LA TIMES - Cancer treatment shows promise for rapid weight loss, Nov 11, 2011

"A drug born of a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment causes rapid weight loss and improved metabolic function in monkeys, scientists have found. Coming in the wake of multiple setbacks for proposed diet drugs, the early success of a peptide dubbed "adipotide" by its creators may open a new front in the war against obesity, several researchers said."

LA TIMES - 'Immortals' stuns visually, stumbles narratively, critics say, Nov 11, 2011

"Without a big-name star to bank on, the new sword-and-sandals action movie "Immortals," directed by Tarsem Singh, has been ceaselessly touted in ads as being "from the producers of '300.' " Like that film, "Immortals" is chock-full of striking visuals, muscle-bound warriors and bloody battles. What's missing, critics are saying, is a coherent narrative.
The Times' Betsy Sharkey asks, "Where are the gods of Olympus when you need them?" and laments that "mere mortals were apparently not able to create a movie that actually made sense." It's not all bad — Tarsem (who prefers to go by his first name) is "a visual visionary," and star Henry Cavill is "magnetic as Theseus" — but the script, by Greek American brothers Charley and Vlas Parlapanides, is overstuffed and illogical."

VOA News - At Least 13 Killed in Syrian Protest Violence, Nov 11, 2011

"Human rights activists say Syrian forces have killed at least 13 people during anti-government protests around the country Friday, as the government faces new accusations that it may be guilty of "crimes against humanity."
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says most of Friday's casualties occurred in the Homs region. Security forces have launched a series of raids in the city in search of dissidents, and activists said Syrian soldiers also were killed in an apparent ambush.
The casualty figures could not be independently verified because Syria bars most foreign journalists from operating in the country."

ABC News, Australia - Papademos sworn in as Greek PM, Nov 12, 2011

"Technocrat prime minister Lucas Papademos has taken office, saying his main priority is keeping Greece within the eurozone.
The new government of national unity is expected to move quickly to pass the latest bailout package.
Mr Papademos is heading a coalition cabinet filled with many of the same politicians who led the nation into crisis and pushed the eurozone to the brink of collapse.
At a colourful swearing-in ceremony, black-robed Orthodox priests, led by the Archbishop of Athens, blessed Mr Papademos and a cabinet dominated by the two main parties which had bickered for four days before agreeing on the crisis coalition."

NZ HERALD -EU chiefs fight for political lives, Nov 12, 2011

"There is nothing like a fight for survival to inject Darwinian ruthlessness into politics. When backs are to the wall, leaders deemed weak, corrupt or dim get the chop.
Today the fitness principle applies with steely clarity to Europe's political chiefs as they struggle to save the euro.
On a scale unseen since World War II, they are under intense pressure to balance the books despite a public often fiercely opposed to austerity. Some leaders are clinging on painfully but others are falling one by one."

PACIFIC ISLANDS News - Population Census Results come forth at Solomon Islands, Nov 11, 2011

"According to the recent population census conducted in the Solomon Islands, it has been found that the population figures of the island have crossed half a million. The last population census had been conducted a decade back. And within the interceding span of ten years, the population of the island actually increased 100 thousand. At the same time the growth rate of the population has seemed to have declined. According to Government statisticians, it is probable to take another six months in analyzing the complete survey."

SAMOA NEWS - Samoa News|Best Wishes to all the Children of Samoa, Nov 11, 2011

"Happy White Sunday from all of us at the SAMOAN AGAPE Assembly of God in Colorado Springs. Our church is under the leadership of Rev. Isaako and Mrs. Ruth Lefotu. Our church serves the sons and daughters of Samoa in the Air Force Academy and those who are stationed at Ft. Carson...

in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Here is a picture of the Sunday School with our Pastor and wife after our White Sunday Program. God Bless Samoa."

ABC News, Australia - World Cup: Samoan stars back captain's cash claims, Nov 11, 2011

"Samoan Rugby World Cup players are supporting their captain Mahonri Schwalger, after he criticised the Samoa Union for treating the tournament like a "massive holiday".
In a report to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, captain Mahonri Schwalger singled out union vice-chairman Lefau Harry Schuster, chief executive Su'a Peter Schuster, team manager Tuala Matthew Vaea and assistant manager Ryan Schuster for the team's failure in the tournament."

ABC News, Australia - Labour: Key 'ducking the tough questions', Nov 11, 2011

"Prime Minister John Key has been accused of ducking the tough questions during this year's election. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Labour campaign spokesperson Grant Robertson has accused Prime Minister John Key of "ducking the tough questions" by refusing to debate Labour's Phil Goff.
In a promo for this weekend's episode of The Nation, TV3 said Mr Key refused to appear on the show. When reporter Narelle Suisted followed the Key campaign she found its "endless photo opportunities are carefully planned stage shows"."

REUTERS - Obama seeks to deepen Asia-Pacific ties on trip, Nov 11, 2011

"(Reuters) - President Barack Obama leaves on Friday for a 9-day Asia-Pacific tour aimed at deepening U.S. economic and security ties in the region, a top foreign policy goal of his administration.
Nervous about China's rising clout, U.S. allies such as Japan and South Korea will seek reassurances from Obama about America's staying power in the Pacific at a time of economic sluggishness and declining defense budgets."

REUTERS - Mexico security forces use torture in drug war: report, Nov 11, 2011

"(Reuters) - Mexico's security forces are committing widespread human rights violations such as torture and forced disappearances in their battle against drug cartels, a report by Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.
There is evidence Mexican police and armed forces were involved in 170 cases of torture, 24 extrajudicial killings and 39 forced disappearances since the government launched a war on drug gangs in late 2006, the rights group said in the report."

REUTERS - Clinton declares America's Pacific century, Nov 11, 2011

"(Reuters) - With the United States facing a multipronged challenge from China, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared Thursday that the 21st century will be "America's Pacific century" and said the region's problems require U.S. leadership.
While stressing that the Obama administration will seek improved ties with China, Clinton used a speech ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit here to dissuade Beijing and others from thinking the United States is ceding its traditional role in the Pacific."

REUTERS - Rio police nab most wanted drug trafficker, Nov 11, 2011

"(Reuters) - Police captured Rio de Janeiro's most-wanted drug trafficker on Thursday as they prepared to occupy the Brazilian city's largest slum, a vital step in preparations to host the Olympic Games in 2016.
Antonio Bonfim Lopes, the alleged drug lord of the teeming Rocinha slum, was captured in bizarre circumstances when police found him in the trunk of a luxury car of a man who claimed to be a senior diplomat from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Television images showed the fresh-faced suspect known as "Nem" sitting in the trunk of a police car and looking close to tears after his arrest.
"It's a historic moment in the fight against drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro," said Jose Mariano Beltrame, the state security secretary who is leading Rio's push to crack down on organized crime and police corruption."

REUTERS - Greece PM to name crisis cabinet, euro zone shudders, Nov 11, 2011

"(Reuters) - Greece's prime minister designate will name a new crisis cabinet Friday to roll out painful austerity measures and calm the political turmoil that has threatened to bankrupt Athens and force it out of the euro zone.
Greece's two main parties agreed to make Lucas Papademos head of a new unity government Thursday, ending a chaotic search for a leader to save the country from default.
With a political battle raging in fellow euro member Italy over a similar national unity government, Papademos must now fulfill the terms of a 130 billion euro ($177 billion) bailout plan aimed at keeping Greece solvent."

REUTERS - Italy's Senate set to vote for cuts to save euro zone, Nov 11, 2011

"(Reuters) - Italy's Senate was set to vote on Friday for austerity measures demanded by the European Union to avert a euro zone meltdown, while a new emergency government is expected within days, ending the Berlusconi era.
The upper house is due to begin debating the package at 0930 GMT (4:30 am EST) with an outcome expected later in the day. Having been approved by the upper house budget committee Thursday, the law is seen being passed easily.
Voting for the first time in the upper house will be Mario Monti, the former European Commissioner who has emerged as favorite to replace Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi."

VOA News - US Defense Chief Warns Against Military Strike on Iran , Nov 11, 2011

"U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says military action against Iran could have unintended consequences. The warning came at a press conference Thursday.
The U.S. defense chief’s warning follows the release this week of a report by the International Atomic Energy agency that says Iran may be carrying out secret experiments for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons"

XINHUA NET - UN chief calls for diplomatic solution to nuclear standoff with Iran, Nov 11, 2011

"UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday expressed deep concern over the possible military- dimensioned nuclear program in Iran, and called for a diplomatic solution, rather than the military one, to the nuclear standoff with Iran, a UN spokesman said here.
Martin Nesirky, the UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing that after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report on Tuesday accusing Iran of conducting activities aimed at developing nuclear weapons, the secretary-general noted with serious concern that Iran might have carried out nuclear activities with military purposes,"

ABC News, Australia - Life in a Cambodian rubbish dump, Nov 11, 2011

"Just 30 kilometres from Cambodia's world famous Angkor temples is an astounding sight tourists don't see.
Tucked away from foreign eyes on the outskirts of Siem Reap is a community of about 500 people who live - or survive - in a rubbish dump.
Spanish photojournalist Omar Havana spent seven months from October 2010 to April 2011 getting to know the people at the dump and documenting their lives."

NZ HERALD - Russia nears WTO membership after 18-year journey, Nov 11, 2011

"Russia cleared a major hurdle toward opening up its huge oil-driven economy overnight, with negotiators agreeing to final terms that would allow it to join the World Trade Organisation after an 18-year effort.
The deal is expected to quickly inject 4 billion euros ($US5.45 billion) a year into the ailing European economy by boosting European Union exports.
The 27-nation bloc is Russia's biggest trading partner for its agriculture, fuels, mining and manufacturing."