International Scam Bust – Health Underfunding – Electricity Crisis – Genoa – Indonesia – Apple Wars – Starship Hospital – Pacific Business Awards

INTERNATIONAL SCAM BUST: Three NZers are among a large number of foreign people arrested in Thailand on a stock dealing scam investigation.

HEALTH UNDERFUNDING: The chairman of the Medical Association John Adams has launched an attack on underfunding in the health sector. A spokesperson for the Health Minister says she cannot comment.

ELECTRICITY CRISIS: The Government will today be asked to intervene to take the heat out of the wholesale electricity market. Graham Purchase of Trustpower says that in 1992 there was a price cap in the market and something similar is needed now. Meanwhile the International credit agency Standard and Poors will be monitoring what the Government does closely.

GENOA: Prosecutors in Italy have opened a third investigation into police brutality to protestors in Genoa at the G8 Summit.

INDONESIA: The deposed Indonesian President Abdurrachman Wahid is on his way to the US for a medical checkup. His departure clears the last hurdle for a smooth takeover by his deputy Megawati Sukarnoputri. Wahid says he will come back to fight corruption.

APPLE WARS: ENZA and representatives from pipfruit growers are sitting down today to try and negotiate a settlement to a dispute over who pays for $50 million plus of forex losses and legacy costs.

STARSHIP HOSPITAL: Starship children’s Hospital in Auckland is putting off some elective surgery today in order to help it cope with a deluge of admissions, many of children with chest infections.

PACIFIC BUSINESS AWARDS: The government has announced the injection of money into a Pacific Islands Business Trust for use in loans to support Pacific businesses. Last night a series of awards were announced for Pacific business people.

© 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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