MAGIC MUSSELS: New health supplement Lyprinol made from green-lipped mussels is being withdrawn from the market voluntarily by the distributor following discussions with the Ministry of Health. Wonderdrug or diet supplement? Stocks sell out very quickly. Chemist shops could not satisfy the demand. PM sounds a note of caution - "I am concerned that what was a breaking news story is suddenly available". Scientist says what happens in petrie dishes means little about what happens in the body. Still no proof that these magical capsules can cure cancer.

ELECTRICITY REGULATION: NZ First has pulled the plug on its negotiations with the government on Electricity Reform. Winston Peters again calls the shots - this time making demands for greater regulation. Peters says the sticking point is the Minister's preparedness to use powers that he has to regulate monopolies. Pete Hodgson says Labour never handled it properly. Peters is now challenging Bradford to put up his bill.

ELECTRICITY REGULATION: Jane Young Live: The master of the political striptease demonstrates MMP in action. Classic Winston Peters. Press Release from Bradford says that by releasing the correspondence Winston has shown he cannot be trusted.

FIRE SERVICE: The Insurance Council is urging Jack Elder to get involved in the fire service row or resign.

INDIAN RAIL DISASTER: Two reports - 1. A bomb has exploded in a railway station in North East India - West Bengal - killing several. Indian officials say they suspect Pakistani agents are responsible. ---- 2. The Death Toll in the accident is over 500. But now thought to be not caused by bomb but rather by an express train and mail train colliding.

FLASH FLOOD: A guide who survived the Swiss canyoning disaster who is from New Zealand may face charges of negligence. And wife of Hamilton man killed in the disaster says the party was not being dare-devilish and were having a good time.

SEX AND LIES: Hillary Clinton interview blames hubby's unfaithfulness on his mother and grand-mother. In Talk Magazine Hillary says Bill was scarred from abuse from the age of 4 and torn between his mother and grandmother. Hillary says she thought Bill had got over his problem a decade ago. Political pundits question the wisdom of Hillary's public comments. Asked why she stays with him she said he was a "very good man".

SEX AND LIES: Monica Lewinsky is recovering from minor injuries after a car accident when her Ford Explorer flipped as she reached for her handbag.

JAIL FOR HIV MAN: Christchurch man David Purvis has been imprisoned for 4 months for having unprotected sex with a new partner without telling him of the danger. Judge said it was a deterrent sentence. Friends of Purvis are angry that Purvis - who plead guilty to criminal nuisance - was jailed.

GRAVE VANDALISED: Vandals in Christchurch have vandalised the grave of a murder victim Glen Payne - shot as he worked in a bottle store - for the second time. Now a plaque has also been stolen. Mother has no idea why the vandalism is occurring. The family wants the plaque back.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Watson says he left Furneaux at 7am and arrived in Eerie Bay three hours later. Crown examining evidence on this and suggesting he took a lot longer to get to Eerie Bay. Witness on the Cook Strait ferry says he is certain he saw Watson's yacht in the Tory Channel - under pressure from Watson's lawyers he refuses to admit confusion. Witness from Eerie Bay - with name suppression - reports seeing the yacht at 5pm in Eerie Bay.

© 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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