Scoop Top 30 Daily Ratings December 16 2008
Parliament Live: National Govt's First Question Time
Scoop Multimedia: PM's Press Conference 15th Dec. 2008
Spies & Security: Police Stifle Democratic Dissent - GPJA
Santa Saks Anyone?: On The Second Day Of Christmas
Electricity: Greypower Cites The Good Ole Days
Police & Crime: Christmas Presents Recovered, Pair On The Run
Gordon Campbell: National’s ‘Failure To Communicate’
Energy Policy: Minister Thinks Govt Taking Fuelish Path
BUSINESS.scoop: Air NZ accuses regulator of grandstanding on cartel claims
Chemicals: The End Of Endosulfan
Agriculture: The NZ Economy Needs Water Storage
Investment Anyone?: New Bet Type For Kiwi Punters
Wildlife: Kiwi That Overdosed Goes Into Karori Rehab
Science Surprise: Study Shows School Scienticians Slack
Media: TVNZ Promises Round The Clock News Thrills
Buying Stuff Cheap: Fancy A Nice Little Motor
Finance: Investors Approve Hanover Debt Restructure
Franklin Lamb: Why Hezbollah Stiffed Carter
Ramzy Baroud: Cluster Bomb Treaty and the World’s Unfinished Business
World News: Obama Should Drop Plans To Escalate Afghan War
David Swanson: Bush Comparison Seen As Unfair To Dogs
Melvin A. Goodman: Obama's Weak National Security Team
Michael Collins: Senate Rules Kill Bailout, Foil Democracy
Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman: Last US House Seat Filled on Grave of Stolen 2004 Election
Alberto Cruz: Mumbai, the Indian elite and the naxalites
Michael Winship: Bush's Farewell Hallelujah Chorus
Pop: Coldplay Announces Plan To Invade NZ
Temporary Art: Wellington Barricades Fall After One Day
Sport: Coast To Coast - “The Year Of The Woman”
Board Games: Search For New Zealand's Monopoly Champion
DR Congo: UN Deploys 17,500 Peacekers
Burma: Myanmar’s Cyclone Victims Need Help
Alternative Energy: Massive Hydro Scheme For Africa
Survival International: Diamond Mine On Bushman Land Gets Govt Approval
Zimbabwe: UN Calls For $6 Million To Fight Deadly Cholera Epidemic
Fifth of corals dead: Only emission cuts can save the rest, says IUCN
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LEAD STORY
------------
Parliament
Live: National Govt's First Question
Time
More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/news/parliament/live/128.html
ALSO:
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00287.htm [2]
NZ POLITICS
------------ALSO:
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00186.htm [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00210.htm [3]
Scoop
Multimedia: PM's Press Conference 15th Dec.
2008
Scoop Video: Video on Demand of
NZ Prime Minister John Key's post Cabinet press conference
for Parliamentary press gallery journalists held this
afternoon. The cabinet readout was followed by a joint
announcement with Welfare Minister Paula Bennett of the
"Re-start" package for workers made redundant in the
economic crisis. This was followed by Q&A on a range of
subjects including the Police spying operations on
activists, aspects of the urgency legislation, climate
change policy. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00283.htm
ALSO:
- ReStart assistance package for redundant workers [2]
- First priority must be to keep Kiwis in jobs [3]
- Many left out in the cold under Nat's programme [4]
- Worker support package a start only - CTU [5]
- ReStart no substitute for real redundancy – EPMU [6]
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00177.htm [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00176.htm [3]
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00183.htm [4]
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00206.htm [5]
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00207.htm [6]
Spies
& Security: Police Stifle Democratic Dissent -
GPJA
Global Peace and Justice Auckland is not
surprised at the abuse of police powers evident in
Sunday’s newspaper the Sunday Star-Times with revelations
that police have paid people to infiltrate and spy on groups
involved in community, environmental, political protest and
activism. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00189.htm
ALSO:
- Police Minister receives assurance on SIGs [2]
- Police Stasi tactics undermine democracy [3]
- Police Commissioner's excuses ring hollow: Greens [4]
- Re SST story on police spy in activist groups [5]
- Police pay to spy on peaceful protest group [6]
- Activists unhappy over spy allegations [7]
- Locke calls for inquiry into police spying allegations [8]
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00169.htm [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00163.htm [3]
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00172.htm [4]
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00190.htm [5]
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00199.htm [6]
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/16642.html [7]
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/16623.html [8]
Santa
Saks Anyone?: On The Second Day Of
Christmas
On the second day of Christmas,
Auckland Airport's travellers donated to me...$10,000 for
Age Concern Auckland! Christmas can be a very lonely time
for those with no friends and family around. Every year Age
Concern Auckland runs a Santa Saks programme, spreading a
little bit of Christmas spirit to some of our older
citizens. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00294.htm
Electricity:
Greypower Cites The Good Ole Days
With the call
to State owned electricity companies to hold power pricer
increases, one wonders what is going on between the Governor
of the Reserve Bank and his new political masters. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00197.htm
Police
& Crime: Christmas Presents Recovered, Pair On The
Run
''They're my presents but that's not how I
wrapped them,'' was the general response from victims
contacted to recover their stolen items following quick work
by an off-duty Hamilton Police officer. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0812/S00204.htm
Gordon
Campbell: National’s ‘Failure To
Communicate’
Any honeymoon the new
government might have hoped to enjoy has been blown away by
its pre-Christmas blitz on taxation, industrial relations,
bail, and education issues. Bills have been put into urgency
before they even had proper names, or before the drafting
process on them had been finished. More
»[1]
[1] - http://election08.scoop.co.nz/gordon-campbell-on-nationals-failure-to-communicate/
Energy
Policy: Minister Thinks Govt Taking Fuelish
Path
UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne has
announced that he will oppose the Government's repeal of the
law obliging oil companies to sell biofuel. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00270.htm
ALSO:
- Biofuel Law Change [2]
- Scrapping Bio-fuels Act costs New Zealanders jobs [3]
- Sustainability the key to biofuel industry: Greens [4]
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00113.htm [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00143.htm [3]
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00148.htm [4]
BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH
------------BUSINESS.scoop:
Air NZ accuses regulator of grandstanding on cartel
claims
Dec. 15 - Air New Zealand said the
Commerce Commission is “grandstanding’ by announcing it
will start proceeding against 13 airlines, including the
national carrier, for price fixing on air freight. “We
have repeatedly asked... More
»[1]
[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/?p=1646
ALSO:
- Spotlight on fuel surcharges catches Air NZ [2]
- International air cargo cartel to be prosecuted [3]
- Air Cargo Proceedings [4]
- Failed Airline in Trouble Again [5]
- Alleged international air cargo cartel being prosecuted [6]
[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/?p=1647 [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00300.htm [3]
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00304.htm [4]
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00307.htm [5]
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/16661.html [6]
Chemicals:
The End Of Endosulfan
The Environmental Risk
Management Authority has revoked the approvals for the
insecticide endosulfan and prohibited its importation,
manufacture and use in New Zealand. The Authority’s
decision will come into effect on 16 January 2009. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00202.htm
ALSO:
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0812/S00170.htm [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0812/S00032.htm [3]
Agriculture:
The NZ Economy Needs Water Storage
''If there is
one magic bullet guaranteed to transform the New Zealand
economy it is water storage,'' says Federated Farmers water
spokesperson, Hugh Ritchie. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00298.htm
Investment
Anyone?: New Bet Type For Kiwi Punters
The
TAB's new betting product - the First4 - will be available
from this Wednesday (17 December), giving punters the chance
to win big dividends. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00297.htm
Wildlife:
Kiwi That Overdosed Goes Into Karori Rehab
A
little spotted kiwi from Kapiti Island participating in the
BNZ Save the Kiwi programme that has been convalescing at
Pukaha Mount Bruce after succumbing to the toxic effects of
karaka berries. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0812/S00027.htm
ALSO:
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0812/S00022.htm [2]
Science Surprise: Study Shows School Scienticians Slack
The results of an international study showing a
marked drop in student achievement levels in science comes
as no surprise, according to the education sector union NZEI
Te Riu Roa. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0812/S00020.htm
Media: TVNZ Promises Round The Clock News
Thrills
TVNZ's presence on the Internet takes a
leap forward today with the relaunch and complete redesign
of tvnz.co.nz. The redesigned website shifts the emphasis
towards increased breadth and depth of information-based
material, on top of round-the-clock breaking news. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00236.htm
Buying Stuff Cheap: Fancy A Nice Little
Motor
New Zealanders could get their cars for up
to 50% less if they did their homework first, says the car
buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00182.htm
Finance:
Investors Approve Hanover Debt
Restructure
Hanover is pleased to announce that
the Debt Restructure Proposals for secured depositors,
secured stockholders, subordinated noteholders and
bondholders have been approved at investor meetings held in
Auckland today. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00210.htm
ALSO:
- Hanover investors vote on restructuring plan [2]
- ING New Zealand proposes wind-up of four funds [3]
- ING New Zealand recommends managed wind up [4]
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/16436.html [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00202.htm [3]
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00229.htm [4]
COMMENT
------------Franklin
Lamb: Why Hezbollah Stiffed Carter
Truth be
told, this observer, along with one suspects plenty of
others, was miffed at Hezbollah this past Wednesday morning.
As I looked up at sunrise at Sammin Mountain above Beirut on
the Western chain of Lebanon’s dramatic range to see if
the rumor ... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00300.htm
Ramzy
Baroud: Cluster Bomb Treaty and the World’s Unfinished
Business
The United States, Russia and China are
sending a terrible message to the rest of the world by
refusing to take part in the historic signing of a treaty
that bans the production and use of cluster bombs. In a
world that is plagued by war, military ... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00270.htm
World
News: Obama Should Drop Plans To Escalate Afghan
War
President-elect Obama should drop his plans
to escalate the war in Afghanistan, a country that never
attacked America, out of pity for a helpless civilian
population that will only suffer increasing misery from an
expanded... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00303.htm
David
Swanson: Bush Comparison Seen As Unfair To
Dogs
This is the question now raised in Iraq: If
they throw shoes at your face are you a combat troop or a
noncombat troop? The answer may be important in helping to
guide President Elect Obama's strategy of reducing but
continuing the genocidal occupation ... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00301.htm
Melvin
A. Goodman: Obama's Weak National Security
Team
Sixteen years ago, President-elect Bill
Clinton headed for Washington with a national security team
that was unprepared for a new age of foreign policy marked
by the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Warsaw
Pact and the Soviet Union. Clinton ... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00302.htm
Michael
Collins: Senate Rules Kill Bailout, Foil
Democracy
(Wash. DC) The Unites States Senate
voted down a "cloture" resolution last night killing the
automaker bailout before it was even considered. Failure to
gain approval for cloture opened the bill up to an
anticipated filibuster. General Motors, the largest U.S.
manufacturer... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00255.htm
Bob
Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman: Last US House Seat Filled
on Grave of Stolen 2004 Election
The last US
House seat has been filled by a Democratic county
commissioner in a vote count defined by the ghosts of 2004.
And the provisional ballot system installed by former
Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell - now a candidate
for chair of the Republican National Committee... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00268.htm
Alberto
Cruz: Mumbai, the Indian elite and the
naxalites
The attacks in Mumbai at the end of
November have led to every kind of analysis, especially
geopolitical. One must remember that the strategic alliance
between India and Israel has much to do with the recent
surge in Islamist movements in India. Without ... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00281.htm
Michael
Winship: Bush's Farewell Hallelujah Chorus
With all the interviews President Bush has been giving out
lately, you'd think he has a new movie coming out for
Christmas. ABC, NBC, National Review, Middle East
Broadcasting, the Real Clear Politics Web site - even a talk
with The Washington Post's NASCAR expert. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0812/S00278.htm
LIFESTYLE
------------Pop:
Coldplay Announces Plan To Invade NZ
Chugg
Entertainment today confirmed that Coldplay will visit New
Zealand following their eleven arena shows in Australia next
March. The show will be part of their “Viva La Vida”
world tour, in support of their new album of the same name.
More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0812/S00166.htm
Temporary
Art: Wellington Barricades Fall After One
Day
Car wrecks, discarded furniture and other
urban detritus barricaded Stout Street at the corner of
Lambton Quay in central Wellington for 24 hours on Sunday.
This large-scale art intervention, created by British
artists Heather and Ivan Morison, was part of the year-long
One Day Sculpture series. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0812/S00147.htm
Sport:
Coast To Coast - “The Year Of The Woman”
For
27 years the Speight’s Coast to Coast has led the way in
adventure sports. This year the world’s longest running
multisport event celebrates its 27th edition by celebrating
the female multisporter. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0812/S00295.htm
Board Games: Search For New Zealand's Monopoly Champion
The 13th Monopoly World Championships is fast
approaching and Hasbro, maker of the world's most iconic
board game, is inviting all Monopoly enthusiasts in New
Zealand to roll and deal their way to Las Vegas in the
search for a New Zealand representative! More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0812/S00124.htm
WORLD
------------DR
Congo: UN Deploys 17,500 Peacekers
More than
90 per cent of the nearly 17,500 United Nations peacekeepers
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are now
deployed in the strife-torn east of the vast country,
including over 6,000 in North Kivu province. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00343.htm
ALSO:
- DR Congo: Talks Making Headway [2]
- DR Congo: Government, Rebels Enter Into Talks [3]
- Time To Act In DR Congo Is Now [4]
- DRC: UN To Launch Dialogue Between Govt & Rebels [5]
- UN Starts Airlifting Aid To North-Eastern DR Congo [6]
- DR Congo: UN Reports Progress In Talks [7]
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00261.htm [2]
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00232.htm [3]
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00168.htm [4]
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00188.htm [5]
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00200.htm [6]
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00296.htm [7]
Burma:
Myanmar’s Cyclone Victims Need Help
A review of
the progress made to date to provide humanitarian assistance
to the victims of Cyclone Nargis has found that while relief
efforts are ongoing, they need to be stepped up, especially
to ensure food security, a United Nations-backed group said
... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00339.htm
Alternative
Energy: Massive Hydro Scheme For Africa
A
senior United Nations official today told a meeting of
African ministers that harnessing the continent’s largely
untapped water resources is critical in feeding and
providing for its people. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00342.htm
ALSO:
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00199.htm [2]
Survival
International: Diamond Mine On Bushman Land Gets Govt
Approval
Botswana: Diamond Mine On Bushman Land
Gets Government Approval – On Condition Bushmen Receive No
Water. The Botswana government has given its approval to a
controversial diamond mine on the land of the Kalahari
Bushmen... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00256.htm
Zimbabwe:
UN Calls For $6 Million To Fight Deadly Cholera
Epidemic
The United Nations health agency today
called on international donors for $6 million to fight
Zimbabwe’s worst cholera outbreak in over a decade, with
the toll already reaching over 16,140 suspected cases and
775 deaths since August in the impoverished ... More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00267.htm
ALSO:
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00223.htm [2]
Fifth
of corals dead: Only emission cuts can save the rest,
says IUCN
The report, released by the Global
Coral Reef Monitoring Network, of which IUCN is a member,
shows if current trends in carbon dioxide emissions
continue, many of the remaining reefs may be lost over the
next 20 to 40 years. More
»[1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0812/S00255.htm
ENDS