Coalition: Intro, Signing, Commentary - Cuban Boy - Snowboarding Disaster - Apartment Explosion - Life On Mars - East Timor - Old War Secret

COALITION - INTRO: The beginning of political peace in our time. New rules for a coalition. Jane Young live: They have had a dream run so far. When they get in here they will come under concerted attack. And this - shows document - is very short of detail.

COALITION - SIGNING: Anderton's pen doesn't work. The agreement is about how to disagree. Policy platform to reduce inequality in an environmentally sustainable way. Cabinet to be run by consensus. The convention of collective responsibility is not suited. Simon Upton says the agreement is blatantly political and is designed to allow the Alliance to wave flags from time to time.

COALITION - COMMENTARY: : Jane Young Live: Q: Is their any precedent for this agreement on how to disagree? A: It seems almost too grown up to be true. Some complaint that this may paralyse government and slow down reform - Clark thinks that I so then this is a good thing, and what people want from MMP. The coalition management committee is the center of the management of this. If Clark wanted to sack an Alliance Ministers then she has undertaken not to do so without consulting Anderton. The proof will be in the pudding.

CUBAN BOY: President Clinton has been given an ultimatum to return a Cuban boy within 72 hours. He has warned that there will be millions of protestors in the streets of Cuba. In the boys home town the family have called for his return. On Monday he was released to relatives in Florida. A six year old symbol of the anti-Castro sentiment in Florida.

SNOWBOARDING DISASTER: Five killed in spectator crush at snowboarding event in Europe, 40 injured when barrier gives way.

APARTMENT EXPLOSION: Apartment building blows up in France.

LIFE ON MARS: Still no sign of life from Mars. So far the 300 million probe has failed to send back any signal. The team has conceded that the odds are against them. Mars observer failed just before reaching Mars orbit. Mars pathfinder made it in 1997. Lost another Mars ship two months ago confusing feet and meters. What happened to Mars polar lander is anybodies guess.

EAST TIMOR: Funeral Service for New Zealand Serviceman who was killed in East Timor in a truck accident. No military honours at families request. East Timorese tribute paid.

OLD WAR SECRET: Military photograph examiners find what they say is evidence that a Japanese midget submarine was involved in the attack on Pearl Harbour.

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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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