Today's Top Scoop Stories - News Summary

By New Zealand Business Roundtable chairman, Rob McLeod: Nicky Hager’s recent re-heating of the vast right wing conspiracy theory raises a significant question in relation to business lobbying, which his book makes no attempt to explore. That is: what was the motivation and purpose of those in business whom he demonises? See... Lobbying: Self-Interest or National Interest? [1] ALSO:Scoop Blogwatch - Is Bassett A Fifth Columnist? [2]

- This bold new film by Sándor Lau is a documentary about Starfish, who survives by washing car windows at intersections on the mean streets of South Auckland. He's a born hustler with an extreme personality, magnetic charisma, infectious humour, and a vicious temper.

Kiwi Doco Squeegee Bandit Releases Feb 1st

Check Out Scoop's Audio and Video Podcast Feed (updated)

- Duncan Garner has been appointed as 3 News’ new Political Editor, effective from early January. Garner, who has been a 3 News political reporter for the past four years, will take over the role from Stephen Parker, who has decided to take a break from political reporting. See... New Political Editor For 3 News [1]

- The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment today made its second formal request for New Zealand firefighters, Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker and National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield said today from Melbourne. "The heat and vastness of the fires is difficult to comprehend. The fire front stretches 600 kilometres and covers 660,000 hectares." See... More Kiwi firefighters to be deployed to Victoria [1]

- The Family Law Section's view is that the proposed amendment is inadequate and it strongly urges that careful consideration be given to what is appropriate by way of use of force when disciplining a child, so that a clear message can be sent to the public that violence against children is not acceptable, and so that there can be consistency and certainty in the outcomes of criminal prosecutions. See... Law Society On Anti Smacking Bill [1]

International Jousting returns to Harcourt Park on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 January 2007. The World Invitational Tournament is the largest yet with seven countries taking part from New Zealand, Australia, England, Sweden, Norway, France and USA. First held in 2003, this biennial tournament is the fourth held in Upper Hutt. See... International Jousting Returns to Harcourt Park [1]

- Mark Sainsbury has been appointed as the new host for Close Up. Mark was support host for the top rating Current Affairs programme with Susan Wood until her resignation on December 4th. Paul Henry will be the new support host for Close Up. TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs, Bill Ralston, says he is delighted to have a journalist of Mark's ability and experience at the helm of Close Up. See... Mark Sainsbury to host Close Up [1]

- Orly, a young 4-metre-tall giraffe, takes an extra high final look around before he was shipped from Lyttelton yesterday to a new home at Keystone Wildlife Reserve north of Auckland. The giraffe was one of two males from Canterbury's Orana Wildlife Park to be transferred, presenting a tall order for handlers and staff of Pacifica Shipping at the port of Lyttelton. See... Room With a View [1] ALSO:Orana Wildlife Park - NZ’s only open range zoo begins new era [2]

- The winners of The Warehouse Light Up Your Home competition have got the Christmas decorating bug and are already designing improvements and additions for next year’s display. Graham and Evelyn Leighton of Upper Hutt were today named overall winners out of hundreds of entries from around the country. Their festive home lighting display has been a year in development and uses more than 50,000 bulbs. See... The Warehouse ‘Light Up Your Home’ Winner [1] ALSO:Telecom - Santa Takes a Fashionable Turn for Young Kiwis [2] Land Transport - Holiday driving – facts, figures and tips [3]

- PARIS DECEMBER 06 - After nearly a twenty year wait, President Jacques Chirac finally saw his vision of an international French televised news channel, France 24, launched on 6 December . Now, at last, the French have their own horse in this influential ring, dominated for so long by the Anglo-Saxon giants CNN International and BBC World (and, to a lesser extent, by the pan-European EuroNews and the German Deutsche Welle). See... Les Yeux on France: The French CNN [1] ALSO:Club Europe: Turkey Faces Challenge Over Cyprus [2] Yeux on France: Sarkozy a Presidential candidate [3] Yeux on France: Who Exactly is Ségolène Royal? [4]

- Reaffirming its strong stance against terrorism, the United Nations Security Council today called for States to combat the scourge and welcomed measures to boost and monitor their efforts. In a formal statement read by Council President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar, the 15-member body reaffirmed the importance of resolution 1373, a landmark text adopted in the wake of the September 11th 2001 attacks on the United States. See... States Must Do More to Combat Terrorism [1]