Scoop: Top Scoops (PLEASE VOTE FOR SCOOP!)

Monday, 13 March 2006, 4:35 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Foreign Affairs & The Festival: Scoop Interviews Ace Reporter Robert Fisk
Bizarre/Sport: Pre-Recorded Cricketing Jape Goes Horribly Wrong -
Welfare: Benefit Increase Means NZ's Poor Enjoy Another Jar of Jam -
Fashion: Foreigners Snaffle Vodafone Id Awards -
Media: Mr McCully Joins Mr Peters In Bagging NZ's Biggest Paper -
Elections: Clarkson Explains How To Get Value For Money -
MORE HEADLINES:
Asia-Pacific: Chronic poverty deepening in Timor-Leste
Iran: Police Attack Women’s Day Celebration
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Rosalea Barker Takes A Look Around Her Cyber-TV
Mike Whitney On The Prospects Of War With Iran
Am Johal On The European Union Dilemma
MORE SCOOP COMMENT AND OPINION:
Katya Rivas's Passion Serialised For Lent

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:
Economy: Slowing NZ Economy Stops Interest Rate Rises
Intelligence: Hot Competition Expected for Chief Spook Job
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

Today is the last voting day for the People's Chouce Netguide.co.nz New Zealand Internet Awards. Scoop would respectfully ask its readers to go to the following URL…
http://www.netguide.co.nz/webawards/index2.htm
…and seriously consider voting for Scoop.co.nz in one or all of the following categories.

- BEST MEDIA SITE - - BEST NEW SITE OR RELAUNCH - - SITE OF THE YEAR - - BEST HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SITE - - BEST HOME PAGE -

…. The Scoop Team

Foreign Affairs & The Festival: Scoop Interviews Ace Reporter Robert Fisk

[1] UK Independent Newspaper foreign correspondent Robert Fisk is in New Zealand this week for the Wellington International Arts Festival's Writer's & Readers Week [2] . This morning Scoop Co-editor Alastair Thompson caught up with Mr Fisk en route to Wellington by phone in his hotel in Auckland. He talked with him about Iraq, Iran, 911, the media, the Internet and what happens next in the War on Terror. See... Scoop Audio: Scoop Interviews Reporter Robert Fisk [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00152.htm
[2] - http://www.nzfestival.telecom.co.nz/writers-and-readers/
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00152.htm

Bizarre/Sport: Pre-Recorded Cricketing Jape Goes Horribly Wrong -

A series of cruel comments from NZ cricket captain Stephen Fleming to his former team mate Mark Richardson is evidently part of an elaborate spoof that will appear on Sky TV later this week. The one time slow scoring opening batsmen is seen being torn to shreds following an interview with Fleming that was conducted just prior to play beginning on the fourth day of the 1st test match between NZ and the West Indies. See... Cricket Captains Cruel Comments A Set Up [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00171.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0603/S00108.htm

Welfare: Benefit Increase Means NZ's Poor Enjoy Another Jar of Jam -

Benefits and student allowances will increase from 1 April 2006 and income thresholds for the Community Services Card will rise, Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope said today. The increase of 3.16 percent in the rates of benefits, allowances and Community Services Card thresholds equates to the increase in the cost of living for 2004. See... Minister has more good news for 1 April [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00190.htm

Fashion: Foreigners Snaffle Vodafone Id Awards -

An international selection of young designers were announced as winners of the 2006 Vodafone id Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards. The winners were announced at a spectacular Award show held on the evening of Friday 10 March at Dunedin's Edgar Stadium, hosted by Carol Hirschfeld. See... Brits and Finns top at 2006 Vodafone id awards [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0603/S00107.htm

Media: Mr McCully Joins Mr Peters In Bagging NZ's Biggest Paper -

At 7.00 am on Thursday morning, the hard working and humble Member for East Coast Bays was feeling well short of his demure and charming self. Alighting from the flight which had departed Rarotonga at 3.55 am, he had completed a two day meeting in the Cooks, politely declined the offer of a hospitality day to follow.. His demeanour was not improved when he glanced at the NZ Herald to spy, right on the front page, an exercise in naked scumbaggery at his expense. See... www.mccully.co.nz 10 March 2006 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00197.htm

Elections: Clarkson Explains How To Get Value For Money -

Scoop caught up with National MP Bob Clarkson following the High Court ordered NZ First leader Winston Peters to pay $40,000 in costs to Mr Clarkson. During the interview Mr Clarkson told Scoop how he'd been able to get good deals on advertising in Tauranga, and how a van the Tauranga High Court had been told cost $119 (inclusive of GST) had actually cost much more. See... Bob Clarkson Explains How To Get A Good Deal [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00144.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00177.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0512/S00174.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0603/S00201.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00199.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00097.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00096.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0603/S00075.htm

Asia-Pacific: Chronic poverty deepening in Timor-Leste

- Four years after gaining independence, impoverished Timor-Leste remains one of the world’s least-developed nations, says the country’s National Human Development Report 2006, launched in the capital, Dili, today by the Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UN’s newest member state ranks below all ASEAN countries on the human-development index. Half the population lacks safe drinking water, 60 of 1,000 infants born alive die before their first birthday, and life expectancy, at only 55.5 years of age in 2004, is not improving. Chronic poverty deepening in Timor-Leste [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00200.htm

Iran: Police Attack Women’s Day Celebration

- Iranian police and plainclothes agents yesterday charged a peaceful assembly of women’s rights activists in Tehran and beat hundreds of women and men who had gathered to commemorate International Women’s Day, Human Rights Watch said today. The attack took place shortly after participants in the celebration assembled at Tehran’s Daneshjoo Park at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8. Iran: Police Attack Women’s Day Celebration [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00208.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00220.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00219.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00218.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00216.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00214.htm

Rosalea Barker Takes A Look Around Her Cyber-TV

- At the risk of having you wander out into cyberspace never to return to our beloved mothership, Scoop, I'm going to pepper this post with hyperlinks to interesting video on the Net. If you want to cut to the chase, go to the last one. See... Stateside With Rosalea: Untethered [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00169.htm

Mike Whitney On The Prospects Of War With Iran

- In the last 48 hours all the major players in the Bush administration have issued statements warning of the impending danger of Iran. Cheney blasted the Islamic regime saying there would be "meaningful consequences" if it refuses to comply with international ... See... The 48 Hour Media-blitz For War With Iran [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00166.htm

Am Johal On The European Union Dilemma

- From November 2004 until March 2006, Israelis and Palestinans will have seen the following happen in only seventeen months: the death of Yasser Arafat, the election of Mahmoud Abbas as President of the Palestinian Authority, the first withdrawal from Gaza and four West Bank settlements since 1967, a centrist breakaway from the ruling Likud Party in Israel and a new leader of Kadima and the Labor Party, a debilitating stroke which has incapacitated former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the election of Hamas in Palestinian legislative elections and the upcoming Israeli elections in March. See... The EU, Israel, Palestine & The Geneva Initiative [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00159.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT AND OPINION:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00170.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00168.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00167.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00165.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00162.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00164.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00161.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00163.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00160.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00158.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00154.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00157.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00156.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00155.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00146.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00142.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00141.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00140.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00138.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00137.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00136.htm

Katya Rivas's Passion Serialised For Lent

- Of My Passion I want you to consider above all, the bitterness that was caused by My knowing the sins, that darkening the mind of man, lead him to aberrations. Most of the time these sins are accepted as a fruit of natural inclinations that, it is ... See... Katya Rivas: Jesus Does the Will of the Father [1] SEE ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00176.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00135.htm

POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:

Molesworth & Featherston (Weekend) – March 10 2006 [1] Transtasman Political Letter – 9 March Digest [2] b>

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00143.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00129.htm

Economy: Slowing NZ Economy Stops Interest Rate Rises

- Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said: "Recent data have confirmed our earlier view that economic growth is slowing. Business activity and confidence have been softening for some time. On the other hand, household spending has only recently started to wane. A key driver of strong household spending has been the buoyant housing market which, while showing signs of cooling, still remains very active. See... RBNZ MPS: OCR unchanged at 7.25 per cent [1] . See also... Michael Cullen Speech - Economic Outlook [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0603/S00140.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00150.htm

Intelligence: Hot Competition Expected for Chief Spook Job

- The State Services Commission will tomorrow begin public advertising for a new Director of Security for the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. The State Services Commissioner has been asked by the Government to manage the processes for selection of candidates for appointment to this role. The current Director, Richard Woods, will retire in October 2006. See... Recruitment Begins For Director Of Security [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00086.htm

MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00132.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00129.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00148.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00137.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00147.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00142.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00156.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00139.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00130.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00134.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00138.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00124.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00122.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00144.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00155.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00140.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00157.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00131.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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