Today's Top Scoops - 29 July 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
Election 08: Gordon Campbell Reviews The PM's Presser July 29 - Late on Monday July 29th, means that its time for the Prime Minister's weekly post Cabinet press conference. How late the conference is scheduled is in itself a vehicle for spin conjecture. If it comes early (3:30 to 4 ish ) this is taken to mean that it's a Good News Day, timed for optimum coverage on the nightly television bulletins. Late, and the reverse reading applies. Today, in the depths of l'affaire Peters, the 5:30pm start is assumed to be a form of damage control. More >> [1]
ALSO:Raw Audio: PM's Presser 28/07/08 [2]
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NZ POLITICS------------
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY: Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 29 July 2008 [1]
Crime: 1 In 4 Police Assaulted - Family Party leader Richard Lewis says an increase in assaults on police reflects a deeper issue relating to a
decline in societal attitudes towards law enforcement. The number of assaults against police increased to 2248 last
year. More >> [1]
Welfare: Cullen Sceptical Of Key's New Enthusiasm For WFF - John Key's complete reversal on Working for Families - a programme he has consistently attacked as middle class
welfare - makes it increasingly clear he cannot be trusted to stand by his own beliefs, Finance Minister Michael Cullen
said. More >> [1]
ALSO:National - National to keep Working for Families unchanged [2] National - Giving certainty to family incomes [3] NZ Govt - Come clean on borrowing plans Mr Key [4] NZ Govt - Key: 'costly welfare monster' suddenly affordable [5] Progressive Party - NZ can't afford National's spending recklessness [6] Child Poverty Action Group - CPAG welcomes improved security for family incomes [7] Libertarianz - Libz Marvel At Key's Digestive Gymnastics [8]
Gordon Campbell: Winners And Losers In The Winston Peters Saga - At half time in the Winston Peters latest scandal - which seems to involve several money trails complex enough to
merit inclusion in the Winebox - likely winners are beginning to emerge. More >> [1]
Election: Steven Joyce, Melissa Lee For National List - National Party President Judy Kirk today announced that Melissa Lee and Steven Joyce will be standing for the
National Party at the up-coming General Election. The National Party Board has nominated Ms Lee and Mr Joyce to fill two
of its 'up to five' list-only nominations allowed under the Party's constitution. More >> [1]
ALSO:National - Key welcomes new candidates [2]
Olympics: Greens Demand Free Speech For Athletes - Green Party MP Keith Locke has criticised the chef de mission of New Zealand's Olympic team Dave Currie for
discouraging our athletes from speaking out on human rights issues while in Beijing. More >> [1]
Protest News: Protesters Brave Storm To Get Message Heard - Photo Essay: Protesters braved a one-in-ten-year storm and pressed the line with Police to drive their message home
on the weekend while New Zealand's PM Helen Clark met with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. More >> [1]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Kiwi Pride: Ponsonby Architect Up There With World's Best - New Zealand architects Patterson Associates has been included as a double finalist in the World Architecture
Festival, one of the world's most prestigious architectural awards. More >> [1]
Internet: Kiwis Log On - Survey - * 78% of New Zealanders use the Internet. 6% are ex-users; 16% have never used it. * 15% of users are online at home
for at least 20 hours a week. * In this sample, 66% of users with a connection at home have broadband, compared to 31%
with dial-up. More >> [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Research shows Kiwis are becoming internet savvy [2] InternetNZ - World Internet Project survey impresses [3] Out-Link - Project Findings: World Internet Project New Zealand [4] Out-Link - PublicAddress Radio: Jeff Cole of the World Internet Project [5]
[5] - http://publicaddress.net/system/topic,1254,pa_radio_jeff_cole_of_the_world_internet_project.sm
Weather Bombs: MetService Says More Rain Coming - Severe weather warnings for heavy rain from Tuesday afternoon have been issued for Northland, Coromandel, Western Bay
of Plenty and northern Gisborne, and these regions are also likely to experience northeast winds up to gale force. On
Wednesday severe southeast gales are likely to affect Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti, Wellington and Marlborough. More >> [1]
ALSO:Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management - High winds and damage expected [2] Northland Regional Council - New Storm Just Hours Away [3] Auckland Civil Defence - Aucklanders asked to watch weather forecasts [4] Sanford Limited - Press Statement Update On San Cuvier Accident [5] Sanford Limited - Update On San Cuvier Accident (2) [6] Joint Media Statement - Industry condolences to family of San Cuvier crew [7] Northpower - Northpower Electricity Supply Situation [8]
Statistics: Trade Deficit Grows In June 2008 Quarter - The seasonally adjusted trade deficit increased to $1.9 billion in the June 2008 quarter, from $861 million in the
March quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. As a percentage of exports this puts the deficit in the June quarter
back to a similar level to that seen in the first half of 2007. More >> [1]
ALSO:Greens - Oil dependency takes its toll [2] J P Morgan - Australia and NZ- Weekly Prospects 28/7/08 [3] J P Morgan - Australia and NZ Economic data and event previews [4] Ministry of Tourism - Domestic travel activity softens [5] M-Co - Wholesale electricity market summary to 27/07/08 [6] Manufacturers and Exporters - We have found the wall - what next? [7]
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WORLD------------
Royal Bloodlines: The Geneology Of King George Tupou V Of Tonga - King George Tupou V is the progeny of three royal bloodlines, which emerged from a civilisation nearly 3,000 years
old: Tu'i Tonga, Tu'i Ha'atakalaua and Tu'i Kanokupolu. King George is the 23rd Tu'i Kanokupolu, the transcendent source
of authority. More >> [1]
CORONATION TREATSA Monarch For A Time Of Change [2] Ko e Tu'i ki he taimi 'o e liliu [3] Fiji PM To Attend Coronation [4]
Strong Ally: President Bush Meets With Prime Minister Gillani Of Pakistan - "We talked about the common threat we face: extremists who are very dangerous people. We talked about the need for us
to make sure that the Afghan border is secure as best as possible; Pakistan has made a very strong commitment to that."
- President Bush. More >> [1]
RELATEDWhite House Briefing, 28 Jul 2008 [2]
ALSO OF INTERESTU.S. Supports India's Civil Nuclear Pact [3]
Gold For Humanity: Ban Ki-Moon Joins Calls For An Olympic Truce During Games - "Let them lay down their weapons, if only temporarily, so that humanity can lay claim to gold." Ban Ki-Moon said in a
message ahead of the Games. Such a truce, while limited in duration, can provide a pause in which to reconsider the
heavy cost of war. More >> [1]
Solidarity Website: Support For Zimbabwe's Lovemore Matombo & Wellington Chibebe - The ITUC has launched a new website supporting Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe, President and General
Secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. Lovemore and Wellington were arrested on 8 May for speaking out
about violence in Zimbabwe. More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
Fashion: Kiwis Get Chance To Make Arses of Themselves - International lingerie brand sloggi is on the search for NZ's most beautiful male and female bottoms for the 2nd
annual "Show me your sloggi" (smys) campaign. More >> [1]
Pet Watch: Assist Your Pooch To Die Of Shame This Winter... - Keeping your pets warm against the winter chill is very important, particularly for short haired dogs. Many people
don't realise that they need to protect their pets against wind chill and rain with a warm coat or jumper when they're
taking their dogs for walks in Winter. More >> [1]
Yank Sports: Gridiron Takes Hold In Godzone - American Football or Gridiron as it is often called in New Zealand sees players ranging from 75-175kg on the same
field. This can be a daunting prospect for new players until they realise that they are usually matched up against
someone of similar build and skill set. More >> [1]
Plonk: Zesty Pineapple, Passionfruit Sav Launched By Alan Scott - Leading family winemaker Allan Scott has just released its 2008 Sauvignon Blanc - it's a flavoursome blend of
pineapple, passionfruit, and zesty citrus flavours combined with typical herbaceous notes. More >> [1]
Political Music: Go Bush And Rise Like A Phoenix With Green Chums - Two of the country's most acclaimed bands - Little Bushman and The Phoenix Foundation - are joining forces with the
Green Party to push the environment and quality of life into the election year debate. More >> [1]
Sport: Splash World Title To NZer Ben Lutze - Ben Lutze of Taipa in Northland is New Zealand's latest sailor to take a world title, crowned Splash World Champion
over the weekend in Tavira, Portugal. Kiwi team-mate, George Lane also made it to the podium taking third overall at the
regatta which was contested by 100 sailors. More >> [1]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 29 July 2008
:)
ENDS