National Radio Midday Bulletin

Inflation Up - Suspended Sentences- Bus Driver Charged- Cervical Inquiry- Fiji Govt- Israelis Protest- Zimbabwe Tensions- Indonesia Violence- ERO & IT- Concussion Risk- Rugby Tickets- Mad Cow Disease

INFLATION UP: There has been a sharp rise in inflation, with consumer prices rising 2 per cent by the year to June, the biggest in two and a half years. Petrol prices, up by 25 per cent in the year, and cigarette prices are held responsible for the rise.

- SUSPENDED SENTENCES: The Law Society says a call by the Justice Minister for an end to suspended sentences is extreme and should be considered very carefully before any decision is made.

- BUS DRIVER CHARGED: An Auckland Bus Company driver has been charged with the careless driving causing death, after a school boy died when his school bag was caught in the back doors of a bus.

- CERVICAL INQUIRY: A doctor at the Gisborne Cervical Inquiry says the inquiry would never have been necessary if a general review of women with cervical cancer was made.

- FIJI GOVT.: The President of Fiji is expected to meet the interim Prime Minister about now to discuss the composition of a new government for the islands.

- ISRAELIS PROTEST: Over 100,000 Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against the peace talks at Camp David between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, President Bill Clinton and Palestinian leader Yasser Arrifat.

- ZIMBABWE TENSIONS: Tensions are growing between war veterans and white farmers in Zimbabwe after fears that land occupations by the veterans will resume. The veterans are say they are dissatisfied with President Robert Mugabe and his government’s progress on the issue and their lack of a cabinet representitive.

- INDONESIA VIOLENCE: Thirteen Muslims and seven Christians are believed to have been killed after further religious violence in northern Indonesia.

- ANSETT FARES RISE: Ansett is putting up airfares by five percent at the end of the month, blaming the rise in petrol prices for the hike.

- ERO & IT: The school watch-dog, the Education Review Office, says more teachers need to be trained in the use of information technology.

- CONCUSSION RISK: A doctor at an inquest into the death of a rugby league player says rugby union and league players should be made aware of the dangers of playing after a concussion.

- RUGBY TICKETS: Rugby fans, spurred by the tri-nations victory in Sydney over the weekend, are snapping up the remaining tickets for the Allblacks encounter against South Africa in Christchurch.

- MAD COW DISEASE: A leading British scientist says the human equivalent of mad cow disease is disproportionally hitting young people, and baby food and school meals could be to blame.

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