Top Scoop Stories - 26 July 2007 News Summary

Thursday, 26 July 2007, 1:59 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - July 26, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Scoop News: Sludge Report #178: Let The Squealing Begin

NZ POLITICS:

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER: [1] [2]
Legislation: Greens Back Youth Rates Bill Despite Tinkering
Legislation News: BDM Bill Hampers Efforts To Reunite Families
Nappy News: Nappy War Gets Dirty
Free Speech: Hearing On Publication Of Mock Report
Espionage: SIS Meets With Chinese Defector

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Internet: Kiwis Make Very Useful Firefox Tool
Agriculture: Fonterra Lifts Final Payout
Economy: Record High Dollar is Having a Negative Effect
Didymo: Check, Clean, Dry Best Control (But They're Working On It)

WORLD:

Peacebuilding News: Shooting Incident In Afghanistan -- ADF
UN News: UN And Timor-Leste Appeal For Additional Funds
Middle East News: U.S. States Cost Of Supporting Palestinian People
Asia-Pac News: Indonesian Nationalist Criminals Active in West Papua

COMMENT:

Michael Collins: First One's Free... Then You Pay
Gordon Campbell: The Aftermath In Europe
Jason Leopold: Cheney Suppressed Evidence in Energy Crisis
Russia and US: Square Off Over Energy Reserves
Bush's War Policy: When Time Heals Nothing -

LIFESTYLE:

Community Spirit: Guide Dog Services Benefit From West Ak Generosity
Scoop News: A Roman Holiday With Auck Philharmonia Orchestra
Arts: Leading Indian Dance Company In Wellington
Maori: Ko Tçnei Te Wiki O Te Reo Mâori
Theatre: Welly's San Fran Gets Some Chicago Sexual Perversity

Scoop News: Sludge Report #178: Let The Squealing Begin - Video + Text Report: Official Cash Rate Hiked by (yet another!) 25 Basis Points Would include full audio of today's RBNZ Governor's press conference if there was one. But doesn't because he is saying nothing today. Around 8.16 am this morning the sound system in the Reserve Bank's media room malfunctioned. A roaring noise from outside on the road could be heard and a Radio New Zealand wit expressed the view that it must be the bank's money dragon roaring. By then we were all locked in with the knowledge that Dr Bollard has raised the Official Cash interest Rate by a further quarter of a percent to 8.25%. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Reserve Bank - Alan Bollard raises OCR to 8.25 percent [2]
• NZ First - Cash Rate Rise Highlights RBA Deficiencies [3]
• United Future - United Future regrets OCR increase [4]
• Greens - Governor confirms role of oil prices in rate rises [5]
• ACT - Labour's Chickens Come Home To Roost [6]
• J P Morgan - OCR hikes official cash rate to record high [7]
• Retirement Commission - Home owners can soften blow of interest rates [8]
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - RB Raises OCR - "Consequences Are Unacceptable" [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00359.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00486.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00427.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00432.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00436.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00441.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00320.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00316.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00498.htm

Legislation: Greens Back Youth Rates Bill Despite Tinkering - "I'm upset some young workers would still have to face extremely unfair and low youth rates. Two hundred hours at the youth pay rate, as suggested by the select committee, might not sound long to some older people but for young and part-time workers including those still at school it could mean up to nine months on low pay," Green Party Industrial Relations spokesperson and sponsor of the Bill, Sue Bradford says. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Youth rates recommendation strikes a balance [2]
• New Zealand Council of Trade Unions - CTU: Parl Should Keep Options Open on Youth Rates [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00403.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00407.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00306.htm

Legislation News: BDM Bill Hampers Efforts To Reunite Families - The Births, Deaths and Marriages Bill would seriously hamper The Salvation Army's work in reuniting long-lost families if passed in its current form. "The Bill effectively places a roadblock in our attempts to reunite families who have been out of touch for whatever reason but who now want to get back together," the Salvation Army said. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• United Future - UF in joint submission to select committee [2]
• National - National's view on 'births bill' infectious [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00308.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00417.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00422.htm

Nappy News: Nappy War Gets Dirty - Green MP Nandor Tanczos is reminding parents and local governments that the advantages of cloth nappies still far outweigh the disadvantages. "Some disposable nappy producers have been reigniting the debate off the back of an outdated British study," Green Party Spokesperson on Waste Nandor Tanczos says. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00412.htm

Free Speech: Hearing On Publication Of Mock Report - A member of the Save Happy Valley Coalition will be arguing the right to use parody as a means of criticising corporate behaviour in court on Wednesday. The activist is being sued by state-owned coal miner Solid Energy for publishing a mock report on the company's environmental performance. The interim hearing will be heard in the Christchurch High Court at 10am on Wednesday 25th July. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Save Happy Valley - Freedom of Speech preserved [2]
• Solid Energy NZ - Trademark rights preserved [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00292.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00321.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00501.htm

Espionage: SIS Meets With Chinese Defector - On Friday 20th July, the former Chinese diplomat Yonglin Chen met with officials from the New Zealand Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) to discuss Chen's allegations of a New Zealand kidnapping by the Chinese government. On Thursday 19th July, at Yonglin Chen's request, Amnesty International contacted the SIS to facilitate a meeting between the SIS and Chen. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• (95FM Audio): Selwyn Manning on SIS interview of former Chinese Diplomat [2]
• Scoop Report - Street Theatre, MP Street At Falun Gong Protest [3]
• Scoop Report - Dissident Slams NZ Govt's Relationship With China [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00269.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00353.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00269.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00256.htm

Internet: Kiwis Make Very Useful Firefox Tool - Interclue Ltd has invented a new web preview tool that allows people to find what they want on the web faster and more efficiently than ever before... By showing quick text snippets of linked pages, such as Google search results, Interclue saves users having to download annoying images and adverts, or irrelevant large documents before determining if the link is useful. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Otago Museum - Virtual City for Kids Founded in Cyberspace [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0707/S00053.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0707/S00083.htm

Agriculture: Fonterra Lifts Final Payout - Fonterra Co-operative has announced a final payout for the year ended May 31, 2007 of $4.46 per kilogram of milk solids (kg/MS). The result is an 11 cent improvement on the last payout forecast announced in May... Fonterra's chairman, Mr Henry van der Heyden said, "The final payout result was positive given the high exchange rate and the fact that commodity prices did not surge until the final quarter of the year. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00475.htm

Economy: Record High Dollar is Having a Negative Effect - Unsurprisingly, as the New Zealand dollar breaks through US81 cents, the exchange rate is the number one issue of concern to businesses, according to initial analysis of a Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce survey that has been running today. "The dollar's appreciation is having a negative affect on the export sector", said Chamber CEO Charles Finny. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• J P Morgan - RBNZ Preview: Rate Hike Followed by More Rhetoric [2]
• Export New Zealand - Exporters face record high for dollar [3]
• Small Business Expo Ltd - Help for exporters offered by SBE speakers [4]
• Canterbury Manufacturers Association - A Bridge too far... [5]
• CMC Markets - NZ Traders Flocking to Foreign Exchange [6]
• NZ First - "How High Must It Go?" Asks Winston Peters [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00468.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00473.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00461.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00460.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00451.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00450.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00390.htm

Didymo: Check, Clean, Dry Best Control (But They're Working On It) - "Two-and-a-half years of coordinated research conducted by science providers, under contract to MAFBNZ, has provided a body of scientifically sound information regarding the detection, distribution, impacts, containment and control/eradication of didymo. We now know much more about didymo than when it was first discovered in Southland in 2004." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0707/S00051.htm

Peacebuilding News: Shooting Incident In Afghanistan -- ADF - Australian Defence Force soldiers in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, were involved in a shooting incident yesterday 24 July 2007 at approximately 1.15 pm. A patrol from the Reconstruction Task Force fired at a vehicle when the driver sped towards them after being directed to stop. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00351.htm

UN News: UN And Timor-Leste Appeal For Additional Funds - The United Nations and the Government of Timor-Leste have appealed for almost $18 million in additional funds to address the ongoing humanitarian needs of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Southeast Asian nation for the rest of this year. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00345.htm

Middle East News: U.S. States Cost Of Supporting Palestinian People - As President Bush has said, the United States is committed to financial, diplomatic, and political support to help lay the foundations for a successful Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and today's announcement is part of an infusion of American support. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00343.htm

Asia-Pac News: Indonesian Nationalist Criminals Active in West Papua - Last month International & Indonesian human rights groups called for the removal of Col. Siagian from West Papua. Col. Siagian who commands the 172 Military District based in Jayapura has been indicted for Crimes Against Humanity in East Timor were he has never faced prosecution. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0707/S00342.htm

Michael Collins: First One's Free... Then You Pay - Where did all these electronic voting machines come from anyway? They produce nothing but controversy. You can't see where your vote goes. You can't watch the votes being counted. Even if you could, it's all done by computer. Have you ever watched a computer do anything? Our voting machines come from a bipartisan bill produced by the Congress with strong White House support: the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It was going to solve the problems of Florida 2000... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00336.htm

Gordon Campbell: The Aftermath In Europe - To the critics of Ahmed Zaoui, his convictions in Europe are a knock-down argument. The man has been convicted in Belgium and France - and that's the end of it. The fact that the Refugee Status Appeals Authority analysed the dubious methods by which the convictions were gained, and the weight that should be given to the convictions - as they were compelled to do when assessing whether Zaoui... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00333.htm

Jason Leopold: Cheney Suppressed Evidence in Energy Crisis - In-depth investigation shows how Vice President Dick Cheney pressured federal energy regulators to conceal evidence of widespread market manipulation by energy companies during the California electricity crisis in 2001. In March 2001, while California's two largest utilities were teetering on the brink of bankruptcy... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00326.htm

Russia and US: Square Off Over Energy Reserves - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush spent most of their time at the "lobster summit" at Kennebunkport, Maine, discussing how to prevent the growing tensions between their two countries from getting out of hand. The media and international affairs experts have been portraying missile defense in Europe and the final status of Kosovo as the two most contentious issues between Russia and the United States, with mutual recriminations over "democracy standards... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00304.htm

Bush's War Policy: When Time Heals Nothing - - The news of recent weeks emanating from Washington and Baghdad point to one clear, if not final, conclusion: The Bush administration's adventures in Iraq have been a complete failure. What the media have eagerly dubbed as the Republican Revolt is now reinforced by two of the most distinguished Republican senators: John Warner of Virginia and Richard Lugar of Indiana. Before the Democrats' takeover of the two positions in Congress, Warner was the chairman of the Armed... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00303.htm

Community Spirit: Guide Dog Services Benefit From West Ak Generosity - Generous patrons at West Auckland's newest hospitality venue, The Hangar in Henderson's Central Park Drive, dipped deeply into their pockets at the venue's opening function recently - and donated $1063 for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's Guide Dog Services. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0707/S00116.htm

Scoop News: A Roman Holiday With Auck Philharmonia Orchestra - Audiences can escape Auckland's winter chill with a musical journey to Rome in July when the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra presents Rome, the Eternal City. It includes excerpts from Wagner's Rienzi and Puccini's Tosca featuring stars of the Metropolitan Opera, Simon O'Neill (tenor) and Erika Sunnegardh (soprano). More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0707/S00260.htm

Arts: Leading Indian Dance Company In Wellington - Beautiful motifs of traditional Indian dance collide with experiments in rhythm, design and original music, flowing together to form STEM Dance Kampani's world famous signature style. STEM (Space Time Energy Movem
ent) began in 1995, to explore and create new expressions in dance. Today, it has emerged as one of India's leading contemporary Indian dance companies More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0707/S00243.htm

Maori: Ko Tçnei Te Wiki O Te Reo Mâori - "My thoughts are with all our early Maori Language Pioneers today" said Te Ururoa Flavell in marking Te Wiki o te Reo Maori. "Thirty five years ago, on 14 September 1972, we recall a petition which bore witness to the mandate of some 40,000 signatures to call for Maori language being offered in schools." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Horomia: Health of the Mâori Language Survey [2]
• NZ Govt - Survey shows more Mâori are speaking te reo [3]
• NZ Govt - Mâori student achievement improving [4]
• Maori Party - Truths of Taranaki a Gift for their Descendants [5]
• Maori Party - Labour's Ethnic Cleansing Policy for Local Govt [6]
• Environment Bay of Plenty - It's cool to korero [7]
• Public Health Association - Racism in Health Will Continue If Treaty Removed [8]
• Wintec - Mâori Language Week at Wintec [9]
• Out-Link - Kôrero Mâori: www.korero.maori.nz [10]
• Out-Link - Hau Kâinga - Nô Wikipedia Mâori [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00379.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00378.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00386.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00363.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00364.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00352.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0707/S00240.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0707/S00080.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0707/S00075.htm
[10] - http://www.korero.maori.nz/
[11] - http://mi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hau_K%C4%81inga

Theatre: Welly's San Fran Gets Some Chicago Sexual Perversity - Sexual Perversity in Chicago is a wicked comedy that examines the lives of two men and two women thrust into the harsh and lubricious world of dating in 1970s Chicago. This production of Sexual Perversity In Chicago has been tailor-made to integrate seamlessly with the architecture of the San Francisco Bath House. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0707/S00235.htm

ENDS

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