Today's Top Scoops - 01 July 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
SOEs: Cullen Completes Train Set - Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger has been appointed chair of the establishment board of KiwiRail which will manage the business previously known as Toll Rail, Finance Minister Michael Cullen announced today. The government concluded negotiations with Toll for the purchase of New Zealand's rail and ferry assets which will continue to operate as they do at present under the establishment board. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Rail back in New Zealand hands [2] NZ Govt - PM: Address at KiwiRail Launch [3] NZ Govt - Cullen: Speech at KiwiRail launch [4] ACT - Rail Buyback A Taxpayer Dog [5] Greens - Council takes commuters for a ride [6] Tranz Metro - 70 Years of Clean and Green Trains [7] TV3 Video - Government takes ownership of rail and ferry stock [8]
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NZ POLITICS------------
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 1 July 2008 [1]
Rest Home Tape Controversy: Union Not Keen On Naming And Shaming - The call by aged care providers for sacked caregivers to be "named and shamed" is a bit like shutting the stable door
after the horse has bolted, says the Union representing caregivers. More [1]
ALSO:Age Concern - Call to help combat elder abuse [2]
Child Health: National Releases Three More Lines Of Policy - National will: * Give schools additional resources over time to ensure more students can take part in extra-curricula
organised sport.* Ensure more of the government's sport spending gets through to the front line. "We will do this by
carefully re-prioritising government funds currently dedicated to a host of bureaucratic anti-obesity campaigns," says
Mr Key. More >> [1]
ALSO:National - Sport for young Kiwis: a National priority [2] NZ Govt - National's sports policy simplistic [3] TV3 Video - Sporting 'grassroots' reacts to Key's comments about SPARC funding [4]
Environment and Conservation: ERMA Ok'S Continued Use Of Highly Toxic Pesticides - The Green Party says it is shocked ERMA has recommended the continued use of endosulfan, a highly toxic chemical
banned in many western countries, and is calling on the Minister for the Environment to review the decision. More >> [1]
ALSO:United Future - Dunne - If 1080's safe, endosulfan is too! [2]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Oil: Bus Operators Smoking Over User Charge Increase - Operators from all sectors of the bus and coach industry are shocked and angry about the Government's sudden
announcement of increases in Road User Charges effective immediately. More >> [1]
Geology: 13,000 Year Old Inter-Hemispheric Cold Snap - Busted! - The Waiho Loop moraine is widely used as evidence for direct inter-hemispheric linkage in climate change. But these
new findings suggest the loop - which sits near the South Island's Alpine fault line - was the result of a landslide,
not climate change. More >> [1]
Scoop Weather: July–September 2008 Climate Outlook - The centre's seasonal climate outlook for July to September says above average temperatures are likely over the North
Island, with average or above average temperatures likely across all of the South Island. Despite the overall
temperature expectation, cold outbreaks typical of winter will nevertheless occur from time to time. More >> [1]
Media: Fairfax Snubs Subs - Fairfax Media, New Zealand's largest media company, has today announced plans to create national centres of expertise
to carry out sub-editing, layout and page production for all features, world and business pages for its nine daily
newspapers. More >> [1]
ALSO:Greens - 'UnFairfax' should keep Subeditors [2]
Conservation: Short, Sharp Shower Of Skinks - Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick today announced a major conservation management and research breakthrough with
grand and Otago skinks, and a captive breeding programme with Otago Skinks, aimed at securing the genetic diversity of
the species. More >> [1]
Internet Scams: Massive TradeMe Scam Uncovered - Internet watchdog group ScamBusters has issued an urgent warning for TradeMe members who may have purchased a laptop
from a trader known as n_sale_z. More >> [1]
Horticulture: Eating Potatoes Good For Water Conservation - New Zealanders keen on conserving water and protecting the environment should look no further than the potato, says
food and education consultant Glenda Gourley. More >> [1]
Business Confidence: Entries Open For The Fast 50 - The 2008 Deloitte/Unlimited Fast 50 is open for entries (www.fast50.co.nz). This is the eighth year that high-growth
businesses from throughout New Zealand have been invited to benchmark their recent success against each other. More >> [1]
Biz Restructuring: Hellaby Holdings Announces Divestment Of Assets - Hellaby Holdings Limited today announced that an agreement has been signed to sell its BBQ Factory business and
assets to a consortium led by Capital Group Limited, an Auckland-based private equity company. The transaction is
effective 30 June 2008. More >> [1]
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WORLD------------
Mid East: Humanitarian Exchange Between Israel And Hizbollah Welcomed - Ban Ki-moon has welcomed progress on resolving the humanitarian aspects of the Security Council resolution that ended
the 2006 conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah. Mr. Ban noted Israel's recent decision that involves
the return of two Israeli soldiers (Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, who had been abducted) and a solution to the cases
of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel. More >> [1]
RELATEDCabinet Communique - Govt Of Israel (29 Jun) [2] Key Points On Release Of Israeli Soldiers [3]
United Kingdom: Plans To Mark The Third Anniversary Of The 7/7 London Bombings - The third anniversary of the 7 July 2005 bombings in London will be marked by a public act of remembrance and
opportunities for private reflection, the UK Government announced today. "This formal act of remembrance will give the
country the chance to remember and pay their respects to the 52 innocent lives lost and demonstrate our support,
ensuring that those lost will never be forgotten." More >> [1]
LOOKING BACK (07 JULY 2005)Explosions Strike Rush Hour London [2] UK Bombing: Al-Qaida Claims Responsibilty [3] London Bombings News Roundup [4]
Democratic Governance: Solomon Islands Keen On Freedom Of Information Legislation - The Solomon Islands Government is keen to work with regional partners to develop national legislation on freedom of
information, PM Dr Derek Sikua announced. He said his Government also acknowledges the value of the right to information
in promoting responsive democratic governance, supporting participatory social and economic development, moderating
conflict and in professionalising the media. More >> [1]
State Dept: Zimbabwe's Sham Election, Mugabe's Illegitimate Inauguration - The Government of Zimbabwe has followed a sham election with an illegitimate inauguration. As the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) Troika and election observer mission, as well as many African leaders have already said,
any outcome from this illegitimate runoff cannot be considered credible. We condemn the actions of the Mugabe regime,
which continues to reject the will of the Zimbabwean people, abuse their human rights, and deny them humanitarian
assistance. More >> [1]
LATESTOutcome Of Zimbabwe Polls Illegitimate - UN [2] AU Urged To Reject Sham Election Result [3] Mugabe Inaugurated But Widely Condemned [4] EU's Javier Solana Statement On The Run-Off [5]
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COMMENT------------
Nicaragua: do what we want or else... - Anyone stepping back from the recent hyped-up drama engineered by the minority right wing parties in Nicaragua and
their overseas allies will see all the tell-tale signs of yet another instance of NATO country government intervention
in the region... More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
Fests: Mountain Film Festival Set To Launch - The New Zealand Mountain films is set to go this Friday (4 July) with a five day-and-night programme packed with
talented international and New Zealand made films, passionate adventure speakers, ice sculpting competition and
exhibitions. More >> [1]
New Medical Study: Anxiety and depression linked to obesity - Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are associated with obesity according to a new study from the
University of Otago, Wellington. More >> [1]
People Power: Peoples choice Award Comes To YPS Competition - New this year The People's Choice Award. "Headway", NZ's premiere hairdressing magazine gave their readers the
opportunity to vote for their preferred choice. More >> [1]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 01 July 2008
:)
ENDS