Today's Top Scoops - 02 July 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
Scoop Satire: Nat Emails Hacked In Parallel Universe - New Zealand scientists announced today that they have made observations of life in a strange parallel universe. Dubbed "World X", they describe it as like our own, from identical rules of physics to a planet with individuals "eerily similar" to those of earth. However, such coincidences are overwhelmed one particularly glaring difference. In World X, the idea that Nicky Hager obtains his internal National Party documents by hacking into Parliament's email servers is in fact supported by the available evidence. More >> [1]
ALSO:KiwiFM Audio - Flash-Back - John Key: Not My Campaign Style [2] KiwiFM Audio - Wammo - Are You An Open Book Mr Key? [3] TV3 Video - Key continues evasiveness over use of consultancy company [4] TV3 Video - Key frustrated National's secrets keep leaking [5]
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NZ POLITICS------------
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 2 July 2008 [1]
Policy?: Insurers Expect Nats To Privatise ACC - Australian insurance company investors are being advised they would reap large profits if the ACC scheme was
privatised, but it would come at significant cost to New Zealanders, says ACC Minister Maryan Street. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Key's windfall plans for Aussie insurers [2]
Maori: Occupation Protests Whangamata Marina - The occupation of Whangamata by tangata whenua is an indictment on the failure of the Crown to protect the natural
values of the foreshore and seabed for future generations, says the Maori Party. More >> [1]
ALSO:Whangamata Marina protestors - Spotlight on the Whangamata Marina [2]
Defence: Court Of Inquiry Announced - The Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae has convened a Court of Inquiry to find out why NZDF
housing allowances were paid to up to five officers in receipt of UN housing allowances while seconded to the United
Nations in New York. More >> [1]
ALSO:National - National demands answers on NZDF decision [2]
Censorship: British Band's T-Shirt Found To Be 'A Cradle of Filth' - John Mills, President of the Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc, (SPCS) has hailed as "bold, morally
courageous and legally sound", the classification decision issued to him today by the Chief Censor's Office, that
permanently bans a T-shirt. More >> [1]
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. 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] NZ Govt - National all hot air on protecting rail workers [5] NZ Govt - Which lines should close Mr Key? [6] National - Ontrack off track says Auditor-General [7] ACT - Rail Buyback A Taxpayer Dog [8] Progressive Party - Does Nat policy secrecy mean it will re-sell rail? [9] Greens - Council takes commuters for a ride [10] Tranz Metro - 70 Years of Clean and Green Trains [11] Victoria University - A rare slice of NZ railway history now online [12] TV3 Video - Government takes ownership of rail and ferry stock [13]
Health Policy: Updated Atlas Of Socioeconomic Deprivation - The Ministry of Health today released an updated atlas of New Zealand's socioeconomic landscape, which includes maps
showing socioeconomic differences in and between the 21 district health boards. More >> [1]
MORE:Out-Link: Socioeconomic Deprivation in New Zealand [2]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Environment: Embalming Fluid Is Bad For You - The Natural Burials organisation today said a promise by the New Zealand Embalmers Association to investigate the
environmental safety of embalming fluid might help the Association learn about the hazardous chemical it uses every day. More >> [1]
Manufacturing: Sales And Confidence Drop, Performance Stable - The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) Survey of Business Conditions completed during
June 2008, shows total sales in May 2008 decreased 3.71% (export sales increased by 8.13% with domestic sales decreasing
15.3%) on May 2007. More >> [1]
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WORLD------------
Securing A Future: Ban Ki-Moon Urges Progress Toward Achieving A Nuclear-Free World - A robust Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is essential to take steps towards checking nuclear proliferation and
achieving disarmament, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, marking the 40th anniversary of the UN-backed pact. More >> [1]
Political Forum: Sir Paul Reeves To Handle Fiji's Electoral Reform Dialogue - Sir Paul Reeves is in Fiji to meet with the PM and political parties, to formulate the terms of reference and arrange
other logistics for the forum to be convened in all likelihood in August. The forum is being convened to bring together
Government and Political parties to discuss and agree on the way forward regarding the Electoral Reform that has been
adopted and recommended. More >> [1]
On Point: U.S. Army Releases Account Of First 18 Months After Saddam's Fall - A new book released by the Army examines the challenging period of transition from conventional combined-arms
operations to full-spectrum and counterinsurgency operations in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April
2003. "Even if that planning had been a bit more robust and had ... happened earlier on in the process," Army Col.
Timothy Reese said, "a lot of the assumptions on which that planning was done turned out to be incorrect once the
coalition got to Baghdad." More >> [1]
Zapped: High Powered Laser Ban Now In Force In Australia - "New Australian Customs regulations prohibit the import of hand-held laser pointers with an emission level greater
than one milliwatt (1mW), without written permission. These new laws will balance the risk posed to aircraft and the
travelling public, with the legitimate import and use of laser equipment by responsible parties such as scientists,
astronomers and the surveying industry." More >> [1]
Powered Up: Investment In Clean Energy Hit Record High In 2007 - Prompted by climate change concerns, increased international support, surging oil prices and continuing anxiety over
energy security, investment in renewable energy and energy efficient reached a record last year, according to a UNEP
report. "Just as thousands were drawn to California and the Klondike in the late 1800s, the green energy gold rush is
attracting legions of modern day prospectors in all parts of the globe," Mr. Steiner said. More >> [1]
United Nations: Presence Of Armed Groups Threatens Southern Lebanon's Stability - Southern Lebanon has witnessed the longest period of relative stability in many years as the cessation of hostilities
between Israel and Hizbollah following their 2006 war continues to hold, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated, while
voicing concern about the presence of armed groups and record levels of Israeli overflights in the area. More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
Deadlines: Less Than 48 Hours To Film Fest Final - 'The V' 48HOURS is officially the largest filmmaking competition in the Southern Hemisphere. Now in its sixth year,
the competition is drawing to a thrilling conclusion on July 3rd at 8.30pm on C4 Television. More >> [1]
Religion: He Who Sups With The Pope Should Have A Short Spoon - For most of the 220,000 expected pilgrims at World Youth Day, lunches will probably be eaten with fellow pilgrims, on
roadsides, park benches or in noisy cafeterias. For one lucky New Zealand pilgrim, however, one lunch at World Youth Day
will involve hanging out with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI... More >> [1]
ALSO:TV3 Video - Laws for pope visit rankle critics in Australia [2]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 02 July 2008
:)
ENDS