Coalition Talks – Hunger Strikers – Vote Counting – Lange Admits Alcoholism – Floods – Cook Strait – Malaysian Elections

COALITION TALKS: Coalition talks between the Labour and Alliance parties begin in detail today. A draft coalition document is expected to be presented to both party caucuses on Friday. Labour is expected to fill 16 of the cabinet posts and have three or four ministers outside Cabinet.

HUNGER STRIKERS: Alliance Justice spokesman Matt Robson says the jailing of hunger strikers at Mt Eden has been a serious breach of the law – following a High Court decision yesterday.

VOTE COUNTING: The Chief Electoral Officer says the count is taking longer than expected because of problems with paper. Phil Wheelan says there has also been an increase in split voting.

LANGE ADMITS ALCOHOLISM: Former PM David Lange says he is an alcoholic. He has admitted the illness at the launch of a book into mental health.

FLOODS: Farmers in Manawatu are hoping flood-waters will subside today and allow them to survey the damage on their farms.

COOK STRAIT: Rough Seas in Cook Straits have caused delays in sailings of Cook Strait ferries.

MALAYSIA: Mahathir Muhammed’s government has easily won a snap election in Malaysia.

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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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