Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 15 March 2004, 8:12 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY:
MFAT Says No Kiwis Hurt In Madrid Bomb Attacks
William Rivers Pitt: Three Days in Spain
Wealth-Test Considered For Infringement System
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
WHO Warns Of Lethal Flu Pandemic
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
STORY OF THE WEEK: PM Accused Of Holding Maori Land Court In Contempt
SCOOP FRINGE 2004 COVERAGE: The Best Of The Fringe

SCOOP COLUMNS:
The Real Deal: The Stealing Of America
Hard News & More Is There?
Keith Rankin On MMP
John Roughan's Letter From The Solomons
Richard S. Ehrlich: Tom Ridge In Thailand
Writing To The Coroner About David Kelly
Three Views On The Spin Campaign In The US Election
Between The Lines In Iraq And Haiti
Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
No Treaty Inquiry Announcement Today
Tariana Turia Says She Is Around For The Long Haul
Transforming NZ – The Story According To Jim
Michael Cullen Addresses The Party Faithful
Alzheimers Disease Medication Funding Forgotten
The Letter: Politics According To Prebble
Survey Indicates United On Right Track - Dunne
Govt. Responds To Decile Funding Inquiry Report

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00162.htm
Redbull Flugtag On Wellington's Waterfront
image by David McLellan

LEAD STORY:
MFAT Says No Kiwis Hurt In Madrid Bomb Attacks

-NZ Embassy staff have been ringing or emailing people on its list. All were ok. The Embassy is continuing to make contact with those NZers who have not yet responded to email and phone messages. See… No Kiwis In Bomb Explosions in Madrid [1] ALSO: Madrid: Bomb Blasts Target Spanish Commuters [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0403/S00106.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00159.htm

William Rivers Pitt: Three Days in Spain

- The winds of change are blowing furiously through Spain today, as terrorism and war take center stage for the first time since September 11 as the determining factors in a democratic election. See... UQ Wire: Three Days in Spain [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00176.htm

Wealth-Test Considered For Infringement System

- A comprehensive review of the infringement system will be undertaken this year despite recent increases in the number of unpaid fines being collected, Courts Minister Rick Barker announced today. See... Government to review infringement system [1] REACTION: - ACT - Wealth Fines Will Need Vast New State Database [2] - NZ First - One Law For All Says Mark [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00299.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00305.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00304.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0403/S00120.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0403/S00055.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0403/S00109.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0403/S00107.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00297.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00293.htm

WHO Warns Of Lethal Flu Pandemic

- Warning that a highly lethal human flu pandemic could occur at any time despite recent measures taken against a bird flu outbreak in Asia, the United Nations health agency announced today that it will bring together more than 100 health experts in Geneva . See... WHO: Potential Highly Lethal Flu Pandemic Looms [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00197.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00198.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00196.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00195.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00192.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00191.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0403/S00190.htm

STORY OF THE WEEK: PM Accused Of Holding Maori Land Court In Contempt

- The Attorney-General should consider the Prime Minister's critical comments of Judge Wickliffe as a contempt of court, says National's Justice Spokesman Richard Worth. See... PM should face contempt of court charge [1] .. And The Waitangi Tribunal Too - "Labour is so desperate to take the attention off its own internal tensions that Helen Clark now admits she may change the rules to suit herself," says National Party Treaty and Constitutional spokesman Dr Wayne Mapp. See... Rattled PM looks to change the rules [2] For more on this story see... CLICK HERE [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00301.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00296.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00159.htm

SCOOP FRINGE 2004 COVERAGE: The Best Of The Fringe

– On Sunday Night the final event in the Fringe Festival 2004 was held, this years Fringe NZ Awards. The award winners and highly commended shows were... Fringe NZ Awards 2004 [1] See also... Scoop Fringe 2004 Feature [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0403/S00089.htm
[2] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=fringe04

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00177.htm
The Real Deal: Mel Martinez' Is In The Hotseat

The Real Deal: The Stealing Of America

- UnAnswered Questions About $59 Billion Missing from The US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the “Piratization” of Our Jobs, Land, Savings & Safety (Part I of III) See... The Real Deal: HUD Sec. Mel Martinez' Hotseat [1] . See also….Eco-Economy: The Toy Boys of Fraud… [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00177.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00170.htm

Hard News & More Is There?

- The stories of the so-called Guantanamo Five - the five Britons returned to their home country after two years at Camp X-Ray last week - haven't been big news here, but they make for extremely disturbing reading... See... Public Address 15/03/04 - Prime Communications [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00174.htm

Keith Rankin On MMP

- In New Zealand politics, there is an opportunity for the rejected FPP electoral system to creep back in through the back door. See... MMP NZ Style: A Self-Eliminating Electoral System? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00173.htm

John Roughan's Letter From The Solomons

- At present, Solomon Islanders experience two different kinds of governments: RAMSI and a shadow one, our own Members of Parliament. See... John Roughan: Our Shadow Government [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00172.htm

Richard S. Ehrlich: Tom Ridge In Thailand

U.S. Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge said Friday (March 12) he "would not" keep his job if John Kerry becomes president, but the Department of Homeland Security would be a permanent apparatus to crush terrorism no matter who ruled America. See... Tom Ridge Talks Homeland Security In Thailand [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00171.htm

Writing To The Coroner About David Kelly

- The Coroner for Oxfordshire is to hear representations from interested parties on March 16 as to whether or not there is an ''exceptional reason'' for resuming the inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly. See... Correspondence On The David Kelly Inquest [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00178.htm

Three Views On The Spin Campaign In The US Election

- Reality TV came on the scene with Beanie Baby-like flair, and said one thing loud and clear: Some Americans will believe anything. Or buy anything. Karl Rove has built a career on H.L. Mencken’s simple notion that ‘nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.’ See... Bill Grigsby: Reality TV Ground Zero [1] MORE: - Thom Hartmann - Democracy, Not The Free Market, Will Save America [2] - William Rivers Pitt - William Rivers Pitt: Fish. Barrel. Boom. [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00169.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00168.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00161.htm

Between The Lines In Iraq And Haiti

- Christian Peacemaker Team Criticizes Military Detention of Thousands of Men in Iraq - Interview with Kara Speltz, member of the Christian Peacemaker Team, conducted by Melinda Tuhus, see... Military Detention of 1000s of Iraqi Men Decried [1] . Haitian President Aristide Demands U.S. Investigate White House Complicity in Coup - Interview with Ira Kurzban, lawyer representing Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, conducted by Scott Harris, See... Aristide Demands White House Coup Investigation [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00166.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00165.htm

Daily Katya Rivas Meditations

- Let us go on with this painful story, which you will manage to take to as many people as you can. I will enlighten you in the way in which it should be done. See... Katya Rivas: Jesus Is Taken to Prison [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00164.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00175.htm
Kidd Millennium Cartoon: Brand Aid

No Treaty Inquiry Announcement Today

- The delay in the announcement of a Commission of Inquiry into Treaty matters smacks of another U-turn by a Government wracked by crisis and in total disarray, says National's Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee. See... Delay in Treaty inquiry smacks of another U--turn [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00311.htm

Tariana Turia Says She Is Around For The Long Haul

- Tariana Turia says she remains committed to representing her constituents as best she can, and that is what they have asked her to do. See... Tariana Turia not intending to resign [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00297.htm

Transforming NZ – The Story According To Jim

- Economic development, using creativity and innovation is transforming New Zealand into a high wage, high skill economy said Jim Anderton today in a speech to the EDANZ (Economic Development Association of New Zealand) conference in Wellington. See... Creativity And Innovation Tranforming New Zealand [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00310.htm

Michael Cullen Addresses The Party Faithful

- We are now a little over half way through our second term in government since the MMP electoral system came into force. It is clear that the second half of this term is going to prove a little more testing of our capacities than the first has been. See... Address to Labour Party - Michael Cullen [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00309.htm

Alzheimers Disease Medication Funding Forgotten

- Pharmac's inability to fund medication for the treatment of Alzheimers Disease is a further blow for sufferers of the disease and their families who care for them, says Dr Lynda Scott, National's Spokesperson for Health and Senior Citizens. See... Govt denies Alzheimers sufferers treatment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00308.htm

The Letter: Politics According To Prebble

- The Labour caucus split must be wide when the answer is a royal commission. The last time Labour proposed a royal commission was when the caucus was split over proportional representation and divided over social welfare. See... ACT's The Letter - Monday 15 March 2004 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00307.htm

Survey Indicates United On Right Track - Dunne

- United Future leader, Peter Dunne, today re-emphasized that United Future is on the same wavelength as the majority of New Zealanders, as demonstrated by the latest Tower/TNS survey on “What Worries New Zealanders.” See... United Future ‘On The Right Family Track’ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00306.htm

Govt. Responds To Decile Funding Inquiry Report

- The government's response to the select committee inquiry into decile funding was tabled in Parliament today. See... Response to decile funding inquiry tabled [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0403/S00303.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.

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