National Radio Midday Bulletin

IRD ERROR IN FIGURES: Revenue Minister Bill Birch said the IRD made an error in figures they provided showing KPMG was paid $680 per hour. Instead it was $280 per hour.

WINEBOX: Legal arguments over the definition of fraud have dominated the final day of the Winebox hearing in the Auckland High Court today.

WINZ SUSPENSION: WINZ have suspended a staff member after allegations a staff member spent WINZ money on an aircraft charter to an exclusive hotel.

ISRAEL: Israel’s New Prime Minister Barak said he was keen to revive the Middle East Peace Process during his visit to the US today for meetings with President Bill Clinton.

IRELAND: Northern Ireland’s peace process has gone into recess for two months when David Trimball boycotted a meeting.

INDONESIA: Votes have been counted after the general elections which were held five weeks ago. Megawati received 34% and Golkar slumped to 22% of the vote.

MASS KILLINGS: Italian Peace Keepers have found 748 bodies of Ethnic Albanians in mass graves in Kosovo.

GORE ART: The Southland town of Gore has been gifted significant art works including 100 paintings including pieces by Rita Angus and lots of African tribal art. The Gore gallery is being expanded to house the huge collection.

GLASSES: There is a call for the government to extend its subsidy for glasses for under sevens to all people.

DAIRY BOARD: The Dairy Board is expected to announce major international deals in the next few months as part of the process to expand its consumer products business and complete the mega co-op.

HIJACKER: An Albanian hijacker was killed and all five hostages were freed following a bus hijacking in Greece.

WEST AUCKLAND: A high school in West Auckland has sent pupils home after a power cut.

NZ POST: NZ Post is to learn today whether it has won a three year contract to manage South African Post.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons’ Energy Efficiency Bill has been recommended for a second reading by a Select Committee.

VACCINE: The maker of a vaccine to treat child diarrhoea has withdrawn the treatment after some children developed complications after using the drug.

LONDON: A 40 year old man has been arrested after scaling the gates at Buckingham Palace and sprinting for the door. Police would not say whether he was armed.

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