KIRI CONCERT: Minister responsible for Millennium events say the government was asked for assistance for a free concert on the Gisborne waterfront. The government has been criticised for raising the idea before the concert is officially cancelled.

ANOTHER US SHOOTING: There has been another shooting in the US. This time at a day-care centre north of LA. Five people have been injured - three of they young. Rabbi says it was fortunate that the bulk of the children were not in the centre when the gunman burst in.

MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING: The Minister of Health says the government is committed to increasing funding for mental health services. Last year the government spent $480 million on mental health.

PAKISTAN PLANE SHOT DOWN: Pakistan says the countries military forces are prepared to respond after a Naval plane was shot down by Indian forces.

MEDICAL STRIKE: Health officials in Auckland say it is hard to know how many patients will be affected by a planned three day medical laboratory workers strike.

EAST TIMOR: The US says it is willing to participate in a UN peace keeping force in East Timor if independence is chosen in the upcoming referendum. The State Department has denied reports in Australian papers that it is about to send 15,000 troops unilaterally.

CORONERS: The law commission has made a series of recommendations concerning coroners suggesting that coroners findings should be followed more closely by other government agencies.

ECLIPSE: In England there has been a sudden surge of people travelling into the South West to see the Eclipse. Cloudy morning may spoil the view however.

© 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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