NZ HERALD Egypt generals under fire from US, Nov 27, 2011

"The US increased pressure on Egypt's military rulers to hand power to civilian leaders.
The generals turned to a Mubarak-era politician to head a new government in a move that failed to satisfy more than 100,000 protesters who jammed Tahrir Square in the biggest rally this week.
The demonstrators rejected the appointment of Kamal el-Ganzouri as prime minister, setting up a showdown between the two sides only three days before key parliamentary elections.
The protesters say they will not leave the square until the military rulers, led by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, step down and a civilian presidential council is formed to run the country until a new leader is elected."

BBC News - Nato helicopters 'kill Pakistan checkpoint soldiers', Nov 26, 2011

"Pakistani officials have accused Nato helicopters of firing on a military checkpoint near Pakistan's Afghan border, killing 26 soldiers.
The "unprovoked and indiscriminate" attack took place in the Pakistani tribal region of Mohmand, the Pakistani military said in a statement.
In response, Pakistan has closed the border crossing for supplies bound for Nato forces in Afghanistan.
Nato said it was aware of "an incident" near the border and was investigating.
The alleged attack took place at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, Reuters reports, at around 02:00 local time (21:00 GMT).
Two officers were among the dead, officials said, and seven soldiers were reported wounded."

LA TIMES - Egypt protest against military rulers is biggest yet, Nov 26, 2011

"By Jeffrey Fleishman and Amro Hassan, Los Angeles Times
November 25, 2011, 5:20 p.m.
Reporting from Cairo—They came by the tens of thousands, swelling through neighborhoods, marching over bridges and pouring into Tahrir Square on Friday in the biggest protest yet against Egypt's increasingly isolated military rulers.
Workers, mothers, activists, students and doctors, their numbers multiplying into nightfall, rallied in spirit and defiance reminiscent of the chilly February days that marked the end of Hosni Mubarak's regime. Dubbed "Last Chance Friday," the demonstration had the hardened determination of a battle and the air of a carnival. Protesters bandaged after earlier clashes with police wandered amid families with face-painted children.
"

EGYPT Today Video, Nov 26, 2011

BLACK Friday Videos , Nov 26, 2011

CNN News - Ganzouri regains PM job amid rival protests in Cairo, Nov 26, 2011

"Cairo (CNN) -- Kamal Ganzouri, who once served as prime minister under President Hosni Mubarak, regained the post Friday as competing protests drew tens of thousands of demonstrators in the capital.
"We are here to serve our nation," Ganzouri said.
Ganzouri told reporters that Hussein Tantawi, field marshal of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and Egypt's dominant force since Mubarak's ouster in February, "made it clear to me he is no longer willing to stay in power. If he told me otherwise, I'd not have accepted to take this role."
Ganzouri said he had asked for time to form a Cabinet "that will be accepted by everyone.""

NZ HERALD - Cairo the new 'Berlin' as troops man wall. Nov 25, 2011

"In a stark illustration of the divide that now separates Cairo's demonstrators from the Military Council, the Egyptian army yesterday erected a 2.5m-high breezeblock wall on Mohamed Mahmoud St, the road leading off Tahrir Square which has seen the worst of the violence that has claimed dozens of lives this week.
"Cairo has become Berlin," joked a protester, Ibrahim Abdul Ghani, as he looked at the wall, which blocks one of the main access routes to the Interior Ministry. Troops manning another main road leading to the ministry set up steel barriers and coils of barbed wire, suggesting the military is intent on defusing the prolonged street clashes that have threatened to derail elections.
But in a press conference yesterday members of the Military Council did little to calm the protesters, rejecting a key demand of those camped out in Tahrir Square by saying an immediate handover to civilian rule would represent a "betrayal" of the country."

BBC News - Egypt protests: Mass rally in Cairo ahead of election, Nov 25, 2011

"Tens of thousands of protesters have packed into central Cairo's Tahrir Square to demand that Egypt's military rulers step aside.
The demonstrators want the postponement of elections due to start on Monday.
Prime Minister-designate Kamal Ganzouri has said he will not form a new cabinet until after the polls.
The latest wave of protests has led to the worst violence since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February. More than 40 people have been killed.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) is overseeing a transition to civilian rule.
Despite promises by the council to speed up the process, some protesters fear it intends to cling to power. They want military rule to end before parliamentary elections are held.
Yet many Egyptians want the polls to go ahead as planned. One influential group, the Muslim Brotherhood - which is expected to do well in the vote - is not supporting the Tahrir Square protests."

TIMES of India - Egypt army picks new PM, protesters plan mass rally on Friday, Nov 25, 2011

"CAIRO: Egyptian former prime minister Kamal Ganzouri accepted a request from the ruling generals to form a new government, state media reported, but protesters brushed away their choice and vowed to hold another mass rally on Friday to demand the army quit power.
Ganzouri confirmed he had agreed in principle to lead a national salvation government after meeting with the head of the ruling military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the website of state newspaper Al Ahram reported, citing sources close to Ganzouri.
In an attempt to defuse protests by thousands of Egyptians frustrated by nine months of military rule, the army council promised parliamentary elections would start on time next week. It earlier said it would speed up the timetable for a handover from military to civilian presidential rule."

FIJI LIVE - Public sector gets 3-9 per cent pay rise, Nov 25, 2011

"Fiji’s police, doctors and nurses are the big winners as civil servants and disciplined forces are to get pay rises of between three to nine per cent from 2012.
The Police Force, with a nine per cent pay rise, and doctors and nurses - six per cent – get the largest increases.
Announcing the 2012 Budget in Suva today, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said the pay rise was not a cost of living adjustment, but an adjustment to make the sector more competitive with the private sector.
“Government employees should not take a back seat to workers in the private sector.
“Pay is an important incentive for keeping highly skilled and talented Fijians from leaving the government for jobs in the private sector,” he said."

CNN News - 3 U.S. students expect to be freed in Egypt; U.S. filmmaker also in custody, Nov 24, 2011

"Cairo (CNN) -- As questions continued to swirl about the fate of three American college students arrested in Egypt for their role in ongoing protests there, a U.S. official said that diplomats were also in contact with Egyptian authorities about an award-winning filmmaker behind bars.
The three college students -- Derrik Sweeney, Gregory Porter and Luke Gates -- were ordered to be released Thursday, said Adel Saeed, the spokesman of the general prosecutor.
But late in the day, they remained in custody."

PRAVDA - Russia and USA on verge of another Cold War, Nov 24, 2011

"Russia will pull out from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and refuse from the steps in the field of disarmament, if the USA continues to build the missile defense system in Europe, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated in a televised address to the nation Wednesday.
According to Medvedev, Russia is going to deploy Iskander missile complexes in the west and in the south of the country. The systems will guarantee the total destruction of the European part of the air defense system.
In addition, Russia's new strategic ballistic missiles will be outfitted with advanced complexes to overcome the air defense system. The missiles will also have highly efficient warheads, Medvedev said.
The president ordered the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to start elaborating the measures which, if necessary, would guarantee the destruction of informational and administering means of the air defense system."

ABC News, Australia - Fires wreak havoc across south-west WA, Nov 24, 2011

"A bushfire continues to rage through the Margaret River region of Western Australia, but changing weather conditions have provided some relief.

Strong winds that buffeted the fire at Margaret and pushed its southern front into the beachside communities of Prevelly and Gnarabup have eased slightly.
At least 30 homes and chalets - including the historic Wallcliffe House - have been confirmed as damaged or destroyed by the fire which started about midday Wednesday.
Crews are struggling to contain the blaze, with thick smoke rendering water-bombing from aircraft virtually impossible, but they are hoping the cool change will help them overnight.
The incident controller at Margaret River, Roger Armstrong, says the fire is still not under control.
"We've been buffeted at every turn and we're still not out of the woods yet," he said."

NZ HERALD - New polls show National could govern alone, Nov 24, 2011

"Two polls published tonight show support holding steady for the National Party to govern alone, two days out from the general election.
The final ONE News Colmar Brunton poll of the campaign shows National down three per cent to 50, Labour is up to 28 percent but their likely coalition partner the Greens drop to 10 per cent support.
New Zealand First rises to 4.2 per cent, and the Conservative Party is above the Maori Party at 2.4 and two per cent respectively.
Act has 1.7 per cent support, the Mana Party 1.0 and United Future 0.1.
TVNZ said if it plays out this way on Saturday night, National would govern alone - but only just - with 65 seats.
On the poll's numbers, Labour could not form a government, even adding their 36 seats with 13 from the Greens.
The last 3 News Reid Research Poll before the election also shows National able to govern alone.
The party's 50.8 per cent support would give them 65 seats.
Labour drops back to 26 per cent, and the Green Party record their best ever result, 13.4 percent, or 17 seats, said TV3."

MATANGI TONGA News - Helu family launches new cultural group in Australia, Nov 24, 2011

"The Futa Helu Performing Arts and Culture Inc. was officially launched by the Mayor of Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia, Mr Khal Asfour, on November 12 at the Bankstown Arts Centre Theatre.
Members performed traditional Tongan dances, classical music and choir singing. The group has 40 members, ranging in ages from 6 to 24 years old, who have been studying Tongan dancing, music, and language, in classes offered by the association since August."

MATANGI TONGA News - Japanese traditional performance and cuisine showcased in Nuku'alofa, Nov 24, 2011

"The Okinawa Traditional Performing Arts Tour from Japan visited Tonga on the last leg of a South Pacific Tour, presenting a free performance at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa on November 23.
The Okinawa traditional group also performed on Tuesday evening, at a Japanese Cuisine Demonstration and Workshop held at the International Dateline Hote, the first of its kind hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Nuku'alofa.
The 13-member group that includes eight performers from Okinawa, on the southernmost prefecture of Japan, was formed specifically for the South Pacific Tour, which began in New Zealand, and continuing on to Fiji and Tonga."

FIJI LIVE - New Zealanders likely to favour status quo, Nov 24, 2011

"New Zealanders go to the polls Saturday, apparently in no mood for change after a tumultuous year which saw the nation shattered by a devastating earthquake and buoyed by Rugby World Cup glory.
Prime Minister John Key's centre-right National Party holds a commanding lead in opinion polls, attracting 50-54 percent support, compared to around 26-27.5 for the main opposition Labour Party.
Key's personal popularity is even more marked, with the former investment banker enjoying a 49-53 percent approval rating as preferred prime minister, while Labour's Phil Goff languishes on 10-13 percent.
Massey University political marketing expert Claire Robinson said Key, who in 2008 ended nine years of Labour rule under Helen Clark, was easily the most popular politician of his generation."

SAMOA NEWS - What better time than Thanksgiving... for a Food Fest?, Nov 23, 2011

"Origin Energy will be hosting a first ever Food Fest this coming Friday and Saturday at the Origin Compound in the Tafuna Industrial Park for residents and visitors alike.
Called simply, ‘The Taste of Samoa' this festival is loaded with great recipes, prizes, entertainment - and for the finale, a competition among the best chefs in the territory.
It's a great fundraising event, not only for our athletes going to Australia, but also for any group that wishes to participate."

HAWAII REPORTER - Hawaii Supreme Court Rules Hawaii’s Most Notorious Manslaughter Case Can Be Tried, Nov 23, 2011

"Loko Dam breached on March 14, 2006, killing seven Kauai residents and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage.
James Pflueger, the man who the state says is responsible for causing the dam’s collapse by illegally covering the primary safety feature, the dam’s spillway, was indicted on 7 counts of manslaughter and one count of reckless endangerment in November 2008.
Defense attorneys for the 85-year-old retired automobile mogul have filed numerous appeals since their client’s indictment, successfully delaying his trial for more than 18 months."

CNN New - Egypt's Cabinet submits resignation amid protests, violence, Nov 21, 2011

"Cairo (CNN) -- Egypt's Cabinet offered to resign Monday night, government officials said, as thousands of people gathered again in Cairo to protest the military-led government.
The military leadership accepted the mass resignation soon after the prime minister's office said it was offered, said Lt. Col. Amr Imam, a spokesman for the ruling Supreme Council for the Armed Forces.
But a short time later, a spokesman for Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said that the resignation was not complete. Mohammed Hegazy said around 11 p.m. (4 p.m. ET) that Egypt's ruling military council "is currently in another session with the Cabinet and has not accepted" the Cabinet members' proposed mass resignation "yet.""