1. F-16S: The Labour Party has warned that withdrawing from the F16s purchase may be expensive after an election. The Attorney General is expected to sign a $363 million lease for the 28 aircraft in Washington on Thursday. Helen Clark says the decision will be reviewed and she doesn't yet know whether it will be cancelled.

2. STEWART ISLAND CONSERVATION: Conservation Minister and Stewart Island Maori have agreed on a conservation plan for the Lords River Block on Stewart Island which is described as New Zealand's Amazon.

3. COLD SNAP: Cold Snap forces closure of several highways. Central Otago motorways warned to take extreme care. Desert Road is closed by snow. Snow also on Rimutaka Rd and at Mt Bruce in northern Wairarapa. More snow forecast.

4. PETROL PRICES: Oil companies are considering further rises in petrol prices following price rises from Shell overnight.

5. INDONESIA: Another delay in the official results of the Indonesian Election. President Habibe has given a week to find out why some parties have refused to sign the final result.

6. UNHCR IN KOSOVO has helped move nine Serbs from the area in Kosovo where 14 farmers were slain last week.

7. LIQUOR: First conscience votes on sale of liquor changes will be cast under urgency tonight. Alliance MPs are voting in bloc.

8. ROBBERY: Police hunting a robber in Auckland say it is similar to two other robberies. Police say they are confident

9. WOODSTOCK: Woodstock 1999 - 30th anniversary - small number responsible for riots at the end of the event and setting bonfires. Promoter had no explanation for what happened. 250.000 attended the concert.

10. GENETICS: Greenpeace activists use a lawn mower to mow GE maize.

11. RUGBY: Captain and No.8 Gary Teichman has been axed from the Springboks after three recent losses to Wales, NZ and Australia.

© 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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