Top Scoop Stories - 06 December 2007 News Summary

Thursday, 6 December 2007, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - December 06, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Reserve Bank: Monetary Policy Statement December 6 2007

NZ POLITICS:

Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 6 December 07
National: Ombudsman's call shows Labour has failed
Health: Papers Show Depth Of Crisis At Wellington DHB

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Trade: Pig Farmers Welcome Honey Ruling

WORLD:

East Asia: US Envoy Says North Korea Disabling Nuclear Programs
Sri Lanka: Amnesty Condemns Mass Arrests Of More Than 1000 Tamils
Military & Defence: U.S., China Agree To Strengthen Military Relations
United States: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2007
Bali Conference: World's Poor Need Action On Climate Change Says UN

COMMENT:

Spike Mountjoy: Renowned International Civil Society Activist Criticises NZ's Terror Laws
Matt Renner: Waxman, Mukasey and Ten Million Missing Emails
Ray McGovern: Fact-Based Intelligence Prevails on Nukes and Iran
David Swanson: Kucinich First, Edwards Second in PDA Straw Poll
Bill Berkowitz: Religious leaders push back against right's "War on Christmas"
Mohan Nepali: India Encroaches Nepal's Territory

LIFESTYLE:

Xmas Cheer: Jesters Go Crackers With a Very Merry Scriptless

Reserve Bank: Monetary Policy Statement December 6 2007 - R2.co.nz Video on Demand of the Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard's press conference this morning held to release the quarterly Monetary Policy Statement. Interest rates have been held at 8.25% but the Governor delivered some fairly hawkish remarks indicating there is unlikely to be any interest rate relief for some time... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• J P Morgan RBNZ punchy on inflation outlook [2]
• Green Party - Mortgages, rents and exports bear cost of oil [3]
• Reserve Bank - OCR unchanged at 8.25 percent [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00095.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00097.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00128.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00086.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

• Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 6 December 07 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00129.htm

National: Ombudsman's call shows Labour has failed - The Ombudsman's recommendation for a Commission of Inquiry into the criminal justice sector confirms that law and order issues are still being mismanaged after eight years under Labour, says National's Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• SOLO - Lock up the PM, Fire the Ombudsman's Arse! [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00113.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00061.htm

Health: Papers Show Depth Of Crisis At Wellington DHB - Papers show depth of crisis at Wellington DHB National Party Health spokesman Tony Ryall says David Cunliffe must inject fresh urgency into his management of the crisis at Wellington Hospital. "The catalogue of problems revealed... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• College of General Practitioners - Storm of criticism of staff may not be helpful [2]
• United Future - Dunne calls for radical overhaul of Wgton DHB [3]
• ACT - Independent Trouble-Shooter Needed For CCDHB - Roy [4]
• Maori Party - Wellington Hospital Horror Story Gets Worse [5]
• ACT - Action, Not Reports, Needed At CCDHB [6]
• Medical Association - Government must stop ad hoc health planning [7]
• Health system so bad - patients clean toilets [8]
• ACT - Tragedy Highlights Dangers In Maternity Services [9]
• Greens - Crucial care mustn't be sacrificed to bottom line [10]
• NZ First - Action Overdue On Maternity Services [11]
• United Future - Turner demands improvement in childbirth care [12]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00081.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0712/S00017.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00074.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00076.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00100.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00120.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0712/S00022.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00112.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00032.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00042.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00051.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00052.htm

Trade: Pig Farmers Welcome Honey Ruling - The Court of Appeal has upheld the Beekeepers' case that it is unlawful for MAF to allow new organisms across the border. It affirms that the only body with power to approve the introduction of new organisms to New Zealand is ERMA. This decision is welcomed by the New Zealand Pork Industry Board... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Comment on Appeal Court decision on honey imports [2]
• National Beekeepers' Association - Association pleased Court has recognized concerns [3]
• Federated Farmers - Honey Imports Must Stop For Good [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00083.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00072.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00078.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00074.htm

East Asia: US Envoy Says North Korea Disabling Nuclear Programs - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill has returned from a visit to North Korea where he says nuclear disablement is going well, but gaps remain on Pyongyang's agreed nuclear declaration. The top U.S. negotiator visited North Korea's main Yongbyon nuclear complex and said disablement was moving as fast as possible. Hill also met with North Korean officials who told him they would meet an end of year deadline to declare all nuclear programs and materials. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00326.htm

Sri Lanka: Amnesty Condemns Mass Arrests Of More Than 1000 Tamils - More than 400 of those arrested, including 50 women, have been taken to the Boosa Camp near Galle in the south, a facility that is reportedly overcrowded, lacking proper sanitation facilities and adequate drinking water. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the arrests have been made on arbitrary and discriminatory grounds using sweeping powers granted by the emergency regulations. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00302.htm

Military & Defence: U.S., China Agree To Strengthen Military Relations - The United States-Peoples' Republic of China annual defense consultative talks ended yesterday with the two nations agreeing to increase military-to-military ties, Pentagon officials said today. The annual talks came a month after Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited China and spoke to Chinese leaders about better communications. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00329.htm

United States: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2007 - On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, America honors those brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our homeland, and we recognize those veterans who with strength and resolve defended our Nation and advanced the cause of Freedom. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00310.htm

Bali Conference: World's Poor Need Action On Climate Change Says UN - A senior United Nations official told the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali today that any delay in addressing the issue of adaptation could be called "an attack on the poor." Negotiators at the Conference are working to frame a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions but is set to expire in 2012. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• UK Govt - UK PM Sees Chance For Climate Change Agreement [2]
• VOA News - Climate Change Conference Positions Spark Debate [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00284.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00271.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00293.htm

Spike Mountjoy: Renowned International Civil Society Activist Criticises NZ's Terror Laws - A visiting anti-poverty campaigner and veteran of South Africa's anti-apartheid movement says New Zealand's anti-terrorism laws would never pass in his country because they would breach the constitution. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00086.htm

Matt Renner: Waxman, Mukasey and Ten Million Missing Emails - A government watchdog group now says at least ten million White House emails, which may contain information about the leak of Valerie Plame Wilson's covert CIA status, have been destroyed by the Bush administration... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00088.htm

Ray McGovern: Fact-Based Intelligence Prevails on Nukes and Iran - For those who have doubts about miracles, a double one occurred today. An honest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear program has been issued and its Key Judgments were made public. With redraft... More >> [1]

EARLIER:

• US Says Iran Ended Atomic Arms Work [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00068.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00062.htm

David Swanson: Kucinich First, Edwards Second in PDA Straw Poll - Not surprisingly in a field of eight contenders, no candidate came close to gaining a majority of the total vote in PDA's recently completed presidential straw poll . But two candidates--Dennis Kucinich (41%) and John Edwards (26%)--combined for ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00092.htm

Bill Berkowitz: Religious leaders push back against right's "War on Christmas" - Over the past few years, the "War on Christmas" -- a shared project of the Religious Right and the Fox News Channel - has become as much a part of the holiday season as the showing of Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" and Charles Schulz`s "A Charlie... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00080.htm

Mohan Nepali: India Encroaches Nepal's Territory - After having openly captured more than 60 thousand hectares of Nepal's territory, India has continuously advanced towards Nepal with its Sashastra Surakshya Bal (SSB), previously known as Special Service Bureau (SSB). If Nepal immediately does not take... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00079.htm

Xmas Cheer: Jesters Go Crackers With a Very Merry Scriptless - Masters of improvised mayhem The Court Jesters give their fast-paced, furiously funny brand of comedy a festive feel in A Very Merry Scriptless, enjoying a nine-show run in at The Court. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0712/S00062.htm

ENDS

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