1/ IRD INQUIRY: More claims of IRD malice. ACT MP Rodney Hide says he will investigate some IRD staff after allegations made to him. He says he has concerns about a staff-member of IRD who allegedly had five clients commit suicide and boasted about it. Hide says he has the allegations in an affidavit.

2/ IRD INQUIRY: Meanwhile the Minister is urging the committee not to get hung up on wild allegations and describes Hide's allegations as not credible.

3/ KOSOVO: The international peace-keeping force in Kosovo K-For says more than half of the forces have left Southern Kosovo. There are a few stragglers but 26,000 troops and police had left by Wednesday morning taking with them 100 tanks. Problem now an increasing number of Serbian civilians on the move out of Kosovo.

4./ CRICKET: Pakistan's Said Anwar gets a century as Pakistan rout New Zealand by nine wickets and 17 balls in the first semi-final of the World Cup. NZ scored 241. They were overhauled 242 for 1 with 17 balls to spare. Second semi tomorrow between Australia and South Africa.

5/ PETONE SHOOTING: Police are investigating a shooting in Petone yesterday. A van has since been recovered.

7/ NZQA: The former chairman of the NZQA says the board acted properly in authorising payments to the former CEO. "The minister feels embarrassed and I do not think it is my place to have a minister embarrassed" . There was a clause in the contract allowing Blackmur to claim compensation if his job changed significantly.

8/ MENTAL HEALTH: Mental Health services still falling well short of target says Mental Health Commission. Big gaps highlighted for Maori youth services and drug and alcohol services for young people.

9/ SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: More than 100 boaties in the sounds and people at Furneaux Lodge are due to give evidence over next few days. Evidence yesterday filled out picture of Watson the man. Evidence of boaties will fill out evidence of his boat's movements.

© 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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