Top Scoop Stories - 31 December 2007 News Summary

Monday, 31 December 2007, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - December 31, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Right Royal: The New Zealand New Year Honours List 2008

NZ POLITICS:

Attention Dog Owners: Kids & Dogs Dangerous Summer Mix
Electoral Finance Law: Labour's Political Muzzle Starts
Education: Music Teachers Grounded By Labour

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Motoring: X-Type Jag Features Increased Luxury Spec For 2008
On The Air: RadioWorks Acquires Marlborough Stations

WORLD:

Extent Of The Mess: Bhutto, Bush, And Musharraf

COMMENT:

Stateside: Prelude To The 2008 Election, Part 3
Strange and Bizarre: Fragments Of An Antiquities Conspiracy?

LIFESTYLE:

Pedal Power: Get Cycling And Help Children In Crisis

Right Royal: The New Zealand New Year Honours List 2008 - The Queen has been pleased, on the occasion of the celebration of the New Year, to make the following appointment to The Order of New Zealand: The Right Honourable Donald Charles McKinnon. The New Zealand Royal Honours System is comprised of The Order of New Zealand, The New Zealand Order of Merit, and The Queen's Service Order and Medal, and a series of gallantry and bravery awards. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00538.htm

Attention Dog Owners: Kids & Dogs Dangerous Summer Mix - "Take extra care when you are out walking your dog as there are more people around and it's easy for a dog to get distracted by summer activities. If your dog is classified as menacing, keep it muzzled," says Nanaia Mahuta. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00540.htm

Electoral Finance Law: Labour's Political Muzzle Starts - "Our democracy is the loser from this law, which is why National will repeal it and start again in a bipartisan way. We will ensure there is genuine consultation with all interested parties, and the wider public, before Parliament votes on changes." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00539.htm

Education: Music Teachers Grounded By Labour - ''Education Minister Chris Carter should tell parents why the Government is cutting school resources to the iconic Itinerant Teachers of Music Scheme next year by withdrawing resources for teacher travel time.'' More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00537.htm

Motoring: X-Type Jag Features Increased Luxury Spec For 2008 - New standard specification for 2008 includes dynamic stability control, power fold mirrors, rear seat centre head restraint, front seat sliding armrest, and heated 10 way adjustable front seats with driver's memory. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00435.htm

On The Air: RadioWorks Acquires Marlborough Stations - RadioWorks, a MediaWorks Company, is to acquire the Blenheim based Marlborough Media radio business. Marlborough Media owns and operates Sounds FM in Blenheim, Picton and Kaikoura, as well as Easy FM in Blenheim and Picton. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00434.htm

Extent Of The Mess: Bhutto, Bush, And Musharraf - With the assassination of Ms. Bhutto, we are given to understand that anti-democratic religious zealots killed Pakistan's last hope for democracy. But her assassination was a far more complex event than such simplistic claims about the dark work of anti-democratic forces. America gave Ms. Bhutto a blessing and a gentle push. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Wellington City Council - Book Of Condolences At Pakistan High Commission [2]
• Syed Atiq ul Hassan - The Price To Pay For Democracy In Pakistan [3]
• US State Dept - Sec Rice Signs Condolences Book For Benazir Bhutto [4]
• Syed Akbar Kamal - Pakistan: Living On Borrowed Time -- Syed Kamal [5]
• ITUC - ITUC Condemns Latest Pakistan Terrorist Atrocity [6]
• RFE/RL - Afghan Recalls Long Friendship With Benazir Bhutto [7]
• Amnesty - Bhutto Assassination Vs Crackdown On Civil Liberties [8]
• UK Govt - British PM Urges Pakistan On To Democratic Future [9]
• Crisis Group - Pakistani Opposition Leader Bhutto's Assassination [10]
• Govt of Russia - Putin Offers Condolences To President Of Pakistan [11]
• Govt of Singapore - MFA Statement: Assassination Of Benazir Bhutto [12]
• Human Rights Watch - Pakistan: Bhutto Assassination A Tragic Event [13]
• US State Department - Daily Press Briefing: Dec 27, 2007 [14]
• Maori Party - Tariana Turia On The Assassination Of Benazir Bhutto [15]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00327.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0712/S00305.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00330.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01264.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00326.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01263.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01251.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01250.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01247.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01246.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01245.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01242.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01241.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01240.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00536.htm

Stateside: Prelude To The 2008 Election, Part 3 - Many countries rely on hand-counted paper ballots to conduct their elections, and although U.S. ballots are typically complicated--with contests for many local and national representatives, propositions, and choices of language--there is plenty to be said for a process that is as transparent as having people there watching the marks made by the voters counted by hand. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00328.htm

Strange and Bizarre: Fragments Of An Antiquities Conspiracy? - Hugh Eakin's recent ''Treasure Hunt'' story in The New Yorker profiling Marion True, the former Getty curator on trial in Rome for conspiracy to traffic in ancient art, devotes a column to True's 1991 paper on the destruction of ancient cultural sites. Said Reif: "Some of the richest detail is on fragments of painted vessels. Compelling are. . .three headless satyrs. . . One of the smallest fragments in the show, less than two inches high, shows a tough-faced Thracian boxer scarred near the eye and jaw." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00321.htm

Pedal Power: Get Cycling And Help Children In Crisis - This summer, the Pawson family of Ilam, Christchurch are cycling the length of the South Island on a tandem mountain bike, taking an arduous off-road route through the Southern Alps, to raise money for World Vision's Children in Crisis programme. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00342.htm

ENDS

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