Top Scoop Stories - 07 December 2007 News Summary

Friday, 7 December 2007, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - December 07, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Scoop News: Secret Zaoui Witness Arrested in Spain, Flees To Germany

NZ POLITICS:

Transport: Duke Boys Style Driving Not Wanted In NZ
Domestic Violence: Lives At Risk In Homes Over Christmas
Charity: Force Behind Hospital NZer Of The Year
Reserve Bank: Monetary Policy Statement December 6 2007
Electoral Bill: John Boscawen Responds

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Biosecurity: Didymo Found In Rangitata Diversion Race

WORLD:

Bali Conference: Negotiators In Talks On Core Climate Change Issues
Future Employment: More Jobs Could Be Climate Change's Silver Lining
Women's Affairs: "Honour Killings" Persist In Kurdish North, Iraq
Pot Calls Kettle Black: Nigeria Bans Siemens Over Bribery Scandal
Bright Idea: Ireland Plans To Ban Incandescent Lightbulbs

COMMENT:

Martin LeFevre: Karl Rove's Six Degrees of Obama Separation

LIFESTYLE:

Aeronautical Sport: Record Numbers Take To Sky
Drag: A Very Queer Beauty Pageant
Kiwi Doco: Exploring Venezuela's Revolution

Scoop News: Secret Zaoui Witness Arrested in Spain, Flees To Germany - UPDATED 8am: Scoop's Selwyn Manning reports that Mohammed Samraoui, once Algeria's top spook for north Europe and a secret witness in the Ahmed Zaoui hearings was recently arrested in Spain awaiting deportation papers from Algiers. Col. Samraoui fled this week back to Germany, fearing for his life. Col. Samraoui was a secret witness who in July/August 2007 testified at the closed and classified SIS V. Ahmed Zaoui 'Open Hearings' in Auckland, New Zealand, before the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Paul Neazor. More >> [1]

ZAOUI CASE:

• Syed Akbar Kamal - Weaving web of secrecy is 'playing with fire' [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00102.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00075.htm

Transport: Duke Boys Style Driving Not Wanted In NZ - Most New Zealanders agree that speed and alcohol are major causes of road crashes and support police efforts to enforce road safety laws, according to the latest Public Attitudes to Road Safety survey released by the Ministry of Transport. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00162.htm

Domestic Violence: Lives At Risk In Homes Over Christmas - Women's Refuge is urging women at risk of domestic violence over the holidays to take every possible step to protect themselves and their children, and for families and friends to also keep them safe. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00082.htm

Charity: Force Behind Hospital NZer Of The Year - Associate Professor Philip Bagshaw has been named New Zealander of the Year by North and South Magazine. Mr Bagshaw is a member of the academic staff at the University of Otago, Christchurch, and a General Surgeon at Christchurch Hospital. His award comes after the successful completion of the first Charity Hospital to be built in New Zealand in recent times. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Association of University Staff - AUS member New Zealander of the Year [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0712/S00026.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0712/S00023.htm

Reserve Bank: Monetary Policy Statement December 6 2007 - R2.co.nz Video on Demand of the Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard's press conference this morning held to release the quarterly Monetary Policy Statement. Interest rates have been held at 8.25% but the Governor delivered some fairly hawkish remarks indicating there is unlikely to be any interest rate relief for some time... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• National Party - RBNZ signals higher interest rates for longer [2]
• J P Morgan RBNZ punchy on inflation outlook [3]
• Green Party - Mortgages, rents and exports bear cost of oil [4]
• Reserve Bank - OCR unchanged at 8.25 percent [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00095.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00146.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00097.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00128.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00086.htm

Electoral Bill: John Boscawen Responds - Over the last week I have run an advertising campaign in seven major daily newspapers. I have sought to highlight three major areas where the government, assisted by the Greens, NZ First and UnitedFuture continues to ignore and defy our Human Rights Commission. The government continues to ignore the issues I am raising. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• National - Greens have no confidence in new election law [2]
• Maori Party - Flavell: Electoral Finance Bill: Committee Stage [3]
• Greens - Sub 60 decision-making from the Nats on EFB [4]
• NZ Govt - National shows true colours on campaign finance [5]
• Republican Movement - Time For A Head Of State Who Can Check Parliament [6]
• Maxim Institute - Education, Electoral Finance, Children: Maxim [7]
• Scoop Satire - Lyndon Hood: Electoral Spam Act [8]
• Scoop Coverage - Election Finance Bill [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00076.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00082.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00127.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00111.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0712/S00101.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00072.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00084.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00052.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00319.htm

Biosecurity: Didymo Found In Rangitata Diversion Race - The invasive algae didymo has today been confirmed in the Rangitata Diversion Race, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand announced today. The algae was discovered by local Fish and Game representatives when carrying out routine work. A sample was taken and sent for testing, and later confirmed positive by microscopic identification. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Fish and Game New Zealand - Didymo found in Rangitata Diversion Race [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0712/S00014.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0712/S00060.htm

Bali Climate Change Conference: Negotiators In Talks On Core Climate Change Issues At UN Conference -- A Special negotiating groups created at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali are discussing the elements of a future roadmap for tackling the problem, technology transfer, deforestation and practical action on adaptation strategies for countries coping with adverse effects. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Climate Change Research Centre - 2007 Bali Climate Declaration By Scientists [2]
• University of NSW - Bali Declaration Urges Tough Greenhouse Gas Limits [3]
• VOA News - Scientists Urge Fast Action On Global Warming [4]
• Wikinews - Scientists Take Strong Stance On Cutting Emmisions [5]
• WWF - Climate Change Speeds Up Amazon's Destruction [6]
• United Nations - World's Poor Need Action On Climate Change - UN [7]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00395.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00381.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00385.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00389.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00380.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00362.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00284.htm

Future Employment: More Jobs Could Be Climate Change's Silver Lining - Despite the detrimental effects brought on by climate change, new industries to combat global warming could spur employment, the head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00431.htm

Women's Affairs: "Honour Killings" Persist In Kurdish North, Iraq - At least 27 Iraqi Kurdish women have been murdered for having illicit affairs in so-called ''honour killings'' in Iraq's northern semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan over the past four months. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00384.htm

Pot Calling Kettle Black: Nigeria Bans Siemens Over Bribery Scandal - Nigeria has canceled a supply contract with telecommunications company Siemens and suspended dealings with the company, pending an investigation into allegations it gave more than $14 million in bribes to Nigerian officials. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00391.htm

Bright Idea: Ireland Plans To Ban Incandescent Lightbulbs - The Irish Government, announced today what will be in effect the EU's first ban on energy-wasting incandescent lightbulbs. This simple but historic step comes as governments meet in Bali to discuss next steps on tackling the global climate emergency. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00420.htm

Martin LeFevre: Karl Rove's Six Degrees of Obama Separation - Karl Rove has taken to advising Barack Obama. What do you make of that? Of course the Machiavellian Prince's counsel was not sought, but that just makes the whole thing that much more interesting. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00107.htm

Aeronautical Sport: Record Numbers Take To Sky - For the first time in gliding grand prix history 18 gliders will race head-to-head, during the six-day FAI World GP Gliding Championship that starts on 19 December in Omarama, NZ. More >>

Drag: A Very Queer Beauty Pageant - Auckland was ablaze with lip-gloss, hairspray and very, very tall head gear when Queen of the Whole Universe took to the ASB stage for a very queer beauty pageant. More >>

Kiwi Doco: Exploring Venezuela's Revolution - Except for beauty queens and oil, Venezuela has never been on the international stage. Now Venezuela is at the center of international controversy. More >>

ENDS

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