Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

Dr William Ball Sutch, economic nationalist, writer, intellectual, public figure and top civil servant, died in 1975 just months after he became the only person ever to stand trial under the espionage provisions of the former Official Secrets Act. Sutch was acquitted but suddenly it's all being regurgitated again. Kit Bennetts, one of the SIS agents involved in the case has written a book, "Spy". Media coverage of the book matter of factly accepted its conclusions and branded Sutch a spy and a traitor. Bennetts called Sutch a "liar", "traitor" and "turd" (Press, 30/9/06; 'Sutch labelled liar", Dan Eaton). See…Sutch: Speaking Ill Of The Dead [1]

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- Prime Minister Helen Clark and Republic of Korea President Roh Moo-hyun today strengthened the relationship between the two nations with adoption of the Partnership for the 21st Century. A key component of the Partnership is an agreement to commission a study into the merits of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and Korea. See... NZ and Korea strengthen partnership [1]

- It wasn’t quite a manger in Bethlehem – but a place just as unusual! A baby boy from Whitianga was born in the back of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter at 8.10am this morning, 8 December 2006. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Whitianga Airfield to meet a St John Ambulance and the midwife who were looking after the mother. File image. See... Baby born in back of Westpac Rescue Helicopter [1]

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) welcomes the sentencing handed down in the Huntly District Court this week to a Taupiri farmer for ill-treating an animal and failing to provide assistance. File image. See... Farmer sentenced for ill-treatment of family pet [1]

- Scoop's CD Sludge reports on the Monetary Policy Statement: This morning's MPS is in fact fairly encouraging for kiwi battlers - householders and consumers - and even to its farmers and exporters. Interest rates are not up yet; the inflation outlook is mildly encouraging; and – most importantly for homeowners – the Reserve Bank is no longer picking a fall in house prices in the coming year. See... Sludge Report #173: Meanwhile Down At t'Bank [1] ALSO:Greens - Overcoming oil addiction to ease interest rates [2]

Will anyone be able to beat last year’s The Warehouse Christmas lights competition winner – a house decorated so brightly that it could be seen on the flight path to Christchurch? The Warehouse has given more time for Christmas light enthusiasts to create their dazzling displays by extending the deadline for its annual ‘Light Up Your Home’ Christmas lights competition. See... $10,000 Christmas Challenge For Bright Sparks [1]

- Yesterday Don Brash circulated a long rebuttal of my book The Hollow Men. In the interests of accuracy I should respond to his substantial points. Out of a 350 page book, with nearly 1000 detailed references, Don Brash has found two minor inaccuracies. I am happy to take his word about both of them. But neither detracts from the book. See... Nicky Hager Reply to Don Brash [1] ALSO:Don Brash - Don Brash Writes: Nicky Hager's book [2] Scoop - Full Coverage: The Hollow Men [3]

- Scoop's Lyndon Hood reports from Parliament - In response to Fiji's military orchestrating a coup d'etat, Helen Clark and Winston Peters announced a range of sanctions against Fiji, describing the actions of Fiji's Commodore Bainimarama and his soldiers as disgraceful and grossly illegal. She also front-footed support for any 'elements' in the Fijian military that might choose to overthrow the Commodore and return the elected government to power. See... Audio: PM, Foreign Minister on Fiji Sanctions [1] ALSO:United Future - Dunne on Fiji at the Sevens [2] Council of Trade Unions - NZ, Aust unions support people power in Fiji [3] Scoop FULL COVERAGE: Fiji Coup [4]

Scoop Audio:

[1] Scoop's Selwyn Manning joins 95bFM's Simon Pound to discuss what lies behind the Fiji Military Coup, who are the shadow men? See… Scoop on 95bFM [2]

Kevin List talks to Radio Active about the new proposed immigration laws, the Greens, and a line up of Arab ambassadors were ignored by the almost all media! See… Scoop On Radio Active [1]

Selwyn Manning on Radio Adelaide - Helen Clark says Soldiers in Fiji's military should tell Bainimarama he has been replaced. Also, New Zealand looks set to conduct fingerprinting and eye scans at airports; and a man is in hospital after being bitten by a wild stallion that wanted his mare for its harem. See… Scoop On Radio Adelaide [1]

- By Lyndon Hood - We, the undersigned, being gravely concerned that the New Zealand House of Representatives has retrospectively legalised previous illegal election spending and thus usurped the Constitution of New Zealand and its democratic processes, earnestly petition you, as someone who really understands how to eliminate unconstitutional laws and fight corruption, that you return to New Zealand and "clean up" aforesaid legislation and corruption. See... Scoop Satire: Internet Clippings [1]

Scoop's Kevin List reports the former Privileges Committee Chairperson Matt Robson turned up this morning to sample some of the medicine he would once have dished out. Mr Robson - the current deputy leader of the Progressive Party - was hauled before the Privileges Committee after writing some robust political commentary. See... Attack On Dunne Leads To Privileges Committee [1]

- Sophie McNeill reports from Beirut, A truck laden with yellow Hezbollah flags drives past the Christian neighbourhood of Gemayzeh early Sunday morning in downtown Beirut. There's a picture of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on the windscreen, but it's not his name that the young men on board are chanting. "General, General!" yell these young Shiite boys. Their chant is for the leader of Hezbollah's largest Christian ally, the former General Michel Aoun. And this van captures an important dynamic that many of the international and Lebanese press have omitted from their coverage of the last few days. See... Why Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV Broadcasts Sunday Mass [1] ALSO:Hezbollah Beirut Protest Urges Lebanon PM To Quit [2] Sophie McNeill - Hezbollah's Anti-Lebanese Govt Campaign Announced [3] Lebanese Rally Demanding End To Political Violence [4]