Government Briefing Papers Row – Abortion – Venezuelan Floods – Al Fayed Defamation – Christmas Weather – Moon Big Day
Long
GOVERNMENT BRIEFING PAPERS: The PM Helen Clark is to investigate how many government agencies have employed consultants
to write government briefing papers. Clark says she believes the public service has lost capacity.
ABORTION: SPUC says it will support a review of abortion law provided it is not about saving money. A certifying
consultant agrees it is time for a review.
VENEZUELAN FLOODS: Venezuelan authorities have reviewed their assessment of the numbers killed, buried and swept out to
sea in recent floods. They now believe up to 15,000 may
AL FAYED DEFAMATION: A jury has rejected a defamation claim against Mr Al Fayed, Neil Hamilton was stunned by the
verdict.
CHRISTMAS WEATHER: Bad weather expected to set in on Christmas Eve clearing on Boxing Day.
MOON BIG DAY LONG: Today is summer solstice – the longest day – tonight the Moon will be unusually close and unusually
large.