Scoop: Top Scoops (Today Is Budget Day!)

Thursday, 18 May 2006, 10:53 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

EDITOR'S NOTE: This shortened early version of Top Scoops is being posted to clear the news decks at Scoop in the lead up to the 2006 New Zealand Government Budget which will be unveiled at 2pm this afternoon. Scoop's comprehensive coverage of the budget with comment, audio and live reaction will commence at 2pm. Scoop.co.nz's budget coverage will be coordinated on this page:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2006.html
And a Special edition of Top Scoops will be posted this evening with a roundup of all the news.

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:

Budget 2006: Pre-Budget Speculation Special
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Taxation: Dunne Turns Down Heat on Overseas Capital Gains
Sharemarket: Minister Referred to Securities Commission for Telecom Comments
RECOMMENDED AUDIO:
Retirement: Nurses Union Says All Images Have Consent
Kiwi Pride: New National Representative Meets Baby National Icon in Washington
MORE HEADLINES:
Kofi Annan Suggests Bans On Interviewing Terrorists
State Department Looking For a Fight In Which It Might Get a Black Eye
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Motoring: Karl Ferguson's Motornet: Peugeot’s Excellent 407
United States: Falling In Love In NYC
UQ Wire: Cocaine One --> Titan Corp --> 9/11
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

Budget 2006: Pre-Budget Speculation Special

[1] For many, Budget time means just another list of new services and funding from Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen, announcements which mean nothing to ordinary people. However, the Government is committed to creating and supporting a better future for all New Zealanders. David Coates, Rakaia’s Labour spokesman and resident of Darfield, says, “Budget 2006 will affect the citizens of the Selwyn and Ashburton Districts in many positive ways.” See…What’s in Budget 2006 for you? [2] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00184.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00184.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00176.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00350.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00390.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0605/S00051.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00367.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00398.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00387.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00361.htm

Taxation: Dunne Turns Down Heat on Overseas Capital Gains

- The Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, announced today, that after listening carefully to public submissions, the Government will bring in an amendment to the Tax Bill introduced into Parliament today, with the intention of calming ill-founded fears among New Zealanders with overseas investments in companies such as the Guinness Peat Group. See... Amendment to 2006 Tax Bill [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00379.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00397.htm

Sharemarket: Minister Referred to Securities Commission for Telecom Comments

- Communications Minister David Cunliffe has shown his ineptidude and commercial naivety by his hamfisted comments on Telecom's dividend policy, says National Finance spokesman John Key. "Mr Cunliffe was running scared in Parliament today after the Stock Exchange referred the comments he made yesterday to the Securities Commission. See... Cunliffe in serious trouble over Telecom comments [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00376.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00388.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00386.htm

RECOMMENDED AUDIO:

Scoop Audio: Audio: Scoop's Kevin List discusses on Radio Active the main events surrounding Budget Day 2006, including 1000 more police and millions wiped off Telecom's market values... [1] Scoop Audio: Selwyn Manning on Radio Adelaide, discusses: The 'Budget Leaker' – Large quake strikes north-east of New Zealand – Mark Inglis conquers Mt. Everest. [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00273.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00250.htm

Retirement: Nurses Union Says All Images Have Consent

- The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has today reconfirmed that the family of a rest home resident whose photograph appears in a photo essay published in NZNO's magazine Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand gave full consent for publication. NZNO acting CEO, Cee Payne-Harker, said NZNO stands by its view that media reports of another family's involvement have been a case of mistaken identity. See... Media statement regarding images of caregiving [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0605/S00120.htm

Kiwi Pride: New National Representative Meets Baby National Icon in Washington

- A North Island brown kiwi, Manaia, hatched at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington in February... It is still too young to be on public display, but the chick was shown to the children today during an educational visit arranged by the Embassy. The chick, named Manaia, was born on February 13 - the same day New Zealand's new Ambassador Roy Ferguson arrived in Washington. See... Two Kiwis meet in DC [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00178.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00396.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00182.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0605/S00155.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0605/S00124.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00371.htm

Kofi Annan Suggests Bans On Interviewing Terrorists

- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has recently issued a report on "a global counter-terrorism strategy" in which he appears to speak approvingly of "bans on interviewing terrorists." The Secretary General's 32-page report to the UN General Assembly contains his recommendations for the international community to fight back against terrorism. Amongst his recommendations is an offer to convene an international conference with journalists' associations and press freedom groups for them to consider codes of conduct on dealing with terrorists. The sole example Mr. Annan gives of measures for them to consider is "bans on interviewing terrorists." See... Concern Over “Bans On Interviewing Terrorists” [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00319.htm

State Department Looking For a Fight In Which It Might Get a Black Eye

- In yet another blow to the credibility of one of its annually released “certification” reports on the performance of other nations on some broad social or political issue – this time on the degree of cooperation in the anti-terrorism struggle – the State Department in its 2006 compilation included Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, and accused Venezuela of a high degree of non-cooperation. The decades-old and always sketchy evidence involving the Castro regime in alleged terrorist activity has been used to buttress Washington’s crusade against Havana. As for the spurious nature of its case against Chávez, this has caused a number of area specialists to dismiss Washington’s claims as disgraceful inventions that are totally devoid of substance or integrity. See... State Dept. Looks for a Fight & a Black Eye [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00291.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00317.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00311.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00306.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00305.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00304.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00294.htm

Motoring: Karl Ferguson's Motornet: Peugeot’s Excellent 407

- Honestly, I really didn’t think I was going that quick. It was a bright sunny weekend in late summer, and we were headed for New Plymouth for a weekend away. The idea was to travel in two cars and rendevous in Wanganui for lunch. See... MOTORNET: Six-Speed Sensation [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00287.htm

United States: Falling In Love In NYC

- I love America. And I have to say I love Americans too. I feel the need to say this because as a New Zealander living overseas I often hear about what a friendly nation we are and how we’re always happy to help people out and ‘lend a hand.’ But here’s a news flash, so are Americans – incredibly so and in my view they’re a lot more friendlier than your average Kiwi. See... Kirk MacGibbon: I love America [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00286.htm

UQ Wire: Cocaine One --> Titan Corp --> 9/11

- A MadCowMorningNews investigation into the ownership of the DC9 airliner caught carrying 5.5 tons of cocaine in Mexico last month has uncovered explosive new details about some of the many lingering mysteries still surrounding the 9.11 attack. See... UQ Wire: Coke Bust Connection To 9.11 Attack [1] & UQ Wire: Titan Corp. Connection To Cocaine One [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00279.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00277.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00288.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00284.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00283.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00282.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00281.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00280.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00278.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00276.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00275.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00274.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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