Today's Top Scoops - 29 May 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
Election 08: Gordon Campbell On The Vietnam Vets Apology - On compassionate grounds, the apology extended to the troops who fought in Vietnam was justified - so long as it was not extended or regarded as a re-appraisal of the morality of the conflict, which the Government has been careful not to do. For the Government to have been crystal clear about what was, and wasn't, being apologized for would have run the risk of re-opening old wounds and would have undermined the point of the apology. There may be another occasion when the other shoe - an apology to the people of Vietnam - can be allowed to fall. More >> [1]
ALSO:Scoop Full Coverage - Full Analysis and Raw News Resource of Govt Apology To Viet Nam Vets [2]
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NZ POLITICS------------
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 29 May 2008 [1]
Crime: Sharples Blasts Mark - Ron Mark's fantabulous allegations about the police inquiry into the murder of the Kahui twins are a perfect example
of why politicians should check their facts before they speak, says Dr Pita Sharples. More >> [1]
Conservation: DOC To Cull 60 Jobs - "We are very disappointed that DOC is forced to cut jobs in part because of a forecast shortfall caused largely by
one-time events - for example, fighting an unusual number of forest fires this year," says PSA National Secretary Brenda
Pilott. More >> [1]
ALSO:Department of Conservation - Sustaining conservation in the future [2] Greens - Department of Conservation: A species in decline [3] Gordon Copeland - No Give from Government on Arapawa Goats [4]
Adiction: P A Problem The Govt Is Taking Seriously - The Government takes the scourge of illegal drugs such as methamphetamine (or P) extremely seriously, Associate
Health Minister Jim Anderton said today. More >> [1]
Trade Agreements: Standing Room Only At FTA Roadshow Event - The Auckland leg of a nationwide roadshow informing businesses about how to make the most of the China Free Trade
Agreement was filled to capacity this morning, Trade Minister Phil Goff said. More >> [1]
Health Policy: World Health Organisation Raises Work Force Issues - The World Health Organisation report specifying action necessary to avoid a major shortage of health workers by 2011
is a timely reminder to the Government that industrial action in the health sector must be taken extremely seriously,
says New Zealand First ... More >> [1]
Gordon Campbell: National's secrecy about its policies - Election08: Roger Douglas may not be in the next National Cabinet in person, but clearly, he will be there in spirit.
The Kiwisaver fiasco has revealed all this. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Fresh questions on National and KiwiSaver [2] EPMU - Kiwisaver: "No, yes, maybe?" isn't good enough [3] NZ Govt - John Key must end KiwiSaver confusion [4] National - Statement regarding comments to forum [5] NZ Govt - Workers to lose KiwiSaver boosts for Nats tax cuts [6] TV3 Video - Confusion reigns over National's KiwiSaver policy [7] TV3 Video - National's blunder over Kiwisaver contributions [8] TV3 Video - Labour attacks National's trustworthiness after Kiwisaver confusion [9] TV3 Video - Pressure building on National to release KiwiSaver policy [10]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Publicity: Paid Liars Out Themselves - We lied to family, friends, co-workers, colleagues, future employers and future employees. Since the 12th of May, we
have pretended to be misogynist, racist, homophobic alcoholics. More >> [1]
Think Big: NZ's largest gas field development completed - The final milestone in the construction phase of NZ's largest gas field has been safely delivered with the departure
of the Ensco 56 rig from coastal Taranaki. More >> [1]
Biosecurity: MAF Not A Fan Of Invader Worm - MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is responding to the detection of a new and unwanted marine species in Lyttelton
Port. The newly identified species, the Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii), was found as part of MAFBNZ's
routine targeted surveillance programme. More >> [1]
Technology: Strong Response To Digital Strategy - The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) reports a good public response to the government's call for feedback on
the draft Digital Strategy 2.0. Submissions closed last week. More >> [1]
PRINZ: Public Relations Practitioners Recognised - Three leading public relations practitioners have been made Fellows of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand.
Two of the new Fellows, Victoria University Director of Communications and Marketing Helen Morgan-Banda and
Communications Manager for the Prime Ministers Office Andrew Cutler, are based in Wellington. More >> [1]
Environment and Conservation: International Scientists Speak Out For Dolphins - International Scientists Speak Out For Dolphins Conservation group Care for the Wild International (CWI) today drew
attention to the international scientific community's statements supporting the urgent improvements required to ensure
the survival of the Hector's and Maui's dolphins. More >> [1]
To The Front: Japanese Government To Host 50 Future Leaders - Less than two weeks after the successful visit of the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Trade Minister Phil
Goff to Tokyo, the Government of Japan is reciprocating efforts to reinvigorate the Japan-New Zealand relationship... More >> [1]
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WORLD------------
Explosive News: Draft Cluster Bomb Ban Approved By 111 Countries - Diplomats from 111 countries have agreed on a draft treaty outlawing cluster bombs, which have killed or wounded
thousands of civilians. The draft gives signatory nations eight years to destroy their cluster bomb stockpiles. The U.S.
opposes the ban. More >> [1]
Amnesty International Report 2008: Sixty Years Of Human Rights Failure - Governments Must Apologize And Act Now - Amnesty International's Report 2008, shows that sixty years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was
adopted by the UN, people in many countries are still tortured or ill-treated, face unfair trials, and are not allowed
to speak freely. "The human rights flashpoints in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and Myanmar demand immediate action." More >> [1]
No Kidding: Further Sharp Increases In Global Food Prices Likely - Further sharp price hikes and continued volatility in markets for food supplies appear to be likely for the next few
seasons, according to a report released today by the United Nations FAO in the run-up to a summit on the global food
crisis. More >> [1]
Keeping A Good Mix: Biodiversity Loss A Threat To Economic Development - ''Nature's assets underpin the very lives and livelihoods of more than six billion people. They make our very
existence possible in the vacuum of space,'' Mr. Ban said in a statement delivered to a major conference on biological
diversity. More >> [1]
Burma: Top UN Officials Call For Release Of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi - Top UN officials today expressed their disappointment over the decision by the Government of Myanmar to extend the
house arrest of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. ''Her release will be critical in facilitating national
reconciliation''. More >> [1]
RELATEDBan Ki-Moon 'Regrets' Continued Detention Of Aung San Suu Kyi [2] UK Govt On The Extension Of Aung San Suu Kyi's House Arrest [3] Aung San Suu Kyi Supporters Arrested [4]
ALSO IN BURMAUN Urges Donors To Fund Burma Relief Efforts ASAP [5] UNHCR Assessing How To Help Cyclone-Impacted Children [6] 'New Spirit Of Cooperation' In Burma [7]
You Say Tomato: Climate Scientists Clear Up Discrepancy In Temperature Record - Scientists has uncovered the reason for a sharp cooling in sea temperatures at the end of WWII. Using a new
technique, they concluded that this drop is largely artificial, arising from different methods used by the United States
and the UK to measure sea-surface temperatures! More >> [1]
Gathering Storm: Israel's Reaction To IAEA Report On Iran's Nuclear Program - ''Despite the fact that the IAEA assigns high credibility to the information presented to it, Iran continues its
tricks of deception and evasiveness. Iran's response does nothing to remove the fears of the international community.'' More >> [1]
RECENTLYIAEA Circulates Latest Report On Iran [2]
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COMMENT------------
Sherwood Ross: Bush Distorts World War II History In Speech - George W. Bush may not be much of a president but his latest comments comparing his Iraq war to World War II indicate
he is even less of a historian. More >> [1]
Bernard Weiner On Bush's Brain: The Lame-Duck Session - "I'm with my closest colleagues at the top of Mt. Everest. Below us on the snow, or maybe it's white sand, are
thousands of bloody bodies. Suddenly, I see a line of approaching figures, armed with pitchforks and clubs, coming up
the mountain. ... More >> [1]
Ernest Partridge: GOTCHA! - A Democrat campaigning for the White House must feel like a soldier advancing through a mine field. At any moment, he
or she is one step away from being blown out of the contest. And the poor wretch is surrounded by a ravenous mob of
media hounds, each ... More >> [1]
Globalization and terror: Fomenting inflation to pay for war - Western Bloc central banks and financial and investment corporations are locked into an inflationary dynamic in order
to sustain their system's militarist imperialism. The Bloc's European and Pacific components offer supportive economic
collaboration. ... More >> [1]
Jason Leopold: GOP Contender Linked to Attorney Firing - Though virtually unknown outside the Albuquerque area, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is betting that his
conservative credentials and close ties to the White House will help Republicans retain the hotly contested New Mexico
congressional seat ... More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
Dance: Steel Skeletons Bursting Onto Stage - Homegrown music and dynamic dance await Wellington audiences tomorrow night, when the New Zealand School of Dance
Choreographic Season, Steel Skeletons, bursts onto stage. More >> [1]
Media: Wake Up With Wammo - Current Kiwi FM Breakfast host Wallace Chapman will host the Drive show, from 3-6pm weekdays, while Drive host Glenn
'Wammo' Williams moves - you guessed it - to the Breakfast slot, 6-10am weekdays. More >> [1]
Gaming: Wii Gets Funner, Even More Dweeby - Wii Fit on Wii™ is a unique and innovative way to help you and your family stay fit in the comfort of your home,
through simple daily exercises. More than a gaming experience, Wii Fit is a health and lifestyle product with more than
40 exercises, across four categories. More >> [1]
Refugee Day: International Language Of Football - A Wellington Invitational XI will play World Refugee All Stars XI to mark the start of Refugee Awareness Week. This
match will be held on Sunday 15th June at Waterside-Karori AFC grounds in Karori, kick off is scheduled for 11am. Rain
day postponement is set for the following Sunday 22nd June. More >> [1]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 29 May 2008
:)
ENDS