Monetary Policy – Defence Policy – Cricket Match Fixing – St Stephens – Fiji – US Elections – Special Benefits – Pipfruit Protest
MONETARY POLICY: The Reserve Bank will announce this morning whether it will raise interest rates in response to recent increases in inflation. The bank last raised interest rates in May.
DEFENCE POLICY: National says Alliance MP Matt Robson’s statements on defence are a hint that Labour is preparing to announce scrapping the Skyhawks, and possibly the Orions as well.
CRICKET MATCH FIXING: Two former Indian cricket players have been banned for life from playing cricket as a result of the match fixing inquiry. Several Other players have been banned for five years.
ST STEPHENS: The board of trustees at St Stephens in Auckland say they are furious that the school is to close. A new school is to open on the same site next year.
FIJI: Fiji’s military say they have enough evidence to lay charges against those responsible for last months mutiny. Meanwhile a court appearance of George Speight is expected today.
US ELECTIONS: The Democrats are refusing to give up the fight for the US Presidency after losing two key legal cases. Vice Presidential candidate Joeseph Lieberman is now hoping the Florida Supreme Court will find in the democrats favour as after that there will be few places left to go to argue the case.
SPECIAL BENEFITS: The minister of Social Services says that beneficiaries should no longer have any trouble getting all the benefits they are entitled to thanks to new instructions given WINZ staff on special benefits.
PIPFRUIT PROTEST: Some pipfruit growers will march on Parliament today calling for deregulation of the apple and pear market.