WATCH OUT FRANCE! JONAH'S COMING:

SCOOP INTERACTIVE: Inspired by the picture of Jonah now adorning Scoop’s front page - submitted by an ardent expatriate Jonah fan - Scoop has decided to run an interactive Scoop campaign in support of the All Blacks World Cup bid. SCOOP WANT’S YOUR PICTURE! See... Scoop Launches All Black Supporters Photo Gallery [1] for details on how you can get your mug - or preferably General Mehrtens mug - on Scoop’s Front Page! All Black fans can also show support for the All Blacks with new All Blacks supporters ribbons. The ribbons are available free from Air New Zealand Travelcentres – For more info see … Wear black and white to show you back the ABs [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00141.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9910/S00122.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Leaders Debate No. 1

- Clark, Anderton, Prebble, Winston And Shipley - with John Campbell as presenter. Format: a minute to start - tax - income inequality - student loans - vision - and media analysis to boot. And the consensus is.... Winston Won! See... Leaders Debate: Chalk Number One Up To Winston [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00136.htm

Is Senator Helms Wavering Over NZ Ambassador?

- Here we go again!! Senator Jesse Helms is now saying he will hold a hearing and vote next week on the appointment of Carol Moseley-Braun as NZ Ambassador, if the Clinton administration provides a vast array of tax and Justice documents. . See... Helms Unreasonable Offer On NZ Ambassador Rejected [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00140.htm

Implications For Cuba In NZ Ambassadorial Kerfuffle

- The US Congress has voted for a budget bill not to pay its $900 million arrears to the UN possibly leaving the country without a General Assembly vote come 31 December. John Howard reports on the implications. See… US Vote Not To Pay $900 United Nations Arrears [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00139.htm

Oppressed In Malaysia – A Victim Speaks Out

- Munawar A. Anees was tried for having sexual relations with Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's former deputy prime minister, a charge Mr. Anees denied as part of a set-up to imprison Mr. Anwar and remove him from political life. He tells his own story... See... Scoop Testimony: Jefferson Vs Mahathir [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00135.htm

Phillida Bunkle Endorses Tactical Voting

- THE Alliance candidate for Wellington Central, Phillida Bunkle, has finally endorsed tactical voting in the electorate by urging people to give their electorate votes to Labour. See... City Voice: Bunkle urges “Hobbs/Alliance” vote [1] in the Headlines wire. Also from City Voice today the latest City Voice Forum report http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00143.htm
[2] - Prebble the loser! [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00650.htm

Is Senator Helms Wavering Over NZ Ambassador?

- Here we go again!! Senator Jesse Helms is now saying he will hold a hearing and vote next week on the appointment of Carol Moseley-Braun as NZ Ambassador, if the Clinton administration provides a vast array of tax and Justice documents. . See... Helms Unreasonable Offer On NZ Ambassador Rejected [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00140.htm

Implications For Cuba In NZ Ambassadorial Kerfuffle

- The US Congress has voted for a budget bill not to pay its $900 million arrears to the UN possibly leaving the country without a General Assembly vote come 31 December. John Howard reports on the implications. See… US Vote Not To Pay $900 United Nations Arrears [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00139.htm

Shipley Speech On Jobs and ECA

- The Labour and Alliance parties' employment policies would increase employment costs by almost 3 per cent, costing up to 20,000 job losses a year, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said to a business audience today. See… Shipley Speech - 'Jobs' [1] . See also… Labour & Alliance Policies Would Cost 20,000 Jobs [2] and National Will Retain And Strengthen ECA - Shipley [3] . All in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00648.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00646.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00647.htm

ACT Launch Education Policy

- ACT New Zealand says it is pledging excellence for students and choice for parents in its education policy. See… ACT Pledges Excellence & Choice In Education [1] . See also… Choice For Parents; Success For Students [2] . Both in the Parliament wire. However Labour education spokesperson Trevor Mallard says Act's education policies would create ghetto schools and are in fact the policies that National wants to implement but is scared to promote. See… Act wants ghetto schools [3] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00644.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00645.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00652.htm

Govt To Blame For Breastfeeding Decline – Clark

- Labour Leader Helen Clark says the National Government's abject failure to address the health issues facing New Zealand has been starkly demonstrated by a survey in the NZ Medical Journal showing declining rates of breastfeeding. See… National's breastfeeding neglect [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00653.htm

Nats Say Labour President Deported To Avoid Bungling Campaign

- The National Party say the Labour party has deported party President Bob Harvey to the Northern Hemisphere in an attempt to keep him out of the spotlight during the election campaign. See… Labour deports President to Avoid Embarrassment [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00637.htm

Keith Rankin on Thursday: FPP Rears It’s Ugly Head

- The kerfuffle over Coromandel is not about MMP. Rather, it's about first-past-the-post (FPP) and its retention in the MMP electorate vote. See… Rankin on Thursday: FPP rears its ugly head [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00137.htm

New York Introduces Work For Shelter For Homeless

- First it was work-for-the-dole now it's work-for-shelter. New York City is about to require all who are homeless in the coming winter, to work in exchange for shelter - or have their children placed in foster care. John Howard reports. See… New York Introduces Work For Shelter [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00138.htm

Latest Student Loan Figures Shocking – Labour

- Student debt is now $3.44 billion - a figure so shocking it is easy to understand why it has become a major election issue, Labour associate education spokesperson (tertiary) Steve Maharey said today. See… New shocking student loan figure [1] in the Parliament wire. However the Alliance said last nights leaders debate showed Labour is still dodging the question of student fees and student allowances, preferring to concentrate on the student debt rather than the causes of it. See… Labour dodging hard questions on fees & allowances [2] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00634.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00654.htm

Greens Launch Health Policy – Focus on Prevention

- The Green Party announced its health policy to the National Press Club in Wellington today, with a distinctive theme of ‘prevention as well as cures’. See… Prevention theme in Greens' health policy [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00633.htm

Alliance Launch Completely Free Health Policy

- No charge to see the GP or pick up a medical prescription and the right to urgent health treatment within set time limits are at the heart of the Alliance health policy announced today. See… When you need it: Alliance health policy [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00635.htm

Clear Launch Free Internet Mail Service

- CLEAR Net will launch on Friday a free, fully integrated mail service that gives users access to their CLEAR Net mail account on the World Wide Web. See… CLEAR Launch Free Internet Mail Service [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9910/S00118.htm

PM Welcomes New Indonesian Cabinet

- New Zealand welcomes the positive signs in the Indonesian Government signalled by the new Cabinet announced today, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said. See… Prime Minister Welcomes New Indonesian Cabinet [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9910/S00624.htm

NZ Shares Blame For US Ambassador Feud

- A US Republican Party aide says that New Zealand bore much of the blame for a disgraceful feud which is flaring over the appointment of US ambassador-designate to New Zealand, Carol Moseley-Braun. John Howard reports. See… NZ Accused of Involvement over Ambassador Feud [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9910/S00132.htm

Major Study Of Employers Released Today

- A major study of the Holidays Act, commissioned by national law firm Simpson Grierson, has found a compelling case for changing an Act founded on principles from a time when employees worked 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. See… Holidays Act Needs Reform: Simpson Grierson Survey [1] . Almost half (45%) of employers are requiring some staff to work on the turnover to the millennium, and most of those employers are paying better than ordinary rates to full time and part time waged staff. See… Employers Paying More Than Law Requires For Y2k [2] . A small majority – 51% – of employers are saying “No” to statutory paid parental leave, according to a new survey by national law firm Simpson Grierson. Only 34% approved of the concept, while the rest were uncertain. See… Paid Parental Leave – What Employers Want [3] . See also the summary… Ten Key Facts From The Holidays Act Survey [4] . All in the Business wire. More reaction to these stats from National, ACT and Labour in the Parliament wire, Auckland Chamber of Commerce in Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9910/S00109.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9910/S00108.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9910/S00107.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9910/S00106.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz