OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Marc Alexander Fires Broadside At Holidays Act While On Holiday
NZ First Rally To Rescue Choppers Defence
Newman Advocates Pecuniary Punishment For Tight Lipped Mums
Minister Ponders Possible Heritage Havens
NZ First Says National And Labour Govt's Covered Up Agent Orange
Goff Comments On Palestinian Elections
Ryall Flays Flawed Legislation Passed Under Shipley Led National Government
NZ First Wants Agent Orange Documents In Public Domain
Barnett Responds To Prostitution Legislation Petition
Key Attacks Rising Employment Numbers In Public Service
English Offers Sage Educational Advice To Nations Youth
Coddington Discovers Student Debt Is Quite Large

...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

Oxfam's Kate Medlicott Leaves For Sri Lanka.
For FULL COVERAGE: See... Scoop's Tsunami Feature.
http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0501/7f135743f13bfffe12cb.jpeg

- Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today that the government is designating Sunday 16 January as a Memorial Day for New Zealanders to remember the victims of the Boxing Day tsunami in southern and south east Asia. "New Zealand mourns its own victims and injured, as well as the losses suffered by the communities through which the tsunami swept." See... Memorial Day for victims of tsunami [1] NZ to help Thais with forensic work [2] Scoop's Tsunami Feature. [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00050.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00047.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=world

NEW ZEALAND LEAD STORY
Kiwis spent $3.2b With EFTPOS in December 2004

- Retailers should be happy with the holiday period according to the latest statistics from Paymark EFTPOS. Total transactions on the Paymark EFTPOS network, which accounts for around 80% of all electronic transactions in New Zealand, were up across all measurable periods when compared to last year. See… Strong Holiday Period Despite the Weather [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0501/S00023.htm

TSUNAMI HEADLINES:
Scoop Feedback: Arab Nations Are Raising Money For Victims

- I live in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and I can assure you that there have been huge efforts in the Gulf States to raise money and goods to send to the tsunami areas. In Saudi Arabia $85 million was raised in a charity show, $5 million in a similar effort in Dubai. See... Feedback: Bias Is Showing On Arab Tsunami Story [1] Tsunami: Paul Buchanan Responds To Reader's Claim [2] TEAR Fund receives over $1 million [3] Disasters: Don’t think ‘if’, think ‘when’ [4] How to protect children in the tsunami zone [5] Tsunami Relief Effort Gathers Momentum [6] Fast recovery in Phuket [7] Maldives establishes Board to ensure transparency [8] World Cricket Tsunami Appeal At Melbourne MCG [9] Helicopter Tsunami Journalism - What's Missing? [10] Scoop's Tsunami Feature. [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00051.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00054.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0501/S00072.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0501/S00071.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00087.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00077.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00083.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00080.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00079.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00075.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=world

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
Palestinians Vote In Abbas As New President

- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the election of new Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as "a significant step in what is a historic democratic transition" in the occupied territories, and said he was looking forward to working for the establishment .. See... Hailing New Palestinian President [1] Abbas Dedicates Fatah Electoral Victory to Arafat [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00085.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0501/S00088.htm

STORY OF THE WEEK
Richard Ehrlich's Tsunami Report

- KHAO LAK BEACH, Thailand -- Scavengers, survivors, nuns and corporate logos have appeared along this mangled, death-pocked coast where vehicles jut from wet sand and bonfires consume five-star trash. See... Tsunami Scavengers Survivors Nuns And Corps [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00052.htm

Richard Ehrlich's Tsunami Reports

- PHUKET, Thailand -- Internet Websites, blogs, chat groups and databases are flooded with tsunami scams, gruesome morgue photos, official warnings, donation requests, Islamic propaganda against Thailand, and ridiculous jokes, causing confusion… See... Tsunami Report: Cyberspace Blogs & Gruesome Photos [1] Tsunami Report: Tourists Return To Stench & Sand [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00040.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00041.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Should Edwards Have Continued Run For Vice President?

- On November 3, just hours after Democratic vice-presidential hopeful John Edwards made a national announcement that he and John Kerry were not going to concede until all the votes were counted, Kerry grabbed the spotlight and conceded… See... The Last Man To Concede... [1] Interview from Camp Kerry [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00056.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00055.htm

The Good And Very Bad About U.S. Media

- On December 18, I attended Gary Webb’s memorial service in Sacramento, along with about 250 other people. In 1996, Webb wrote a series of articles (“Dark Alliance”) for the San Jose Mercury News reporting that, in the 1980s, “a San Francisco Bay ... See... We Have Met The Enemy, And It Is US (corp media) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00053.htm

Rosalea Wonders Why Tsunami Do Not Have Names

- Even two weeks' silence is not enough to honour the dead. There will never be enough time to do that. So I give in to my own need to make sense of the event of (almost) 1 am UTC, 26 December, 2004 and write. See... Stateside With Rosalea: I am [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00039.htm

Cora Fraser Reports On The Palestinian Presidential Election

- NABLUS – Three days before the general election in Palestine - the first since January 1996 when Yassir Arafat was elected president of the Palestinian National Authority - Abbu Mazen a.k.a. Abbas was to visit Nablus . See... An Historic Day in Nablus, Palestine [1] Sonia Nettnin: The Conditions of Palestinian Elections [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00043.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00049.htm

UN EC Focus On Fragile States

- This week--13-14 January--in London, European Commission personnel along with UNDP and World Bank officials host a conference focusing on helping Fragile States to function once again. Fragile states are nations that find it hard to service their ... See... Save our Fragile State, invest in village life! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00050.htm

Look out Double-Diamonds U.S. Taxman Is On Amway's Tail

- Apparently, the IRS has decided that Amway distributors are having too much fun listening to tapes, reading books, and attending the same training seminars year after year after year. In July, 2004, the United States Tax Court issued a ruling ... See... IRS To Amway - The Party's Over [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00044.htm

Russell Brown's Public Address Is There…

- Forcible medication and coercive treatment | Jan 09, 2005 12:08 Russell Brown's Hard News United Future MP Marc Alexander appears to have outed his draft law and order policy to the Herald as a way of applying leverage to his United Future party ... See... Forcible medication and coercive treatment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00047.htm

Mary Pitt Examines Irregularities In U.S. Social Policy

- There is at least one little "chink" in the plan of the Bush administration to "privatize" Social Security that does not appear immediately and may not sound terribly important to those who are young, able-bodied, and absolutely ... See... The Big Gap in U.S. Social Security Privatization [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00042.htm

- “The government’s ‘generosity’ in ramming an extra weeks holiday on employers and employees alike are being paid for by an extra week of work to pay the tax,” said United Future spokesman Marc Alexander. See…Alexander: One more week’s holiday? Yeah right! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00055.htm

NZ First Rally To Rescue Choppers Defence

- New Zealand First has called on the ACC minister to stop the Accident Compensation Corporation going ahead with short sighted proposals to reduce the number of helicopter services it funds for attending accidents. See…Keep The Accident Helicopters Says NZ First [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00054.htm

Newman Advocates Pecuniary Punishment For Tight Lipped Mums

- ACT Deputy Leader and Social Services spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today released figures showing the level of state-sanctioned `fatherless' has increased by more than 26 percent under Labour. ..See... DPB kids without named father soar [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00049.htm

Minister Ponders Possible Heritage Havens

- Napier's art deco historic precinct and Farewell Spit are on a list of six new places around New Zealand suggested as possible new World Heritage sites, Conservation Minister Chris Carter announced today. See... Six new World Heritage sites proposed in NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00056.htm

NZ First Says National And Labour Govt's Covered Up Agent Orange

- New Zealand First says the latest revelations in the agent orange saga show that successive National and Labour governments have kept passing the buck over the shabby treatment of Vietnam veterans. See... Agent Orange Denials Exposed By MP – NZ First [1] Brownlee Says Govt hides NZ link to Agent Orange [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00034.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00029.htm

Goff Comments On Palestinian Elections

- Foreign Minister Phil Goff today welcomed the successful completion of the Palestinian Authority's Presidential election but warned the election was only one step towards a lasting resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict. See... Goff welcomes successful Palestinian election [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00046.htm

Ryall Flays Flawed Legislation Passed Under Shipley Led National Government

- Ahmed Zaoui might be out of prison and out of the spotlight but his legal bills and cost to the taxpayer continue to grow, says National's Immigration spokesman, Tony Ryall. See... Still no end in sight to Zaoui bills [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00045.htm

NZ First Wants Agent Orange Documents In Public Domain

- New Zealand First has called on the Government to release all official documents relating to the export of Ivor Watkins Dow chemicals that could have been used to manufacture the defoliant agent orange. See... NZ First Calls For Release Of Chemical Documents [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00044.htm

Barnett Responds To Prostitution Legislation Petition

- Tim Barnett MP, sponsor of the Prostitution Reform Bill which became law in 2003, has responded to the failure of the petition to

Key Attacks Rising Employment Numbers In Public Service

- National's Finance spokesman, John Key, says New Zealanders returning to work this week will be disturbed to learn that they will have to work what amounts to almost an extra week this year to meet the cost of a growing bureaucracy. See... NZers work harder to keep state sector going [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00041.htm

English Offers Sage Educational Advice To Nations Youth

- School leavers receiving their final NCEA results this week need to think carefully about their options for tertiary study, says National's Education spokesman, Bill English. English urges school leavers to choose wisely [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00040.htm

Coddington Discovers Student Debt Is Quite Large

- The average student loan debt has skyrocketed by 22 percent since Labour came to power, ACT Education spokesman Deborah Coddington revealed today. See... Average student loan debt skyrockets [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00037.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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