Alliance Spending Plans - Cityjet - Young America - EgyptAir Crash - Indian Cyclone - Pope's Health - Millennium Will Be Late - Berlin Wall - Olympic Ribbon Row

ALLIANCE SPENDING PLANS: Alliance economic policy released in a trendy café. Cullen says the Alliance policy is based on "heroic" assumptions. Cullen says the relationship between Alliance and Labour will be determined by the public in the election. Labour's policy has no room for an economic development minister says Cullen. Anderton says Helen has said he could have that sort of job. Helen says she has discussed the idea with Jim. Michael Cullen says he has no plans to be a "showpony" treasurer like Winston Peters. Alliance new taxes add up to $1.6 billion and fees to $1 billion.

ALLIANCE SPENDING PLANS: Jane Young Live: Michael Cullen is being careful not to let Anderton scare away voters. Q: Will Anderton by the "showpony"? A: No they are ditching that role. Helen Clark says she is talking about an associated international trade role for Anderton.

CITYJET: Cityjet has been grounded again by the CAA. Passengers are shocked that they have been grounded. The CAA says aspects of the pilots and airlines practices raise concerns. We have been watching them for some time finding small instances. The pilots will now be tested for competency. Cityjet manager Steve Mosen says the CAA is putting the business at risk.

YOUNG AMERICA: Banana Split. High winds have prevented racing in the Americas Cup challenger series today giving time for Young America to prepare another boat. Young America says the boat is not out of the competition yet and they hope to have it racing again. Skipper says the designs are being pushed to the limit. Under the rules Young America will forfeit their first

EGYPT AIR CRASH: EgyptAir flight 990 data recorder recovered. The recorder is damaged at one end. It was recovered by a deep drone robotic vehicle. The pinger had been sheered off the box and was found near - 10 feet away from - the flight recorder.

INDIAN CYCLONE: The UN has promised India $100 million cyclone relief and wants member states to come up with the money. 15 million have been affected by the cyclone and at least 10,000 are feared dead by aid agencies.

POPE'S HEALTH: Pope John Paul's health is raising concerns. He is seen shaking and coughing. He has good days and bad days says a spokesperson.

MILLENNIUM WILL BE LATE: The year 2000 is going to come one millionth of a millionth of a second late thanks to a space-craft's departure using earth's gravitation to fling it out into the Solar System.

BERLIN WALL: Berlin Wall commemorations. A time to remember the night everything in Europe changed. World leaders choke back emotion. Former East German chancellor grants a last interview before serving three years for the deaths of those shot on the border.

OLYMPIC RIBBON ROW: Oz PM John Howard is being pushed to give up the honour of opening the Sydney Olympics to the Queen. John is not going quietly but pressure is rising.

© 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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