into the struggling economy by doubling a first home buyer’s grant to more than $17,000.

- FOOT AND MOUTH: Britain’s chief vet said Foot and Mouth disease is going to be around for some time, after 10 new outbreaks were confirmed.

- GAYE OAKS: Supporters and opponents of convicted murderer Gaye Oaks are waiting to hear if she’ll be granted early freedom after an appearance before the parole board yesterday.

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