Today's Top Scoops - 21 July 2008
Security & Defence Issues: Rethinking NZ'S Military Commitment In Afghanistan
Justice
System: New Regulations To Help Get P Cases
Moving
Electioneering:
Winston Peters Speech To NZ First Convention
Retirement
Investment: KiwiSaver Decision-Making One Year Down The
Track
Continuing
Care: Five More Rest Home Disasters In The
Making?
Gordon
Campbell: Anderton Talks About The 80s, Bassett And
Fast Bowling
Productivity:Public
Service Galley-Slaves' Drumbeat To Be Sped Up
McCully.co.nz:
National Put The Boot Into ACC Scheme
Critics
Living
In The Past: T.Rex Terrific For Taranaki!
Export
News: 25% Of New Zealand'S Export Earnings From
Fonterra
Wine
Exports: Constellation NZ Wine Made Global
Priority
Energy
Pricing: Understanding Of The Key Components Of Fuel
Prices
Politics
n Sport: Maori Blessing Launches Eden Park
Reconstruction
Finance:
Free And Frank Discussions On Franking,
Imputations
Disaster
Prevention: Scientists Check To See Whose Fault An
Earthquake Is
Does
The End Justify The Means? Misuse Of ICRC Emblem By
Colombia In Hostage Rescue Mission
Sacrificial
Love: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Apologises For
Clerical Sexual Abuse
Looking
Good: Standard & Poor's Rating For Fiji Remains
Stable
UK
Government: Economic Roadmap Essential For Middle East
Peace
The
Candidates: John McCain And Barack Obama Debate War
Policies
Challenges:
Global Food Crisis Will Need Increasing Amounts Of Aid
For Some Time
Ban
Ki-Moon: UN Must Adjust To 'New Reality' In Kosovo
Since 'Independence'
Rosalea Barker: An Occasional Note on the 2008
Campaigns, No. 12
Ramzy Baroud: Revealing a Massacre, or Stating the
Obvious
Jason Leopold: Reasons to Oppose Drilling in
ANWR
Harvey
Wasserman: Al Gore Inches Toward Solartopia (The Vision
Of A Green-Powered Earth)
Sherwood
Ross: Could Attorneys Prosecute Bush For Murder And
Conspiracy?
Uri Avnery: Different Planets
Pablo
Ouziel: Rethinking Absurdity (The Turbulent Times Are
Upon Us)
Jason
Leopold: Bush Blocks DOJ From Releasing CIA Leak
Documents
Suzan
Mazur: Altenberg 16, AAAS/Science Magazine & The Dorak
Affair
Scoop
TV: Interview With Up The Yangtze Director Yung
Chang
Film
Fest Review: Garbage Warrior, Making Houses From
Junk
http://www.scoop.co.nz/myscoop/signin.html
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http://www.scoop.co.nz/myscoop/newpass.html
LEAD STORY
------------
Security & Defence Issues: Rethinking NZ'S
Military Commitment In Afghanistan -
International Affairs: With US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice visiting NZ late this week, Paul G Buchanan
explores why it is important for a public discussion about
NZ's role in international security missions led by
superpowers, and why debate ought to take place now rather
than after this year's General Election. One of the
ironies of small democracies is that even though they are
economically and physically vulnerable to external events
and actors, the majority of the populations in many of them
remain disinterested in foreign affairs. Perhaps it is due
to a fatalistic sense of resignation, perhaps it is due to
diffidence. New Zealand is a case in point. More
>> [1]
ALSO:
- NZ Govt - US Secretary of State to visit New Zealand [2]
- US State Dept - Secretary Rice to Travel to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa) [3]
[1]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00204.htm
[2]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00281.htm
[3]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00551.htm
NZ POLITICS
------------
Justice
System: New Regulations To Help Get P Cases
Moving - Courts Minister Rick Barker has today
outlined regulatory changes resulting from the Criminal
Procedure Act aimed at freeing up High Court sitting time.
More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00356.htm
Electioneering:
Winston Peters Speech To NZ First Convention -
Peters Speech: "When Tomorrow Comes" Some people might think
15 years is a long time in politics. Well, we have news for
our opponents - we've only just begun! But let's make no
mistake. What we know points to the dirtiest campaign New
Zealand ... More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00355.htm
Retirement
Investment: KiwiSaver Decision-Making One Year Down The
Track - The Retirement Commissioner Diana
Crossan says now that KiwiSaver has been in place for one
year, sorted.org.nz has been updated to answer some key
questions like: can I still afford KiwiSaver, and should I
change schemes? More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0807/S00244.htm
Continuing
Care: Five More Rest Home Disasters In The
Making? - The current outcry about care in rest
homes is another gross failure on the Labour Government's
watch, says National Party Associate Health Spokeswoman Jo
Goodhew. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00353.htm
Gordon
Campbell: Anderton Talks About The 80s, Bassett And
Fast Bowling - It is unusual to talk about a 70
year old in terms of untapped potential, but the aura of
'what might have been' will always hang over Jim Anderton's
career. New Zealand never got the full benefit of his skills
- and conversely, Anderton has never found the right outlet
for them, not after his true political soul mate ( ie, the
Labour Party) ran off with a bunch of flashier types during
the 1980s. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://election08.scoop.co.nz/gordon-campbell-talks-to-jim-anderton/
Productivity:
Public Service Galley-Slaves' Drumbeat To Be Sped
Up - Further improving productivity in the
state sector is the focus of a new productivity kit launched
by Labour Minister Trevor Mallard today at the P3
Productivity Partnership and Public Value Conference. More
>> [1]
ALSO:
- NZ Govt - Mallard: Improving public sector productivity [2]
- NZ Govt - Parker: Value for money in the State sector [3]
[1]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00324.htm
[2]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00325.htm
[3]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00342.htm
McCully.co.nz:
National Put The Boot Into ACC Scheme Critics -
The National Party's Accident Compensation policy released
this week charts a careful and considered route to
improvement in the scheme. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00339.htm
BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH
------------
Living
In The Past: T.Rex Terrific For Taranaki!
- If you like scary monsters then Puke Ariki has a mammoth
treat for you! Probably the most terrifying dinosaur in the
world is being unveiled at the end of this month when a 3.6
metre (12 feet) tall, 12.8 metre (42 feet) long
Tyrannosuarus rex, named Sue. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0807/S00197.htm
Export
News: 25% Of New Zealand'S Export Earnings From
Fonterra - The valuable contribution dairying
makes to the New Zealand economy has been highlighted in a
report prepared by Statistics NZ for Fonterra which shows
that Fonterra now accounts for a quarter of the country's
export earnings. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00346.htm
Wine
Exports: Constellation NZ Wine Made Global
Priority - High profile wine brand Kim Crawford
is making waves internationally since being selected as a
Global Priority Brand by owner Constellation Wines, a status
awarded to just four brands from their global portfolio. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00341.htm
Energy
Pricing: Understanding Of The Key Components Of Fuel
Prices - With the volatility in petrol and
diesel pump prices, it is difficult for those outside the
industry to determine the impact of the two key variables;
crude oil prices and exchange rates. That is until now. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00339.htm
Politics
n Sport: Maori Blessing Launches Eden Park
Reconstruction - Prime Minister Helen Clark
congratulated the Eden Park redevelopment team for meeting
its Rugby World Cup deadlines at a formal Maori blessing for
the project today. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00338.htm
Finance:
Free And Frank Discussions On Franking,
Imputations - The Australian and New Zealand
governments are open to the idea of moving toward mutual
recognition of imputation and franking credits between firms
that invest in each other's country, Australian Treasurer
Wayne Swan and New Zealand Finance Minister Michael Cullen
said today. More
>> [1]
ALSO:
- Joint Media Statement - Australia, NZ progress bilateral economic interest [2]
- NZ Govt - Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability [3]
- Employers And Manufacturers Association - Great news on mutual recognition of tax credits [4]
- NZ Govt - Australian ETS similar to New Zealand's [5]
- Flexible Land Use Alliance - Cullen Comments On Trans-Tasman Scheme Welcomed [6]
HAPPY RETURNS:
- Inland Revenue Department - IRD proposes changes to company tax returns [7]
- NZ Govt - Dunne welcomes move to reduce return complexity [8]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00323.htm
[2]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00321.htm
[3]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00322.htm
[4]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00336.htm
[5]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00320.htm
[6]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00335.htm
[7]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0807/S00317.htm
[8]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0807/S00329.htm
Disaster
Prevention: Scientists Check To See Whose Fault An
Earthquake Is - A group of New Zealand and
international scientists has been awarded funding to
investigate drilling into the Alpine Fault on the West Coast
of the South Island. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0807/S00042.htm
WORLD
------------
Does
The End Justify The Means? Misuse Of ICRC Emblem By
Colombia In Hostage Rescue Mission - The
explicit abuse of the ICRC emblem technically could be
classified under the Geneva Convention as a War Crime. It
raises questions about the already tainted rectitude of the
Uribe administration, also afflicted by many other damaging
revelations. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00606.htm
Sacrificial
Love: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Apologises For
Clerical Sexual Abuse - Pope Benedict XVI
delivered a heartfelt apology to the victims of sexual abuse
by clergy in Australia. The Pope said: "Indeed, I am deeply
sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured,
and I assure them that as their Pastor, I too share in their
suffering." More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00602.htm
Looking
Good: Standard & Poor's Rating For Fiji Remains
Stable - Standard & Poor's affirmed its foreign
currency ratings on Fiji, keeping its 'B' long-term foreign
currency and 'B+' long-term local currency credit ratings.
S&P also affirmed the 'B' short-term ratings, stating the
outlook remains stable. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00590.htm
UK
Government: Economic Roadmap Essential For Middle East
Peace - Speaking in a press conference with
Israel PM Olmert, Mr Brown said that all parties must seize
the opportunity for peace in the region. Monetary support
was important, and he called for an economic roadmap to run
alongside the political roadmap to peace. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00610.htm
The
Candidates: John McCain And Barack Obama Debate War
Policies - Presidential candidates McCain &
Obama were keen to show they could handle tough issues: "Our
single-minded and open-ended focus on Iraq is not a sound
strategy for keeping America safe," said Obama. "I know
how to win wars," McCain said. More
>> [1]
MORE TALK OF WAR
[1] -
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00544.htm
[2]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00608.htm
Challenges:
Global Food Crisis Will Need Increasing Amounts Of Aid
For Some Time - The current global food crisis
will require increasing amounts of humanitarian assistance
for some time. "The world faced not just a food price
crisis, but 'a food production crisis, a food aid crisis and
a food security crisis". More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00562.htm
Ban
Ki-Moon: UN Must Adjust To 'New Reality' In Kosovo
Since 'Independence' - In light of developments
since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in
February, the UN mission there is unable to perform its
usual functions and must adjust to the new reality on the
ground, says Ban Ki-moon. More
>> [1]
THE NEW REALITY...
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00537.htm
[2]
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00558.htm
COMMENT
------------
Rosalea Barker: An Occasional Note on the 2008
Campaigns, No. 12 - Piece of bacon, that is.
Today's early morning newscasts are awash with images of
Senator Barack Obama--coincidentally a presidential
candidate--on a fact-finding mission with a congressional
delegation in Afghanistan. Pity the poor other members ...
More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00210.htm
Ramzy Baroud: Revealing a Massacre, or Stating the
Obvious - For some folks interested in
genealogy, tracing one's roots is a stimulating activity.
It's immensely interesting and meaningful to learn where
one's life started. DNA testing has made it possible to
trace... More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00211.htm
Jason Leopold: Reasons to Oppose Drilling in
ANWR - Last November, the oil company British
Petroleum (BP) plead guilty to a misdemeanor and paid a $20
million fine for violating the Clean Water Act related to a
massive oil spill that occurred at BP's Prudhoe Bay
operations in Alaska's North Slope ... More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00203.htm
Harvey
Wasserman: Al Gore Inches Toward Solartopia (The Vision
Of A Green-Powered Earth) - Bit by bit, Al Gore
seems to be inching toward a Solartopian view of a future
that must be completely sustainable in green energy. This
week he advocated getting to an electric power system that
is "carbon free" within ten years. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00200.htm
Sherwood
Ross: Could Attorneys Prosecute Bush For Murder And
Conspiracy? - According to Vincent Bugliosi
(author of "The Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder"),
while a federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney General or
any of the 93 U.S. attorneys would be the easiest procedure,
State Attorneys-General also could bring murder charges
against Bush. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00182.htm
Uri Avnery: Different Planets - It was an
eerie experience: in a fraction of a second I could switch
between two worlds, but all the channels reported on exactly
the same occasion. In one section of the breaking news, the
events happened at a distance of a few dozen meters from
each other, but they could just... More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00198.htm
Pablo
Ouziel: Rethinking Absurdity (The Turbulent Times Are
Upon Us) - Will the new visionaries continue
developing our warped ideal of a world with fake
democracies, phoney altruistic wars, and unsustainable
lifestyles? Or will they contemplate the world in a holistic
way, understanding that big problems may have really simple
answers? More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00183.htm
Jason
Leopold: Bush Blocks DOJ From Releasing CIA Leak
Documents - In the latest twist in the
"Plame-gate" scandal, President Bush has asserted executive
privilege to block release of VP Dick Cheney's interview
with a special prosecutor about possible criminal violations
in the leaking of a CIA officer's covert identity. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00187.htm
Suzan
Mazur: Altenberg 16, AAAS/Science Magazine & The Dorak
Affair - The AAAS/ Science magazine's recent
two-page article on the Altenberg 16 symposium re-reports,
somewhat incorrectly, on the evolution story I've been
tracking for months. This isn't the first time I've
addressed the work of one of their writers. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00185.htm
LIFESTYLE
------------
Scoop
TV: Interview With Up The Yangtze Director Yung
Chang - Scoop TV interviews Up The Yangtze's
director Yung Chang. Up The Yangtze takes us on the surreal
journey of China's unfaltering drive towards modernity with
two teenagers affected in different ways by their nation's
ambition. More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00180.htm
Film
Fest Review: Garbage Warrior, Making Houses From
Junk - Garbage Warrior is the story of
environmental crusader Mike Reynolds, who is determined to
provide the world with sustainable housing made of...junk.
More
>> [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00181.htm
:)
ENDS