Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Subang, Malaysia - With an estimated 930,000 new HIV infections in Asia and Pacific in 2005, UN agencies have called for urgent efforts to better integrate HIV prevention, treatment and care into maternal and newborn health services to prevent the escalating spread of the virus and reduce mortality. Calls for strengthening integration of these vital health services came at the opening of the first Asia Pacific Joint Forum in Malaysia. Image courtesy of the Clinton Foundation. See... Call for HIV prevention in child health [1] ALSO: Background:SCOOP SPECIAL FEATURE - Time Runs Out On South Pacific HIV/AIDS Crisis - 2005Feedback - Are we doing enough to stop HIV infection? Click here to send us your views [2]

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- Animal rights activists have broken into a Foxton battery hen farm taking twenty hens early on Sunday morning. The activists say they openly broke the law because they are fed up with the government’s lack of action on animal rights. See... Animal Activists Break Into Foxton Factory Farm [1]

- Forty Two years after quitting the apartheid republic of South Africa so that he could compete internationally in his chosen field of endeavour, coloured weightlifter Precious McKenzie, MBE, is to be inducted into the South African Sport Hall of Fame. See... Precious McKenzie to be recognised by South Africa [1]

- A dazzling performance by New Zealand-bred, Efficient (Zabeel x Refused the Dance) in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, has catapulted him into Melbourne Cup contention. See... Aussie Superstar Heads Karaka Quinella in Derby [1] ALSO:Kiwi Horses Rise to the Occasion [2]

- At a special event hosted by AMP Financial Services, Qiujing Wong (Q) from Borderless Productions was awarded one of twelve scholarships to help launch a unique filmmaking endeavour in Africa. Further Sponsors are sought for this most excellent project, A Grandmother's Tribe. See... NZ Filmmaker Wins Scholarship For Africa Project [1]

- The first in a series of free outdoor concert brought the groove to Wellington's Midland Park this lunchtime. Tonight the tenth Wellington International Jazz Festival begins in earnest, the start of more than a week of jazz performances by local and international artists at Happy, the Frontroom and other venues around town. See... Images: Jazz Fest Kicks Off in the Park [1] ALSO:RIANZ - Vaughn Roberts Big Band wins Jazz Tui [2] Jazz Festival - Jazz explosion in Festival form [3] Scoop Link - Jazz Festival Calendar [4]

- Scoop's Selwyn Manning writes that last week, while covering the Forum in Nadi, Fiji, Scoop sought the views of Fijians as to why their military was threatening to over-throw the Fijian government. Should the demands of Fiji's military commander be taken seriously? All said most definitely. What's more, all said Bainimarama had their support. Why is this so? Also, Fiji PM Qarase says he will not quit. See... Scoop Feature: Fiji An Icon Of Pacific Instability [1] ALSO:Scoop Audio:

[2] Selwyn Manning on the BBC: Reports how Fiji's government has lost control of its military after its PM Qarase ordered the country's military chief to be sacked. He issues an update on events.Scoop Report - NZ PM Calls For Fiji Military Boss To Stand Aside [3] Scoop Report - Scoop Report: Fiji PM Fails To Oust Military Chief [4] NZ Govt - Peters urges Fiji commander to stop threats [5] National - National offers bipartisan support on Fiji [6] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Fiji Travel Advisory [7]

- Amnesty International deplores the decision of the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal (SICT) to impose the death sentence on Saddam Hussein and two of his seven co-accused after a trial which, Amnesty says, was deeply flawed and unfair. The former Iraqi dictator was sentenced today in connection with the killing of 148 people from al-Dujail village after an attempt to assassinate him there in 1982. See... Amnesty deplores death sentences in Hussein trial [1] Feedback - Should Saddam Hussein Be Hanged? Click here to send us your views [2] White House - Bush Says Saddam Verdict A "Major Achievement" [3] United Nations - UN Calls For Execution Moratorium After Saddam Sentence [4]

UN Audio: Climate Change a Serious Threat to Humanity: Kibwana - UN Urges Support for Africa in Curbing Global Warming - UN Rights Chief Urges Moratorium on Iraqi Executions - UN Urges Greater Effort to Prevent AIDS Among Asia-Pacific Women, Children - SPECIAL FEATURES: New Report Points to Africa's Vulnerability to Climate Change - Women, peace and security - a look at how women are using a Security Council resolution to make a difference in women's lives