Budget Blow Out – China Warning On Arms Race – Mental Health In Prisons – GE Cow Experiment – Foot And Mouth – Milosevic – Ecstasy Manufacture – Maori Language Survey - Great Train Robber

BUDGET BLOW OUT: National’s Finance Spokesman Bill English is accusing the Government and Michael Cullen of incompetence and dishonesty over the budget blow out. An ANZ Economist however says it is not as big as it might be. He says he expects an austere budget.

CHINA WARNING ON ARMS RACE: China is warning that the US’s missile plans could start another arms race. Meanwhile China is supporting continued military ties with the US. It describes them as an important part of the relationship. US meanwhile complain that they ties are a one way street.

MENTAL HEALTH IN PRISONS: There are claims that facilities for dealing with mentally ill prisoners are grossly inadequate. Additional money for forensic care in prisons would make a “huge difference” says Peter McGeorge.

GE COW EXPERIMENT: The lawyer who took ERMA to court and won says the GE cows involved in the experiment should be put down. Jamie Ferguson’s view has little sympathy from AgResearch which is going to court to keep the cows alive.

FOOT AND MOUTH: The British PM Tony Blair says the Foot and Mouth Epidemic is coming under control. However a new outbreak in Somerset is causing concerns for the National Farmers Union. The total number of infected sites stands at more than 1500.

MILOSEVIC: An indictment for war crimes has been delivered to former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in his prison cell in Belgrade.

ECSTASY MANUFACTURE: Universities will review their security arrangements for dangerous chemicals following the conviction of a Phd chemistry student for manufacturing the drug Ecstasy.

MAORI LANGUAGE SURVEY: The most comprehensive survey ever done on the state of the Maori language is about to begin. The survey will cost $1.6 million and will survey around 7000 people on their language ability and use.

GREAT TRAIN ROBBER: British Police have confirmed they have received an email from the notorious great train robber Ronnie Biggs. Biggs wants to return to the UK for his final days. He is ill and can no longer speak. Biggs has been living in Brazil.

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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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