US Elections – Job Losses – Melbourne Cup – Diamond Robbery Foiled – Home Alone – Child Welfare – Smear Tests – Singapore Trade Agreement – Gang Murder
US ELECTIONS: Early signs from the US Elections indicate voter turnout is high. Polls start to close at around 12pm NZT. George Bush says he feels good. Al Gore wound up his campaign in Florida Control of the Congress and Senate is also up for grabs.
JOB LOSSES The Engineers Union says that up to 200 Fisher and Paykel workers are about to lose their jobs.
MELBOURNE CUP: A NZ Part-Owner of Melbourne Cup owner Brew is dismissing Australian claims that the horse is an Australian.
DIAMOND ROBBERY FOILED: Police in London have foiled the world’s biggest attempted robbery. The robbers used a bulldozer to break into the millennium dome where they tried to steal $2 billion of diamonds.
HOME ALONE: Four children aged five to 8 have been placed with welfare following an overnight home alone case in Palmerston North.
CHILD WELFARE: The Commissioner of Children says the Department of Child Youth and Family Services can be fixed. He was responding to calls to disband the department from Women’s Refuge.
SMEAR TESTS: Public hospital laboratories may soon be unable to read women’s smears under new standards. The hospital laboratories do not read enough smears to qualify under the rules.
SINGAPORE TRADE AGREEMENT: The PM will sign the Singapore Free Trade agreement next week following a vote in Parliament last night. National and Labour voted in favour of the treaty.
GANG MURDER: Six Chirstchurch men arrested for the drive-by shooting of a Black Power gang member will appear in court again today.