Top Scoop Stories - 26 February 2008 News Summary

Tuesday, 26 February 2008, 2:01 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 26 February 2008

LEAD STORY:

Elections & Analysis: Labour Jitters N Poster-Boy Politics

NZ POLITICS:

Defence: Extension of commitment to Timor Leste
UN & Defence: NZ Cautious On Military Contributions Abroad
Justice: Domestic Violence Review Welcome
Report: Major Failings At Wanganui Hospital
Aging: Protecting Older People From Abuse
Justice System: Lack Of Communication Contributed To Tragedy
Transport: No Major Airline Security Changes

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Tax: AIL Shares Drop On Govt Tax Changes
Water Quality: Clean Stream Accord Halfway Assessment
Confidence: More Businesses Doing the Business
Advertising: Spending On 'The Bits In-between' Increases
Buying Stuff: Consumer Generated Media Becoming Monstrous

WORLD:

Macedonia: Reaching Out To Win Latin American Hearts
Press Freedom: Junta Cracks Down On Burma's Independent Media
Ban Ki-moon: We 'Cannot Wait' To End Violence Against Women
One Way Ticket: Iranian Gay Refugee Risks Deportation From The UK

COMMENT:

Scott Galindez: Ohio Back In The Spotlight
Jason Leopold: Five Years On, Questions Remain About Rove's CIA Leak Email to Hadley
Sherwood Ross: McCain Can't Tell Self-Defense Apart From War of Aggression
Siddhi B. Ranjitkar: Celebrating Democracy Day In Nepal

LIFESTYLE:

Book Reviews: Chasing The Flame - Unexplored Side Of UN
Circus: Performers Aim To Disprove Newton's Theories
Charity: Celebrities Want Money To Go To The Dogs
Arts Fest: Alienesque Sculptures Cause Security Worries At Parliament

Elections & Analysis: Labour Jitters N Poster-Boy Politics - State Of It: Selwyn Manning writes that the latest in a series of polls has shown a trend where Labour is in serious trouble. Can Helen Clark beat off National leader John Key in what is shaping up as a land-slide loss for Labour? And what of leadership coups? More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Alastair Thompson - Multimedia: PM's Post Cabinet Presser 25 February [2]
• (KiwiFM Audio): Wallace Chapman & Selwyn Manning on Labour's Slide [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00281.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00280.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00289.htm

Defence: Extension of commitment to Timor Leste - Defence Minister Phil Goff today welcomed the decision by the United Nations Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) for a further year. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00424.htm

UN & Defence: NZ Cautious On Military Contributions Abroad - Andreas von Warburg reports from the UN: As NZ's troop commitment to Afghanistan is discussed in the Beehive this week, the country is cautious about increasing its military presence abroad - while Australia moves to bolster its military visibility ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00292.htm

Justice: Domestic Violence Review Welcome - A review of our domestic violence law is welcome, but it must ensure perpetrators of violence seek help to be truly effective, says Youthline in response to the Ministry of Justice review of the Domestic Violence Act 1995. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00310.htm

Report: Major Failings At Wanganui Hospital - Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson says that when provincial hospitals face workforce shortages, appointment, supervision and quality control processes must be rigorous. This follows Mr Paterson's inquiry into the failed sterilisation of eight women treated at Wanganui Hospital in 2005 and 2006 by Dr Roman Hasil, a doctor from Slovakia. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Dr Hasil Errors must not be repeated - Cunliffe [2]
• National - Ryall warns of repeat Whanganui DHB scandal [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00098.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00415.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00422.htm

Aging: Protecting Older People From Abuse - A Families Commission study suggests that older people are less likely to be abused or neglected if they understand their rights, have a strong sense of their self worth and positive relationships with their families. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Age Concern - Action on elder abuse and neglect needed - study [2]
• United Future - Turner: Advocacy for vulnerable elderly needed [3]
• Age Concern - Action on elder abuse and neglect needed - study [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00307.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00308.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00423.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00308.htm

Justice System: Lack Of Communication Contributed To Tragedy - It's clear that Police did a good job in eventually stopping Graeme Burton, but the Independent Police Conduct Authority makes it clear that serious communication problems between Police and Corrections contributed greatly to the tragedy, say National Party ... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Police Minister welcomes IPCA report [2]
• NZ First - Burton Should Have Been Back Behind Bars Sooner [3]
• Sensible Sentencing Trust - Karl Kuchenbecker Should Still Be Alive [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00405.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00407.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00402.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00305.htm

Transport: No Major Airline Security Changes - The Government will require immediate strengthening of security training requirements for airline and airport staff at regional airports, and the Civil Aviation Authority will expedite a feasibility study on whether flight-deck barriers can be fitted to smaller aircraft in New Zealand, Transport Minister Annette King announced today. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Aviation Security Cabinet Paper (PDF) [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00409.htm
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0802/AviationSecurityCabinetPaper.pdf

Tax: AIL Shares Drop On Govt Tax Changes - Cabinet today agreed to amend the law on certain types of stapled securities to bring the tax rules up-to-date with developments in financial products and to prevent a serious loss to the revenue base from the use of those instruments... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00411.htm

Water Quality: Clean Stream Accord Halfway Assessment - Current management of nutrient inputs and outputs at farm level is simply not enough to reverse decline in water quality, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said today. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Measuring water takes required for improved mgmt [2]
• NZ Govt - Protecting water everyone's responsibility [3]
• NZ Govt - Progress made, more progress needed [4]
• Fonterra - Clean Streams Accord halfway - positive change [5]
• Greens - Show you care Fonterra - don't pick up the milk [6]
• Greater Wellington Regional Council - Garden sprinkler and irrigation systems banned [7]
• Hawkes Bay Regional Council - Irrigation Ban on Ngaruroro River [8]
• NZ Govt - Government supports Waiwhetu Stream clean-up [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00417.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00420.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00421.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00418.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00404.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00425.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0802/S00266.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0802/S00252.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00413.htm

Confidence: More Businesses Doing the Business - The number of businesses increased 2 percent in February 2007 compared with February 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. In February 2007, there were about 463,000 businesses in New Zealand. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00408.htm

Advertising: Spending On 'The Bits In-between' Increases - The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today reported that advertising revenue across all main media was 2.335 billion dollars for the 12 months ended 31 December 2007. This is an increase of 111 million dollars. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00406.htm

Buying Stuff: Consumer Generated Media Becoming Monstrous - A first of its kind study released today by Nielsen Online has revealed that consumer generated media (CGM) is affecting a major shift in overall consumer behaviour. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0802/S00054.htm

Macedonia: Reaching Out To Win Latin American Hearts - On the eve of the explosive consequences of Kosovo's independence, an artificial "dispute," created by Greece seventeen years ago over the name and identity of the Republic of Macedonia, threatens to further destabilize the Balkans, with possibly uncontrolled consequences for regional peace. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00363.htm

Press Freedom: Junta Cracks Down On Burma's Independent Media - The junta's crackdown on Burma's independent media intensified last week with the arrest of two Rangoon-based journalists. Thet Zin and Sein Win Maung of the Myanmar Weekly were arrested during a raid by police and Military Intelligence. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• UN - Envoy Discusses Myanmar With Singaporean Leaders [2]
• UN - ASEAN Plays Key Role In Helping Myanmar - UN Envoy [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00366.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00357.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00315.htm

Ban Ki-moon: We 'Cannot Wait' To End Violence Against Women - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today kicked off a multi-year global campaign bringing together the United Nations, governments and civil society to try to end violence against women, calling it an issue that ''cannot wait.'' More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00355.htm

One Way Ticket: Iranian Gay Refugee Risks Deportation From The UK - Medhi is an Iranian homosexual who in November 2005 left Teheran to go and study in London. He was forced to apply for asylum to the British Home Office after the discovery, by the Iranian authorities of his homosexual relationship with another boy, who had already been sentenced to death and executed in April 2006. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00369.htm

Scott Galindez: Ohio Back In The Spotlight - In 2004, Kenneth Blackwell, long lines and accusations of problems with voting machines dominated the headlines. Ohio and Florida were the battleground states everyone pointed to as the bellwethers in the race between Kerry and Bush. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00286.htm

Jason Leopold: Five Years On, Questions Remain About Rove's CIA Leak Email to Hadley - It's been nearly five years since former White House political adviser Karl Rove sent an incriminating email to then Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley indicating that Rove had a candid conversation with a Time magazine reporter. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00282.htm

Sherwood Ross: McCain Can't Tell Self-Defense Apart From War of Aggression - By supporting President Bush's aggression in Iraq, McCain is already accomplice to a needless slaughter that made Iraq the most dangerous hell on the planet. Now McCain says he is ready to continue this occupation for a century. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00287.htm

Siddhi B. Ranjitkar: Celebrating Democracy Day In Nepal - The government has announced that it is going to celebrate the democracy day starting on February 18 and ending on February 20, and decided to request the Nepalis in general to illuminate their homes with light on the evenings of these three days. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00283.htm

Book Reviews: Chasing The Flame - Unexplored Side Of UN - Andreas von Warburg writes: that the UN is often criticized for being a complex and inefficient, inadequate and unfocused. Here however is a book by Pulitzer Price winner Samantha Power that explores an often unexplored side of the UN. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00296.htm

Circus: Performers Aim To Disprove Newton's Theories - Gravity and Other Myths, an outdoor circus show inspired by the stars, begins on Wednesday 5 March for a 10-night season as part of the Meridian Energy Summer City festival. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Scoop Images - Scoop Images: Gravity and Other Myths (2007) [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00283.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00035.htm

Charity: Celebrities Want Money To Go To The Dogs - Dozens of famous Kiwi faces are lending their support to the SPCA in a Charity Auction to raise funds for a new puppy shelter in Otago. The Otago SPCA needs $74,000 to build the new shelter. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00276.htm

Arts Fest: Alienesque Sculptures Cause Security Worries At Parliament - "A photo documentation of the sculptures in iconic nz landscape and places during our road-trip became a playful extension of our work. Finally arriving in Wellington we chose the Beehive for a suitable background to present the essence of the city... and then this is what happened..." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• TV3 Video - Shapeshifter: Showcase of NZ sculpture [2]
• Out-Link - Arts Fest: Shapeshifter 2008 [3]
• Scoop Coverage - Arts Festival 2008 [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00264.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/5278.html
[3] - http://www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz/visual-arts/shapeshifter-2008
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/festival08.html

ENDS

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