Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 4:10 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Scoop Image: Satellite Image of South Island Snow
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
RECOMMENDED AUDIO:
Animal Welfare: Most battery eggs to be labelled
Environment: Druids, kissers celebrate mistletoe rediscovery
Music: Auck Philharmonia Plays Pink Floyd!
Legal Stimulation: Greens Want Party Pills To Remain On Sale
MORE HEADLINES:
Weather: Hurricane Season Begins For South-East Coast of USA
International News: United States Military Reports On Zarqawi Autopsy
Guantanamo Bay: Three Detainees Commit Suicide In Despair
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Peter King Examines The New Zealand Defence Force
Stateside: Where Rosalea Attends An NZ Maori Rugby Match
Jason Leopold: Where The Rove Indictment Is Now At
Gitmo – Where Suicide Is "A Good PR Move "
More Comment On The Death Of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Politics: Norman New Greens Trade & Economics Spokesperson
Legislation: NZKC Says Dead Dogs Liable For Fine
Politics: National's Numbers Guru Wants Help To Correct GST Error
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

Scoop Image: Satellite Image of South Island Snow

An image of the snowbound South Island taken from NASA's Modis Satellite. The satellite happened to pass over New Zealand to capture much of the South Island under snow. Thousands of South Islanders throughout the Otago, McKenzie Country and Canterbury regions remain without electricity and telecommunications today. The crisis is due to the Big Freezy weather-Bomb that hit the Mainland this week. Electricity woes will continue through to the weekend. See... Scoop Image: Southern Snow From Outer Space [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00177.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0606/S00137.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00151.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00230.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00194.htm

RECOMMENDED AUDIO:

RDU Audio: Scoop's Kevin List and RDU's Wammo discuss: [1] Deportation; Zarqawi's autopsy; Nats private prisons call; microchipping; energy; citizen journalism and journalism courses… RDU Audio: Wammo IVs National's John Key [2] on state houses and the Hobsonville anomaly. Scoop Audio: Selwyn Manning and Radio Adelaide 's Peter Godfrey discuss: [3] Auckland's power-outage; the Rayed Ali deportation; and NZ wine served to the Queen at her birthday bash.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00189.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00190.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00178.htm

Animal Welfare: Most battery eggs to be labelled

- Battery hen opponents lay claim to second win Two of New Zealand’s largest battery hen producers have bowed to pressure from animal advocacy organisation SAFE following calls for mandatory labelling of egg cartons, and say they will label their battery eggs. This unexpected announcement is the second victory for battery hens in less than a month. SAFE welcomes the move calling it a “triumphant occasion for consumers and caged hens”. See... Battery hen opponents lay claim to second win [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00133.htm

Environment: Druids, kissers celebrate mistletoe rediscovery

- Ecologists and conservationists are amongst those brimming with excitement following an historic rediscovery of a native mistletoe thought to be extinct in the Wellington region. The yellow mistletoe, Alepis flavida was recently found on the banks of the Kaiwhata River in Eastern Wairarapa, the same area where it was last seen in1947. See... Historic rediscovery of 'extinct' mistletoe [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0606/S00030.htm

Music: Auck Philharmonia Plays Pink Floyd!

- The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is nothing if not diverse in its programming. On Saturday 22 July the APO lets fly on the rock stage when it teams up with Australian PINK FLOYD PROJECT to bring the timeless anthems of the iconic British super group to life. The full strength APO will be joined on stage by a ten piece band featuring some of Australia’s most highly regarded music identities. Fronting the performance will be soloists Rob Pippan (guitar), Warwick Cheatle (bass) and John Zak (drums). The fine musicianship is also extended by arrangers Jamie Messenger and Bruce Stewart who have penned the orchestral score for this concert. See... “Us and Them”… Pink Floyd Project rocks with APO [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0606/S00100.htm

Legal Stimulation: Greens Want Party Pills To Remain On Sale

- The findings of the first of four research projects into party pill use and its effects are being welcomed by the Green Party, with a note of caution that they should not be used to justify total prohibition. The research, which shows that as many as one in five New Zealanders have tried BZP or party pills, was released by the Ministerial Committee on Drugs today. It also found that 60 per cent of those surveyed believed there should be tougher regulation of the sale of the pills. See... Party pill research doesn't justify prohibition [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00215.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00216.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00228.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00134.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00123.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00120.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00119.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0606/S00177.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0606/S00097.htm

Weather: Hurricane Season Begins For South-East Coast of USA

- The Atlantic Hurricane season for 2006 is expected to be one of the worst ever. Last year's season was in fact the worst ever to date, and will be hard to beat, however, so far 2006 is shaping up as expected. Nine days into the season what is now Tropical Storm Alberto started to form in the Gulf of Mexico. Four days later 20,000 Florida residents have been ordered to evacuate a section of the Florida coast which is expected to bear the brunt of an 8-10 foot storm surge in advance of the hurricane – which according to the latest advisory is now not expected to be an actual hurricane on landfall in 18 hours. See... Supercomputer Weather: Hurricane Alberto? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00176.htm

International News: United States Military Reports On Zarqawi Autopsy

- U.S. Military has released details of an autopsy carried out on the body of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. It reported that he survived for nearly an hour after two 500lb bombs struck Zarqawi's 'safe-house' but died from "massive internal injuries" caused by shockwaves from the bomb blasts. Scoop has obtained new images of the bombed out 'target' and that of a diagram report resulting from Al Zarqawi's autopsy. See... New Images: U.S. Killing Of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00175.htm

Guantanamo Bay: Three Detainees Commit Suicide In Despair

- Three detainees at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, died of apparent suicides early this morning, military officials reported today. Two Saudis and one Yemeni, all located in Camp 1 of the detention center, were found unresponsive and not breathing in their cells, Navy Rear Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, said in a news conference. The first detainee was found shortly after midnight, and the other detainees were found within minutes, Harris said. See... Guantanamo Bay Detainees Die of Apparent Suicide [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00271.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00265.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00264.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00269.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00267.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00262.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00261.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0606/S00260.htm

Peter King Examines The New Zealand Defence Force

- This study is a private investigation into the value for money offered by Vote Defence. It concludes that it should be possible to operate a defence force that is better equipped and more capable of responding to all likely emergencies than the one we have at present. The force would have higher wages, lower operating costs but have a headcount of just over two thirds of the current force. See... A NZ Security Review - Opportunities Lost [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00185.htm

Stateside: Where Rosalea Attends An NZ Maori Rugby Match

- So what if the only technical rugby terms I know are "whip" and "arse"? They're all anyone needed to do a commentary for the Barclay's Churchill Cup match on Wednesday evening at Santa Clara University, down in the Silicon Valley. I will spare you the commentary, but here are some pix. See... Stateside With Rosalea: What Can I Say? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00174.htm

Jason Leopold: Where The Rove Indictment Is Now At

- Four weeks ago, during the time when we reported that White House political adviser Karl Rove was indicted for crimes related to his role in the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson, the grand jury empanelled in the case returned an indictment that was filed under seal in US District Court for the District of Columbia under the curious heading of Sealed vs. Sealed. See... Jason Leopold: Sealed vs. Sealed [1] MORE: Evelyn Pringle - Karl Rove Gets Off - I Want My Money Back [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00169.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00186.htm

Gitmo – Where Suicide Is "A Good PR Move "

- The US Government today sought to distance itself from a statement calling the suicides of three Guantanamo Bay prisoners "a good PR move to draw attention" as human rights groups, legal experts and newspapers in the Middle East renewed calls for the prison's closing. Colleen Graffy, deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state for public diplomacy, told the British Broadcasting Corporation over last weekend that the suicides at the US-run camp in Cuba were a "good P.R. move to draw attention" and "a tactic to further the jihadi cause." See... William Fisher: Will Gitmo Go Away? [1] & William Fisher: And the Oscar Goes To ... [2] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00187.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00181.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00162.htm

More Comment On The Death Of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi

- As reported in 2004 by Jim Miklaszewski of NBC News the U.S. Military presented President Bush three plans to kill or capture Abu Musab Al Zarqawi [link] between June of 2002 and January, 2003 before the invasion of Iraq. In each instance the authorization was not forthcoming. They never pulled the trigger and by March of 2004 over 700 terrorist killings had been blamed on Zarqawi. Investigative reporter, Greg Palast presents the case that it was the U.S. that effectively invited Zarqawi into Iraq in the first place. See… UQ Wire: Zarqawi, 9/11 and the Bogus War on Terror [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00156.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00146.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00184.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00188.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00171.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00170.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00149.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00148.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00144.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00183.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00182.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00159.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00142.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00141.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00140.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00173.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00172.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00168.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00166.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00165.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00164.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00145.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00163.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00161.htm
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00160.htm
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00158.htm
[24] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00157.htm
[25] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00147.htm
[26] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0606/S00143.htm

Politics: Norman New Greens Trade & Economics Spokesperson

- New Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman is to take responsibility for speaking on the areas of trade, economics and electoral issues, Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says. "Russel will add another pair of competent hands and expand the capacity of our Green team," she says. "Russel's strengths are a good match for the portfolios that Rod used to hold and I am delighted Rod's work will continue in safe hands. See... Fitzsimons welcomes extra pair of hands [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00209.htm

Legislation: NZKC Says Dead Dogs Liable For Fine

- The NZ Kennel Club says scrapping compulsory microchipping is excellent news. “But why is there now a change to have a $100 fine for every dead dog?” said Lesley Chalmers, president of the NZ Kennel Club, the organisation of responsible dog owners. A new clause 9D has been added into the Local Law Reform Bill to make everyone who fails to notify the local Council of the death of a dog subject to a fine of $100. See... Even dead dogs liable for $100 fine [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00124.htm

Politics: National's Numbers Guru Wants Help To Correct GST Error

- National Leader Don Brash today called on political parties to rethink their objection to introducing legislation that fixes an error that has left several broadcasters out of pocket. "NZ First, the Maori Party and the Greens are all opposed to my attempt to introduce the Broadcasting (2005 Election Broadcasting Reimbursement) Amendment Bill. "National wants to wipe the slate clean by paying amounts which should be paid. The bill would enable this to be done legally. It is a one-off fix to correct an error made when the party booked radio and television advertising for the 2005 election campaign. See... Brash calls on parties to do the right thing [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00206.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00233.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00203.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00198.htm

MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00180.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00210.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00204.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00202.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00229.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00226.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00223.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00218.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00207.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00185.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00205.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00224.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00201.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00199.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00221.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00217.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00179.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00183.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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