Farmer’s Interest Rates – Ansett – SA AIDs Court Case – PM In China – Bus Safety – Fire Service Pay Dispute – Caesarean Section – Burundi – Whale Sanctuary – Honey Money

FARMER’S INTEREST RATES: Federated Farmers says yesterday’s cut in interest rates is an added bonus for the export industry. Alistair Polson says interest costs are the highest costs for farmers. He says that the last year has been one of the best in living memory for farmers.

ANSETT: Ansett Australia may have escaped being grounded indefinitely. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says Ansett has produced a safety review. The first of the grounded planes is expected to be cleared to fly today.

SA AIDS COURT CASE: The decision by International drug companies to drop a case against the South African Government is being applauded as a victory by AIDs activists around the world.

PM IN CHINA: The PM says there is no sign of China changing its stance on several areas in which it disagrees with NZ. The PM says she raised the issue of freedom of religious expression with the Chinese PM. She says Phil Goff has now accepted an invitation to Tibet.

BUS SAFETY: The LTSA says it will now have a closer look at safety on school buses after the conviction of a driver in connection with the death of a school boy.

FIRE SERVICE PAY DISPUTE: The Fire Service Commission will meet Professional Firefighters today to discuss its pay offer. Firefighters say they want more because they have not been given a rise in 11 years.

CAESAREAN SECTION: Health professionals are concerned that at some hospitals one in three babies are being born by caesarean section.

BURUNDI: Burundi’s President has arrived back in his country following an unsuccessful coup attempt.

WHALE SANCTUARY: The Conservation Minister says there is overwhelming support in the Pacific Islands for a South Pacific whale sanctuary. A Tongan MP says everyone in the region would benefit economically from the sanctuary.

HONEY MONEY: Claims that Green Dollars are costing the Government millions in tax are disputed by the Green Party. National’s Annabel Young says the IRD should run sting operations to catch those not paying tax.

© Scoop Media

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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