Scoop Top Stories For May 21, 2010 News Summary

Friday, 21 May 2010, 4:24 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

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LEAD STORY

Announcements and Reaction: Scoop Budget Coverage

“Bold, radical” Budget say tax experts

NZ POLITICS

Also On Budget Day: Commission Says Welfare Bill Do Not Meet Basic Rights Standards

Tobacco Inquiry: Maori Select Committee Told Of Need To End Tobacco

Shouting 'Fire!': Union Questions Limits On Fire Response

Health Targets: Waikato DHB Improves In All Six Areas

Waikato tops the Country with Cancer services

Welfare: Working Group Forum To 'Debate The Issues'

Military: Rotation To Timor-Leste Halved

Scoop Audio: Pre-Budget Announcement On KiwiRail

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

Scoop Coverage: Budget 2010

SciBlogs Link: Bacteria With Artificial DNA

Scoop Business: NZ Tax Overhaul Set To Fuel Inflation Spike

Environment And Conservation: Road Death Of A Fantastic Father Blow To Kiwi

Scoop Business: NZ Still In The Top 20, But Only Just: IMD

On The Interphone Study: Mobile Phones And Cancer Risk

Thinking Of The Children: PM Asks For The Science On Youth

COMMENT

The ‘Unfortunate’ Act: The Sinking of the Cheonan

The "Black Jail": Obama's Afghan Torture Center and the APA

Richard S. Ehrlich: Bangkok Burns After the Army Crushes the Reds' Barricades

Karazai’s Washington Visit: The War Awaiting Kandahar

Martha Rosenberg: US Govt Report Finds Dangerous Residues In Meat

Martin LeFevre: The Dark Night of Man’s Soul

LIFESTYLE

Words Like 'Tasteful': Vet Students Bare All In Annual Calendar

Books: Old Hu-Hu Takes Out Top Kids' Literature Prize

Whose House? Removal Of Sir Edmund Hillary’s House

WORLD

Announcements and Reaction: Scoop Budget Coverage
More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2010.html

ALSO:

• Audio + Images: Budget Lockup Press Conference [2]


• Sludge Report #192: The Naked Budget [3]


• An unusually successful Budget [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00165.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00161.htm [3]

[4] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/20/smellie-briefly-sniffs-a-successful-budget/ [4]

“Bold, radical” Budget say tax experts
- More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/20/bold-radical-budget-say-tax-experts/

ALSO:

• Budget Special 2010 [2]


• 2010 Budget Fact Sheets [3]


• OnPoint: Budget 2010: What'd you expect? [4]


• Hard News: Chicken Soup [5]


• Who benefits from National's tax cuts? [6]


• Budget 2010: Solid, Sensible – but Sustainable? [7]


• Rich Get Vital “Hand Up” In Budget [8]


• Budget 2010: Full announcements and reaction [9]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00163.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00320.htm [3]

[4] - http://publicaddress.net/6629#post6629" target="_blank [4]

[5] - http://publicaddress.net/6633#post6633" target="_blank [5]

[6] - http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2010/05/who-benefits-from-nationals-tax-cuts.html" target="_blank [6]

[7] - http://pundit.co.nz/content/budget-2010-solid-sensible-%E2%80%93-but-sustainable" target="_blank [7]

[8] - http://weeklycoitus.co.nz/?p=1259" target="_blank [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2010.html [9]

ALSO:

• Questions and Answers - 19 May 2010 [2]


• Today In Parliament 19.05.10 [3]


• Questions and Answers - 18 May 2010 [4]


• Today In Parliament 18.05.10 [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00282.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00156.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00262.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00145.htm [5]

Also On Budget Day: Commission Says Welfare Bill Do Not Meet Basic Rights Standards
The Human Rights Commission wants substantial changes made to the Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill so that it does not discriminate against specific groups and it meets basic human rights standards. It has offered its expertise to help redraft the bill it considers fundamentally flawed. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00236.htm

ALSO:

• Effective Social Policy Forum essential [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00235.htm [2]

Tobacco Inquiry: Maori Select Committee Told Of Need To End Tobacco
Public health researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington have called for a clear Government plan to totally phase-out commercial tobacco sales in New Zealand by 2020. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00095.htm

Shouting 'Fire!': Union Questions Limits On Fire Response
New Zealand Fire Service Management are intimidating operational Firefighters by threatening them with disciplinary action if they respond more fire appliances to emergency incidents than that provided for in their recent nationwide instruction. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00604.htm

Health Targets: Waikato DHB Improves In All Six Areas
Waikato District Health Board improved in each one of the six national health targets released today by the Minister of Health. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00099.htm

Waikato tops the Country with Cancer services
- More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00102.htm

ALSO:

• HBDHB makes big gains in health targets [2]


• National Party Members Reject ETS [3]


• ETS will cost Kiwis $527 million in its first year [4]


• Emissions trading – world famous in New Zealand [5]


• Protest ETS Introduction [6]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00100.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00253.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00579.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00536.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00147.htm [6]

Welfare: Working Group Forum To 'Debate The Issues'
Ms Rebstock said the June Forum would bring together a diversity of opinions and experience to identify the practical issues around long-term benefit dependency… Ms Rebstock said those figures had worsened since the downturn: "Such high levels of benefit receipt are not what we should be expecting for New Zealand families or our communities." More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00184.htm

Military: Rotation To Timor-Leste Halved
The improved security environment in Timor-Leste means New Zealand can cut back the size of its military deployment there, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00257.htm

Scoop Audio: Pre-Budget Announcement On KiwiRail
The Government has announced a $250m investment in the nation’s rail infrastructure, saying it will increase the country’s productivity and economic growth. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00144.htm

ALSO:

• A real commitment needed for rail to meet future [2]


• Much needed rail investment encouraging [3]


• KiwiRail tender may see some work done locally [4]


• $250m Lifeline for KiwiRail Provides Options [5]


• Rail investment welcome but more needed [6]


• KiwiRail to get $750m boost [7]


• Budget 2010 [8]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00254.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00171.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00161.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1005/S00173.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00538.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/36355.html [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2010.html [8]

Scoop Coverage: Budget 2010
More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2010.html

ALSO:

• Tourism industry urges care over mining effects [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00669.htm [2]

SciBlogs Link: Bacteria With Artificial DNA
Working Artificial DNA: Experts On Synthetic Biology BreakthroughScientists have for the first time created ’synthetic cells’ that can survive and reproduce on their own. A team lead by Dr Craig Venter published their results in the journal Science today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1005/S00051.htm

Scoop Business: NZ Tax Overhaul Set To Fuel Inflation Spike
Inflation is set to spike higher than economists had predicted as a result of the increase in goods and services tax and other levies and imposts, adding to expectations the central bank will begin hiking interest rates at its next meeting on June 10. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/21/nz-tax-overhaul-set-to-fuel-inflation-spike/

ALSO:

• Kiwi slides as Europe fears overshadow Budget [2]


• Full Scoop Coverage: Budget 2010 [3]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/21/kiwi-slides-as-europe-fears-overshadow-budget/ [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2010.html [3]

Environment And Conservation: Road Death Of A Fantastic Father Blow To Kiwi
Cee Cee, one of the best-known rowi kiwi, was found dead on the side of Ökärito Road on May 13. As a highly successful breeding male, his death has come as a huge blow to the critically endangered kiwi species. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1005/S00047.htm

Scoop Business: NZ Still In The Top 20, But Only Just: IMD
Weak capital markets, management skills, and export performance are the biggest factors behind New Zealand’s slide five places down the rankings on the IMD World Competitiveness Index, released tonight, on the eve of the John Key-led government’s second Budget. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/20/nz-still-in-the-top-20-but-only-just-imd/

ALSO:

• Competitiveness decline is concerning [2]


• NZ dollar drops below 69 cents after RBNZ report [3]


• Financial system outlook improved - Bollard [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1005/S00613.htm [2]

[3] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/19/nz-dollar-drops-below-69-cents-after-rbnz-report/ [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/36382.html [4]

On The Interphone Study: Mobile Phones And Cancer Risk
Increasing mobile phone use has led to public concern about possible cancer risks. The long-anticipated Interphone study is the largest, most comprehensive study on the risks to date, published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1005/S00043.htm

ALSO:

• Warnings on mobile phones needed [2]


• Heavy cellphone use linked to brain cancer [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00244.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/36349.html [3]

Thinking Of The Children: PM Asks For The Science On Youth
At the request of the Prime Minister, my office has a major project underway to assemble evidence, from both New Zealand and overseas, on what actions could be taken. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1005/S00040.htm

ALSO:

• Teenagers Get Brain Injuries Too [2]


• Communicate with your young person [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00093.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1005/S00101.htm [3]

The ‘Unfortunate’ Act: The Sinking of the Cheonan
North Korea, the last hereditary communist dictatorship on earth, is keeping itself in the news. The recent act of torpedoing a South Korean vessel that left 46 sailors dead has struck the country, and regional powers, deeply. The sinking of the Cheonan... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00177.htm

The "Black Jail": Obama's Afghan Torture Center and the APA
A recent pair of articles by Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic has shed new light upon activities in the secret so-called “black jail” on the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Among other aspects, these new revelations suggest that psychologists may be playing ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00180.htm

Richard S. Ehrlich: Bangkok Burns After the Army Crushes the Reds' Barricades
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Red Shirt protesters allegedly set fire to 40 buildings including luxury shopping malls, banks, the Stock Exchange and offices, after losing their stronghold when soldiers used armored personnel carriers to crush their barricades, ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00172.htm

Karazai’s Washington Visit: The War Awaiting Kandahar
Clad in his usual attire of a colorful, striped robe, Afghan President Hamid Karazai appeared more like an emperor as he began his fourth day in Washington. Accompanying him on a somber visit to the Arlington National Cemetery were US Defense Secretary ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00175.htm

ALSO:

• It’s The Economy, But Stupid: Bizarre Budget PR [2]


• Sludge Report #192: The Naked Budget [3]


• An unusually successful Budget [4]


• John Key’s Shifting Rationales For Tax Cuts [5]


• Scoop Satire: Sweeping Taxonomy Changes For Budget [6]


• Budget 2010: Full announcements and reaction [7]

[2] - http://mediadarlings.net/2010/05/20/its-the-economy-but-stupid-bizarre-budget-pr/" target="_blank [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00161.htm [3]

[4] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/20/smellie-briefly-sniffs-a-successful-budget/ [4]

[5] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/05/18/gordon-campbell-shifting-rationales-for-tax-cuts/ [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00152.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/budget2010.html [7]

Martha Rosenberg: US Govt Report Finds Dangerous Residues In Meat
Many food consumers worry about pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria in their meat. But according to a new government report, they should worry more about veterinary drugs, pesticides and heavy metals in their food. A new Office of Inspector ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00168.htm

Martin LeFevre: The Dark Night of Man’s Soul
After some strong insights and strange events with a friend, I go to the parkland for a sitting and walk. The place is stupendous following another late-season storm this morning—redolent, lush, quiet, and mysterious. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1005/S00151.htm

Words Like 'Tasteful': Vet Students Bare All In Annual Calendar
Massey University´s third year veterinary students have revealed all in a calendar to raise funds for their half-way trip and chosen charity - Paw Justice. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1005/S00093.htm

Books: Old Hu-Hu Takes Out Top Kids' Literature Prize
Central Otago writer, Kyle Mewburn and Wellington illustrator, Rachel Driscoll have won the country’s highest accolade in children’s literature, the New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year Award for their picture book, Old Hu-Hu. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1005/S00220.htm

Whose House? Removal Of Sir Edmund Hillary’s House
The long awaited move of the house of Sir Edmund Hillary will take place tomorrow [Wednesday]. Students from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, the future site for the house, will acknowledge Sir Edmund’s legacy as the building is removed at 10.30am. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1005/S00141.htm

ENDS

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