TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Sharon Defiant As ‘Heavyweights’ Condemn Incursion
Did They Dither Over Air NZ?
Keith Rankin: Housing, A Giffen Good
Natural De-selection
Generalcable Locks Out Its Entire Workforce
Fiji: Ethno-nationalism – Get Used To It
The Tolled Highway Debate
Open Letter: Stay Upset, Angry, Outraged
Behind The Veil: Supporting The Palestinians
Powell Meets Arab Leaders En Route to Jerusalem
Amnesty Condemns Mid-East Violence On Both Sides
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Now, About These Mobile Telephone Things
Changes To Tax Laws On Maori Authorities
Better Dementia Care Promised On Its Way
Lack Of Auckland's Mental Health Beds A Disgrace
Nat’s Tax Cut Proposal Tired & Misguided Says CTU
Parole Reform Bill Will Create Legal Industry
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS------------
Sharon Defiant As ‘Heavyweights’ Condemn Incursion
- Russia, the European Union, United Nations and the United States of America have jointly issued Israel an ultimatum –
demanding an immediate, meaningful ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah. See... International Heavyweights Give Israel Ultimatum [1] SEE ALSO: NZ Greens [2] - Vigil, Wgtn
Did They Dither Over Air NZ?
- Government dithering and ideology forced taxpayers to bail out Air New Zealand to the tune of $1 billion, says
National Party Leader Bill English. He says the papers released yesterday show that saving Air New Zealand would have
cost taxpayers a lot less if the Government had of acted sooner. See... Dithering Over Air NZ Costs Taxpayers $1 Billion [1] and...Government Commercially Incompetent [2] But… Finance Minister Michael Cullen who called a press conference yesterday to respond to such claims says Government
dithering had little to do with it. See... Transcript Of Cullen Presser On OIA Release [3] MORE: - CTU - Unions Committed To Air NZ’s Success [4]
Keith Rankin: Housing, A Giffen Good
- In the 19th century, Robert Giffen, an English statistician, noted that Irish peasants demanded more potatoes when
the price of potatoes went up. This contradicted the law of demand, one of the most iron of the iron laws of economics.
See... Keith Rankin: Housing In NZ, A Giffen Good? [1]
Natural De-selection
- It's that time again . . . . .They are finally out again. You all know about the Darwin Awards - It's an annual
honour given to the person who did the gene pool the biggest service by killing themselves in the most extraordinarily
stupid way. See... Darwin Awards 2001 [1]
Generalcable Locks Out Its Entire Workforce
- Workers at Christchurch’s largest manufacturing plant are preparing to be locked out of their jobs for weeks.
American-owned Generalcable has locked out its entire workforce of 250 at the Riccarton plant in a dispute over pay.
See... Locked-Out Workers To Picket [1] MORE: - EPMU - Hardship Relief For Locked-Out Workers [2] - CTU - CTU Offers Support To Locked Out Workers [3]
Fiji: Ethno-nationalism – Get Used To It
- Ethno-nationalism is going through fundamental changes in Fiji and is a powerful new force at the basis of political
conflict in the country, says a leading Fijian sociologist. See... Fiji: Ethno-Nationalism Vital New Political Force [1]
The Tolled Highway Debate
- The announcement that Auckland and Manukau cities with Transit New Zealand are to investigate a tripartite alliance
agreement aimed at completing the Eastern Corridor as soon as possible as sparked debate over tolled highways. See... Eastern Corridor Alliance [1] MORE: - NZ First - A Fraud On Road Users [2] - Greens - Transit 'Playing Politics' Over Eastern Highway [3] - Nats - Government Hampering Progress On Toll Roads [4]
Open Letter: Stay Upset, Angry, Outraged
- I understand that you are upset by us, here in Israel. Indeed, it appears that you are quite upset, even angry.
(Outraged?) Indeed, every few years you seem to become upset by us. See... Open Letter To The World By Ariel Ben Attar [1]
Behind The Veil: Supporting The Palestinians
- Iraq has made the decision to stop oil exports to the US and everyone that we know is supportive and relieved. We
wonder why OPEC doesn't also pursue this course? See... Behind The Veil: We Crave To Do Something More [1]
Powell Meets Arab Leaders En Route to Jerusalem
- “I conveyed to His Majesty that President Bush, as he said in his speech last Thursday, related to a vision where two
people can work side by side in peace with the two States of Israel and Palestine,” Mr Powell said. - Press Briefing on Board Plane En Route Madrid [1] - Press Stakeout after Meeting with King Mohamed VI [2] - Remarks after Meeting Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah [3] - Remarks with Foreign Minister of Egypt Ahmed Maher [4] - Joint Presser with EU, Russia and UN Officials [5]
Amnesty Condemns Mid-East Violence On Both Sides
- Condemning this morning's attack on a civilian bus in Haifa, Amnesty International reiterated today that even the
gravest human rights abuses do not justify the deliberate retaliation targeting of civilians. See... Israel: The cycle of abuse must stop [1] and No Lasting Peace Without Human Rights For All [2]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)------------
Now, About These Mobile Telephone Things
- The government is writing to Te Wananga o Aotearoa seeking a review of the way cell phones are issued to students
enrolled in the Mahi Ora employment skills programme, Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey
said today. See... Wananga Asked To Review Cellphone Policy [1]
Changes To Tax Laws On Maori Authorities
- The Government will modernise the tax rules on organisations managing Maori assets held in communal ownership,
Revenue Minister Michael Cullen and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia announced today. See... Tax Laws On Maori Authorities To Be Modernised [1] Meanwhile National says Dr Cullen has left a gaping tax loophole for Maori charities under Dr Cullen's latest tax proposals.
See... Tax Loophole For Maori Charities [2]
Better Dementia Care Promised On Its Way
- New contracts being negotiated between the Ministry of Health and aged care providers will address the key
recommendations in an independent report on dementia care, Associate Health Minister Ruth Dyson said today. See... Dementia Care Improvements Underway [1]
Lack Of Auckland's Mental Health Beds A Disgrace
- The lack of mental health beds in Auckland's hospitals is a disgrace after three years of promises of better health
services by Health Minister Annette King, Associate Health Spokesperson Dr Paul Hutchison said today. See... Mental Health Patients Second-Rate Citizens [1]
Nat’s Tax Cut Proposal Tired & Misguided Says CTU
- “It is disappointing that Bill English has adopted the tired old National Party strategy of the 1990s by promising
tax cuts for the rich,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today. See... National Tax Cut Proposal Benefits The Rich [1]
Parole Reform Bill Will Create Legal Industry
- ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today it was hypocritical of Phil Goff to rail about an Auckland family
running up a $1.1 million legal aid bill when proposals in Mr Goff's Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill will lead to
substantial increases . See... Goff Creates New Legal Aid Industry [1]