Leaders Debate – Bill Board Vandalism – Homecoming – Child Placement Criticised – Ache Independence Rally – Over-stayers

LEADERS DEBATE: Leaders of Labour and National have highlighted their differences in their first television debate last night on sky TV. PM says the Nats do not pick winners. Helen Clark says exporters find themselves beaten

BILL BOARD VANDALISM: Some of major political parties say bill-board vandalism is as bad as it has ever been. A vandal has been arrested in Auckland.

HOMECOMING: All Blacks have held a media conference on arrival back in Auckland. Taine Randell wants to hold on to the captaincy. Coach Hart says it is his fault.

CHILD PLACEMENT CRITICISED: CYPS is defending the placement of another child – this time the elder brother of the young man who was placed with a gang member and committed a rape. The appointment was approved by a judge.

ACHE INDEPENDENCE RALLY: With police and soldiers nowhere in sight hundreds of thousands of independence campaigners have held a rally in Ache, Indonesia.

OVERSTAYERS: Some Pacific Island leaders say law changes are driving over-stayers to ground. Immigration Minister says he rejects any kind of amnesty for overstayers.

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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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