Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 10 February 2005, 6:35 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
LEAD STORY: Terminator Seeds Get Kiwi Backing In Bangkok
Large Council Financial Injection To Get Auckland Moving
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Oil For Food Inquiry Leads To UN Staff Suspensions
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
STORY OF THE WEEK: Democracy In Crisis In Nepal
SCOOP SPECIAL REPORT:Ministry Of Health Respond To Scoop Vaccine Investigation

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Watching The Buggers - A Serialised Play By Tim Barcode
The Inside Oil From Molesworth & Featherston
Howard's Govt Urged - Stop Stealing East Timor's Oil!
Thom Hartmann: Nobles Need Not Pay Taxes
Steve Weissman: Who's Next?
Kamala Sarup: Women's Role In Armed Conflict
Dispatches From Iraq: Stories From Fallujah
Iraq: Have The Elections Saved The US Occupation?

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Peters Gets National Backing For Treaty Bill
Opposition Suggest Chief Justice Better To Breath Through Her Nose
… But Sian Elias Has At Least One Parliamentary Fan
Greens Want ACC To Pay Up To Asbestos Claimants
English Seeks Fee Relief For Scholarship Exam Entrants
Brian Connell Wants Answers On Power Price Hikes
New District Court Chief Judge
Date Set For Cross Ditch Therapeutic Products Union
Terrorism Suppression Bill First Reading
Govt. Defends Trade Policy In Face Of Manufacturer Criticism
Hawkins Appalled At Hamilton Rape 111 Case

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0502/S00080.htm
Kiwi Takes Trans--Tasman Title For BBQ Ingenuity

Scoop Is In The House

- For Thursday's Q&A see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer - 10 Feb. 2005 [1] . For Wednesday's see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer - 9 Feb 2005 [2] & Tuesday's see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer - 8 Feb 2005 [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00250.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00214.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00168.htm

LEAD STORY:
Terminator Seeds Get Kiwi Backing In Bangkok

- An international conference in Bangkok will see a motion tabled by Canada to reinstate trials and use of Terminator genes - one of a range of Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs) that has caused international alarm because of the dire implications it has for food security and sustainable farming. See... ''Stop Terminator!'' Government Urged [1] MORE: - Greens - Govt Urged To Back Down On Terminator Technology [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0502/S00035.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00238.htm

Large Council Financial Injection To Get Auckland Moving

- Auckland City’s Mayor today announced a package that will drive an additional $60 million into business and community development during the next three years. See... Auckland congestion buster budget package [1] MORE: - Auckland City Council - Partnerships the key to affordable housing [2] - ACT - Auckland households face unrelenting attack [3] - Ak Chamber of Commerce - Auckland City’s 11% Rate Hike Plan [4] - Action Hobson - Action Hobson Slams Auckland Rates-Hike Plan [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0502/S00119.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0502/S00129.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00236.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0502/S00126.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0502/S00125.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00088.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00095.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00094.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00093.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00090.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0502/S00087.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0502/S00123.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0502/S00122.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0502/S00121.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0502/S00117.htm

Oil For Food Inquiry Leads To UN Staff Suspensions

- Two United Nations staff members – including the former head of the Iraq Oil-for-Food programme – have been sent formal notification of the administrative charges against them arising from a recent preliminary report by an independent panel probing allegations ... See... Suspension of officials: Oil-for-Food programme [1] & UN Chief Of Staff To Washington; Deputy Resigns [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00304.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00277.htm

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00276.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00265.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00266.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00302.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00294.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00290.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00281.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00275.htm

STORY OF THE WEEK: Democracy In Crisis In Nepal

Dipta Shah: What the King's Takeover Implies for his Enemies - The Maoists appear to be temporarily disoriented by the King's unexpected move. They have lost their most significant bargaining chip - the political parties. See... Dipta Shah: Shock And Awe For The Maoists [1] MORE: - HRW - Nepal: Danger of “Disappearances” Escalates [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00118.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00288.htm

SCOOP SPECIAL REPORT: Ministry Of Health Respond To Scoop Vaccine Investigation

[1] - The Meningococcal Gold Rush article published on the scoop.co.nz website [2] shows a poor understanding of the rigorous processes and procedures used in New Zealand and overseas to develop, license and administer vaccines. See... Immunisation Critics Confused [3] MORE: - Audio - Russell Brown BFM IV With Barbara Sumner Burstyn - Audio - Russell Brown IV With Jane O'Hallahan (MoH) - National - King must reassure public about vaccine [4] - Background Link - Anti-Immunization Press Reports in Australia 1993-1997 [5] - ORIGINAL ARTICLE - Investigation: The Meningococcal Gold Rush [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00064.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00064.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0502/S00032.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00176.htm
[5] - http://childrensvaccine.org/files/Leask.pdf
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00064.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Watching The Buggers - A Serialised Play By Tim Barcode

- Act Two Scene 1 Wednesday afternoon 1.50. Inside – A drycleaners in Levin. - There is at least one rack of clothes with plastic covers. There is a counter, with a till, and a chair beside the counter. There should if possible be a computer terminal and keyboard on the counter. See... Watching The Buggers (Part 7 Of 12) [1] (See also... Part 1 [2] , Part 2 [3] , Part 3 [4] , Part 4 [5] , Part 5 [6] , Part 6 [7] )

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00122.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00285.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00013.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00030.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00042.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00097.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00110.htm

The Inside Oil From Molesworth & Featherston

- In this week’s complimentary Lobby Edition there is big update of data in the exclusive Molesworth & Featherston rolling average poll of polls. The government prepares to greet a trio of VIPs and the board of a multi-national paper giant comes to Kawerau. ... See... Molesworth & Featherston (Lobby Edition) – 10/2/05 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00114.htm

Howard's Govt Urged - Stop Stealing East Timor's Oil!

- A 30-second television advertisement screened on January 26 during the Australian Open tennis tournament has returned to the limelight the theft of East Timor’s oil and gas resources by PM John Howard’s Coalition government. See... Green Left Weekly: Stop Stealing East Timor's Oil! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00116.htm

Thom Hartmann: Nobles Need Not Pay Taxes

- A new aristocracy is taking over not just the United States of America but also the world. Proof of how far along it has come was in an article by Glenn R. Simpson in the January 28, 2005 edition of The Wall Street Journal. See... Thom Hartmann: Nobles Need Not Pay Taxes [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00121.htm

Steve Weissman: Who's Next?

- While Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assures allies that an American military attack on Iran ''is simply not on the agenda at this point in time,'' President Bush continues to push his newly expanded crusade to free the world from tyrants as well ... See... War on Tyrants: What Will Bush Do Next? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00120.htm

Kamala Sarup: Women's Role In Armed Conflict

- Female soldiers have existed in most parts of the world and at most times. In such cases, the role of women has been both to increase the number of soldiers in general and to serve in roles unique to women. See... Without Women's Activities, Would Wars Be Possible [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00119.htm

Dispatches From Iraq: Stories From Fallujah

- These are the stories that will continue to emerge from the rubble of Fallujah for years. No, for generations… See... Dahr Jamail: Stories From Fallujah [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00117.htm

Iraq: Have The Elections Saved The US Occupation?

- For most activists in the global anti-war movement, it's obvious that the US-engineered January 30 elections in Iraq have not ushered in a new era of democracy nor fundamentally changed the nature of the brutal, US-led occupation. See... Iraq: Have The Elections Saved The US Occupation? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00115.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00111.htm
Photo Essay - You Can't Beat Wellington On A Good Day

Peters Gets National Backing For Treaty Bill

- Parliament now has a chance to remove the foolishness of the so-called “principles of the Treaty” from all legislation and derail the Treaty gravy train forever, says New Zealand First leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters. See... Peters' Treaty Principles Bill Before House [1] MORE: - National - The End Of The Line For The Treaty Gravy Train? [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00235.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00243.htm

Opposition Suggest Chief Justice Better To Breath Through Her Nose

- National's Justice spokesman, Richard Worth, says the Chief Justice should be more cautious about wading into political debate. See... Chief Justice beware of wading into politics [1] MORE: - ACT - Top judge currying favour with Govt? [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00246.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00237.htm

… But Sian Elias Has At Least One Parliamentary Fan

- Progressive MP Matt Robson said today that Chief Justice Sian Elias' thoughtful speech, 'Criminology in the age of talkback', is an important contribution to the public debate on crime and how to really beat it. See... Its time for About Time [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00227.htm

Greens Want ACC To Pay Up To Asbestos Claimants

- The Greens are outraged that the Government is challenging a District Court decision that Kiwis dying of asbestos-related diseases are entitled to lump sum payments from ACC. See... Dying asbestos victims robbed by stingy Government [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00248.htm

English Seeks Fee Relief For Scholarship Exam Entrants

- National's Education spokesman, Bill English, says Labour must drop the $30 fee for each scholarship reassessment. See... Labour Must Drop Scholarship Fix-It Fee [1] MORE: - ACT - Reason 3,045 why the NCEA should be dumped [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00247.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00249.htm

Brian Connell Wants Answers On Power Price Hikes

- The Labour Government must tell New Zealanders if it intends to allow electricity prices to rise by 35 to 40%, as has been projected, says National's Commerce spokesman, Brian Connell. See... Labour set to lift power prices by 35-40% [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00245.htm

New District Court Chief Judge

- Attorney-General Margaret Wilson today announced the retirement of Judge David Carruthers as Chief District Court Judge and the appointment of Judge Russell Johnson as his successor. See... Chief District Court Judge appointed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00241.htm

Date Set For Cross Ditch Therapeutic Products Union

- The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced a firm operational date for the new Trans Tasman Therapeutic Products Agency of no later than 1 July next year, though it could start earlier. See... Oz & NZ Joint Therapeutic Products Agency Startup [1] MORE: - Greens - Govt suffers setback on trans-Tasman plans [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00240.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00224.htm

Terrorism Suppression Bill First Reading

- Justice Minister Phil Goff gave the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill (No 2) its first reading in Parliament today. The Bill was sent to select committee with only the Greens opposing. See... Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill (No 2) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00239.htm

Govt. Defends Trade Policy In Face Of Manufacturer Criticism

- The development of the manufacturing sector into a high skill, high value, internationally capable industry group is well underway, including preparation for a national manufacturing strategic planning conference, according to Jim Anderton, Minister of Economic Development. See... Manufacturing strategy underway under coalition [1] and Role of Governments in trade liberalisation [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00222.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00223.htm

Hawkins Appalled At Hamilton Rape 111 Case

- "Information I have received today about allegations made in Parliament by Maori Party Member Tariana Turia disclose a sitution which I find to be completely unacceptable," the Minister of Police George Hawkins said tonight. See... Hamilton incident not acceptable says Minister [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00217.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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