TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
Excessive Human Rights Abuses In Afghanistan: Report
Number Of Criminals In Prison About To Climb
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
UN: Israel Restrictions Erode Health Of Palestinian Women
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Comes To Wellington
Dennis Hans Reveals The Secrets Of Bush's Façade Corps
David Miller On The Beginning Of Election Season
Life Expectancy And Ethnicity – Op-Ed
Big News: An Un-Civil War Over Civil Unions
Manuel Valenzuela: Evils Done in our Name
John Chuckman Cartoons: 911
A Poetic Tribute To Edward Said
Daily Mail Investigates The Dr Kelly Suicide
Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Govt Extends Paid Parental Leave Term
Look Out For Franken-Wheat!
Dalziel Leaves Chaos In Her Wake: Nats
Walk The Economic Talk Cullen Says Peters
Eastern Corridor Plan A Dog Say
Anderton Warns Brash To Back-Off Muldoonist-Style Politics
Rich Says Govt Failing Maori Poor
ACT: Too Late For Rural People To Have Say on Health
Govt Mush Back Off Breach Of Privacy Policy: Kedgley

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JAFA = Just Another Flag Afterall

LEAD STORY:
Excessive Human Rights Abuses In Afghanistan: Report

- (New York, March 8, 2004) – U.S. forces operating in Afghanistan have arbitrarily detained civilians, used excessive force during arrests of non-combatants, and mistreated detainees, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. See... Afghanistan: Human Rights Abuses by U.S. Forces [1] ALSO: NZ Sends 50 More SAS To Afghanistan [2] - Locke Warns of Buying Back Into Bush's War - Afghanistan [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00110.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00169.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00173.htm

Number Of Criminals In Prison About To Climb

- Tougher sentencing and parole laws enacted by the government in 2002 will see New Zealand's prison population increase by over 20 percent in the next seven years, Justice Minister Phil Goff said today. See... Tougher laws driving up prison population [1] ALSO: Nats: Softer laws driving down prison projection [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00199.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00204.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00178.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0403/S00064.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0403/S00103.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0403/S00102.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0403/S00100.htm

UN: Israel Restrictions Erode Health Of Palestinian Women

- Calling on Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Authority to provide good basic services for women, seven United Nations institutions today said the health of Palestinian women, especially those who are pregnant, have been negatively affected by restrictions. See... Restrictions Adversely Affect Palestinian Women [1] MORE: UN: Latest Round Of Middle East Violence Deplored [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00121.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00115.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00120.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00117.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00114.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00113.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00111.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Comes To Wellington

- We emerge from Wellington Airport into a southerly scooting up from Lyall Bay. The sky is blue and clear above, but the sharp, chill wind is a shock after Auckland's muckier atmosphere. Wellingtonians have been worn down by their weather this summer, ... See... Public Address 09/03/04 - Very Wellington [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00120.htm

Dennis Hans Reveals The Secrets Of Bush's Façade Corps

- The most successful department in the Bush administration is, without question, the Façade Corps. This little-known operation is headquartered in the White House basement, but its personnel are scattered throughout the bureaucracies. See... Dennis Hans: Powell, Star Of Bush's Facade Corps [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00119.htm

David Miller On The Beginning Of Election Season

- The Prime Minister’s speech to an audience in Christchurch last Thursday is the clearest signal yet that the 2005 election campaign is now underway. See... David Miller: Sensible Electioneering [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00118.htm

Life Expectancy And Ethnicity – Op-Ed

- Need and ethnicity are already co-habiting in our health funding system. 'Socioeconomic deprivation' and 'ethnicity' feature as two of the five main factors that dictate need and how health dollars are currently spent. See... Health System Funding Already 'Needs Based' [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00117.htm

Big News: An Un-Civil War Over Civil Unions

- Well. It's all on. Prime Minister Helen Clark is at war with the Maxim Institute over the Institute's views on relationship recognition. The Maxim Institute is starting its campaign against the Government's proposed relationship equivalence legislation. ... See... Big News: Bring It On! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00116.htm

Manuel Valenzuela: Evils Done in our Name

- Let us for a few moments put aside our lavish lifestyles of fortuitous endowment and providence that have made us blind to the realities of billions of our fellow humans. See... Manuel Valenzuela: Of The Evil Empire [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00115.htm

John Chuckman Cartoons: 911

- Two cartoons from John Chuckman reflecting on Bush's actions on September 11th 2001 and subsequently. See... Chuckman Cartoons: Bush & 9/11 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00114.htm

A Poetic Tribute To Edward Said

- We, the observers - Grow numb as we watch - Flaming hatreds erupt - As cold eyes take pleasure - In the Annihilator's claim - To a victor's trophy - In settlement lands See... Scoop Poem: Palestinian Watchtower [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00121.htm

Daily Mail Investigates The Dr Kelly Suicide

- "On the surface, it seems utterly far-fetched. But experts, including top doctors, have written to the coroner expressing doubts over Dr Kelly's 'suicide'. And indeed, there ARE several worrying inconsistencies in this tragic and mysterious saga." See... UK's Daily Mail: Was Dr. Kelly Murdered? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00113.htm

Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

- In spite of everything, the enormous weight and the terrible fatigue, together with the sweat of Blood, I had been hit in such a way that when I went to look for My Apostles, I felt tremendously exhausted. See... Katya Rivas: Jesus Looks for His Disciples [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00112.htm

Govt Extends Paid Parental Leave Term

- Prime Minister Helen Clark and Women's Affairs Minister Ruth Dyson announced today that the eligibility and duration of paid parental leave is to be extended. See... Government Extends Paid Parental Leave Scheme [1] ALSO: Parental Leave - Questions and Answers [2] REACTION: Anderton: Paid Parental Leave Positive for Business & Family [3] - Greens applaud longer paid parental leave [4] - Self-employed deserve paid parental leave too [5] - National: Women's action plan rich rhetoric thin detail [6] - Dunne: Time For The Nats To Get Positive [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00170.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00174.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00188.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00182.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00180.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00179.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00181.htm

Look Out For Franken-Wheat!

- Green MPs Jeanette Fitzsimons and Sue Kedgley are warning that New Zealand has become part of what GE-Free activists are calling "the world's latest and biggest battle over GE food". See... GE Wheat Is The Biggest Battle Yet [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00194.htm

Dalziel Leaves Chaos In Her Wake: Nats

- The Labour Government's new immigration policy is in chaos and is preventing many highly skilled, desirable migrants from settling in New Zealand, says Dr Wayne Mapp, National's Immigration Spokesman. ee... Labour's immigration policy in chaos [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00193.htm

Walk The Economic Talk Cullen Says Peters

- New Zealand First has called on Finance Minister Michael Cullen to stop talking and take action to drop the value of the high Kiwi dollar because it is strangling the economy. See... Action, Not Talk To Drop Dollar - Peters [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00190.htm

Eastern Corridor Plan A Dog Say

Greens - Auckland Green MP Keith Locke described today's Eastern Transport Corridor announcement as a debacle for proponents of the plan. See... Eastern Highway will never fly [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00203.htm

Anderton Warns Brash To Back-Off Muldoonist-Style Politics

- Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton says any repeat of National's divisive Muldoon-era risks New Zealand taking it's eye off the urgent need to maintain economic development. See... Anderton warns against return to Muldoonism [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00202.htm

Rich Says Govt Failing Maori Poor

- New figures reveal Government policies are failing those in need, allowing the 'development and growth of a Maori underclass,' says National Party Social Services spokeswoman Katherine Rich. See... Figures show Labour is failing Maori [1] ALSO: NZ First - Struggling Maori Need Opportunities - Not Slogans [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00200.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00198.htm

ACT: Too Late For Rural People To Have Say on Health

- ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today said it was too late for rural community leaders to fight for a say on health issues, as Labour has already rushed through what can only be described as cursory consultation of the STV At-Large voting . See... Rural Health Plight Entirely Predictable [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00196.htm

Govt Mush Back Off Breach Of Privacy Policy: Kedgley

- Green MP, Sue Kedgley is calling on the Government to drop a controversial change to a health code that would allow researchers to store and study body parts or substances removed from patients, without their informed consent. See... Patients' rights come first, says Kedgley [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00195.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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

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