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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

500 Protest on 'Stop Marsden B-each Day Out'
http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0502/6a8454dc381b8a4804a9.jpeg

[1] - PM: "New Zealand's relationship with Australia is the most extensive and important we have with any country. It is sustained by strong government, economic, defence, and many other official links, as well as by family ties. At the moment our two economies are among the fastest growing in the OECD." See... Parliamentary luncheon for Australian PM [2] Helen Clark should talk tax with Aussie PM [3] Australian-controlled bank supervision rejected [4] PM should ask Howard if Laty was an Israeli spy [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00451.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00451.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00437.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00447.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00440.htm

NEW ZEALAND LEAD STORY
Govt Announces Major Oil And Gas Exploration Project

[1] - Energy Minister Trevor Mallard today launched a major project by the government aimed at attracting oil and gas exploration investment in New Zealand - the first ever seismic survey off the North Island’s East Coast. "We are at a crossroads for exploration in New Zealand. As a “frontier” destination for exploration, competing against well-established petroleum economies in the Middle East and Africa, New Zealand had to take some innovative steps to attract exploration investment," Trevor Mallard said. See... Seismic survey for petroleum exploration [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00445.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00445.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
Iraq: Chemical Ali Alleged To Have Ordered Summary Execution Of Hundreds

[1] - New information uncovered in Iraq by Human Rights Watch points to Ali Hassan al-Majid (or “Chemical Ali”) as the commander who ordered the summary killings of hundreds of Shia Muslims in 1999. Ali Hassan al-Majid was a top Saddam Hussein associate. Iraqi officials have said he will be among the first to be tried by the Iraqi Special Tribunal in Baghdad. See… Iraq: Documents Link ‘Chemical Ali’ to Massacre [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00540.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0502/S00540.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:

Kevin List's A Week Of It Is In

[1] - In This Week's Week Of It: NCEA/Scholarship Woes Not As Bad As Fighting Japanese On Java - Where’s Don Gone? - National Party Searches In Vain For Youth Vote - Potty Mouthed Greens Make Law And Order Advocate See Red... Who else is sick of the whinging about NCEA? "We want answers", the Listener gallantly trumpeted on their front cover two weeks ago – Scoop wants answers too! See... A Week Of It With Kevin List [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00202.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00202.htm

Russell Brown's Public Address Is There

- ''Right - now drink p*ss.'' As famous parting comments in journalism go, John Campbell's words as he fished out his glass of champagne from the desk where he had just read his last 3 News bulletin weren't likely to be inscribed in any learned text, but ... See... Public Address 21/02/05 - Serious And Trivial [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00227.htm

St Molesworth Issues 10 Stripes Against Qualifications Authority

- 1. The NZQA introduces unit standards for understanding how the NCEA works. 2. The economics exam is set by leading business investor Jim Anderton. 3. The French exam requires you to translate the Treaty of Waitangi into German. 4. Even Asian kids ... See... Top 10 Signs The Qualifications System Is Failing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00206.htm

John Roughan Eyes Solomon Elections 2006

- This time next year Solomon Islanders head for the polling booths. Voters will vote in 50 members to the nation's new parliament. If the last two elections--1997 and 2001--are anything to go by, however, most parliamentarians are in for a rude awakening. See... John Roughan: 2005 . . . the year of the voter! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00204.htm

Ramzy Baroud Explains Why The Egypt Summit Failed Palestine

- The recent and supposedly ‘successful’ Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt on February 8 was anything but a triumph, as far as Palestinians, the occupied party, and genuine peace-seeking Israelis are concerned. See... Israel Is Again Redefining the Terms of Peace [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00205.htm

Genevieve Cora Fraser Reports On The Rise Of Arab Media

- Palestinian media professionals gathered at a Ramallah hotel on Saturday, February 19, to discuss ways to reach out to the Arab media and utilize the latest in media technology, according to the Palestine News Agency (WAFA) and the International Press ... See... Outreach to Arab Media Focus of Palestinian Conf. [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00217.htm

Greg Palast Considers America's Corporate Eichmanns

- It's a great day for the Eichmanns of corporate America. President Bush minutes ago signed the ill-named 'tort reform' bill into law, limiting class action suits. Doubtless, Ken Lay, former Enron CEO, is grinning as are the corporate suite killers at drug maker Merck who are now safer from the widows and orphans of Vioxx victims. Closing the doors of justice to the ruined and wrecked families of boardroom bad guys is nothing less than executive clemency for executive executioners. See... Palast: Executive Clemency For Executive Killers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00221.htm

Stateside With Rosalea

- When I was leaving work at 5pm on Friday night, I was astonished to see a gaggle of students standing with their cellphones pointed to the sky. Were they trying for better reception, I wondered? Oh, what a technodinosaur I be! See... Stateside: And Now, Here's The Weather [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00224.htm

Mary Pitt Considers The Democratic Shift

- The Democratic leadership just don't get it! Day after day, we hear them whine that we must become more Republican Lite in order to win. We should ''move right'' and be more conciliatory to our opponents if we want to earn more votes. See... Mary Pitt: The Dems Just Don't Get It! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00223.htm

Mark Drolette Gets ''Unapologetically Brutal'' On The Bush's

- Previous readers know I can be a little, well, uh.rough on the Bushies, for lack of a better term (like, say, ''unapologetically brutal''). That's OK; I've never had a problem calling a spade a spade, or, for that matter, a scoundrel a scoundrel. See... U.S. Govt. 2005: If It Walks Like A Goose (Part I) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00222.htm

The Shins Revisited At The King's Arms

- My partner and I – always keen to discover safe havens from the packaged, soulless, globalising behemoth, blocking out the sun and dominating much of the contemporary musical landscape – were introduced to the Shins a few years ago her like-minded ... See... Scoop Review: The Shins At The Kings Arms [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00203.htm

Cartoons

- Chuckman: Another Quiet Day In Fallujah [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00214.htm

Cartoons

- Kidd Millennium Triple Threat [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0502/S00213.htm

- NZ responds to Cook Islands cyclone damage New Zealand telecommunications technicians will head to the Cook Islands tomorrow to help repair damage caused by Cyclone Olaf last night, and further assistance is likely in the next few days, says Foreign Minister ... See... NZ Responds to Cook Islands Cyclone Damage [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00439.htm

Fitzsimons Warns Of Corn-Gate II

- The Green Party is very disappointed to find that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has allowed corn to be sown again in 26 fields found to be contaminated with small amounts of Genetically-Engineered seed last season. See... Contaminated fields replanted with corn [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00441.htm

Foetal Alcohol Inquiry Called For

- The Greens are calling for a government inquiry into foetal alcohol syndrome, in light of new evidence that any drinking during pregnancy can harm newborn babies. See... Greens call for foetal alcohol syndrome inquiry [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00442.htm

English Warns That NCEA Misleads Parents/Employers

- National’s Education spokesman, Bill English, says parents and employers will be misled by the grade average included in the NCEA results, and it should either include failure or be abolished. See... NCEA grade point average is nonsense [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00436.htm

Mallard Announces 40 Students Get Multimillion Dollar Award

- Minister of Education Trevor Mallard announced today more than 40 students have been awarded Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships worth nearly $4.4 million. See... $4.4 million to support top researchers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00449.htm

ACT Says Kiwibank's Profit Miserable

- Kiwibank's first profit in three years deserved little celebration, said ACT Leader Rodney Hide today. See... Kiwibank profit small-fry [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00452.htm

ACT's The Letter Is In

- The government is relieved that parliament has recessed. Ministers were sideswiped one day when Stephen Franks asked whether Tame Iti would be prosecuted for presenting a gun at the Waitangi Tribunal. ACT almost didn't ask the question as the incident ... See... The Letter Monday 21 February 2005 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00450.htm

Benson Pope Washes His Hands Of Electorate Protesters

- A $35 clean-up bill for damage caused to an electorate office by an anti-Civil Union campaigner was a matter between the police and that protester, says Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope. See... Restitution a matter between police and protester [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00448.htm

Nats: Threefold Increase In Speeding Tickets Proves Failed Policy

- National Party Police spokesman Tony Ryall says the more than three-fold increase in officer issued speeding tickets is more proof of Labour's 'traffic first' policy. See... Police deliver on Labour's 'traffic first' policy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00446.htm

Muriel Posts Newman Online

- Newman On-Line: Political correctness on the march This week, Newman Online looks at two recent cases of political correctness gone mad: playdough being banned in kindergartens; and the case of an employer finding themselves in the firing line ... See... Political correctness on the march [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00444.htm

Benson-Pope Calls For Fishers Nominations

- Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope is calling for nominations of recreational fishers to form an advisory panel that will provide him with advice on issues facing the recreational fishing sector.

Brash Issues Coaching Speech To Nat Candidates

- National Party Leader Don Brash told National Party candidates, MPs and campaign volunteers this weekend that only National can deliver the changes that New Zealand must make if it is to move forward as a nation. See... Brash speaks to candidates forum [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00438.htm

Shirley Continues Wananga Attack

- Speech by ACT MP Hon Ken Shirley: `Wananga - dual laws, dual standards', Tauranga Branch of the ACT Party, Sunday 20 February 2005 See... Ken Shirley Speech: Wananga - dual laws [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0502/S00434.htm

© 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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