Lotto Resignation - Tax Cuts - MPs Plans - Plane Crash In Argentina - Kremlin Bombing - Turkish Tremors - Scott Watson Trial - Ansett Strike

LOTTO RESIGNATION: Lotto boss has torn up his $400,000 golden ticket and has singled out the PM as the superdip responsible. The PM says she believes his resignation is appropriate. Rod Donald believes Bale was the wrong head to roll. Labour accuses Shipley of Pontius Pilate like actions. Annette King thundering the house. SSC Michael Wintringham said today the consultation process was inadequate but he couldn't have changed anything anyway.

LOTTO RESIGNATION: Jane Young live: Focus has turned to the politics of this. The opposition is now targeting Geoff Thompson. Bale was reluctant to talk to me on the phone. Geoff Thompson will get back on September 15 and will face some tough questions when he gets back. This is where politics comes in.

TAX CUTS: Government hopes to pass pre-election tax cuts have been dashed dealing a serious blow to National's election strategy. A key element on the strategy on tax has now collapsed. Mauri Pacific was looking for concessions to support the tax cuts. But two key defections caused the problems - Christine Fletcher and Tuariki Delamere. All the treasurer can do now is promise the tax cuts if National wins. Labour's Michael Cullen says National now no longer has a core plank to its strategy.

MPS PLANS: Tuariki Delamere is to stand for Te Tawharau - the Maori party - in the election. Ken Shirley is pulling out of Tauranga race to help someone else beat Winston Peters.

PLANE CRASH IN ARGENTINA: Plane crash in Argentina. 23 survivors.

KREMLIN BOMBING: Dozens hurt in a bombing near the Kremlin thought to be work of Islamic extremists from Dagestan.

TURKEY: Two major tremors have hit the disaster zone in Turkey. The death toll in original quake.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Another cell mate witness called by defence. The witness was asked whether Scott Watson said anything in jail about the murders. He said he didn't . The defence took just three days for its defence. The crown took three months. Private Investigator employed by the defence was last witness before the defence closed. Jury will go to look at the boat again tomorrow before closing submissions on Monday. In last couple of weeks the public gallery has been full.

ANSETT STRIKE: Traffic plans for Ansett travellers disrupted by industrial action. 29 pilots called in sick today. Ansett says it worked through the problems. Ansett says it must sack up to 35 pilots to make itself profitable. Pilots not keen on talking to TV3. On September 16 a strike has been called but Ansett has replied with a lock-out notice.

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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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