TURKISH QUAKE: Enormity of Earthquake in Turkey shocks rescue workers. Death toll 4000 and still rising.

TURKISH QUAKE: Worst Struck town - Ben Brown reports - man hears his daughter from under the rubble. Rescuers redouble their efforts and save her life. "It's a miracle he tells me". Rescuers reach. A lottery of life and death. Woman who has lost two children. Everyone is asking why some houses collapsed and others didn't - cowboy builders now being called murderers. Families are hungry and homeless. Clock stopped at the moment of the earthquake.

TURKISH QUAKE: Grim nature of search typified by man who rings rescuers from a cell-phone in the basement but has not yet been dug out.

TURKISH QUAKE: Anger is mounting over slow response from the government. BBC Jonathan Charles reports - a 90-year-old woman is pulled from the rubble by the Germans. Foreigners are pouring in and filling the gaps left by the Turkish government. Too few bulldozers too late. Authorities tardy response has undoubtedly cost some peoples lives. The earthquake should have been foreseen and prepared for. Concrete used by some contractors was too thin. Homeless do not have a good word for the government.

TURKISH QUAKE: Prime Minister's two nieces caught in Turkey - they are now safe.

TURKISH QUAKE: New Zealand Turks are having problems getting through on the phone. Tourist routes were not affected by the earthquake says travel consultant. Minister Simon Upton says there is no indication that any New Zealanders have been injured - and says it is not surprising.

TURKISH QUAKE: Meanwhile the NZ red cross has raised 90,000 for its Turkish Quake appeal.

DEATH OF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD: Three different investigations are underway following the killing of a four-year-old in Hastings. James was four and bruised everywhere but the soles of his feet when he died. Family members want answers. From what I found out CYPS did not check up on him. James natural father says he couldn't get access to his son. In November 1996 James killer Benny Haerewa was jailed for nine months for assaulting the then toddler. But he returned. James mother will tomorrow face a charge of assault with a weapon and allowing cruelty to a child.

EDINBURGH TATOO SOLD OUT: Tickets for Edinburgh Tatoo in Wellington sold out before lunch time. 57,000 tickets were available half were pre-sold rest sold in three hours. Disappointment for many. Organisers hope to release 3000 more tickets.

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DOG LAWS: Outrage from dog lovers over plan to ban Pitbull terriers at Select Committee. Dog expert says it is very hard to identify a Pitbull.

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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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