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Wednesday, 1 December 2004, 8:13 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
LEAD STORY: NZ Concludes Closer Economic Partnership With Thailand…
… And Announces Negotiations With ASEAN
Brash Changes Mind – Will Vote Against Civil Unions
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Rumsfeld & Top Officials Sued For War Crimes In Germany
… Meanwhile Indymedia Asks Has Fallujah Been Witness To WMDs?
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Is There!
Ramzy Baroud: Is American Empire Coming To An End?
John Roughan's Letter From Honiara
Fighting Talk From Fighting Talk
Chuckman Cartoons: What Would Jesus Do In Iraq?
Carolyn Baker Recalls The Assassination Of JFK
Kamala Sarup: Democracy And Development In Nepal
SpinWatch Investigation On BP's 'Con-Tract' Of The Century
A Belgian Expresses Concern Greens Crushed In E-Vote Fraud
Vincent L Guarisco: It's The Media, Stupid

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OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
New Herald Poll Shows National 20 Points Behind
PM Tops Trans-Tasman Political Ratings List
Kenneth Wang Hits A Bullseye On First Day In House
NZ First See's Zaouis Under Every Bed
Half A Bridge No Solution For Tauranga
ERO Confirms Incompetent Teachers Will Be Allowed To Teach
Super Fund Gets Funding To Assess Infrastructure Investment
More Mothers Qualify For Paid Parental Leave From Today
Preschoolers Suffer While Trevor Plays - Coddington
Goff's Off To Talk Terror In Adelaide
English Calls On Vicki Buck To Answer COOL-IT Questions
Moody's Gives NZ Another A
Blumine Island Becomes A New Wildlife Sanctuary
Stats Show Student Loans Driving The Brain Drain
Employment Court Moves From DOL To DOJ
Ngai Tahu's Land Sale Profits Not National's Fault – Carter
Marion Hobbs To Nairobi To Discuss Landmines
Stats Show Life More Stressful Under Labour Govt.
Katherine Rich Wants Govt To Back Police And Investigate Canoe Trust Grant
Treaty Marine Farming Settlements New Lease Of Life Alarms

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

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Was Fallujah Napalmed? Rumsfeld Indicted In Germany

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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Scoop Is In The House

– For today's questions see... Questions for Oral Answer - Wednesday, 1 December [1] . For Tuesday's Q&A see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 30 November [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00033.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00001.htm

LEAD STORY:
NZ Concludes Closer Economic Partnership With Thailand…

- [1] Prime Ministers Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Helen Clark of New Zealand today announced the successful conclusion of negotiations on a Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) Agreement between their two countries. See... NZ/Thailand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement [2] MORE: - CEP negotiations with Thailand concluded [3] - Key outcomes for NZ from Thai CEP [4] - NZ/Thai CEP - Information Bulletin [5] - Backgrounder: NZ/Thai Closer Economic Partnership [6] REACTION: - National - Free trade deal good but misses Apec goals [7] - Greens - From human rights campaigner to free trade zealot [8] - TLN - NZ/Thai TA sends liberalizing signal to the world! [9] - Wool NZ - New Zealand-Thailand Closer Economic Partnership [10] - Vegfed - NZ/Thai CEP delivers results horticulture industry [11] - Forest Industry Council - Wood Sector Welcomes Free Trade Announcement [12]

… And Announces Negotiations With ASEAN

- New Zealand, Australia, and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to launch negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today. See... NZ, Australia, ASEAN launch free trade talks [1] MORE: - Govt. - New Zealand to build links with ASEAN countries [2] - Govt. - ASEAN Summit significant for New Zealand [3] - ASEAN - ASEAN: Joint Declaration Of The Leaders [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00004.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00003.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00002.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0412/S00014.htm

Brash Changes Mind – Will Vote Against Civil Unions

- [1] National Party Leader Don Brash says he supports a public mandate by way of referendum on moral issues as important as the Civil Union Bill, which is likely to be rammed through Parliament under urgency this week. See... Don Brash backs public mandate on civil unions [2] MORE: - Russell Brown - Hard News 01/12/04 - All the fun ... [3] & 30/11/04 - Real Conscience [4] - Ashraf Choudhary - AsAshraf Choudhary to support Civil Union Bill [5] - Progressives - Progressive supports non-discrimination [6] - Margaret Mayman - Civil Union Prevaricators Misunderstand Morality [7] - United Future - Admission extracted from Benson-Pope [8] - Greens - Law Equality cannot be decided by referendum [9] - David Benson-Pope - Minister: Brash decision "regrettable" [10] & Greens support for Civil Union Bill welcomed [11] - NZ First - Civil Union Bill Should Go To A Referendum [12] - Christian Heritage - Civil Union Bill Robs Married New Zealanders [13] - Campaign Against Civil Unions - MP Tim Barnett’s attack on Opponent of CU Bill [14] & Report on flawed Civil Union Bill [15] - Sandra Paterson - Civil Unions: Making Law A Bigger Ass [16] - Campaign For Civil Unions - Who’s representing National Party voters? [17] For Much More see... Full Coverage: Civil Unions Bill Back In Parlt. [18]

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

Electricity Act Changes proposed [1]

Locke to fly banned flag in front of Parliament [2]

Volunteer Day A Day To Acknowledge Hard Workers [3]

Together on a Mission this Christmas [4]

Disabilities Activist Attends Blind Union Assembly [5]

Record passenger numbers at Christchurch Airport [6]

Task Force to look at financial intermediaries [7]

Sheep Numbers Decrease [8]

SPCA: “Make Holidays A Happy Time For Pets” [9]

Labour Party committed to Chinese Community [10]

Rumsfeld & Top Officials Sued For War Crimes In Germany

- [1] Alleging responsibility for war crimes and torture at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, a human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Germany against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials. See... Scoop Link: Rumsfeld Sued for Alleged War Crimes [2] and US Lawyers Sue Rumsfeld In Karlsruhe Germany [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00012.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00012.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00013.htm

… Meanwhile Indymedia Asks Has Fallujah Been Witness To WMDs?

- November 9th, 2004 was Fallujah's 9/11 Tuesday. It marked the peak of three days of indiscriminate bombing of Fallujah by US forces. See... Fintan Dunne: Fallujah's 9/11 - US Used WMDs [1] and Scoop Link: Daily Mirror - Fallujah Napalmed [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00002.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00003.htm

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

Prabhakaran Calls For Understanding of Tamil Issue [1]

State Dept: America and Japan - A Common Vision [2]

UN Envoy Urges Israel To Talk To Syria [3]

Myanmar: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Should Be Freed [4]

State Dept: Challenges of Peacekeeping in Africa [5]

The ICRC's work at Guantanamo Bay [6]

$1.5billion in Aid Sought For War-Torn Sudan [7]

Bleak Conditions For Iranian Kurd Refugees [8]

Parties Move To Protect World’s Vital Ozone Layer [9]

Bolivia: Justice is the only way out of the crisis [10]

http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=motornet
The Latest From MOTORNET

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Is There!

- The fallout from yesterday's ''civil unions on a knife-edge'' story in the Herald has been interesting. At least two of the apparent flip-floppers - Don Brash and Tariana Turia - went on the radio to confirm their changes of mind, but reports of ... See... Public Address 01/12/04 - All The Fun ... [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00014.htm

Ramzy Baroud: Is American Empire Coming To An End?

- If the invasion of Iraq was indeed a desperate attempt to guard the interests of the ill-defined American empire, then the experience of the last 20 months might’ve been the needed historical imperative that classically precedes the disintegration and demise of great empires. See... Ramzy Baroud: Save The World, Not the Empire [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00010.htm

John Roughan's Letter From Honiara

- Last Friday's Star's front page headline upset many! Imagine sentencing a woman to six months prison for selling betel nut on Honiara's streets. See... John Roughan: The Betel Nut Sellers Crisis! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00007.htm

Fighting Talk From Fighting Talk

- Dear Pastors Bev and Peter, and Mr Adams, Greetings! I read in the North Shore Times and the Sunday Star-Times that you have begun a three-week-long fast to protest against ''the moral slide of our nation'', and may I congratulate you on your decision. See... Scoop Blogwatch: Fighting Talk - Blogging Mana [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00006.htm

Chuckman Cartoons: What Would Jesus Do In Iraq?

- Two cartoons by John Chuckman… See... Chuckman Cartoons: America's Jesus [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00001.htm

Carolyn Baker Recalls The Assassination Of JFK

- Last week, as I do every November 22, I reflected again on that day in Dallas forty-one years ago, my second year in college, when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. See... Carolyn Baker: American Born Addicted To Happiness [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00011.htm

Kamala Sarup: Democracy And Development In Nepal

- The Peace Media Board Advisor Dr. Alok K. Bohara, already argued: "Whoever we may blame for the crisis of democracy in Nepal, we have to agree that all Nepalis are in this together." See... Kamala Sarup: Democracy And Development In Nepal [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00009.htm

SpinWatch Investigation On BP's 'Con-Tract' Of The Century

A six month SpinWatch investigation into BP's ''Con-Tract of the Century'' reveals how: * There is a major design flaw on one of the world's most strategic oil pipelines, the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline, that could lead to an environmental disaster.. and much more. See... BP's 'Con-Tract' Of The Century - Spinwatch Report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00008.htm

A Belgian Expresses Concern Greens Crushed In E-Vote Fraud

- On May 18th 2003, the Belgian, Flemish Green party by the name of Agalev (now Groen!) got crushed in the Belgian elections. The ecological party supposedly lost two thirds of its electorate and all its seats in the federal parliament. See... US Government Exports Election Fraud To Belgium [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00005.htm

Vincent L Guarisco: It's The Media, Stupid

- Do you believe in miracles? Well, I do, and I pray for one every day because if we are to survive as a republic, it appears that's what it's going to take. See... Vincent L Guarisco: It's The Media, Stupid [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0412/S00004.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0411/S00258.htm
FREE ZAOUI RALLY THIS SUNDAY - MT EDEN PRISON

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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

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New Herald Poll Shows National 20 Points Behind

- National’s collapse in the New Zealand Herald poll released today means voters who want to see the company tax rate cut should vote Progressive, Progressive leader Jim Anderton says. See... Curtains for Nats [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00020.htm

PM Tops Trans-Tasman Political Ratings List

- Prime Minister Helen Clark is top of the class but some colleagues take the dunce prize in a performance report on our MPs, just published by leading political newsletter Trans Tasman. Top report card for Prime Minister [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0412/S00010.htm

Kenneth Wang Hits A Bullseye On First Day In House

- In Question Time this afternoon, ACT Small Business spokesman Kenneth Wang left Dr Cullen flummoxed with his supplementary question to the Finance Minister. See... Newest MP flummoxes Deputy PM in debut [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00045.htm

NZ First See's Zaouis Under Every Bed

- New Zealand First has called on the Government to explain why nearly a thousand foreigners with false, lost or destroyed travel documents have been allowed into the country since January 2001. See... How Many Zaouis Are Here? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00040.htm

Half A Bridge No Solution For Tauranga

- New Zealand First transport spokesperson Peter Brown has described the Government’s offer to pay for only part of the Tauranga Harbour Link bridge as stingy, and not nearly enough to ensure that the high-priority project gets underway as soon as possible. See... Tauranga Bridge: Half A Solution [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00023.htm

ERO Confirms Incompetent Teachers Will Be Allowed To Teach

- The Education Review Office confirmed today that new teachers it regards as ineffective are likely to be registered anyway, says National’s Education spokesman Bill English. See... Incompetent teachers will be registered [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00027.htm

Super Fund Gets Funding To Assess Infrastructure Investment

- “The New Zealand Superannuation Fund will be able to broaden its investments through an increase to the Fund’s operational budget agreed by the government,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. See... Resources to strengthen NZ Super Fund governance [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00026.htm

More Mothers Qualify For Paid Parental Leave From Today

- New paid parental leave laws come into effect today under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Act 2004. See... Paid parental leave improvements take effect [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00022.htm

Preschoolers Suffer While Trevor Plays - Coddington

- Trevor Mallard needs to climb down from his high horse, from where he hurls personal insults, and reassure up to 30,000 Kiwi families that their early childhood centres won't be closed down next month, ACT Education spokesman Deborah Coddington said ... See... Petty politics while preschoolers suffer [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00049.htm

Goff's Off To Talk Terror In Adelaide

Counter-terrorism and trans-national crime will top the agenda at this week’s Southwest Pacific Dialogue meeting in Adelaide, says Foreign Minister Phil Goff. See... Security tops agenda for Pacific Dialogue [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00046.htm

English Calls On Vicki Buck To Answer COOL-IT Questions

- Vicki Buck could clear the air over Christchurch Polytechnic's COOL-IT scandal by declaring she will not share in the profits made from it by the company she partly owns, says National's Education spokesman, Bill English. See... English challenges Buck over profits [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00039.htm

Moody's Gives NZ Another A

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen has welcomed the latest analysis of the New Zealand economy by Moody’s ratings agency, saying it represents a significant endorsement of the government’s economic and fiscal management. See... Cullen on Moody’s report [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00038.htm

Blumine Island Becomes A New Wildlife Sanctuary

- Blumine Island in Queen Charlotte Sound is to be transformed into the most publicly accessible island wildlife sanctuary close to the South Island, Conservation Minister Chris Carter announced today. See... Blumine Is to be transformed into new sanctuary [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00021.htm

Stats Show Student Loans Driving The Brain Drain

- Statistics New Zealand research into student loan debt released yesterday proves students with big loan debts are being forced to leave New Zealand, Progressive Deputy Leader, Matt Robson said today. See... Big student loan debt forcing students overseas [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0412/S00017.htm

Employment Court Moves From DOL To DOJ

- To enhance the coordination and efficiency of our specialist courts, the administration of the Employment Court will be managed by the Ministry of Justice from 1 December 2004. See... Employment Court transfers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0411/S00647.htm

Ngai Tahu's Land Sale Profits Not National's Fault – Carter

- "It is totally irresponsible of Treaty Negotiations Minister Margaret Wilson to blame the National Party for the way Ngai Tahu is buying and selling surplus Crown land at huge profits," says National Party MP David Carter. See... Minister can't pass the buck on land sales [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0411/S00646.htm

Marion Hobbs To Nairobi To Discuss Landmines

- Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Marian Hobbs leaves this evening for Nairobi to lead New Zealand's delegation to the first Review Conference of the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. See... Minister to attend review of landmines Convention [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0411/S00645.htm

Stats Show Life More Stressful Under Labour Govt.

- ACT Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today revealed that the number of New Zealanders receiving a Sickness Benefit for stress or depression has more than doubled since Labour came to power. See... Stress & depression benefits balloon under Labour [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0411/S00644.htm

Katherine Rich Wants Govt To Back Police And Investigate Canoe Trust Grant

- Of National Party Social Services spokeswoman Katherine Rich says the Government must follow the police lead, and launch a proper probe into the activities of the Manukau Outrigger Canoeing Whare Nui Trust. See... Government must follow police lead on trust [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0411/S00642.htm

Treaty Marine Farming Settlements New Lease Of Life Alarms

- Labour's track record of revisiting 'full and final' settlements will mean no end to Maori claims on marine farming space, says National's Fisheries spokesman, Phil Heatley. See... No end to marine farming Treaty settlements [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0411/S00641.htm

ENDS

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.

Contact Alastair Thompson

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