Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 14 April 2003, 4:25 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

Rupert Murdoch Sells NZ Newspaper Business
UQ Wire: What Has Jerry Falwell Got To Do With 911?
Babylon Express: Selling Your Soul To Be Decriminalised
Firas Al-Atraqchi: Operation Iraqi Chaos
Guest Opinion: How It Feels To Be An American
How Things Will Be For Iraqi Natives From Here On
Embedded Journalists: Sleeping With The Enemy
Mainstream Media US-Bias Riles Auckland Peaceniks
The Real Deal About Enron
Stateside: Rosalea's War Diary - Weekend
Katya Rivas's Passion

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
PM’s Off To UK, France and Belgium
PM Unveils Tomb of Unknown Warrior
Nats Call For Maori TV Audit
Ello Ello Ello: Ole-Bill Welcomed To NZ
English To Delegates: Give Us The Tools To Win!
SARS Doctor Directory Needed Now
ACT Trashes Off Law Commission Report
Preb’s Letter From Wellington
PM Launches Essay Writing Competition
Govt Drags Chain On Energy Fit-It
Relief Top-Up For Fiji
Greens Say Brighten Up Air NZ
Save Power Say Greens
UK Govt Makes NZ O.E. Easier

Rupert Murdoch Sells NZ Newspaper Business

- The Chairman of Independent Newspapers Limited, Mr Ken Cowley, announced today that INL had signed a Heads of Agreement with John Fairfax Holdings Limited under which INL will sell its New Zealand publishing business for $1.188 billion cash. See... INL Agrees Sale Of NZ Publishing Business [1] and INL staff believe they can work with Fairfax [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0304/S00143.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0304/S00105.htm

UQ Wire: What Has Jerry Falwell Got To Do With 911?

- The money man behind two Florida flight schools which trained an as-yet undisclosed number of terrorist pilots has ties with the Evangelical Christian Right, including having loaned televangelist Jerry Falwell a reputed $1 million to bailout his failing religious enterprises a decade ago, and serving as Director of an avowedly Christian aeronautics company planning to manufacture a new business jet in Israel, the MadCowMorningNews has learned. See... UQ Wire: 911 The Evangelical Christian Connection [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00134.htm

Babylon Express: Selling Your Soul To Be Decriminalised

- Optimus Prime Helen Clark is the latest and most influential Member of Parliament to come out in public support of the proposed Corporate Prostitution Act currently in its second parliamentary sitting. See... Scoop Satire: Decriminalising Whoring Your Soul [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00133.htm

Firas Al-Atraqchi: Operation Iraqi Chaos

- For two days running, mainstream media has bombarded the viewing public with the same images of Saddam Hussein's toppling statue, filmed from numerous angles. Cheering Iraqis stomping on, ripping, or burning pictures of Saddam seemed to portray that the war in Iraq had come to an end; victory, freedom, liberty - all at arm's reach. See... Operation Iraqi Chaos [1] . See also... Image: A Wider Angle View Of The Fall Of Baghdad [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00129.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00117.htm

Guest Opinion: How It Feels To Be An American

- Here's a first: I'm at a loss for words. I just don't know what to say about the senseless murdering rampage that America, my America, has inflicted upon yet another all-but-defenseless third-world country. So many already have said it so well. See... Guest Opinion: "Feelings" By Edgar J. Steele [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00128.htm

How Things Will Be For Iraqi Natives From Here On

- Now that you have been liberated from your oppressors, we at the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) look forward to our future relationship with you. As one of the oldest of American governmental agencies, we have a good deal of experience in assimilating people of other cultures to the American way of life. See... Letter To Iraq From BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00127.htm

Embedded Journalists: Sleeping With The Enemy

- Embedded journalists are the greatest PR coup of this war. Dreamt up by the Pentagon and Donald Rumsfeld the 'embeds', as they are now routinely described, are almost completely controlled by the military. See... David Miller: Embed With The Military [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00126.htm

Mainstream Media US-Bias Riles Auckland Peaceniks

- "We are deeply disgusted at the extent to which TVNZ has - through its news service - become a mouthpiece and visual portal for an unrelenting stream of bald US/UK propaganda and blatant lies.” See... Thousands Outraged At TVNZ's Pro-US Bias [1] See also... GPJA Letter To TVNZ’s Ian Fraser [2] SCOOP IMAGES: - Photo-Essay 1: NZ Marches Against US War Machine [3] - Photo-Essay 2 [4] - Photo-Essay 3 [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00122.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0304/S00097.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00125.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00124.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00123.htm

The Real Deal About Enron

- "The Hamilton case proves indisputably that when there is a will, federal investigators can quickly and aggressively assert control over records of an investigative target." Needless to say they didn't do anything like that with Enron. See... The Real Deal About Enron (Part 5) – Interview [1] EARLIER: Introduction - Part 1 [2] - Interview - Part 2 [3] - Part 3 [4] - Part 4 [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00135.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00031.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00035.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00063.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00088.htm

Stateside: Rosalea's War Diary - Weekend

- Many aspects of Operation Iraqi Fiefdom have shocked me. Its very existence is as if my host's dog, Lassie - which I've been trying to understand and like and thought I was friends with, even after discovering it was a pitbull - has turned around and ripped off half my face. See... OK, so who's got the ace of peace? [1] (related link… Deck of Cards Helps Identify Regime's Most Wanted [2] ) EARLIER ROSALEA: Friday -Turning to very ugly custard indeed [3] Wednesday - Stateside with Rosalea: Custard, anyone? [4] - Earlier: - See RECENT COMMENTARY page

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00130.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0304/S00221.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00112.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00089.htm

Katya Rivas's Passion

- And now go to rest because you have concluded your duties. There are themes that I prefer you don’t touch and don’t give the occasion that they explore until I instruct what and until when you should do so. See... Katya Rivas: Message For Holy Week 2003 No. 1 [1] see also today's Holy Week recap of the Passion… Katya Rivas: The Passion Extracts One To Five [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00132.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0304/S00131.htm

PM’s Off To UK, France and Belgium

- Prime Minister Helen Clark is visiting Belgium, France and the United Kingdom from 22 April to 2 May. See... PM to visit Europe [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00280.htm

PM Unveils Tomb of Unknown Warrior

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today unveiled the winning design for the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Parliament. See... PM unveils winning tomb design [1] ALSO: - Ministry for Culture and Heritage - See... Tomb of the Unknown Warrior [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00287.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0304/S00106.htm

Nats Call For Maori TV Audit

- The National Party is calling for a full audit of Maori Television projects following reports that show serious questions are being asked about some spending. See... Full audit of Maori TV projects now needed [1] ALSO: - United Future - Maori TV should have the same future as the Moa [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00267.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00275.htm

Ello Ello Ello: Ole-Bill Welcomed To NZ

- Police Minister George Hawkins today welcomed 76 experienced United Kingdom police officers recruited specifically to serve in Auckland to the Royal New Zealand Police College. See... Minister welcomes UK police [1] ALSO: - Nats - See... British recruits won't fix police shortage [2] - ACT - Minister Must Stop Screwing Around [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00262.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00286.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00276.htm

English To Delegates: Give Us The Tools To Win!

- We the National Party need to change our constitution and today is the day to do it.And there's a simple reason why we need to change our constitution. So that we can win. See... English Speech: Give MPs the tools to do their job [1] MORE: - English - National Party overwhelmingly backs change [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00270.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00268.htm

SARS Doctor Directory Needed Now

- A shortage of the special masks that GP's use in suspected cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome adds weight to an argument for specialist SARS centres, according to the National Party Health Spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott. See... Urgent need for NZ SARS doctor directory [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00272.htm

ACT Trashes Off Law Commission Report

- ACT New Zealand Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today slammed the New Zealand Law Commission's `Dispute Resolution in the Family Court' report as a 300-page smokescreen. See... Report Glossy, Weighty, But Empty [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00264.htm

Preb’s Letter From Wellington

- Helen Clark took a battering in Parliament last week – her worst week since Paintergate. MPs who have been ministers saw through Clark’s untruthful claim she had given just a “verbal” instruction to Ambassador John Wood to convey an apology to the US. See... Preb's Letter From Wellington [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00285.htm

PM Launches Essay Writing Competition

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today announced an essay-writing competition aimed at choosing four secondary school students to travel to Korea in July to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the armistice in Korea. See... Essay competition: winners will visit Korea [1] See... Background to NZ's Involvement in the Korean War [2] - PM's Essay Writing Comp - Entry Form [3] - PM's Essay Writing Comp - Details [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00281.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00284.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00283.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00282.htm

Govt Drags Chain On Energy Fit-It

- National says the country is staring down the barrel of another power crisis because the Government has failed to realise the scope of the problem. See... Government Inaction Fuels Power Crisis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00278.htm

Relief Top-Up For Fiji

- New Zealand will provide a further $400,000 to assist rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit Fiji, Foreign Minister Phil Goff and Aid Minister Marian Hobbs announced today while visiting Labasa, an area struck by January's Cyclone Ami. See... NZ pledges more money to cyclone hit Fiji [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00277.htm

Greens Say Brighten Up Air NZ

- Air New Zealand needs to adopt a positive attitude to its future, or it might as well consign itself to the rubbish bin now, Green Party Co-leader Rod Donald said today. See... Air NZ must dump negative attitude [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00274.htm

Save Power Say Greens

- An early start to energy conservation is the key to avoiding the threat of widespread blackouts that nearly crippled the country in 2001, Greens Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today. See... Greens take dim view of power waste [1] ALSO: - Nats - Power price shock for tissue firm [2] - Nats - Sealord becomes a casualty of the power crisis [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00273.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00271.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0304/S00269.htm

UK Govt Makes NZ O.E. Easier

- The British Government has just announced in its 2003 Budget that positive changes to the UK Working Holidaymakers Scheme (WHMS) will be made. See... UK Working Holidaymakers Scheme Announcement [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0304/S00104.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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