Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Fiji's govt has lost control of its military after its PM Qarase sought to have the Army Commander Bainimarama sacked. FijiLive reports that Qarase had demanded that if Bainimarama did not stand down then he and his government would resign office. Senior military chiefs have refused to carry out the order, and have moved to show support for their commander. Bainimarama has countered the government's order reportedly stating that Qarase's government must resign gracefully. Scoop Image: Qarase leaving PIF. See... Scoop Report: Fiji PM Fails To Oust Military Chief [1]

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[2] Selwyn Manning and Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey discuss: How Fiji's government appears to have lost control of its military after its PM Qarase ordered the military chief to be sacked. See… Scoop Audio: Fiji In Crisis [3]

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- New Zealand First is pleased that having secured an independent rates inquiry, the government has worked with us to deliver an independent high calibre inquiry panel and a robust terms of reference, says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. "The calibre of David Shand, Graeme Horsley and Dr Christine Cheyne speaks for itself and bodes well for both the independence and the rigor which we hope to see applied to this critical issue." See... Rates Inquiry Details - Prospect of Real Change [1] ALSO:NZ Govt - Local Government rates inquiry details announced [2] National - Public get only limited voice on rates inquiry [3]

- Scoop's Selwyn Manning writes that Amnesty International has conducted a U-Turn on the Thomas Yadegary asylum-seeker case after discovering new information suggesting that if New Zealand deports him it will be in breach of its international human rights obligations. Also, both the U.S. State Dept and the UN General assembly cite concerns about Iran. See... Scoop Report: Amnesty Does U-Turn On Yadegary Case [1] ALSO:Global Peace And Justice Auckland - 1 November – Labour Government’s Day of Shame [2]

- The Arts Foundation of New Zealand and Presenting Sponsor Forsyth Barr announced the recipients of the prestigious 2006 Laureate Awards at a gala event in Auckland tonight (October 31). In recognition of their artistic achievements and excellence, the five distinguished New Zealand artists received an equal share of the quarter of a $1 million cash prize ($50,000 each). See... 5 outstanding NZ artists share quarter mil prize [1]

- An application to field test genetically engineered broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale must not proceed, the Green Party says. Health and Safe Food Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says it is clear that the purpose of the planned field tests at Lincoln is to prepare to grow the crops commercially. See... NZ's GE-Free status at risk [1] ALSO:ERMA - ERMA receives GM test application [2] GE Free NZ - NZ Shooting Self in the Foot If GE Trials Allowed [3] Soil and Health Assn - Brassica trial crazy [4]

- The Prime Minister sustained a barrage of questions on Monday on sustainability and other ecologically associated issues. The question and answer part of the post cabinet tete-a-tete between the PM and the media appeared to exist in an alternate universe – one where the words Taito Philip Field, Thai Tiler and 'Auditor-General's election spending report' did not exist. See... The complete package on Climate Change [1]

- Biosecurity New Zealand is awaiting results of a suspect didymo sample being collected from the Rangitikei River this morning. “Biosecurity New Zealand responded immediately yesterday to a call reporting the suspected presence of didymo in the headwaters of the river. The sample will be sent to NIWA in Christchurch for identification and will be analysed as soon as it arrives. See... Rangitikei suspected didymo sample to be analysed [1] ALSO:Greens - Close the gate before the algae bolts - Greens [2] National - Labour heads for another biosecurity failure [3]

Today the Canadian High Commission got a timely reminder of Canada's necessity to learn lessons from the past and stop undermining a global moratorium on bottom trawling in international waters at the UN. Two protesters dressed as Canadian Mounties were joined by other Greenpeace activists handing out leaflets to Canadian High Commission staff. See... For Cod's Sake Canada, Stop Blocking Progress [1] ALSO:Deep Sea Conservation Coalition - Int'l Pressure to stop NZ high sea bottom trawling [2]

- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has repeatedly called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to return to the six-party talks seeking to resolve the issue of its nuclear programme, today hailed news of their resumption and called for an early meeting. See... Annan Hails Resumption of North Korea Nuke Talks [1] ALSO:US State Dept - Christopher Hill at U.S. Embassy, Beijing, China [2] US State Dept - Briefing On North Korea Talks [3]

- A senior United Nations envoy today expressed serious concern at continuing Israeli over-flights of Lebanon, especially intensive mock air raids over Beirut this morning, calling them a breach of the Security Council resolution 1701, which ended this summer’s conflict with Hizbollah. See... UN Disturbed by Israeli Over-Flights of Beirut [1]

UN Audio: [1] Africa's Economy Continues to Grow at More Than 5 Per Cent: Annan - Security Council Urges Disbanding Of Militias In Lebanon - Annan Welcomes North Korea's Pledge To Return To Six-Party Talks - SPECIAL FEATURES: Women's Participation in Peacemaking Found Still Lacking. See… UN Audio News [2]