TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Scoop Exclusive: NGOs Say Barkan In North Korea
Greenpeace NZ Reports Japan Lost First Vote At Whaling Commission
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
General Assembly Postpones Israel Wall Resolution
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
Stateside: Ralph Nader’s San Francisco Convention

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News Is There!
Estimations: Giving Bad Advice To Soldiers
Sonia Nettnin: Memory Clothing
People Who Believe There Is No Palestine
Between The Lines: Justice Against The Wall
Bernard Weiner: Responsibility Without Accountablility

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Public Service Super-Scheme Proves Popular
Govt Must Take Tough Stance On Climate Change
Barker Launches Multi-Language Tenant Guide
Govt Details Heritage Site Sale Requirements
Dunne Tells Grey Power GST On Rates A Rip-Off
Hitchhikers Guide To Community Problems
Looters Deserve Harsher Penalties Than Thieves Says United
Hospice and Palliative Care To Be Reviewed
ACT's The Letter IS Posted

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00196.htm
Israel's Gunships Attack Refugee Camps In Gaza

LEAD STORY:
Scoop Exclusive: NGOs Say Barkan In North Korea

- Zev Barkan the suspected Israeli Mossad agent on the run from New Zealand Police has been sighted in North Korea, according to an Asian-based NGO closely linked to New Zealand intelligence networks. See... NGOs Claim Israeli Agent Barkan In North Korea [1] FOR MORE: See... STORY OF THE WEEK

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00141.htm

Greenpeace NZ Reports Japan Lost First Vote At Whaling Commission

- Japan has lost its first vote at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Italy, despite buying off countries to support it, Greenpeace said this morning. See... IWC first vote – secrecy rejected [1] MORE: Japan's Opening Statement At Whaling Commission [2] - Buying a return to whaling [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0407/S00210.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0407/S00207.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0407/S00206.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0407/S00194.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0407/S00162.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00320.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0407/S00211.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00323.htm

General Assembly Postpones Israel Wall Resolution

- The United Nations General Assembly today delayed until Tuesday a vote on a draft resolution introduced by Arab countries that seeks to end Israel's construction of a separation barrier in and around the West Bank after the barrier was declared illegal . See... UN West Bank Barrier Resolution Vote Delayed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00193.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00186.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00195.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00192.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00191.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0407/S00190.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Stateside: Ralph Nader’s San Francisco Convention

- What a difference four years makes. In 2000, I went to a couple of Nader rallies, and they were big affairs, held in large venues, with people like Patti Smith supporting him. See... Nader-Camejo Kickoff Campaign Rally, San Francisco [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00149.htm

Hard News Is There!

- I finally got around to downloading and watching watching Fahrenheit 9/11 over the weekend. I had planned to take up the offer of a ticket for tonight's New Zealand cinematic premiere, but I can't go... See... Public Address 20/07/04 - Glass Houses [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00145.htm

Estimations: Giving Bad Advice To Soldiers

- Last Thursday July 15, Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff, faced up to both Dr Lockwood Smith of National and Keith Locke of the Greens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) Estimates hearing of evidence. See... Estimations: Who Encouraged Horse To Go To Iraq? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00144.htm

Sonia Nettnin: Memory Clothing

- Memory clothes created by South African women are on display at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Betty Rymer Gallery. See... Amazwi Abesifazane: Voices of Women [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00148.htm

People Who Believe There Is No Palestine

- Early one morning about a month ago I was awakened from a sound sleep by the phone ringing. Quite groggy, I listened to the voice of a stranger on the other end who identified herself and then insisted that I take down her address and phone number. See... Spatial Deception Used to Brainwash Israelis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00150.htm

Between The Lines: Justice Against The Wall

- 2 Decisions Find Israel's Security Wall Violates Rights of Palestinians Interview with John Quigley, professor of law at Ohio State University conducted by Melinda Tuhus See... 2 Decisions Find Israel's Wall Violates Rights [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00147.htm

Bernard Weiner: Responsibility Without Accountablility

- Like most folks, I hate getting caught out and having to admit my errors. But, after observing the current political and legal scene, I've figured out how in the future to avoid paying a penalty for any misdeeds I may commit. See... George & Martha & The Art of Slip-Sliding [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0407/S00146.htm

Public Service Super-Scheme Proves Popular

- More than 44 per cent of eligible people in government ministries and departments have chosen to join the new government subsidised State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme, State Services Minister Trevor Mallard said today. See... New government savings scheme popular [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00321.htm

Govt Must Take Tough Stance On Climate Change

- The Green Party said today that the Government must take a stronger line to climate change factors and unsustainable land use to mitigate the effects of the catastrophic flooding and extreme weather events that will continue to plague New Zealand in the ... See... Flood solutions slip-sliding away [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00320.htm

Barker Launches Multi-Language Tenant Guide

- Samoan and Tongan language versions of the popular tenant guide What to do when you’re renting' were launched by Acting Housing Minister Rick Barker today. See... Samoan and Tongan housing advice leaflets launched [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00333.htm

Govt Details Heritage Site Sale Requirements

- Overseas buyers wanting to buy sites of special heritage or environmental value will be subjected to a tougher screening and compliance regime under changes announced by Finance Minister Michael Cullen today. See... Tougher protections for sensitive sites [1] ALSO: - NZ First - New Zealand On Sale To Highest Bidder [2] - Greens - Greens to petition against land sales [3] - ACT - Backward Greens Must Move Forward [4] - United Future - Better access protection for land sales welcomed [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00328.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00332.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00325.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00331.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00330.htm

Dunne Tells Grey Power GST On Rates A Rip-Off

- United Future leader Peter Dunne today told a Hawke's Bay Grey Power audience that he recognised the particular unfairness of pensioners and others on limited incomes having to pay GST on their rates bills - "a tax on a tax". See... GST on rates is a rip-off [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00329.htm

Hitchhikers Guide To Community Problems

- A practical guide to help government services and community groups attack and solve intractable community problems through a team approach is now available, State Services Minister Trevor Mallard said today. See... Practical guide to attacking problems released [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00326.htm

Looters Deserve Harsher Penalties Than Thieves Says United

- Looters who prey on the victims of emergencies should get tougher sentences than "garden variety" thieves, United Future's Marc Alexander said today. See... Alexander: Tougher sentences for looters [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00324.htm

Hospice and Palliative Care To Be Reviewed

- A working party, consisting of Ministry of Health, Hospice New Zealand and District Health Board New Zealand representatives, has been set up to discuss concerns Hospice New Zealand has raised with Health Minister Annette King about hospice and palliative . See... Hospice and palliative care working party set up [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00323.htm

ACT's The Letter IS Posted

- LABOUR’S CHANCE NZ’s economic performance is truly outstanding. Commodity prices are up 26% on last year; a rise that has compensated farmers and manufacturers for the high dollar. Merchandise exports for May were $3.3 billion… See... The Letter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0407/S00319.htm

© 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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