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Published: Fri 9 Dec 2005 05:29 PM
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Sport: Rugby Fans In For Free To Air Treat In 2007
McCully: Peters, TVNZ And Benson-Pope Targeted By Sarcasm Scud Missiles -
Culture: Tizard Acts! Bans 'No Holes' Tongue Studs
Crime: KiwiBank Scam Website Closed Down
Aid: Old Warm Interislander Uniforms To Help Freezing Afghanis
MORE HEADLINES:
WEATHER:
NEWS FLASH: Hostage Deadline Extended Till Sat.
Iranian President denies Holocaust, suggests that Israel be moved to Europe
Scoop Report: Pharmaceutical Companies Not Delivering For HIV/AIDS Children
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
INTERNATIONAL AUDIO:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
David Swanson & Cindy Sheehan Are In The UK
Marc Alexander – Food Is Important
Michel Chossudovsky: Iraq's Drive By Mercenaries
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
UQ Wire: First Village Voice Now Dutch TV
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Industry: Unions Increase Pressure On Air New Zealand
Economy: Bollard Hikes Up OCR To 7.25
POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS:
Parliament: Scoop On Politics
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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Sport: Rugby Fans In For Free To Air Treat In 2007

Hot on the heels of New Zealand securing hosting of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, TV3 confirms it has secured New Zealand broadcast rights to the 2007 event in France. “This is a significant and historical achievement for TV3, and I am delighted our track record as the major free-to-air broadcaster of Rugby in New Zealand has been endorsed with this announcement,” said CanWest MediaWorks CEO, Brent Impey. See... TV3 Secures Rights To 2007 Rugby World Cup [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00129.htm
McCully: Peters, TVNZ And Benson-Pope Targeted By Sarcasm Scud Missiles -
Our new Minister of Foreign Affairs is off on his third overseas trip in as many weeks, this time to the East Asia conference in Malaysia – an arduous amount of first class travel and banqueting for a man who so detests the baubles of office…See... www.mccully.co.nz 9 December 2005 [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00135.htm
Culture: Tizard Acts! Bans 'No Holes' Tongue Studs
- The government has banned the sale of the 'No Holes Tongue Stud'. Recently the Ministry of Consumer Affairs received a complaint from the mother of a nine-year old girl, who inhaled an imitation tongue stud while playing and had to undergo surgery to remove it from her lung. “Due to concerns about the 'No Holes Tongue Stud', I have issued an Unsafe Goods Notice, banning the sale of this product," Consumer Affairs Minister Judith Tizard said today. See... Unsafe 'No Holes Tongue Stud' banned [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00128.htm
Crime: KiwiBank Scam Website Closed Down
- Kiwibank has taken action to protect customers who may have been affected by an international Internet scam aimed at obtaining customers confidential bank details. The scam was first picked up at 4am when a large number of people, including some Kiwibank customers, received unsolicited emails requiring them to update their bank details. Kiwibank received hundreds of calls and emails from people who had received the communication. The bank immediately took action to have the illegal "replica" site closed down and provided warning messages to Kiwibank customers. See... Kiwibank Takes Action Over Internet Scam [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00133.htm
Aid: Old Warm Interislander Uniforms To Help Freezing Afghanis
- Old Interislander uniforms will provide much needed warmth to people in war-torn Afghanistan as the Northern Hemisphere winter makes itself felt. Twenty-four boxes of old Interislander uniforms, including trousers, hats, overalls, raincoats and woollen jerseys are being flown from Auckland on Saturday by the NZ Defence Force. They will be distributed to people throughout the province of Barmyan by the local Police Force. See... Afghans to don Interislander uniforms this winter [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0512/S00083.htm
MORE HEADLINES:
Litigation Unncecessary Says Waipareira Trust [1] Parents Support Kindergarten Teachers Strike [2] $25 million contract signed for 18 new Carriages [3] Canwest Mediaworks Reports Strong Trading Results [4] Straight Man “Comes Out” on Twisted Radio [5]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0512/S00084.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0512/S00042.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00127.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00130.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0512/S00054.htm
WEATHER:
National Climate Summary – Spring 2005 [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0512/S00020.htm
NEWS FLASH: Hostage Deadline Extended Till Sat.


Scoop Editorial:Deadline Tight-Rope For Peacemakers - Selwyn Manning writes
[1] that leaders throughout the Middle East, including the Palestine National Authority, have urged those who hold four men hostage in Iraq to set them free. One of the men, New Zealand resident Harmeet Sooden, is well known for speaking out for the oppressed in Palestine and for those who suffer in Iraq. Palestinians in the Middle East are united, as are their New Zealand based counterparts, in calling for Harmeet Sooden and the other three men to be released. Also, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has stated of these hostages: "Those are the same friends of the martyr Rachel Corrie who was crushed under an Israeli bulldozer as she stood in the defence of our people and her friends against the Israeli Zionist occupation. (Includes links to video and audio) See... Hostage Deadline Looms - Palestinians Urge Release [2] ALSO:Video: Captors Release Video Of Two Hostages (2) [3] Scoop Video: Captors Release Video Of Two Hostages (1) [4] TEAR Fund urges for hostage release [5] NZ Free the Peacemakers Messages + Wgtn Vigil [6]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00085.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00085.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00110.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00110.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0512/S00072.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0512/S00067.htm
Iranian President denies Holocaust, suggests that Israel be moved to Europe
- “The Secretary-General was shocked to see the remarks attributed to H.E. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in which he reportedly cast doubt on the truth of the Holocaust and suggested that the State of Israel should be moved from the Middle East to Europe,” a spokesman for Mr. Annan said in a statement. Last month, the General Assembly passed a resolution which rejects “any denial of the Holocaust as an historical event, either in full or in part,” the Secretary-General recalled, urging all Member States “to combat such denial, and to educate their populations about the well established historical facts of the Holocaust, in which one third of the Jewish people were murdered, along with countless members of other minorities.” See... Reacting against Iranian leader’s reported Holocaust denial, Annan points to facts [1] ALSO:New Red Cross emblem (pictured above) allows Israel’s participation [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00187.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00190.htm
Scoop Report: Pharmaceutical Companies Not Delivering For HIV/AIDS Children
- Marietta Gross reports from Austria - Every minute a child under the age of 15 is infected with HIV. AIDS kills 1400 children every day and takes more than half a million young lives every year. This is the sad reality facing the world on World-AIDS-Day 2005. See... World AIDS: Bureaucracy & Greed Prevent Solution [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00070.htm
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
UK Lords confirm torture "evidence" unacceptable [1] Australia: thousands attend funeral for Van Nguyen [2] Croatia: Gotovina to go to The Hague [3] UN agencies use video games to raise awareness [4] Castro Speech: 30th Anniversary Of Angola Mission [5]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00197.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00207.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00198.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00191.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0512/S00184.htm
INTERNATIONAL AUDIO:

Scoop Audio: Amy Goodman Interview with Stan Tookie Williams, founder of the Crips and now death row inmate, scheduled to die December 13, 2005. [1]
Scoop Audio: Eritrea Expels UN Without Explanation. Source: UN [2]
Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief [3]
[1] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0512/Tookie_interview.m3u
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0512/Eritrea_expells_UN.m3u
[3] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0512/UN_brief_9_12.m3u
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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David Swanson & Cindy Sheehan Are In The UK
- Today, Cindy Sheehan and Scottish mothers who have lost their sons in Iraq held a rally outside the Scottish parliament, spoke at a cross-party meeting of Members of the Scottish Parliament, were welcomed to the City of Glasgow by the Lord Provost, and addressed an anti-war rally in Glasgow. This, plus the trips up to Scotland from London and back took Cindy and Andrew Burgin and me about 16 hours, so we're a wee bit knackered, but we're learning to speak the lingo – and I'm going to run out for fish and chips after posting this. See... David Swanson: Scotland - Stop the War! [1] and Mayor of London Calls Bushies "A Gang of Thugs" [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00119.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00093.htm
Marc Alexander – Food Is Important
- Food is an important part of a person's life.but so is personal choice and responsibility. The battle of the bulge begins anew! In the left corner we have the self-appointed campaigners for more government intrusions into our lives; their latest crusade is to curb the size and sales of certain foods deemed injurious to the waistlines of Kiwis. See... Marc My Words 9 December 2005 [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00112.htm
Michel Chossudovsky: Iraq's Drive By Mercenaries
- Security contractors of the so-called "Victory" Group of the British mercenary Firm Aegis Defense Services have committed the ultimate war crime: the indiscriminate killing of civilians as part of a "game", not a video game but a real game of shooting Iraqi civilians as a form of entertainment, as revealed in a "trophy video" posted on an Aegis employees website. There are in fact several video clips, which suggests that the practice is not an isolated event. See... British Mercenaries Shooting at Baghdad Motorists [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00108.htm
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
Russell Brown Et Al. - Public Address. 9/12: 1 More to the Big Shiny Machine [1] & Public Address 08/12/05 - American Taliban [2] No Right Turn - "Repugnant To Justice" (Not) [3] William Blum - William Blum's Anti-Empire Report - Dec. 6, 2005 [4] Martin LeFevre When the State Murders Murderers [5] Green Left Weekly - Hurricane Havoc: Is Global Warming To Blame? [6] Sol Salbe - US Govt. Loses Key Court Test Of Patriot Act [7] UNITED STATES: Bill Grigsby - Bill Grigsby: Even Meltdowns Generate Light [8] Ramzy Baroud - The Media is No Exception [9] William Rivers Pitt - Iraq and the Democrats [10] Douglas Mattern - The Rise Of Plutocracy & Corporate Rule [11] Mark Drolette - Yes, We’re A Peaceful Nation -- And Chimps Fly [12] Jason Leopold - Donald Rumsfeld's War [13] NEPAL: Michael Putin - Nepal's Political Situation Requires Perspectives [14] Narconews - Canada's Amb. in Ecuador Helped Plan Haiti Coup [15] Raman Raj Misra - Strategy With Slogan Of Democracy: A Speculation [16] M.R. Josse - Indo-US Tango - Implications [17] Kamala Sarup - Kamala Sarup: Women And AIDS-World AIDS Day [18]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00117.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00107.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00118.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00094.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00105.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00104.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00103.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00092.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00116.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00115.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00114.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00113.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00106.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00100.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00099.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00097.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00096.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00095.htm
UQ Wire: First Village Voice Now Dutch TV
- Was 9/11 more than just an attack? Could the Bush administration have had anything to gain from the attack? Two prominent European politicians, Michael Meacher and Andreas von Bülow, express their serious doubts about the official version of the ... See... UQ Wire: Dutch TV Documentary On 9/11 Questions [1] MORE: William Fisher - UQ Wire: U.S.Terrorism Prosecutions, 2005 [2] UQ Wire: Village Voice - 10 Unanswered Questions [3] UQ Wire: Village Voice – Running From 9/11 Truth [4]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00102.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00101.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00082.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00083.htm
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Questions And Answers - December 8 2005 [1] Questions And Answers - December 7 2005 [2] Questions And Answers - December 6 2005 [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00133.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00092.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00071.htm
Industry: Unions Increase Pressure On Air New Zealand
- Consultants hired by the unions representing aircraft engineers have significant concerns about elements of Air New Zealand’s proposal to send heavy engineering work overseas, and say that the union groups’ proposal can save the airline up to $12 million a year and still keep much of the work in New Zealand. Consultants Michael Stiassny and Brendon Gibson of Ferrier Hodgson have assisted the union groups in preparing a proposal, presented to airline managers by workers outside the Air New Zealand head office in downtown Auckland this morning (Thursday). (Image by Phil Crawford) See... Unions’ proposal will save Air NZ jobs [1] ALSO: Images: Unions Apply Pressure To Air New Zealand [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00106.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0512/S00076.htm
Economy: Bollard Hikes Up OCR To 7.25
- The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will increase by 25 basis points to 7.25 per cent. "As emphasised in our September MPS, and again at the October OCR Review, we remain concerned about the tightness of resources and the persistence of inflation pressures. Exporters and other businesses exposed to the very high exchange rate are under considerable pressure and general business sector confidence is falling in the face of declining profit margins. However, overall demand continues to outstrip available capacity." See... Reserve Bank increases OCR to 7.25 per cent [1] ALSO:Interest Rates Hurting Farmers [2] Cash rate rise will hurt exporters and cost jobs [3] ACT - Merry Christmas, Mr Bollard! [4]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00098.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00111.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0512/S00099.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00100.htm
POLITICAL HEADLINES:
Govt - Common sense changes to amateur fishing regulation [1] Govt - Victims can make claims against Taunoa [2] Govt - Unsafe 'No Holes Tongue Stud' banned [3] NZ First - Spare A Thought For The Farmers [4] Nats - Cost overruns for yet another prison [5] Nats - Prisoner compo ruling repugnant [6] Nats - Stop the carnage on SH2 - hand over petrol tax [7] Nats - Principles dilemma awaits Peters [8] Maori Party - Harawira: Control of Prostitution Bill Speech [9] Maori Party - Sharples: Taxation Bill Speech [10] ACT - Now's The Time For Tax Cuts [11]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00140.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00136.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00128.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00139.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00141.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00131.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00130.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00129.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00126.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00125.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00138.htm
POLITICAL COLUMNS:
Govt - Beehive Bulletin - 9 December 2005 [1] Nats - www.mccully.co.nz 9 December 2005 [2] Nats - Newsworthy: 9 December 2005 [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00137.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00135.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00132.htm
Parliament: Scoop On Politics
- Alastair Thompson reports that in question time today Social Development Minister David Benson Pope repeatedly refused to directly answer questions over his alleged involvement in a tennis ball incident that occurred at Bayfield High School 23 years ago. Questioned by ACT's Rodney Hide and National's Judith Collins Mr Benson-Pope three times repeated the answer: "I am one of the 19 people who either do not recall the events or do not believe they happened." This caused considerable consternation to Mr Hide who sought the speaker's intervention to insist on an answer to the question as to which of the two groups Mr Benson-Pope now believed he belonged - those who could not remember, or those who believed it didn't happen. See... David Benson-Pope Hedges In House On Tennis Ball [1] ALSO:

Scoop Audio: PM's Presser December 5, 2005
[2] David Benson-Pope Police File – Key Documents [3] David Benson-Pope Enquiry – Complete Police File [4] Russell Brown - Public Address 06/12/05 - Balls [5] Minister says report vindicates his position [6] Benson-Pope notes change in story by his accuser [7] Collins concerned by apparent privacy breach [8] Nats - Benson-Pope changes his story [9]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00050.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00036.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00034.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00035.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00067.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00042.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00054.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00050.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0512/S00064.htm
ENDS
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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