Another Home Invasion - Operation Chess - Pinochet Judge - Wellington Central - NZ First List - Mt Eden Hunger Strike - Hart Walker - Indian Cyclone - Mad Cow Disease - No Tits - French Barbarism

ANOTHER HOME INVASION: A couple is recovering tonight after a home invasion likened to a terrorist attack. A couple of people have been detained for questioning but there are no charges yet. Liquor store owners shot at and pistol whipped. Keith Bentley was kicked 20 times. Two young men chased the offenders. One says he was shot at twice. Police found a shell casing in the street. Even criminals have expressed disgust at the Rotorua robbery.

OPERATION CHESS: Undercover operation Chess nets $100,000 of stolen goods and lots of arrests.

PINOCHET JUDGE: Spanish Judge who has Pinochet cornered is now targeting other former rulers of Argentina, Junta officers said to be responsible for an "invisible war" of torture and murder.

WELLINGTON CENTRAL: The battle for Wellington Central became more intense. Marion Hobbs head to head with Richard Prebble. Phillida Bunkle - who chose not to have her name on the Ballot Paper - says she hopes her votes were given to cooperate against the New Right. Bunkle likely to return on the Alliance list anyway. Prebble says the battle is about who is the most effective MP. Meanwhile Labour remains on ballot paper in Coromandel. Helen Clark says there has been no discussion of withdrawal. She has just noted that the main battle is between the Greens and National. Having Bunkle pull out is good for Labour's chances. Race in Wellington now very close.

NZ FIRST LIST: Jenny Bloxham at 22nd and Robyn McDonald at 20th are unlikely to be elected. Bloxham is upset. Peters wouldn't answer questions about the list.

MT EDEN: Second week of hunger strike at Mt Eden prison. Refugees from Pakistan, India and Iran are on a hunger strike seeking release. Judge warns that the detention may be found to have gone on long enough in the future as he rules to allow them to continue to be held.

HART WALKER: 23 Kiwi kids could soon be taking their first unaided walks with a new contraption. The Hart Walker is acclaimed by a parent. It costs $5000. Physiotherapist says it is good too. The programme needs more support say supporters. In meantime it is the first step to a brighter future for one young Kiwi.

INDIAN CYCLONE: Death toll in thousands in Orissa Cyclone. Sonja Ghandhi flown over the area says there is an urgent need for assistance. Images of destruction struggle to display the scale of the disaster - says reporter - as images display scale of disaster. Millions marooned. Fear of disease a vert serious concern.

MAD COW DISEASE. UK Agriculture Minister holds talks with French in BSE - not a lot of progress made. They discuss traceability and science and working to lift the ban. Meanwhile lots of Germans say they don't want the ban lifted whatever scientists say.

THE SUN: The Sun is to get rid of Page 3 Girls. If sales drop breasts will be back Murdoch warns.

RUGBY WORLD CUP - FRENCH BARBARISM: French Prop cited for a biting. The talk-back in every town. Captain Taine Randell isn't saying he was biten even though footage shows he clearly was. Coach Hart says he has a number of reports of actions in the game he is disappointed about. But the citing is not from the All Blacks. Injuries include players poked in the eyes. Torn testicals. And the not admitted bite. A player heard shouting "he's biting me, he's biting me". Former All Black hard-man Richard Loe says the All Blacks didn't fight back because they were trained that way by Hart. Tournaire will face the judiciary tomorrow night but with Randell not admitting the bite he may escape censure.

© 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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