Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 23 September 2004, 4:31 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

LEAD STORY
NZ Signs Up To United Nations Mercenaries Convention

- Foreign Minister, Phil Goff, formally deposited New Zealand’s instrument of accession to the Mercenaries Convention in New York today. See... NZ becomes party to UN mercenaries convention [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00474.htm

NZ LEAD
Mentally Ill Get Solitary Confinement And DHB’s Call This ‘Treatment’

- A Coalition of Mental Health Consumer Groups say the current debate on solitary confinement in prisons should also focus on “outrageous” seclusion practices in a wide range of New Zealand district health boards. See... Solitary Confinement Called Treatment At DHBs [1]

SCOOP COLUMNS
Bush Calls For UN To Adopt Democracy Fund

- As 95 Heads of State and Government began arriving at United Nations Headquarters in New York today for the start of the General Assembly's annual high-level debate, United States President George W. Bush called on the world body to support democracy ... See... Bush Proposes Democracy Fund at UN Assembly [1] & Full Text... President Bush Speaks to the UN General Assembly [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0409/S00268.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0409/S00279.htm

First Hand: Fear and Loving Inside Palestine

- About a fifteen minute walk from the street vendors and businesses of the downtown Palestinian cultural capital of Ramallah, is a dangerous subversive place according to the Israeli authorities. So much so that they in fact in 2002 raided the Khalil ... See... Culture and Dissent in Palestine [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00250.htm

Blogsters Exercise A Democratic Right

- Blogosphere-- Fresh on the heels of discrediting memos run by 60 Minutes regarding George W. Bush's service in the Air National Guard, web logs on conservative websites are now questioning the authenticity of another famous document. See... Satire: Bill Of Rights Authenticity In Question [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00249.htm

Fox News And The ‘Your Govt Is Good’ Syndrome

- IN THE RECENT documentary Outfoxed, media critic Robert McChesney suggests right-leaning news outlets like Fox News are worse than the Stalinist-era propaganda. At least in Soviet Russia, he says, people knew they were getting the official party line. See... Sander Hicks Reviews The 9/11 Commission Report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00248.htm

When Body Language Tells It All

- ''I'm having a good time,'' Bush said as he shook hands with Secretary-General Kofi Annan before the opening of the 59th session of the U.N. General Assembly where Iraq is expected to share the focus with other humanitarian concerns. See... Conference On Palestine - 59th UN General Assembly [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00247.htm

The Push And Shove Of Imperial USA

- For more than two hundred years, the American republic has grown and flourished – politically free and economically prosperous – as its component institutions and social classes have worked cooperatively to the advantage of all. See... Ernest Partridge: Symbionts And Parasites [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00246.htm

Three Hurricanes, One Big Ocean

- Following close in the wake of hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan, three new hurricanes - Jeanne, Karl and Lisa - are now meandering around the Atlantic Ocean and bringing a sense of unease to those living in coastal areas of the United States. See... Scoop Images: Hurricanes Jeanne, Karl And Lisa [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00243.htm

The Inside Oil On Wellington Politics And Business

- Your mood is changing significantly, even as you feel yet more optimistic. Salons are aflutter with idle guesses about the shape of a Cabinet reshuffle. Our exclusive Molesworth & Featherston rolling average poll of polls shows a widening lead and increasing comfort for Labour. We look at the Cabinet agenda, important economic figures are due out later this week and we’ve got so irritated by email disclaimers we investigated to see what difference they make... See... Molesworth & Featherston – 21 September 2004 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00240.htm

Cullen Says Current Account Deficit Reflects Economic Growth

- While today's balance of payment figure shows a widening current account deficit, Finance Minister Michael Cullen said this reflected growth in the economy. See... Economy reflected in current account deficit [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00483.htm

Foreign Trust Tax Talks To Take Place

- The Government is to consult further with the foreign trust industry before proceeding with legislative changes that will impose new information requirements on foreign trusts set up in New Zealand, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today. See... Consultation on tax changes for NZ-based trusts [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00477.htm

Oil Rig Tax Measures Announced

- The Government is to extend a recently announced tax measure to cover drilling rigs undertaking gas field development work and to seismic survey ships involved in gas exploration, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today. See... Gas exploration tax change to cover development [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00476.htm

Govt Increases Number Of Secondary School Teachers

- The government will put an extra 460 teachers into secondary schools from the beginning of 2005, as part of an ongoing commitment to drive up education standards in our schools, Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced today. See... Raising education standards through extra teachers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00481.htm

Nats Growl At Rise Of Unions

- Special lump-sum payments to union members show that state-sponsored unionism is alive and well under the Labour Government, says National's Industrial Relations spokesman, Wayne Mapp. See... State-sponsored unionism alive and well [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00480.htm

Kina Fisheries Gives Southland Boost

- The Southland kina industry has received a massive boost with the Government re-opening the Fiordland commercial kina fishery and increasing the allowable catch. See... Southland kina industry receives massive boost [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00479.htm

ACT Says Media Family Court Censorship Clouded

- The Government's recent announcement, that media reports on Family Court proceedings will be subject to censorship, makes a mockery of its claims that it is making the court more open, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel ... See... Censorship Does Not Equal Openness [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00478.htm

Cullen To head Off To USA

- Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen leaves on Friday for a two-week visit to the United States. See... Top level meetings for Finance Minister in US [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00475.htm

Govt Moves To Preserve Hoki Fisheries Resource

- Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope has announced strong measures aimed at rebuilding New Zealand’s valuable deepwater Hoki fishery. See... Minister acts to rebuild Hoki stocks for future [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00473.htm

NZ’s Soldiers Return Home Saturday 25th

- Defence Minister Mark Burton is today advising that 61 New Zealand Defence Force personnel will return from Iraq on an RNZAF 757 aircraft on Saturday 25 September. See... New Zealand Defence personnel home 25 September [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00472.htm

Maharey Visits State House tenants In Hamilton

- Housing Minister Steve Maharey visited tenants in a new Housing New Zealand Corporation pensioner housing development in Hamilton today. See... New housing for older people in Hamilton [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00485.htm

© 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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