Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 8 April 2002, 4:05 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Israeli Army Systematically Bombarding Homes
NZ Joins Call For Israel To Withdraw Immediately
Labour Preparing For Early Election – Prebble
Alliance Debacle Makes A Mockery Of Parliament
The Courage To Refuse
Firas Al-Atraqchi: Arabs Treated Like Dogs
Russian Federation to Provide UN Troops
Cherry Blossom Festival Time In San Francisco
CYF Can’t Be Blamed For Youth Offending –PSA
Free Trade Pressure On GE Moratorium

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
$1.5M Petty Cash To Drug Dealers
DNA Underused In Crime Fighting – Nats
NZ First Gave Up Baubles Of Office
Cellphones For Students Waste Of Money
Crucial Early Years Recognised

Israeli Army Systematically Bombarding Homes

- Eyewitnesses in the Palestinian settlement Jenin say the Israeli army is systematically bombarding and attacking houses by air in the refugee camp, then sending in bulldozers to demolish homes while people are still inside. See... It's a Massacre - IDF Buries People Alive in Jenin [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0204/S00038.htm

NZ Joins Call For Israel To Withdraw Immediately

- “The one constant lesson from the conflict in the Middle East is that violence simply produces more violence. This action by Israel can only further entrench bitterness and hatred among Palestinian people," Foreign Minister Phil Goff said. See... NZ Joins Call For West Bank Withdrawal [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00097.htm

Labour Preparing For Early Election – Prebble

- Although Labour denies it will go to the polls early, the party is making plans. The Letter has been told that Labour MPs have been privately briefed to prepare. See... Richard Prebble's Letter from Wellington 8/4/2002 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00099.htm

Alliance Debacle Makes A Mockery Of Parliament

- The public not politicians should choose what political system they want, says National Party Leader Bill English. See... The Public Not Politicians Should Decide On MMP [1] MORE - Nats - Battle Royal Over Alliance Election Money [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00093.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00091.htm

The Courage To Refuse

- Hundreds of reserve combat officers and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces are refusing to fight in the occupied Palestinian territories - saying that to do so is morally indefensible. See... Hundreds of Israeli Soldiers Refuse To Fight [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0204/S00036.htm

Firas Al-Atraqchi: Arabs Treated Like Dogs

- The Arabs are dogs. That's the latest finding from a series of seminars titled, "Arabs in the Twenty-first Century" held in Burma last week. See... Firas Al-Atraqchi: The Arabs Are Dogs [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0204/S00040.htm

Russian Federation to Provide UN Troops

- Hours after an announcement that a "quartet" of envoys from USA, the UN, European Union and Russia would be sent to Israel to insist on a ceasefire, Russia signed an agreement with the United Nations to provide troops for future peacekeeping operations. See... Russian Federation to Provide UN Troops [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0204/S00037.htm

Cherry Blossom Festival Time In San Francisco

- Daylight saving begins today so I shall spare you, dear reader, any further brooding ruminations on the state of the world and point out instead that it's Cherry Blossom Festival time in San Francisco's Japantown. Not only that, but Herb Caen Day celebrations. See... Stateside With Rosalea: The Bay [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0204/S00039.htm

CYF Can’t Be Blamed For Youth Offending –PSA

- Blaming Child, Youth and Family for youth offending, as the police have done anonymously, is unrealistic and unjustified, PSA national secretary Bryce Fleury said today. See... CYF Blame Unjustified, Says PSA [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0204/S00025.htm

Free Trade Pressure On GE Moratorium

- Reports that the US government intend to threaten New Zealand’s clean green image by demanding commercial releases of genetically engineered crops have met opposition from GE Free groups. See... US Approach Even Worse Than Expected [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0204/S00028.htm

$1.5M Petty Cash To Drug Dealers

- National will revamp the Proceeds of Crime Act 1991 to give police a stronger weapon in their war against organised crime, says National Police spokesman Tony Ryall. See... Beggar Gangs And Other Drug Dealers - Nats [1] and$1.5 Million Confiscated From Drug Traffickers - Govt [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00092.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00089.htm

DNA Underused In Crime Fighting – Nats

- National is calling on the Government to harden the legislation dealing with DNA testing to include all convicted offenders, not just burglary suspects and a handful of convicted hardcore criminals. See... National Says Toughen Up DNA Rules [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00096.htm

NZ First Gave Up Baubles Of Office

- Recent commentary on the comparisons between the Alliance debacle and New Zealand First are in the main cases of commentators talking through a hole in their heads – the wrong one. See... Commentors Talking Through A Hole In Their Heads [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00085.htm

Cellphones For Students Waste Of Money

- Giving all 15,000 Te Wananga o Aotearoa correspondence students free mobile phones as part of their course is a very poor use of public education dollars, says National's Education spokesman, Nick Smith. See... Free Cell Phones A Wasted Luxury [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00087.htm

Crucial Early Years Recognised

- The government is to take a more active role in ensuring more consistent access to quality early childhood education. See... Government Support For Early Childhood Education [1] and NZEI early years education conference [2] REACTION: Greens [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00086.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00088.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0204/S00098.htm

© 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.

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