Smoking Suit – Bougainville – China and Taiwan – Kosovo – Israel – Gavin Dash – Oil Slick – Snakes Alive – Republicanism – Tuvalu Fire Appeal
SMOKING SUIT: The PM says the government has not yet investigated what laws may need to be altered to assist the chances of success in a law suit against the tobacco companies. Canadian anti-smoking authorities say many forms of action are possible if you want to attack the tobacco companies. Neither the tobacco institute nor BAT would comment.
BOUGAINVILLE: Phil Goff says NZ is joining with Australia and PNG to train a civil police force for Bougainville.
CHINA AND TAIWAN: China has issued another strong warning to the voters of Taiwan not to vote for candidates in favour of Taiwanese independence. Taiwan responded by rebuking China.
KOSOVO: French troops have taken a strategic bridge in Mitrovica as they try to restore order and keep warring factions in Kosovo apart.
ISRAEL: Israel and the Palestinians have agreed on a map compromising on more land to give back to the Palestinians.
GAVIN DASH: An internal police inquiry is being held into why the Gavin Dash homicide inquiry took so long to be upgraded.
OIL SLICK: Southland conservators are monitoring an oil slick.
SNAKES ALIVE: MAF will put sniffer dogs through a shipping container lot in Petone looking for snakes.
REPUBLICANISM: Green MP Keith Locke is pushing for all Royal photos to be removed from around Parliament. So far he has only found one royal photo – in the cabinet room.
TUVALU FIRE: An appeal is being launched today for the families of 18 killed in a fire in Tuvalu last week. The 17 girls and a matron were killed in a fire which swept through a school dormitory.