TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Easton Examines Where The Money Is Coming From For National’s Proposed Tax Cuts
Scoop Report: Woman's Body Sparks Public Appeal From Police
Quotable Value NZ Announces 14% Increase In Property Values
Scoop Report: Week’s Agenda Outlined At Post-Cabinet Presser
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Oxfam Urges WTO To Unlock Stalled Talks At China Meeting
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
London Bombings Commentary
Biff Guevara's inclusive coverage of NZ's 2005 General Election
Gregory Fortuin Says Cricket Amounts To “Constructive Engagement”
William Rivers Pitt Farewells Vote Fraud Actuivist Andy Stephenson
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
PM Announces Wintringham To Oversee Vietnam Vets Working Group
Locke Launches Bouncer At Foreign Affairs Over Kiwi’s Long Lonely Detention In US
Collins Says CYF Caregiver Admitted Child Abuse
Govt To Investigate Timber Treatment Claims
Cross Party Condemnation Of Mosque Vandalism
Sir Garfield Todd's Daughter To Join Cricket Tour Protest
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS------------
LEAD STORY:
Easton Examines Where The Money Is Coming From For National’s Proposed Tax Cuts
[1] Respected economist Brian Easton, celebrated particularly for his work researching poverty levels, today gave a speech looking at the central election issue of whether promised substantial income tax cuts are affordable or indeed fiscally sustainable. Mr Easton was particularly concerned at the ability of those in the media to understand accounting or economics. Fortunately most of Mr Easton’s speech was aimed at the average punter and provided plenty of food for thought. Scoop dropped by St Andrews on the Terrace and photographed the proceedings. See... Brian Easton: The State Of The Nation [2]
Scoop Report: Woman's Body Sparks Public Appeal From Police
- Auckland Police's DSS Whitley: "We are appealing to hear of anyone who is missing, and that includes anyone who
hasn't turned up at work. It may be that a woman has not turned up for work but someone else has phoned in and said that
they are sick." Image by Jason Dorday. See... Public's Help Sought After Woman's Body Found [1] SCOOP AUDIO: Police Press Conference: Operation Waikowhai (12-07-05)
Quotable Value NZ Announces 14% Increase In Property Values
- The residential property market has shown little signs of slowing, with residential properties increasing in value by
14.2% for the year ended June, up from 13.5% annual growth to May. “Despite thoughts that the property market is about
to enter a slowdown period, we are still seeing increasing levels of growth in property values across most areas of the
country, with only Nelson (-1.3%) experiencing a decline in property values”, says QV’s Blue Hancock. See... Residential Property Values up 14.2% [1]
Scoop Report: Week’s Agenda Outlined At Post-Cabinet Presser
- Kevin List reports that the Government emphasised this week what work had been achieved in looking after NZ’s
elderly. With this in mind the Prime Minister attended a rather truncated post-cabinet press conference then left to
attend a RSA meeting leaving Maharey & Hodgson to explain… But before she left, the Prime Minister outlined what was coming up during the week ahead. Major
decisions were made during today’s Cabinet meeting over how to get better value for money from tertiary education.
Trevor Mallard will release details next week. Later this week, Paul Swain will release data relating to his portfolio
as Immigration Minister. See... PM's Presser: Getting Labour’s Message Out [1]
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
$5.6m To Help With Stewart Island Infrastructure [1] Paua Poachers Charged In Operation Bond Enquiry [2] Otago's 2nd Dose Of Meningococcal B Vaccine Starts Today [3] “Peak Oil” – An Urgent Issue for New Zealand! [4] Sassy Stylist Wins The Ultimate Acclaim [5]
Oxfam Urges WTO To Unlock Stalled Talks At China Meeting
- World Trade Organisation (WTO) members must seize the chance to unlock stalled trade negotiations at a meeting
beginning tomorrow in China, international agency Oxfam said today. The WTO Mini-Ministerial in Dalian, China (12–13
July) is particularly crucial given the lack of progress in Geneva and last week’s failure of the G8 to make firm
commitments on trade reforms designed specifically to help poor countries. “World trade talks are at a crisis point.
With less than six months to go before the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong, negotiators are miles from consensus and have
failed even to produce draft texts for discussion,” said Celine Charveriat, Head of Oxfam International’s Make Trade
Fair campaign. See... China meeting key to unlocking trade talks [1]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Central African Republic Needs Immediate Support [1] Annan Lauds Progress Against Arms Smuggling [2] Murder Of Somali Activist Undermines Peace [3] Agreement To Re-Start Talks On DPR Of Korea [4] Aid To 430,000 Palestinian Refugees In Syria [5]
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SCOOP COLUMNS------------
London Bombings Commentary
Ivan Eland (United States) Watching the major U.S. television networks after the London terror bombings provided little illumination about why
that city was chosen for attack. The commentators on those networks first mimicked Tony Blair’s self-serving “we’re all
in this together” ... See... Ivan Eland: Why Did Terrorists Strike London? [1]
Russell Brown & Che Tibby There have been some behaviour issues in the local blogosphere since last Friday. In this thread alone on Labour
stalwart Jordan Carter's blog, National Party member (and former office-holder) Tim Barclay claimed that the Labour
Party "secretly hopes" that Sydney is hit by a terrorist attack… See... Public Address 12/07/05 - Some Behaviour Issues [2]
Am Johal Only a few years ago as the Hutton Inquiry raged on in London in the humid summer months of 2003, the case of the
suicide of their chief weapons inspector David Kelley was put under intense public scrutiny. The "sexed up" dossier had
10 Downing ... See... Am Johal: London Calling [3]
Steve McKinlay (New Zealand) I think there are two thoughts we ought to seriously consider in respect of the terrorist bombings in London last week.
Firstly, much media commentary has, in my opinion, vaulted to the naive conclusion that the bombings are Islamic
fundamentalist ... See... Steve McKinlay: The 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street [4]
For complete Scoop London Bombing Commentary CLICK HERE [5]
Biff Guevara's inclusive coverage of NZ's 2005 General Election
- Because we don't know the date of the election we know when it will be. That is - as it hasn't been called yet; it
can only be late September. The question is whether taking the term to the very end has been a good or a bad tactic.
There was some talk that it should have been called in January around the time of the John Tamihere kamikazi run into
his own career. Force him to go and then call an election. Labour may well have romped home then. See... Biff Guevara: Election 2005 [1]
Gregory Fortuin Says Cricket Amounts To “Constructive Engagement”
- “Never again must we allow the oppression of one group over another” said former President Nelson Mandela at his
inauguration speech in May 1994. Was Madiba specifically referring to the oppressive Apartheid Regime and the
dehumanization of those born with the wrong skin colour, or was the sage dreaming about a better world. I guess a bit of
both. See... “Constructive Engagement” With A Despot [1]
William Rivers Pitt Farewells Vote Fraud Actuivist Andy Stephenson
- It was late July 2004, and it was a hot day for Seattle. The park was filled with activists, organizers and regular
folks, there to hear a battery of speakers who had come together for this stop on the Rolling Thunder Democracy Tour.
See... William Rivers Pitt: The Best Of Us [1] MORE: Tom Flocco - Andy Stephenson (1963-2005) - In Memoriam [2]
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
John Roughan - John Roughan: More About SIG Than RAMSI! [1] Sheila Samples - Are The Good Times Really Over For Good? [2] Narconews - Del Castillo: Independent Media in Colombia [3] BuzzFlash - Killing America by Claiming Failure as Success [4] William Fisher - William Fisher: Gitmo's Forgotten Soldier [5] Adam Keller - The Onions Were Needed in Bil'in and Tel-Aviv [6] Uri Avnery - The War of the Colors [7] Narconews - A US "Human Right" to Buy Venezuela Elections [8] Sanjay Upadhya - Nepalese Maoists: Caught In Their Own Craftiness [9]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)------------
PM Announces Wintringham To Oversee Vietnam Vets Working Group
Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced that former State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham is being appointed
to chair a working group established earlier this year to consider issues relating to military service in Viet Nam
raised by the Viet Nam veterans and the RSA.." See... Wintringham To Chair Vietnam Vet Working Group [1] ALSO: Govt - WWI Pardoned Soldiers To Be Recognised With Awards [2] Govt - NZers in line for Malaysian military medal [3] PM - PM Address: RNZ RSA National Council Meeting [4] Green Party Vietnam vets will be skeptical [5] NZ First - Peters Welcomes Commission For Vietnam Vets [6]
Locke Launches Bouncer At Foreign Affairs Over Kiwi’s Long Lonely Detention In US
- Foreign Minister Phil Goff is being asked by Green MP Keith Locke in writing to look into the apparent mishandling of
the case of a New Zealander detained for weeks in the US over a paperwork problem. See... Make sure James Kirkwood is last NZer abandoned [1]
Collins Says CYF Caregiver Admitted Child Abuse
- National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins is worried that a CYF caregiver who has admitted child abuse
remains in the community living near a childcare centre. "This man has confessed publicly to some very disturbing
behaviour. Frankly, I’m concerned he’s still in the community. “The system has already failed three children, the
authorities must act with urgency to ensure there are no more victims." See... CYF must issue assurance on vetting process [1] ALSO: Public Service Association - Search for accountability is about more than blame [2]
Govt To Investigate Timber Treatment Claims
- The Department of Building and Housing is investigating claims that a treated timber product, T1.2, is being misused
in construction and sold as something it isn’t, Building Issues Minister Chris Carter said today. "The Department of
Building and Housing only received notice of concerns about this product late last Friday 8 July. It will investigate
the matters raised, and act if concerns are verified," Mr Carter said. See... Treated timber product to be investigated [1] ALSO: Nats - Labour fails homeowners in timber treatment scam [2] Certified Builders - Industry Voices Concern Over Timber Treatment [3]
Cross Party Condemnation Of Mosque Vandalism
- "New Zealanders across all communities are horrified by the terrorist attacks in London which are the work of evil
people. But it is wrong to target the Muslim community here in retaliation. New Zealand's Muslim community like all New
Zealand's communities is overwhelmingly a law abiding and peaceful community." See... PM condemns attacks on mosques [1] ALSO Image courtesy of Aotearoa Indymedia: Mosques attacked in Auckland [2] MORE: National Party - Mosque attacks appalling - Brash [3] Green Party - Vandals and UK bombers both target innocent [4] Chris Carter - Kiwis should send support to Muslim community [5] Anderton - Attacks on Mosques are totally unacceptable [6] Ethnic Council - Council Saddened By Attacks on Mosques [7] Auckland Uni Islamic Society - Society Condemns Bombing [8] Christian & Muslim Council - Christians & Muslims, NZ deplores terrorism [9]
Sir Garfield Todd's Daughter To Join Cricket Tour Protest
- GPJA says Judith Todd – daughter of Sir Garfield Todd and campaigner for human rights in Zimbabwe is arriving in New
Zealand later this week to join the campaign to stop the New Zealand Cricket Tour to Zimbabwe – scheduled for August.
She is being brought to New Zealand by Global Peace and Justice Auckland. Sir Garfield Todd was the New Zealander who
was Prime Minister of Rhodesia and leading the country towards independence before he was ousted by the Ian Smith regime
in 1965 which declared UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) and cemented in place white minority rule. See... Zimbabwe Tour – Judith Todd to Tour NZ [1] ALSO: Gregory Fortuin - Fortuin: “Constructive engagement” with a despot [2] GPJA - Protest March Against Zimbabwe Cricket Tour [3]
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
NZ Govt - Students win from new high-tech libraries' system [1] NZ Govt - Fisheries compliance staff up 60% under Labour [2] NZ Govt - $8 million package to improve school admin. [3] NZ Govt - $5.6m to help with Stewart Island infrastructure [4] NZ Govt - Burton: Address to 89th National Council RNZRSA [5] National - Cullen backtracking on tax deals [6] National - Tizard dazed and confused [7]
ENDS