Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 22 January 2004, 4:01 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Indonesia Bombs Disputed Timor Island
Hospital Deficits Expected To Lead To Service Cuts
NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News & More Is There!
Meditations: The Relative Merits Of Colonising Mars
Stateside: Midweek News Roundup
Feedback: Setting The Record Straight On Cuban Internet
Sam Smith: The Meaning Of The Iowa Caucuses
Norma Sherry: What Price Glory?
Cartoon: Sharon's Business Dealings Catch Up With Him
Why A Nuclear Middle East Will Be Hard To Prevent
On The Relevance Of US Presidential Elections
Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
The Power Price Debate Continues
Hobbs Queried Over Project Aqua Submission Process
Dunne Launches A New Cannabis Broadside At Tanczos
PM Names Terrorists Who Are Not Welcome Over Here
British Bobbies Getting The Sharp End Of Immigration's Stick
Private Prison Fears Inconsistent With Prison Contracting
Multi-Partisan Approach To Drought Sought
Keeping Child Offender Locked Up The Right Decision Says Alexander
Franks Takes A Close Look At Jury Changes
Tougher Migrant Screening Welcomed
How Much Does ACT Want The Govt. To Spend Really?

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0401/S00051.htm
Culture Jamming In Christchurch

LEAD STORY:
Indonesia Bombs Disputed Timor Island

- The East Timor Action Network (ETAN) today urged the United Nations and United States to strongly condemn Indonesia's use of military force in a territorial dispute with East Timor. See... Indonesia Flexes Muscle in Border Dispute with ET [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00151.htm

Hospital Deficits Expected To Lead To Service Cuts

- ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today predicted that, despite its assurances, Capital and Coast District Health Board would inevitably have to cut patient services as a result of its $5 million budget blowout for the year to date. See... King Can't Hide From The Facts [1] MORE: - National - Huge health deficits will cost lives [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00159.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00149.htm

NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0401/S00089.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0401/S00087.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0401/S00036.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0401/S00046.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0401/S00071.htm

IMAGE: Extreme Peace Mission Conquers Antarctic Peak

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00155.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00154.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00153.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00152.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00150.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00148.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00147.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News & More Is There!

- After Bush's State of the Union speech last year, a couple of correspondents ticked me off for being churlish about the billions promised to fight Aids in Africa. Well, a year later,not a penny of those billions has been allocated - and 2005 Aids funding ...See... Public Address 22/01/04 - Foreign Correspondence [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00091.htm

Meditations: The Relative Merits Of Colonising Mars

- Back before video games, heck, even before there was much on TV, adolescent boys imbibed science fiction. I grew up reading such giants of the genre as Ray Bradbury, who gave a hopelessly optimistic view of humankind's place in the universe recently on National Public Radio. See... Meditations (Politics): Mirroring the Universe [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00090.htm

Stateside: Midweek News Roundup

- I have to confess, the President's State of the Union address was competing for my attention with a magazine article about how high school journalism classes start training the media to be obedient puppy dogs at an early age. See... Stateside With Rosalea: Two Little Silent Words [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00089.htm

Feedback: Setting The Record Straight On Cuban Internet

- The fact that very little has been published about the real conditions on Internet in Cuba, even after a very clarifying statement by the Cuban Minister of Communications indicates the need for me to request you to shed light on the Cuban position on this issue after the very negative article covering a statement by Amnesty International published in SCOOP some days ago. See... Scoop Feedback: The Cuban Ambassador On Amnesty [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00088.htm

Sam Smith: The Meaning Of The Iowa Caucuses

Wesley Clark may not be as interesting now that there's a better war hero and a better southerner near the head of the pack. Dean is in trouble, no doubt of it. See... Sam Smith: A News Round Up On The Iowa Caucuses [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00082.htm

Norma Sherry: What Price Glory?

- Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Do you feel safer? Is your job more secure or are you among the more than three million workers without a job and without any hope of a job? Have you lost your pension or 401K due to corporate malfeasance? See... Norma Sherry: What Price Glory? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00081.htm

Cartoon: Sharon's Business Dealings Catch Up With Him

- Cartoon by John Chuckman See... Chuckman Cartoon: A Man Of Constant Principles [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00087.htm

Why A Nuclear Middle East Will Be Hard To Prevent

- Against the background of changes in the overall political setting of the Middle East it is important to focus on Israel's nuclear strategy as the former possibilities of the superpowers to control and fence in the conflicts in the Middle East have given way to new power structures. See... Israel Rafalovich: A Nuclear Middle East [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00086.htm

On The Relevance Of US Presidential Elections

- Presidential elections in America are long, with formal campaigns lasting about a year and positioning leading to the campaigns lasting nearly three years. A President's four-year term of office leaves just enough time to dish out contracts and jobs. See... John Chuckman: Does The American Election Matter? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00085.htm

Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

- Oh, little daughter, some day everyone will see the interminable and burning chain to which My priestly sons are chained for having changed the confessional, site of mercy, to a place of sinfulness. See... Katya Rivas: It Is Not Enough to Fast [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0401/S00084.htm

Council Helps Kids Get To School

The Power Price Debate Continues

- United Future energy spokesman, Gordon Copeland, today called for sensible and realistic debate over power price rises. See... Copeland: Greens off-track in power price debate [1] MORE: - ACT - Admit It, Minister, You're Interfering [2] EARLIER: - Greens ask for power-price explanation [3] - National - Hodgson must explain power price rises [4] - ACT - Rising Energy Costs Could Cripple New Zealand [5] - NZ First - NZ First Questions Power Companies Price Policies [6] - National - Power Prices Set To Rise - Again [7] - M-Co - Electricity Price and Hydro Summary [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00163.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00161.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00142.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00141.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00139.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00126.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00115.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0401/S00071.htm

Hobbs Queried Over Project Aqua Submission Process

- The Green Party is calling on the Minister for the Environment to untangle the confusion surrounding the back-to-front submission process on Project Aqua. See... Greens ask Minister to sort-out Aqua muddle [1] and Minister’s Action Disgusts River Protection Group [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00162.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0401/S00053.htm

Dunne Launches A New Cannabis Broadside At Tanczos

- Further evidence is emerging that the Green Party and its pro-cannabis campaigner, MP Nandor Tanczos, are on the completely wrong track with their obsessive campaign to promote greater dope-smoking among young New Zealanders. See... Dunne: Pro-drug politician must go [1] EARLIER: - Progressive Party - Cannabis must not be decriminalized unless safe [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00150.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00146.htm

PM Names Terrorists Who Are Not Welcome Over Here

- Prime Minister Helen Clark has designated the following individuals as terrorist entities pursuant to the provisions of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002: See... Listing of terrorist entities [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00153.htm

British Bobbies Getting The Sharp End Of Immigration's Stick

- New Zealand First claims that British police officers recruited to fight crime on our streets are being treated like alien criminals while bogus asylum seekers and refugees are received with red carpet treatment. See... Treatment Of British Bobbies Stinks Says Mark [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00152.htm

Private Prison Fears Inconsistent With Prison Contracting

- United Future's Marc Alexander today challenged the Government to justify its ongoing opposition to a private remand prison while prisoners can now take up $500,000 construction contracts to build upmarket Auckland apartment complexes. See... Jail contract makes mockery of Govt position [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00151.htm

Multi-Partisan Approach To Drought Sought

- ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today proposed the formation of a cross-party rural working group - to develop practical and workable solutions to ease the South Island's current, and future, drought problems. See... ACT's Fresh Idea For South Island Drought [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00158.htm

Keeping Child Offender Locked Up The Right Decision Says Alexander

- Keeping New Zealand's youngest convicted killer, Bailey Junior Kurariki, behind bars was the right decision as it was important that the age of an offender in such a serious crime did not become a licence for leniency, United Future's Marc Alexander says. See... Alexander: Kurariki decision the right one [1] and Bailey Kurariki -Parole Declined [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00157.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0401/S00050.htm

Franks Takes A Close Look At Jury Changes

- ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks today welcomed plans to replace unanimous jury verdicts with majority verdicts, but worried that another part of the package would erode key rights protecting defendants if the establishment decides to gang up. See... Jury Law Change Right - And Wrong [1] See also... Greens oppose Goff's jury changes [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00156.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00160.htm

Tougher Migrant Screening Welcomed

- The expected announcement of tougher medical screening of migrant groups is long overdue and follows years of the Government bringing people with communicable diseases into this country, said New Zealand First’s health spokesperson, Barbara Stewart. See... Tougher Migrant Medical Screening Long Overdue [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00155.htm

How Much Does ACT Want The Govt. To Spend Really?

- The illiberal ACT Party is all over the place when it comes to appropriate government spending levels, Progressive MP Matt Robson said today. See... ACT at sixes and sevens over government spending [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0401/S00154.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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