TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Int. Security: Middle East Expert Suggest Al-Qaeda May Be Behind Kidnappings
Education: Sharples Goes For 'PC Gone Mad' Cliché In Religion In Schools Stoush
Patriotism: CMA Accuses Icebreaker Of Talking Rubbish Over 'Buy Kiwi' Campaign
MORE HEADLINES:
Health: NZ At the Forefront In Fight Against AIDS -
Insight: New Breed Of Manukau City Leaders Say Rates A Flat-Tax Policy That Hurts
Retirement: Cullen Tweaks Savings Scheme -
Scoop Report: Entertainers Line Up To Support 95bFM's Wallace Chapman
WORLD NEWS:
Assassination Attempt On Thai PM Shinawatra
UN Monitoring As Lebanese Army Moves Into Border Area
Uri Avnery On The Predictability Of The Lebanon Fiasco
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Elections: Michael Collins: Mexico Demonstrates How To Defend Democracy
Drugs & Spooks: Cocaine One Saga Gets Big Play South Of The Border
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
NZ & ELSEWHERE:
UNITED STATES:
NEPAL:
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Pomp and Ceremony: New GG Gets Garlands And Greetings -
Health: PM Heads Govt Dental Health Strategy Announcement
Legislation: Hide In Need Of A Hug After Rates Bill Eliminated -
Employment: 90 Days Probation Bill Loses Numbers
Society: Sallies Urge Govt To Wake Up To Homeless Men Crisis
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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Selwyn Manning reports that Television New Zealand is considering a 24/7 dedicated news channel to plug into the planned Digital TV platform. Scoop understands the outcome of a feasibility study is being kept confidential but considerable research has already taken place that considers the pros and cons of TVNZ pushing ahead with a dedicated news channel plan. In a response to Scoop's questions, TVNZ's Public Affairs Manager Megan Richards said: "The situation is that TVNZ is not yet in a position to discuss the detail of its plans for Digital television, and this is where consideration of a News channel would fit." See... Scoop News: TVNZ Considers 24 Hour Digital News Channel [1]
Int. Security: Middle East Expert Suggest Al-Qaeda May Be Behind Kidnappings
- The kidnap of Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig in Palestine by the Holy Jihad Brigades contrasts sharply with previous
abductions in Gaza says Middle East politics expert Dr Nigel Parsons. “It may also be evidence of al-Qaeda gaining an
operational foothold in the Palestinian territories, an opportunity afforded them by Israel’s systematic
deinstitutionalisation of Palestine over the past several years” Dr Parsons says. See... Growing likelihood of al-Qaeda link to kidnaps [1] ALSO:
Video: Jihad Group Releases Video Of Olaf Wiig [2]
Scoop Audio: Scoop's Selwyn Manning and 95bFM's Simon Pound [3] discuss the video released overnight by the captives
Video: Jihad Group Releases Video Of Olaf Wiig [2]
Scoop Audio: Scoop's Selwyn Manning and 95bFM's Simon Pound [3] discuss the video released overnight by the captives
Education: Sharples Goes For 'PC Gone Mad' Cliché In Religion In Schools Stoush -
New guidelines to clarify the role of religion in schools, are an example of Political Correctness gone berserk says
Maori Party Co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples. “If this is such an issue at this time, then the Maori Party suggests that the
community must be involved in the discussion”. “Tangata whenua will have many views to contribute about the distinctions
between religion and spirituality. See... Govt Preparing for Prayer Police: - PC Gone Mad [1]
Patriotism: CMA Accuses Icebreaker Of Talking Rubbish Over 'Buy Kiwi' Campaign -
Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association CEO John Walley says that for companies such as Icebreaker to continue to argue
that they should be part of the ‘Buy Kiwi’ campaign is nonsense. “Yes, they may be registered in New Zealand, their
shareholders benefit as do the people working on their designs but do they provide for New Zealand’s export development
or contribute all they can to a reduction in the trade deficit?” See... Sweatshops – What Sweatshops? [1]
MORE HEADLINES:
Maersk Line: Come Clean [1] Air NZ results solid in challenging environment [2] Happy Valley Activists to Appear in Court [3] Gardens' golden blooms a temptation [4] Motorbikes, Morningside, Westies and Love [5]
Health: NZ At the Forefront In Fight Against AIDS -
The first of a new type of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS will be funded for New Zealanders from next month. Enfuvirtide
(Fuzeon) is a new type of drug used to treat people with the most advanced stages of HIV/AIDS. Enfuvirtide is the first
in a class of anti-HIV medicines known as fusion inhibitors. Other HIV medicines treat the virus once it has invaded
cells – enfuvirtide blocks the virus and fights it outside the cells. See... New weapon for battle against HIV/AIDS [1] ALSO: AIDS Foundation - Revolutionary new HIV drug approved by Pharmac [2]
Insight: New Breed Of Manukau City Leaders Say Rates A Flat-Tax Policy That Hurts
- The announcement that the Government will set up an independent inquiry into issues around local government rates funding has been
welcomed by Manurewa resident and community leader Daniel Newman. He said the terms of reference for any inquiry must
include an investigation of rating policies that currently see low and fixed income ratepayers cross-subsidising wealthy
property owners. See... Flat-Tax Rates Policies Hurt Low Income Ratepayers [1] ALSO:Manukau Mayoral Candidate Len Brown Writes About Capped Rates. See… Local Authority Rates Increases - Len Brown [2]
Retirement: Cullen Tweaks Savings Scheme -
Changes to KiwiSaver are designed to make the scheme even more attractive for workers and employers, Finance Minister
Michael Cullen said today. "KiwiSaver aims to improve the long term savings habits of New Zealanders and builds on our
efforts to better prepare the country for the challenges of an ageing population. See... KiwiSaver enhanced to benefit workers & employers [1] ALSO:NZ Govt - KiwiSaver – Questions and answers [2] United Future - Mortgage diversion will enhance KiwiSaver [3] EMA - KiwiSaver's arm twist potentially a win win [4] Tower - Kiwisaver Even More Attractive [5] Business NZ - Kiwisaver: Several welcome changes [6] NZCTU - Tax changes will help employer contributions [7]
Scoop Report: Entertainers Line Up To Support 95bFM's Wallace Chapman
- The controversy over at Auckland radio station 95bFM over the dumping of its popular breakfast host Wallace Chapman,
in favour of broadcaster Mikey Havoc, has intensified with the launch of a website titled bringbackwallace.com. The
website has fast become the place for people to air their views on bFM management's style and direction. The site is
promoting a petition to " Bring Back Wallace". See... Fight For 95bFM's Wallace Gains Popular Support [1]
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WORLD NEWS:
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Assassination Attempt On Thai PM Shinawatra
- BANGKOK, Thailand -- An assassination attempt against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra almost succeeded on Thursday
(August 24), but he "left an hour earlier than usual" from home, while police seized a potential car bomb and an army
officer who drove the vehicle. "It's my lucky day. I have been varying my travel times after the intelligence services
told me people were trying to kill me," the prime minister said, according to the Nation newspaper. See... Assassination Attempt On Thai PM Shinawatra [1] MORE RICHARD EHRLICH: Richard S. Ehrlich - American Embassy In Burma Attracts Junta's Ire [2]
UN Monitoring As Lebanese Army Moves Into Border Area
- Lebanese forces moved into more areas in the south of the country today as Israeli troops withdrew and the cessation
of hostilities with Hezbollah continued to hold, the United Nations interim force, which is coordinating the operation,
said in a statement. It said that this latest withdrawal of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the deployment of Lebanese
troops was going ahead in accordance with plans agreed yesterday during a third trilateral meeting held between its
Force Commander and senior representatives from both sides. See... Lebanese Army Move Into More Positions [1] ALSO:Experts Arrive In Lebanon To Plan Recovery Efforts [2] Aerial Surveillance Of Lebanese Oil Spill Begins [3]
Uri Avnery On The Predictability Of The Lebanon Fiasco
- A STORY has it that Oscar Wilde once attended the premiere of a colleague's play and every few minutes raised his
hat. When asked about this odd behavior, he replied: "I am a courteous person. I raise my hat when I meet an old
acquaintance." See... Uri Avnery: Good morning, Elijahu! [1] MORE LEBANON WAR COMMENT: Remi Kanazi - On Your Mark, Get Set, Bomb! [2] Genevieve Cora Fraser - Re: The Role Of Israeli Racism In ME Conflict [3] Green Left Weekly - Bush, Israel — The Real Terrorists [4] Middle East News Service - Sol Salbe: Israeli News Items Easy To Miss [5] Am Johal - Could Sanctions and Divestment End the Occupation? [6] Tel Aviv Notes - How Hizbullah Understands Resolution 1701 [7] CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL/LEBANON CONFLICT [8]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Africa - Annan Urges DR Congo To Respect Poll Results [1] Iraq - El Salvador Dispatches New Contingent to Iraq [2] Iran - Annan Appeals To Iran On Nuclear Issue [3] USA - 92% of Americans Oppose Secret Vote Counting [4] Global - Greenpeace Demands Global Ban On US Rice Imports [5]
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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Elections: Michael Collins: Mexico Demonstrates How To Defend Democracy
- The Mexican peoples’ democracy movement and their leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador are modern heroes of democracy
and to all who demand clean elections. They recall the heroics of the Ukrainians with one important difference. See... The Mexican People: Heroes of Democracy [1] & in Spanish El Pueblo Mexicano: Héroes De La Democracia [2] MORE NEWS FROM MEXICO: Narconews - On the Eve of the Crisis in Mexican Democracy [3] & Daria: Two Days in the Life of Oaxaca's Revolution [4]
Drugs & Spooks: Cocaine One Saga Gets Big Play South Of The Border
- An unidentified 40-year old American wearing a green polo shirt was in charge of the contingent of drug traffickers
on the ground awaiting the arrival of the DC9 “ Cocaine One” airliner arriving from Venezuela on the evening of April
11th with a spectacular haul of 5.5 tons of pure cocaine aboard, according to a recent article in Mexican newspaper
Proceso by a respected Mexican journalist. See... 5 Ton DC9 Coke Bust: Worse Than Snakes On A Plane [1]
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
NZ & ELSEWHERE:
Russell Brown & Ors… - Public Address 25/08/06 - Letter From America [1] & Public Address 24/08/06 - Steak Break [2] Patterson Ogon - Nigeria: The Dream, The Drift In Bayelsa [3] Ramzy Baroud - Ramzy Baroud: The Real Terrorism Plot [4] Martin LeFevre - Meditations: Consciousness, Evolution & Revolution [5] Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya - Iranian War Games [6]
UNITED STATES:
Michael Collins - Congressional Election Nullified – Nobody Noticed [1] Rosalea Barker - Stateside: A Must-Read [2] William Rivers Pitt- Supporting the Troops [3] & They Called It Katrina [4] Norman Solomon - The Mythical End to the Politics of Fear [5] Sherwood Ross - Release Gitmo Prisoners Now [6] , Arbitrary Rule Comes To America [7] , WMD, Blix & The Great American Projection Machine [8] & What Might Tom Paine Have Said About George Bush? [9] Kelpie Wilson - Kelpie Wilson: Chimpanzees and Culture Change [10] Evelyn Pringle - Fen-Phen May Cause Rummage Sale of Wyeth Assets [11] & Lawmakers Sever Ties Between CDC And Big Pharma [12] Sam Smith - The Hazards Of Estivation [13] John Gideon - Daily Voting News For August 24, 2006 [14] , August 23, 2006 [15] , August 22, 2006 [16] UQ Wire - Army Int Analyst Fired For 9/11 Questions [17] Missy Comley Beattie - No Exit [18] William Fisher - No ADD Here [19] Jason Miller - Fear and Loathing in the Occident [20] Bernard Weiner - Satire: Bush Awards Himself the Medal of Freedom [21] Bill Quigley - New Orleans One Year After Katrina [22]
NEPAL:
M.R. Josse - Miserable Failure Of Government – And Much More [1] Bhola B Rana - Maoists Unveil New Strategy To Retain Weapons [2] Purbasi Chhetri - Nepal: Solving The Issue Of Arms Management [3] Kamala Sarup - Terrorism & War Causes Me Great Pain [4]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Questions And Answers - Thursday, 24 August 2006 [1] Questions And Answers - Wednesday, 23 August 2006
Pomp and Ceremony: New GG Gets Garlands And Greetings -
Yesterday Anand Satyanand was sworn in on the steps of Parliament as the first New Zealand Governor-General of Asian
descent. Prior to the swearing in Mr Satyanand recieved garlands from the Asian community and he also received a
traditional Maori welcome. See... Maori And Military Assist Satyanand Into G-G Role [1] ALSO:Governor General - Swearing-In Ceremony Speech [2] PM - Address at G-G Swearing-in Ceremony [3]
Health: PM Heads Govt Dental Health Strategy Announcement
- The Government today released an action plan to establish new Community Oral Health Services, designed to improve and
protect young people's teeth and the oral health of the wider community. See... Urgent action to improve oral health [1] ALSO: Nats - Yet another strategic vision [2] Better oral health for rural New Zealanders [3]
Legislation: Hide In Need Of A Hug After Rates Bill Eliminated -
ACT Leader Rodney Hide is disappointed that his Bill to cap local body rates was voted down in Parliament this evening.
"It's a big blow to ratepayers up and down New Zealand", Mr Hide said. "The issue won't go away while rates continue to
spiral upwards. "To pacify public anger, the government has today hastily announced an inquiry. See... Hide Disappointed At Rates Bill Defeat [1] ALSO:NZ Govt - Independent inquiry into rates issues [2] National - National pushes on with rates inquiry [3] Green Party - More information needed about Govt rates inquiry [4] NZ First - One Independent Inquiry To Rule Them All [5] The Maori Party - Local Government (Rating Cap) Amendment Bill [6]
Employment: 90 Days Probation Bill Loses Numbers
- The Maori Party today has released its position on the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill.
In a joint approach, Co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples and Employment Spokesperson, Hone Harawira, have informed key
stakeholders of the decision the caucus has reached regarding the concept of probationary employment. Dr Sharples was
addressing a rally in Aotea Square in Auckland organised by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union; while at
the same time Mr Harawira announced the position at a forum convened by the NZCTU. See... Maori Party Vote Against Employment Probation Bill [1] ALSO:NDU/EPMU - Mass rally brings victory [2] PSA - Workers breathe sigh of relief at death of bill [3] Green Party - Maori Party opposition to Mapp Bill Welcomed [4] NZCTU - Campaign Against National's No Rights Bill Working [5]
Society: Sallies Urge Govt To Wake Up To Homeless Men Crisis
- The Salvation Army is calling for sweeping changes by the Government and social services to better help the growing number of Kiwi men
living on the fringes of society. Dubbed the Forgotten People in a report published today (August 22) by The Salvation
Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, these men live a miserable existence, said Major Campbell Roberts, director
of the unit. See... Forgotten People: Men On their Own [1]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt - Mayor appointed to NZ Fire Service Commission [1] NZ Govt - Visitor's expected to reach 3.1 million in 2012 [2] NZ Govt - Review of Govt. Superannuation Fund Authority [3] NZ Govt - National not fit to manage economy [4] NZ Govt - Family Friendly Change To Residence Policy [5] Nats - King’s police recruitment drive starts [6] Nats - National Education - 21 August 2006 [7] Nats - Cullen fails to show restraint with public sector [8] Nats - Zero accountability for $295 million programme [9] Nats - Workers voting with their feet – Mapp [10] Nats -Flat Bush: Maharey should listen to parents [11] Nats - Government Must Test Food from China - Now [12] Nats - Labour makes no headway on Oz-based liable parents [13] ACT - Hide Hopeful For NZ First On Rates Bill [14] Greens - Immigration changes a mixed bag [15] United - Swell of support for CYF complaints authority [16]
ENDS