Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 18 May 2005, 5:58 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Every Child Counts Org Identifies Key Budget Expectations
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Scoop Pedantry: Lyndon Hood Considers The Semantics Of Benson-Pope's 'Refutations'...
Alleged Teenage Voice-Mail Hackers Arrested
CYF Faces Two Personal Grievance Cases Totalling Over $800,000
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Has The CIA Been Training Terrorists In Burma?
Amnesty Condemns Uzbekistan's Use Of Excessive Force Against Civilians
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Wellington's Local Song Stars
Graham Reid Discovers A Politician Who Deserved His Beating
"…The Intelligence And Facts Were Being Fixed Around The Policy."
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Ryall Believes Police Minister and Commissioner Have No Cred
Govt Details GDP Economic Stats
Maori Party Says Harawira's Popularity Rising
Mallard Gets Monstered
MORE PARLIAMENT HEADLINES:

LEAD STORY:
Every Child Counts Org Identifies Key Budget Expectations

With Budget 2005 set to be delivered tomorrow, Every Child Counts has identified some key initiatives that would improve the status of New Zealand children and contribute to sustainable social and economic development. “The Budget is a unique opportunity for the Government to resource programmes that will make a measurable difference to children, and to New Zealand’s future,” says Every Child Counts spokesperson Murray Edridge. See... Hopes that Budget 2005 will make every child count [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0505/S00178.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00421.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00416.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00424.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00422.htm

SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00436.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00407.htm

Scoop Pedantry: Lyndon Hood Considers The Semantics Of Benson-Pope's 'Refutations'...

- During the last week, pressure from the opposition in Parliament unveiled the depravity of the current Government. Not merely in the perfidy of one Cabinet Minister, but also the manner in which he was supported at the highest levels. I submit that, in repeatedly using the word "refute" as if it meant "deny", the Labour-Progressive coalition has forfeited the moral right to govern. See... Does This Mean We Have To Elect A New Benson-Pope? [1] MORE LYNDON & FRIENDS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00224.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00226.htm

Alleged Teenage Voice-Mail Hackers Arrested

- A 16 year-old Auckland youth and a 19 year-old Hamilton man were arrested this morning and will appear in the Auckland Youth and Hamilton District Courts respectively this afternoon, to face a charge of unauthorised access of a computer. See... Alleged hackers face charges [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0505/S00147.htm

CYF Faces Two Personal Grievance Cases Totalling Over $800,000

- National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins has revealed that CYF is facing an $800,000 personal grievance claim. "It is one of two personal grievance claims faced by the Government department. Earlier today, National produced figures showing there has been a near quadrupling in the legal bills at CYF since Labour took office." See... National reveals $800,000 personal grievance case [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00434.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0505/S00289.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0505/S00148.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00425.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0505/S00144.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0505/S00154.htm

Has The CIA Been Training Terrorists In Burma?

- BANGKOK, Thailand - Richard Ehrlich reports that Thailand said it will pursue terrorists described by Burma as CIA-trained, because "maybe someone did something along the border," resulting in a synchronized triple-bombing in Burma which killed 19 people. "Thailand does not harbor terrorists, and the Thai government will not allow terrorists to shelter on the Thai soil," said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who hopes to maintain Bangkok's lucrative business relations with Burma, also known as Myanmar. See... Triple Bombing In Burma Leads To CIA Intrigue [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00219.htm

Amnesty Condemns Uzbekistan's Use Of Excessive Force Against Civilians

- Amnesty International strongly condemns the reported use of excessive force against civilians in Andizhan (Andijan) and calls on the authorities of Uzbekistan to allow a prompt and independent investigation into the events with the results made public ... See... Uzbekistan: Only Independent Investigation Will Reveal Truth [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00294.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00292.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00281.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00295.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00293.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00288.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0505/S00285.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Wellington's Local Song Stars

- Andrew Masseurs and I (Mathew Powell) have been selected as one of the top 5 from over 650 entries. We are the only Wellington based songwriting duo in the competition. We've been writing our own songs for 15 years (since our college days) and wrote our song "all I wanted" back in 1994! Since making the top five it's been pretty out of it! See... Wellington's Songstar Finalists Masseurs & Powell [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00225.htm

Graham Reid Discovers A Politician Who Deserved His Beating

- A group of former schoolteachers has responded to allegations in Parliament by the deputy leader of the Act Party Mr Roderick White that Labour spokesperson for civic politeness Mr Phil Ryan had beaten him mercilessly when he had been a student in Mr Ryan's woodwork class in 1964. The spokesman for the former teachers at Routebourne High in Otago, Mr David Manners, said they were hardly surprised Mr White had been punished while in 3D Commercial. See... Public Address 18/05/05 - Right Hand Of Darkness [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00220.htm

"…The Intelligence And Facts Were Being Fixed Around The Policy."

That incriminating "smoking gun" memo proving the Bush and Blair Administrations pre-determined an invasion and occupation of Iraq long before the invasion occurred has apparently come and gone, barely noted in the American press, AWOL from editorial pages. See... Doug Giebel: A Nation Willingly Deceived [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00216.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00222.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00203.htm
[4] - http://scoop.co.nz/features/iraqwar.html

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00223.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00221.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00218.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00217.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00215.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00211.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00214.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00213.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00212.htm

Ryall Believes Police Minister and Commissioner Have No Cred

- “The credibility of the Police Minister and his Commissioner is in tatters. It is now only a matter of time before both will go,” says National Party Police spokesman Tony Ryall. “Frontline staff have lost faith in George Hawkins and Rob Robinson. There is a maelstrom brewing in police stations around the country that will, in the end, engulf them both." See... Minister’s and Commissioner’s credibility is shot [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00415.htm

Govt Details GDP Economic Stats

- The Labour Progressive Government is providing $1.5 million across three years to fund the development of regional GDP statistics. Funding from Vote Economic, Industry and Regional Development will be used by Statistics New Zealand to develop the series that will include listings of GDP by industry and the components of GDP, both as measures of production by region, rather than from purchase or income levels. See... Robust economic statistics [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00414.htm

Maori Party Says Harawira's Popularity Rising

- Tickets to dinner this Friday with Hone Harawira, te Tai Tokerau candidate for the Maori Party, have barely hit the streets and are selling like hot cakes. The Tornadoes will be selling sausages at the Hikurangi Memorial Hall while Maori Party members congregate to spend some time with Mr Harawira. See… Dinner Tickets selling like Hot Cakes [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0505/S00177.htm

Mallard Gets Monstered

- Pictures from the university student and staff protest at Parliament this afternoon. There was easily a thousand people, it was well organised and ran very smoothly. See... Scoop Images: Mallard Gets Debt Monstered [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0505/S00208.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0505/S00064.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0505/S00065.htm

MORE PARLIAMENT HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00432.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00431.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00430.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00429.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00418.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00413.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00412.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00411.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00409.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00428.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00423.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00419.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00426.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00427.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00410.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00433.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00408.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00406.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0505/S00420.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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