JFK JUNIOR: Bodies of JFK his wife and sister-in-law have been recovered. The high tech plane plunged into the sea near the Massachusettes coast. Divers delicately removed the bodies from the wreckage and from there were taken to have an autopsy conducted. Kennedy Family will hold a memorial service in New York in a small church.

FAMILY MURDER: Charges against five people charged with stabbing Angelina Edwards have had their charges reduced to manslaughter. The judge said there was insufficient evidence to establish the murder charge. The trial has been running for a month and the defence has now opened.

KIWI ADVICE TO LAMB FARMERS: Advice to meat industry from Kiwifruit boss Doug Voss after Kiwifruit growers reach agreement to lift anti-dumping restrictions in the US. My advice to lamb producers is to develop relationships with US producers - he says.

PIT BULL: Dog control bill in Parliament. Dog breeder says he will flout the law if it is passed. He says pitbulls are used as therapy dogs in the US because they are cudly. MP Brian Neeson says several countries have bans on the dogs.

DRUG SMUGGLER: A 27-year-old arrested after leaving prison with $200 after delivering cannabis oil into Paremoremo has been convicted and fined $920. He plead guilty to smuggling the drugs and has been dismissed.

WHAT'S IN A NAME: The Maori word Whanau has been dropped from the name of the new Department of Children Youth and Famuly Services. Youth and Whanau both objected to in the name by the opposition.

MIGRATION: Sluggish economy and student loans scheme are reasons for large outflows in New Zealanders say experts. Australian migration at record levels. Australia's ministry of immigration is unconcerned about the numbers - he says lots of young australians leave too.

LIGHTER BLITZ: The Fire Service and Commerce Commission have launched their first blitz on dairies selling un-child-safe lighters.

WOMEN AND THE LAW: Most women will have trouble with the legal system according to research. Women wanting legal help say lawyers are too expensive, advice is difficult to understand and there are not enough alternatives.

SCOTT WATSON: Witness has told Scott Watson murder trial that Watson was very drunk while socialising onboard her boat.

NAPIER TRIAL: 20-year-old Napier man has been committed for trial on rape and attempted murder charges. He has been accused of rape and stabbing a teenager and an elderly person.

NORTHERN IRELAND: IRA has blamed the British Government for the deadlock. The IRA appears to indicate that the IRA is not ready to decommission weapons. But ceasfire not yet under threat.

DRUNK ROYAL CORGI'S: A 28-year-old footman who got the Royal Corgi's drunk has been disciplined. The Queen was not ammused.

© 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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