Today's Top Scoops - 18 August 2008
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LEAD STORY------------
Karim Sahai: Images Of Vishnu And His Avatars - 'Incarnations', a colourful and expert display of south indian dance by the Mudra Dance Company, premiered on Friday night, at Victoria University's Memorial Theatre. This latest dazzling dance creation of acclaimed Wellington dancer and choreographer Vivek Kinra, presents the story of Lord Vishnu - one of the pillars of hinduism. The tale of Vishnu and his "avatars" (incarnations) builds on the concept of 'Dharma' (justice) and the destruction of evil. More >> [1]
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NZ POLITICS------------
Welfare: Bureaucracy Given Paperwork Bypass - The Minister for Social Development and Employment, Ruth Dyson, is welcoming a cut in unnecessary administration for
elderly, sick and disabled people. More >> [1]
Transport: Expert Challenges National Over Toll Roads - Dog & Lemon Guide Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said today: "National is promising public- private partnerships in order to
build new roads. That sounds fine on paper. However, taxpayers need to know what the real-world costs of these
public-private partnerships will be." More >> [1]
Party Lists: National Moves Beyond Middle Aged Pakeha Chaps - The National Party's 2008 list promotes strength and diversity, says Judy Kirk, National Party President. Peseta Sam
Lotu-Iiga (Maungakiekie) has been ranked at number 35, Hekia Parata (Mana) at 36, Melissa Lee (list) at number 37. More >> [1]
Immigration: Gordon Campbell On The Yadegary Decision - While the release on bail of the Iranian Christian convert Thomas Yadegary is a victory in the short term it may be
the last gasp of judicial common sense before the Immigration Bill snuffs out the power of the courts to grant relief in
such situation. More >> [1]
Policy: Duelling Energy Plans - National Party Leader John Key says a Government he leads will focus on security of electricity supply, while
upholding New Zealand's environmental responsibilities. More >> [1]
ALSO: Scoop Full Coverage - Full Coverage: National And Labour On Energy [2]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
Birth Rate: Stork In for Busy Time - The birth rate reached 2.2 births per woman in the June 2008 year, up from 2.1 in 2007, Statistics New Zealand said
today. The last time this level of fertility was reached was in 1991. More >> [1]
Local Hero: Cantabrian Takes Out Top Building Award - Cantabrian, Graeme Earl, has won the Supreme Award at the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB) Awards for
Excellence in the Building Professions. More >> [1]
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WORLD------------
Transport Workers: Question mark remains over Georgia decision - Responding to the Joint Negotiating Group's rejection of the proposal to declare Georgian coastal waters a warlike
operations area, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said: "It's an understandable decision, given the declaration of a
ceasefire." More >> [1]
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COMMENT------------
Steve Weissman: Big Bad Russkies and Nasty Neocons - When Soviet troops marched into Hungary and Poland in 1956, I remember watching the agony unfold on black and white
television, a young infomaniac in the making. One night, I watched with my father's uncle Jack, an old Hungarian Jew who
had no ... More >> [1]
Richard S. Ehrlich: Thaksin - The World's Newest International Fugitive - BANGKOK, Thailand -- The world's newest international fugitive from arrest is a wealthy, square-faced man with a PhD.
in criminal justice from a university in Texas, and a former hand-holding ally of U.S. President George W. Bush. More >> [1]
Ramzy Baroud: Family Politics and the New Gaza Crisis - Yet more haunting images of blindfolded, stripped down Palestinian men being contemptuously dragged by soldiers in
uniform from one place to another. Yet more footage of bloodied men lying on hospital beds describing their ordeals to
television... More >> [1]
Rosalea Barker: Obama and McCain Quizzed by Church Leader - This Saturday, Senators Obama and McCain will each be questioned for an hour by the leader of Saddleback Church, Dr.
Rick Warren, in Lake Forest, Southern California. The event will be carried live by CNN and Fox News, as well as being
streamed live ... More >> [1]
Martin LeFevre: Making a Friend of Death - It's early enough to avoid the enervating edge of the day's heat. After a workout on the track, I stop at the park to
cool off in the creek Lying on my back in the stream, the gentle current caresses and relaxes my muscles. More >> [1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
Theatre: Encore Season Of Toa Fraser's Bare - The iconic NZ play that first catapulted Silo Theatre into the cultural limelight returns on October 8 with an encore
season of Toa Fraser's BARE. Toa Frasers poetic vision of NZ was a debut hit in 1998. More >> [1]
Interactive Sculpture: Christchurch Garden Wins 2008 Landscaping Award - The interactive sculpture garden at Christchurch's Dyslexia Discovery Centre has been named Stevenson Landscape of
the Year at the 2008 Landscaping New Zealand Awards in Auckland. More >> [1]
Bouncing: Bungy Jumping - New World Record - The Rock and AJ Hackett are pleased to announce that Mike Heard has set a new world record today off The Auckland
Harbour Bridge, for the most bungy jumps in one day. More >> [1]
Portrait Cleaning: Revealing Mr Webb - The story of how Nathaniel Webb, an eighteenth century gentleman, came to be revealed in all his glory will be
presented at Christchurch Art Gallery later this month. More >> [1]
And those were the Top Scoops on this day, 18 August 2008
:)
ENDS