Israel Air Strikes – Maori Lessee Compensation – Clean Slate Bill – German Anti-Nuclear Protests – Monteith’s – Fiji Court Action – New Schools

ISRAEL AIR STRIKES: Israel has launched tank artillery and air strikes against Palestinian targets in Gaza, Hebron and Ramallah. At least two people were killed and more than 60 injured in the attacks that lasted an hour. The dead include a civilian woman and a member of Yasser Arafat’s bodyguard from Force 17. A spokesman for Israel’s PM Ariel Sharon says the air strikes are a warning. An aid to Yasser Arafat says the raids today have destroyed the last chance for peace following the use by the US of its veto in the UN Security Council to block a peace monitoring force.

MAORI LESSEE COMPENSATION: The Government says bad advice from its valuers was responsible for taxation changes on Maori Lessee compensation that have now been abandoned. National Leader Jenny Shipley is not impressed with Michael Cullen blaming officials again. Legislation about leases was introduced on Monday.

CLEAN SLATE BILL: People with minor convictions may have their records wiped clean by the Clean Slate Bill of Green MP Nandor Tanczos. The government has supported the principal of the bill.

GERMAN PROTESTS: Thousands of German police and anti-nuclear activists have been fighting running battles over a nuclear waste train.

MONTEITH’S: The Union representing half the redundant workers from Monteith’s Greymouth is expecting a response from DB by 10am this morning. If its demands are not met it will seek an investigation from the Employment Relations Authority.

FIJI COURT ACTION: A court action has been launched in Fiji challenging the failure of the President to reconvene Parliament.

NEW SCHOOLS: Two new schools are being built in Auckland in an area where class sizes are getting very big. Education Minister Trevor Mallard says new schools will take the pressure off.

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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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