Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 20 July 2006, 4:20 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Foreign Affairs: Mr Peters Goes To Washington
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Politics: Making National Cool - The Powerpoint Slides
Politics: Robson Takes At Aim At Israel And US Trade Policies -
Health: New Evidence Of Manipulation In MeNZB Testing
Employment: Supermarket Workers Want Share of Profits
Astronomy: Lunar Occultation Of Spica On The Cards
MORE HEADLINES:
Uri Avnery Reflects On Hizbullah's Motivation For Arousing Israel's Ire
ISRAEL AGAINST LEBANON AND GAZA - FIRST-SOURCE COVERAGE
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Mexico's Revolution Against Electoral Fraud Continues
Russell Brown On The Taito Philip Field Report
Hillary Clinton's New Friend Rupert
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Legislation: Section 59 Debate Continues
Trade: Europe's Butter Border Relaxed
Politics: Philip Field Report - No Conflict Of Interest But Bad Judgement
PM's Presser Audio: Who's Honourable, Middle East, Winston In Washington & Zaoui
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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FULL COVERAGE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS

http://www.scoop.co.nz/index.html#world

Foreign Affairs: Mr Peters Goes To Washington

Winston Peters, Condoleeza Rice - The bilateral relationship and a wide range of pressing international issues were discussed when Foreign Minister Winston Peters met United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington this afternoon. "Clearly events in the Middle East were uppermost in the Secretary's mind, but we also talked at some length about our bilateral relationship," Mr Peters said. "I took the opportunity to underline to the Secretary my personal commitment to doing everything I can to strengthen links with the US." See... Minister holds forward-looking discussions with Rice [1] ALSO:

NZ Govt - Productive trip to Washington for Peters [2]

NZ Govt - McCain meeting wonderful, NZ media disgraceful [3]

National - Winston Peters is not up to Foreign Affairs role [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00312.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00313.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00295.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00296.htm

SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:

Questions for Oral Answer - Thursday, 20 July 2006 [1]

Questions And Answers - Wednesday 19 July 2006 [2]

Questions And Answers - Tuesday, 18 July 2006 [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00317.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00300.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00274.htm

Making National Cool - The Powerpoint Slides

- Images of the Microsoft Powerpoint slides from a National Party Address made by National Party General Manager Greg Sheehan to the Northen Regional Party Conference in April this year. The Powerpoint presentation was the subject of a speech in the house general debate this afternoon from Labour Minister Trevor Mallard. Mr Mallard also issued a press release about it. See... "Cool" National Party PowerPoint Presentation [1] and Mallard: Nats plan to use charities to gain party publicity [2] ALSO:

Public Service Association - Advice to National: Fair employment laws are cool [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00288.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00293.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00219.htm

Politics: Robson Takes At Aim At Israel And US Trade Policies -

Israeli forces regularly attack Lebanese villages and having been doing so for decades. Ironically, the Hizbollah Party which is now one of Lebanon's bigger parliamentary parties, was originally formed in the 1980s as a resistance force to the Israel occupation of Lebanon at that time - the occupation, we were told then, would end Palestinian terrorism. See... Robson-on-Politics 20 July 2006 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00218.htm

New Evidence Of Manipulation In MeNZB Testing

- In this update we present fresh evidence revealing apparent scientific misconduct relating to the recently concluded meningococcal vaccination program and associated research. This new evidence reveals major deviations from ethics-committee approved methodology... Documents show that the MeNZB(tm) vaccine studies appear to have been manipulated to provide desired outcomes, especially in the infant studies. See... Meningococcal Gold Rush III: post-MeNZB Vaccine Update [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00284.htm

Employment: Supermarket Workers Want Share of Profits

- Woolworths will confirm over the next two days of negotiations with the National Distribution Union whether yesterday's "promise of more to come" included its New Zealand supermarket workers. Woolworths Ltd, Australia's retail giant and owner of Woolworths, Countdown and Foodtown in New Zealand said that "the best is yet to come" after the company's annual sales increased by one-fifth to A$37.6 billion, bolstered by last years acquisition of Progressive NZ. See... Will Supermarket Workers Share Record Profits? [1] OTHER INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS:

PSA - Public service workers to rally against bill [2]

AWU - AWU calls Rich out [3]

National - 90-days: Unions should get a grip [4]

Greens - Sue Bradford Speech To EPMU National Conference [5]

Statistics NZ - Work Stoppages Increase for March 2006 Year [6]

National - Massive increase in strikes as unions flex muscles [7]

National - 90-Days: Mapp invites unions to meeting [8]

finsec - Bank customer service will be hurt by 90 Day bill [9]

EPMU - Most people fear Nats' workplace bill - survey [10]

SFWU - Cleaners defend workers rights [11]

Astronomy: Lunar Occultation Of Spica On The Cards

- August is the month that we really start to notice the days getting longer and the nights shorter. August is a poor month for seeing the planets... For the Southern half of the country, the bright star Spica will be occulted by the Moon on the evening of August 28. The Northern limit of the occultation is to the South of Nelson and Masterton and to the North of Wellington. See... The August Night Sky [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0607/S00030.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

Visually Impaired Woman Sexually Attacked [1]

Welfare State Killed Kahui Twins, Says Watchdog [2]

A first for organics [3]

Reality Rodeo Show Is A Bucking Good Ride! [4]

A Buoyant Wellington Economy [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00125.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00122.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0607/S00024.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0607/S00107.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0607/S00208.htm

Uri Avnery Reflects On Hizbullah's Motivation For Arousing Israel's Ire

Megiddo, the biblical 'Armageddon' - A WOMAN, an immigrant from Russia, throws herself on the ground in total despair in front of her home that has been hit by a missile, crying in broken Hebrew: "My son! My son!" believing him dead. In fact he was only wounded and sent to the hospital. Lebanese children, covered with wounds, in Beirut hospitals. The funeral of the victims of a missile in Haifa. The ruins of a whole devastated quarter in Beirut. Inhabitants of the north of Israel fleeing south from the Katyushas. Inhabitants of the south of Lebanon fleeing north from the Israeli Air Force. Death, destruction. Unimaginable human suffering. See... Uri Avnery: "Stop That Shit!" [1] LATEST MIDDLE EAST CRISIS OPINION:

Dahr Jamail - "Open War" in the Middle East [2]

Remi Kanazi - The Politics of Proportionality [3]

Genevieve Cora Fraser - Israeli & US Barbarians on the March [4]

Aesha Lorenz Al-Saeed - SF Protest Against Israel's Gaza & Lebanon Action [5]

Ramzy Baroud - Why is Israel Back in Gaza? [6]

John Chuckman When Terror Is Just Fine [7]

Tel Aviv Notes - Hizbullah (Again) At A Crossroads [8]

Firas Al-Atraqchi - IV: 'Lebanon Crisis An International Conspiracy' [9]

Kathleen Christison - Atrocities in the Promised Land [10]

Tanveer Jafri - No World Peace Without Central Asia Truce [11]

LATEST REPORTS ON THE CRISIS:

Sam Smith - Undernews: The Middle East Crisis [12]

Scoop Link - In a Hezbollah Stronghold Children Pay the Price [13]

Scoop Link - Blair, Annan Want Peacekeepers in Lebanon [14]

See also... Full Coverage: Israel Attacks Lebanon (Part II) [15] & (Part I) [16]

ISRAEL AGAINST LEBANON AND GAZA - FIRST-SOURCE COVERAGE

Israel Must Investigate Attack on Civilians in Lebanon [1] - The Israel Defense Forces should provide details about a bombing on Saturday that killed 16 people in a convoy of civilians fleeing a Lebanese village near Israel's border, Human Rights Watch said today. Under international humanitarian law, all parties to an armed conflict must take all feasible precautions to protect civilians fleeing areas at risk. On Saturday, a number of families fled the southern Lebanese village of Marwahin after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned them to evacuate ahead of a threatened attack. On the road leading to the coast through Chamaa, however, Israeli missiles struck a convoy of the civilians. See... Israel: Investigate Attack on Civilians in Lebanon [2] ALSO:

Lebanon: Hezbollah Attacks Target Civilians [3]

Crisis in Lebanon: UN prepares for health impact [4]

UN force in Lebanon exerting all possible efforts [5]

Middle East: UN cites 'promising first efforts' [6]

Questions and Answers on Israel and Hezbollah [7]

UNSC Work On 'Solution' To Violence In Lebanon [8]

G8 Leaders Statement On Middle East Crisis [9]

G8 "overshadowed" by events in Middle East - Blair [10]

UN Force in Lebanon Efforts for Civilians [11]

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

New Vanuatu police chief dogged by controversy [1]

Vanuatu to quell New Caledonia kava imports row [2]

Indonesia: UN in areas hit by earthquake & tsunami [3]

Afghanistan: Vice & Virtue Department Could Return [4]

AIDS: Success in Fight Threatened by Rights Abuses [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0607/S00339.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0607/S00335.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0607/S00326.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0607/S00323.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0607/S00320.htm

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SCOOP COLUMNS

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Mexico's Revolution Against Electoral Fraud Continues

Speech of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the second information assembly in Mexico City's Zocalo, Sunday July 16th 2006: "You are here not just to support one person, but to defend the right of a people, that can never be given up, to elect its government freely. That is precisely why we ought to have the central object of our movement very clear. We are not only battling for the right to our legitimate triumph in the presidential election but for a higher cause, that of making democracy prevail in our country. We cannot accept a regression, a retreat from democracy. In our country's recent political history, opening the space to be able to have free, equitable, clean elections has cost many sacrifices, including the lives of thousands of Mexicans." See... ANLO Speech To Millions In Mexico City 16th July [1] MORE:

Between The Lines - Massive Mexican March to Demand Election Recount [2]

Scoop Link - Lopez Obrador Urges Civil Resistance in Mexico [3]

Greg Palast - Greg Palast: Lessons from the Un-Gore of Mexico [4]

Al Giordano - Mexico's Election Fraud Is Coming Undone [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00282.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00251.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00250.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00209.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00179.htm

Russell Brown On The Taito Philip Field Report

- National's immediate response to the release of the QC's report on Philip Taito Field yesterday was fairly predictable: it called for a commission of inquiry. The problem is, National always seems to be calling for a commission of inquiry. You get the impression they'd demand a royal commission if Judith Tizard was seen crossing against the lights. But in this case, they have a point. Field wasn't hung by Noel Ingram's report, but he certainly hasn't been cleared either. John Armstrong's column is frankly scathing. See... Public Address 19/07/06 - They Have A Point [1] . MORE PUBLIC ADDRESS:

Public Address 20/7/6 - How Would It Go On TradeMe [2] & Public Address 20/7/6 - More Things That People Do [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00285.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00305.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00302.htm

Hillary Clinton's New Friend Rupert

- On Monday, July 17, 2006, at Fox News headquarters in New York City, Rupert Murdoch hosted a fundraiser breakfast for Hillary Clinton. Then he rushed off to a fundraiser lunch for John McCain, and Hillary rushed off to announce her unqualified support for Israel's and Bush's war policies. See... Swanson: Rupert Murdoch Hosted Hillary Fundraiser [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00275.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

William Rivers Pitt - Meanwhile, in Iraq ... [1]

Sam Smith - Rafting Down America's Real Mainstream [2]

John Gideon - Daily Voting News For July 19, 2006 [3]

William Fisher - Of Pitbulls And Lapdogs [4] & William Fisher: "Bring It On" Still Alive and Well [5]

Atlanta Progressive News - Machine Vote-Flipping Claimed in McKinney Primary [6]

UQ Wire - Tunnel Bomb Ringleader's 9/11 Knowledge [7]

Kamala Sarup - Terrorism And War Threat Education [8] & Nepal Is Proud For Its Beauty [9]

Greg Palast - Ken Lay's Alive! [10]

Guest Opinion - Monarchy As A Democratic Institution For Nepal [11]

William Fisher - "Bring It On" Still Alive and Well [12]

Bernard Weiner - The Dangers & Glories of Manipulating Reality [13]

John Brown - Elected Silence Sing to Me [14]

Indra Kumar - Nepal's Monarchy - Nation, People & Democracy [15]

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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

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Legislation: Section 59 Debate Continues

- "Family Integrity's views are extreme and repugnant to all reasonable New Zealanders," said Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos NZ. "And if Ruby Harrold-Claesson, whose visit to New Zealand is paid for by them, shares their views, then we don't need her here." See... Family Integrity's repugnant views exposed [1] ALSO:

Family Integrity - Commission Comments on Smacking Booklet [2]

Family First Lobby - Swedish cases send warning to Kiwi families [3]

Family First Lobby. - Ruby Harrold-Claesson Media Pack [4]

Save The Children - Misinformation Campaign Won't Protect Children [5]

Greens - Bible gives no mandate for beating children [6]

Family First Lobby. - Memo to anti-smacking lobby: please tell the truth [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00191.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00189.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00195.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00184.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00165.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00283.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00211.htm

Trade: Europe's Butter Border Relaxed

- Minister of Trade Phil Goff has welcomed a decision by the European Commission to amend its draft regulation suspending New Zealand butter trade to Europe... "The new provision allows butter from New Zealand which has a standards compliance certificate (IMA1) issued before 12 July 2006, and which has physically left New Zealand before that date, to be issued with an import licence. See... Goff Welcomes European Decision on Butter [1] ALSO:

Lincoln University - EU butter bans are more than technical [2]

NZ Govt - Goff conveys concerns on butter to EU [3]

NZ Govt - EU Proposes to Suspend New Zealand Butter Trade [4]

Fonterra - EU Action Extraordinary: Fonterra [5]

NZ First - Kiwi Butter Better [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00277.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00159.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00245.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00216.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0607/S00242.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00178.htm

Politics: Philip Field Report - No Conflict Of Interest But Bad Judgement

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today released the report of Mr Ingram QC into matters relating to Taito Phillip Field. Mr Ingram was asked to enquire into whether any conflict existed between Mr Field's duties as a minister and his private interests. "Mr Ingram has concluded that there was not such a conflict of interest. He reports that Mr Field was at all times co-operative with the inquiry. See... Ingram report released [1] ALSO:

The Ingram Report (PDF) [2]

National - Brash calls on Clark to order Com. of Inquiry [3]

Maori Party - Turia: Urgent Debate on Phillip Taito Field Report [4]

Maori Party - "New boy learns the Labour Lines" - Tariana Turia [5]

Russell Brown - Public Address 19/07/06 - They Have A Point [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00260.htm
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0607/IngramReport.pdf
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00262.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00269.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00292.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00285.htm

PM's Presser Audio: Who's Honourable, Middle East, Winston In Washington & Zaoui

- Prime Minister Helen Clark held her post cabinet press conference a little earlier than usual today in advance of a plane journey out of the capital. The question and answer session began with a series of questions on the Middle East crisis and also covered Winston Peter's trip to Washington to meet with Condoleezza Rice, the further delay of the Zaoui Case and local authority rate increases. See... PM's Presser: Honorifics, The Middle East & Zaoui [1] ALSO:

NZ Govt - PM announces changes to use of 'The Honourable' [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00240.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00243.htm

MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

NZ Govt - Horomia: Launch of the Makorea Resource [1]

NZ Govt - National bags New Zealand - again [2]

NZ Govt - Collaboration and adding-value for forestry export [3]

NZ Govt - Cataract surgery increases faster than planned [4]

NZ Govt - Visitor Numbers Reinforce Key Role Of Marketing [5]

NZ Govt - Coin change forces amendments to Racing Act [6]

NZ Govt - Te Whakaterenga o Te Wiki o te Reo Maori [7]

NZ Govt - Launch of Maori Language Week 2006 [8]

NZ Govt - Tizard welcomes Auck. transport strategic vision [9]

NZ Govt - Note To Brash: Cooperation Not Bullying The Key [10]

National - NZ develops reputation for 'petty crime' [11]

National - Minister should explain differing Varroa stories [12]

National - The more Labour talks, the more GPs leave [13]

National - Police threatened with pay penalties over tickets [14]

National - Labour sends mixed messages to foreign students [15]

Greens - Green Party is champion of manufacturing: Bradford [16]

United Future - Prostitution review working group formed [17]

United Future - Copeland welcomes High Court prostitution decision [18]

United Future - United Future wins support for exporters [19]

NZ First - Kiwi Cancer Patients Short-Changed [20]

NZ First - Report Confirms NZ First Export Policy Prudent [21]

Maori Party - Turia: Reserve Bank of NZ Amendment Bill [22]

Maori Party - Dr Pita Sharples - Business Law Reform Bill [23]

Maori Party - Turia - "A great nation is a compassionate nation" [24]

Maori Party - "New boy learns the Labour Lines" - Tariana Turia [25]

ACT - The Most Dangerous Year For Child Abuse [26]

ACT - Talking Or Taking Action On The Health Workforce [27]

POLITICAL COLUMNS

Matt Robson - Robson On Politics - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 [1]

Tariana Turia - Beehive Chat: 'The Denial of Humanity' [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00218.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00226.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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