NZ Post Board – Mayday Alert – Apple Wars – Indonesian Massacre – Cyprus Protest – Argentina – Fiji Murder – Underage Alcohol Sales – Icy Roads Death – Probation Service – NZ Herald Strike

NZ POST BOARD: The Government is confident that the NZ Post Board will be able to work together. The opposition is less optimistic.

MAYDAY ALERT: An Airforce Orion is due in an area of the Tasman shortly where a distress, mayday, call has been heard. A frigate is also on the way to the area.

APPLE WARS: National’s MP for Nelson says he has seen Apple Growers in tears over their relationship with ENZA. Many growers have been left struggling to survive as a result of ENZA’s attempt to seize money to pay debts, says Smith.

INDONESIAN MASSACRE: At least 18 people have been killed in an outbreak of violence in Indonesia’s Sulawesi provice. The group, all Muslim, included 13 women and children.

CYPRUS PROTEST: Dozens of people have been injured in protests in Cyprus where protestors are objecting to the construction of giant radio masts on a British base.

ARGENTINA: A former President of Argentina has been indicted in connection with illegal arms sales. Carlos Menem has been accused of selling arms to Ecuador and Croatia illegally. Menem claims to be the victim of a plot.

FIJI MURDER: The Fiji Police say they still have no good leads or suspects four days after starting an investigation into the deaths of Red Cross Director John Scott and his partner Greg Scrivener. Police say they have two men in custody, but no evidence they were involved in the killings.

UNDERAGE ALCOHOL SALES: Alcohol watchdog groups want compulsory ID checks on young people buying liquor. ALAC says younger people are able to buy alcohol. The Hospitality Association meanwhile says most its members are acting responsibly.

ICY ROADS DEATH: A 30 year old man is dead this morning after his car crashed off an icy road. Drivers have been warned to take care on frozen roads.

PROBATION SERVICE: Talks between probation officers and the Corrections Department will resume today as a resolution is sought in the pay dispute.

NZ HERALD STRIKE: Striking Journalists at the NZ Herald are due back at work this morning. It is the fifth strike at the paper. The strike is over whether certain staff should be able to join the collective.

© 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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