Christine Rankin - Indian Train Crash - Scott Watson Trial - Kirsty Bentley Murder - GE Food - Magic Mussels - License Foulup

CHRISTINE RANKIN: Winds of change bring chill to WINZ boss Christine Rankin. Rankin has been publicly censured in a report to the government. She will be getting no bonus. Christine is apologetic. "I accept the findings and the censure." Rankin signed off $123,000 of a $165,000. Wintringham has taken the rare step of censuring Rankin. "It will cost Mrs Rankin money", he said. The government has been dogged by public service scandals and will be hoping this censure makes it go away.

INDIAN TRAIN CRASH: Fears the death toll in India could be over 500. Horrifying pictures of carriages piled three deep. Point of collision far from the type of medical care that could deal with this. Officials merely marking up numbers as identification could take days. Second biggest rail network in the world has safety concerns.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Witnesses describe seeing a ketch carrying three people a man and a young couple two days after New Years. New Year's day Mrs Walsh saw a boat with beautiful rope work on it. Crown says there never was such a yacht. Ted Walsh, the woman's partner also noticed the ketch at Furneaux and then two days later heading out of the sounds with a young blonde woman.

KIRSTY BENTLEY MURDER: Kirsty Bentley inquiry have small but significant breakthrough - someone has come forward saying they saw a green commer van near where Kirsty Bentley was found. Police say they want public to come forward and declare all commer vans as it may have changed colour.

GE FOOD: Food Minister's summit in Canberra faced by protestors. Creech says the NZ government supports safe food and consumer's rights to informed consent. Steve Christianson Live: No agreement so far. Turning into tough call for these ministers. Creech appears to have a foot in both camps. For consumer choice but refusing to say he is for full labeling. This week Australian National University released a poll finding 93% support for full labeling. Last week Sanitarium came out in favour of full labeling. Other organisations say it is not a good idea.

MAGIC MUSSELS: Minister of Health is considering taking legal action over Lyprinol. Official warns that it is going to inquire into who made statements to whom and who reported them. Scientist in Australia now says he never made the claim that they would affect human cancer. Dr Scott MacLeod appears to be changing his mind too on the withdrawal decision saying it seems the release had been hyped. Reporter: No evidence that this stuff can cure cancer. Minister of Health wants to know who put the lip in lyprinol.

LICENSE FOULUP: Ken Bannen on his sixth temporary license and is being driven crazy. After 10 trips to the AA he has a wallet full of temporary licenses. He was given a forklift license on one instance and a license expiring in 1975 on another occasion. Bannen has received an apology but wants compensation.

© 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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