Top Scoop Stories - 24 July 2007 News Summary

Tuesday, 24 July 2007, 2:01 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - July 24, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Public Service: PM Faces Grilling Over Setchell Sacking

NZ POLITICS:

Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Espionage: SIS Meets With Chinese Defector
Campaigning: Election Finance Changes Announced
Spotless: Lockout Declared Unlawful; Spotless, Union Find Common Ground
Gordon Campbell: Zaoui's Convictions And The Aftermath In Europe

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Commerce: $5.6 billion proposal for Auckland Airport
Medicine: Chlorine Bleach A Key Weapon Against Bacteria Infections
Advertising: Explosion of Creativity on Auckland Billboard
Out There... News: Brian Carter's The Night Sky, Lunar Eclipse Aug 28!

WORLD:

Oxfam: Oxfam Global Ambassadors: Johansson, Lennox, Tutu
World Health Organisation: WHO alarmed about the spread of dengue
Ferrari: Ferrari Plan No Changes After Grand Prix of Europe
Maserati Australia and New Zealand: Maserati Wins Top Award at Private Supercar Show

COMMENT:

Russia and US: Square Off Over Energy Reserves
Bush’s War Policy: When Time Heals Nothing
Iraq: Howard government admits what we all knew
Robert Parry: If the Democrats Want to Win

LIFESTYLE:

Theatre: Welly's San Fran Gets Some Chicago Sexual Perversity
Maori: Ko Tēnei Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori
Vampires/Crime: New Zealand Movie to Premiere in Dunedin
Kiwi Pride: Kiwi and American break Gliding Record

Public Service: PM Faces Grilling Over Setchell Sacking - Audio + Text: "Is there anything more substantial anyone would like to ask," was the Prime Minister's question to the parliamentary press gallery after facing a barrage of questions regarding a public servant's recent sacking. The public servant in question, Madeleine Setchell, lost her job as a head of communications at the Ministry of the Environment after three days. Ms Setchell job loss was because her partner is the press secretary of National Party leader, John Key. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Briefing on employment decision by Environment Min [2]
• National - Clark declares war on public service neutrality [3]
• National - Benson-Pope did know about political sacking [4]
• PSA - Commission Needs to Clarify Position [5]
• PSA - Concern on Handling Of 'Conflict Of Interest' Case [6]
• Pugnacious - Who’d be a public sector communicator? [7]
• (Scoop Video): PM Clark & Mark Burton Press Conferences [8]
• (95bFM Audio): Havo n PM on D Benson-Pope [9]
• (KiwiFM Audio): Wallace & Selwyn Manning – Political Interference? [10]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00320.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00349.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00368.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00351.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00265.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00236.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00270.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00319.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00317.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00289.htm

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER:

• Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 24 July 2007 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00381.htm

Espionage: SIS Meets With Chinese Defector - On Friday 20th July, the former Chinese diplomat Yonglin Chen met with officials from the New Zealand Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) to discuss Chen's allegations of a New Zealand kidnapping by the Chinese government. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00269.htm

Campaigning: Election Finance Changes Announced - The Government has today introduced a Bill that will restore confidence in a fair and transparent electoral process in time for the next election, Justice Minister Mark Burton announced. "These reforms help bring New Zealand into line with other democracies, as a place where every voter can have their voice heard fairly, regardless of their personal circumstances, and where every person can hear everyone else's voice clearly and transparently, " said Mark Burton More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Greens - Elections should be about policy not money [2]
• National - Labour screws electoral scrum [3]
• Coalition for Open Government - Electoral Finance Bill fails to live up to promise [4]
• The Kyoto Forestry Association - Election-Year Spending Limit Worse Than Expected [5]
• Out-Link - Electoral Finance Bill [6]
• Out-Link - No Right Turn on the Electoral Finance Bill [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00377.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00375.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00385.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00273.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00271.htm
[6] - http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/5/7/2/00DBHOH_BILL8028_1-Electoral-Finance-Bill.htm
[7] - http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2007/07/closer-look-electoral-finance-bill.html

Spotless: Lockout Declared Unlawful; Spotless, Union Find Common Ground - The company and the union have agreed on terms that are intended to deliver significant pay rises for the workforce as well as setting out the parameters for the parties to move towards concluding collective bargaining. Both parties have agreed to hold off industrial action to enable the bargaining to proceed. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Spotless Services - Operational Strength Brings Union to Table [2]
• CTU - Victory for low paid workers over contractor [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00282.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00447.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00287.htm

Gordon Campbell: Zaoui's Convictions And The Aftermath In Europe - To the critics of Ahmed Zaoui, his convictions in Europe are a knock-down argument. The man has been convicted in Belgium and France - and that’s the end of it. Somewhat surprisingly, there has been little or no attention given to the subsequent fate of Zaoui’s co-defendants. If Zaoui’s convictions in Europe were so serious then surely, his co-defendants must also be under lock and key in the dungeons of Europe, right? More>> [1]

ALSO:

• Scoop Full Coverage - The Ahmed Zaoui Case – The Gordon Campbell Series [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00333.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00174.htm

Commerce: $5.6 billion proposal for Auckland Airport - The directors of Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) today announced a proposed transaction with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) which would see DAE acquire an interest between 51% and 60% in the AIAL business and become a strategic partner. Under the proposal, AIAL shareholders will receive value of up to NZ$3.80 per share. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ First - NZ Set To Lose Yet Another Plum [2]
• Greens - Airport sell-off has risks for tourist industry [3]
• Manukau City Council - Council to consider proposal released by AIAL [4]
• NZ Govt - Auckland International Airport proposal [5]
• Len Brown - Mayoral Candidate - The Airport Shares; Hold, hold,hold [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00415.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00366.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00370.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0707/S00258.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00374.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0707/S00262.htm

Medicine: Chlorine Bleach A Key Weapon Against Bacteria Infections - Scientists at the University of Otago, Christchurch have discovered that bleach is one of the key factors used by white blood cells to control bacterial infections in the body. Exactly how these foot soldiers of the immune system control and kill invading bacteria has long been an area of controversy in medical research. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0707/S00044.htm

Advertising: Explosion of Creativity on Auckland Billboard - A Deadline Couriers billboard made New Zealand advertising history yesterday evening when it exploded in a 6-metre fireball in Auckland’s CBD. Crowds gathered to watch the Nelson Street billboard’s digital clock countdown the last few seconds to 6pm – the deadline set for the billboard to self-destruct after it was erected last Monday. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00420.htm

Out There... News: Brian Carter's The Night Sky, Lunar Eclipse Aug 28! - August is the month that we really start to notice the days getting longer and the nights shorter. Planets August is a poor month for viewing the planets. Jupiter and Mars will be visible for all of August. Venus will be visible in the evening sky at the start and in the morning sky at the end of the month. Saturn will be visible in the evening sky for the first few days of August and Mercury will just be visible in the evening at the very end of the month. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00276.htm

Oxfam: Oxfam Global Ambassadors: Johansson, Lennox, Tutu - Oxfam launches Global Ambassadors programme, with A-listers Scarlett Johansson, Annie Lennox, Colin Firth, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Helen Mirren topping the bill For immediate release: 24 July 2007 More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00310.htm

World Health Organisation: WHO alarmed about the spread of dengue - Manila, 23 July 2007-The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Western Pacific Region may be heading for a major dengue outbreak unless concerted effort and cooperation are undertaken quickly. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00305.htm

Ferrari: Ferrari Plan No Changes After Grand Prix of Europe - Ferrari team principal Jean Todt says that there will be no change to the team's approach to the final seven races in the championship, after Sunday's second place finish for Ferrari in the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00294.htm

Maserati Australia and New Zealand: Maserati Wins Top Award at Private Supercar Show - Maserati stole the show at the Salon Privé, the private, invitation-only luxury supercar motor show held at the exclusive Hurlingham Club in London. Among the modern supercars, the new Maserati GranTurismo, displayed alongside two Maserati Quattroportes, created a lot of excitement, while Jay Kay’s stunning Black Maserati A6 G54 won the overall Grand Prix in the Concours d’Elégance, as well as the prize for best GT.More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00297.htm

Russia and US: Square Off Over Energy Reserves - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush spent most of their time at the “lobster summit” at Kennebunkport, Maine, discussing how to prevent the growing tensions between their two countries from getting out of hand... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00304.htm

Bush’s War Policy: When Time Heals Nothing - The news of recent weeks emanating from Washington and Baghdad point to one clear, if not final, conclusion: The Bush administration's adventures in Iraq have been a complete failure... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00303.htm

Iraq: Howard government admits what we all knew - “Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has admitted that securing oil supplies is a key factor behind the presence of Australian troops in Iraq.” This was how the BBC reported Nelson’s July 5 comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00292.htm

Robert Parry: If the Democrats Want to Win - If the Democrats really want to prevail over George W. Bush on the Iraq War and on his authoritarian vision of presidential powers, they would put back on the table two options that their leaders have removed: a cut-off of war funding and impeachment... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00249.htm

Theatre: Welly's San Fran Gets Some Chicago Sexual Perversity - Sexual Perversity in Chicago is a wicked comedy that examines the lives of two men and two women thrust into the harsh and lubricious world of dating in 1970s Chicago. This production of Sexual Perversity In Chicago has been tailor-made to integrate seamlessly with the architecture of the San Francisco Bath House. More >>

Maori: Ko Tēnei Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori - “My thoughts are with all our early Maori Language Pioneers today” said Te Ururoa Flavell in marking Te Wiki o te Reo Maori. “Thirty five years ago, on 14 September 1972, we recall a petition which bore witness to the mandate of some 40,000 signatures to call for Maori language being offered in schools.” More >>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Horomia: Health of the Māori Language Survey
• NZ Govt - Māori student achievement improving
• Maori Party - Truths of Taranaki a Gift for their Descendants
• Maori Party - Labour’s Ethnic Cleansing Policy for Local Govt
• Environment Bay of Plenty - It’s cool to korero
• Public Health Association - Racism in Health Will Continue If Treaty Removed
• Wintec - Māori Language Week at Wintec
• Out-Link - Kōrero Māori: www.korero.maori.nz
• Out-Link - Hau Kāinga - Nō Wikipedia Māori

Vampires/Crime: New Zealand Movie to Premiere in Dunedin - "Perfect Creature showcases the vast imagination and ingenuity at work in (New Zealand’s) film industry with a very original twist on the vampire movie. Part horror film, part sci-fi epic and part cop thriller, it’s a genre junkie’s wet scream." More >>

ALSO:

• Out-Link - Perfect Creature Website

Kiwi Pride: Kiwi and American break Gliding Record - Kiwi glider pilot Terry Delore and American pilot entrepreneur Steve Fossett have claimed the gliding world speed record over 1250 kilometers with a blistering average speed of 149.23kph. After 27 attempts and 18,000kilometers of flying the duo broke longest standing gliding world speed record set in the mid eighties. More >>

ENDS

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