Top Scoop Stories - 28 June 2007 News Summary

Thursday, 28 June 2007, 2:53 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - June 28, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Medical: America's Cup fans should sleep in

NZ POLITICS:

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY: [1] [2] [3]
Parliament: Does the Housing Minister read what he signs?
Crime: Turia on Moral Panic and Gangs
Scoop Satire: Open Letter To Closed Parliament
Scoop News: High Court Jurisdiction Bypassed Under Anti-Terror Bill
Roger Awards 2007: May the Worst Man Win!

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Economy: Annual Current Account Deficit Narrows
Tech Support: Aussie & NZ I.T. Benchmarks Show Different Story
Environment: Polluters Warned on Carbon Liability
Retail: Research Company Works Out Grocery Shoppers' Mind Games

WORLD:

UN Report: Global Drug Abuse Rates Holding Steady
Scoop News: Ban Ki-Moon Urges Ratification
Paris: Talks on Darfur Generate Momentum
Southern Afghanistan: Opium Production Strong

LIFESTYLE:

America's Cup: All square - Alinghi wins Race Four to tie the Match 2-2
Arts: Alien Musical Stars Dead Actor
Arts: From Puppets to Pixels At The Film Archive
Health: Teen smoking rates halved in less than a decade

Medical: America's Cup fans should sleep in - A sleep researcher says America's Cup fans need to make sure they get enough sleep. Dr Leigh Signal from Massey University's Sleep/Wake Research Centre says, "It's great that our team is doing well. Yachting fans can look after their health by making sure they get enough sleep... If you are getting up night after night, the effects will accumulate. You will continue to feel sleepier and more irritable each day and your functioning will continue to decline. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Medianet - Best Friends Distracting at Work, NZ Study Finds [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0706/S00101.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00300.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

• Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 28 June 2007 [1]
• Questions And Answers - Wednesday, 27 June 2007 [2]
• Questions And Answers - Tuesday, 26 June 2007 [3]

Parliament: Does the Housing Minister read what he signs? [4] - Heatley: How is it that a person can be allocated a State house in Mangere, and, at the same time, own a holiday home in Russell? Carter: I would welcome further information about that case. Heatley: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask you to judge whether that is a fair answer, given that the Minister gave me that information yesterday with a cover letter. More >> [5]

ALSO:

• National - Immigration Minister evades the serious questions [6]

Crime: Turia on Moral Panic and Gangs [7] - Moral panic is most frequently seen in the way in which crime statistics are manipulated and misconstrued in a peculiar blend of media hype and political opportunism. In Aotearoa in the last few months, the gang culture has been targeted in the latest moral panic. More >> [8]

ALSO:

• Police - Police Recruits An Inspiration To Pacific Youth [9]
• Sensible Sentencing Trust - Maori sick of excuses [10]
• National - Electronic bail a gamble with public safety [11]
• National - CYFS fails predator 'time bomb' & public [12]
• National - Only 32% of new police on 'front line' [13]
• Campaign Against the Taser - Hysteria threatens taser trial [14]
• Police Association - Taser Critics Should Note Violence Against Police [15]

Scoop Satire: Open Letter To Closed Parliament [16] - Dear Mags, I hear you're banning satire. About time! The last thing we need is the Media arrogantly assuming the right to denigrate the institution of Parliament or make its members appear ridiculous. More >> [17]

ALSO:

• Standing Orders Committee - Report: Television coverage of the House [18]
• Maori Party - Party Welcomes Proposals to Manage Broadcasts [19]
• Commonwealth Press Union - Camera Coverage Of The House -- CPU [20]
• EPMU - Union says Speaker should scrap satire ban [21]

Scoop News: High Court Jurisdiction Bypassed Under Anti-Terror Bill [22] - Joseph Barratt reports that the New Zealand High Court review process on who or what can be considered a terrorist or a terrorist group will be by-passed under a new law proposed by the Labour-led Government. The Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill, if passed by Parliament, will see New Zealand follow the United States of America and Australia in empowering a nation's political leader (the Prime Minister in New Zealand's case) to decide who is a terrorist. More >> [23]

Roger Awards 2007: May the Worst Man Win! [24] - Nominations are now open for this most prestigious and keenly contested annual Award. The criteria for judging are by assessing the transnational (a corporation which is 25% or more foreign-owned) that has the most negative impact on New Zealand. More >> [25]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00559.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00544.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00522.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00551.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00551.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00547.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00545.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00545.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00331.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00329.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00554.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00556.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00519.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00336.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00293.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00369.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00369.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00508.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00525.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00316.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00320.htm
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00368.htm
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00368.htm
[24] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00327.htm
[25] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00327.htm

Economy: Annual Current Account Deficit Narrows - The current account deficit for the year ended March 2007 was $13.9 billion (8.5 percent of GDP), Statistics New Zealand said today... The reduction in the March 2007 year deficit from the previous March year deficit was mainly due to increased exports of goods. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• J P Morgan - NZ's current account deficit narrowed [2]
• Statistics New Zealand - Tourist Spending Exceeds $18 Billion [3]
• Statistics New Zealand - Housing Consents Steady in May [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00477.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00479.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00475.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00476.htm

Tech Support: Aussie & NZ I.T. Benchmarks Show Different Story - "Australian and New Zealand firms face lower salary costs than the northern hemisphere, but this does not relate to better efficiencies". "A majority of local businesses have a greater number of IT staff to do the same job than their overseas competitors" said Mr Bishop. "One of the reasons for staff inefficiencies could be the low levels of training undertaken by Australasian businesses." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0706/S00069.htm

Environment: Polluters Warned on Carbon Liability - The directors of 20 major greenhouse-polluting New Zealand companies have been warned of possible litigation if they don't take action on climate change. Australian law firm Maurice Blackburn Cashman, acting on behalf of Greenpeace, "served notice" on the companies that they could be held liable for their contribution to the damage and costs of climate change, especially if they refuse to change current practices. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00338.htm

Retail: Research Company Works Out Grocery Shoppers' Mind Games - According to a new Shopper study from The Nielsen Company, consumers experience up to four different shopping 'modes' during grocery shopping - and knowing how these change between supermarket aisles will help FMCG companies and marketers achieve greater leverage from their point-of-purchase marketing. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00454.htm

UN Report: Global Drug Abuse Rates Holding Steady - The production, trafficking and consumption of most illegal drugs remained steady last year, and law enforcement agencies are becoming more successful in their fight against the scourge, according to a United Nations report released today. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00461.htm

Scoop News: Ban Ki-Moon Urges Ratification - Marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other United Nations officials today roundly denounced the practice and called on all countries to ratify the international treaty that bans it. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00465.htm

Paris: Talks on Darfur Generate Momentum - A high-level meeting in Paris bringing together over a dozen countries concerned about the situation in the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan has helped generate additional momentum towards ending the suffering of the people there, Secretary-General ... See... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• State Dept. Secretary Rice Travels to Paris for Sudan Conference [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00438.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00432.htm

Southern Afghanistan: Opium Production Strong - Afghanistan continues to monopolize the global industry in illegal opium and is increasingly capable on its own territory of processing the poppy into heroin and morphine, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned today... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0706/S00448.htm

America's Cup: All square - Alinghi wins Race Four to tie the Match 2-2 - Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup, beat Emirates Team New Zealand on Wednesday to square the Match at two wins apiece. The Swiss team was in control for the entire race, leading the Emirates squad around the race course. More >> [1]

EARLIER:

• America's Cup Media - Alinghi 1, Emirates Team New Zealand 2 [2]
• America's Cup Media - Emirates Team New Zealand earns a stunning victory [3]
• Royal Society of NZ - Science Headlines - America's Cup [4]
• America's Cup Media - Alinghi wins first race, grabs lead in Match [5]
• America's Cup Media - The 32nd America's Cup Match starts on Saturday [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00294.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00285.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00286.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0706/S00063.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00251.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00250.htm

Arts: Alien Musical Stars Dead Actor - After selling out arenas in the UK in 2006, playing to 100,000 people across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, New Zealanders will now have the opportunity to witness one of the best-selling recordings of all time, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, live in a thrilling theatrical and multimedia spectacle, with a brilliant cast, including, 23 years after his death, one of the world's greatest actors, Richard Burton, at the helm "in sight and sound"as George Herbert, The Journalist. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00288.htm

Arts: From Puppets to Pixels At The Film Archive - From Puppets to Pixels is an interactive exhibition that transforms the age-old tradition of shadow puppetry into the digital world - to cyberspace and beyond. The exhibition runs throughout the July school holidays. Over the past six months puppeteer Rebekah Wild has created a series of puppets based around characters from the traditional Eastern European fairy tale Baba Yaga, including a wicked witch, a cat, a young girl and a house made of chicken bones.More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0706/S00277.htm

Health: Teen smoking rates halved in less than a decade - Figures released by ASH New Zealand show that teen smoking rates have halved in the last 8 years. In 2006, 14.2 percent of Year 10 New Zealand teenagers said they were smokers, down from 28.6 percent in 1999 according to the Year 10 Smoking Survey conducted by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) New Zealand, and the Health Sponsorship Council (HSC). More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Smokefree Coalition - Tobacco control leaders to set future agenda [2]
• NZ Govt - Halving of smoking rate among teens [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0706/S00086.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0706/S00084.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00496.htm

ENDS

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