Today's Top Scoops - 22 July 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
- Gordon Campbell writes: The Immigration Bill was reported back late yesterday from the Transport and Industrial Relations select committee.
Some objectionable features have been changed but the repellent core of the Bill remains. In particular, the security
provisions still tilt the balance unfairly and unnecessarily - in favour of the state, at the expense of the
individual's rights to natural justice. No surprises there. More >> [1]
ALSO:95bFM - Kim Choe + Gordon Campbell Analyse Immigration Bill [2] Greens - Immigration Bill improved, but still oppressive [3]
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NZ POLITICS------------
Donations: Dominion Post Article "A Smear Campaign" - The Dominion Post article is a smear campaign of unsubstantiated allegations. The article says: * The family denies
it donated as much as $150,000. * NZ First sources (unnamed) denied receiving as much as $150,000. * The donations were
all lawful - Peters. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ First - Winston Peters Speech to NZ First Convention [2]
Security & Defence: Rethinking NZ's Commitment In Afghanistan - With US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visiting NZ late this week, Paul G Buchanan explores why it is important
for a public discussion about NZ's role in international security missions led by superpowers, and why debate ought to
take place now rather than after this year's General Election. More >> [1]
ALSO: KiwiFM - Wallace & Manning Analyse The Condi Rice Visit [2] NZ Govt - US Secretary of State to visit New Zealand [3] US State Dept - Secretary Rice to Travel to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa) [4]
Post Primary Education: School Suspensions Hit 8-Year Low - Suspension rates in New Zealand schools have hit an eight year low, Education Minister Chris Carter announced today.
The figures have been published in the Ministry of Education's annual Student Engagement Report, which tracks
suspensions, stand-downs, ... More >> [1]
Te Reo: Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori Puts Maori Language Online - "Maori Language Week is an entire week dedicated to celebrating the beauty of one our most paramount taonga tuku iho
–Te reo Maori. The launch of the I-Papakupu builds on efforts to ensure that Te Reo remains a living language within
digitalised ... More >> [1]
ALSO:Thinktank Consulting Limited - Mâori Dictionary Sofware a Worldwide Hit [2] <
Transport: Government Takes First Steps In KiwiRail Upgrade - Improvements for Auckland and Wellington commuter services and a major overhaul of the Tranz Scenic service are part
of a five year, $80.2 million investment in rail infrastructure announced by Finance Minister Michael Cullen today. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Minister calls for greater rail safety awareness [2]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Agriculture/ Science: Some Sheep Are Fussier Eaters Than Others - Lincoln University honours students have shown some sheep are more fussy about what they eat than others. Students,
Rowan O'Connor, Sam Williams and Sam Bryan found fussier sheep leave more stem behind and choose to eat more leaf while
others in the same mob eat stem along with the leaves. More >> [1]
Employers: Annual Work Stoppages Decrease - Twenty-six work stoppages ended in the March 2008 year, Statistics New Zealand said today. This compares with 40
stoppages for the March 2007 year. Stoppages in the March 2008 year involved 3,664 employees, and losses of 11,049
person-days of work ... More >> [1]
Legal Issues: Prosecution For Attempt To Sell Unsafe Xmas Lights - A wholesale company, who attempted to sell unsafe banned Christmas lights, has been convicted for breaching
Electricity Regulations in the Auckland District Court. More >> [1]
Legal Issues: ANZ Investment Services Fined For Bonus Bond Promo - ANZ Investment Services (New Zealand) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ANZ National Bank Limited, has been fined
$80,000 plus costs for running a misleading television campaign. More >> [1]
Media: George FM Future Proofed - Major changes to the operations and management of Auckland radio station George FM have been announced by UMA
Broadcasting CEO Willie Jackson. More >> [1]
Waikato DHB : Mortuary Investigation Statement - This statement is from Waikato District Health Board group manager clinical and support services Melinda Ch'ng in
response to media enquiries today. More >> [1]
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WORLD------------
World Trade: Members 'Within Reach Of A Major Step' Toward New Trade Deal - The head of the WTO, Pascal Lamy, today said he was convinced that the organization's member states would be able to
reach agreements on international trade, as this week's meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee got under way. More >> [1]
MORE ON THE WTO MEETINGOxfam: Fair Trade Deal Needed Now [2] ITUC: WTO Manufactured Goods Proposals Imbalanced [3]
Zimbabwe: United Nations Joins Reference Group Aiding Zimbabwe Mediation - The UN has agreed to join a reference group on Zimbabwe, set up by the President of South Africa who has been leading
the mediation process to resolve the continuing political crisis in Harare. The group "will accompany the mediation
process and consult" More >> [1]
CRISIS RESOLUTIONMugabe, Tsvangirai Agree on Talks [2]
Jerusalem Fever: 'Britain Always At Israel's Side,' Says Gordon Brown - "And let me tell the people of Israel today: Britain is your true friend. A friend in difficult times as well as in
good times; a friend who will stand beside you whenever your peace, your stability and your existence are under threat."
- Gordon Brown. More >> [1]
SEE ALSOGordon Brown's Speech To The Knesset [2] Statements: PM Olmert & PM Brown [3] Ehud Barak Meets British PM Gordon Brown [4] Scheme To Foster UK-Israel Academic Links [5]
Afghanistan: Significant Progress Being Made On Mine Clearance, Reports UN Official - "The UN, together with the Govt of Afghanistan is making every effort to make Afghanistan a safe country, free of
landmines, " Mr. Reza said. He credits much of the recent success to community based de-mining and mine risk education
programmes. More >> [1]
Seriously: Visiting Foreign Ministers Meetings 'Productive', Says Bainimarama - "I would like to reassure you all that the Interim Government is seriously and fully committed to the restoration of
genuine Parliamentary democracy in Fiji through a General Election as soon as practicably possible." -- Commodore
Bainimarama, Interim PM, Fiji. More >> [1]
NOT ALL FUN AND GAMESFiji Working Towards Economic Prosperity [2]
ALSO RECENTLYFiji's Standard & Poor's Rating Stable [3]
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COMMENT------------
Kevin Parkinson: The Death of Free Internet is Imminent (It's a Diabolical Plot) - In the upcoming weeks watch for a report in Time Magazine that will attempt to smooth over the rough edges of a
diabolical plot by Bell Canada and Telus, to begin charging per site fees on most Internet sites... More >> [1]
The George W. Bush Legacy Project: San Francisco to vote on initiative to rename waste treatment plants in honour of Bush - On Election Day this November, voters in San Francisco will vote on a local initiative to rename one of the city's
largest waste treatment plants in honor of George W. Bush. If the initiative passes --- and since the number of
Republicans in the city ... More >> [1]
Swanson: Bush Lied, Knew He Was Lying, Thought It Was Funny, and Killed Over a Million People - Borrowing heavily from Congressman Dennis Kucinich's articles of impeachment, but adding and removing bits and
pieces, here's a case against the current occupant of the White House: More >> [1]
Susenjit Guha: Pakistan - South Asia's failing state - U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen's warning to Pakistan - to clean up its act or else –came
as no surprise. But the recently announced US$750 billion aid package over five years for development of schools, roads
and ... More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
International Film Festival: Review: Rubbings From A Live Man - Premiere News... Florian Habicht's film Rubbings from a Live Man about performer Warwick Broadhead premiered
yesterday July 20 to a full-house at Sky City Theatre in Auckland. Auckland's fine arts community was out in full force
to support their colleague Habicht. Festival Director Bill Gosden said that seeing one of Habicht's films was always a
"joyous occasion" and said that even Warwick Broadhead walking along the street was an event. More >> [1]
Lifestyle: Review: The Order Of Myths - Tradition is a funny thing. Along with a sense of identity, it can imbue a sense of shame. It has the power to give
privilege or deny it, to include or exclude. More >> [1]
GTA IV: Buy It While You Can? - The Society for Promotion of Community Standards has been granted leave by the Secretary of Internal Affairs, Mr
Brendan Boyle, to apply to the Film and Literature Board of Review to review the classification of the computer game
Grand Theft Auto IV (unedited US version). The game was classified R18 by the Chief Censor's Office. More >> [1]
Culture: Blaze Of Tradition And Technology - A new series of artworks connecting customary Mäori tukutuku patterns with urban signage and lighting technology will
be exhibited at Pataka in Porirua until the end of September. The exhibition is called Muramura, which means blaze,
shimmering, eye-catching, or communicative, according to the artist, University lecturer and Mäori visual artist Kura
Puke. More >> [1]
Maori Language Week: Wellington Educated - Today [Monday] Wellingtonians will be greeted with fresh fruit and 'kia ora' to celebrate the first day of Mâori
Language Week. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Mâori (the Mâori Language Commission) and partners will be welcoming commuters at
the railway station with a new booklet Te Reo i te Kâinga - Mâori Language in the Home, which offers useful vocabulary,
tips, and information. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Te Wiki o te Reo Maori puts Maori language online [2] Ministry For Culture And Heritage - Maori Language Week 21 - 27 July [3] Thinktank Consulting Limited - Mâori Dictionary Sofware a Worldwide Hit [4] New Zealand Maori Internet Society - Big change in Internet could see Maori names [5] Massey University - Mäori lullabies subject of PhD research [6] Television NZ - Top Shows On TVNZ Screen Maori Subtitles [7] TV3 Video - Maori Language Week: Music and Te Reo [8]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 22 July 2008
:)
ENDS