Top Scoop Stories - 03 January 2008 News Summary

Thursday, 3 January 2008, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - January 03, 2008

LEAD STORY:

GRIM STATISTICS: 2007 Road Toll Rises On Last Year, Says Ministry of Transport

NZ POLITICS:

Transport Safety Minister: Road Toll Rise Worrying
Foreign Affairs: Kenya Situation Alarming - Winston Peters
Official Secrets: What Is Housing New Zealand Trying To Hide?
Punishment? Prisoners Get TVs, Playstations Worth $45,000
Cutting Corners: Helen Clark Downplaying Tax Cuts 'Overstatement'
Future New Zealand: 250K Signatures Signal More Bad News For The Govt
Keeping The Beat: Police New Year Response A Well-Oiled Machine

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Agriculture: Strong Growth In Cereal-Based Food Exports
Investments: New Year Horror Stories From Investors
Motoring: X-Type Jag Features Increased Luxury Spec For 2008

WORLD:

Burma: Monks Continue Anti-Junta Struggle
Africa: Restraint Urged In Kenyan Post-Election Violence
Hunger In 2007: Inspired Help From A Caring World
Burma: Three Months Of Quiet Repression & Arrests
Running On Empty: Bush Promises To "Sprint To The Finish" In 2008
Military Issues: Transfer Of Authority To Hybrid UN/AU Peacekeepers

COMMENT:

Pakistan: Benazir's Martyrdom - A Memorable Sacrifice
2007: Annus Mirabilis & The Smiling Garden Of Eden
Price For Democracy: Bhutto, Pakistan, New Zealand
Military Issues: A Delicate And Dangerous Moment In Pakistan
Michael Collins: Forget The Torture Tapes

LIFESTYLE:

Motor Sport: New Entries Raise Stakes In Toyota Racing Series
Entertainment: Skycity Rings In New Year With Triple The Bang
Entertainment: Hayley Tops 21st Century's Big Classical Sellers

GRIM STATISTICS: 2007 Road Toll Rises On Last Year, Says Ministry of Transport - Four hundred and twenty two people died on New Zealand roads last year. The Ministry of Transport said nearly 4,600 deaths and 132,000 injuries from crashes on our roads over the past 10 years. More than 35,000 people have been killed on the road since New Zealand's first known fatal crash in Christchurch in 1908. The deadliest year on our roads was 1973, when 843 were killed. More >> [1]

COMMENT:

• NZ Police - Canterbury 2007 Road Toll - 55 Dead [2]
• NZ Police - Road Deaths Disappoint [3]

RECENTLY:

• NZ Police - Fatal Crash, Inangahua Junction [4]
• NZ Police - Fatal Vehicle Crash, S. Wairarapa [5]

RELATED:

• Water Safety NZ - Christmas & New Year Holiday Drowning Toll Hits 10 [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00002.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00014.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00005.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00015.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00013.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00027.htm

Transport Safety Minister: Road Toll Rise Worrying - Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven says the rise in the 2007 road toll is a tragic way to end the year on New Zealand roads. ''To finish 2007 with 423 road deaths is nothing short of a tragedy,'' said Mr Duynhoven today. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00015.htm

Foreign Affairs: Kenya Situation Alarming - Winston Peters - Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he was deeply shocked by the killings that have taken place in a number of Kenyan cities and towns following the disputed results from the presidential elections in Kenya. More than 300 people have died in 4 days. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00014.htm

Official Secrets: What Is Housing New Zealand Trying To Hide? - Revelations that a senior management job at Housing New Zealand is so sensitive that details have been blocked from ministerial briefing papers are unbelievable given the number of scandals the troubled department has already been through in the past. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00007.htm

Punishment? Prisoners Get TVs, Playstations Worth $45,000 - The Corrections Department spent more than $45,000 on the latest electronic gear for prisoners, then banned some of it, says National's Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power. "Taxpayers' money shouldn't be used to buy state-of-the-art gear." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00006.htm

Cutting Corners: Helen Clark Downplaying Tax Cuts 'Overstatement' - ''Claiming in a newspaper today that tax cuts will be 'part of the mix, but their importance may have been overstated' indicates she has backed away from meaningful tax cuts because Michael Cullen simply has no desire to implement them. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00005.htm

Future New Zealand: 250K Signatures Signal More Bad News For The Govt - "If the PM thought New Zealanders would forget about her arrogant disregard for democracy when she forced through the Anti Smacking legislation in May she has more bad news on the way", said Larry Baldock, organiser of two Citizens Initiated Referenda. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00008.htm

Keeping The Beat: Police New Year Response A Well-Oiled Machine - Policing at New Year's Eve venues appears to have been like a well-oiled machine, says National Party Police spokesman Chester Borrows, who spent the night with Police on the streets of Mt Maunganui. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00003.htm

Agriculture: Strong Growth In Cereal-Based Food Exports - A new analysis of New Zealand's cereal-based foods and baked-goods sector has shown it to be achieving significant and consistent export growth. Crop & Food Research Business manager Tim Lindley says the cereal sector is moving strongly forward. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0801/S00001.htm

Investments: New Year Horror Stories From Investors - The New Year emails to the EUFA (Exposing Unacceptable Financial Activities) website have been bringing in more horror stories from investors who have been sold a 'financial product' under the 'smoke screen' they were receiving financial advice. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0801/S00003.htm

Motoring: X-Type Jag Features Increased Luxury Spec For 2008 - New standard specification for 2008 includes dynamic stability control, power fold mirrors, rear seat centre head restraint, front seat sliding armrest, and heated 10 way adjustable front seats with driver's memory. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00435.htm

Burma: Monks Continue Anti-Junta Struggle - The All-Burmese Monks Alliance (ABMA) issued a statement yesterday, calling on the people of Burma to support their struggle against the military regime once again. The mass protest movement has so far failed to bring down the military regime, but it has shaken the ground under its feet. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00030.htm

Africa: Restraint Urged In Kenyan Post-Election Violence - Strongly deploring the loss of human lives in Kenya after the announcement of election results, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the security forces there to show utmost restraint and appealed to the population for calm, patience. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00021.htm

Hunger In 2007: Inspired Help From A Caring World - The growing problem of global hunger has inspired new, creative efforts to galvanize more support to feed a hungry planet. In 2007, the Internet helped make the hungry world a smaller place for people wanting to support WFP. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00012.htm

Burma: Three Months Of Quiet Repression & Arrests - The military government has constantly hounded Burma's journalists during the three months that have gone by since 27 September 2007, the day that Japanese video reporter Kenji Nagai was murdered by a soldier in Rangoon, report RSF and Burma Media. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00009.htm

Running On Empty: Bush Promises To "Sprint To The Finish" In 2008 - "I'm going to work hard to the finish," President Bush told White House reporters at an October 17 press conference. "I'm going to sprint to the finish line." Keeping up the momentum from the November 2007 Annapolis Conference will be a top priority. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00005.htm

Military Issues: Transfer Of Authority To Hybrid UN/AU Peacekeepers - We call on the government of Sudan and on all of the rebel factions to observe a complete and immediate ceasefire, to facilitate UNAMID's full and expeditious deployment, and to cooperate fully with UNAMID's efforts to restore peace and security to Darfur. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00024.htm

Pakistan: Benazir's Martyrdom - A Memorable Sacrifice - Terrorists in the name of Islam, the custodians of terrorism had given a warning & acting upon their warning have assassinated Begum Bhutto, who was struggling for the implementation of Democracy in Pakistan. They did it on December 27, 2007. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00017.htm

2007: Annus Mirabilis & The Smiling Garden Of Eden - The quest for nuclear supremacy: While we have been distracted by the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran, the possible failed state of Pakistan, and the push for disarmament by North Korea, our political & economic leaders have been making aggressive moves. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00014.htm

Price For Democracy: Bhutto, Pakistan, New Zealand - Shock, disbelief, dismay, anger, frustration and sadness. But the feeling of concern soon takes over - how safe are our families, what next, will democracy return? Benazir's death does not augur well for democracy. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00013.htm

Military Issues: A Delicate And Dangerous Moment In Pakistan - Observing the rise of fascism in interwar Europe, Antonio Gramsci observed that there were times in which traditional politics were replaced by mass action, turmoil, and violent attempts to impose preferred ideological solutions. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00010.htm

Michael Collins: Forget The Torture Tapes - There's a reflexive tendency to think the worst of the Bush-Cheney administration when scandals like the torture tapes emerge. This tendency is well justified. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00011.htm

Motor Sport: New Entries Raise Stakes In Toyota Racing Series - The Lady Wigram Trophy, round two of the 2008 Toyota Racing Series, caps an action-packed Sunday of motorsport at the 3.44 km Powerbuilt Tools Ruapuna Raceway near Christchurch. The weekend kicks off New Zealand's ''summer of motorsport'': three solid weekends. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00006.htm

Entertainment: Skycity Rings In New Year With Triple The Bang - Non-stop entertainment, with thrilling performances with fluorescent silk dancers and mystical creatures, as well as some body rocking beats in the bars and on the casino's Main Gaming Floor, culminated in a fireworks display. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00005.htm

Entertainment: Hayley Tops 21st Century's Big Classical Sellers - Hayley Westenra ''Pure'' is the best selling classical album of the 21st Century, as featured on the Classic FM Countdown of the top 300 best-selling classical albums since 2000. Here is the 21st Century's Biggest Sellers in classical music. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00004.htm

ENDS

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