WINZ: A WINZ senior manager has been granted an independent disciplinary hearing into the Charter Aircraft scandal. She was suspended last week for allegedly misleading her CEO over the cost for chartering two planes. An inquiry is now underway into the decision to charter the planes. WINZERS AND LOSERS - CHART - allocating costs of various PR expenditure at WINZ to taxpayers. Maharey says it's the wrong style for the service.

LIGHTNING: Weather extremes cause problem. Fog in Christchurch. Lighting strikes Sky Tower in Auckland. Great shots of lightning strike. 16 strikes in half an hour. Tower has a big gold ball designed to collect lighting strikes the strikes but nevertheless IHUG's network was damaged. Too dangerous to go up tower today.

RUSSIAN HOSTAGE FREED: Partner of Christchurch woman in ecstasy as her Red-Cross worker and husband Geraldo Cruise's freedom is announced. Cruise was freed in a Russian sting operation. Cruise flown to Moscow and then Geneva. Wife says it is wonderful to see her husband is alive.

WTO: Former PM Mike Moore is all but confirmed as the new head of the WTO. Moore will be D-G for three years and then make way for Thailand's Deputy PM. Moore not counting chickens yet. On Thursday night a formal meeting will be held to discuss the matter. A Moore appointment will suit Labour.

INDONESIA: Suharto Ill with stroke.

JFK JUNIOR: JFK's plane probably slammed into ocean at a speed higher than expected. Latest sonar equipment is being used to find the plane.

COCKROACHES: Ken the cockroach will champion Y2k preparedness on TV and in the mailbox. Desire is to have things put in perspective. Cockroaches are the best survivors. Message is designed to stand out with its own personality.

© 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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