Skyhawk Crash – PM On Skyhawks – Spouse House Stoush – Churches On Tax Reform – US Rate Cut – Macedonia – Game Fishing – Education Council – Body Parts – GG Finishes Up

SKYHAWK CRASH: The Air Force says the latest Skyhawk crash in the sea of Western Australia yesterday occurred because the pilot was pushing his aircraft to its limits and beyond. The crash leaves the Air Force with 17 Skyhawks.

PM ON SKYHAWKS: PM Helen Clark says the latest Skyhawk crashes will have no bearing on the future of the jets.

SPOUSE HOUSE STOUSH: The Speaker is calling a meeting of party whips to discuss easing tensions over the issue of raising MPs families in Parliament. The Speaker says the current stoush is not doing Parliament’s reputation any good.

CHURCHES ON TAX REFORM: The welfare arm of mainstream churches is calling upon the government to lower the rate of the GST on food, power and transport to 10%.

US RATE CUT: The US Federal Reserve has cut the Federal Funds rate by a further 0.5%. This was not what Wall St wanted, they wanted a bigger cut.

MACEDONIA: Several thousand Macedonians have begun to flee areas in Macedonia where Kosovar rebels are fighting. They have been fleeing into Bulgaria, Albania, Kosovo and internally within Macedonia.

GAME FISHING: Fish and Game say there may need to be limits on the numbers of people fishing popular rivers.

EDUCATION COUNCIL: Teachers are raising concerns about a proposed new Education Council which they have been calling for for years. Teachers say they have a range of concerns. PPTA says the bill has an undue emphasis on discipline.

BODY PARTS: There is concern that public fear over the unauthorised taking of body parts may stop people donating their organs.

GG FINISHES UP: Sir Michael Hardie-Boys will step down from his role as Governor General today. Sir Michael has earned a reputation for a gentle touch. Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias will fill in as Government Administrator before Dame Sylvia Cartwright is sworn into the position.

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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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