Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 4:43 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Scoop Report: Peters Lures Media Pack To Comedy Performance
ICC Says It Would Respect Govt Sanctions Against Zimbabwe
Govt Takes Over Auckland Remand From Private Jailers
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Scoop Link: London Bomb Suspects Born And Bred Brits
Suicide Bomb Attack Rocks Israel
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Bernard Weiner Puts GWB On A Couch
Karl Rove, Judith Miller And The WMD Fairy
No Right Turn On Greenhouse Emissions
Construction Halted On A Hospital Where It Is REALLY Needed
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
London Bombings Commentary

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Brash Drip-Feeds Tax Cut Detail: Carbon Tax Would Be Cut
Govt Dishes Out Assistance For Sickness Benefit Assessments
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:

Today New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was involved in a spot of showmanship regarding which of the two main parties he favours as a post election coalition partner (providing of course he is in a position to be Kingmaker post- election). At a press conference called ostensibly to announce NZ First’s election campaign launch Mr Peters delved deep into the traditions of British vaudeville. After a question, which canvassed who Mr Peter’s preferred coalition partner was, a silver suitcase started ringing. Amazingly the steadfast media contingent held fast and didn’t attempt to seek cover from a potential Iraqi insurgent/Al – Qaeda type attack. See... Winston Peters Has A Crack At Stand Up Comedy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00188.htm

ICC Says It Would Respect Govt Sanctions Against Zimbabwe

- ICC President Ehsan Mani today wrote to New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Phil Goff, to say that there would be no change to the ICC's Future Tours Program regulations. "It is also recognised that governments will, from time to time, elect to use sporting sanctions as a tool in their foreign policy programs. Our members accept and respect that where this clear directive is given by a national government, the obligations of the FTP (Future Tours Programme) will not apply.” See... ICC Advises Goff Its Regulations Will Not Change [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0507/S00102.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00273.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00113.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00119.htm
[5] - http://gpja.pl.net/files/Zimbabwe%20Tour%20-%20poster%20-%204%20July%202005.pdf

Govt Takes Over Auckland Remand From Private Jailers

- Management of Auckland Central Remand Prison (ACRP) reverted back to the Department of Corrections at midnight last night following the expiry of the current management contract with GEO NZ Limited. Department of Corrections Chief Executive Barry Matthews says some time ago the Government determined that the management of prisons by private providers is inappropriate and only the Government should have the power to incarcerate people. See... Corrections Dept Takes Over Auckland Remand Prison [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00117.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00123.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00268.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00277.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00118.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00170.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00169.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00266.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0507/S00096.htm

Scoop Link: London Bomb Suspects Born And Bred Brits

The Guardian has reported that four men believed to be responsible for the bomb attacks against London were born and bred Brits. The newspaper reports that four home-grown suicide bombers, three of them from West Yorkshire and none of them known to the police, carried out last Thursday's bomb attacks on London, police believe. The hunt is now on for the person who police believe may have masterminded the bombings and who may have already left the country. See... Police Hunt Mastermind Behind Home-Grown Bombers [1] ALSO: SCOOP AUDIO: BBC’s FiveLive interview with former Scotland Yard officer Peter Powers (Thursday 07-07-05)

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00179.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/londonbombing.html

Suicide Bomb Attack Rocks Israel

- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the suicide attack in Israel that killed at least two people and wounded many others, saying he was "unwavering in his conviction that nothing can justify terror. See... Annan Condemns Suicide Attack In Israel [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00239.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00224.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00220.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00215.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00238.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00237.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00236.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00226.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00225.htm

Bernard Weiner Puts GWB On A Couch

- "We're under confidentiality here, right? You can't ever tell anyone what I say to you, doctor/patient relationship, yes?" "That's correct. Under normal circumstances, I cannot be forced to reveal anything you say to me. Only if you're about to do imminent harm to yourself or others am I allowed to break that vow of silence." See... Bernard Weiner: A Powerful Man Glimpses His Demons [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00186.htm

Karl Rove, Judith Miller And The WMD Fairy

- The only thing more evil, small-minded and treacherous than the Bush Administration's jailing Judith Miller for a crime the Bush Administration committed, is Judith Miller covering up her Bush Administration "source." See... Greg Palast: Mr. Rove And The Access Of Evil [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00184.htm

No Right Turn On Greenhouse Emissions

- The Press had a story this morning about our skyrocketing greenhouse emissions , based on the National Inventory Report . Overall emissions have grown 22% since 1990, with significant growth in both the transport and energy sectors. See... No Right Turn: Reducing Emissions [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00182.htm

Construction Halted On A Hospital Where It Is REALLY Needed

- Construction of a new surgical centre halted because of the violence in Iraq, President of Emergency USA Alberto Colombi M.D. M.P.H. said. His organization began building the centre next to the Al Husayin Hospital in Karbala, a Shiite city located 100 ... See... US-Iraq War Halts Emergency Hospital Construction [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00181.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00185.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00183.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00177.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00176.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00175.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00174.htm

London Bombings Commentary

Greg Palast The tooth fairy, Santa Clause, WorldCom profits, the Easter Bunny, al-Qaeda. The cruel, evil jerks who blew up the London subway last week, despite appropriating al-Qaeda's name for their website and T-shirts, have about as much to do with al-Qaeda ... See... Greg Palast: George & Tony Get their al-Qaeda Fix [1] Kamala Sarup The London attack will further enrage the US and western powers against terrorism and possibly unite them more in a common cause. Of course for peace and justice also. I hope that will be the case. See... Kamala Sarup: London Attack And A Lasting Peace [2] For complete Scoop London Bombing Commentary CLICK HERE [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00180.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00178.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/londonbombing.html#comment

Brash Drip-Feeds Tax Cut Detail: Carbon Tax Would Be Cut

- National Party Leader Don Brash says National's pledge to repeal Labour's carbon tax will save the fishing industry $20 million per year. He was speaking to a group of inshore fishermen in Nelson this afternoon. "The competitiveness of New Zealand's fishing industry will be completely undermined by a $20 million tax bill that other countries' fishing industries do not need to pay," says Dr Brash. "With 90% of seafood exported, New Zealand must remain competitive on the international market. National will repeal Labour's 4c per litre carbon tax and ensure our industry can compete with the best in the world. See... Brash will scrap carbon tax [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00274.htm

Govt Dishes Out Assistance For Sickness Benefit Assessments

- The government is increasing funding and support to doctors assessing people for Sickness and Invalids Benefits, Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey announced today. "The changes will provide greater certainty around the assessment process, to ensure people are getting their correct entitlement in every case. The changes include greater use of second-opinion advice, so Doctors have better support in making assessments, and more robust information is available for Work and Income case managers," Steve Maharey said. See... More help to doctors for Sickness Benefit assess't [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00278.htm

MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00275.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00272.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00271.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00269.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00261.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00280.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00264.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00262.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00266.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00279.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00276.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00265.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00270.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00267.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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