Today's top 20 rating items on Scoop are...
Cannabis law reformers have mixed feelings over the recent "non-criminal" importation of marijuana and hashish by an
American billioniare.
The United States is now a major drug-producing nation on a par with Burma, Peru, Bolivia and Columbia according to
Barry McCaffrey, head of President Clinton's US Office of National Anti-Drug Policy. John Howard reports.
The UK is in the grips of what is being desribed by authorities as a full scale killer-flu epidemic. People are dropping
like flies and up to 20,000 could die. John Howard reports
Thailand and the Japanese Global Infrastructure Fund are embarking on a bold and ambitious plan to build a canal linking
the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It will rival the Panama and Suez canals. John Howard reports.
If you thought 1999 was a roller-coaster and hoped the world would return to normal on January 1 2000 - sorry. If
anything - so far - all appearances indicate it is going to get a whole lot worse, even if Y2k computer problems have
proved rather ...
Psst! Want a new passport? You can get it over the Net. Welcome to Lomar the latest in a string of cyberspace nations
that is causing international legal interest.
The collision between Stars & Stripes and Le Defi caused a late night International Jury session. It was called at the request of Team Dennis Conner,
asking for 48 hours to repair its boat, which was damaged in a collision with France's Le Défi challenger.
As the Russian military begins its invasion of Grozny, Russia has launched a strategic intercontinental Topol-M missile
using the occasion to warn the West against criticising its Chechen campaign. John Howard reports.
According to the Australian newspaper, The Advertiser, Air New Zealand has been issued with 501 infringement notices for
bringing illegal immigrants into Australia. John Howard reports.
If democracy can be likened to a flower then in Russia the flower is wilting. Shortly it will probably be plucked and
thrown into the compost heap. The results in the Russian Parliamentary elections - now nearly finalised - are a clear
wake-up call ...
The Moscow Times reports that Russian troops have blasted their way into the outskirts of the Chechen capital of Grozny
and are now engaging rebel soldiers in the besieged city.
An increasingly desperate Russian Prime Minister may have overstepped the mark in his flagrant nuclear sabre rattling
display today, writes Scoop's Alastair Thompson.
The issue of Chechnya has been raised informally in the UN Security Council by individual members, but Russia has never
allowed the matter to go further. The world is angry - but largely silent. John Howard reports.
The Government recently announced that full-time and low income students will pay no interest on their student loans
while they are studying in 2000 and beyond. This policy will be implemented through interest write-offs by Inland
Revenue.
Green co-leader Rod Donald has challenged Social Services Minister Steve Maharey to guarantee WINZ will not blunder
their handling of student finances like they did last year.
The following is a transcript taken from a new web-site launched by then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin four
days before his President Boris Yeltsin resigned and handed him the reigns to the Russian Republic. The article is
interesting in ...
Time, what is it? Like the weather it is something to talk about. And like the weather you have to take it has it comes.
And it keeps on coming, at the speed of light. Occasional Dublin Scoop Greg Meylan writes on how to get free bananas.
Luna Rossa ITA 45 of team Prada dismasted on January 5 during the first leg of the match against AmericaOne.
Silly Season Timing Perfect for Annual Intelligence and Security Report. “Turkey, Chicken or Just Plain Stuffed” ?
Drugs Billionaire – Liquor Shop Bashing – Waitangi Row – Lost Hand – Gay Scouts – Timor Shoes – Childcare – Folic Acid
– Cannabis Special, Q, Attitudes, Legal Loophole – Conservation