Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Friday, 27 January 2006, 10:33 am
Article: Alastair Thompson

Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Politics: Mown Down By The Public - Wazzup With The Ex MPs?
Crime: Student Jailed Over Child Porn Crimes
Economy: Bollard Keeps Official Cash Rate At 7.25 Percent -
Health: Mum's The Word As Govt Targets Maternity Care -
Astronomy: New Planet Discovered By NZ Universities
Scoop Audio: Prime Minister Indicates Economy Is Challenge N0. 1
MORE HEADLINES
Palestine: Preliminary Results Show Hamas Beats Fatah
Scoop Audio: Palestinians Vote in Parliamentary Elections
Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief
India: victims of Gujarat pogrom found in mass grave
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Rock'n'Roll: Iggy Gladdens The Hearts Of Today's Fickle Youth
Voting: Electoral Integrity Scrutinised In South Pacific -
Astronomy: February Night Sky Excellent Viewing From New Zealand
US Politics: Al Gore Defends the Intent of the Framers of the Constitution
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Economy: Key Turns Heat Up On Cullen
Education: Kiwi Students Fifth In ICT OECD Report
Employment: Community Leaders To Demand End To Low Wages Wednesday
Justice: Jailed Innocents Drive Call For Miscarriage Of Justice Body
Environment: Green Co-Leader Issues Her State Of The Planet Speech
Education: School Cert/Bursary Scaling Used To Set NCEA Marks
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES

Politics: Mown Down By The Public - Wazzup With The Ex MPs?

During the movie Dead Poet's Society a teacher gets his class to listen to the voices of the past emanating from the old photos of former students. While Dead Poets Society ends in tragedy and death, voices from the past do not always lead to carnage. After blowing the phone budget hunting Ex MPs, scattered all over NZ by the cruel winds of fate, Scoop is able to update readers on what these discarded politicians are now up to. Did they "seize the day" during the last electoral cycle or is now the time to work out what "Carpe Diem" really means? See... What Are Those Ex MPs Up To Now? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00197.htm

Crime: Student Jailed Over Child Porn Crimes

- The jailing of a 22-year-old student for possessing and distributing pictures of children being sexually abused sends a strong warning to similar offenders of how society views their actions, Internal Affairs Deputy Secretary, Andrew Secker, said today. In the North Shore District Court (on Jan 24) Judge Tom Ingram sentenced Andrei Vacaras, 22, a computer software engineer and student, of Whangaparoa, to 12 months’ imprisonment. See... Student jailed for sex abuse pictures [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0601/S00079.htm

Economy: Bollard Keeps Official Cash Rate At 7.25 Percent -

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said: "The economy has continued to slow in recent months, broadly in line with the outlook contained in our December Monetary Policy Statement. GDP growth slowed in the third quarter of 2005, due to the impact of the high exchange rate on the export and import-competing sectors, and a fall in construction.. See... OCR unchanged at 7.25 per cent [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0601/S00174.htm

Health: Mum's The Word As Govt Targets Maternity Care -

New Zealand has high-quality maternity services, but room for improvement remains, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today. The Minister's comments follow the release of a report from the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (PMMRC), which has advised against a full review of maternity services as had been recommended by Wellington Coroner Garry Evans. See... Hodgson calls for improved maternity information [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00134.htm

Astronomy: New Planet Discovered By NZ Universities

- New Zealand researchers from Auckland, Canterbury, Massey and Victoria Universities were part of a 12 country study that has discovered the first new planet from outside our solar system that resembles the planet Neptune. See... Kiwi astronomers find new planet [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0601/S00022.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0601/S00023.htm

Scoop Audio: Prime Minister Indicates Economy Is Challenge N0. 1

- The Prime Minister Helen Clark issued today her first Post-Cabinet press conference for 2006. The main topic discussed was… the economy! New Zealand is facing what the Prime Minister calls a "rough patch" and the challenge for this Labour-led government, according to the PM, is managing New Zealand through this economic trough. See... Scoop Audio: PM's First Presser For 2006 [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00192.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00137.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0601/S00190.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0601/S00189.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0601/S00186.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0601/S00185.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0601/S00033.htm

Palestine: Preliminary Results Show Hamas Beats Fatah

- With vote counting nearing conclusion, exit polls in the Palestinian elections indicate Hamas has beaten Fatah pushing aside earlier reports that the Late Yasser Arafat's party Fatah had retaken control of Palestine. Hamas, the party that has risen from a bloody resistance movement, is looking at how it can lead parliament and form a government. Shortly after voting ended on Wednesday, a Fatah official estimated that Fatah had won 46% of the vote, beating an estimated vote of more than 30% for Hamas. However as vote counting continued, it became clear Hamas had taken the lead. See... CEC Announces Palestine Preliminary Results [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00375.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00374.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00383.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00373.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00371.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00372.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00368.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00356.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00355.htm

Scoop Audio: Palestinians Vote in Parliamentary Elections

Scoop Audio: Palestinians Vote in Parliamentary Elections [1]

[1] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0601/Palestinian_elections_06.m3u

Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief

Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief [1]

[1] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0601/UN_Brief_26_Jan_06.m3u

India: victims of Gujarat pogrom found in mass grave

- Some of the many missing victims of the anti-Muslim pogrom in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 were uncovered in a mass grave late last month in the village of Pandharwada. Relatives of the victims dug up the remains of about 20 bodies that had been dumped and buried in an unmarked pit. Nearly four years after the communal violence, the villagers are still seeking to expose what happened. No one has been convicted for any of the killings that took place. The relatives of the dead are accusing the police of hiding evidence and protecting the perpetrators. See... India: victims of Gujarat pogrom found in mass grave [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00351.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00370.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00369.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00366.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00362.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00359.htm

Rock'n'Roll: Iggy Gladdens The Hearts Of Today's Fickle Youth -

Vintage wine both improves with age, and also becomes inexorably rarer. Much the same is true of a set from Iggy and the Stooges, who have a collective age of approximately six thousand. Eschewing the traditional tactic of resorting to a best-of parade, Iggy Pop and his crew wisely stretched out their stage show to make the most of the rock ‘n roll spectacle. See... ET's Big Day Out Wrap Up [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00186.htm

Voting: Electoral Integrity Scrutinised In South Pacific -

The United Nations Development Program out of Suva is seriously working on setting up a domestic monitors scheme to support our nation's March elections. In 2001, for instance, dozens of foreigners monitored our last election. They called it a free and fair one. Thailand Seeks Aung San Suu Kyi Release [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00172.htm

Astronomy: February Night Sky Excellent Viewing From New Zealand

- February is a good month for viewing the planets. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible for the whole of the month. Only Mercury will not be seen in February. Mars will be visible for the first third of the night. At the start of the month it sets at 00:43 and at 23:37 by month’s end. Mars starts the month in the constellation of Aries, moving into Taurus on February 7. Its magnitude fades from 0.2 to 0.7 during the month. Saturn will be visible for the first three quarters of the night. At the start of February it sets at 06:11 and at 04:15 by month’s end. See... Brian Carter's February Night Sky [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00144.htm

US Politics: Al Gore Defends the Intent of the Framers of the Constitution

- Congressman Barr and I have disagreed many times over the years, but we have joined together today with thousands of our fellow citizens-Democrats and Republicans alike-to express our shared concern that America's Constitution is in grave danger. In spite of our differences over ideology and politics, we are in strong agreement that the American values we hold most dear have been placed at serious risk by the unprecedented claims of the Administration to a truly breathtaking expansion of executive power. See... Al Gore: America's Constitution is in Grave Danger [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00121.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00130.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00122.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00132.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00131.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00134.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00135.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00112.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00146.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00136.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00123.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00120.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00133.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00114.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00117.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00119.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00118.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00116.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00128.htm

Economy: Key Turns Heat Up On Cullen

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen has confirmed the Government has no solutions to the economic downturn with his signal business tax reforms may never appear, says National Finance spokesman John Key. He says that is despite business confidence being in freefall and job losses gathering pace in the last few days. Dr Cullen told Morning Report today that there was 'considerable way to go yet' with the work being done into major structural changes to business tax. See... Cullen pours cold water on business tax reform [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00115.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00120.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00119.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00116.htm

Education: Kiwi Students Fifth In ICT OECD Report

- Education Minister Steve Maharey today welcomed an OECD report rating New Zealand secondary school students fifth out of 41 countries for access to Information Communications Technology. "This study shows that the government's strategy to equip all young New Zealanders with skills in, and access to, ICT is achieving good results," Steve Maharey said. See... Kiwi students rank high on access to ICT [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00112.htm

Employment: Community Leaders To Demand End To Low Wages Wednesday

- A diverse panel of community representatives is calling on all New Zealanders to make poverty wages history in 2006 at a press conference this Wednesday January 25, 12 noon at the Mercure Hotel, 8 Customs St. “The panel recognises low pay and a substandard minimum wage as being at the heart of poverty in New Zealand. It supports the fast food workers and their SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign as a step towards winning a reasonable standard of living. See... Community Urged to Make Poverty Wages History [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0601/S00060.htm

Justice: Jailed Innocents Drive Call For Miscarriage Of Justice Body

- National Party Leader Don Brash says he supports a call for the establishment of an independent body to identify miscarriages of justice. He is commenting on a report by retired High Court judge Sir Thomas Thorp, which suggests that as many as 20 people may wrongly be incarcerated in New Zealand prisons. Dr Brash and National MP Katherine Rich supported the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis Christchurch Civic Creche case in 2003, and attracted support from 11 law professors and two former Prime Ministers for the inquiry. “It is cases like the Peter Ellis case that highlight the need for an independent body with the resources and authority to investigate possible miscarriages of justice.” See... Brash supports call for independent authority [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00090.htm

Environment: Green Co-Leader Issues Her State Of The Planet Speech

- "There has been no concrete action to limit the extreme ecological damage caused by bottom trawling. NZ is willing to support other nations who might propose a moratorium but when it comes to action is not willing to take the lead. It has been left to the Green Party and NGOs like Greenpeace and Forest & Bird to educate the public about deadly fishing practices and to advocate for action." See... Jeanette Fitzsimons State of the Planet Speech [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00086.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00085.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00060.htm

Education: School Cert/Bursary Scaling Used To Set NCEA Marks

- Education Minister Steve Maharey has admitted that old School Certificate and Bursary results have been used to scale this year’s NCEA marks, says National Party Education spokesman Bill English. "Education authorities have for years criticised School Certificate and Bursary as out of date and unfair,” says Mr English. “Yet, in answers to Parliamentary questions the Minister of Education has revealed that old School Certificate and Bursary results have been used to scale this year’s NCEA marks. See... School Cert and Bursary used to scale NCEA results [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00091.htm

MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00095.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00093.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00092.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00091.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00089.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00088.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0601/S00087.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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