Electricity Market – Superannuation – Kevin Polwart – Air Ambulance Services – Sewerage – Israel/Palestine – NZ Post – Teacher Pay – UK Conservative Leadership

ELECTRICITY MARKET: M-co the electricity market company says some retail electricity companies are still learning how the wholesale market works. The M-co market committee has rejected allegations of cross-subsidisation in the market.

SUPERANNUATION: The PM has attacked the National Parties stand on superannuation. National has rejected the planned super fund, but has backed the payment levels agreement.

KEVIN POLWART: A police armed offenders squad has recaptured prison escaper and armed robber Kevin Polwart. He was arrested by a team of 30 police at 2am in the morning in Porirua.

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES: A review of air ambulance services in Northland says the area should have one emergency helicopter and the local one is probably the best suited for the job.

SEWERAGE: Small communities are facing high bills trying to upgrade their sewerage and water systems to comply with environmental rules. One community with 50 households faces a bill of more than $2 million.

ISRAEL/PALESTINE: There has been more tit-for-tat violence in the Middle East. A helicopter attack on a house in Bethlehem by the Israelis killed several Palestinians they allege were involved in

NZ POST: The Government is to consider the overseas activities of NZ Post following recent public disagreements between board members. After a meeting with board members last night Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen says he wants to hear more about overseas activities.

TEACHER PAY: The PPTA says the pay parity agreement between the government and primary teachers threatens to undermine their contract negotiations.

UK CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP: The two front-runners to become the leaders of the UK Conservative party have been identified, Kenneth Clark and Ian Duncan Smith. Michael Portillo, the earlier front-runner, has been eliminated.

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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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