Gisborne Cancer Compensation Call – Training Wages – Israel Ceasefire – National Missile Defence – Whitianga Canal Development – Blood Shortage – US Violent Crime – University Funding – UK Tory Leadership

GISBORNE CANCER COMPENSATION: The Health and Disability Commissioner says the government has a moral duty to compensate the women at the center of the Gisborne Cancer Inquiry, because the public health system has failed them. However the Minister of ACC says it is premature to discuss compensation while several of the cases are still before the courts. She also says that the women will miss out on lump sum compensation anyway.

TRAINING WAGES: The Minister of Youth Affairs Laila Harre says that changes to the minimum wage training provisions will close an exploitation gap.

ISRAEL CEASEFIRE: Israel’s armed forces have been given orders to start implementing the cease-fire plan of CIA Director George Tenet. So far there is no clear sign of any change on the ground yet. US officials say they expect changes to be made on the ground over the next 48 hours.

NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENCE: The US President George Bush says he feels encouraged by European ally reactions to his missile defence system. There seems to be a recognition that the US is making more effort to explain its case. President Bush wants a strategic revolution.

WHITIANGA CANAL DEVELOPMENT: Parliament has cleared the way for the $100 million canal development in the Whitianga to proceed. The canal development was caught up in the Hauraki Marine Park Bill. Final approval for the development is expected shortly.

BLOOD SHORTAGE: National blood reserves are so low an urgent appeal has gone out for donations. Blood groups A and O are particularly low. The clinical demand for blood is only just being met. Winter is traditionally a problem for blood donations.

US VIOLENT CRIME: The violent crime rate in the US fell by 15% in the US last year. There were 7.4 million violent crimes last year in the US.

UNIVERSITY FUNDING: Students believe Waikato University may be forced to rethink its opposition to a fee freeze if other universities take up the offer. Andrew Campbell a student spokesman says he hopes other universities accept the government’s offer.

UK TORIES: Michael Portillo has announced he is a candidate for the job of UK Conservative Party leader.

© 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.

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