Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 28 May 2003, 4:35 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Analysis: What Chance A NZ-US Free Trade Agreement?
NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
UQ Wire: 911 Commission Goes To Capitol Hill
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Is There!
Gold Plated Iraq Mobile Phone Contract Goes To WorldCom!!!
Scoop Link: CIA's Project Pheonix Uncovered
Howard's End: When Milk Is Not So Good For You
Chuckman: Through A Glass Darkly
Stateside On Elections 2004 & 2008
Supercomputer Weather: Putin Takes Aim At The Heavens
Katya Daily

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
How Nation Would Stop Welfare Dependency
Winston Says People Are Eating Dogs In NZ
Clark Pleased Blake Killers’ Sentences Upheld
Kid Drug-Test-Kit Pulled From Shelves
What’s The $600,000 Being Spent On?
Steady She Goes… But Who Is On The Tiller?
Wellington Hospital Should Send Patients To Aussie: ACT
Urgent Smear Audit Delayed Again
Cullen Speaks To Rob’s Mob
Sutton Speaks To Wellington Exporters
How Trade Aids Poverty Reduction: Hobbs
Corporate Governance Report Released
Work Safety, ACC, And Workers
Up To Our Eyeballs In Fines

LEAD STORY:

Analysis: What Chance A NZ-US Free Trade Agreement?

- Every few days, opposition parties tell us that Prime Minister Helen Clark’s policies and comments have taken us another step away from the holy grail of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US. Nick Turner looks at the US’s position and whether it has really changed. See... Scoop Feature: A NZ-US Free Trade Agreement? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00177.htm

NEW ZEALAND NEWS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00695.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0305/S00152.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0305/S00153.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0305/S00321.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0305/S00314.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0305/S00096.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0305/S00082.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

Middle East

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00264.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00262.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00261.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00271.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00270.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00268.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00267.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00266.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00265.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:

UQ Wire: 911 Commission Goes To Capitol Hill

An original Washington Post headline " Lawmakers Urge More Aggressive Sept. 11 Probe", posted online on May 22 was changed to "New Panel, Independent of 9/11 Commission, Is Sought" (WP 5/23/03), when the print version was released the following day. The print headline prompted Lee Hamilton, Vice-Chair of the National Commission on Terrorist Acts Upon the United States, to object at the opening of the second day of hearings that the actual proceedings and the content of the article didn't match the headline. See... Post Headline on 9/11 Inquiry May Prove Prophetic [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00178.htm

Hard News Is There!

- We've heard the familiar chorus of whingeing this week about Phil Goff's decision to meet with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but the fact is we're not the only country whose foreign policy Israel is attempting to dictate at the moment. See… Hard News 28/05/03 - Foreign Affairs

Gold Plated Iraq Mobile Phone Contract Goes To WorldCom!!!

- The contract is for a small, temporary network. Its price tag is $45 million for 5,000 to 10,000 phones, if there are no cost overruns. That works out to $4,500 to $9,000 per phone. See... No-Bid Telecomms Contract Makes US Look Like Fools [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00183.htm

Scoop Link: CIA's Project Pheonix Uncovered

- Created by the CIA in Saigon in 1967, Phoenix was a program aimed at "neutralizing"--through assassination, kidnapping, and systematic torture--the civilian infrastructure that supported the Viet Cong insurgency in South Vietnam. See... CIA Assassination Operation In Vietnam Revealed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00181.htm

Howard's End: When Milk Is Not So Good For You

- Following Scoop's story that US soft-drink giant, Coca Cola, is to launch a milk-based drink in July [1] , comes news that a 5.3 per cent alcoholic milk drink aimed at underage drinkers is to be launched on the South Australian market within two months and it could end up in New Zealand. Maree Howard writes. See... Howard's End: Milky Booze May Target Kiwi Kids [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00153.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00180.htm

Chuckman: Through A Glass Darkly

- While I find those images on the Internet of a blunt little mustache digitally-scribbled onto President Bush's upper lip feeble and unhelpful, still, there are parts of Bush's character and behavior that strikingly resemble at least one major biographer's interpretation of Hitler. See... Chuckman: An Interpretation of Bush's Character [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00179.htm

Stateside On Elections 2004 & 2008

- I guess I spoke too soon when I said a couple of weeks ago that the folks hoping to be the Democratic candidate for President in 2004 were ignoring California. See... Stateside: Forget 2004, Here's Someone For 2008 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00176.htm

Supercomputer Weather: Putin Takes Aim At The Heavens

- A report in the Times of London that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has ordered that it not rain on his anniversary party in St Petersburg this Friday seemed to be tempting fate just a little too closely. See... Supercomputer Weather: Putin Plays King Canute [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00167.htm

Katya Daily

- I want to make you in My image; however, you do not care to accept My promises of righteousness. What do I intend by proposing that you be like Me? See... Katya Rivas: I Want to Make You in My Image [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00175.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00259.htm
Seeking To Turn Cruise Missiles Into Ploughshares

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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

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How Nation Would Stop Welfare Dependency

- There will always be a welfare safety net in New Zealand. National believes in this and I want to emphasise that at the very outset, National Social Welfare spokesperson Katherine Rich said today in releasing her discussion paper Saving the next generation See... National will stop growing welfare dependency [1] ALSO: - Govt - Nats don’t believe own welfare policy [2] - ACT - Welfare Reform One Step Closer [3] - Progressive Coalition - More jobs are the answer to welfare dependency [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00702.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00707.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00715.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00718.htm

Winston Says People Are Eating Dogs In NZ

- Rt Hon Winston Peters says it is outrageous that the Government failed to heed his warnings three years ago that dogs were being farmed for meat in New Zealand. See... Dog Farming For Table Meat Warning Unheeded [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00704.htm

Clark Pleased Blake Killers’ Sentences Upheld

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today welcomed the decision to uphold the sentencing of the six men convicted of murdering Sir Peter Blake in December 2001. See... PM welcomes Brazilian court decision [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00705.htm

Kid Drug-Test-Kit Pulled From Shelves

- The drug test kit subject of complaint to the Commerce Commission has been pulled from the market, to the delight of Green MP Nandor Tanczos. See... The proof is not in Proveit's pudding [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00717.htm

What’s The $600,000 Being Spent On?

- The National Party is questioning the $600,000 being spent by the Government commissioning research on Maori knowledge and values in roading. See... Labour imposes its PC agenda on roading [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00716.htm

Steady She Goes… But Who Is On The Tiller?

- Who is in control of Labour's foreign policy? asked ACT Leader Richard Prebble today. See... Who is in Control? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00714.htm

Wellington Hospital Should Send Patients To Aussie: ACT

- If Wellington Hospital is unable to offer cancer patients treatment within clinically acceptable guideline times it should then offer them treatment in Australia, as is happening at Hamilton and Christchurch Hospitals, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman ... See... Patients Deserve Options [1] ALSO: - Nats - Axed surgery putting patients at risk [2] - ACT - Labour Still Killing Patients [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00713.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00701.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00697.htm

Urgent Smear Audit Delayed Again

- The Greens are dismayed the results of the 'urgent' cervical cancer smear audit have been delayed by yet another estimated 12 months - meaning it will be nearly three years late when it finally reports. See... Which part of 'urgent' does MoH not understand? [1] ALSO: - ACT - Ministry Set To Repeat Yesterday's Mistakes [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00712.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00696.htm

Cullen Speaks To Rob’s Mob

- Thank you for your invitation to speak to you today and to continue my long association with Grey Power. As a former Social Welfare Minister, as the Labour Party spokesperson on superannuation and as Minister of Finance I have attended a huge number of meetings ... See... Michael Cullen Address to Waitakere Grey Power [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00694.htm

Sutton Speaks To Wellington Exporters

- Chamber chairman Barrie Saunders, chief executive Phil Lewin, Ladies and Gentlemen: thank you for the invitation to speak with you today. See... Jim Sutton speech to Wgtn export seminar [1] ALSO: Jim Sutton speech on trade and aid report [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00711.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00709.htm

How Trade Aids Poverty Reduction: Hobbs

- An extra $1 million of aid money will go towards trade initiatives this year to help poorer countries trade their way out of poverty, Aid Minister, Marian Hobbs announced today. See… Trade can reduce poverty [1] ALSO: Hobbs Speech: Launch of NZAID policy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00703.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00708.htm

Corporate Governance Report Released

- Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel today welcomed a report on corporate governance, prepared by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand (ICANZ). See... Minister welcomes ICANZ report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00706.htm

Work Safety, ACC, And Workers

- The first ever training for elected health and safety representatives marks a new approach to workplace safety that will benefit all New Zealanders, ACC Minister Ruth Dyson said today. See... ACC/NZCTU health & safety rep training welcomed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00700.htm

Up To Our Eyeballs In Fines

- New Zealand First has revealed that nearly 200,000 people have overdue traffic fines of up to $5,000 and 26 people have overdue fines of more than $30,000. See... Kiwis Rack Up Huge Traffic Fines [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00695.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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