Top Scoop Stories - 26 November 2007 News Summary

Monday, 26 November 2007, 2:01 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - November 26, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Oz Election: PM Welcomes Rudd, Says Goodbye To Old Cobber

NZ POLITICS:

Birthdays: Now We Are 60
Public Disservice:Terms of Reference for Curran Investigation
Crime: Taito Phillip Field Charged
Industrial Relations: Strike Action Statistically Likely
Police: Rickards Departure About Time Says Women's Refuge
Retirement: Supergold Card - Coach Lines On Board
Legal Shocker: PM Protests Saudi Rape Victim's Sentence Of 200 Lashes
Exclusion: Falun Dafa Annoyed With Christmas Parade Trust

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Economy & Exports: Record Dairy And Oil Boost Exports
Wine Industry : Trinity Hill Homage Syrah Wins Top Trophy
Education & Technology: Roving Spycam Opens Up A World Of Possibility
Adventure Travel: Incident Won't Deter Kiwis Heading To Ice

WORLD:

United Nations: 'Grave Violations' Of Children's Rights In Burma
Catholicism: Pope Benedict Names 23 New Cardinals; First Iraqi Among Them
Rift Valley Fever: UN Warns That Viral Disease Could Spread In Sudan
Pakistan: Former PM Nawaz Sharif Receives Boisterous Homecoming Welcome
Women's Affairs: Brazil Prison Rape Exposes Abuse Of Women
Greenpeace: 1.5 Million People Help Pass Law Protecting Argentinean Forests

COMMENT:

Michael Collins: Scott McClellan - Where are the Headlines?
Thomas D. Williams: Faith-Based Spending Goes Relatively Unchecked
BuzzFlash.Com:Will the Supreme Court Steal the 2008 Election
Jackie Little: The Carol Concert
Stateside With Rosalea: Voices From Florida

LIFESTYLE:

Rambling: Horse Trekking Company Saddles Up On Ben Lomond
Theatrical Shenanigans: Dress Up For Urinetown!
Corporate Fashion: Business Women Support 'Dress For Success'
Settlement: Auckland City Council and Triangle Television logo negotiation outcome
Aural Entertainment: Active Throwing Party And Bowls

Oz Election: PM Welcomes Rudd, Says Goodbye To Old Cobber - Prime Minister Helen Clark has today conveyed congratulations to Kevin Rudd on the Labor Party's decisive victory in the Australian Federal Election. Helen Clark also paid tribute to John Howard's strong commitment as Prime Minister of Australia to building trans-Tasman connections. "Over more than 11 ½ years as Prime Minister, Mr Howard has been a good friend to New Zealand, and his legacy includes a substantial deepening in the trans-Tasman relationship," Helen Clark said. More>> [1]

ALSO:

• National - John Key congratulates Kevin Rudd [2]
• National - Australian Election: Challenge ahead for NZ [3]
• Greenpeace - Australian election result leaves Bush isolated [4]
• CTU - Australians back the right horse [5]
• EPMU - Attacks on work rights lose elections - EPMU [6]
• SOLO - Rudd's Victory--Symptom of a Lobotomized Nation [7]
• Reporters Sans Frontieres - What Australia Must Do To Improve Press Freedom [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00486.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00494.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00493.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00428.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00423.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00425.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00429.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01072.htm

Birthdays: Now We Are 60 - 25 November 2007, marks sixty years since New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster, an Act of the British Parliament passed in 1931, which granted New Zealand full legal independence. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• ICOIC - "Leading edge" Official Information Act turns 25 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00420.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00424.htm

Public Disservice:Terms of Reference for Curran Investigation - The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, today issued the terms of reference for this investigation. "I am releasing the terms of reference for this investigation in order that all involved can understand that it will be a thorough and fair process. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Report on selection process for Clare Curran [2]
• National Party - Neutral public service? Yeah right! [3]
• National - Report puts end to neutral public service [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00413.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00381.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00452.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00377.htm

Crime: Taito Phillip Field Charged - Police have laid the informations to proceed with a prosecution of Taito Phillip Field. He is charged with 15 counts of bribery and 25 counts of attempting to pervert justice. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00405.htm

Industrial Relations: Strike Action Statistically Likely - Statistics New Zealand has postponed the publication of the November 2007 Food Price Index report, due to industrial action by the Public Service Association (PSA). The industrial action means that Statistics New Zealand's analysts will not be able to access vital data More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00414.htm

Police: Rickards Departure About Time Says Women's Refuge - Women's Refuge says it is extraordinary it has taken Clint Rickards so long to realise that remaining in the police was untenable. The Chief Executive of the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, Heather Henare, says Mr Rickards departure is long overdue. More >> [1]
ALSO:

• NZ Police - Confirmation of the Resignation of Clint Rickards [2]
• TV3 News - Clint Rickards Resigns From Police [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00391.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00393.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/3477.html

Retirement: Supergold Card - Coach Lines On Board - The announcement today that InterCity and Newmans have joined the SuperGold Card programme offering a 20% discount is great news, said Winston Peters. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00474.htm

Legal Shocker: PM Protests Saudi Rape Victim's Sentence Of 200 Lashes - Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that she has asked New Zealand diplomats to raise dismay over the sentencing of a 19-year-old Saudi rape victim to 200 lashes. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Amnesty International - Violence Against Women Still A Global Shame [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00418.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00390.htm

Exclusion: Falun Dafa Annoyed With Christmas Parade Trust - Contrary to what the Auckland Children's Christmas Parade Trust has stated in a media statement released on 22 November 2007 - Falun Gong is neither a political group nor a sect, in fact, it is a spiritual group. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00404.htm

Economy & Exports: Record Dairy And Oil Boost Exports - The total value of merchandise exports in October 2007 rose more than a quarter compared with October 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. The main contributors to this increase were milk powder, butter and cheese, and crude oil - both increased to record monthly levels. Petroleum and products exports have increased $251 million from October 2006. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0711/S00524.htm

Wine Industry : Trinity Hill Homage Syrah Wins Top Trophy - Hawke's Bay has taken away New Zealand's most esteemed wine trophy for 2007 and the country's first ever sustainable wine trophy in New Zealand's most prestigious wine competition. Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2006 has won the Air New Zealand Champion Wine of the Show Trophy. It has also won the Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah Trophy. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0711/S00519.htm

Education & Technology: Roving Spycam Opens Up A World Of Possibility - You're on holiday but wondering if all is well at your home, or you want to check if the bach has weathered a storm. With technology developed by an engineering graduate you now have an extra pair of eyes when you can't be there, able to move anywhere you choose. The modified off-the-shelf remote control rally car has been modified so it can be operated via cellphone, feeding footage to a video-capable cellphone anywhere in the world. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0711/S00069.htm

Adventure Travel: Incident Won't Deter Kiwis Heading To Ice - House of Travel's Adventure Travel company says despite the incident over night involving GAP's ship the MS Explorer, it is extremely safe to travel to Antarctica. "Any travel has risk, it is totally unavoidable but when you consider the vast numbers of people who cruise to the Antarctic and the number of incidents, you have to concur the risk is low." More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0711/S00521.htm

United Nations: 'Grave Violations' Of Children's Rights In Burma - Grave child rights violations, including recruitment into armed groups, continue in Myanmar, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report, calling on the Government to take measures to address the problem which is common to both State and non-State actors. "The report notes that State and non-State actors continue to be implicated in grave child rights violations," Mr. Ban writes in a summary of his report to the Security Council. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01054.htm

Catholicism: Pope Benedict Names 23 New Cardinals; First Iraqi Among Them - Pope Benedict has named 23 new cardinals of the Catholic Church at a mass held at Rome's Saint Peter's Basilica. Among them is the first-ever Iraqi Cardinal. Pope Benedict singled him out as he appealed for peace and reconciliation in Iraq. In his sermon, Pope Benedict expressed his concern for all Iraqis. He calls for the church to reaffirm its solidarity with Iraqi Christians and asks God to bring peace and reconciliation to all Iraqis. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01036.htm

Rift Valley Fever: UN Warns That Viral Disease Could Spread In Sudan - Rift Valley Fever, a viral disease affecting people and animals, could spread in Sudan amid preparations for the Eid Al Idha Muslim holiday, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warned today. The disease, transmitted by mosquito bites, could escalate as millions of animals are moved around the country as part of traditions to mark the holiday. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01039.htm

Pakistan: Former PM Nawaz Sharif Receives Boisterous Homecoming Welcome - Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has returned to Pakistan, ending seven years in exile in Saudi Arabia. Thousands of supporters overwhelmed airport security in Lahore to celebrate his return. Nawaz Sharif arrived in his hometown, Lahore, to a boisterous and chaotic reception at the airport. Mr. Sharif demanded a restoration of the democracy and for the country's deposed Supreme Court justices to be reinstated. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01048.htm

Women's Affairs: Brazil Prison Rape Exposes Abuse Of Women - Women in Brazil are the hidden victims of a crumbling detention system that exposes them to rape and other ill treatment, said Tim Cahill, Amnesty International's researcher on Brazil. The statement came as reports emerged of the case of a young woman in the state of Pará -- northern Brazil -- who was left in a police cell with 20 men for a month and repeatedly sexually abused. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01069.htm

Greenpeace: 1.5 Million People Help Pass Law Protecting Argentinean Forests - The forests of Argentina are being cleared at a rate of 40 football fields every hour. To stop the destruction we took to the trees - and to the streets. While our activists protested in the forest, we joined forces with other environmental groups, got 1.5 million signatures of support and pushed through Argentina's first federal forest protection law. The new law includes a nationwide one-year moratorium on clearing of native forests. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0711/S01071.htm

Michael Collins: Scott McClellan - Where are the Headlines? - Former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan accused George W. Bush and Dick Cheney of deceiving the public about a devastating blow to the national security and safety of United States... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• BuzzFlash.Com - Scott McClellan Didn't Out Bush, Cheney Did [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00389.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00376.htm

Thomas D. Williams: Faith-Based Spending Goes Relatively Unchecked - For the past six years, President George W. Bush's administration has spent billions of dollars to largely aid Christian faith-based groups, in assisting prison inmates as well as the poor and less-fortunate persons here and worldwide... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00380.htm

BuzzFlash.Com:Will the Supreme Court Steal the 2008 Election - To begin the BuzzFlash editor's blog, I ran a series on how the Republican blitzkrieg to fill the federal bench with partisan hacks - beginning seriously with the Reagan Administration - has profoundly and negatively impacted the Constitutional balance of powers... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00391.htm

Jackie Little: The Carol Concert - Let me explain. We the family, had been looking forward - soooOO looking forward - to the Kids for Kids Carol concert . A real Christmas Carol concert the like of which I had not seen since I was at school myself. The middle child came home one day with the challenge:" You speak Scottish don't you?... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00387.htm

Stateside With Rosalea: Voices From Florida - Following on from the voter interviews I did in New Hampshire in August. On the first evening of the Florida state Democratic Party convention, I took the opportunity to interview some voters there as well. I gravitated towards older convention delegates, figuring they would have some history with the party. They come from different counties of Florida... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00373.htm

Rambling: Horse Trekking Company Saddles Up On Ben Lomond - A new horse trekking operation is offering a variety of unique Kiwi horseback experiences in Queenstown's majestic backcountry. The Horse Trekking Company is based at iconic Ben Lomond Station, a favourite trekking spot which became inaccessible in 1994 after a flood washed out the access road. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00316.htm

Theatrical Shenanigans: Dress Up For Urinetown! - To celebrate Downstage's scintillating Christmas show Urinetown, we invite Wellingtonian's to dress up a 'wee bit over the top' and attend an evening of mayhem, mirth and music! More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00315.htm

Corporate Fashion: Business Women Support 'Dress For Success' - Four local creative women have banded together to stage a fundraiser in support of the charity organisation Dress for Success. The event being held at deNada on 29 November brings together art, creativity, business and social entrepreneurship. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00293.htm

Settlement: Auckland City Council and Triangle Television logo negotiation outcome - Auckland City Council and Triangle Television settled concerns that were expressed over the similarities between the organisations' two logos at a meeting yesterday. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0711/S00232.htm

Aural Entertainment: Active Throwing Party And Bowls - Radio Active 89FM, Wellington's bestest, oldest and most independent radio station, turns 30 years-old in 2007 and to celebrate it's throwing a party. Radio Active 89FM presents RetroActive, a 30-hour on-air party. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00297.htm

ENDS

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