Today's Top Scoops - 17 June 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
Crime: Are Liqour Outlets Responsible For Social Disintegration? - The New Zealand Drug Foundation has welcomed the Prime Minister's entry into the long running debate about the proliferation of liquor outlets in communities. "We're pleased to see the Government's stalled progress on alcohol policy getting a welcome kickstart from the Prime Minister. Her concern about the number of liquor outlets is shared by many New Zealand communities, whose voices are often ignored in the liquor license application process," said Ross Bell. More >> [1]
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NZ POLITICS------------
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:Questions For Oral Answer Tuesday, 17 June 2008 [1]
Gordon Campbell: Is Peter Dunne The Ken Barlow Of NZ Politics? - On the surface, Peter Dunne can seem like a plodding, hyper-rational figure - the Ken Barlow of New Zealand politics. More >> [1]
Energy Policy: Govt Orders Death To Incandescent Light Bulbs - The traditional incandescent light bulb is on its way out, as part of a strategy for more energy efficient lighting
announced today by Energy Minister David Parker. More >> [1]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Sea Science: Marine Leeches Provide Clues on Climate Change - Elusive marine leeches in Antarctica are the focus of study on how climate change is affecting vulnerable fish
species. More >> [1]
Internet: Commerce Commission Releases First Report On Broadband - The first quarterly report on New Zealand broadband performance has been released by the Commerce Commission.
Commissioned from broadband measurement consultancy Epitiro and ICT analyst firm IDC, the report examines the relative
performance of New Zealand's internet service providers (ISPs). More >> [1]
ALSO:Out-Link - Broadband Performance - March Quarter 2008 (PDF) [2]
Surveillance: Auckland City Is Watching You - A state-of-the-art CCTV security camera network is now in full operation in Auckland's leading retail precinct in
what is being described as a New Zealand first. Auckland City Mayor John Banks has officially launched the project in
Newmarket which has been solely driven and funded by the local business community. More >> [1]
ALSO:RoamAD - Newmarket Video Surveillance Network Now Live [2]
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WORLD------------
UN Report: Human Rights Situation In Palestinian Territories 'Remains Grave' - ''Measures adopted by the Government of Israel to restrict freedom of movement of both people and goods in the
occupied Palestinian territory severely impeded the population's access to religious sites, notably in Jerusalem,
cultural exchanges and events.'' -- Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. More >> [1]
Pumping Gas: Saudi King Abdullah To Tackle 'Abnormally High' Oil Prices - Saudi King Abdullah ''acknowledged that the current oil price is abnormally high, due to speculative factors, and he
is willing to do what he can to manage the price of oil to the adequate level,'' Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said
following meetings with the Saudi monarch. More >> [1]
Broadband Policy Summit IV: Building On Success And Expanding Opportunities - Public policy goals in the ICT field should be about maximizing the benefits of technologies and services for the
people we serve. Governments should work closely with the private sector to lay the groundwork for citizens' access to
the best training, equipment, connections and protections. More >> [1]
Terrorist Designation: U.S. Moves Against Philippines-Based RSM Terror Group - The Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a Philippines-based extremist group, was established by Ahmad Santos in January
2002. Santos, has been involved in the planning of bombings against Philippine and non-Philippine civilians and the
stockpiling of weapons to conduct those operations. RSM was involved in the 2005 Valentine's Day bombings in Manila,
General Santos and Davao, plus plots to bomb high profile targets, including Manila public utilities, tourist areas, and
the U.S. Embassy in Manila. More >> [1]
World Vision: Zimbabwe's Children Threatened By Suspension Of Aid Work - World Vision International has warned that progress from relief and development activities among the country's most
vulnerable children will be undone unless a Government order suspending aid work there is revoked. World Vision is
appealing to the Government to allow delivery of basic humanitarian assistance. More >> [1]
Analysis: The Irish Twist In The European Political DNA - Ireland's rejection signals a fundamental weakness in the EU's integration drive -- it lacks the obvious support of
the wider European public. However, it is a sign of the strength of the nascent European constitutional tradition that
most EU member states, led by France and Germany, have insisted the Lisbon Treaty is not dead. Even Britain, the EU's
arch-skeptic, intends to ratify the treaty. More >> [1]
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COMMENT------------
Jason Leopold: McClellan Testimony May Shed Light on Niger Forgeries - Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan's testimony later this week before the House Judiciary Committee
promises to reignite the debate over the "16 words" in President Bush's 2003... More >> [1]
Uri Avnery: An Apology - THIS WEEK, the Prime Minister of Canada made a dramatic statement in Parliament: he apologized to the indigenous
peoples of his country for the injustices done to them for generations by successive Canadian governments. More >> [1]
David Swanson: The Biggest Election Story Not on Your TV - Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, together with his
staff, produces incredibly valuable research and analysis, with infinite patience and futility. More >> [1]
Stateside with Rosalea Barker: I've got mail - As much as I know you very likely are right that impeachment isn't going to happen, I still hope something, perhaps
one revelation too many, will catalyze impeachment. No, I can't believe it will, but ... More >> [1]
Zahir Ebrahim: Impeachment alone does not solve the problem! - Let the people not forget, amidst all this hoopla and excitement over the 35 Articles of Impeachment against George
W. Bush, the two-term 43rd President of the mighty superpower United States of America, that: More >> [1]
Toni Solo: Ecuador, ALBA and the FARC - Recent remarks by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on the civil war in Colombia and Ecuador's decision not to join
the Alternativa Bolivariana de las Americas (ALBA) solidarity based cooperation initiative (1) shows progressive leaders
are taking ... More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
Tribute 08 Wrap Up: Ray Columbus Invades Soldiers Hearts - Thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families boogied down to their favourite 60s and 70s rock hits at ASB Arena
recently. More >> [1]
Culture: Wellington's Swedish Community Celebrates 'Lucia' - Wellington, June 15, 2008. Members of the Swedish community celebrate 'Lucia' - one of Sweden's most popular events -
at the Johnsonville Community Hall. A group of young women wearing white robes and holding candles form a procession
marking the ... More >> [1]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 17 June 2008
:)
ENDS