Top Scoop Stories - 07 January 2008 News Summary

Monday, 7 January 2008, 2:05 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - January 07, 2008

LEAD STORY:

USA: Obama Democrat Winner In First Primaries

NZ POLITICS:

Independence: More Political Interference Claims
ACC: 'No Fault' Compensation Goes To The Non-Dogs

WORLD:

Thar She Blows! Australian Action On Japanese 'Scientific Whaling'
United Nations: Ban Ki-moon Tells Al Jazeera UN Stands For Entire World
Kenya: Traumatised Children Sleeping Rough

COMMENT:

Ramzy Baroud: The Iraq Charade
David Swanson: Remembering The Separation Of Powers
Meditations: Humankind At The Edge
Peace Movement: Organizations Plan Week of Actions for 5th Anniversary of Occupation of Iraq

LIFESTYLE:

Music: Big Day Out Lineup Complete

USA: Obama Democrat Winner In First Primaries - Barack Obama's victory speech after winning the Iowa caucus: You know, they said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. More >> [1]

EARLIER:

• Sam Smith - The Most Important Primary Decision In Forty Years [2]
• Rosalea Barker - An Occasional Note On The 2008 Campaigns [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00032.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00301.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00020.htm

Independence: More Political Interference Claims - National MP Gerry Brownlee says senior Labour Ministers face fresh claims of trying to influence the outcome of a supposedly independent decision-making process. "David Parker's been labelled 'naïve' and 'disrespectful'. He has also been accused of acting inappropriately, in an affidavit by former Electricity Commission chair, Roy Hemmingway which has been published on the Internet." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Greens - Greens welcome report, condemn interference [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00030.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00028.htm

ACC: 'No Fault' Compensation Goes To The Non-Dogs - National Party ACC spokeswoman Pansy Wong believes fair-minded New Zealanders will resent having to pay for cosmetic surgery for a burglar whose ear was bitten by a police dog during an arrest. Mrs Wong is referring to the case of a serial burglar who is demanding cosmetic surgery while he is in Auckland Central Remand Prison. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• SOLO - Sense of Life Objectivists - Memo to Crim-Scum--Nanny State Luvs Ya! [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00025.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00034.htm

Thar She Blows! Australian Action On Japanese 'Scientific Whaling' - While the Government has welcomed the decision by Japan not to hunt humpback whales this season, the Government remains opposed to all whaling and will continue to urge Japan to end the slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean. Australia will act to collect evidence of Japan's whaling activities by monitoring the Japanese whaling fleet using both an aircraft and a surface vessel. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00074.htm

United Nations: Ban Ki-moon Tells Al Jazeera UN Stands For Entire World - Expressing sadness that the United Nations and its staff have become targets of terrorist attacks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underscored that the world body stands for all the nations, people and faiths of the world. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00066.htm

Kenya: Traumatised Children Sleeping Rough - Save the Children is extremely concerned by the impact of the recent violence in Kenya on children. Thousands of children have been forced to leave the safety of their homes because of fighting and many are now sleeping rough. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00063.htm

Ramzy Baroud: The Iraq Charade - In recent months, we have been inundated by media reports bringing good news from Iraq, with countless testimonials to the great improvement in security enjoyed by the country in general and the Baghdad area in particular. This progress is attributed solely to the judicious 'surge' of US military presence, and the astute tactics enacted by occupation forces in a place that once personified despair and violence. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00031.htm

David Swanson: Remembering The Separation Of Powers - The Constitution gives the president extremely limited powers. He (or she) is to execute the laws created by Congress. He serves as commander in chief of the military. He can pardon crimes (but not impeachments). More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00029.htm

Meditations: Humankind At The Edge - It is noteworthy that Jeffers built his famous house on top of an Indian midden, which is the term archeologists use for ancient garbage heaps. To a large extent, he saw humankind that way, which is perhaps why, shortly after he suddenly became famous, he just as quickly fell into obscurity. Jeffers was not a cynic however. A cynic is a person who stands apart from the humanity he derides, feeling, in his derision, superior to that from which he is inseparable. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00027.htm

Peace Movement: Organizations Plan Week of Actions for 5th Anniversary of Occupation of Iraq - Numerous peace and justice organizations, including student groups taking advantage of Spring Break, are making plans for a week of actions from March 12th to 19th to mark the end of the fifth year of U.S. occupation in Iraq. Events will culminate in a national day of actions on March 19th, the fifth anniversary of the invasion. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00028.htm

Music: Big Day Out Lineup Complete- The Aesthetics Take the Last Big Day Out Prize Dunedin band The Aesthetics won the bnet competition to be the last band announced to perform at this year's Big Day Out. Over the past month, bnet audiences have been voting in a race that has rivaled the US election primaries for intensity and vitriol, if not promotional spending. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00013.htm

ENDS

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