Slobodan Milosevic – NZ Post – Russian Airline Crash – Fiji Murder – Interest Rates – Apple Dispute – Christine Rankin – Children’s Rights – Auckland Airport – South Auckland Health

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: Slobodan Milosevic is back in isolation after making his first appearance before the war crimes tribunal. Milosevic refused to acknowledge the validity of the tribunal, saying it was a tool of Yugoslavia’s NATO enemies.

NZ POST: National’s Bill English says his party will push for an early Audit Office inquiry if the government papers over the NZ Post stoush today and allows the board to remain intact. He may also call for a Select Committee inquiry into the stoush.

RUSSIAN AIRLINE CRASH: More than 140 people are confirmed dead after a Russian Airliner crashed on its way to Vladivostok.

FIJI MURDER: A former policeman has been arrested in connection with the murder of Red Cross Director John Scott in Fiji. Police are also looking for a drug dealer seen with John Scott’s partner, Greg Scrivener in a restaurant.

INTEREST RATES: The Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash will review interest rates this morning. He is not expected to cut interest rates by most economists, and rather is expected to take a wait and see attitude.

APPLE DISPUTE: The Minister of Agriculture Jim Sutton says he is due to receive a legal opinion on a dispute between ENZA and apple growers over foreign exchange losses. He says he will not intervene while investigations are underway.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: Dame Margaret Bazeley will this morning give evidence for the defence in the Christine Rankin employment case. Bazeley will follow Steve Maharey who said Rankin’s version of events was distorted. After Bazeley the court will hear from Mark Prebble and Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS: A new report says that students and their parents have real difficulties to find out about their rights within the school system. The report backs a report by the Community Law Centre last year.

AUCKLAND AIRPORT: The Commerce Commission says price controls on Auckland Airport might lead to cheaper air fares. It is concerned that excessive landing charges may be increasing air fares.

SOUTH AUCKLAND HEALTH: Health Professionals in South Auckland say that urgent interventions are needed to protect the health of Pacific and Maori people. Poor Pacific Island health statistics have not improved in spite of an investment in their health.

© 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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