It appears that Zev Barkan, the mysterious 'third man' wanted in connection with the recent Israeli passport fraud scandal, is now under investigation by Canadian authorities.Reynald Doiron (Canadian Foreign Affairs spokesperson); Phil Goff (Minister of Justice); Norman Spector (former Canadian Ambassador to Israel); Victor Ostrovski (former Mossad agent); Helen Clark (PM).
The Government and a Special General Meeting of shareholders have given Air NZ the go-ahead to spend almost $2 billion on new long-haul Boeing aircraft. John Palmer (Air NZ Chairman); Ralph Norris (Air NZ CEO); Professor Tim Hazledine (opponent to proposed Air NZ-Quantas merger).
Maori Language Commission CEO Haami Piripi has been formally censured by the Board for his controversial public submission to the select committee considering the proposed Seabed and Foreshore bill. John Tamihere (Assoc Maori Affairs Minister).
Trevor Mallard has apologised for falsely accusing a senior Labour Dept official, Amokura Panoho, for abusing her position in the course of her involvement with the Maori Party. Amokura Panoho (former public servant); John Tamihere (Assoc Maori Affairs Minister); Trevor Mallard (Minister of State Services); Tariana Turia (Maori Party co-leader).
The Tertiary Education Commission has criticised Christchurch Polytech Institute of Technology for using 'rewards' to sign up students for a controversial free computer course. Max Kerr (Tertiary Education Commission); Kaye Turner (Tertiary Education Commission); Hector Matthews (CPIT); Bill English (National MP); Steve Maharey (Minister of Tertiary Education).
Fiji's Vice-President is in prison after being convicted of involvement in George Speight's rebel coup four years ago.
A coalition of African nations is considering sending up to 3000 troops to Sudan, where civil war in the Darfur region continues. voxpop (refugees).
Spain has accused Britain of going overboard in a celebration to mark 300 years of British rule on the Rock of Gibraltar.
Starvation and disease continue to threaten those devastated by recent floods in Bangladesh. Jan Smith (relief worker).
The Ministry of Health has been criticised by some patient groups for providing information on its website which they say raises false hopes. Florence Leota (Alzheimer's Foundation NZ); Dierdre O'Sullivan (Parkinsons NZ); Dr Colin Feek (Ministry of Health).
The country's largest wind farm has opened at Te Apati in Manawatu. Dr Keith Turner (Meridian Energy); Pete Hodgson (Minister of Energy); Jim Inglis (local farmer).