EAST TIMOR: Australia - Indonesian Attendance At APEC - Ministers' Meeting - UN - Dili - NZ Military - Protest --- OTHER NEWS: APEC Traffic Problems - Scott Watson Trial - Y2k and Health - Labour Social Security Policy

EAST TIMOR - AUSTRALIA: The Australian Cabinet is holding an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss the East Timor crisis. Australian defence minister thanks NZ for its decision to offer a frigate to help in East Timor evacuations if necessary.

EAST TIMOR - INDONESIAN ATTENDANCE: Questionmark hands over whether B.J.Habibe and Ali Alatas will attend APEC in Auckland. Don McKinnon said it would be preferable if they attended.

EAST TIMOR - MINISTERS' MEETING: Canada and Australia are taking a lead on the foreign ministers meeting due to take place tomorrow. Australia is expected to chair the meeting. Mr McKinnon says he is encouraging other ministers to attend the meeting. China is not expected to attend. Critically important is the US - Don McKinnon will meet with Madeleine Albright tonight.

EAST TIMOR - UN: The Security Council President says it is extremely unlikely that any troops will be deployed without a green light from Indonesia.

EAST TIMOR - DILI: New Zealander Andrew Ladley in Dili says every hour brings new news of another a disaster.

EAST TIMOR - NZ MILITARY: Defence press conference announces operation with 388 defence personnel with 98 from the air-force and 288 from the army. It would also include armed personnel carriers and hercules air craft. As of last night there were 10 NZDF personnel in East Timor - there are now 8. The eight remaining have been able to move around inside Dili.

EAST TIMOR - PROTEST: Protestors are gathering in K-Road for a demonstration calling for more action over East Timor. Protestors are carrying a coffin. The protestors want to give a letter to Indonesian delegation.

APEC TRAFFIC PROBLEMS: Police making a last minute plea for Aucklanders not to come to work on Monday and Tuesday next week. The closure of roads for motorcades will cause huge delays police say.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL" Defence has challenged the "blond hair" evidence in the Scott Watson trial. Mr Davidson says the crown case depends on the hairs being from Olivia Hope. He raised the possibility of an innocent mix-up over the hairs. He also submitted that the DNA test results were unclear. He also suggested that Guy Wallace's evidence that he saw a ketch was accurate.

Y2K: Back-up communication systems are being tested tonight by the ambulance and hospital services. Ministry of Health's Karen Poutasi says that Y2k testing in hospitals have had positive results.

LABOUR SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY: Social security policy launched today by Labour Party. Steve Maharey says Labour wants to axe work-for-the-dole. Maharey says it will also crack down on a culture of extravagance. Minister Roger Sowry says the policy is an endorsement of Government structural reforms.

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Alastair Thompson

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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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