Norfolk Island: Painful past in paradise - Travel - NZ Herald News

Tourists have an easy time of navigating Norfolk Island, which is just 35 sq km, and some local knowledge will help them appreciate the significance of landmarks. Photo / Kerri Jackson
No visit to Norfolk Island is complete without a good look at its history.
There are few places where you can pack so much action into a relatively short time, and even fewer have so many reminders of their history - family names, original buildings, unique dialect and early graves - still intact.
Norfolk Island is small, just 35sq km, so touring the island is easy. Car hire is straightforward (the only lesson required is how to wave to the locals), speed limits are low and there is little traffic.

Norfolk Island

Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal, Cook Islands

Appeal base – from left, Florence Syme-Buchanan, Vaine Marsters, Caroline Poko and George George with a donated banner and cartons of gifts behind them.

Election problem, Cook Islands

Northern group islands could be deprived of their right to vote at the November 17 general election if a solution to get the ballot forms and boxes to them is not found soon.
Secretary of Justice Mark Short is warning it will be a national crisis if major problems with logistics of transport to the north are not sorted out within the week.
The Electoral Office needs to send about three electoral officers, ballot boxes, and ballot papers to the northern group islands.

Let’s get behind the sevens!

RAPPA MP and Party Tumu candidate Albert ‘Peto’ Nicholas has issued a challenge to his election rivals to put aside their campaign hats and head on up to the Sevens in Heaven tournament at the BCI Stadium starting today.
“My challenge to the candidates from the three other parties – please put down the campaign apron and put on a blue and gold jersey representing our village and let’s get down there to the stadium to support our team,” says Nicholas, president of the Avatiu Sports Association.

Tourism NZ office stays

Carmel Beattie, CEO of Cook Islands Tourism (CIT), has dismissed claims that CIT could be closing its office in Auckland.

An advertisement for the New Zealand Manager post appeared in an email publication called Travel Memo on Friday. It stated in the last sentence: “Submissions from destination marketing companies will also be considered.”

Cook Islands goes to the polls

PEOPLE in the Cook Islands will go to the polls today, with 10,000 people registered to vote in the Pacific nation's general elections, according to local officials.

The two major parties are the Cook Islands Party and the Democratic Party, but a record number of 16 Independents are also contesting the 24 seats in the Pacific nation's parliament.

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Anthony Malkin Interview on Election, Obama from Nov. 3 - Video - Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Properties LLC, discusses yesterday's midterm election and the potential impact on U.S. businesses and the economy. Richard Grasso, former chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange, also speaks. They talk with Betty Liu on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop."

Morgan Stanley's Flanagan Interview - Video

(Bloomberg) -- Kevin Flanagan, chief fixed-income strategist at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, talks about Federal Reserve monetary policy and the impact quantitative easing measures may have Treasuries. Flanagan speaks with Betty Liu on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop."

Darling Interview on Irish Banks , Nov 18, 2010

(Bloomberg) -- Former U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling talks about the prospects for a proposed bailout to shore up Ireland's finances and banks. Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said in Dublin today that he would welcome the creation of “substantial contingency capital funding” for

GE Survey Finds Midsize Companies See Better Economy

GE Capital, one of the biggest lenders to small and midsize U.S. companies this year, said a survey showed most chief financial officers see improved capital access, low to moderate economic growth and “healthy” hiring.

Google Boost Expands To New Cities | SmallBusinessNewz

Google Boost, the search advertising program meant to give participating local businesses an edge, is on the move. This week, the beta test expanded to include 11 new cities, along with the entire state of Illinois.
The cities are Atlanta, Boston, Chapel Hill, Charlottesville (Virginia), Cross Plains (Texas), Orlando, Portland (Maine), San Jose, Seattle, Washington D.C., and Wichita. Business owners in those areas might want to keep an eye on their Google Places dashboards for an invitation to arrive sometime in the next few days.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday, Nov 18, 2010

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Report: Iraqi athlete stabbed at Asian Games

By Michael Burgess at the Asian Games in Guangzhou
According to unconfirmed reports, an Iraqi athlete has been stabbed by a fellow competitor in the athletes' village.
His condition is unknown but the wounds are not believed to be life threatening.
Further details are yet to emerge but it is understood that the incident occurred on Wednesday and involved a team mate.

How good is the new 'Harry Potter'? - The Week

The 'Harry Potter' phenomenon: 7 surprising facts

Daniel Radcliffe admitted to taking two pairs of Harry Potter's glasses as a memento of the wizardly saga. Photo: Facebook SEE ALL 22 PHOTOS
Friday's box office debut of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 marks the beginning of the end of J.K. Rowling's beloved fantasy saga. (Watch the movie trailer.) In the real world, however, the Harry Potter phenomenon will inevitably keep generating ripple effects. The series' impact can already be seen in everything from a spike in owl poaching in India to the creation of a earthbound Quidditch league in U.S. colleges. Here are seven other ways that Potter mania has played out in the real world:

The NYT's 'sympathetic' Palin profile: 5 key takeaways

 

Yes, Sarah Palin is considering a run for president, reports Robert Draper in a must-read New York Times piece. But first she'll have to tidy up her "inefficient" operation. Sarah Palin's political operation, says Robert Draper in the New York Times, functions without a chief of staff or a defined press person. Photo: Getty
The New York Times has published a 7,800-word profile of Sarah Palin by writer Robert Draper who spent time with the Alaskan conservative during the weeks leading up to the 2010 midterm elections. It's an "excellent piece of reporting," says Matthew Continetti at the Weekly Standard, a "sympathetic" take on Palin that really "gets the governor right." The article is certainly no hit job, says Greg Mitchell at The Nation. In fact, Draper "barely presses her on key issues, and doesn't talk to a single critic." But he does dig up plenty of details about what life is like in "Palin World." Here's a rundown of 5 key talking points:

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• Smith's 'Just Kids' is award winner for nonfiction (AP) - 1 hour agoAP - Patti Smith is a literary star.
• Report: Online video providers not protecting kids (AP) - 3 hours agoAP - Mainstream online video destinations don't do enough to keep explicit content from kids, the Parents Television Council said in a report released Wednesday.
• Wis. man accused of shooting TV over Palin dance (AP) - 3 hours agoAP - A rural Wisconsin man apparently enraged by Bristol Palin's "Dancing with the Stars" routine blasted his television with a shotgun, leading to an all-night standoff with a SWAT team, investigator...
• Patti Smith wins book award; Tom Wolfe honored (omg!) - 1 hour agoomg! - Reuters - Rocker Patti Smith was among the major winners of the U.S. National Book Awards on Wednesday for her memoir "Just Kids," choking up with tears before urging book publishers not to let...
• Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kyle Richards: I Will Never Know What Pushed Camille (omg!) - 1 hour ago

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• Uneasy House Democrats keep Pelosi as their leader (AP)
• Murkowski becomes 1st write-in senator since '54 (AP)
• Gitmo detainee acquitted of all but 1 charge in NY (AP)
• Facing setbacks, Obama presses his foreign policy (AP)
• Feds holding firm on intrusive airport security (AP)
• GM launching IPO, ending government majority stake (AP)
• Qantas: 40 engines on A380s need to be replaced (AP)

Should Bristol Palin have been kicked off 'Dancing With the Stars'?

Sarah Palin's daughter is headed to the reality-competition's finals — even as her actual dancing skills remain a matter of fierce debate
Sarah Palin supporters have reportedly taken to Twitter to help shimmy Bristol Palin into a "Dancing with the Stars" win.
Best Opinion: HitFix, Politics and World News, Jezebel
The midterm elections may be behind us, but we're still a country divided. Last night, on "Dancing with the Stars", Bristol Palin made it to the finals while competitor Brandy was sent home in what's being called "the most shocking — and

FoxNews.com - Israeli Strike Kills 2 Accused in BBC Kidnapping

AP
Nov. 17: Palestinians gather around a destroyed car after an explosion in Gaza City.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – An Israeli airstrike ripped through a car in Gaza City on Wednesday, killing two militants accused of helping kidnap a British Broadcasting Corp. journalist in March 2007, officials said.

Iraq president opposes Tariq Aziz's death sentence

AP - Sept. 5: Tariq Aziz, former Iraqi foreign minister and deputy prime minister speaks to the Associated Press in Baghdad.
BAGHDAD–Iraq's president declared on Wednesday that he will not sign off on the hanging of Tariq Aziz, joining the Vatican and others in objecting to the death sentence for a man who for years was the international face of Saddam Hussein's regime.

House Democrats keep Nancy Pelosi as their leader

AP – FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2010 file photo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks in Washington. Seven …
By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Charles Babington, Associated Press – 35 mins ago
WASHINGTON – House Democrats elected Nancy Pelosi to remain as their leader Wednesday despite massive party losses in this month's congressional elections that prompted some lawmakers to call for new leadership. Pelosi, the nation's first female House speaker, will become minority leader when Republicans

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Eva Longoria Files For Divorce

EVA Longoria’s marriage is over with…. for real this time.
The actress filed for divorce Wednesday from basketball star Tony Parker, People magazine reports.
Eva’s documents were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court just one day after her rep denied that Parker had done the same in a Texas court.
The cause of the split wasn’t immediately revealed, but reports earlier today claimed Eva discovered Tony had been exchanging personal texts with a mutual female friend for nearly a year.

Prince William & Kate Middleton’s Wedding: Place Your Bets!

They made headlines when they announced their engagement, and now Prince William and Kate Middleton could make gamblers some serious cash.
According to a report, British oddsmaker Ladbrokes is accepting bets on the specifics surrounding the month and location of the Royal wedding.

Katie Price: Precious Love Lady

Out for yet another promotional appearance, Katie Price was spotted at the launch of her new fragrance “Precious Love” in London, England today (November 17).
The model/author posed in a busty top and short pink wig at the Worx as the paparazzi snapped up plenty of pics.

Green Lantern: Brand New Trailer Released

He was recently named the world’s sexiest man by People Magazine, and now a brand new trailer for Ryan Reynolds' film, “Green Lantern” has been released.
With the flick hitting theaters on June 17, the trailer shows the “Van Wilder” stud playing a cocky human test pilot named Hal Jordan.

Lindsay Lohan: On the Path to Wellness

Keeping up on her schedule to better herself, Lindsay Lohan was spotted making her way to the Betty Ford Clinic bright and early on Wednesday morning (November 17).
The “Mean Girls” babe looked cute in workout gear and shades as she carried a cup of joe to an awaiting vehicle that whisked her away for the day’s addiction treatment.

Emma Watson's Pixie Cut Inspiration

She sported long locks for years - a requirement for “Harry Potter” - but Emma Watson admitted that she had wanted to cut it short for quite some time.
Once production for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two” was a wrap, the “Ballet Shoes” beauty paid a visit to the salon to have her hair chopped.

Eva Longoria Files for Divorce from Tony Parker

While it appeared to be a false alarm after reports of a split were shot down by reps yesterday, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker are officially headed for divorce.
According to insiders, the "Desperate Housewives" actress has filed paperwork on Wednesday (November 17) to end her three and a half year marriage with the San Antonio Spurs guard.

Cheerful Britney Spears: Calabasas Chick

Looking to be in quite the cheerful mood, Britney Spears enjoyed an evening out at the Calabasas Commons shopping center on Tuesday (November 16).
The "Gimme More" singer toted an iced coffee and a pastry snack while taking in the holiday lights at the west coast retail locale.

Kim Kardashian: Dash SoHo Sexy

Up and about for another full day of work duties, Kim Kardashian was spotted in SoHo, New York on Wednesday morning (November 17).
The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" darling looked flawless as she offered up a wave to gathered fans and photogs during a visit to her recently opened NYC Dash boutique.

Semi-Final Round Ends In Shocking Elimination On ‘Dancing’os & Videos

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
She left her Alaska life and family behind and spent days driving her truck to Los Angeles to compete on “Dancing with the Stars,” and it appears Bristol Palin made the right choice.
The 20-year-old single mom, and daughter of former Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, is heading to next week’s “Dancing with the Stars” final round.

Brad Pitt wants to make Chilean miners film

Brad Pitt wants to make a film about the trapped Chilean miners Photo: WARNER BROS
The trapped Chile miners
The 33 men were trapped underground for more than two months after their mine collapsed in Copiapó, northern Chile Photo: EPA
By Jon Swaine in New York 5:45PM GMT 15 Nov 2010
Brad Pitt is hoping to turn the story of the trapped Chilean miners

Iraq president refuses to sign execution order for Tariq Aziz

Iraq president refuses to sign execution order for Tariq Aziz
Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, has said he will not sign an execution order for Tariq Aziz, the former deputy of dictator Saddam Hussein sentenced to death last month over the persecution of Islamic parties.
Iraq's high tribunal passed a death sentence on Aziz, once the international face of Saddam's government, in late October.

Qantas plane turned back after bird strike

A Qantas jet was forced to return to Johannesburg after a bird strike damaged one of its engines, the latest in a series of incidents at the Australian airline since an engine failure on an Airbus A380 nearly two weeks ago.

Nazi spaceship film sparks UFO debate

By Allan Hall in Berlin 1:05PM GMT 17 Nov 2010

The Finnish sci-fi comedy 'Iron Sky' centres on real-life SS officer Hans Kammler who was said to have made a significant breakthrough in antigravity experiments towards the end of WW2.

Germany raises security alert after attack warnings

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany said on Wednesday it had strong evidence Islamist militants were planning attacks in the next two weeks and ordered security at potential targets such as train stations and airports to be tightened.

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China's Hairy Crab Prices Indicate Strong Economic Growth

By Keith Fitz-Gerald, Chief Investment Strategist, Money Morning

BEIJING, People's Republic of China – While other investors are busy rounding up all sorts of economic data, tea leaves and fortune cookies in an attempt to figure out China's economic situation next year, I'm heading out the door once again to take a look at hairy crab prices.

Chile: The One Emerging Market That Investors Can't Afford to Ignore in 2011

By Martin Hutchinson, Contributing Editor, Money Morning

When I review each of the world's emerging markets in order to decide which ones to buy in 2011, I start with two questions:

• Is the market cheap?
• And has it under-performed over the past year?

If the answer is "yes" for both those questions, that market is much more likely to get my vote.
But with every rule, there are also exceptions. As we will see.

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Britain Pledges to Support Ireland in Debt Crisis - NYTimes.com

BRUSSELS — The British government signaled Wednesday that it could offer direct financial assistance to Ireland even though Britain is outside the euro zone, as the European Union struggled to contain a resurgent debt crisis.

India needs to do more in social security space

CBI likely to question Ashok Chavan on Adarsh scam

Prince William & Kate Middleton Officially Engaged

Half Of Small Businesses Limit Employee Access To Social Networks

The majority (81%) of small businesses have an employee Internet policy and half say employees are not allowed to access any social networks on a company computer, according to a new survey by security firm Webroot.
"Clearly the potential impact of social networks as a threat vector has hit home for IT administrators," said Gerhard Eschelbeck, CTO of Webroot.

Irish Bailout Threatens to Reignite Euro Debt Crisis

By Don Miller, Associate Editor, Money Morning

Ireland's reeling banking system, and the government's reluctance to accept outside help, is threatening to reignite the European debt crisis that nearly led to the demise of the European Union (EU) and its currency last spring.
EU officials are trying to persuade Irish officials to shore up the country's devastated banking sector with a possible $100 billion (73.5 billion euros) aid package as Irish policymakers continue to insist that the financially troubled nation doesn't require a bailout.

LNG Is the Future of Energy

By Kent Moors, Ph.D., Contributing Writer, Money Morning

Sometimes the most important impact on a raw material commodity comes less from its actual extraction and more from how product is introduced into new markets.
Indeed, that is becoming the next major development in North American natural gas. The expansion in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports may well hold the key to turning a glut into advancing profit.

How the Dollar and Europe's Ireland Moves Will Steer Fate of U.S. Stocks

By Jon D. Markman, Contributing Writer, Money Morning

Stocks retreated over the past week following an earnings warning from tech giant Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), renewed tensions in Europe over the ability of Ireland to pay its debts and a surge in the U.S. dollar.

Overlaying the action was word out of South Korea that the G-20 meeting of leaders of the world's largest economies was not going well, with European and Asian leaders expressing exasperation with U.S. monetary stimulus and a distaste for U.S. President Barack Obama's scolding tone on export targets.

Star Gazing: Jada Pinkett Smith Takes Kids to Hawaii

 

Jet-setting around the globe for Jaden's movie premieres and Willow's musical appearances must be tiring for the Smith family. Jada took her superstar kids to Hawaii for some much needed down time. The actress looks pretty relaxed as she soaks up that famous Pacific sun.

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Foreign ministers to talk Pacific ties

AUCKLAND, AAP - Improving ties with Pacific neighbours was on the agenda when New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully meets with his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd, in Canberra yesterday.

Mr McCully was due to arrive in Canberra yesterday afternoon for the biannual meeting.
"These talks are an opportunity to discuss the foreign policy agenda in depth, and to set our shared goals for our trans-Tasman relationship," Mr McCully said in a statement.
"Our discussions in Canberra will cover regional and global issues, and how we can further improve co-operation with our partners, including in the Pacific Islands Forum.
The previous formal talks between the countries' foreign ministers were held in February this year, when Stephen Smith held the foreign affairs portfolio in the Australian government.

Israel to take in 8000 Ethiopians

JERUSALEM, AFP - The Israeli cabinet has voted to bring to the country about 8000 Ethiopians who claim Jewish descent, saying they are living in conditions of disease and hunger.
"There are about 8000 women, men and children living in the most severe humanitarian conditions," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet session on Sunday.
"We have a moral commitment as Jews, as the People of Israel, to find a solution."

Fear grips Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, AFP - The death toll in Haiti's cholera outbreak has soared to 917 as officials struggle to contain the growing epidemic threatening the quake-ravaged country.

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Muslims prepare for rituals

MECCA, AFP - The world's largest annual pilgrimage, the hajj, has begun, with hundreds of thousands of Muslims pouring into the camp of Mina from Mecca to prepare for solemn rituals.

The pilgrims are estimated to total up to 2.5 million this year.

Papandreou Meets with Sarkozy & French Leaders in Paris | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and the French President Nicola Sarkozy met today in Paris shortly after 1 pm local time. The meeting focused on relations between the two countries, developments in the global economy and climate change.

At 6 o’clock this afternoon the Prime Minister will meet with François Fillon. Fillon is once again the leader of the new formed cabinet, according to last night’s announcements.

Papandreou Says Greek Voters Rejected ’Sirens of Instablity’

Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said voters have shown support for his efforts to cut the nation’s budget deficit and debt as the ruling Pasok Party stood poised to win most of the weekend’s regional elections.

Gabrielle Union at Day of the Child

Gabrielle Union and other celebs gathered in Los Angeles on November 14, for the 12th Annual Day of the Child. The actress looked fresh and sweet in a periwinkle blue dress with embroidered eyelets.

Shanghai fire: 40 dead as apartment block engulfed in flames

At least 40 people have been killed by a blazing fire in a high-rise residential building in the business centre of Shanghai, on the east coast of China.
A further 90 people were also injured in the incident, which took place at 2pm local time (6am GMT) today in the Jingan district.
Building materials caught fire, and the blaze spread to scaffolding and then to the 28-storey building, home to retired teachers, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
More people could have been hurt, but the 28-storey apartment block was being renovated.

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• 
  
• Hobbled Dems, eager GOP back for lame-duck session (AP)
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• Shanghai high-rise fire kills 42 (AP)
• Official to AP: Rolls-Royce replacing A380 engines (AP)

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