Today's Top Scoops - December 21, 2007
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LEAD STORY------------
Claire Curran Inquiry Presser: Logan Resignation Not Connected To Curran - Says Prebble - [Video [1] + Audio [2] + Photos [3] ] ... During a lengthy press conference State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble today answered questions all around the issue of the appropriateness of Ministers involving themselves in departmental appointment matters through the use of name dropping at ministerial-official meetings. Asked whether there might inevitably be a perception that Mr Logan was taking a fall for his ministerial masters Dr Prebble said that perceptions created by media were not something he could comment on. (Right: Scoop file image of Hugh Logan by Kevin List) More >> [4]
ALSO:National - Curran inquiry findings 'incomprehensible' [5] Public Service Association - PSA Sad To See Logan's Destinguished Career End [6] National Party - Hugh Logan falls on sword ahead of report [7] Govt - Trevor Mallard: Comment on resignation [8] SSC - The resignation of chief executive of MFE [9]
Flashback: Madeleine Setchell Inquiry Presser [10]
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NZ POLITICS------------
tate of local emergency declared following quake - State of local emergency declared following Gisborne earthquake A state of local emergency was declared by the
Gisborne District Council for the Gisborne City Ward at 0100 hours, 21 December 2007... More >> [1]
ALSO: Pak'N Save - Pak'nsave Gisborne Open For Trade [2] Civil Defence - Summary of response to Gisborne earthquake to date [3] NZ Govt - Minister Thanks Staff Of Tairawhiti DHB [4] Transit NZ - Gisborne State Highways Open For Business [5] NZ Police - Gisborne Earthquake [6] Tairawhiti DHB - Update re Gisborne Hospital [7] Tairawhiti DHB - Gisborne Hospital sustains damage in quake [8] Civil Defence - Engineers to inspect Gisborne City CBD [9] Civil Defence - No tsunami risk to NZ from Gisborne earthquake [10] Civil Defence - : Damage being assessed from Gisborne earthquake [11]
Peace Movement Aotearoa: Act now - taser gun decision due soon - Act now: taser gun decision due soon The Commissioner of Police, Howard Broad, is currently considering the police's
evaluation of the TaserX26 trial, and is expected to make a decision early next year about whether or not the taser, or
'electromuscular ... More >> [1]
Judiciary: Wilson appointed Supreme Court Judge - The Honourable Justice William McLeod Wilson has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General
Michael Cullen announced today. The Hon Justice Wilson graduated from Victoria University of... More >> [1]
Defence: Review of Canterbury to provide design assurance - Review of Canterbury to provide design assurance Defence Minister Phil Goff has asked the New Zealand Defence Force
and the Ministry of Defence to begin an independent review of the acquisition... More >> [1]
ALSO: Defence Force - NZDF and Sec Def. On HMNZS Canterbury Review [2]
GM: High lysine corn gazetted - High lysine corn is being gazetted today at 1pm. This corn is used as an animal feed, but it has had its safety
assessed as if for human consumption. Food containing this GM variety can now be imported and sold in New Zealand,
although such products would... More >> [1]
ALSO: NZbio - Corn approval protects NZ's reputation [2] Sustainability Council NZ - Food Safety Regulation takes a Significant Hit [3]
Religion: NZ Muslims Celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha - Hundreds & thousands of Muslims flocked to "Eidgah's" (place accommodating large congregation) and the local mosques across New
Zealand to celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha, the celebration of sacrifice... More >> [1]
ALSO:Catholic News - Cakes earn $14,000 for worthy cause [2]
Child and Youth Issues: Three Month Review Of Crimes Amendment Act (S.59) - Police have undertaken a three month review of the amendment of section 59 of the Crimes Act (the Smacking Bill) to
gauge the impact on police activity. More >> [1]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Auckland Airport: Confidentiality deed with another interested party - The directors of Auckland International Airport Limited (Auckland Airport) have signed a confidentiality deed with an
international party which has expressed interest in the company... More >> [1]
Mobile Phone Competition: Co-location On Cellular Transmission Sites - The Commission has today launched a standard terms development process to determine the non-price elements of
co-location of a mobile operators equipment on another operator's transmission site. Co-location allows the mobile
equipment of a network ... More >> [1]
Origin Energy: Kupe Gas Project - Drilling Commences - Origin Energy advises that today the Ensco 107 rig has commenced batch drilling the three development wells on the
Kupe field. The commencement of the drilling campaign follows the successful installation of the Project's wellhead
platform jacket... More >> [1]
Economy: Balance of Payments & Intl Investment Position - Investment income widens current account deficit The seasonally adjusted current account deficit was $3,628 million
in the September 2007 quarter, $120 million larger than the June 2007 quarter deficit, Statistics New Zealand said
today... More >> [1]
ALSO: Greens - Need to rethink unregulated foreign investment [2] NZCTU - CAD shows need for savings and local investment [3]
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WORLD------------
Thailand: Military Undermining Upcoming Elections - Since General Sonthi Boonyaratglin overthrew the Thaksin administration in a bloodless coup on September 19, 2006,
the military junta promised that the December 23 national elections would mark Thailand's democratic transition. More >> [1]
Europe: After A Good Year In 2007, Europe Is Committed To Delivering Results In 2008 - Europe must continue internal reforms to get fit for global competition and to deal with issues like migration,
energy and climate change. At the same time the EU must speak with one voice and act coherently in its external
relations. More >> [1]
Fijian Islands: Cyclone Daman Cost Fiji Government FJD $652,171 - The total damages of tropical cyclone Daman on the island of Cikobia recently is in the tune of $652,171, including
damages to school, water, health, housing, community infrastructures & agriculture. More >> [1]
United Nations: First Meeting Of 'Group Of Friends' On Burma - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today convened the first meeting of a group of 14 nations to assist him
in his efforts to spur change in the troubled South-East Asian nation. More >> [1]
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COMMENT------------
Jason Leopold: Chertoff Concealed Role in Tape Destruction - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff advised the CIA between 2002 and 2003 that its agents had the legal
authority to use techniques that included waterboarding on one of the agency's so-called "high level detainees,"
according to a little-known ... More >> [1]
Richard S. Ehrlich: Thailand Divides On Election - BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's upcoming election on Sunday (December 23) may be won by an "ultra right-wing"
politician whose plan to defy last year's coup and bring back disgraced Thaksin Shinawatra from self-exile could
bitterly divide ... More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
High Note: Star To Shine At Skycity Starlight Symphony - Skycity is proud to announce that New Zealand's hottest new star, Will Martin, is set to dazzle the crowd at the 2008
Skycity Starlight Symphony. Will's debut album, "A New World", has recently gone platinum in New Zealand and the
twenty-three year old says he is delighted to be a special guest performer at one of the most popular events on the New
Zealand calendar. More >> [1]
Painting By Number$: 2007 Art Auction Market Standing Strong - "Sales for our leading modern masters were strong in Webb's December sale with most major works selling for around
their estimates and demand for some works rocketing prices to top estimates and above. This is an encouraging indicator
for 2008 as all eyes are on the market for the likes of Colin McCahon and Bill Hammond as indicators of the strength of
the overall market over the coming year." More >> [1]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, December 21, 2007
:)
ENDS