Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 18 July 2005, 10:08 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Scoop Report: How Vulnerable Will Black Caps Be On Zimbabwe Tour?
Scoop Video: First Time In NZ Video Of Zimbabwe Regime's Victimization
Scoop Report: Goff Faces Thousands Over Zimbabwe Tour

CTU: Nat Tax Cuts A Trojan Horse War On Worker’s Wages
Government Releases Education Sector Review
NZ AIDS Foundation Condemns South African Police For Shooting HIV/AIDS Protestors
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Scoop Audio: RadioLive Media Pack Examine The Week
Brazil, Germany, India, Japan Seek Permanent Positions On UN Security Council
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Anne Else Recalls Another Dr Don Brash
Karl Rove Pulls A 360 – Is This What They Call BS?
An In-Depth Statistical Analysis Of Vote Fraud 2004
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
London Bombings Commentary
Trans-Party Asia-Pac FTA Signed In Parliament

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Govt Announces SME Tech Development Assistance
Fairfax Poll Shows Nats With Clear Lead
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS:

State Of It: Selwyn Manning writes that New Zealand's Black Caps Cricket team will be without direct diplomatic support should the planned tour of Zimbabwe go ahead in August. The team will be reliant on a consulate in Pretoria should the players become pawns in a political scrap between Zimbabwe opposition parties and the Mugabe regime. Scoop understands a lack of direct diplomatic support has had the New Zealand government concerned as it examines indicators of how safe Zimbabwe would be for the touring national cricket side. Scoop also understands that these and other factors were discussed during what was a private meeting between Zimbabwean human rights campaigner, Judith Todd, and New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, on Saturday. See... Only Filtered Diplomatic Support On BlackCaps Tour [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00255.htm

Scoop Video: First Time In NZ Video Of Zimbabwe Regime's Victimization

- Here for the first time in New Zealand, Scoop broadcasts recent footage of homes being demolished by the Robert Mugabe government in Zimbabwe. This video footage includes interviews with victims and human rights spokespersons inside Zimbabwe. See... Zimbabwe Video Footage Shown For First Time In NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00236.htm

Scoop Report: Goff Faces Thousands Over Zimbabwe Tour

- Foreign Minister Phil Goff faced a staunch Global Peace and Justice Auckland (GPJA) protest today calling for the Government to legislate to prevent New Zealand's Black Caps cricket team from touring Zimbabwe. GPJA spokesperson, John Minto said today, that people "can have it both ways". He said the Government must enact a law, or promote a means that would prevent the cricketers from touring Zimbabwe while still honouring New Zealanders' right to freedom of travel. See text, images and audio... Protest Sends Goff Message - No Zimbabwe Tour! [1] ALSO:

[3] SCOOP AUDIO: Phil Goff's position. SCOOP AUDIO: John Minto responds. POLITICAL REACTION:

Greens - Poll Shows Majority Oppose Zimbabwe Tour [4]

GPJA - Zimbabwe Tour – Mugabe Heaves a Sigh of Relief [5]

ACT - NZers must retain freedom to travel [6]

Greens - Snedden Misreads Public Mood On Cricket Tour [7]

Greens - Rod Donald Speech: "It's Just Not Cricket" [8]

Greens - Govt Should Reconsider Stance On Zimbabwe Tour Law [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00233.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00232.htm
[3] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0507/cricketgoff.m3u
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00336.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00153.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00348.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00346.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00339.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00337.htm

Nat Tax Cuts A Trojan Horse War On Worker’s Wages

- In a speech to the Christchurch CTU/Government post-Budget briefing, CTU president Ross Wilson explains why tax cuts will cost working people - and the threat posed if National wins the election. “The National Party has already announced its industrial relations policies. Its policy is nothing less than a declaration of war on unions and the gains we have made for workers.” See... Tax issues and political threats [1] . See also...Tax Cut Promises Hide National's Real Agenda [2] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00162.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00166.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00155.htm

Government Releases Education Sector Review

- The Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Tertiary Education Commission are to adopt a joint approach and work much more closely together to build quality and lift performance in education delivery, State Services Minister Trevor Mallard announced today. See... Education Sector Review released [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00356.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00358.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0507/S00065.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0507/S00064.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0507/S00063.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0507/S00062.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0507/S00056.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00246.htm

NZ AIDS Foundation Condemns South African Police For Shooting HIV/AIDS Protestors

- The New Zealand AIDS Foundation has today called for international condemnation of the shooting and injuring by South African police of 40 people engaged in a peaceful protest demanding fair access to HIV treatment on 12 July. See... NZAF condemns police shooting at peaceful protest [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00152.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00170.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00151.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00237.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00150.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0507/S00130.htm

Scoop Audio: RadioLive Media Pack Examine The Week

- On this week’s Radio Live media pack host: Dr Wayne Hope and Scoop's Selwyn Manning; Political Review’s editor Chris Trotter, and Penguin Books’ Finlay Macdonald discussed: top issues for the week, including New Zealand and international reporting of the London bombings; former Christian Heritage Party leader Rev. Graham Capill’s fall from influence after being sentenced to nine years in jail for raping girls under the age of 12, what this means for moralistic party politics and the rise of faith-based politics; and the phony election war examining the performance of political leaders namely: Helen Clark, Don Brash, and Winston Peters. See... Scoop Audio: RadioLive media pack (Sunday July 17) [1] [2] SCOOP AUDIO: Scoop On Radio Live’s media pack (Sunday July 17 05) [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00234.htm
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0507/mediapack170705a.m3u
[3] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0507/mediapack170705a.m3u

Brazil, Germany, India, Japan Seek Permanent Positions On UN Security Council

- Senior officials from Brazil, Germany, India and Japan -- all countries that have expressed their desire to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- met today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York ahead of key negotiations on the issue of UN reform. Following the midday meeting, Mr. Annan's spokesman's office said the foreign ministers of the socalled "Group of Four" met to brief Mr. Annan "on the state of play and to reassure him that they are interested in broader UN reform, as well as Security Council reform." See... Annan Meets Foreign Ministers Of Countries [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00297.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00300.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00301.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00299.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00296.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00284.htm

Anne Else Recalls Another Dr Don Brash

- I’ve watched with amazement as Dr Donald Brash’s public image has been transformed in the media over the past year. Gone is the tinder-dry, committed neo-liberal economist with an absolute aversion for the welfare state and an equally absolute faith in cutting both taxes and government spending, so that magic invisible hand can do its stuff. See... Anne Else: Would The Real Dr Brash Please Stand Up [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00254.htm

Karl Rove Pulls A 360 – Is This What They Call BS?

- Karl Rove has now given us an astounding insight into PlameGate! According to Karl, Bushevik journalists leaked classified information TO him! Holy, Batbrain, Karl was the last to know! Will wonders never cease? See... BuzzFlash: The Martians Have Landed! [1] and Ambassador Joe Wilson's Letter to the Senate [2] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00253.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00249.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00247.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00246.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00245.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00242.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00241.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00240.htm

London Bombings Commentary

M. Shahid Alam
It appears that Mr. Thomas Friedman has a Muslim problem. He has a great deal of trouble thinking straight when writing about Muslims; and, as the New York Times’ resident expert on Islam, he displays this malaise frequently, often twice a week. See... M. Shahid Alam: A Muslim Problem [1]

Philip Challinor
Tony Blair, the Vicar of Downing Street, whom God appears to have blessed with telepathy, has informed his faithful that the London bombings were not motivated by opposition to the invasion of Iraq. That settles that, then. See... Philip Challinor: Devilish Logic [2]

Greg Palast
Well, it didn't take long, did it? In the USA, the curtain opened on new anti-terror follies Wednesday when three Senate committees, in blustery response to the London bombings, voted to extend the power of the FBI under the Patriot Act to obtain library ... See... Greg Palast: It Didn't Take Long, Did It? [3] For complete Scoop London Bombing Commentary CLICK HERE [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00250.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00248.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00243.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/londonbombing.html#comment

Trans-Party Asia-Pac FTA Signed In Parliament

- The first multi-party free trade agreement spanning the Pacific and Asia was signed today in a ceremony at Parliament, announced Prime Minister Helen Clark. The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership links New Zealand with Chile, Singapore and Brunei, liberalising trade in goods and services between the four countries. Helen Clark said that New Zealand, as the depositary state for the agreement, was hosting the signing ceremony. See... Second free trade agreement to be signed this year [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00361.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00245.htm

Govt Announces SME Tech Development Assistance

- A new investment programme aimed at small to medium sized businesses with strong potential for high growth, particularly in the technology area, was announced today by Economic Development Minister, Jim Anderton. The Seed Co-investment Fund (SCIF) will be available for co-investments of up to 50 per cent of an equity investment, where other investor groups will contribute the balance required. Crown investment will be limited to $250,000 in any single proposal by pre-qualified investment partners. The programme will commit up to $40 million capital over five years. See... New investment fund to help high growth SMEs [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00360.htm

Fairfax Poll Shows Nats With Clear Lead

- A major opinion poll by Fairfax New Zealand /ACNielsen shows National has outstripped Labour in the lead-up to the forthcoming General Election, setting the stage for a tug-of-love over kingmaker NZ First. See... National Increases Lead Over Labour [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00148.htm

MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00357.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00355.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00353.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00352.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00351.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00349.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00334.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00335.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00334.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00345.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00344.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00343.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00342.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00340.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00350.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00333.htm

POLITICAL COLUMNS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00347.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00341.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00354.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00338.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00332.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.

Contact Alastair Thompson

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