Bombing Blunder – Kiwi Killed – Share Market – Rankin Legal Action – Scrapie Smear – Foot And Mouth – Sweet Mat –
Portable Pitches
- BOMBING BLUNDER: An American bombing blunder has killed New Zealand SAS Officer Major John McNutt and at least five
Americans in Kuwait. A US Navy F18 mistakenly dropped a 500lb bomb on an observation post. The pilot would have been
relying on night vision equipment. Helen Clark said the incident highlighted the fact that any overseas military
appointment is a risk. News of Major McNutt’s death quickly drew an apology from the Americans. Major McNutt grew up on
the West Coast. He completed his SAS training shortly before going to Kuwait.
- KIWI KILLED: A 27-year-old kiwi died after being attacked outside a London takeaway bar.
- SHARE MARKET: Share traders across the world are preparing for a bumpy ride. Wall Street plunged sharply and swiftly.
The NZSE 40 faltered slightly, but nothing like the American market. The Japanese share market has taken a hammering.
- RANKIN LEGAL ACTION: Christine Rankin has had lawyers threaten legal action against Green MP Sue Bradford for comments
reported in the Sunday Star times. Ms Bradford isn’t backing down. Prime Minister Helen Clark said it is a concern that
an MP should face legal action from a public servant. The threat has raised the ire of Social Services Minister Steve
Maharey.
- SCRAPIE SMEAR: Germany’s Central Marketing Association has admitted they were wrong in telling the German people in a
Pamphlet and website that New Zealand sheep have scrapie. The CMA has agreed to release a retraction to all German
newspapers. New Zealand hasn’t had a case of scrapie for 27 years.
- FOOT AND MOUTH: Slaughtered cattle are being left to rot on farms as Britain struggles to deal with the growing foot
and mouth crisis. It is estimated half a million animals will have to be slaughtered.
- SWEET MAT: Orders from around the world for the Sweet Mat, made by a Hamilton man, have quadrupled since the European
foot and mouth outbreak. The mat disinfects the feet of livestock and people who walk over it.
- PORTABLE PITCHES: Sports officials say portable pitches are here to stay, and the Black Caps had better get used to
it, because the second test will be played on one too. The Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming said the portable pitch at
Eden Park robbed his team of their home advantage in the first test of the series against Pakistan, which NZ lost.