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Tag: New Zealand

  • Huawei May Be Pivoting to Electric Vehicles

    Huawei May Be Pivoting to Electric Vehicles

    After suffering devastating losses as a result of US sanctions, Huawei may be preparing to pivot to electric vehicles.

    Huawei quickly found itself a target of the Trump administration, amid claims the company represented a national security threat. While all Chinese firms are required to cooperate with Beijing, Huawei was widely believed to have unusually close ties with the government and intelligence community. As a result, the Trump administration banned the company from participating in US networks, and there is no indication the Biden administration will reverse those measures.

    Other countries have followed suit, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden. Multiple governments and intelligence agencies have joined the US in branding Huawei a threat.

    The bans and sanction have taken a toll on the company, once an almost unstoppable force in the tech industry. Sanctions against the company have even resulted in it selling its Honor line of smartphones and cutting production of its flagship line, due to not being able to buy enough semiconductors.

    According to Reuters, the company is now exploring a strategic shift to electric vehicle manufacturing as a result of the challenges it’s facing. Reuters sources say the company is preparing to make electric vehicles under its own brand, and the first models could arrive as soon as this year.

    A company spokesman denied the claims, although the denial left plenty of room for interpretation.

    “Huawei is not a car manufacturer. However through ICT (information and communications technology), we aim to be a digital car-oriented and new-added components provider, enabling car OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to build better vehicles.”

  • Huawei Willing to Meet Any Demand From Swedish Government

    Huawei Willing to Meet Any Demand From Swedish Government

    Huawei has signaled it is willing to meet any demand the Swedish government may impose to avoid being banned from the country’s 5G networks.

    Huawei is under increased pressure globally as multiple countries implement bans and restrictions on the Chinese telecoms firm. While the US originally spearheaded the campaign to isolate and restrict Huawei, claiming the company poses a national security threat, other countries have arrived at the same conclusion.

    Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Romania have banned Huawei from their networks, while the UK implemented a ban under pressure from the US. Sweden implemented a ban of their own, on both Huawei and ZTE, over the same kind of concerns the US has cited. Huawei challenged the ban in court and won a temporary reprieve, as the courts ordered the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority to delay its spectrum auction to allow more time for the matter to be resolved.

    Huawei is determined to get back in Sweden’s good graces, and is willing to do whatever it takes according to Reuters.

    “We are even willing to meet extraordinary requirements, such as setting up test facilities for our equipment in Sweden, for example, if they want to,” Kenneth Fredriksen, Huawei’s Executive Vice President, Central East Europe and Nordic Region, told Reuters.

    “We are now in the middle of the court process, but we are willing to have pragmatic discussions.”

    It remains to be seen if Huawei’s overtures will be successful, especially since Sweden’s ban was based on analysis by the country’s military and security experts.

  • UK/Huawei Showdown Heats Up

    UK/Huawei Showdown Heats Up

    The ongoing showdown over the UK’s decision to revisit Huawei’s role in the country’s 5G network is heating up.

    In contrast to the US, Australia and New Zealand, the UK is the only one of the so-called “Five Eyes” alliance of countries that formally decided to include Huawei in its 5G network plans, albeit in a limited role. Meanwhile, the fifth member of the Five Eyes, Canada, is still undecided.

    Ultimately, however, multiple factors have forced the UK to revisit its initial decision. US officials have warned that involving Huawei in its network would force the US to reconsider its military and intelligence assets within the UK. On top of that, the US has taken measures to limit Huawei’s access to the semiconductor chips it needs for its equipment, further endangering the UK’s plans.

    Now that the UK is officially reviewing the decision, parties on both sides are mounting increasing pressure. According to CNBC, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has come out in favor of the UK’s security review, telling BBC radio “I trust that the U.K. government will design their networks in ways that protect the networks and make sure that the U.K. has secure 5G networks.”

    On the flip side, Huawei is pulling out the stops to win over public opinion. According to the BBC, the Chinese company is engaging in a newspaper and internet media blitz to remind the British public that it has been in business in the UK for some 20 years.

    Ultimately, there will be winners and losers regardless of what the UK decides. If it continues with its plans to include Huawei, it risks its “special relationship” with the US. If, on the other hand, it bans Huawei as the US has done, it risks alienating one of its biggest trading partners.

  • Microsoft Establishing First Data Center in New Zealand

    Microsoft Establishing First Data Center in New Zealand

    Microsoft has announced it is establishing its first data center in New Zealand, as it works to expand its enterprise cloud services in the country.

    Microsoft has been working to grow its Azure cloud business and has been making significant headway against market leader AWS. One area where Microsoft is aggressively making headway is in its datacenter regions. The company already has more datacenters globally than any other provider, with 60 regions announced, and more than 140 countries.

    “This significant investment in New Zealand’s digital infrastructure is a testament to the remarkable spirit of New Zealand’s innovation and reflects how we’re pushing the boundaries of what is possible as a nation,” said Vanessa Sorenson, general manager, Microsoft New Zealand. “The Fletcher School’s Digital Evolution Index characterizes New Zealand as a ‘standout nation’ demonstrating to the world what the future might look like. I’m confident this investment will help accelerate our digital evolution.”

    Microsoft’s announcement should help the company continue its expansion, delivering scalable solutions to New Zealand businesses and organizations.

  • US Assets Could Be Pulled From UK Over Huawei Deal

    US Assets Could Be Pulled From UK Over Huawei Deal

    The US is reviewing its military and intelligence assets in the UK and may pull them out following the UK’s decision to use Huawei.

    The US has banned Huawei and engaged in a campaign to pressure its allies to do the same, especially those allies that, along with the US, constitute the Five Eyes. Comprised of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, the Five Eyes work closely on the international scene and share intelligence. The UK, in particular, shares a very close relationship with the US, a relationship that has been strained with the UK’s decision to include Huawei in its 5G network.

    According to The Telegraph, the UK’s decision may soon result in action on the part of the US. The Telegraph says that half a dozen sources have confirmed that a review is underway to determine what military and intelligence assets in the UK may need to be pulled out.

    “This was not a bluff. You cannot mitigate the danger Boris Johnson is exposing the UK to by letting Huawei into the network,” said one of the sources.

    “This review is not a punishment. This is the White House saying ‘okay, if they’re going to go down this path and put themselves at risk then how do we protect ourselves.’”

    The coming weeks and months will no doubt be pivotal, in terms of the US and UK’s relationship. It’s also possible that such a review could put more pressure on Johnson to reverse the decision, something many in the British government already want to do.

  • Canada Undecided On Huawei, Will Not ‘Get Bullied’

    Canada Undecided On Huawei, Will Not ‘Get Bullied’

    Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Navdeep Bains, has said the country will not be pressured into make a decision on Huawei.

    Canada is part of the Five Eyes group of countries that work closely on intelligence. Of the group, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand have banned Huawei from their 5G networks, while the UK has opted to include the Chinese firm in a limited role. Canada has yet to decide, but is warning the country must do what is best for itself.

    According to Bloomberg, Bains told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. “We will make sure that we proceed in a manner that’s in our national interest. We won’t get bullied by any other jurisdictions.”

    “Countries have raised their concerns. We’re engaged with our Five Eyes partners. We know that this is a very important issue,” he added. “But we will make a decision that makes sense for Canadians and protects Canadians.”

    The U.S. has been pressuring its allies, both in the Five Eyes and EU, to ban Huawei. It’s safe to say the U.S. certainly wants to win over its closest ally geographically but, based on Bains’ remarks, that may be easier said than done.

  • Kelly McGarry, Pro Mountain Biker, Honored With Video Tribute After Shocking Death

    Kelly McGarry was well-known to those who love the sport of mountain biking.

    Of course, Kelly McGarry was the star of many a heart-pounding GoPro video showcasing his skills on scary mountain trails.

    But, Kelly McGarry was also “easy-going, hilarious and approachable” and “a positive role model for kids”, according to a new video posted in his honor.

    Kelly McGarry was riding uphill Queenstown, New Zealand’s Fernhill Loop Track when he suffered from a cardiac arrest on Monday.

    McGarry was only 33 and was in prime physical condition.

    In Memory Of Kelly McGarry

    After the sad news hearing about Kelly McGarry Passing away this morning we thought we'd upload this nice video shot by the guys over at @dirtmagazine Kelly Passed away around 4:14pm whilst riding on a trail and was pronounced dead at the scene…. we still dont know the full story behind what happened or how but EVERYONE from the Sport shall miss this Friendly Giant All our thoughts and prayers go to his Family and Friends at this Very Sad Time.

    Posted by Blizzard Extreme Sports on Monday, February 1, 2016

    Kelly McGarry’s father, Nick McGarry was just as shocked as the rest of the world.

    He said, “How the hell could that happen (to him) with a such fine physique like that? It just doesn’t make sense. Boy, he was just a ball of muscle. He was so fit – not heart attack material at all.”

    Nick went on to say how proud he was of his son, Kelly McGarry, and all that he had accomplished in his short life.

    He said, “We wouldn’t have conceived that a young man could make a career out of it – and getting sponsors to pay him to do what he enjoyed. He did it all without any assistance – even from me to a certain extent. He didn’t ask for anything . . . He just did it all on his own.”

    He added, “He’s awesome. He’s one of New Zealand’s greats and I’m just so proud of him.”

    What do you think of the sweet video tribute to Kelly McGarry?

  • Netflix Is Now Live in Australia and New Zealand

    Netflix Is Now Live in Australia and New Zealand

    It’s still Monday morning for most of us in the West, but it’s already Tuesday, March 24 down under.

    That means it’s officially Netflix launch day in Australia and New Zealand.

    Netflix has been vocal about its plans for world domination, saying it hopes to be in 200 countries by 2017.

    “Our international expansion strategy over the last few years has been to expand as fast as we can while staying profitable on a global basis. Progress has been so strong that we now believe we can complete our global expansion over the next two years, while staying profitable, which is earlier than we expected. We then intend to generate material global profits from 2017 onwards,” said Hastings at a recent earnings call.

    Australia and New Zealand is a big push for Netflix, which most recently moved into Cuba. That was pretty much seen as a symbolic gesture, considering the country’s internet access struggles. The company plans to launch in Japan this fall.

  • Netflix Hits Australia, New Zealand March 24

    Netflix Hits Australia, New Zealand March 24

    We’ve known Netflix was readying its launch in Australia and New Zealand with March in mind, and today the company has announced a specific date.

    Netflix will land in Australia and New Zealand on March 24.

    “Many Aussies and Kiwis have heard a lot about Netflix over the years, and we’re excited they’ll get to experience our unique blend of Netflix original content, local series and films, and popular movies and TV shows from around the world, all for a low monthly price,” said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

    “Netflix will be available on all major Australian broadband operators. Customers of iiNet, the nation’s second-largest DSL Internet provider, will be able to enjoy hours of entertainment, including all three seasons of the political drama House of Cards, family thriller Bloodline and other movies and TV shows from the Netflix catalogue, with no fear of the usage counting against home data caps, under the first un-metering agreement announced with a major broadband provider in Australia,” says Netflix.

    Netflix has been rather vocal about its plans for world domination, saying it hopes to be in 200 countries by 2017.

    “Our international expansion strategy over the last few years has been to expand as fast as we can while staying profitable on a global basis. Progress has been so strong that we now believe we can complete our global expansion over the next two years, while staying profitable, which is earlier than we expected. We then intend to generate material global profits from 2017 onwards,” said Hastings at a recent earnings call.

    Netflix most recently moved into Cuba, which was seen as a not much more than a symbolic gesture, considering the country’s internet access struggles. The company plans to launch in Japan this fall.

    Image via Netflix

  • Michael Fassbender Dating Co-star Alicia Vikander

    X-Men: Days of Future Past star Michael Fassbender is reportedly dating his The Light Between Oceans co-star Alicia Vikander.

    The two had filmed parts of The Light Between Oceans in Australia. Fassbender, 37, was photographed with the 26-year-old Swedish actress at Bondi Beach in Sydney. German-born Fassbender went surfing, and then joined Vikander on shore for a meal.

    The Light Between Oceans is based on the 2013 novel by M.L. Stedman, and is set for release in 2015.

    Here is the synopsis:

    After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender) returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel (Vikander). Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. The couple keeps the baby, and name her Lucy.

    When they eventually go to the mainland, they discover that a woman (played by Rachel Weisz) has been searching for her lost husband and child.

    In October, Fassbender and Vikander were spotted in the Marlborough region of New Zealand at a local massage parlor:

    Post by Mon Thai spa & Massage.

    Fassbender earned a 2014 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as slave owner Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave.

    Here Fassbender portrays the synthetic human “David” in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus from 2012:

    Vikander’s filmography includes Anna Karenina, A Royal Affair and The Fifth Estate.

  • Netflix Readies Australia, New Zealand Launch

    Netflix Readies Australia, New Zealand Launch

    Netflix announced that it will launch in Australia and New Zealand in March. The launch has been anticipated for a long time, but in recent weeks, we’ve seen talk of its inevitability ramp up. Now it’s official.

    Netflix said in its announcement:

    Internet-connected users in Australia and New Zealand will be able to subscribe to Netflix and instantly watch a curated selection of popular movies and TV shows in high-definition or even 4K where available. At launch, the premium and unique Netflix offering will include such original series as Marco Polo, BoJack Horseman and, among many kids titles, DreamWorks Animation’s All Hail King Julien.

    Netflix, available on hundreds of Internet-connected devices, will also be home to the critically acclaimed documentaries Virunga and Mission Blue, and stand-up comedy specials Uganda Be Kidding Me, Live, from Chelsea Handler and Jim Jefferies’s BARE, among many others. The Netflix ANZ selection will expand in 2015 to include highly anticipated original series family thriller Bloodline starring Ben Mendelsohn, Kyle Chandler, Sissy Spacek, Linda Cardellini and Sam Shepard; the gripping Super Hero tale Marvel’s Daredevil featuring Charlie Cox, Rosario Dawson, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson and Vincent D’’Onofrio; Sense8, a new globe-spanning thriller series from the creators of The Matrix trilogy and Babylon 5, and, from the creator of Friends, Grace and Frankie with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.

    While Netflix will be available across a variety of devices in the countries as it is everywhere else, prices are still yet to be determined. People in Australia and New Zealand who wish to sign up for the service when it launches can sign up for updates at Netflix.com.

    Image via Netflix

  • Lydia Ko Sets “Youngest LPGA Rookie Of The Year” Record

    Lydia Ko, at 17 years of age, has managed to become the LPGA’s youngest Rookie of The Year. Ko managed to clinch the point-based award while still having three tournaments left in her schedule. The New Zealand native managed to keep an impressive record with two wins, two runner-up finishes, and nine other finishes in the top 10. The last person to hold the youngest LPGA Rookie of The Year record was Laura Baugh, who won the award back in 1973 when she was just 18 years old.

    2014 was Ko’s first campaign as a professional golfer in the LPGA. According to Ko, “It’s really been a dream rookie season for me. I learned so much and am glad to have achieved some of my goals along the way. It’s an honor to have my name now etched alongside such amazing players and legends of the game on the list of Rookie of the Year winners.”

    Ko currently ranks third in both the LPGA’s Road to CME Globe points race as well as the Rolex Rankings. She also became the youngest millionaire in the LPGA, racking up $1.5 million in earnings. Ko is in Mexico this week for the Lorena Ochoa Invitational where she will be joined by Inbree Park and Stacy Lewis for Thursday’s first round.

    Lydia Ko, who began playing golf at age five, became the top ranked woman amateur golfer in the world for 130 weeks prior to going pro last year. Aside from becoming the youngest LPGA Rookie of The Year, she also managed to become the youngest person to win a professional tour event back when she was 14 years old. Also worthy of note is the fact that before going pro, she’s the only amateur to ever win two LPGA tour events.

    When Ko announced her decision to become a professional golfer, the LPGA waived their requirement of members being at least 18 years old to join the tour. “It is not often that the LPGA welcomes a rookie who is already a back-to-back LPGA Tour champion,” tour commissioner Mike Whan said in a statement.

  • Plane Crash? Nah, Just a Google Internet Balloon Returning to Earth

    As it turns out, giant, falling internet balloons kind of resemble a crashing plane.

    Emergency responders (including a rescue helicopter!) were called to an area in New Zealand’s South Island Friday morning after reports of a plane crash. But when they found the site of the ‘wreckage,’ it wasn’t really wreckage at all. It was just a bog ol’, partially-deflated balloon.

    A balloon that belongs to Google, of course. The company has recently been testing its Project Loon balloons in New Zealand. The company confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that prevailing winds make it hard to keep the balloons on track, but

    “Since launching Project Loon in New Zealand last year, we’ve continued to do research flights to improve the technology.”

    We first heard about Project Loon (for balLOON or for LOONey, or maybe both) last summer. One of Google[x]’s ‘moonshot’ ventures, Project Loon wants to increase internet access for underserved areas across the world by putting giant internet-providing balloons way up in the air – as in twice as high as commercial airplanes.

    In April, Google announced that one of its Project Loon balloons had lapped the globe in 22 days, and the project as a whole has clocked over 500,000 km.

    Image via Project Loon, Google+

  • Kim Dotcom Offers $5 Million Bounty for Information

    In January 2012, New Zealand police arrested internet icon Kim Dotcom due to claims from the United States that Dotcom had used his website to host pirated files, costing the music and movie industries more than $500 million in assets. While Dotcom awaits his subsequent trial and sentencing, he has ventured to the internet in order to ask for much needed help in his case against the entertainment industry.

    In a tweet sent out Sunday afternoon, Dotcom offered a $5 million bounty for anyone who would become a “whistleblower” and provide his legal team with any information which could lead to his freedom. As Dotcom and his legal team see it, anyone seeking to divulge such information would be protected from any legal wrongdoings: “It is the opinion of my legal team that disclosure of such information would be lawful. I would also guarantee that any whistleblower coming forward would have the best legal representation at zero cost.”

    So what kind of information is Dotcom and his team searching for? “Let me be clear, we are asking for information that proves unlawful or corrupt conduct by the US government, the New Zealand government, spy agencies, law enforcement and Hollywood,” Dotcom stated.

    Dotcom believes that the United States originally went after him and his website, MegaUpload, in order to win Hollywood’s vote for Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection.

    If anyone has information one would deem advantageous to Dotcom’s trial, the information can be submitted via a new whistleblowing program released by The Guardian, the British newspaper which originally hosted the NSA documents leaked by Edward Snowden. Dotcom even provided advice as to exactly how one should proceed in providing such crucial information: “In order to be completely safe I would advise any Whistleblower not to use this tool from home or work. Go to an Internet cafe with a memory stick. Don’t use your own computer or phone. You can also buy a cheap laptop or netbook just for the purpose of leaking and destroy it after you’re done.”

    Dotcom added extra incentive to the deal by stating that he would not only provide a money reward for “case-winning information”, but for any useful information at all:

    We know that there are people out there with information. I’m willing to pay for that information. I’m determined to fight a grave injustice that has been done to a legitimate cloud storage business, its 220 employees and over 100 million users. This struggle has just begun and it will take time. But in the end we shall be victorious and we shall expose those who have abused their power.

    Dotcom is currently awaiting a New Zealand court’s decision as to whether or not his assets will be frozen again following the testimony from four music industry companies and six film studios on Monday.

    Image via Twitter

  • Janelle Monae Ill, Tour With Kimbra Cancelled

    Janelle Monae and Kimbra’s Golden Electric Tour is over. The remaining dates on the tour were cancelled via an announcement from Live Nation, citing Monae’s illness as the reason for the cancellation. The singer became ill upon her arrival in Australia and was rendered unable to perform.

    The ‘Electric Lady’ R&B artist is under strict medical supervision in Melbourne, Australia, and has been told by doctors that performing is out of the question. This left Live Nation with no choice but to cancel the remainder of the stops on the Australia and New Zealand legs of the tour.

    Janelle is apparently devastated over the notion of disappointing her fans and she vows she will be up and running as soon as doctors deem her able to do so.

    “Due to Janelle Monáe’s continuing illness it has been confirmed that the remainder of The Golden Electric Tour has been cancelled and there will be no rescheduled performances,” the brief statement from Live Nation Australasia reads.

    It is uncertain exactly what has stricken Monae or whether or not doctors have diagnosed the illness. It has been described in some reports as as “mystery illness.”

    Janelle Monae has yet to make an official statement regarding the tour’s cancellation, however Kimbra has posted a few blurbs online, including the following tweet.

    She also shared the following photo on Instagram, with the caption, “Glad we still got to get electric with you guys for one night at the Forum in Melbourne! We were just getting started oh shieeeeeeet!”

    Fans from all over the world are certainly keeping Janelle Monae in their prayers and awaiting word on what exactly this mysterious illness is. Live Nation is refunding all ticket holders for the cancelled concerts in Australia and New Zealand. She is scheduled to perform during a solo tour in the U.S. beginning on May 31st. No word has been released yet as to whether her illness will have an impact on the U.S. tour.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Nigella Lawson Granted Visa to New Zealand

    Nigella Lawson was denied entry into the United States from London earlier this month. Now New Zealand has granted her a visa to enter that country. Lawson was supposed to work in L.A on the cooking show The Taste, but because of her recent admission of drug use she was denied entry–or so it is believed. U.S. officials have declined to state why Lawson was prevented from flying to L.A. from London. New Zealand officials had the following to say about her entry into their country.

    “As Ms Lawson has been excluded from another country, namely the United States, she was ineligible to be granted a visa to enter New Zealand unless given a special direction,” the statement said.

    “A special direction was considered and granted and subsequently her visa application was approved.”

    Nigella Lawson admitted during a court case last year that she had previously used both cocaine and cannabis. British newspapers speculate that this is the reason she was denied entry into the United States. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in London confirmed that Lawson was denied permission to fly to Los Angeles more than two weeks ago but declined to say why because of privacy reasons.

    Lawson is in New Zealand for work as well. She is filming a TV ad for a chocolate manufacturer there.

    Do you think Nigella Lawson’s admission of drug use is the reason she was denied access to the United States? Is this something that will eventually be formally announced? It will be interesting to see if she is permanently denied entry, and if that is the case, who will replace her on The Taste? Anthony Bourdain serves as a judge on The Taste with Nigella. He is appalled that she wasn’t allowed back in to the U.S.

    If Lawson truly is a drug risk, why is New Zealand allowing her there? Perhaps their drug laws are less strict than those in the United States?

    Hopefully in the next few days more information about Lawson’s denial into the U.S. will be explained so people can rely more on facts and less on conjecture.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Duchess of Cambridge Expecting Second Child?

    Is the Duchess of Cambridge expecting her second child? Hubby Prince William rather alluded to a second pregnancy while chatting with Cynthia Read–a former Brit who emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago. Read knitted a merino wool shawl for Prince George which was New Zealand’s official gift to the baby when he was born eight months ago.

    “You might have to make another one soon!” several accounts report Prince William as saying to Read.

    Cynthia Read believed the prince was serious when he made the comment.

    The notion became a bit more questionable when Prince William and Kate Middleton visited a nearby vineyard. Some reports indicate she only indulged in a very few sips while others say she was actually drinking the wine.

    Central Otago Pinot Noir Ltd. chairwoman Lucie Lawrence, who escorted the Duchess of Cambridge at Amisfield Winery, said Kate had “six or seven” tastes.

    “She was drinking it. She really enjoyed drinking the Pinot Noir,” Lawrence said.

    Later in the day Kate joined William on a wild jet boat ride on the Shotover River, where they raced through shallow water at speeds of up to 53 miles per hour. The duchess likely wouldn’t have taken part in such a wild ride if she was with child–would she?

    The duke and duchess enjoyed many formal events in New Zealand this past week, including the unveiling of a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

    Prince William and Kate Middleton also engaged in some solo activities while in New Zealand. She paid a visit to the children and families at a local hospice, as depicted in the video clip above. The hospice houses both terminally ill children and adults, and the families grieving their imminent passings. Prince William toured the local Pacific Aerospace plant.

    Is it possible that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second child? Prince George is already 8 months old, and they likely won’t want to raise him as an only child.

    Image via YouTube

  • Samoa Pink Eye Outbreak Extends School Closings

    An outbreak of conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, has prompted the South Pacific U.S. unincorporated territory of American Samoa to keep most of its schools closed through the week. At least 2,400 students and teachers have contracted the highly contagious disease, which has also cancelled flights and interrupted court proceedings.

    Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids called the conjunctiva, and is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or an allergic reaction. Symptoms include red eye, swelling of conjunctiva and eye watering, though visual acuity isn’t affected, and the pupils should be normally reactive.

    Pink eye caused by an infection is typically associated with a virus, and both bacterial and viral infections are highly contagious and passed from person to person, but can also spread via contaminated objects or water. Viral conjunctivitis typically does not require any specific treatment, and topical antibiotics are prescribed in instances when an infection doesn’t resolve itself within three days.

    All 28 schools in American Samoa were scheduled to reopen Wednesday after closing Friday, but only four went back into session. Officials will keep schools on the main island of Tutuila closed until next week. Education Department Director Salu Hunkin-Finau commented that over 30 percent of educators are on sick leave due to pink eye.

    “In order to help prevent the further spread of the pink eye virus, we highly recommend that all affected teachers and workers stay home,” Hunkin-Finau said. “Please keep your child out of reach of those that are affected by the pink eye.”

    American Samoa, roughly the size of Washington, D.C., consists of 5 main islands and 2 coral atolls, situated west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles south of Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand.

    American Samoa is the southernmost territory of the U.S. and one of two U.S. territories, along with the uninhabited Jarvis Island, that lie south of the Equator. Tuna and tuna products are the main exports, and the main trading partner is the United States. The legendary mystery meat Spam is also a big deal in American Samoa, and has said to have contributed to the obesity problem in the Pacific Rim.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Margot Robbie Wows on Empire Awards Red Carpet

    Margot Robbie wowed onlookers at the 2014 Jameson Empire Awards on Sunday with an eye-catching scarlet jumpsuit.

    Robbie accessorized the off-the-shoulder, flared-leg number with minimal jewelry and makeup, a simple black belt, and black peep-toe heels. She wore her newly-brunette hair in loose waves.

    However, her show-stealing appearance was only one part of Robbie’s success at the London awards ceremony. Most notably, she won the Best Female Newcomer Award for her performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.

    The 23-year-old Australian actress faced some tough competition for the award, including Lupita Nyong’o, who took home an Oscar last month for her supporting role in 12 Years a Slave.

    Robbie’s role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street was her biggest to date but she’s been keeping busy since then.

    She’s set to star alongside Michelle Williams and Kristin Scott Thomas in the movie adaptation of Irène Némirovsky’s posthumously-published World War II novel Suite Française.

    Next up is Focus with Will Smith, scheduled for a February 2015 release.

    Robbie recently wrapped filming on Z for Zachariah, most of which took place in New Zealand. The post-apocalyptic science fiction flick also stars Chris Pine and is slated for a 2015 release.

    Finally, Robbie will star as Jane in a live-action version of Tarzan which is scheduled to release in July 2016. Samuel L. Jackson, Alexander Skarsgård, and Christoph Waltz will also star in the big-budget Warner Brothers production.

    Robbie’s love life is the subject of much speculation. In November rumors surfaced that she was involved with Focus costar Will Smith.

    In January Orlando Bloom reportedly showered Robbie with attention at a Golden Globes after party.

    In February Z for Zachariah production team member Henry Aitken posted a photo of himself and Robbie on his Facebook page, sparking a new round of rumors.

    Post by Henry Aitken.

    Image via YouTube

  • Bruce Springsteen Covers Lorde’s “Royals” In New Zealand [Video]

    Well, Lorde’s popular song “Royals” has been covered by all sorts of choruses and Acapella groups, but it is quite an honor for the young singer to be covered by “The Boss,” Bruce Springsteen.

    The song became an instant hit last summer, and continued to be played over and over on the radio, gaining enough attention to earn the 17-year-old from New Zealand multiple Grammy nominations, and even a couple of wins.

    “Royals” became a pop hit, but the content of the song, as anyone who has taken the time to listen to it would know, is used as a commentary on pop music, and pop culture. The hit song ruled the Hot 100 chart for nine weeks last year, while Springsteen earned himself another No.1 album with “High Hopes,” which was released in January.

    It became an anthem against luxury and fancy accessories, something that Bruce Springsteen has often written about as well. Throughout his career, he has taken the time to write about the working men of America, and firefighters on multiple occasions.

    Bruce Springsteen is one of the modern legends of rock music, and while people are continually covering him, it is not often that the takes the time to cover someone else, and especially such an up-and-coming artist such as Lorde.

    Of course, given that the song was originally written by a female teenager, he felt that he needed to change the lyrics in a few places, which has known to be done in covers before. In the most obvious example, he refers to himself as “King B” instead of “Queen B.”

    Bruce Springsteen covered Lorde’s hit song in the most fitting place possible, her hometown of Auckland, New Zealand. The performance was at Mt. Smart Stadium on Saturday, March 1st. He opened the show with the pop anthem that has become a worldwide hit since its release. Last night was also just the first night of his set of shows at the stadium.

    Image via Youtube

  • Vitamin D Supplements: Proven Useless?

    Vitamin D Supplements: Proven Useless?

    Vitamin D Supplements have been found practically useless in a new study out of New Zealand which flies in the face of everything that we have been told.

    Vitamin D has been thought helpful in the prevention of many diseases and ailments such as heart attack, stroke, and even depression. However, the new study finds that Vitamin D in supplement form, among other supplements, could be totally useless.

    In the study, researchers found that a group of people given a real Vitamin D supplement and a group given a “dummy” supplement had no marked differences in the diseases with which they suffered.

    “Our findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium does not reduce skeletal or non-skeletal outcomes in unselected community-dwelling individuals by more than 15%. Future trials with similar designs are unlikely to alter these conclusions,” concludes the study conducted by Health Research Council of New Zealand.

    Experts say that the best way to get Vitamin D is from food sources like milk, salmon, tuna, and vegetables like mushrooms.

    “The take-away message is that there is little justification currently for prescribing vitamin D to prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer, or fractures in otherwise-healthy people living in the community,” says lead study author Dr. Mark Bolland, according to bio-hormone-health.com.

    However, there are still many who would argue that Vitamin D supplementation is absolutely effective. Dr. Michael F Holick, a vitamin D expert and author of “The Vitamin D Solution” book, says that the testing methods done in New Zealand were simply “silly”. He says the results prove nothing since the doses of Vitamin D given test subjects was incredibly small and not what would normally be prescribed.

    The RDA for Vitamin D supplementation is only 400 IU per day, yet current research suggests that our daily Vitamin D requirement is closer to 4,000 to 5,000 IU.

    Would giving the required dosage have made a difference? I suppose another study will be in order.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons