Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Scoop's Kevin List writes: Yesterday in the wee small hours of the New Zealand morning a contingent of Kiwi war veterans and their defence minders touched down in England at the RAF's Brize Norton air base. The veterans have been chosen by ballot to attend the unveiling of the New Zealand memorial - which will be dedicated this weekend by the NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark. See... Vets Touch Down In Blighty For NZ Memorial [1] ALSO:Kevin List - Kiwi Veterans Rock All Over The World [2] Maori TV - War Memorial Dedication in Full on Maori TV [3]

Scoop Audio: [1] Selwyn Manning and 95bFM's Simon Pound discuss: How Israel has taken advantage of the US elections to wage a HUGE offensive against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Also, discussed is how significant is the Donald Rumsfeld sacking from his Secretary of Defense position; and Scoop's Kevin List is in London reporting on the NZ Memorial and Helen Clark meetings with Tony Blair. See… Manning and Pound 95bFM Counterclockwise [2]

Education: TXT-In-Exams Debate Brings Out Creativity In Press Secretaries

[1] - Untd Futr is cncernd bout da xeptnce of txt spk 2 b allwd in ritn xams 4 NCEA. A spkesprsn 4 MP Judy Turna sez dat letn infrml, abbrev8td languag in forml xams snds compltly da rong msg 2 stdnts. “Skoolz r ther 2 educ8 + raze litracy 2 certn standrds. Thy set da bar – and it shud b hi – NCEA shudnt let da standard b decidd by informl pop cultr of da time. See... Txt spk juz nt up2 stndard! [2] ALSO:National - TXT exams: Maharey thinks he’s cool [3] Waikato University - Getting it Write [4]

- MPs voted down the Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill last night 72 votes to 49 on its Second Reading. The bill will not proceed any further. The Government is however going to conduct a review into under-age drinking.SEE:NZ Govt - Review of supply and sale of liquor welcomed [1] Greens - Keeping it 18 allows real problems to be addressed [2] Focus On The Family - Educators Stunned at Drinking Age Vote [3] Sua William Sio - Disappointment At Retaining Drinking Age At 18 [4] Alcohol Advisory Council - Alcohol Review Positive Move Says ALAC [5] Clan McGillicuddy - Teenage drinking problem solved [6] Otago Polytechnic Student's Association - Youth Harm Avoided: For Now [7] Matt Robson - Robson-On-Politics: Vote on alcohol purchase age [8] More Scoop Coverage - Drinking Age Debate [9]

- Images of Mercury just beginning its transit of the sun soon after 08:12 this morning. They were taken with a telescope at the University of Canterbury's Mt John Observatory, Lake Tekapo. The pictures show Mercury as a tiny round dot, edging onto the sun. See... Mercury transit photos [1] ALSO:University of Canterbury - More transit of mercury photos [2] Carter Observatory - Transit of Mercury on November 9 [3] Royal Astronomical Society - Mercury Transit - November 9 [4]

- Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Flymo team plus Captain Andy Warden from the NZ Army outside the Defence headquarters today. The Flymos are one of the many New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) teams taking part in a special charity event called Movember which involves men being sponsored to grow a moustache. See... Flymos Help Raise Awareness of Men’s Health Issues [1] ALSO:NZ Defence Force - Images: Kiwi Troops Destroy Opium In Afghanistan [2] Movember - Movember Follicle Fever Begins [3] North Shore City Council - Mayor mo-tivated to fund raise for cancer [4]

- His laser light show was pretty amazing. The fire engines, fire alarm, evacuation and smoke was perhaps a good build up for this show too! Robin filled the room with a smoke machine for a better effect and I guess due to the sensitive nature of the Frontroom’s newly refurbished status – set the fire alarm off! See... Jazz Festival Review: Music & Film [1] ALSO:Scoop Review - Jazz Festival Review: Whirimako Black [2] Scoop Review - Jazz Festival Review: The Little Bushman [3] Scoop Images - Jazz Fest Kicks Off in the Park [4] Jazz Festival - Jazz explosion in Festival form [5] RIANZ - Vaughn Roberts Big Band wins Jazz Tui [6] Scoop Link - Jazz Festival Calendar [7]

- United Nations officials voiced shock and dismay at Israel’s shelling of a residential area in the occupied Gaza Strip in which 18 Palestinian civilians were killed, including eight children and seven women, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling on the Israeli Government to cease its military operations there forthwith. See... Shock, Dismay at Deadly Shelling of Gaza Civilians [1] ALSO:Gush Shalom - After Gaza Atrocity [2] Stop The Wall - Stand up and Stop the Massacres in Palestine! [3] Physicians for HR - Response to Beit Hanoun Tragedy [4] ISM - Dr. Mona El-Farra At Alawda Hospital in Jabalia: [5] Palestinian Return Centre - London: Join Protest Against Gaza Massacres [6] Palestinian Return Centre - Palestinians in Europe Call for Unity [7] Physicians In Israel - Response to Beit Hanoun Tragedy [8] UN - Israel Did Not Use DU In Hizbollah Conflict [9]

UN Audio: (click here to listen) [1] UNRWA Condemns Israeli Military Operations in Beit Hanoun - Palestinian Observer Calls for Urgent Meeting of Security Council - Annan Expreses Shock Over Israeli Operations in Gaza - SPECIAL FEATURES: Special Envoy for the Middle East Expresses Shock at Palestinian Deaths + Postponed Peace Talks on Somalia to be Held in December. See… UN Audio News [2]