Jerusalem Bombing – Plastic Surgery – Nurse Shortages – Water Born Bugs – Nelson Resort – Savings Incentives – Dioxin Report Criticised

JERUSALEM BOMBING: A bomb in a central Jerusalem pizzeria has killed 19, including six children, and injured many more. The Israeli and Palestinian leaderships have condemned the bombing, as has the White House. An Israeli spokesman says it is Yasser Arafat’s fault. More violence has followed the bombing with the shooting of an Israeli woman.

PLASTIC SURGERY: The chairman of the New Zealand foundation of plastic surgeons wants only doctors with formal qualifications to be allowed to conduct cosmetic surgery.

NURSE SHORTAGES: The Nurses Organisation estimates the countries hospitals are short of 2000 nurses, and that problems of staff shortages at Starship Hospital are replicated all over the country.

WATER BORN BUGS: Auckland public health officials are warning some Franklin residents to boil their water because of a nasty Vtec bug in the water supply.

NELSON RESORT: Local residents are considering appealing against a $14 million tourist resort near the entrance to Able Tasman National Park.

SAVINGS INCENTIVES: The National Party is opposing a suggestion that tax rebates be used to encourage savings. Labour and National could go into the election disagreeing on how to encourage savings as well as the super fund.

DIOXIN REPORT CRITICISED: The Dioxin Investigation Group says a Ministry of Health report into Dioxin levels in Taranaki is a whitewash because it looked only at data post 1988. Two more inquiries are underway.

© 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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