Fletchers – Fiji – Portugal – Nelson Drought – High School Shooting – Hajj Deaths – SA Vs Drug Companies – Far North Prison – Healthier Housing – National To Stand In Wellington Electorates

FLETCHERS: Peak Petroleum remains keen to purchase Fletcher Energy and will be back in court today – in the Court of Appeal – asking for a meeting of Fletcher shareholders to be delayed.

FJIJ: Members of Fiji’s ousted coalition government are expected to resume a meeting that was broken up yesterday by the military.

PORTUGAL: Rescuers are making slow progress in the hunt for bodies in Northern Portugal where a bus was swept away in a river when a bridge collapsed. Portugal’s infrastructure minister has resigned.

NELSON DROUGHT: The worst drought in a long while in Nelson is hurting farmers and irrigators. Growers are having to pick and choose which fruit trees to provide water. The region needs 50-100mm of steady rain to break the drought.

HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING: At least 13 people were injured when a pupil started shooting at fellow pupils at Santana High School in San Diego. Police have arrested a suspect.

HAJJ DEATHS: 35 people have died in a stampede at the Hajj during the symbolic stoning of the devil.

SA VS DRUG COMPANIES: A landmark challenge by international drugs companies against the South African government has begun in Pretoria. The companies want to declare an act that allows the government to purchase cheap AIDs drugs overturned.

FAR NORTH PRISON: Opponents to a new prison near Kaikohe in the Far North have called for the project to be canned. Around 200 turned out to a public meeting last night. Officials have been accused of trying to “buy” support.

HEALTHIER HOUSING: Auckland City Mission is praising an initiative to create bigger/healthier state houses to address overcrowding. Up to 1000 houses will be renovated in the programme.

NATIONAL TO STAND IN WELLINGTON: Voters in two key Wellington seats are expected to have a National candidate in the next election. National is expected to announce shortly that it will be running candidates in the Wellington Central and Ohariu electorates.

© 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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