Top Scoop Stories - 04 March 2008 News Summary

Tuesday, 4 March 2008, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 04 March 2008

LEAD STORY:

Scoop Multimedia: Prime Minister's Post Cabinet Presser 3 March 2007

NZ POLITICS:

Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Taxation: Govt To Close Petroleum Mining Tax Loophole
Eco-Warriorism: Hard-Hitting ETS Report For Rainbow Warrior Tour
Justice: Legal Aid Crisis Ahead?
Marae Digipoll: Maori Party Leading In All Maori Seats

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Philatology: Wild Weather Focus of New Stamps
Technology: Air Force Gets More Bang For Its Buck
Travel: Auckland To Be Graced With Very Large Plane

WORLD:

Burma: United Nations Envoy Ibrahim Gambari Departs For Myanmar
Horn Of Africa: Despite Hindrances, UN Completes Regrouping Of Blue Helmets In Eritrea
Out There: Dangerously Beautiful Death-star Could Threaten Earth
Human Rights: Statement by Felipe Pérez Roque, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba

COMMENT:

Michael Carmichael: Establishment Of A Mafia-State
Lawrence Velvel: Mental Attributes Of A President
Jim Miles: Canada, NATO, And Nuclear Terror
Clinton Campaign: "Obama Must Win All States"

LIFESTYLE:

Grooovin': 60s Revivalists Rark Up North Shore
Something For Nothing! Shortland Street Catch Up for Free
Games: Vote To Put Auckland On The Board

Scoop Multimedia: Prime Minister's Post Cabinet Presser 3 March 2007 - Video+Audio+Images of NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark's post Cabinet press conference for Parliamentary press gallery journalists held this afternoon. The cabinet readout was followed by Q&A on recent political polls, health, monetary policy, housing affordability and the release of SIS files on the 1951 waterfront lockout. More >> [1]

ALSO:
• (95bFM Audio): Mikey & PM Helen Clark on the Big Political Issues [2]
• (KiwiFM Audio): Wallace & Helen Clark on Teacher Standards + HBDHB [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00030.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00024.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00022.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

• Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 4 March 2008 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00034.htm

Taxation: Govt To Close Petroleum Mining Tax Loophole - The government will close a legislative loophole to prevent New Zealand missing out on significant tax revenue from the burgeoning petroleum mining industry, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00029.htm

Eco-Warriorism: Hard-Hitting ETS Report For Rainbow Warrior Tour - Greenpeace has used a hard-hitting report into the Government's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to launch a six-week, nation-wide ship tour aboard the iconic Rainbow Warrior. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00035.htm

Justice: Legal Aid Crisis Ahead? - The current legal aid situation in New Zealand is headed for the same crisis as those in the UK and elsewhere, with a growing number of legal aid candidates, combined with unattractive payments and heavy overheads. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• LawFuel - The Legal Aid Conundrum [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00030.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0803/S00026.htm

Marae Digipoll: Maori Party Leading In All Maori Seats - Dr Pita Sharples is excited that the Marae Digipoll announced today indicates all seven Maori electorate seats will go to the Maori Party in Election 2008. "This is a huge vote of confidence for us" said Dr Sharples. "The Digipoll shows a complete swing to the Maori Party - a result which consolidates the very positive trend in our direction over the last three digipolls". More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Labour - Marae Digipoll a "dodgy poll" says Jones [2]
• Labour - Labour Progress will be sold out by Maori Party [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00010.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00027.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00026.htm

Philatology: Wild Weather Focus of New Stamps - New Zealanders often say they experience four seasons in one day and the latest range of stamps from New Zealand Post acknowledges these wild weather patterns. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00046.htm

Technology: Air Force Gets More Bang For Its Buck - Beca Applied Technologies has signed a five year contract with the Royal New Zealand Air Force to maintain software on its six P-3K2 Orion aircraft. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00045.htm

AIAL: Govt To Protect "Strategic Assets" - A new regulation under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 was introduced by Order in Council today. The regulation will bolster the factors Ministers may take into account when considering overseas investment applications that affect a very narrow range of strategically important assets. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Key's stance on foreign asset control dissapoints [2]
• NZ First - Asset Protection A Step In The Right Direction [3]
• Greens - Greens welcome Cullen borrowing ideas on airport [4]
• Auckland International Airport - Auckland Airport announcement (re: Cullen statement) [5]
• CPP Investment Board - Overseas Investment Act announcement [6]
• Auckland International Airport - Auckland Airport update on CPPIB partial takeover at 4 Mar [7]
• Auckland International Airport - CPPIB partial takeover update at 29 Feb [8]

PETROLEUM TAXATION:

• NZ Govt - Govt to close petroleum mining tax loophole [9]
• Petroleum Exploration - Industry Reacts to Move to Close"Tax Loophole" [10]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00025.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00035.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00030.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00032.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00034.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00049.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00043.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00027.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00029.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00048.htm

Travel: Auckland To Be Graced With Very Large Plane - Emirates' giant Airbus A380s will spread their wings to Auckland from February 2009, the airline has announced today. The aircraft will be going to some of the furthest points on the airline's network. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0803/S00021.htm

Burma: United Nations Envoy Ibrahim Gambari Departs For Myanmar - Ibrahim Gambari ''hopes to stay as long as necessary and to consult with a broad range of representatives of Myanmar society, including all the groups which he was not able to see during his last visit.'' In February the authorities in Myanmar announced a constitutional referendum to be held this May, to be followed by "multi-party democratic elections" in 2010.More >> [1]

MEANWHILE, BUSINESS AS USUAL IN BURMA:

• Terry Evans - Junta Continues Persecution Of Buddhist Clergy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00036.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00019.htm

Horn Of Africa: Despite Hindrances, UN Completes Regrouping Of Blue Helmets In Eritrea - After more than a week of repeated blockages by Eritrean forces, UN peacekeepers in the Horn of Africa country have finally completed regrouping to the capital, Asmara, in preparation for their planned temporary relocation across the border to Ethiopia. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00037.htm

Out There: Dangerously Beautiful Death-star Could Threaten Earth - One of the sky's most beautiful objects could explode, and the Earth may be smack bang in the middle of its firing line. ''When it finally explodes as a supernova, it could emit an intense beam of gamma rays coming our way. We probably have hundreds of thousands of years before it blows, so we have plenty of time to come up with some answers." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00020.htm

Human Rights: Statement by Felipe Pérez Roque, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba - I am speaking on behalf of Cuba, the country who is suffering under the longest and cruellest blockade known to history; the small rebel country which is threatened with ''a change of regime'', never to be forgiven its noble spirit and integrity. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00039.htm

Michael Carmichael: Establishment Of A Mafia-State - Kosovo is not a mafia state in its own right, it is a US/EU protectorate under NATO military rule. The government of Kosovo, which has extensive links to organized crime, serves the interests of the US-NATO occupation. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00048.htm

Lawrence Velvel: Mental Attributes Of A President - There is not just one form of intelligence, as psychologists long claimed. There are many kinds, says Gardner in a now widely accepted view. A person can have one kind in high degree and be deficient, or even wholly lacking, in others. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00037.htm

Jim Miles: Canada, NATO, And Nuclear Terror - Any countries elected representatives need to remember that they are just that, representatives first, and within that representation there is a leader, but one who should represent his constituents, not ignore their opinions. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00047.htm

Clinton Campaign: "Obama Must Win All States" - Austin, Texas - Huh? That's what Clinton's campaign is saying, talk about lowering expectations. For almost a month, the Clinton campaign has been pointing to March 4 as its ''firewall.'' It pretty much wrote off its chances of winning any of the last ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0803/S00046.htm

Grooovin': 60s Revivalists Rark Up North Shore - The Checks, fresh back from touring overseas, played a lively home-coming show to a 1500 strong crowd at Devonport's Windsor Reserve last Friday as part of North Shore City's Shore Sounds Free Summer Concerts series. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00031.htm

Something For Nothing! Shortland Street Catch Up for Free - TVNZ and South Pacific Pictures are rewarding loyal Shortland Street fans by making Shortland Street available on TVNZ ondemand for free. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0803/S00025.htm

Games: Vote To Put Auckland On The Board - Only Six Days Left for Auckland City to Make the Vote for One of the Two Wild Card Spaces on the World Monopoly Board! The votes have been flooding in to find the world's greatest cities, with over a million people taking part in the worldwide poll for the Monopoly World Editon. More >> [1]

Earlier:

• Queenstown's bid - NZ's Bid To Get On The World Monopoly Board [2]
• Out-Link - Monopoly NZ [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0803/S00009.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00170.htm
[3] - http://www.nzmonopoly.co.nz/

ENDS

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