Top Scoop Stories - 24 January 2008 News Summary

Thursday, 24 January 2008, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 24 January 2008

LEAD STORY:

Politics: Mike Moore Fights For Constitutional Reform

NZ POLITICS:

Rotters: Move To Monitor Dodgy Kids Welcomed
Oil: Greens Want Govt To Tackle Slippery Issue
Environment: Nick Smith Questions Beehive Inhabitants Sustainability
Budget 2008: Cullen Positive About NZ

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Environment: Make A Splash For World Wetlands Day
Farming: There Is Some Depression In Rural NZ
Supercars: Ultimate Ferrari Auction Coming Up In Italy
WTO: How D'Ye Like Them Apples?

WORLD:

Melanesia News: Solomon Fence-Mending Trip Ill-Concieved: Sogavare
Asia-Pac News: Further UN Support Crucial In Timor-Leste
UN News: UN Sec-Gen Tribute To Fallen Colleagues In Algiers
UN News: Gaza Situation 'Extremely Fragile - UN
UN News: Challenge To Eradicate Violence Against Women - UN
US News: US State Dept Press Briefing

COMMENT:

World News: Wexler Meets Conyers, Wants Impeachment Hearings
Oil: Want To Prevent A Depression? Impeach Dick Cheney
Scoop Economy: "Lame Duck" Citizens And The Global Economy
Elections: On Running Mates & Other Election Matters

LIFESTYLE:

Call for Entries: Royal Easter Show Art Awards 08
Celebration: Free Bus To Big Gay Out Where PM, Key and Banks Will Be Chillin'
Glamour: T-Shirt Designs To Help Rock Breast Cancer
Sport: Sportmen Versus Cancer
Murals: Porirua Last Stop For Tricksy Painter Before Global Paint-Off

Politics: Mike Moore Fights For Constitutional Reform - Former PM Mike Moore writes..."I'm obliged to the media for its coverage of the complexities of how we discuss New Zealand's constitutional arrangements. Unfortunately, some in the media have wrongly reported this is an attempt to impose a republic on NZ. I will try to answer some legitimate questions that have been raised. ... I am in discussions with several politicians who can see over the horizon. It's true that I'm not the best person to promote this process, alas, too often authors, not books, are reviewed. The process needs a better champion. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00182.htm

Rotters: Move To Monitor Dodgy Kids Welcomed - New Zealand First social services spokesperson Barbara Stewart has welcomed today's announcement by the Government that it will institute early monitoring programmes to identify and address challenging behaviour in children aged three to seven. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00166.htm

Oil: Greens Want Govt To Tackle Slippery Issue - The Green party is calling on the Government to help the Reserve Bank reduce inflationary pressures in the New Zealand economy by rapidly implementing measures to deal with one of the key drivers of inflation - rising oil prices. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00165.htm

Environment: Nick Smith Questions Beehive Inhabitants Sustainability - "Sustainability' is viewed by the Beehive as the key to a 4th term in government. The Prime Minister used the phrase ad nauseum - 42 times in her annual speech to Parliament last year. In this speech I wish to put under the microscope," said National's Nick Smith in an attack on the Government's environmental policies. More>> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00164.htm

Budget 2008: Cullen Positive About NZ - "The Budget I am currently working on - including the personal tax cut package I will announce - will be a Budget for these times. It will be a Budget that will not exacerbate inflationary pressures,"Said NZ Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen in a recent speech. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Surplus policy pays dividends in uncertain times [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00163.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00162.htm

Environment: Make A Splash For World Wetlands Day - A category of natural habitat once considered a waste of good land now has its own international treaty and annual observance day, which will be marked in Taranaki on Sunday, 3 February. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0801/S00162.htm

Farming: There Is Some Depression In Rural NZ - The country's farmers have experienced their first decline in confidence in 12 months, according to the latest Rabobank/Nielsen Rural Confidence Survey. The survey - taken across New Zealand last month - showed the number of farmers expecting the rural economy to improve had dropped. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0801/S00208.htm

Supercars: Ultimate Ferrari Auction Coming Up In Italy - RM Auctions and Ferrari will be holding the ultimate supercar sale in 2008 when an extraordinary collection of cars and memorabilia come under the hammer on 18 May 2008 at Maranello, the home of Ferrari. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0801/S00199.htm

WTO: How D'Ye Like Them Apples? - New Zealand First welcomes intervention from the World Trade Organisation to investigate Australia's refusal to lift its 80 year ban on imports of New Zealand apples. "We support Kiwi growers' endeavours to break into the Australian apple market," said New Zealand First agriculture spokesperson, Doug Woolerton. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00156.htm

Melanesia News: Solomon Fence-Mending Trip Ill-Concieved: Sogavare - Leader of the Opposition Group in Parliament, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare has described Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua's so-called 'fence-mending' trips to Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand as ill-conceived and hasty. (Scoop image: Former Solomon Is. PM, Manasseh Sogavare).More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Solomon Islands Govt - DPM Welcomes Appointment Of Acting Attorney Gen [2]
• NZ Govt - Solomon Islands PM to visit New Zealand [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00230.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00232.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00160.htm

Asia-Pac News: Further UN Support Crucial In Timor-Leste - Despite an improvement in the overall security situation throughout Timor-Leste, the country the United Nations helped shepherd to freedom in 2002 continues to face enormous challenges that will require long-term support, Secretary-General ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00241.htm

UN News: UN Sec-Gen Tribute To Fallen Colleagues In Algiers - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today honoured the 17 United Nations staff members who lost their lives in last month's terrorist attack in Algeria, telling a memorial ceremony in Geneva that their deaths were a "savage loss." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00242.htm

UN News: Gaza Situation 'Extremely Fragile - UN - The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is extremely fragile, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council today as he strongly urged Israel to allow the "regular and unimpeded" delivery of fuel and other basic necessities ... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Association for Civil Rights in Israel - Darkness in Gaza Wont Bring Light to Sderot Crisis [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00228.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00236.htm

UN News: Challenge To Eradicate Violence Against Women - UN - The United Nations Foundation (UNF) announced today that it will donate $1 dollar for each of the first 100,000 signatures to an online petition aimed at eliminating violence against women. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00229.htm

US News: US State Dept Press Briefing - Daily Press Briefing with Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman. Issues discussed: Canada, Egypt, Greece/Turkey, Iraq, Serbia. also, CRS Report/US-Greek Bilateral Relations More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00240.htm

World News: Wexler Meets Conyers, Wants Impeachment Hearings - I interviewed Congressman Robert Wexler today (listen here: http://www.thepeoplespeakradio.net ), and he said that he had attended a meeting earlier today that included Congressman John Conyers and addressed the topics of contempt and impeachment. There was wide ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00204.htm

Oil: Want To Prevent A Depression? Impeach Dick Cheney - As we all know, Nancy Pelosi's "Capitulation Congress" will do absolutely everything it can to avoid a battle with Bush over his utter contempt for the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and even Congress itself. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00203.htm

Scoop Economy: "Lame Duck" Citizens And The Global Economy - In regards to our 'global economy', one is better off reading Dostoevsky's The Gambler and saying to himself, "at the present moment I must repair to the roulette-table," than listening to George Bush deluding himself about the fact that ''while there is ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00198.htm

Elections: On Running Mates & Other Election Matters - As we get deeper into primary season, here are a number of issues -- including even more disquieting election anomalies from New Hampshire -- that are worth considering. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0801/S00194.htm

Call for Entries: Royal Easter Show Art Awards 08 - Calling all artists! You have until 8 February to get your entries in for this year's Royal Easter Show Art Awards. NZ's largest art competition and show, the awards are open to amateur and professional artists nationwide, with thousands of dollars in prize money to be won. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00205.htm

Celebration: Free Bus To Big Gay Out Where PM, Key and Banks Will Be Chillin' - A free bus will be operating on Pt Chevalier Rd to ferry passengers to and from the Eighth Annual Big Gay Out fair day at Coyle Park on Sunday February 10. Prime Minister Helen Clark, Opposition Leader John Key, and Mayor of Auckland John Banks have confirmed their attendance. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00198.htm

Glamour: T-Shirt Designs To Help Rock Breast Cancer - Glassons stores are swinging open their doors today revealing the much anticipated 2008 Breast Cancer Research Trust T-shirt collection. Customers clamouring for this year's high-fashion 2008 range can choose from eight stunning designs. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0801/S00045.htm

Sport: Sportmen Versus Cancer - The partnership will see Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, as well as Mathew Sinclair and Lou Vincent, use a PINK grip during both Twenty20 matches against England on 5 and 7 March 2008 and for every boundary these cricketers hit GRAY-NICOLLS will donate $200.00 to The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF). More >> [1]

ALSO:

• MYJOBSPACE.CO.NZ - Dan Carter Shows His Support for Fanuary [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00183.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00174.htm

Murals: Porirua Last Stop For Tricksy Painter Before Global Paint-Off - Porirua's Festival of the Elements on Waitangi Day will be the last stop for one of New Zealand's foremost trompe l'oeil (trick of the eye) muralists, Marc Spijkerbosch, before he heads to Australia in March to compete in a global mural paint-0ff. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0801/S00182.htm

ENDS

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