Defence Shakeup x 2 – Ariel Sharon Apologises – Waterfront Wars – Police Rapist – Bosnia – US Spy Flights Resume – Iron Deficiency – German Will Not Apologise

DEFENCE SHAKEUP: The Government will today unveil its defence decisions which are expected to alarm defence partners. Today’s announcements will not provide fresh ammunition as most of the decisions have already been flagged to defence partners.

DEFENCE SHAKEUP: The defence shakeup is expected to include news of the end of the Skyhawks and Aerrmacchi air trainers. Orions are to be kept, but not for submarine hunting. The Government says it is committed to doing a few things well. Across the Tasman a report is critical of Australian defence policy too.

ARIEL SHARON APOLOGISES: The Israeli PM Ariel Sharon has publicly apologised for the killing of a four month old baby in an Israeli attack on a refugee camp.

WATERFRONT WARS: Carter Holt Harvey has welcomed an order from the High Court to prevent the Waterfront Workers Union from preventing or hindering the loading of logs onto CHH ships.

POLICE RAPIST: A police officer convicted of rape will be informed in the next day or so whether he will continue to receive his salary. He was convicted several days ago but has not yet been sentenced.

BOSNIA: Diplomats in Bosnia have been evacuated to safety following attacks on Muslim celebrations by a Serbian mob.

US SPY FLIGHTS RESUME: The US has flown its first intelligence gathering flight off the coast of China since the crash landing of an EP-3 spy plane on the Island of Hainan. Beijing has demanded an end to such flights.

IRON DEFICIENCY: New research suggests one in three infants is iron deficient. The research says that the impact of this can be serious after eight to ten months.

GERMAN WILL NOT APOLOGISE: The German President will not be apologising while he is in NZ over claims made in a pamphlet about sheep scrapie in New Zealand. The President has been told that the matter is now closed.

© 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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz