TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Foreign Affairs News: TEAR Fund Takes Exception To Commonwealth Sec-Gen McKinnon's Comments
Tech News: Finda First Off The Block With Pay Per Call Technology
Biz News: Eight Finalists Named As Roger Awards Finalists
MORE HEADLINES:
Kiwis Abroad: Kiwi Beachwear Set to Shine In Cannes -
Media News: SubNews Journalists Out On Strike
Ed News: QPEC Writes To Minister Over Kindergarten Fees
Culture News: Hamilton's Somali Community Features in Unique Exhibition
Culture News: Inner City Eye Captures Oddly Appealing Xmas Carnival -
Industry News: SuperSizeMyPay.com Campaign Spreads To KFC
Weather: "BIG" Cyclone Possible This Summer
A Week Of It: Does Gibbs' World Service Have The Answers For TVNZ?
UN concerned over new confirmed human case of bird flu in China
Jurists Says Australian Terror Laws Ensnare Innocents
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Tze Ming Mok on Nguyen Tuong Van and More
Cindy Sheehan counts her blessings
Brian Nicole's MMP Comments Raise Questions
MORE COMMENTARY:
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Legal Twist For CPAG – When It's Over Will Kids Get More? -
UN Rapporteur on Maori in New Zealand
Suits Pose with Goofy Giant Kiwi for Good Cause
Nats Say Ngawha Prison Staffing A Mess
Government Abandons CoOL
Greens Keep United's Dunne Busy
Malta: Peters Refutes Media Reports That He Led Immigration Debate
POLITICAL HEADLINES:
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS------------
LEAD STORY:
Scoop Link: TORONTO — A corruption scandal forced a vote of no-confidence that has toppled Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government, triggering an unusual election campaign during the Christmas holidays. Canada's three opposition parties, which control a majority in Parliament, voted against Martin's government, claiming his Liberal Party no longer has the moral authority to lead the nation. The loss means an election for all 308 seats in the lower House of Commons, likely on Jan. 23. Martin and his Cabinet would continue to govern until then. See... Canadian Government Falls on No-Confidence [1]
Foreign Affairs News: TEAR Fund Takes Exception To Commonwealth Sec-Gen McKinnon's Comments
- TEAR Fund New Zealand considers the current debate between Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon and Prime
Minister Helen Clark over trade versus democracy misplaced. “Far from a ‘throw away line’, the Secretary General has
raised the significant tension between trade and democracy," says TEAR Fund Executive Director Stephen Tollestrup. "The
fact is, this is not an ‘either or’ issue, instead it is a 'both and’. Trade and democracy should be two sides of the
same coin. The issue neglected in all of this is access to fair credit for the poor." See... Trade versus Democracy: A False Dichotomy [1] ALSO:Commonwealth Secretariat - Don McKinnon Address to CHOGM [2] Commonwealth Secretariat - Secretary-General Reacts Strongly to NZ Media [3]
Tech News: Finda First Off The Block With Pay Per Call Technology
- The fast growing free online website, findA.co.nz, has today launched Pay Per Call - a product that it says will
revolutionize the online advertising market for businesses in New Zealand. FindA Pay Per Call was built to bridge the
gap between the internet and telephony for businesses and companies whose bread and butter is generated through inbound
sales calls. This advancement takes the natural step forward from the Pay Per Click model made so successful by Google.
See... First to bring Pay Per Call technology to NZ [1]
Biz News: Eight Finalists Named As Roger Awards Finalists
- The finalists have been chosen for the 2005 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in
Aotearoa/New Zealand. There are eight transnational corporations (TNCs), equalling the highest number ever (from 2003).
They are (in no particular order of preference): Telecom, Westpac, Toll, BNZ, Comalco, Guardian Healthcare, Merck Sharp
and Dohme, and British American Tobacco. See... 2005 Roger Award Finalists Chosen [1] ALSO:Action On Smoking And Health - ASH Votes for British American Tobacco New Zealand [2]
MORE HEADLINES:
GG Shortlisted for Cambodia War Crimes Tribunal [1] Wgtn: Police Search For Two Escaped Prisoners [2] MAF plans for PSA strike on Friday 2 December [3] Experts See Sea Ice As Climate-Change Indicator [4] Lennon's Cousin Donates A Slice Of History [5]
Kiwis Abroad: Kiwi Beachwear Set to Shine In Cannes -
The best beachwear proposals enrolled to Mittelmoda will be exhibited in Cannes once again. 7 beachwear international
proposals have been carefully selected by the Consorzio among those arrived at Mittelmoda’s offices, and will stay on
display at the Salone 100% Beachwear Maredimoda in Cannes. They are the following: Katalyn Osten, Otago Polytechnic
Dunedin – New Zealand; See... Kiwi Beachwear On the World Stage [1]
Media News: SubNews Journalists Out On Strike
- Industrial action is under way at 13 Fairfax-owned newspapers in Auckland and Wellington. Journalists and circulation
workers are picketing the Suburban Newspapers headquarters in Auckland, while workers at the chain’s Wellington
community newspapers are into their second day of strike action. Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national
secretary Andrew Little said that the 3.5 per cent pay offer on the table for all workers was not good enough. See... Industrial Action at Fairfax - Journalists Strike [1]
Ed News: QPEC Writes To Minister Over Kindergarten Fees
- QPEC has tonight written to the Minister of Education Steve Maharey calling on the government to increase its funding
for public early childhood centres which would allow kindergartens to abandon plans to install Eftpos machines for
parents to pay fees. Many parents cannot pay the fees and their children will miss out on a decent start in life. These
are the very children from low income communities who would benefit the most from high quality education in their early
years. Every scrap of research emphasises this point. See... Govt Ought To Fund Kindergarten - QPEC [1]
Culture News: Hamilton's Somali Community Features in Unique Exhibition
- In a national first, one of New Zealand’s newest and most misunderstood communities is the focus of a social
photography project due to open at the Waikato Museum on December 3. The show, entitled ‘Rare View’, explores Hamilton’s
Somali community through a series of large photographs and personal items. Veil of Secrecy lifted on Somali Community [1]
Culture News: Inner City Eye Captures Oddly Appealing Xmas Carnival -
Tristan from About Town had a primo view of Auckland's Santa Parade and snapped happily and wilfully. From his apartment
the dedicated internet diarist was able to capture all the magic and some of the commercialism of the modern day Santa
parade. For the many that were denied the pleasure of this splendid day due to laziness, forgetfulness or
geography,thanks to About Town here's a sprinkling of elf magic. See... Santa Parade Snaps [1]
Industry News: SuperSizeMyPay.com Campaign Spreads To KFC
- Youth workers earning as low as $7.13 an hour voted 100% in favour of striking on Saturday December 3rd, 2pm at the
million-dollar refurbished Balmoral KFC store. In a ratification meeting last Friday, Unite Union members from the store
voted against the Restaurant Brands contract offer. “The Restaurant Brands contract offer included no pay rise and no
removal of youth rates despite the companies intention to upgrade 98 KFC stores throughout New Zealand,“ said SuperSizeMyPay.com [1] campaign coordinator, Simon Oosterman. See... Minimum Wage KFC Workers Vote To Strike [2] ALSO:Starbucks Anti-Union Practices a Global Phenomenon [3]
Weather: "BIG" Cyclone Possible This Summer
- MetService is preparing for the coming cyclone season, and meteorologist Steve Ready says that he will not be
surprised if New Zealand is hit by a BIG cyclone at some stage this summer. According to Mr. Ready, "Between now and the
end of May, nine tropical cyclones are expected to form in the South Pacific." See... Metservice Preparing for Coming Cyclone Season [1]
A Week Of It: Does Gibbs' World Service Have The Answers For TVNZ?
- A Week of It had a chinwag with ACT leader Rodney Hide recently and shot the breeze on the topic of broadcasting.
This week an inquiry regarding TVNZ begins in no small part thanks to Mr Hide's urgings. Sadly, Mr Hide's own forays
into broadcasting are obscured by the murky mists of time. In the mid 90s Mr Hide acted as an intermediary for Alan
Gibbs in running BBC World Service NZ and was even, from time to time, on the radio himself. See... A Week Of It: Media Blasts From The Past [1]
UN concerned over new confirmed human case of bird flu in China
- Following a new confirmed human case of bird flu in China’s south-eastern Anhui province, the United Nations health
agency is joining a mission by the Chinese Health Ministry to investigate exposure to the virus, which in a worst case
scenario could mutate into a human pandemic that could kill tens of millions of people… Ever since the first human case
of bird flu, linked to widespread poultry outbreaks in Viet Nam and Thailand, was reported in January last year, UN
health officials have warned that the H5N1 virus could evolve into a global influenza pandemic if it mutates into a form
which could transmit easily between people. See... Agency Mounts Joint Bird Flu Mission In China [1]
Jurists Says Australian Terror Laws Ensnare Innocents
- Australia: ASIO raids on the homes of Melbourne’s Sri Lankan Tamil community last week highlight serious concerns held by ICJ
Australia that counter-terrorism laws may ensnare innocent charitable donors in their net, and may be used by foreign
governments to pursue their own political agendas. Federal officers seized computers, bank records, telephone records
and other material from a number of homes in Melbourne last week. Federal authorities were looking for alleged evidence
to support claims that certain people were involved in providing financial assistance to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE or “Tamil Tigers”) in Sri Lanka. See... ICJ Concern over ASIO Raids on Tamils In Melbourne [1]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Australia begins Free Trade Talks with United Arab Emirates [1] Merkel: grand coalition to implement social cuts [2] Iraqi Leaders Pledge To Probe Rights Abuses [3] Iraq: Saddam Trial Faces Big Challenges [4] Lebanon Murder Probe - UN Confirms Syria’s Agreement [5]
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SCOOP COLUMNS------------
Tze Ming Mok on Nguyen Tuong Van and More
- After defecting from the Communist Party, my grandfather worked the Golden Triangle with a fleet of trucks as an
opium smuggler. When the family got to Singapore from Burma, the PAP tried to hire him as a political strategist -
Nguyen Tuong Van's not so fucking lucky. My gong-gong's not the only big-time drug-dealer the Singapore Government has
had dealings with. See... Public Address 28-29/11/05 - Call Of The Wild [1]
Cindy Sheehan counts her blessings
- It was hard to feel blessed today as I sat at Casey's grave here in Vacaville, California. Sure, a lot of good things
have happened in my sphere of influence this year, but the blessings are always hampered by the reason for the
blessings. If Casey had not been killed in Iraq in George's imperialistic war for power and wealth, I wouldn't be on
this path. I wish to God I weren't on this path. But I am, so here are the blessings I am thankful for this year. See... Cindy Sheehan: Blessings? [1] ALSO:Cindy Sheehan: Thanksgiving Letter to George [2]
Brian Nicole's MMP Comments Raise Questions
- Something has to be amiss when one of the centre right’s major strategists publishes a piece in a metropolitan daily
newspaper, talking up the prospects of a fourth term of government for Helen Clark. Yes fourth term, not whether the
current contrivance of a majority with Winston and Peter Dunne will last, but a real fair dinkum serious discussion
about another term after this one. See... John Bishop: Praising Labour Won’t Help Right Win [1]
MORE COMMENTARY:
John Pilger: A News Revolution Has Begun [1] Jason Leopold: Fitzgerald Targets Rove Again [2] John Roughan: Solomons - Is It Time To Push The Panic Button? [3] Toni Solo: US v Latin America - No Neutral Corner [4] Ghali Hassan: Iraq - A Criminal Process [5] William Engdahl: Bird Flu & Chicken Factory Farms [6] Marjorie Cohn: Bush Game on Padilla May Backfire [7] Mary Pitt: Howard Deans' Fund Raising Woes [8] Ray McGovern: Will the US Seize the Opening for Troop Withdrawal [9] Evelyn Pringle: Pharma's Poisoned Generation [10] William Fisher: Dangerous Denial [11] David Swanson: A Congressman For Impeachment [12] Costly Withdrawal Is the Price To Be Paid [13] Uri Avnery: Two Earthquakes [14] Fitrakis & Wasserman: Ohio's Diebold Debacle [15] Dipta Shah: The 12-Point Agenda – A Summary [16] Sanjay Upadhya: China’s ‘Nepal Card’? [17] Kamala Sarup: Sustainable Global Energy And Nepal [18] Agreement Between Political Parties And Terrorists [19] Hari Uprety: Nepal - Terrorists Can't Be Trusted [20] Martin LeFevre: A Realm Beyond Sorrow [21] Kamala Sarup: A Dialogue about Tolerance & Peace [22] Dave Crampton's Big News: The In- Work Payment [23] Stateside With Rosalea - Telly time [24] Stateside With Rosalea - F-words [25] Marc Alexander: Treasury, Taxes and Trivial Pursuit with Winston [26]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)------------
Legal Twist For CPAG – When It's Over Will Kids Get More? -
In a landmark case, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has won confirmation of its right to bring legal action against
the Government over discriminatory policies. This is the first case of its kind allowing Government legislation and
policy to be challenged. CPAG alleges aspects of the Government's family assistance policy result in significant
discrimination. See... Landmark win in human rights case [1] ALSO: Greens - Govt must stop discrimination against poorest kids [2] Lindsay Mitchell - Why the CPAG Should Lose in Court [3] Maori Party - Maori Party Salutes Child Poverty Action Group [4] Dave Crampton - The In-Work Payment [5] Public Health Association - Poorest Children Most In Need Of Support, Says PHA [6]
UN Rapporteur on Maori in New Zealand
- While the standard of living of the Maori of New Zealand has improved and is better than that of indigenous peoples
in poorer countries, there is widespread concern that the gap in social and economic conditions is actually growing
larger and an increasing proportion of Maori are being left behind, a United Nations human rights expert said today.
See... UN Rapporteur Concludes NZ Visit [1] ALSO:UN Rapporteur's Preliminary Report [2] Maori Party - Preliminary Special Rapporteur Findings Supported [3] National - UN assumptions biased presumptions [4] Te Mana Akonga - Maori students meet with United Nations Special Rapporteur [5]
Suits Pose with Goofy Giant Kiwi for Good Cause
- The Minister of Conservation, Chris Carter and Bank of New Zealand Acting General Manager Marketing Distribution & Strategy, Chris Black and kiwi at the launch of "Kiwi Forever - Kiwi Mo Ake Tonu Atu" a new education resource kit...
See... Launch of Kiwi Education Resource Kit [1]
Nats Say Ngawha Prison Staffing A Mess
- National’s Law and Order spokesman, Simon Power, says it is indicative of the mess that the prisons system is in when
84 of the 126 staff at the state-of-the-art Ngawha Prison in Northland have less than one year’s experience working in
Corrections. He is commenting on figures released to him by Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor in answers to a written
question. See... Ngawha Prison staffing cause for concern [1]
Government Abandons CoOL
- The Government has decided not to join with Australia in mandating country of origin labelling for food ... "New
Zealand has for many years opposed mandatory country of origin labelling internationally as we believe CoOL should be a
commercial decision for businesses, rather than a matter for the Government, and because we believe mandatory CoOL is
potentially an unnecessary barrier to international trade." See... Government decides not to mandate CoOL [1] ALSO:Greens - Right to know where food comes from denied [2] Business NZ - Labelling decision sensible [3] Meat and Wool NZ - Sensible approach to Country of Origin Labelling [4] Federated Farmers - Federated Farmers Welcomes Labelling Decision [5] Greens - Farmers being fed rubbish on CoOL [6]
Greens Keep United's Dunne Busy
- United Future leader, Peter Dunne, says the Greens have got it completely wrong in their criticism of United Future
over the proposed abolition of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. United Future leader, Peter Dunne, says the Greens have got
it completely wrong in their criticism of United Future over the proposed abolition of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. "We
have done no secret deals with Labour on this or any other issue in return for a Ministerial post. "United Future is
fully focused on the 15 policy points we negotiated in our confidence and supply agreement with the Government." See... Dunne debunks Green conspiracy theory [1] ALSO:Greens - Nats' opposition to Foreshore & Seabed Act evaporates [2]
Malta: Peters Refutes Media Reports That He Led Immigration Debate
- Allegations made in the media to the effect that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters is in some
way involved with leading a debate on immigration whilst attending CHOGM this week in Malta, are “totally inaccurate and
the direct result of a reporter interviewing his Malta newspaper in his hotel room,” suggested Mr Peters today. See... Peters refutes allegations of immigration debate [1] ALSO:Pacific, security and development priorities [2]
POLITICAL HEADLINES:
Govt - Student loan loophole to be closed [1] Govt - Gisborne's Youth Transition Services launched [2] Govt - National Party being dishonest on foreshore/seabed [3] Govt - Cullen: Address to the AUS Conference [4] Nats - Groundhog Day for tertiary sector [5] Nats - NZ First duped big-time over police [6] Nats - Benson-Pope must do his job [7] Greens - Meadow Fresh: tell your customers the whole story [8] Greens - Farmers being fed rubbish on CoOL [9] Greens - Airlines should be more down to earth [10]
ENDS