TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: PM Addresses Benson-Pope's Innocence & Pakistan's President
Graham Kelly Apologises For Offensive Fisheries Jibes
NZ Takes Action Against Australia To WTO
Ministry Urged To Explain Vaccine Risk For Pre-Schoolers
Air Force Crew Co-Ordinate Fourth Successful Rescue
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Palestine's Abbas Meets U.S. Pointman William Ward
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Lyndon Hood: The Wacko Jacko/Benson Gormsby Nexus
Barbara O'Brien Uncovers The New Face Of Pentagon Propaganda
OAS Delivers Bush A Diplomatic Bloody Nose Over Bolivia
Norman Solomon: Tehran In Washington's Cross-Hairs
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
Downing Street Memo Movement Takes To The Streets
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Goff Says Wider Parliament Discussion On Smacking Children Needed
Mallard Heralds "Cheaper" Electricity Bills
Govt Mixed Up On Norris’ Departure
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS------------
LEAD STORY:
PM Addresses Benson-Pope's Innocence & Pakistan's President
[1] A few weeks ago the post-cabinet press conference had been held in the Labour caucus room. There had been some tension and general titchiness between the media and the Prime Minister in this rather intimate environment. The exquisite carpentry and tasteful furnishing of the legislative council chamber escaped any raised voices as the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's visit and the allegations concerning David Benson Pope occupied the media and the Prime Minister. See... PM's Presser: Benson-Pope Defended - Musharraf [2] RELATED: Lyndon Hood - Jackson Innocent - Hope For Benson-Pope? [3]
Graham Kelly Apologises For Offensive Jibes
- New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Graham Kelly commented as follows. “I presented evidence to the Canadian
Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on 14 April 2005. In the course of explaining New Zealand’s fisheries
management system I made some remarks which have clearly caused offence. I acknowledged they were inappropriate and
apologised when the Secretary of Foreign Affairs raised the matter with me shortly after my testimony to the Committee.”
See... Graham Kelly Apologises For Recent Comments [1]
NZ Takes Action Against Australia To WTO
- The Government is taking action at the World Trade Organisation to get movement on the long-standing problem of
access for New Zealand apples into the Australian market, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. Mr Sutton
said New Zealand had been trying hard for many years to get a fair deal, based on science, for New Zealand apple
growers. See... NZ escalates WTO action against Australia [1]
Ministry Urged To Explain Vaccine Risk For Pre-Schoolers
- Last week IMAC called for more science and less opinion in the MeNZB(tm) vaccination debate: We agree, and now call on
IMAC to explain the increased risk of meningococcal disease in pre-schoolers apparent in its evidence used to support
the MeNZB(tm) campaign. See... Increased Vaccine Risk in Pre-Schoolers - Explain [1] ALSO: Click here for FULL COVERAGE of this issue... [2]
Air Force Crew Co-Ordinate Fourth Successful Rescue
- An Air Force Orion has coordinated a successful rescue of two people who were on board the floundering yacht Ciru.
See... Fourth Rescue for Air Force Crew [1] UPDATES: Rescue Update - Ciru [2] , Two People Rescued, Second Yacht Located [3] , Yachties Now Expected To Be Rescued Early Tomorrow [4] , Images: Air Force Orion on Standby for Rendezvous [5] & Rescue Under Way For 2 People Adrift In Life Raft [6]
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Big Funding Boost Promoting New Zealand Tourism [1] Rainbow Warrior Back From Bottom Trawling Protests [2] Auckland dinner for Burmese leader’s birthday [3] Hell Pizza Says It Will Say Sorry When Aussie Does [4] NZ Dogs Race For Top Prize [5]
Palestine's Abbas Meets U.S. Pointman William Ward
- RAMMALLAH, Palestine - Palestine president Mahmoud Abbas has met with USA pointman for Middle East security General
William Ward in the presidency compound in Rammallah. The two met as a precursor dialogue examining key-points to be
discussed between Abbas and Israel prime minister Ariel Sharon. See... Palestine President Abbas Meets U.S. Envoy Ward [1] ALSO: PMC- Settlers & Soldiers Ravage Hebron Residents [2] UN- Annan Recommends Extension of UN Force in Golan [3] UN- Secretary-General 'Encouraged' by Syria Talks [4]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Yugoslavia War Crimes Tribunal Not On Schedule [1] Afghanistan: Relief Over Italian Aid Worker's Release [2] UN Envoy to Begin Assessment Mission in Bolivia [3] UN Envoy Opens Conference on Kosovo’s Future [4] Afghan Govt Begins Disbanding Illegal Armed Groups [5] Exclusive Interview with Mr. Hao Fengjun 12/06/05 [6]
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Lyndon Hood: The Wacko Jacko/Benson Gormsby Nexus
- Earlier today, in a California courtroom, the jury in Michael Jackson's child abuse trial returned verdicts of not
guilty on all charges. This has reinforced my belief that celebrity cases involving the mistreatment of children are
best tried by the media. Much like those involving the mistreatment of pets. See... Jackson Innocent - Hope For Benson-Pope? [1] ALSO: Scoop - NEWSFLASH: Michael Jackson Found Not Guilty [2] MP3 Audio - Michael Jackson Trial Verdict Russell Brown - Public Address 14/06/05 – Verdict [3]
Barbara O'Brien Uncovers The New Face Of Pentagon Propaganda
- " We have a tiny start-up venture, controlled by persons unknown, that suddenly materializes in late 2003 doing
"private equity" deals in the middle of a war zone, and then obtains a huge PR contract from the Pentagon, and then
hires a bunch of unemployed GOP campaign operatives to execute that contract, and then is absorbed by a shadowy DC
company that specializes in corporate and political detective work and that may have close ties to both the Republican
Party and the intelligence community, which then is awarded an even bigger contract to produce even more Pentagon
propaganda." See... Mahablog: We Are All Conspiracy Theorists Now [1] MORE: William Blum - William Blum: The Anti-Empire Report June 13, 2005 [2]
OAS Delivers Bush A Diplomatic Bloody Nose Over Bolivia
- The 35th summit of the Organization of American States (OAS) was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the first days
of June this year. It marked another tactical defeat for the Bush regime's State Department under Condoleezza Rice and
her Latin American point man, Roger Noriega. See... Toni Solo: The Very Model Of A Modern Intervention [1] MORE: Narconews - Chávez: "Bush Is to Blame for Bolivian Crisis" [2] Samuel Flewett - New President Appointed As Workers Struggle [3] Sean Burges - For the OAS, Fort Lauderdale was No Great Success [4]
Norman Solomon: Tehran In Washington's Cross-Hairs
- Washington keeps condemning Iran's government and making thinly veiled threats. But in Iran, many people are in the
midst of challenging the country's rulers, in the streets and at the ballot box. See... Letter From Tehran: In Washington's Cross-Hairs [1]
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
Kevin Drum - Scoop Link: Washington Monthly - Crude Awakening [1] Ivan Eland - Ivan Eland: Make-Over to Disguise Ugly US Policy [2] Evelyn Pringle - Evelyn Pringle: Autism + Vaccines = Tax Dollars [3] Russell Brown - Public Address 14/06/05 – Verdict [4] Evelyn Pringle - Evelyn Pringle: Autism + Vaccines = Tax Dollars [5]
Downing Street Memo Movement Takes To The Streets
- On Thursday June 16, 2005, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and other
Congress Members will hold a hearing on the Downing Street Minutes and related evidence of efforts to cook the books on
pre-war intelligence. See... Time And Place Fixed For Downing St. Memo Rally [1] MORE: AfterDowningStreet - More British Documents Leaked [2] State Dept. - Rice IV With Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball [3] Scoop Link - UK Ministers Told Of Need For Gulf War ‘Excuse’ [4] Guest Opinion - Flashback: USA's Ministry of Propaganda Exposed [5] David Michael Green - Bring It Down. Now. [6] William Rivers Pitt - After Downing Street [7] Democracy Now - Case for Impeachment Builds [8] BuzzFlash - Rep. J. Conyers Talks Bush Lying America Into War [9] For much much more see... Full Coverage: The Downing Street Memo [10]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)------------
Goff Says Wider Parliament Discussion On Smacking Children Needed
- Justice Minister Phil Goff says that parliamentary discussion on the physical disciplining of children should examine
the option of amending, and not simply repealing, section 59 of the Crimes Act. Mr Goff says that parents and the wider
public should be encouraged to express their views to Parliament on the issue. See... Wider debate on section 59 changes called for [1]
Mallard Heralds "Cheaper" Electricity Bills
- Low power users are now saving between $25 and $96 a year on their electricity bills because of regulations
introduced by the government that require companies to offer low fixed charge tariffs, Energy Minister Trevor Mallard
said today. "This policy is designed to help low power users and low income earners, including pensioners, to save on
their power bills, and it's working." See... Cheaper electricity bills from new regulation [1] ALSO: Chart: Cheaper electricity bills from regulation [2]
Govt Mixed Up On Norris’ Departure
- Finance Minister Michael Cullen has “mixed feelings” about the departure from Air New Zealand and from New Zealand of
Ralph Norris. “For Ralph and New Zealand, I am delighted that one of New Zealand’s most successful business people has
been appointed to one of the top corporate positions in Australia. See... Cullen on Ralph Norris’s departure [1]
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
Govt - Teacher development a big feature of NCEA [1] Govt - Big funding boost promoting New Zealand Tourism [2] Govt - Securities Commission Appointments [3] Govt - Morgan re-appointed to Pacific Forum Line Board [4] Govt - Chile commits to Sth Pacific fisheries management [5] Govt - Cullen: Address to Waipukurau Rotary Club [6] Nats - Confused Hodgson insults forest owners [7] Nats - National to oppose smacking ban [8] Nats - Cullen defends indefensible waste [9] NZ First - Peters: What A Country Without A Treaty Would Do [10] Maori Party - High Commissioner Causes Concern [11] Greens - PM should step out of the way of Nanaia's Bill [12] Greens - Greens call NZers to boycott bottom trawled fish [13] United - Dunne calls for courage from region’s mayors [14]
ENDS