TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Scoop Column: Climate Science And 'Back Of the Y' Movie -
Telecom Leak: State Services Commission Hot on the Case
MORE HEADLINES:
Race Relations: Protocol v Sexism Battle Escalates
Fashion: Beckham's Barber Chooses Kiwi Tonsorial Wizzard -
Justice: Bar Association vs McCully vs Arnold
Environment Wars: The Climate Coalition Strike Back -
Solomon Islands: New Government Happy With Taiwan, For Now
Press Freedom: Journalists Killed As UNESCO Presents Press Freedom Prize
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Antiquities: Suzan Mazur's Continuing Coverage Of Antiquities Theft
Smuggling: Daniel Hopsicker On The Mystery Of "Cocaine One"
Telecommunications: What Is Theresa Gattung Saying Here?
Spooks: CIA Director Resigns In Midst Of Hookergate Scandal
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:
Broadcasting: Alternative Media Grills Maharey Over Kiwi FM -
Civil Defence: Information Flow Review After Failure to Declare Non-Emergency
Brethren: National Releases Files But Hodgson Still Wants To Know More -
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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[1] Once again a brave, and perhaps foolhardy group of celebrities and politicians donned their glad rags and sparkled and shone across the small screen in the second series of TV One's 'Dancing with the Stars'. Those tripping the light fantastic for the second series of New Zealand's most popular dancing show include Act Leader Rodney Hide, former WINZ boss Christine Rankin and Shortland Street's David Wikaira-Paul. Mr Paul is joined by Tim Shadbolt's former partner - the lovely Rebecca. Mr Shadbolt is unlikely to be cha-cha-chaing anytime soon due to a horrendous car accident. See... Images: Dancing With the Stars Part Deux [2]
Scoop Column: Climate Science And 'Back Of the Y' Movie -
This week saw the birth of an entirely new lobby group aimed at easing the public's fears about a climate change
apocalypse. The NZ Climate Science Coalition is a group of scientists who have nobly taken it upon themselves to make
certain SUV drivers, coal-fired power station owners and dairy farmers feel good about potentially frying the earth.
Sadly, there are those with an interest in making people feel bad about burning fossil fuels who consider the
coalition's motives may not be entirely altruistic. See... A Week of It: Climate Coalition and Other Stunts [1]
Telecom Leak: State Services Commission Hot on the Case
- The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, today released the Terms of Reference for his inquiry into the
disclosure of classified information about the Government's Telecommunications Stocktake Review to Telecom. Mark Prebble
has appointed the State Services Commission's Chief Legal Advisor, David Shanks to initiate the inquiry on his behalf.
See... Inquiry Into Disclosure of Telecom Review Info [1]
MORE HEADLINES:
Inquiry into disability services needed [1] Deal Could Shift Dhb Clerical Workers To National [2] Annual Wage Growth Continues [3] Creative New Zealand recognises excellence [4] Call for Newborns to Have Access toVaccine [5]
Race Relations: Protocol v Sexism Battle Escalates
- United Future's deputy leader, Judy Turner MP, is describing a walkout by two National MP's from a powhiri as
disrespectful grandstanding. National's Judith Collins and Anne Tolley walked out of the welcome to a Parliamentary
select committee at a youth justice facility last Friday. The two women said they did not agree with Maori protocol that
relegated women to the back row. See... Turner slams National MP's disrespect [1] ALSO:National - Collins refutes PM's claims over walk-out [2] Greens - Nats' powhiri insult deserves apology - Greens [3]
Fashion: Beckham's Barber Chooses Kiwi Tonsorial Wizzard -
An international-based judging team, including David Beckham’s hairdresser, has selected Iain Smith of ME, Auckland, for
the most acclaimed hair award in New Zealand. Iain Smith, owner of ME, and a finalist in the Hair Expo Australia Awards,
was named as Schwarzkopf Professional Hairdresser of the Year 2006/2007. See... Auckland Finalist Takes Top Prize In Hair Awards [1] ALL IMAGES: Schwarzkopf Hairdressing Awards Finalists Images Part One Schwarzkopf Hairdressing Awards Finalists Images Part Two
Justice: Bar Association vs McCully vs Arnold
- I have just read the piece that you have posted on your website expressing strong and critical views about the
performance of Terence Arnold during his tenure as Solicitor General and also his fitness to be appointed as a Judge of
the Court of Appeal. On behalf of the New Zealand Bar Association, I wish to place on record that your views are not
shared by the Bar as a whole... Letter to Murray McCully re: Terence Arnold [1] ALSO:Murray McCully - www.mccully.co.nz: Arnold Unfit For Appeal Bench [2]
Environment Wars: The Climate Coalition Strike Back -
On May 1, Greenpeace released a press statement in which they discussed the formation of a new climate science
organization in New Zealand, the New Zealand Climate Science Consortium. Those looking for wise words of guidance from
Greenpeace on a major environmental issue have been sadly let down. We comment, in numbered order, on twelve selected
statements from Greenpeace’s review (their statements in italics): See…NZ Climate Science Coalition Reply To Greenpeace [1] Earlier: Scientists Group to Refute Global Warming ClaimsGreenpeace - 'Climate scientists' about politics and businessDr David Wratt - Why we need an IPCC [2] UN - Poor will feel greatest impact of climate change [3] Scoop link - The Luntz Memo (referred to in Greenpeace release)
Solomon Islands: New Government Happy With Taiwan, For Now
- The newly elected prime minister of Solomon Islands, Manassseh Sogavare (pictured, image by Jason Dorday), says his administration has now immediate intention of switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. Mr
Sogavare had signalled in the run up to yesterday’s victory over Fred Fono that he would consider ending the long
standing relationship with Taiwan. Mr Fono had strongly advised against such a move. See... Solomon Islands new govt happy with Taiwan for now [1] ALSO:Honiara: Military presence being assessed daily [2] Solomons govt to focus on corruption & grievances [3]
Press Freedom: Journalists Killed As UNESCO Presents Press Freedom Prize
- Even as he presented an award to a Lebanese journalist who lost a hand and a leg in an attempted car bomb
assassination, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had to deplore
the murder of two more media professionals on the eve of the ceremony and in the very country hosting it. See... Journalists killed as UNESCO presents press freedom prize [1]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
West Papuan Refugee Confronts Rio Tinto Over Freeport Mine [1] Fiji’s military commander advises soldiers on vote [2] Nepal: UN to build on recent positive steps [3] Official Sounds Alarm Over Inaction on Darfur [4] Bolivia: Morales Does the Unthinkable - Carries out Pledge [5]
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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Antiquities: Suzan Mazur's Continuing Coverage Of Antiquities Theft
- It is not totally surprising that New York antiquities dealer Ed Merrin appears to be caught in the dragnet of
Italian prosecutors who are conducting a criminal trial in Rome, having already charged dealer Bob Hecht and former
Getty Museum curator Marion True with conspiracy to traffic in ancient art. Merrin testified before US Congress in the
1970s in opposition to H.R. 5643, a bill designed to implement the UNESCO convention protecting cultural property. He
has said "prohibition never worked and never will work". See... Merrin Gallery In Italy's Antiquities Dragnet? [1]
Smuggling: Daniel Hopsicker On The Mystery Of "Cocaine One"
- In the two weeks since an American DC9 airliner was busted by Mexican troops at a small airport in the Yucatan,
carrying 5.5 tons of cocaine packed neatly into 128 identical black suitcases (somewhat hilariously marked 'private')
the search for the true owners of the plane has produced these startling new developments... See... The CIA, Cocaine One & Putting Planes in 'Suspense [1]
Telecommunications: What Is Theresa Gattung Saying Here?
- Another journalist provided me with a copy of this short, startling clip [1] of Theresa Gattung explaining the incumbent telco business model: using "confusion" as a "marketing tool" to
maintain prices and margins. I don't know its exact provenance - just that it was at "a conference", and it may well
have been plucked out of context. But it is, nonetheless, an extraordinary revelation. See... Public Address 08/05/06 - "Not Being Straight-Up" [2] . Earlier Public Address… Public Address 05/05/06 - Boing Boinged! [3]
Spooks: CIA Director Resigns In Midst Of Hookergate Scandal
- Yesterday's surprise announcement by Porter Goss comes on the heels of press stories that members of Congress
received sexual favors from prostitutes allegedly procured by Brent Wilkes, an entrepreneur implicated in the bribery of
Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Wilkes, we are told, hosted poker and hooker parties at the Watergate Hotel. Wilkes
also happened to be an old high school buddy of the CIA's number three man, Dusty Foggo. See... Larry Johnson: Why Did Goss Resign? [1] MORE: William Rivers Pitt - : Going Nukular [2] Mark G. Levy - The FBI Busts Goss, Wilkes & GOP Spy Industry [3]
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION
NEW ZEALAND:Rosalea Barker - Stateside: Who Goes There? [1] John Roughan - Lessons From The Chinatown Burnout? [2] UNITED STATES:Jason Leopold - Last Question is Obstruction for Fitzgerald, Rove [3] Larry C. Johnson - Ray, You da Man! [4] William Fisher - Remember the Edsel! [5] , William Fisher: Spinning America's Forgotten War [6] & Let's Hear It for the Voice of Democracy! [7] David Swanson - WaPo Attempt to Defend Rumsfeld Against McGovern [8] , RNC Attack on John Conyers Demands Dems Action [9] , Atheists for Peace [10] , Wrongly Convicted, Almost Executed, Awarded $2.25M [11] , Lobbying Hitler's Legislature for Peace [12] & Made By Slaves, Backed by Congress [13] Wasserman & Fitrakis - OH Election Thief Gets Nod As Machines Malfunction [14] Evelyn Pringle - Kids Dying From Off-Label Use Of Antipsychotics [15] Marjorie Cohn - Moussaoui Jurors Choose Life [16] Bill Berkowitz - Open Season On Undocumented Immigrants [17] Greg Palast - Immigrants "Must Learn To Misinterpreate English" [18] Ceci Wheeler - May Day In Pittsburgh [19] Jason Miller - Success is Not An Option [20] Cindy Sheehan - Pro-American = Anti-BushCo [21] Sam Smith - Flotsam & Jetsam [22] ELSEWHERE:Uri Avnery - 300 Kisses [23] Masalai i tokaut - Kina Securities Admits Rimbunan Hijau Ownership! [24] Gabriel Kolko - US Visions For Expanding NATO Include Australia [25] Narconews - Protest at Mexican Consulate in New York, Friday [26] NEPAL: John Lama - Exorcise Evil Spirit Before It Is Too Late [27] I.K. Pradhan - Development Through Unity Of King And People [28] Sanjay Upadhya - Clarity At Home, Cloudiness Abroad [29] D.Michael Van De Veer - Will Nepal’s King Be Charged With Crimes [30] Kamala Sarup - We Can Not Agree At Maoists Violence [31] M.R. Josse - US Will Oppose Maoist Takeover Of Nepal: Boucher [32] Shashi Malla - Constituent Assembly & Nepal Future [33]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:
Broadcasting: Alternative Media Grills Maharey Over Kiwi FM -
Today on RDU98.5FM Mornings, Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey confirmed that: Canwest will sell advertising on the
Public-owned frequencies that it has been gifted by the Government. Canwest will be able to broadcast another commercial
product on the current KiwiFM frequencies. Canwest’s Radioworks will sell advertising on KiwiFM without the kind of
limits applied to National Radio or the B-Net. See... Canwest profits from Government giveaway [1] ALSO:National - Minister can’t play favourites on radio stations [2] Pulzar FM - Govt Dumps on Small Radio Station, Again [3]
Civil Defence: Information Flow Review After Failure to Declare Non-Emergency
- The Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management is to review the way it handles information flows after erroneous
overseas media reports caused unnecessary alarm in New Zealand. Misreporting by the BBC overnight led many people to
believe a tsunami as heading for New Zealand. It was not. See... MCDEM to review overseas media handling [1] ALSO:National - Civil Defence inadequacies unacceptable [2] Greens - Civil Defence all at sea over media work [3] Auckland Civil Defence - Auckland Response Improved [4] Red Cross - Tsunami threat provides a valuable workout for Red Cross warning system [5] Auckland Rescue Helicopter - Tsunami alert test of disaster relocation protocol [6] Emergency Information Services - Text Response system would have averted confusion [7] Community Emergency Supplies - Tsunami Raises Issues of Preparedness [8]
Brethren: National Releases Files But Hodgson Still Wants To Know More -
Labour is calling on National leader Don Brash to explain his meetings last year with the Exclusive Brethren following
an admission that the Brethren wanted to brief the National leader on their smear campaign. A police investigation –
made public by National – shows that the Exclusive Brethren attempted to include Don Brash’s photo and an endorsement in
its $1.2 million smear advertising against Labour and the Greens during last year’s election. See…Please explain, Dr Brash [1]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt - Appointments to Film and Literature Review Board [1] NZ Govt - Lotteries Commission Reappointments Announced [2] NZ Govt - Number of beneficiaries continues to tumble [3] NZ Govt - National must state its broadband policy [4] NZ Govt - Hodgson announces midwives training programme [5] Labour - Government delivers certainty for Otaki workers [6] National - Treaty money can’t hide Labour’s ‘go-slow’ agenda [7] National - Moratorium on waiting list cull - National [8] National - Corrections fess up - Minister must do the same [9] National - Still waiting for Barker’s apology [10] National - Big pay rises for CYF bureaucrats [11] National - Taxing Times [12] National - National right behind farmers [13] National - Dealing with Treaty issues crucial for growth [14] Green Party - Greens want broader inquiry on pepper spray use [15] Green Party - Treaty funding boost to rip off Maori [16]
POLITICAL COLUMNS
Murray McCully - www.mccully.co.nz 5 May 2006 (#245) [1] Heather Roy's Diary, 5 May 2006 [2] Marc Alexander - Marc My Words: The 'nut-brigade' are at it again [3] Pansy Wong - Pansy Speak: In the eyes of a Father [4]
ENDS