Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is urging key players in Timor-Leste to respond cautiously and positively to the United Nations Special Commission of Inquiry's report into violence that shook the country earlier this year. The report recommends that a number of senior government figures be investigated or prosecuted over the unrest that led to the deaths of 37 people in April and May. See... Peters calls for positive response to Timor report [1] ALSO:United Nations - Violent Crisis That Shook Timor-Leste [2] Pacific News:National - Peters has no faith in Tokelauans [3] NZ Govt - Hayes' Tokelau contradiction a joke, says Peters [4] Indonesia Human Rights Committee - PM Urged To Ensure West Papua Is On The Agenda [5]

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- The Police have cancelled a multimillion-dollar road safety sponsorship programme with McDonald’s in adherence to a misguided ideology about commercial involvement, says National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power. He is releasing a memo from McDonald’s to staff that says the Police are ending their 20-year partnership, including the well known ‘Make it Click’ campaign. Photo Credit: (C) Greenpeace / Phil Walter (Fotopress) See... Police cancel McDonald’s road safety programme [1] ALSO:Greens - Schools safer without McDonald's sponsorship [2] McDonald's Memo On Police Relationship(PDF) [3]

- A wide mix of veterans and newcomers and a so-called ‘supergroup’ take home the Tuis at the New Zealand Music Awards 2006 announced in Auckland (Oct. 18, 2006). Multi award winners are Bic Runga, the Bleeders and Fat Freddy’s Drop who take home two awards each. Bic’s latest album Birds also previously picked up two technical awards presented in September. See... Variety spices up music awards gongs [1] ALSO:Official New Zealand Music Chart - Official NZ Music Chart & Chartbitz Oct. 18 2006 [2]

- In his report on advertising expenditure the Auditor-General helpfully supplies a decision-making. While this is a very fine thing, whether such a simple process can be so robust is a matter of debate... I therefore propose the following, which, while giving much the same results, more fully reflects generally-held beliefs about the Auditor-General's reasoning. See... Hood: Auditors-General Decisions-Making Proposal [1] SEE:Scoop Full Coverage - AG Report & Reaction [2]

- A mystery moth that grows from what is thought to be the world’s skinniest caterpillar has received its new scientific name after confounding experts for years. However, even now that it has come to light, its future may not be bright. Landcare Research scientist Dr Corinne Watts first discovered a skinny, bright orange caterpillar in 2003, and nicknamed it “Fred the Thread”. See... Houdini-like moth gets a new name [1]

- A law and commerce graduate from The University of Auckland is one of three Rhodes Scholars from New Zealand chosen for 2007. Selected after interviews with shortlisted candidates at Old Government House in Wellington, Eesvan Krishnan joins an illustrious list of Rhodes Scholars from this country. See... Auckland graduate wins Rhodes Scholarship [1] ALSO: Vice Chancellor - Rhodes Scholars Elect for 2007 [2]

KiwiFM Audio:

[1] Wammo and Scoop's Kevin List don't talk about the Auditor-General but do talk about the proposed mass-medication of NZ that will see all our bread folated, Phillip Field's not displaying his love for Labour and the Thomas Yadegary case. KiwiFM [2] Scoop Audio:

[3] Kevin List On Radio Active discusses: the Auditor General's action flowchart, and why the Government insists folic acid be inserted into bread dough. Radio Active [4] Scoop Audio:

[5] Selwyn Manning and Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey discuss: how NZ's Govt has moved to stamp out money laundering. Also, 700 Telecom workers are likely to lose their jobs before Christmas; and Kiwis' daily bread is about to be baked to a Govt recipe! Scoop Audio/Radio Adelaide [6]

- The New Zealand Drug Foundation today began a survey of members of Parliament on their support for the raising the drinking age. Results from the survey will be updated on the Drug Foundation's drinking age website -- www.20years.co.nz . See... MPs Surveyed on Drinking Age Vote [1]

- A former Auckland ambulance officer has been arrested following complaints from three women patients alleging that they were sexually assaulted while in his care. The 33-year-old man appears in the Dunedin District Court today. He faces one charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, one charge of attempted sexual violation by unlawful connection, and four charges of indecent assault. See... Former Ambulance Officer Arrested On Sex Charges [1]

I think the Refugee Status Appeals Authority (RSAA) displays a degree of naivety in the decision that they have made concerning the Iranian refugee, who arrived in New Zealand in 1993, and has since converted from Islam to Christianity and is now a practising Catholic (appeal decision 74704). I believe that, in cases of this kind, the RSAA needs to give much greater weight to human rights. See... Yadegary And Religious Freedom In Iran [1]

- Over 30 aid and development and advocacy organizations, have joined together to lobby the Prime Minister about West Papua on the eve of her departure for the Pacific Islands Forum. The groups which include OXFAM, Council for International Development, Pax Christi and Christian World Service are appealing to the Prime Minister to take a pro-active role to ensure that the Pacific leaders deliberate on the ongoing human rights violations in West Papua. See… NZ PM Urged To Ensure West Papua Is On The Agenda [1]

- Although the number of children under 15 living in extreme poverty in South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States has dropped from 32 million to 18 million since the late ‘90s, governments must increase their health and education ... See… Child Poverty Clouds Future - UN [1]

Security Council Urges Eritrea to Remove Troops From Zone with Ethiopia - UNICEF Sees Stark Disparities in Child Well-Being in Former Soviet and Eastern European States - SPECIAL FEATURES: How Cartoons Can Draw Us Closer to Achieving World Peace - Harvesting and Trafficking in Human Eggs: an Emerging Form of Exploitation of Women.