Today's Top Scoops - July 23, 2007
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LEAD STORY------------
Public Service: Key Offers Some Tips For Media Over Sacking - National Party Leader John Key says Helen Clark needs to answer some straightforward questions on David Benson-Pope’s handling of the politically motivated sacking of Madeleine Setchell. “Helen Clark should make it clear whether she is satisfied with the way David Benson-Pope has tried to mislead New Zealanders.” More >> [1]
NZ Govt - Briefing on employment decision by Environment Min [2] PSA - Concern on Handling Of 'Conflict Of Interest' Case [3] National - Benson-Pope did know about political sacking [4] (KiwiFM Audio): Wallace & Selwyn Manning – Political Interference? [5]
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NZ POLITICS------------
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Questions And Answers - Thursday, 19 July [1] Questions And Answers - Wednesday, 18 July [2] Questions and Answers - Tuesday, 17 July [3]
Gordon Campbell: Zaoui - How It Ends - The Zaoui hearing is now in recess, for the entire week. Last week, SIS Inspector-General Paul Neazor heard from the
two most important Zaoui defence witnesses. Namely, Professor George Joffe, the leading expert in North Africa studies
from Cambridge University - and Colonel Muhammed Samraoui, the Algerian regime’s former head of intelligence in Europe. More >> [1]
ALSO:Scoop Full Coverage - The Ahmed Zaoui Case – The Gordon Campbell Series [2]
Lobbying: Former MP's Ability To Network Questioned - Former ACT MP Ken Shirley's appointment as the CEO of the Researched Medicines Industry Association is of
concern to NZ First Leader Winston Peters. “Ken Shirley has very little standing within Parliamentary circles and will
be thoroughly tested should he seek to engage with politicians on anyone's behalf," said Mr Peters. More >> [1]
Politics: Nats To Talk With Maori Party Over Foreshore Bill - National Maori Affairs spokesman, Tau Henare, says the party is willing to talk to the Maori party about the
Foreshore and Seabed Bill after the next election. National’s caucus has decided not to support the Maori Party’s
attempts to repeal the Bill. Nats To Talk With Maori Party Over Foreshore Bill [1]
Buy Kiwi Made: New Zealand - we've got it made - The work of 250,000 New Zealand manufacturers is celebrated in a nationwide insert being distributed with major
newspapers and magazines next week as the first phase of the Government's Buy Kiwi Made media campaign. The publication
was unveiled by Sue Bradford, Government Spokesperson for Buy Kiwi Made in Auckland today at the manufacturers' launch
of the campaign. More >> [1]
ALSO:Greens - Passion, as well as products, promoted today [2] Greens - Greens offer practical support to NZ producers [3]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Advertising: Explosion of Creativity on Auckland Billboard - A Deadline Couriers billboard made New Zealand advertising history yesterday evening when it exploded in a 6-metre
fireball in Auckland’s CBD. Crowds gathered to watch the Nelson Street billboard’s digital clock countdown the last few
seconds to 6pm – the deadline set for the billboard to self-destruct after it was erected last Monday. More >> [1]
Commerce: $5.6 billion proposal for Auckland Airport - The directors of Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) today announced a proposed transaction with Dubai
Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) which would see DAE acquire an interest between 51% and 60% in the AIAL business and become a
strategic partner. Under the proposal, AIAL shareholders will receive value of up to NZ$3.80 per share. More >> [1]
ALSO:Auckland International Airport - Updated market guidance [2]
Out There... News: Brian Carter's The Night Sky, Lunar Eclipse Aug 28! - August is the month that we really start to notice the days getting longer and the nights shorter. Planets August is
a poor month for viewing the planets. Jupiter and Mars will be visible for all of August. Venus will be visible in the
evening sky at the start and in the morning sky at the end of the month. Saturn will be visible in the evening sky for
the first few days of August and Mercury will just be visible in the evening at the very end of the month. More >> [1]
Medicine: Chlorine Bleach A Key Weapon Against Bacteria Infections - Scientists at the University of Otago, Christchurch have discovered that bleach is one of the key factors used by
white blood cells to control bacterial infections in the body. Exactly how these foot soldiers of the immune system
control and kill invading bacteria has long been an area of controversy in medical research. More >> [1]
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WORLD------------
Ferrari: Ferrari Plan No Changes After Grand Prix of Europe - Ferrari team principal Jean Todt says that there will be no change to the team's approach to the final seven races in
the championship, after Sunday's second place finish for Ferrari in the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.More >> [1]
Number 10: Heavy rain brings more floods to Britain - Gordon Brown has promised a co-ordinated effort as more floods cause havoc in parts of Britain. Speaking to the BBC,
the Prime Minister said that there were "lessons to be learnt for the future" from the ongoing response to the latest
floods to hit towns in England. Around 2,000 people were reported to be in emergency accommodation in Gloucestershire,
while Evesham council in Worcestershire has called for the armed forces to provide assistance. More >> [1]
UN Report: UN Hariri Investigation Making Progress - The head of the United Nations Independent International Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) probing the 2005
assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri today reported progress in identifying persons suspected of
involvement in the attack. More >> [1]
Australian Minister for Defense: Australian and New Zealand Defence Ministers Meet - The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, met with his New Zealand counterpart, the Hon Phil Goff, in Sydney today
to discuss key priorities for cooperation in an historically close and enduring defence partnership. More >> [1]
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COMMENT------------
Russia and US: Square Off Over Energy Reserves - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush spent most of their time at the “lobster summit”
at Kennebunkport, Maine, discussing how to prevent the growing tensions between their two countries from getting out of
hand... More >>
Bush’s War Policy: When Time Heals Nothing - - The news of recent weeks emanating from Washington and Baghdad point to one clear, if not final, conclusion: The Bush
administration's adventures in Iraq have been a complete failure... More >>
Iraq: Howard government admits what we all knew - “Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has admitted that securing oil supplies is a key factor behind the
presence of Australian troops in Iraq.” This was how the BBC reported Nelson’s July 5 comments to the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation... More >>
Robert Parry: If the Democrats Want to Win - - If the Democrats really want to prevail over George W. Bush on the Iraq War and on his authoritarian vision of
presidential powers, they would put back on the table two options that their leaders have removed: a cut-off of war
funding and impeachment... More >>
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LIFESTYLE------------
Wizardry: Harry Potter And The Long Wait On Lambton Quay - On Saturday the 22nd I stood in the queue at the Borders on Lambton Quay among other Harry Potter fans anxiously
awaiting the release of the last book in the series— Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows. It was nearly 10:30 when the
line stretched down the street passing the Burger King. I was then approached by an older man who asked “What is this
queue for?” More >> [1]
Automotive: Maserati Wins Top Award at Private Supercar Show - Maserati stole the show at the Salon Privé, the private, invitation-only luxury supercar motor show held at the
exclusive Hurlingham Club in London. Among the modern supercars, the new Maserati GranTurismo, displayed alongside two
Maserati Quattroportes, created a lot of excitement, while Jay Kay’s stunning Black Maserati A6 G54 won the overall
Grand Prix in the Concours d’Elégance, as well as the prize for best GT. More>> [1]
World Cup 2007: Calls For Kiwis To Get Hairy - Hayman's Beard, the group calling on All Black prop Carl Hayman to grow back his beard, have now made a call for
national unity, urging all kiwis to grow beards between now and the World Cup to show their support for the All Blacks.
A poll on their blog indicates that 92% of voters agree that Hayman’s Beard is crucial to the success of the All Blacks
at the Rugby World Cup. More >> [1]
Spare Room: Ticketmaster Beats Scalpers At Their Own Game - How much would you pay to see The Police live at Western Springs? The sky’s now the limit, according to the latest
email from Ticketmaster, who have announced Ticketmaster Auctions [1] for their Auckland concert next year. More >> [2]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, July 23, 2007
:)
ENDS