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Russian TV Tower Fire – Nuclear Safety – Plane Crash Manslaughter Crash – Body Found – Petrol Prices – Fiji Tourism
RUSSIAN TV TOWER FIRE: Russian fire-fighters are struggling to control a fire in Moscow’s television tower. Early reports suggested 4 people were stranded in the building. Now up to 10 people are believed to be trapped. The 540m tower was a great source of price when built in the 1960s. The tower is 200m higher than Auckland’s Sky Tower. Could it happen here? Probably not say Sky Tower’s owners. The three national TV channels are off air but the nation is bracing to deal with a second humiliation. Sabotage is not suspected.
NUCLEAR SAFETY: The British Government is contributing $270 million towards improving nuclear safety in Russia.
PLANE CRASH MANSLAUGHTER CASE: A court case that has captured the attention of pilots around the world has started in Palmerston North. The depositions hearing is to decide whether pilot Garry Southeran should face manslaughter charges over the crash of an Ansett plane on approach to Palmerston North. The sticking point in the case is whether cockpit voice recorder evidence can be used. Today’s ruling means it cannot. Southeran faces four charges of manslaughter in relation to the crash. The case concerns the Chicago Convention which means that for safety reasons tapes are run in cockpits. The hearing may take this week and a bit of next.
BODY FOUND: Christchurch Police are investigating a body found in the Port Hills. It is not known whether the body is of a man or a woman.
PETROL PRICES: The government is not going to come to the rescue of motorists hit by rising petrol prices. The AA is challenging the government to reduce the revenue it takes on petrol. Michael Cullen says that while extra GST is earned on petrol it is lost on reduced spending on other products. Truckers in Australia are protesting over rising fuel costs. Transport operators say there is pressure building up for price rises in the transport industry.
FIJI TOURISM: Australians are no longer being warned to defer travel to Fiji. A campaign to bring tourists back to Fiji is underway with a $5 million advertising campaign. The rush to travel back to Fiji is being pushed by cut-price deals. Some people however are still suggesting people should not travel to Fiji as it is a vote against democracy.
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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