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Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Friday, 25 November 2005, 3:49 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics
TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
A Week Of It: Does Gibbs World Service Have The Answers For TVNZ?
Malta: Peters Refutes Media Reports That He Led Immigration Debate
Govt Recommends Geoffrey Palmer To Be Law Commission President
McCully Stomps On Boffins Rebranding Exercise -
Gloves Come Off in Parliament
Court Frowns on Small-Print Surcharges
KFC Workers To Hold First Stop-Work Meeting 6pm
Auckland Tunnel Options Discussed At Symposium
Tamilflu now only available seasonally
Photo-Essay: NZ Army Launches Battle In Manawatu/South Taranaki
MORE HEADLINES

SCOOP REPORTS:
Scoop Video: Unite Launches SupersizeMyPay, Targets Starbucks -
Scoop Report: New Nat Criticises Sir Kenneth's Appointment At Odds With Party
MORE SCOOP REPORTS

Australian PM Howard visits Islamabad
Largest-ever gathering of former Guantanamo prisoners and prisoners' families: US government must give independent UN experts full access to Guantanamo
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Public Address - Tze Ming on Cunliffe and Much More
Leopold: Miller Wasn't First to Get Plame Leak
Dahr Jamail: White Phosphorous In Fallujah - Revisited
MORE COMMENTARY

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE
Police Will Not Charge Benson-Pope - Was A Prima Facie Case
Traitor's Ancient Deeds Lead To Carnage In NZ
POLITICAL HEADLINES

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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A Week Of It: Does Gibbs World Service Have The Answers For TVNZ?

A Week of It had a chinwag with ACT leader Rodney Hide recently and shot the breeze on the topic of broadcasting. This week an inquiry regarding TVNZ begins in no small part thanks to Mr Hide's urgings. Sadly, Mr Hide's own forays into broadcasting are obscured by the murky mists of time. In the mid 90s Mr Hide acted as an intermediary for Alan Gibbs in running BBC World Service NZ and was even, from time to time, on the radio himself. See... A Week Of It: Media Blasts From The Past [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00319.htm

Malta: Peters Refutes Media Reports That He Led Immigration Debate

- Allegations made in the media to the effect that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters is in some way involved with leading a debate on immigration whilst attending CHOGM this week in Malta, are “totally inaccurate and the direct result of a reporter interviewing his Malta newspaper in his hotel room,” suggested Mr Peters today. See... Peters refutes allegations of immigration debate [1] ALSO:

Pacific, security and development priorities [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00384.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00385.htm

Govt Recommends Geoffrey Palmer To Be Law Commission President

- Minister Responsible for the Law Commission Mark Burton announced today that he had recommended Sir Geoffrey Palmer for appointment as the new President of the Law Commission. "I have recommended the appointment of Sir Geoffrey to the Administrator of the Government, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias," Mark Burton said. See... Burton recommends Sir Geoffrey for appointment [1] ALSO:

National - Labour should consult on appointments [2]

Chen and Palmer - Sir Geoffrey Palmer's Appointment [3]

NZ Law Society - Law Commission [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00373.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00376.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00413.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00202.htm

McCully Stomps On Boffins Rebranding Exercise -

They are touchy, touchy people over at GNS Science – the Crown Research Institute previously called the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd. Asked by the worldwide headquarters most excellent analysts to supply the budgets and rationale for the recent re-branding, they were gracelessly forthcoming. See... www.mccully.co.nz 25 November 2005 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00386.htm

Gloves Come Off in Parliament

- Alastair Thompson reports on question time: Thursday in question time the Labour Party has indicated an intention to fight fire with fire over allegations that David Benson-Pope placed a tennis ball in a pupil's mouth and taped his hands to the desk during his time as a teacher in Dunedin before becoming an MP. In response to questions he first accused National MP Judith Collins of fiddling her Casino Control Authority overseas travel expenses and later accused the tennis ball discipline complainants of being bullies themselves. See... Cullen Goes Nuclear Over Benson-Pope Tennis Ball [1] ALSO:

Police - No Prosecution for Hon David Benson Pope [2]

Govt - Benson-Pope: Minister Welcomes Decision [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00298.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00180.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00343.htm

Court Frowns on Small-Print Surcharges

- Air New Zealand has been found guilty of breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading customers about the real price of its airfares. The Commerce Commission brought the case against Air New Zealand after receiving complaints that customers were unable to fly for the prices advertised by Air New Zealand because extra mandatory charges were being added to the advertised price. See... Air New Zealand adverts misleading: Court [1] ALSO:

NZ First - Air New Zealand Ruling Sets Precedent for Fair Trading [2]

Travel Agents Association of New Zealand - Travel Agents Applaud Decision Against Air NZ [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00203.htm
[2] - Air New Zealand Ruling Sets Precedent for Fair Trading
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00417.htm

KFC Workers To Hold First Stop-Work Meeting 6pm

- As part of Unite Union's SuperSizeMyPay.com [1] Campaign, KFC workers at Balmoral, Auckland, are holding their first-ever stop-work meeting to decide on a strike over lifting the minimum wage to $12 and abolishing youth rates. The meeting is being called by the Unite Workers Union. 6pm today (Friday) - @ KFC Balmoral - cnr Dominion & Balmoral Rds... See... Support KFC workers voting for STRIKE! [2] ALSO: Saturday Sees First Workers Charter Meeting In Wellington [3] - The first campaign meetings to promote the Workers Charter are being held this coming weekend in Wellington and Palmerston North. See... Workers Charter Campaign Meetings Wgtn & P North [4]

[1] - http://www.supersizemypay.com
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00199.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00193.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00193.htm

Auckland Tunnel Options Discussed At Symposium

- Unveiling Transit's updated 10-year Auckland State Highway construction programme last August, the Prime Minister Helen Clark endorsed a tunnel for the Avondale section of the SH20 Western Ring Route as a modern city solution to minimise adverse impacts ... See... Where Is Auckland's Tunnel Vision? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00412.htm

Tamilflu now only available seasonally

- Heightened interest in avian influenza has resulted in an unprecedented increase in demand for Tamiflu worldwide. Roche is therefore taking the step of prioritising its global production capacity of Tamiflu to ensure it is available where it is needed most. That is, for patients experiencing seasonal influenza and, for the fulfilment of government pandemic orders. See... Tamiflu supplies prioritised for flu season, govt [1] ALSO:

Act - No Tamiflu Available Until May 2006

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0511/S00092.htm

Photo-Essay: NZ Army Launches Battle In Manawatu/South Taranaki

- Exercise Silver Warrior runs until 26 November and is designed to test the Army's new motorised battalion in a number of different scenarios. The exercise is being conducted in the Manawatu, Rangitikei and South Taranaki regions, and is based on a fictitious United Nations Mission. See... Images: Exercise Turns Region Into Battleground [1] ALSO:

Minister Meets The Army's Silver Warriors [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00192.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00370.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

Maori will die sooner from Influenza pandemic [1]

Drinkers Advised To Get Into It, Not Out Of It [2]

Telecom withdraws radio spectrum application [3]

Direct Capital acquires 51% of NZ Pharmaceuticals [4]

Australasia's Biggest Wireless Conference Today [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0511/S00087.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0511/S00088.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00410.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00409.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00408.htm

SCOOP REPORTS:

Scoop Video: Unite Launches SupersizeMyPay, Targets Starbucks -

WORLD FIRST For the first time globally, Starbucks got a taste of Union today. Unite launched its SuperSizeMyPay.Com [1] Campaign today with a crowd of about 100 people gathered to send a message to Starbucks and other fast-food and cafe outlets to give their workers a fair deal. Worldwide, this is the first time a Union has picketed Starbucks.Scoop Video: Unite Gives Starbucks a Taste Of Union [2] ALSO: Unite release - Worlds First Starbucks Strike Spreads To 10 Stores [3] EARLIER

Unite - World's First Starbucks Strike, Auckland [4]

CTU - CTU supports "Super Size My Pay" campaign [5]

Greens - Greens support campaign to upsize minimum wage [6]

[1] - http://www.SuperSizeMyPay.Com
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00285.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00182.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00370.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0511/S00387.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00338.htm

Scoop Report: New Nat Criticises Sir Kenneth's Appointment At Odds With Party

- New National MP John Hayes, former foreign service official, has hit out in his maiden speech at costs involved in securing Sir Kenneth Keith's position to the International Court of Justice a position that the National Party's justice spokespeople had fully supported only a week prior. See... National Sends Mixed Messages Over Kenneth Keith [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00290.htm

MORE SCOOP REPORTS:

Marietta Gross - More Water Circulates In Africa & America [1]

Marietta Gross - Ocean Noise: Sea Mammals Particularly Affected [2]

Kevin List - Audio: Scoop Tackles Rodney Hide Regarding TVNZ [3]

Letters To Ed - Scoop Feedback: No Spin [4]

Selwyn Manning - NZ Wins Bid To Host 2011 Rugby World Cup [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0511/S00052.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0511/S00051.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00244.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00237.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00246.htm

Australian PM Howard visits Islamabad

- Discusses aid to Pakistan; visit to Afghanistan; polls; Van Nguyen; Michelle Leslie. Ladies and gentlemen I am of course delighted to be in Pakistan. This is the first time I have visited this country as Prime Minister. I've expressed in the past my admiration for President Musharraf, his stoic role in the fight against terrorism, the personal courage he himself has displayed in the face of a number of assassination attempts and the crucial part he has played in the success in Afghanistan and the wider message that sends in the fight against terrorism is most important. See... PM Howard in Islamabad [1] ALSO:PM Howard meets President Karzai of Afghanistan [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00426.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00427.htm

Scoop Link: Guardian on Gagging of Iraq Leak

- The attorney general last night threatened newspapers with the Official Secrets Act if they revealed the contents of a document allegedly relating to a dispute between Tony Blair and George Bush over the conduct of military operations in Iraq. It is believed to be the first time the Blair government has threatened newspapers in this way. See... Legal gag on Bush-Blair war row [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00296.htm

Largest-ever gathering of former Guantanamo prisoners and prisoners' families: US government must give independent UN experts full access to Guantanamo

- Amnesty International and Reprieve today called on the US government to stop blocking meaningful United Nations access to its Guantanamo detention centre and agree to access to all prisoners. The organizations were responding to the passing of a midnight deadline for the US government to agree to terms for a visit to Guantanamo by five independent experts of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. See... Largest gathering of former Guantanamo prisoners [1] ALSO:

Torture is killing a person without them dying [2]

Torture doesn't stop terror -- torture is terror [3]

Guantanamo -- only the tip of an iceberg of abuse [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00423.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00425.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00424.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00422.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

Exchange of fire along Israel/Lebanon Blue Line [1]

Next round of Darfur peace talks expected to start [2]

Near Total Boycott In Sri Lanka Election [3]

Australia Arms its Customs officers [4]

Multilingualism in the EU: call for action [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00417.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00415.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00408.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00428.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0511/S00420.htm

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SCOOP COLUMNS

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Tze Ming on Cunliffe and Much More

- A class act, our new Minister of Immigration. Some in the English-language communities already refer to him as 'Silent T'; perhaps his new Mandarin name shall be David ɵŒÂliffe. Caught mocking Pansy Wong's accent during Parliamentary Question Time, by asking her to 'wead' a particular document, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe "later said his remark was accidental and did not know he had said it." Um... is this the manslaughter defense? See... Public Address 24/11/05 - Conduct Unbecoming [1] ALSO:

Public Address 22/11/05 - Any Amount Of Erudition [2]

Public Address 23/11/05 - Most Egregious Examples [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00314.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00294.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00291.htm

Leopold: Miller Wasn't First to Get Plame Leak

- Embattled Washington Post editor Bob Woodward provided an important clue that may help shed light on the identity of the person who told him in June 2003 that Valerie Plame Wilson was a CIA agent. In an interview with "Larry King Live" Monday night, Woodward said he realized that he was the first journalist to learn of Plame Wilson's covert CIA status when Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald announced the indictment last month of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff... See... Leopold: Woodward Provides Clues About His Source [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00303.htm

Dahr Jamail: White Phosphorous In Fallujah - Revisited

- Nearly a year after they occurred, a few of the war crimes committed in Fallujah by members of the US military have gained the attention of some major media outlets (excluding, of course, any of the corporate media outlets in the US). See... Dahr Jamail: Fallujah Revisited [1] MEANWHILE ¡ Pentagon Admits To White Phosphorous Misinformation - US used white phosphorus in Iraq: Tuesday, 15 November 2005, 23:57 GMT BBC News - The Pentagon has confirmed that US troops used white phosphorus during last year's offensive in the northern Iraqi city of Falluja. "It was used as an incendiary weapon ... See... Link: White Phosphorous Use As Weapon Confirmed [2] AND ... Pentagon Has Called White Phosphorus a "Chemical Weapon" - An American Department of Defense document, declassified in 1995, refers to white phosphorus a chemical weapon. Washington has maintained that the use of white phosphorus weapons in the battle of Fallujah was not illegal, as it is not a chemical weapon. See... Pentagon Calls White Phosphorus "Chemical Weapon" [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00233.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00238.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00282.htm

MORE COMMENTARY:

Ramzy Baroud: Gaza Border Deal [1]

Sol Salbe: A Dangerous Interim Period [2]

Remi Kanazi: Bordering Autonomy [3]

Narconews - The Pretense Of The Guatemalan Narco-State [4]

Pharma To Republicans - Time To Pay Up Again [5]

William Rivers Pitt: Get Some [6]

Jason Leopold: How Pre-War Iraq Intel Was Cooked [7]

Party-Maoist Alliance: Alarming Political Cocktail [8]

Where It Is A Crime To Be A Nepali [9]

B. Lamichhaney: Nepal¡¯s High Price for Democray [10]

Deep Raj Sanyal: Delhi Talks And Trappings [11]

Kamala Sarup: Children, Nepal and the Year 2006 [12]

Patricia L Johnson: When Enough is Enough [13]

Julie Webb-Pullman: Holidays on the Taxes of Evil [14]

Lebanon's democracy celebrated on Independence Day [15]

Blogwatch: BBC Misinformation and War Crimes [16]

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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

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SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:

23 November 2005 - Questions and Answers [1]

23 November 2005 - Questions And Answers [2]

22 November 2005 - Questions and Answers [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00368.htm [2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00346.htm [3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00331.htm

Police Will Not Charge Benson-Pope - Was A Prima Facie Case - Superintendent Fraser said that while the criminal justice system would not be invoked there was a prima facie case concerning an event where a student's hands were taped to the desk while he had a tennis ball in his mouth and another event involving another student being struck on the face. While there was some conflicting evidence Police concluded there was a prima facie case. See... No Prosecution for Hon David Benson Pope [1] ALSO:

Benson-Pope: Minister Welcomes Decision [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00180.htm [2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0511/S00343.htm

Traitor's Ancient Deeds Lead To Carnage In NZ - This year’s Guy Fawkes festivities bought nearly 2000 call-outs for Police and Fire Service personnel, with Fire Service figures showing it was the worst Guy Fawkes in 10 years. In the 10-day period this year when fireworks were legally for sale (October 27 to November 5) firefighters attended over 700 fireworks-related fires in vegetation, buildings, and cars as well as nuisance fires in rubbish bins, letterboxes and other small spaces. See... Guy Fawkes the worst in 10 years [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00188.htm

POLITICAL HEADLINES:

Govt - Children’s Day to move from October to March [1]

Govt - Burton recommends Sir Geoffrey for appointment [2]

Govt - Mallard: Transforming the New Zealand economy [3]

Govt - Horoimia: Ta Apirana Ngata Memorial Lecture [4]

NZ First - Air NZ Ruling Sets Precedent for Fair Trading [5]

Nats - Debt write-off an exercise in deception [6]

Nats - Cullen admits defeat in move on loans [7]

Nats - Plain English - 25 Nov 2005 [8]

Nats - Kiwis must wait for Tamiflu [9]

Nats - Labour should consult on appointments [10]

Nats - Mapp Report - Why Professor Stavenhagen is wrong [11]

Nats - Leaky home debacle spirals to over $1 billion [12]

ACT - Heather Roy's Diary 25 November 2005 [13]

ACT - No Tamiflu Available Until May 2006 [14]

Govt - Reforms to tackle truancy [15]

Govt - Plains Water given requiring authority status [16]

Govt - Goff: NZ Army Leadership Conference [17]

Govt - Cullen: The Primary Functions of Government [18]

NZ First - Scaremongering Out Of Place [19]

NZ First - Clarity Required On Land Access [20]

Maori Party - Maiden Address: Te Ururoa Flavell [21]

Nats - Minister must speak up on fishing claims [22]

Nats - Chinese storm in a teacup [23]

Nats - Minister must untangle roadblocks [24]

Nats - PCA needs more resources urgently [25]

Nats - National welcomes TVNZ inquiry [26]

Nats - John Carter bounces back [27]

Greens - There's more than one way to save our seas Jim [28]

Greens - Stop targeting Muslims at the border - Locke [29]

Greens - Full list of Green MPs' reallocated policy portfol [30]

Greens - Bradford to head Buy Kiwi-Made program [31]

ENDS

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

Top Scoops Headlines

COMMENT

Peter Dunne: Luxon Gets Out His Butcher's Knife - Briefly

The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives.

Binoy Kampmark: Warring Against Encryption, Australia Is Coming For Your Communications

Another sign of gathering storm clouds against the free sharing of information on technology platforms is the appearance of Australia’s domestic espionage agency, ASIO. Alongside Kershaw at the National Press Club, the agency’s chief, Mike Burgess, is also full of grave words about the dangerous imperium of encrypted chatter.