Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Friday, 28 February 2003, 4:22 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Intelligence Sources Reveal A Cunning Plan
Jonnie Howard’s a Protest Target: GPJA
Hey Jonnie – Keep Your Yank Missiles Out Of Our Region
Naked in Nuhaka: Are Coutts and Butterworth Still Kiwis?
Are There Any Terrorists George W Doesn't Know?
BIG NEWS INVESTIGATES ACC - PART 10
Scoop Was In The House
UQ Wire: 911 Hijackers Nearly All Tracked By CIA
UQ Wire: ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ Card For 911 Failures
Bob Marley Inspires Anti-War Law Suit Plaintiff
Streets Of London: How The Channel Islands Tackled The Evil Weed
Bernard Weiner: "Grandpa, Why Did The Iraq War Start?"
William Rivers Pitt: 30 Pieces Of Silver
Daily Katya Rivas

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
War Clouds Causes Confidence Wobbles
Cloak of Silence Descends of GATS
Are Customs Doing Dodgy Car Deals? No Says Govt
Did The System Cause Tiger Attack?: Nats
Govt Briefed on Taupo Geothermal Woes
Tax Law Changes Good for Maori
ACT Says CYFS Negligent
Kiri Get’s te Heuheu Wild!
Franks and Roy Frank on Free Speech
Libs: Franks Not Keen On Prostitutes But…
Send The Boys Back Home: Winston
1700 Aucklanders Get Lower Rent
This Week’s Beehive Bulletin
Anderton Cites More Regional Growth Stats
Farm Damns and Lakes Regulation Angers ACT
Agriculture Pushes Regional Growth
GG Releases Rare Ducks
What’s Happened In Select Committees This Week
Are Community Boards To Be Axed?
TVNZ Hobbled By Govt: Greens
Nick Smith Stop Weeping!: Maharey
Journo’s Union Backs Tongan Paper
Mild Greens Cite Peace and Freedom

Intelligence Sources Reveal A Cunning Plan

- Scoop's Middle-East intelligence sources are reporting that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has stepped into the bipolar crisis over Iraq between US-led and French-led world blocs with a proposition to avert the war and provide Saddam Hussein with a life-boat. Maree Howard writes. See... Howard's End: Russia Provides Iraq a Lifeboat [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00211.htm

Jonnie Howard’s a Protest Target: GPJA

- Australian Prime Minister John Howard is not welcome in New Zealand on his planned visit next week and he will be the target of vigorous anti-war protest. See... Vigorous Anti-War Protests will greet John Howard [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00191.htm

Hey Jonnie – Keep Your Yank Missiles Out Of Our Region

- New Zealand should be leaving the Howard government in no doubt of this country's abhorrence of any attempt to base US missiles in Australia, Green Party Disarmament spokesperson, Keith Locke said today. See... Howard missile plan would destabilise region [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00536.htm

Naked in Nuhaka: Are Coutts and Butterworth Still Kiwis?

- What does it mean to be a New Zealander in 2003? What depths of patriotism must we display to be a real Kiwi? To be a "K-1, W-1, till the day we die?" See... Naked in Nuhaka: Identity Crisis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00209.htm

Are There Any Terrorists George W Doesn't Know?

- George and Laura Bush with Sami Amin Al-Arian during the 2000 campaign in Florida. Al-Arian is charged with 50 counts of terrorism. Al-Arian even went to a White House briefing with Karl Rove. See... Bush Tied to Terror Suspect Sami al-Arian - Image [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00207.htm

BIG NEWS INVESTIGATES ACC - PART 10

- ACC is telling claimants who live overseas to return to New Zealand at their own expense to be assessed for vocational assessments or risk losing compensation, even if they don’t need an assessment. See... ACC Claimants Punished For Living Overseas [1] MORE: - Part 1 - ACC staff knowingly flout ACC legislation [2] - Part 2 - ACC case manager and assessor collude [3] - Part 3 - Dodgy Assessments Used To Rid ACC of Claimants [4] - Part 4 - How some ACC assessments predetermine outcomes [5] - Part 5 - ACC claimants are not advised their entitlements [6] - Part 6 - ACC Boss Accused Of Misrepresenting The Public [7] - Part 7 - ACC Management Still Hostile To Media Queries [8] - Part 8 - ACC Repeatedly Cuts Compensation For Disabled Boy [9] - Part 9 - ACC Rehab. Not Adequately Assisting Claimants [10]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00212.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00108.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00114.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00125.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00137.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00151.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00164.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00182.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00193.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00205.htm

Scoop Was In The House

– For yesterday’s questions for oral answer, and answers see... Questions Of The Day Transcript - 27 February 2003 [1] - EARLIER Q&A - Tuesday's Transcript [2] - Wednesday's Q&A [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00520.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00467.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00495.htm

UQ Wire: 911 Hijackers Nearly All Tracked By CIA

- By the end of 2002, it was clear that all 19 hijackers, the official 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui and almost all informants had been simultaneously tracked by CIA, FBI or any other intelligence agencies who shared this information before Sept. 11th. Many hijackers even lived next to CIA operatives, which operated at these places, before the hijackers decided to "join" them. See... UQ Wire: Tracking All Hijackers (LIHOP Series) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00218.htm

UQ Wire: ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ Card For 911 Failures

- Within days of 911, the White House was hard at work obstructing an independent commission of inquiry, and drafting legislation which would indemnify federal agents for offenses that contributed to the loss of 3,000 innocent lives on September 11, 2001. See... UQ Wire: The Crimes Of 9/11 (Part 3) [1] EARLIER: - UQ Wire: The Crimes Of 9/11 (Part 1) [2] (Part 2) [3] - See also Mike Ruppert on Patriot II - UQ Wire: Patriot II - A Trial Balloon? [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00217.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00079.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00091.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00203.htm

Bob Marley Inspires Anti-War Law Suit Plaintiff

- My question to President Bush, who didn't even fulfill his National Guard obligations, is "How dare you? How dare you send another generation of our fine young people to fight in a war of dubious necessity that hasn't been declared by Congress? How dare you?" See... Get Up, Stand Up, Stand Up For Your Rights [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00216.htm

Streets Of London: How The Channel Islands Tackled The Evil Weed

- The best way to give up smoking is to never start in the first place…those of us who've done battle with the evilest weed know this. However, on the Channel Island of Guernsey the number of teenagers smoking or intending to was halved over five years. How? See... Streets Of London: Smokin' Dude...It Ain't Cool [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00215.htm

Bernard Weiner: "Grandpa, Why Did The Iraq War Start?"

- Within a few weeks, the world is going to change drastically. A terrible war is about to be unleashed, and -- even though the events will happen far, far away from America -- it will affect your parents and Gran and me, indeed all of us in this country. See... Bernard Weiner: Explaining Iraq To The Grandkids [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00214.htm

William Rivers Pitt: 30 Pieces Of Silver

- George W. Bush gave a speech Wednesday night before the Godfather of conservative Washington think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute. In his speech, Bush quantified his coming war with Iraq as part of a larger struggle to bring pro-western governments into power in the Middle East. See... UQ Wire: Blood Money [1] . RELATED... For Six Years Think Tank Has Been Hell-Bent On War [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00213.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00204.htm

Daily Katya Rivas

- I want you to make a powerful campaign over the next two weeks, so that consecration may be a success for earth and a celebration for heaven. I do not want you to postpone anything, make a small daily publication inviting the people to this event. See... Katya Rivas: Consecrations Are a Success for Earth [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00210.htm

PHOTO STORY...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0302/S00207.htm
Are There Any Terrorists George Doesn't Know?

War Clouds Causes Confidence Wobbles

- “The decline in headline business confidence to minus 16 per cent is a rational and entirely predictable response to the uncertain geopolitical environment,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. See... Global uncertainty weighs on business confidence [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00523.htm

Cloak of Silence Descends of GATS

- The Green Party is demanding the Government extend the deadlines on its secretive GATS negotiations, which have the potential to erode fundamental protections for New Zealand services, businesses, land and resources. See... GATS D-Day follows shroud of secrecy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00532.htm

Are Customs Doing Dodgy Car Deals? No Says Govt

- Customs Minister Rick Barker has refuted allegations by Act transport spokesperson Deborah Coddington that the New Zealand Customs Service is selling "unsafe" motor vehicles to "unsuspecting" buyers. See... Customs not selling unsafe imported vehicles [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00533.htm

Did The System Cause Tiger Attack?: Nats

- National's Health spokeswoman Dr Lynda Scott is asking questions on whether the mental health system has failed a Wellington man attacked by a tiger yesterday. See... Serious questions over tiger attack [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00540.htm

Govt Briefed on Taupo Geothermal Woes

- The Government is being kept informed about subsidence occurring in geothermal areas at Taupo, Energy Minister Pete Hodgson said today. See... Govt briefed on Taupo geothermal area subsidence [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00525.htm

Tax Law Changes Good for Maori

- Legislation presented for second reading today would benefit Maori authorities, charities, businesses and people who fell behind with their tax, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen said. See... Bill good for Maori authorities, charities... [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00522.htm

ACT Says CYFS Negligent

- ACT New Zealand Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today accused Child, Youth and Family of failing to keep troubled children and young people safe in their care, after answers to Parliamentary Questions revealed more than 50 young people had absconded ... See... Troubled Children Just Walking Out [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00524.htm

Kiri Get’s te Heuheu Wild!

- The National Party Maori Affairs spokeswoman is questioning Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's 'unfortunate' comments about Maori in an Australian newspaper. See... Diva's comments 'unfortunate' - te Heuheu [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00539.htm

Franks and Roy Frank on Free Speech

- ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks, and ACT Health Spokesman Heather Roy, today urged Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor to stick to his guns in continuing to defend free speech against professionals who think it shouldn't extend to health ... See... Freedom Of Speech Means Just That [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00534.htm

Libs: Franks Not Keen On Prostitutes But…

- “Stephen Franks voted against legalising prostitution earlier this month, but claims that we should accept that people can do what they wish as long as they don’t harm anyone else – what sort of hypocrisy is that?” See... Stephen Franks asked to explain his hypocrisy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00193.htm

Send The Boys Back Home: Winston

- New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters wants the Government to close a school for problem Japanese youths in West Auckland and to deport those connected with it. See... Send Problem Japanese Students Home Says Peters [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00527.htm

1700 Aucklanders Get Lower Rent

- About 1700 Aucklanders have a new landlord from today, and for many the change means there is less rent to pay, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Acting Housing Minister Steve Maharey said today. See... Lower rent for many low income Aucklanders [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00526.htm

This Week’s Beehive Bulletin

- About 1700 Aucklanders have a new landlord from today, and for many, the change means there is less rent to pay, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Acting Housing Minister Steve Maharey announced this week. See... Beehive Bulletin For Week Ending Friday 28 Feb [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00538.htm

Anderton Cites More Regional Growth Stats

- The information is published by the National Bank as part of a quarterly survey of regional trends. See... Regional growth continues [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00537.htm

Farm Damns and Lakes Regulation Angers ACT

- ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today slammed the Auckland Regional Council for allowing bureaucracy to hinder the building of farm dams and lakes, in the face of reports that water harvesting - through the building of dams, ... See... Fishy Beauracracy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00541.htm

Agriculture Pushes Regional Growth

- Any push by New Zealand to reach the top half of the OECD will depend on the contribution of the key player - agriculture, says National's Agriculture spokesman, David Carter. See... Agriculture main player in economic growth [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00535.htm

GG Releases Rare Ducks

- The Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright will take time out from walking the Milford Track next week to release three rare Blue Duck chicks into the wild. See... Governor-General To Release Rare Blue Ducks [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00531.htm

What’s Happened In Select Committees This Week

- There were 18 committee meetings. Seventeen were in the parliamentary complex and one committee is currently meeting in Dunedin. See... Select Committee Business [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00530.htm

Are Community Boards To Be Axed?

- The new Local Government Act is already leading to the demise of community boards, with a number of local authorities indicating that they intend to abolish them, United Future MP Murray Smith said today. See... Community boards heading for the chop: Smith [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00529.htm

TVNZ Hobbled By Govt: Greens

- The Green Party is accusing the Government of financially hobbling TVNZ, with the result that the broadcaster will not be able to fulfil the grand promises of its charter, which comes into effect tomorrow [Saturday.] See... TVNZ trapped by a Catch-22 Charter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00528.htm

Nick Smith Stop Weeping!: Maharey

- Social Services and Employment Minister and Acting Housing Minister Steve Maharey is urging Nelson MP Nick Smith stop crying crocodile tears over housing issues in the city… See... Maharey urges Smith to stop crying crocodile tears [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00521.htm

Journo’s Union Backs Tongan Paper

- New Zealand’s journalists’ union, the EPMU, is supporting journalists on the Taimi O Tonga, which has been banned in Tonga. See... NZ journos back Tongan colleagues [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00194.htm

Mild Greens Cite Peace and Freedom

- According to the latest weather reports, Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 March 2003 should offer perfect conditions for spreading seeds of peace. See... Peace On Drugs Breaks Out In Brussels [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00192.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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