TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY
Scoop Report: Hubbard’s Fortitude And Leadership Tested By Right-Smear-Attacks
Kiwi Defence’s Iraq Contingent Back In NZ
Sudan May Face UN Sanctions Over Reluctance To Secure Darfur
Iraq’s PM Says WWIII Is Being Fought On His Turf
The Total Abhorrentness Of U.S. DU Weapons
Rosalea Eyes A Fraudulent Poll
From Honiara John Roughan Considers A Far Off Vote
How You Too Can Be Swindled By The Neo-Cons
Oh To Return To Mexico
How To Make An Art-Form Of Pointlessness

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Have Kiwi Troops Been Exposed to Depleted Uranium in Iraq?
More Rights For Workers Could Be Bad News For Employers
Could the Freemarket Be The Solution To Crowded Prisons?
Phone Rings Red Hot As Families Look For Their Slice Of 'Budget Pie'
Unemployment continues To Decrease
No Time For Patience When Dealing With Patients
Too Many Voting Options Spoil Local Elections Broth
Look Out Captain Nemo!

LEAD STORY

Scoop Report: Hubbard’s Fortitude And Leadership Tested By Right-Smear-Attacks

- Top-polling Auckland mayoralty candidate Dick Hubbard has endured attacks from right-wingers determined to spoil his chances of ousting the incumbent, John Banks. But Hubbard tells Scoop’s Yasmine Ryan he will overcome the sleaze thrown at him... See... Hubbard denies being the Prime Minister’s ‘Toy-Boy [1] John Banks Campaign Manager Fesses Up & Resigns [2] Why won’t Dick front up? [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00260.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0409/S00266.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0409/S00264.htm

NEW ZEALAND LEAD STORY

Kiwi Defence’s Iraq Contingent Back In NZ

- The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence are welcoming New Zealand’s Light Engineer Group home from Iraq tonight. See... New Zealand personnel home from Iraq [1] Don’t put more Kiwi troops at risk [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00532.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00529.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

Sudan May Face UN Sanctions Over Reluctance To Secure Darfur

- The United Nations Security Council Says It's Prepared To Consider Sanctions To Obtain Sudan's Compliance On Darfur. See... Security Council To Consider Sanctions Over Sudan [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0409/S00312.htm

STORY OF THE WEEK:

Police Apologise Over Zaoui/FIS/Terror Link Mistake

- Police have apologised to the Prime Minister that they went too far in making statements that the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) had ties to Al Qaeda. See… Police concur they went too far with terror link [1] PM Clarifies Zaoui/FIS/Terror Confusion [2] STORY OF THE WEEK: Ahmed Zaoui (1) [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0409/S00208.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00218.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00231.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:

Iraq’s PM Says WWIII Is Being Fought On His Turf

- Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Thinks That The Occupation Of His Country Is Defending New Zealand. See... Iraq's Interim Says War In Iraq Is Defending NZ! [1] Savant Considers Liberal Internationalism [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00263.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00262.htm

The Total Abhorrentness Of U.S. DU Weapons

- According to the U.S. government and affiliated agencies, Depleted Uranium (DU) is a safe, cheap and effective material. The illnesses of our soldiers and any civilians, after a thorough investigation by the government regarding government ... See... Scoop Link: Uranium: Deja DU [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00261.htm

Rosalea Eyes A Fraudulent Poll

- **Bush's secret revealed** Honestly, how daft can these television pundits be? All week they've been ruminating on the mysterious sudden surge in Bush's popularity among women, when it's perfectly obvious that there is no mystery. Leading up to ... See... Stateside With Rosalea: Getting Down To The Wire [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00264.htm

From Honiara John Roughan Considers A Far Off Vote

- In 16 months or less, parliament members face their people at the poll. Do they stand half a chance at returning to the Big House on the hill for another 4 years or are they looking at certain defeat? The last two national election results—1997… See... February 2006 . . . Voters have their say! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00265.htm

How You Too Can Be Swindled By The Neo-Cons

- Have you conformed yet? Have you learned how to accept everything at face value the mainstream media tells you? No? Well, haven't you heard -- it's the popular, patriotic thing to do. Welcome to the new gilded age of neo-America where independent thought ... See... Welcome to the "New" Republic of Neo-America [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00268.htm

Oh To Return To Mexico

- Imagine my surprise , having returned from a research and exploratory sojourn through the mesmerizing beauty of the lands, coasts and peoples of Mexico where the spirit re-energized, mind meditated and appreciation for humanity returned, all of which ... See... Of Disconnect and Fantasyland [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00267.htm

How To Make An Art-Form Of Pointlessness

- This year my favourites, the ones that glow in the dark, were all blue. But I don’t think this meant anything. It suddenly occurred to me that this is the wonderful thing about the World of Wearable Arts show – it’s all so superbly pointless… See... It’s Pointless – That’s the Whole Point [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0409/S00266.htm

- The Green Party is delighted by the safe return of the New Zealand army contingent from Iraq but is calling on the Government not to put more Kiwi lives at risk just to shore-up relations with the White House. See... Don’t put more Kiwi troops at risk [1] New Zealand personnel home from Iraq [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00529.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00532.htm

More Rights For Workers Could Be Bad News For Employers

- The proposed bargaining fee in the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill is another step in the direction of compulsory unionism by stealth, says National's Industrial Relations spokesman, Wayne Mapp - See... Employment Bill = compulsory unionism [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00542.htm

Could the Freemarket Be The Solution To Crowded Prisons?

- United Future law & order spokesman Marc Alexander says the current debacle over housing convicts in overcrowded prisons shows how urgent the need is to introduce competition into the Corrections Service. See... Alexander: prison union monopoly crushes options [1] Prison crisis: what now, Minister? [2] When Will Swain Regain Control Of Prisons? [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00540.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00533.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00539.htm

Phone Rings Red Hot As Families Look For Their Slice Of 'Budget Pie'

- Work and Income’s freephone line has been well used since a publicity campaign began in August to encourage people to find out what they are entitled to from the government’s $1.1 billion Working for Families package. - See... Working for Families freephone gets 42,000 calls [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00543.htm

Unemployment continues To Decrease

- “Work and Income’s Pacific Wave strategy has seen the number of Pacific people on Unemployment Benefit in Auckland reduced by a third,” said Taito Phillip Field, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment today. See... Pacific Unemployment down a third in Auckland [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00536.htm

No Time For Patience When Dealing With Patients

- Desperate times call for desperate measures, but difficulties with the rising number of heart patients on Auckland Hospital's waiting lists are the result of bad planning and the unacceptable Government ideology that private hospitals must only be used. See... Transtasman SOS Need Not Have Been [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00534.htm

Too Many Voting Options Spoil Local Elections Broth

- National will simplify the way local elections are conducted in the wake of serious errors in this year’s elections and confusion over the multiple types of voting systems, says National's Local Government spokesman Nick Smith. See... Stuff-ups in local elections no surprise [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00531.htm

Look Out Captain Nemo!

- The Greens are very disappointed that the Government has opted for more discussion and for ‘voluntary’ measures on deep sea bottom trawling, while hundreds of irreplaceable, rare marine species are being wiped out. See... Ministers opt for a chat while sea bed is trashed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0409/S00530.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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