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No escaping parking wardens and spies in the skies for motorists of the future...






No escaping parking wardens and spies in the sky for motorists of the future...



First published at Qondio:



Motorists could be charged for parking without the need for buying tickets from roadside meters, it has recently been revealed.



But on the flipside, however,they could be financially rewarded for avoiding peak-hour congestion nominated roads.



A former Auckland City Council transport chairman advised that the next generation wireless traffic technology, used to some extent in Europe and Japan already, costing NZ $6.5 billion dollars and named "Galileo" will be in place by 2013. The European satelitte system will be much faster and more accurate, allowing New Zealand and other countries to revolutionise their traffic monitoring.



The Galileo network, built by the European Union and the European Space Agency, will provide more detailed location information than the Global Positioning System (GPS) developed by the US. It has been described as the next generation GPS.



The Galileo would send precise information to an electronic device carried by the driver, such as a mobile phone. At the same time a smart sticker or computer chip stuck on the windscreen would confirm registration details with the electronic device.



That device would "tell" the city council computer where the vehicle was parked. A parking charge would then be sent by the council to the electronic device, which the driver would approve before completion of the transaction. If the driver parked longer than charged for, it could be adjusted automatically.



While there are no radical parking charges considered, economies of scale under the new Auckland super city being created this year, would undoubtably make centralised traffic controls more attractive.



Acknowledgements: Peter Petterson

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President Obama sacks General McChrystal as top US commander in Afghanistan...




WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama ousted Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the top US commander in Afghanistan on Wednesday, saying that his scathing published remarks about administration officials undermine civilian control of the military and erode the needed trust on the president's war team.



Obama named McChrystal's direct boss - Gen. David Petraeus - to take over the troubled 9-year-old war in Afghanistan. He asked the Senate to confirm Petraeus for the new post "as swiftly as possible."



The president said he did not make the decision to accept McChrystal's resignation over any disagreement in policy or "out of any sense of personal insult." Flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Rose Garden, he said: "I believe it is the right decision for our national security."



Obama hit several gracious notes about McChrystal and his service, saying that he made the decision to sack him "with considerable regret." And yet, said he said that the job in Afghanistan cannot be done now under McChrystal's leadership, asserting that the critical remarks from the general and his inner circle in the Rolling Stone magazine article displayed conduct that doesn't live up to the necessary standards for a command-level officer.


Obama seemed to suggest that McChrystal's military career is over, including in his praise of the general that the nation should be grateful "for his remarkable career in uniform."



McChrystal left the White House after his Oval Office call to accounts, and returned to his military quarters at Washington's Fort McNair. A senior military official said there is no immediate decision about whether he would retire from the Army, which has been his entire career. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.



With the controversy have the effect of refueling debate over his Afghanistan policy, Obama took pains to emphasize that the strategy was not shifting with McChrystal's outster.



"This is a change in personnel but it is not a change in policy," he said.



Indeed, as Obama was speaking, McChrystal released a statement saying that he resigned out of "a desire to see the mission succeed."



"I strongly support the president's strategy in Afghanistan," McChrystal said.



With Washington abuzz, there had been a complete lockdown on information about the morning's developments until just before Obama spoke.



But by pairing the decision on McChrystal's departure with the name of his replacement, Obama is seeking to move on as quickly as possible from the firestorm.



Petraeus, who attended a formal Afghanistan war meeting at the White House Wednesday, has been overseeing the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq as head of US Central Command.



Petraeus is the nation's best-known military man, having risen to prominence as the commander who turned around the Iraq war in 2007. The Afghanistan job is actually a step down from his current post.



Acknowledgements: -Associated Press

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Help! Someone has stolen my identity ...



Diana Clements reports:

It's scary having your identity stolen. It happened to me in London and I lived through several tense weeks trying to convince a finance company that I wasn't responsible for a €300 ($645) spending spree.

Someone had found my bank statements and used them to open a charge card in my name. Astoundingly the person was able to spend €300 on the spot. It wasn't my spending and eventually the company gave up trying to chase me.



Here's what you need to know to avoid identity theft happening to you:





Identity theft is fraud where someone pretends to be you to access your bank accounts or to take credit out in your name.



The fraudsters could be living in your street or on the other side of the world.



They use many techniques to steal personal information ranging from rummaging through your rubbish bin to hacking your computer.



It's incredibly easy for them to find out personal information about you ranging from the property you own to your car registration details.



More than 1000 incidents of identity theft are reported to the New Zealand Police each year.



There is no guarantee that banks will reimburse you if you are the victim of Internet fraud as a result of identity theft, although they usually do.



If you become a victim contact the police to report the crime.

How not to become a victim





Never throw mail away with personal details on it. Always shred paper — or even do what I do when I can't be bothered turning the shredder on: rip it up and either compost it or flush it down the toilet.



Install security software on your computer that includes antivirus and spyware protection and a firewall (software designed to prevent unauthorised access to your computer across the Internet).



Check your bank and credit card statements online regularly. If your bank has systems to limit the amount you can spend every day, use them to ensure that no-one else can withdraw large chunks of money.



Avoid posting personal details such as full name, workplace, date of birth, and e-mail addresses on social networking sites.



Check your Veda Advantage credit file at least once a year.



Only buy from websites that you know and trust so that your credit card details can't be scammed.



Avoid carrying out transactions on public computers in Internet cafes or libraries. It may have keystroke recording software on it.



Put a lock on your letterbox and receive bank statements electronically where possible.



Consider taking out identity theft insurance.



Read more about identity theft:


Acknowledgements: MSN Money

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American tobacco expert  "The Insider" shocked by nicotine  levels in New Zealand cigarettes ... 





Former head of research and development for a United States tobacco firm, Dr Jeffrey Wigand is in New Zealand to speak on smoking, the real-life tobacco company whistle blower from the movie The Insider, is shocked to learn of the high levels of nicotine and tar to which New Zealand smokers are exposed.



Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has brought the American Dr Wigand - portrayed in the 1999 movie by Russell Crowe - to New Zealand to give lectures and to speak to the Maori affairs select committee inquiry into tobacco.



The former head of research and development for a United States tobacco company, Dr Wigand thought someone was playing a prank yesterday when he first glanced at the Herald and saw a graphic showing the high levels of nicotine and tar obtained by the average New Zealand smoker.



"I thought someone was jangling my chain."



New Zealand was highest of eight countries for tar, thought to be a major cause of lung cancer, and second-highest, behind South Africa, for nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco smoke.


The study was conducted by researchers at British American Tobacco (BAT) in Britain, by testing 80,000 filters supplied by smokers in eight countries from their smoked cigarettes.



"Seventeen milligrams is a very high level of tar," said Dr Wigand.



"It approaches the level for non-filtered cigarettes."



"The high nicotine levels are particularly an issue for beginners - children - and for adults in trying to quit."



Dr Wigand, who was sacked in 1993 from Brown & Williamson, part of the BAT group, went on to slam the industry in CBS television interviews which led to the movie.



He was a key witness in anti-tobacco litigation in the US and is a speaker on the industry's practices.



He told the Herald yesterday it was an immoral industry because it harmed and killed consumers when they used its products as intended.



"The mantra in the company I worked for was 'hook 'em young and hook 'em for life'."



He has previously accused Brown & Williamson's head of lying to legislators in stating he believed nicotine was not addictive, and yesterday Dr Wigand dismissed industry assertions that smoking was a matter of adult choice.



Acknowledgements   Martin Johnston

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Brutal truth behind China's pleasant smiles and New Zealand lawmaker finds out the hard way ...


"Russel Norman has done us all a favour. He got roughed up for flying the Tibetan flag in front of he visiting Chinese vice-president, but he leaves us an image and a symbol of great value. He showed the real face of the Chinese police state, not the smiling one it wears at cocktail parties and diplomatic ceremonies. The goons who pushed and shoved him and tore the flag out of his hands also tore off China's mask. The Chinese state oppresses not only the Tibetans but its own people. It does to protesters what it did, astonishingly, to an elected MP in a foreign land: trampled on his rights and treated him with brickfaced contempt. And all in front of TV cameras. This will remain as aa glowing reminder of brutal truths and as a counterpoint to the vapidities of official ritual. Vice-President Xi raises his wine glass and gives a pleasant smile. He shakes hands with John key, carefully angled for the cameras. He has a pleasant talk with Phil Goff, another "great friend" of China. Inside the gilded halls,Xi is surrounded by fawning smiles. Outside, his guards smear our sovereignty and spit on on our democratic values.

Everybody knows, of course,that New Zealand needs China's money. Politicians of both main parties have worked for years to win a free-trade deal with the emerging Chineses super-state. Without China as a market, New Zealand would be much poorer than it is. Without the growing Chinese markets in future,New Zealand's economic prospects would be much dimmer. New Zealand cannot restrict its trade to democracies. We must sell  in the real world, which contains more despots than elected leaders. And this presents a problem."

The opening paragraphs in the New Zealand Sunday Times editorial of June 20, 2010.


Russell Norman the young co-leader of the New Zealand Greens Party had protested on the grounds of New Zealand's Parliament against Chinese policies regarding Tibet and had waved a Tibetan flag.  He was then manhandled by Chinese security guards and had his flag taken off him and trampled into the ground. Russel Norman is an elected member of New Zealand's Parliament and should not have been physically manhandled. That was offensive and is actually assault under New Zealand law. NZ police provide all official security and protection for visiting dignatories such as the Chinese vice-president and his entourage. His security guards should have remained at his side and not become involved in any fracas. Also under New Zealand law foreign security guards cannot be armed. The NZ Diplomatic Protection Squad provides armed protection for foreigners. These security guards breached New Zealand law and could have been liable for prosecution. Of course they won't and not much will be said by those who govern New Zealand at present. They will bend over backwards not to offend Vice-president Xi, who could become the next president of China. This action offended not only members of New Zealand's parliament, but the New Zealand people who are represented by members of parliament such as Russel Norman.

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Roughed up NZ MP plans to complain for being assaulted by Chinese security in NZ..





From Pete's Kiwi Watch comes this story: http://peteskiwiforum.blogspot.com/











Roughed up New Zealand MP plans to complain - he was assaulted by Chinese security...







Parliament's Speaker will receive complaint from Green MP Russel Norman, who was roughed up by Chinese security as he held Tibet protest







Green MP Russel Norman plans to lay a complaint with Parliament's Speaker after he was roughed up by the Chinese Vice President's security officers.







The party co-leader was waving a Tibetan flag outside Parliament as Vice President Xi Jinping arrived. He was then manhandled by members of Mr Xi's entourage.







Political editor Barry Soper, who witnessed the scene, says the security contingent was very rough with Mr Norman and he describes the incident as "quite extraordinary.







"Chinese security and there are very large numbers of them, roughed (Mr Norman) up in a way that I've never seen a member of Parliament treated. He had the Tibetan flag ripped from him and trampled on by the Chinese security. He was prevented from getting anywhere near the vice president.







"If somebody does want to wave a Tibetan flag, which is clearly offensive to the Chinese and with the flag went Russel Norman chanting 'freedom for Tibet', well, we live in a democracy and should be able to express our views in the way Russel Norman did."







Mr Soper says Mr Norman can probably expect to receive similar treatment if he waves a Tibetan flag in front of the vice-president again.





Do you expect John Key to put a complaint in to the Chinese? Don't be funny! Seriously the Chinese security need to keep their hands to themselves while on NZ soil or water. Their job was to protect the Chinese dignatory. Any New Zealander is quite free to wave a Tibetan flag here in NZ - NZ is a free democratic state that will not be intimidated by the Chinese regardless of any free trade agreements, John Key. I would wave one myself! The Chinese invaded Tibet in the early 50's. Long live Tibet!

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Jesus was  struck by lightning...




A six-storey-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said.



The "King of Kings" statue, one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.



The sculpture, nearly 19 metres tall and 12m wide at the base, showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown in a game of football.



It was made of plastic foam and fibreglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained early Tuesday.



The fire spread from the statue to an adjacent amphitheatre but was confined to the attic area, and no one was injured, police Chief Mark Neu said.



Travelers on Interstate 75 often were startled to come upon the huge statue by the roadside, but many said America needs more symbols like it.



So many people stopped at the church campus that church officials had to build a walkway to accommodate them.



The 4000-member, nondenominational church was founded by former horse trader Lawrence Bishop and his wife. Bishop said in 2004 he was trying to help people, not impress them, with the statue.



He said his wife proposed the Jesus figure as a beacon of hope and salvation and they spent about $250,000 to finance it.



Acknowledgements: Stuff.co.nz

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The US and Cuba to hold immigration talks in Washington within days...




HAVANA – The United States and Cuba have agreed to hold immigration talks in Washington within days, a U.S. official said Saturday, the first since a similar meeting in Havana in February.



The talks scheduled for Friday are intended to monitor adherence to a 16-year-old agreement under which the United States issues 20,000 visas to Cubans a year, though in the past the sides have used the meeting to delve into more contentious issues.



In the last round of talks, U.S. diplomats pressed Cuba to release Alan Gross, a jailed American contractor that Cuba has accused of spying. Gross has been jailed for more than 6 months without charge.



The American delegation also met with dissidents in Havana, raising the ire of Cuban officials.



The latest round of talks will take place at an as-yet undetermined location in Washington, Gloria Berbena, a spokeswoman for the U.S Interests Section in Havana, told The Associated Press. The U.S. maintains the Interests Section instead of an embassy.



After a brief period of hope that U.S. President Barack Obama would usher in a new era of rapprochement with America's longtime Caribbean foe, relations between the United States and Cuba have been on a downward trajectory for some months.



Fidel Castro, once a grudging admirer of the president, has been harshly critical lately of everything from Obama's work at global climate change talks, to America's backing of Israel, to the use of American soldiers as part of relief efforts in quake-ravaged Haiti.



Cuba was particularly angry when Washington included the island on a list of state sponsors of terrorism back in December.



For its part, U.S. officials have made clear that there is little hope for improved relations while Cuba holds Gross. They have also continued to call on Fidel and his brother, President Raul Castro, to open up the island's political system to democratic reform. Cuba insists that the U.S. drop its 48-year trade embargo and stop meddling in the island's internal affairs.



Despite the lukewarm relations, there have been far more contacts between U.S. and Cuban officials than in years past. The State Department confirmed bilateral talks a few weeks ago on how to respond to the Gulf oil spill, which could threaten Cuban shores. And American and Cuban officials have met to discuss ways to coordinate aid to Haiti.


Acknowledgements: Associated Press

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Kiwi police looking at internet giant Google..





New Zealand police are looking into the actions of internet giant Google.



The Privacy Commissioner has asked the police to investigate Google's recent gathering of personal wireless internet data during its street view operation.



The commission and the police have recently met to discuss Google's possible breach of the Crimes Act after concerns about reports it collected WiFi information while photographing houses and streets for its mapping service.



Google has admited collecting WiFi data in more than thirty countries.

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Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter tragically killed in car crash on eve of World Cup


 Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter was tragically killed in a car crash on the way home from a concert in Soweto on the eve of the World Cup, his office said.



The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zenani Mandela died in a one-car accident and no one else was injured. No other details on the crash were immediately available.



Zenani, who celebrated her 13th birthday June 9, was one of the anti-apartheid icon's nine great-grandchildren.



"The family has asked for privacy as they mourn this tragedy," the foundation said in a statement.



- AP

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NZ beats Serbia 1-0 in Soccer World Cup warm up...


A great story for a minor New Zealand sport; its not rugby or rugby league; not really football at all, but soccer. But another magnificent chapter in New Zealand Soccer's history. Its best since its last and only previous entry into world cup finals in 1982. It is really a great sporting achievement in New Zealand sporting history. Go for it the All Whites!



New Zealand's stunning 1-0 victory over fellow World Cup qualifiers Serbia on Saturday was the greatest in their footballing history, claimed the 'All Whites' coach Ricki Herbert on Sunday.



The 49-year-old former defender - capped 61 times and who was a member of the Kiwi squad that played in the 1982 World Cup finals on their only previous appearance at football's showpiece tournament - was also delighted with the performance of his rank outsiders.



"It was without doubt the greatest footballing victory in our history," Herbert told Austria press agency APA referring to the Serbian clash, in which Shane Smeltz' first-half goal proved the difference.



"But I was even more satisfied with our performance," purred Herbert, who had a spell in English football with Wolverhampton Wanderers.



Herbert, who played in two of the New Zealanders three matches at the 1982 World Cup where they failed to garner a point, said the performance would be a real boost to morale ahead of their Group F campaign.



In South Africa they will face defending champions Italy, Paraguay and debutants Slovakia.



"This match boosts the confidence of everybody," said Herbert.



"We have shown what we are capable of," added Herbert, who was especially pleased as two of his key players were absent in the form of Middlesbrough striker Chris Killen and New Zealand-based midfielder Tim Brown, who is injured.



Whilst Herbert admitted that despite the victory against a strangely subdued Serbian side his aim at the finals, which run from June 11 to July 11, remained modest.



"We are still outsiders," said Herbert.



"My country lost all its matches at the 1982 World Cup finals and we want to change that record," he added.



New Zealand have one more friendly to play prior to ending their preparations in Austria, against another qualifier Slovenia on June 4 in Maribor. Good luck NZ All Whites!



Serbia - who are drawn in Group D against three-time winners Germany, Africa Cup of Nations finalists Ghana and Asian powerhouses Australia - will look to regroup and gain a morale boosting victory over non-qualifiers Poland in their final friendly on June 2 in Kufstein, Austria.



© AFP 2010

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