US Navy Bombs Kiwi – Germans Apologise – Peter Ellis – Teachers – Rankin Vs Bradford – NSW Floods – Brazil Prison Riot – MIR Approaches NZ

US NAVY BOMBS KIWI: Major John McNutt of the SAS from the South Island was killed this morning while observing a US navy exercise in Kuwait. McNutt was killed with five Americans. He was in a Hummer at the time. President Bush asked for a moments silence and then went on to talk about the . Prime Minister Helen Clark says it is a great embarassment for the US and NZ is very upset to be involved.

GERMANS APOLOGISE: The German Government are planning a large scale publicity campaign apologising for mentioning NZ sheep in relation to BSE in a pamphlet circulated to 33 million households. The Meat Board says that the CMA apology is sufficient. Minister Jim Sutton says he was

PETER ELLIS: Convicted sex offender Peter Ellis has been refused a pardon by a Ministerial inquiry. Peter Ellis says he is unhappy with the result. In a statement to the media Ellis says the government has put the matter in the too hard basket. His lawyer Ablett-Kerr says the report from Sir Thomas Eichlebaum has taken her, “somewhat by surprise”. Minister Phil Goff says the report did not find it a close case. For Ellis there is still hope. A book about Ellis will be published later this year.

TEACHERS CHALLENGED: The government says that if teachers demand a big pay rise this year then it will take longer to get to smaller class sizes.

RANKIN VS BRADFORD: Christine Rankin is threatening legal action against Green MP Sue Bradford. Today Bradford tabled a letter threatening legal action against her. “What right does she have to use lawyers to bully an MP into silence,” says Bradford. “If I can’t talk openly and honestly about the department then I am not doing my job.” Steve Maharey says Rankin is paying for her own lawyers. TV3 was refused comment from Christine Rankin today with a spokesperson saying it was a personal matter.

NSW FLOODS: Floods in NSW have finally peaked. More people have been evacuated. Damage is estimated to be in the 10s of millions of dollars.

BRAZIL PRISON RIOT: Riot police have used helicopters to storm a prison riot in one of Brazil’s most notorius prisons. Four prisoners were killed and dozens were injured in the assault. The assault was filmed from news helicopters including shots of prisoners being shot. Guards at the prison have been accused of torturing prisoners in the past. The riot was sparked by an escape attempt.

MIR APPROACHES NZ: Russian Space Station MIR is to be crashed into the Pacific next week and can be seen each morning around 6am-7am when looking to the West. It will look like a very bright yellow star as it comes closer to NZ. For exact times to look see … http://www.stardome.org.nz

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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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