Federal Reserve Interest Rates – Kiwi Interest Rates – Nick Smith Defamation – Yelash Defamation – Israel – Runaway Train – Nurse Practitioners – Smoke Free Bars – All Blacks

FEDERAL RESERVE INTEREST RATES: The Federal Reserve Bank has cut US Federal Fund interest rates by another 50 basis points to 4%, the lowest level in seven years. Stocks rallied on the news and then slipped back.

KIWI INTEREST RATES: The NZ Reserve Bank is tipped to cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.75% today. WestpacTrust says that the bank should go further and cut by 50 basis points.

NICK SMITH DEFAMATION: A defamation case involving former National Minister Nick Smith is being reconsidered for possible government assistance. Smith is being sued by Christchurch businessman Dave Henderson over a column he wrote defending IRD staff.

YELASH DEFAMATION: Parliament’s Speaker is to be asked to investigate a breach of privilege by Attorney General Margaret Wilson in relation to the Yelash defamation payout. Wilson said yesterday that Peter Williams suggested a secrecy clause. Williams denies this.

ISRAEL: Violence has flared in Palestinian territories as a “Day of Catastrophe” is marked. The day marks the anniversary of the creation of Israel in 1948. Israel’s Foreign Minister says that peace talks are the only way forward.

RUNAWAY TRAIN: A freight train is running out of control in North East Ohio. The train is running south, south of Toledo.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS: Doctors say that a new level of qualification for nurses, as “nurse practitioners” able to proscribe some drugs, has risks associated with it.

SMOKE FREE BARS: The Government is still short of the numbers needed to make bars and restaurants at least half smoke free. The crucial votes of the Greens have not yet been promised to the bill.

ALL BLACKS: The All Blacks coach has confirmed he will name is 30 strong training squad this weekend.

© 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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