1. INFECTION SCARE: Christchurch Hospital has apologised to patients exposed to hepatitis, HIV, and TB from unsterile endoscopy equipment. Dr apologises to the patients who will be contacted.

2. MAORI IN PUBLIC SERVICE: Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Tuariki Delamere says he questions State Services Commission figures which show Maori make up 13% of the public service compared to 8% of the labour force as a whole. He wants the public service to hire more Maori.

3. PRISON INQUIRY: The manager of Auckland Prison says he will resign if he is found responsible for the escape of a dangerous inmate. Five staff face suspension following a report into the escape of Dion Matthews.

4. LAMB TARIFFS: The dispute over lamb tariffs has dominated a 90 minute meeting between Australian PM John Howard and US President Bill Clinton. The two leaders agreed to work together for free trade in advance of the next round of WTO negotiations.

5. IRAN: Violent clashes in Iran between police and students continue for a fifth day. The President of Iran is concerned.

6. ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS: The government's price controls on line companies hangs in the balance as Labour considers its support for the proposed legislation. The Labour caucus is meeting this morning.

7. STOWAWAYS: Three Asian men have been found in a container.

© 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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