Christine Rankin - Northern Ireland - Teresa Cormack - Human Cloning - Computer Crime Agency - University Fee Freeze - Broadcaster Peter Sinclair Dies

CHRISTINE RANKIN: Former WINZ bosss Christine Rankin has decided not to appeal against the Employment Court decision that found against her claim for $1.2 million compensation for unfair dismissal.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Britain and Irelad have reacted positively to IRA moves towards decommissioning weapons.

TERESA CORMACK: Police have began to take blood samples in their hunt for the killer of Napier child Teresa Cormack in 1987.

HUMAN CLONING: A team of scientists are defending their plans for a large scale human cloning experiment. The doctors are not concerned about the prospect of deformed fetuses.

COMPUTER CRIME AGENCY: The State Services Minister Trevor Mallard has announced the formation of a national agency to combat computer crime, hacking and viruses.

UNIVERSITY FEE FREEZE: Agreement appears to have been reached between the Government and Tertiary Institution over a fee freeze for students next year. Yesterday the government announced a $35 million transition fund for universities.

PETER SINCLAIR DIES: Veteran broadcaster Peter Sinclair has died in Auckland of an acute form of leukemia.

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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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