DTN News - NEW YEAR 2014 CELEBRATIONS: New Zealand Celebrates New Year 2014

DTN News - NEW YEAR 2014 CELEBRATIONS: New Zealand Celebrates New Year 2014

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth 
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 31, 2013:  Fireworks explode over the heads of tourists and locals as the clock hits midnight to celebrate the New Year on the waterfront in the New Zealand town of Queenstown, on January 1, 2014 (AFP, Marty Melville)

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth 

To Our Readers and Viewers of DTN News Plus Everyone in the Global Village, A Very Happy Prosperous New Year 2014 from DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News 

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*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth 
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
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DTN News - GREETINGS 2013: New Year Revellers Begin Welcoming First In New Zealand followed by Australia

DTN News - GREETINGS 2013: New Year Revellers Begin Welcoming First In New Zealand followed by Australia

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith 
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 31, 2012: Celebrations are being held around the world to mark the new year, with the city of Auckland in New Zealand holding the first major events of 2013.

Crowds began to gather on Monday evening in Sydney in anticipation of the city’s famous firework display.

Big shows are also planned in many other cities globally.

Celebrations will also be held for the first time in Burma, where large public gatherings were banned by its previous military rulers.

Tens of thousands are expected to attend the celebrations in Rangoon, which will feature a fireworks display and performances by Burmese entertainers.

Reports say the festivities will be broadcast live on Burmese television.

The celebration is seen as the latest sign of the country’s liberalisation under its military-backed civilian government.

However, there is a subdued atmosphere in the Indian capital Delhi, following the death last week of a 23-year-old victim of a brutal gang rape.

The army has cancelled its celebrations across the country, as have the governments in the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Thousands of residents and clubs have also called off new year celebrations. protests over the case continued on Monday.

Later on, festivities will be held in European cities including Moscow, Paris and London.

More than two million people are expected to be on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach.

New York will mark the new year with the traditional New Year’s Eve countdown and ball drop over Times Square.


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DTN News - 2012 NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS: 2012 Hong Kong ~ Predicted To Be For The People Year - Photo Courtsey Robie Seth

DTN News - 2012 NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS: 2012 Hong Kong ~ Predicted To Be For The People Year - Photo Courtsey Robie Seth
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 31, 2011: Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and starting to see in 2012. Hong Kong property prices and rents expected to fall in 2012

In Hong Kong the countdown to 2012 was made in giant illuminated numbers on the side of a skyscraper facing the harbour. Toronto, Canada is 12 hours behind Hong Kong. Photo Courtsey Robie Seth



*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources 
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DTN News - 2012 NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS: New Zealand Mark The Start Of 2012

DTN News - 2012 NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS: New Zealand Mark The Start Of 2012
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 31, 2011: Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and starting to see in 2012.

Bad weather prompted some New Zealand planners to cancel outdoor events, but a fireworks display off Auckland's Sky Tower started at midnight (1100 GMT). Toronto, Canada is 18 hours behind Auckkand, New Zealand.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources 
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DTN News: Denmark, New Zealand And Singapore Top List Of Least Corrupt Countries

DTN News: Denmark, New Zealand And Singapore Top List Of Least Corrupt Countries

*Expats living in Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore can rest assured they are residing in the least corrupt countries in the world, according to this year's Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

Source: DTN News / Int'l Media - By Sean O'Hare ~ telegraph.co.uk

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - October 28, 2010: Britain, in the wake of the MP expenses scandal, has slipped to its all-time lowest rating of 20th in the survey of 178 countries, compiled by Transparency International.

The ranking is based on the perceived levels of corruption among public officials and politicians, as assessed by experts at ten independent institutions including the World Bank, Economist Intelligence Unit and World Economic Forum.

It scores countries on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is perceived to be highly corrupt and 10 indicates low levels of corruption.

Scoring 9.3, Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore head the chart, followed closely by Finland and Sweden at 9.2.

President for the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark Mariano A. Davies said: "The Danish mentality is to a great extent permeated by a Scandinavian cultural heritage known as 'Jante Law', where modesty, punctuality and equality are important measuring tools in the Danish way of life.

"For this reason, few people become seriously rich and even fewer are seriously poor. This rule of life is never very far from the surface of Danish life.

"In a business context, this will mean that Danes celebrate promotion with sensitivity and do not like people who promote themselves bombastically and at the expense of others.

"There is a sense of watchdog mentality underlying the Danish way of life resulting in very clear 'dos and don’ts'”.

"Furthermore, from a business perspective, it can take a very long time (and therefore a local presence) to earn the trust of a company in a supplier role and this trust can be lost very quickly."

Unstable governments, often with a legacy of conflict, continue to dominate the bottom rungs of the CPI. Afghanistan and Myanmar share second to last place with a score of 1.4, with Somalia coming in last with a score of 1.1.

Hugo Chavez's Venezuela ranked 164, below countries such as Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Responding to the survey the Venezuelan Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, Dr Samuel Moncada, called the Corruption Perception Index "hot air and propaganda".

Speaking on BBC's Newsnight programme he said: "Rich countries play an integral part in the corruption of the poor countries when we talk about drug money, banks, the financial crisis.

"Private banks received millions of pounds of public money and nobody in the rich countries calls that corruption. If that happened in Venezuela we would have been called the most corrupt country in the world."

The 2010 CPI shows that nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index score below five, indicating a serious corruption problem.

Chair of Transparency International, Huguette Labelle, said: "These results signal that significantly greater efforts must go into strengthening governance across the globe.

"With the livelihoods of so many at stake, governments’ commitments to anti-corruption, transparency and accountability must speak through their actions.

"Good governance is an essential part of the solution to the global policy challenges governments face today.”

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DTN News: New Zealand Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

DTN News: New Zealand Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

Source: DTN News / TVNZ

(NSI News Source Info) WELLINGTON, New Zealand - August 4, 2010: A New Zealand soldier has been killed and two others have been injured after their patrol came under attack in Afghanistan.

The New Zealand Defence Force said the soldier was killed in an attack on a New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZPRT) patrol in the north-east of the Bamiyan province.

The name of the dead soldier has not been released.

The two injured soldiers were being evacuated and were said to have serious, but not life threatening, injuries. Newstalk ZB have named one of the injured soldiers as Matthew Ball.

BAMIYAN, AFGHANISTAN - AUGUST 4: The plane to carry the body of 28-year old Lt. Tim O'Donnell of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment arrives at Bamiyan airport and the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team following his death yesterday, on August 4, 2010 in the central Afghan province of Bamiyan, Afghanistan. O'Donnell is the first New Zealand soldier to be killed in the Afghanistan conflict, following an ambush which also left another two New Zealand soldiers and an Afghan interpreter wounded. New Zealand forces had expected to end their 7-year deployment in September this year until New Zealand Prime Minister John Key confirmed in May that he would retain them in the region for a further year.

A local interpreter taking part in the patrol had also been wounded.

The fatality was New Zealand's first combat death in Afghanistan since New Zealand's troops were deployed there in 2003. Defence Force chief, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae said they were still trying to piece together the details , but could confirm that the group came under complex attack by as yet unknown assailants at approximatley 12:30 am NZ time.

The dead solider was in one of three vehicles. It was thought an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated, followed by an attack using rocket powered grenades and other small arms fire.

"This is the first time that the IED has resulted in [New Zealand] casualties and a fatality. It is a constant and persistent threat to the soldiers who are operating in Bamiyan," Mateparae said.

Air support was not able to be used to help the New Zealand patrol because of weather conditions.

Mateparae said they were now in the process of working out how they would repatriate the deceased and wounded soldiers back to New Zealand.

Normal procedure would be for the injured soldiers to be taken to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany though Lt Gen Mateparae did not want to speculate on whether that would be the case.

He also said he wanted the families to come to terms with the news before he released names.

"One of my soldiers has been killed and I want to support his family," he said.

Mateparae said he was also concerned with continuing the mission in Afghanistan despite the soldier's death.

"Our abilities to provide support to the people of Bamyan is one we need to engage."

"We are working to assist the people of Bamyan but it remains a dangerous place especially where this attack occurred in the north east. Thoughts and condolences go to his family and also the two soldiers who were wounded."

Defence Force Minister Wayne Mapp said the death was a reminder that Bamiyan was still a dangerous place, especially in the north-east of the province.

"I acknowledge the loss to the soldier's family and my thoughts and aroha go to his family and the family of those soldiers who were wounded," Mapp said.

Soldier "paid high price"

Prime Minister John Key, who is currently at the Pacific Forum in Vanuatu issued a statement this morning saying his "thoughts are with [the dead soldier's] family and the families of the injured".

"This is New Zealand's first combat loss in Afghanistan and reinforces the danger faced daily by our forces as they work tirelessly to restore stability to the province," he said.

Key said the soldier's contribution and that of all New Zealand Defence Force personnel should never be underestimated.

"It is with enormous sadness that I acknowledge that this soldier has paid a high price."

However, Key said it was right for New Zealand troops to stay in Afghanistan.

"I have no intention of bringing back our people from Bamiyan or our SAS from Kabul because of this incident," he told TV ONE's Breakfast this morning.

"We owe it to the thousands of New Zealanders who have worked so hard in the past eight years to get Bamiyan in a position where we can hand back control."

Key said he would be phoning the family of the dead soldier later this morning.

Key visited Bamiyan province earlier this year and told Breakfast the area where the incident took place is "a pocket of real insurgent activity".

The government had announced that the NZPRT would extend their secondment until September 2011.

The force works on maintaining security in Bamiyan Province, and carries out frequent patrols throughout the area. It also supports the provincial and local government by providing advice and assistance to the Provincial Governor, the Afghan National Police and district sub-governors. ONE News reporter Michael Parkin had also recently been in Bamiyan and told TV ONE's Breakfast this morning that Kiwi soldiers in Afghanistan were well aware of the dangers they face.

He said the soldiers in the region knew that this day would eventually come.

"This is the job they are there do, they know the risks and keen to take them on."

The northern region of the province, where the attack took place is, "where the geography is on the side of the insurgents," Parkin said.

The 16th rotation of the NZPRT, commanded by Colonel John Boswell arrived in Afghanistan in April and were expected to remain in the country for about six months.

New Zealand also has Special Air Service personnel serving in Afghanistan. In total New Zealand has about 140 personnel in Bamiyan and about 80 SAS soldiers in Kabul.

DTN News: First New Zealand Soldier Dies In Afghanistan

DTN News: First New Zealand Soldier Dies In Afghanistan

Source: DTN News / AP

(NSI News Source Info) WELLINGTON, New Zealand - August 4, 2010: New Zealand suffered its first combat fatality in Afghanistan when a soldier died in an ambush that left another two New Zealand soldiers and an Afghan interpreter wounded, an official said on Wednesday. The three wounded in the attack Tuesday in central Bamiyan province sustained serious injuries that were not life threatening, New Zealand Defense Force Chief Lt. Gen. Jerry Mateparae told reporters in Wellington. A three-vehicle New Zealand patrol was attacked with an improvised explosive device, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, Mateparae said. The Defense Department said the dead soldier, Lt. Tim O'Donnell, 28, of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, had been decorated for valor while serving with U.N. peace keepers in East Timor. He died while serving with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team based in Bamiyan. O'Donnell was the first New Zealand serviceman killed in combat since a soldier died in East Timor in 2000. New Zealand first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2003. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, attending a forum of South Pacific leaders in Vanuatu, said the attack would not hasten the withdrawal of New Zealand troops from Afghanistan. "This is New Zealand's first combat loss in Afghanistan and reinforces the danger faced daily by our forces as they work tirelessly to restore stability to the province," Key said in a statement. New Zealand's 140-strong provincial reconstruction team of troops in Bamiyan had been expected to end their seven-year deployment in September. However, Key said in May the posting will roll over for another year, then start reducing as civilian specialists are introduced. New Zealand also has 40 Special Air Service elite combat troops in Afghanistan.

Afghan War Related News;

*Challenges for Afghan forces *'Time for US to talk to Taliban' *Simpson: Plan for exit *UK troops launch new offensive *Mapping drone and militant attacks *Q&A: Fighting the Taliban *Who are the Taliban?

DTN News: Australia Says Major Military Exercise Underway In Malaysia

DTN News: Australia Says Major Military Exercise Underway In Malaysia Source: DTN News / Australian Media (NSI News Source Info) SYDNEY, Australia - April 27, 2010: Australia on Monday said warships, combat aircraft and soldiers were engaged in a major military exercise with Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Britain designed to strengthen regional security. Exercise Bersama Shield 2010 (BS10) began Monday on the Malaysian peninsula and in the South China Sea and will continue until May 7, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) said. The operation is designed to enhance the nations' air, ground and naval forces' ability to work together under a 40-year-old regional security initiative -- the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA). Chief of Joint Operations Command Lieutenant General Mark Evans said the arrangement was an integral part of the regional security architecture and was constantly adapting to the changing threat environment. "Since the FPDA's formation, the scope of its activities has expanded from air defence to the development of joint capabilities, which has helped to develop greater interoperability among the armed forces of member nations," he said in a statement. Australian assets involved in the exercise include two ships, eight F/A-18 combat aircraft and an AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. It is not known how many military personnel from the five nations are taking part in the exercise.

DTN News: New Zealand Defence Force Awards Lockheed Martin 10-Year Logistics Contract

DTN News: New Zealand Defence Force Awards Lockheed Martin 10-Year Logistics Contract Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin (NSI News Source Info) ORLANDO, Fla, - March 4, 2010: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) was awarded an initial 10-year contract valued at more than $100 million by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to provide its Army with warehousing and repair services. The NZLAV was procured to replace the aging M113 family of vehicles. The NZLAV provides New Zealand with a world class vehicle capable of providing light armour protection to soldiers on the battle field. The NZLAV is highly mobile, and comes equipped with a lethal arsenal of weapons and systems making it an ideal vehicle for combat, peace and peace support operations. This vehicle is a quantum leap forward in capability for New Zealand and as part of the project, facilities, training, special tooling and spares were provided by the prime contractor, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada. As an owner, New Zealand joins numerous allies that are operating similar platforms allowing us to maintain and operate the vehicle at a lower cost by creating synergies amongst LAV users. Currently the LAV is fielded with the Canadian Army, US Army, US Marines and the Australian Defence Force. New Zealand purchased 102 Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV) variants and 3 Recovery vehicle variants. Additionally, to provide flexibility 7 of the 102 IMV's come equipped with an earth moving blade allowing it to be used for light engineering tasks. The contract allows for syndication with other New Zealand agencies, including New Zealand Police, for which Lockheed Martin could also assume warehousing and facilities maintenance work. The agreement includes the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the organization’s equipment and supply chain services ranging from soldier store acquisition, such as tents and weapons, to warehouse sustainment. The New Zealand Army is composed of 7,500 regular and reserve forces and civilian personnel. Approximately 500 NZDF personnel are deployed on multiple peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises around the world. The Army's fleet of more than 500 vehicles includes NZ Light Armoured Vehicles, Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicles, Unimogs, and transport, service and supply vehicles. “Our goal is to ensure we provide the best possible supply service in the most cost-effective way,” said Debra Palmer, vice president of enterprise logistics solutions at Lockheed Martin’s Simulation, Training & Support business unit. “We are focused on improving the availability of equipment and supplies to sustain current operations while moving toward improved capabilities in the future.” Lockheed Martin offers similar services to a number of military customers. These include asset management capabilities to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence through its Joint Asset Management Engineering Solution, a program which will ultimately enable the MoD to manage its land-based equipment throughout all its services by providing an end-to-end logistics management system. In addition, Lockheed Martin supports the U.S. Marine Corps with the Embedded Platform Logistics System, and manages the supply chain for automotive parts for the U.S. military's land-based vehicles with the Fleet Automotive Support Initiative. The contract begins in June 2010 after a transition from the current service providers. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

DTN News: Airlines News TODAY September 22, 2009 ~ Qantas Takes 75th Boeing 737

DTN News: Airlines News TODAY September 22, 2009 ~ Qantas Takes 75th Boeing 737 *Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) AUCKLAND, New Zealand, - September 22, 2009: Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Qantas celebrated yesterday September 21, as the Australian airline's 75th 737, adorned with a special decal to commemorate the milestone, arrived in Auckland, New Zealand.Australian flag-carrier Qantas Airways has ordered four new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes to join its initial 737-800 fleet of 15. The four new twinjets, due for delivery between May and July of next year, are worth approximately $US240 million at list prices. First deliveries of the Qantas 737-800s were achieved only 100 days after contract signature. "We have been very pleased with the integration of the Boeing 737-800 into our fleet," said Qantas Executive General Manager of Aircraft Operations, David Forsythe. "It has been one of the smoothest introductions of a new type, undoubtedly helped by high levels of commonality with our existing Boeing 737s." Qantas named the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 in honor of Jean Batten, a spirited New Zealand aviator who broke numerous flying records in the 1930s. Qantas has been flying Boeing 737s since 1986. This latest Next-Generation 737-800 features Qantas-specified, 2.5-meter-high (8.2-feet-high) Blended Winglets, which reduce fuel burn, thereby increasing range and payload. Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said Qantas was pleased to be able to offer customers a new trans-Tasman product. "The new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 will offer international business and leisure customers a state-of-the-art product," said Joyce. "We are certain that the new aircraft will be in particular demand with business customers, who will appreciate the spacious Marc Newson-inspired cabin design and the array of onboard technology features. We are delighted to be adding six of these aircraft, the first three before the end of this year, to our trans-Tasman fleet over the next two years." With more than 8,000 orders, the Boeing 737 is the world's most popular commercial jet transport. Contact: Miles Kotay International & Sales Communications 0011 +1 206-766-2923 miles.kotay@boeing.com More information: www.boeing.com Web site: http://www.boeing.com/

BAE Delivers New New Zealand Patrol Vessels / New Zealand Navy’s New Ships on the Way

BAE Delivers New New Zealand Patrol Vessels / New Zealand Navy’s New Ships on the Way

(NSI News Source Info) April 15, 2009: Delivery of the Navy's new inshore patrol vessels has been arranged with contractor BAE Systems, says Defence Minister Wayne Mapp.

HMNZS Rotoiti, the first of the four new IPVs, is scheduled to be handed over on 16 April and commissioned on 17 April at Whangarei.

Inshore Patrol Vessels - HMNZ Ships Rotoiti, Taupo, Hawea and Pukaki. The Inshore Patrol Vessels provide a platform for vital reserve training in seamanship, navigation and Multi Agency Operations and Taskings. They will have a valuable role in local search and rescue operations and in resource protection duties when required. Named after New Zealand lakes and previous RNZN ships, The IPVs will provide a training and service opportunity to all four RNZNVR Divisions.

It will sail to the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland on 24 April. The other three are expected to be delivered by the end of May. "Delivery of the Project Protector ships has been the Government's highest Defence priority since taking office," Dr Mapp said.

"A lot of hard work has gone into getting the ships out of the yard and into service. When we came into government this project was in a mess which we are working hard to clean up. I thank Ministry and Defence Force officials for the efforts they have made to resolve the issues.

"The Navy will now have a new fleet of very capable and sophisticated ships. The IPVs are designed to carry out a variety of tasks for government agencies, including Police, Customs, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Department of Conservation, and Maritime New Zealand, and to have a secondary role in New Zealand disaster relief.

These ships will give the Navy a much higher profile around our coastline. "The IPVs will greatly enhance the Navy's ability to recruit and retain people, getting people to sea to do the jobs they are trained for - jobs that benefit the people of New Zealand."

Once at Devonport, the ships will undergo a series of sea trials and crew training in order to become ready for operations.

Dr Mapp said that he and Defence Ministry officials were now working towards the delivery of the two offshore patrol vessels of the Protector fleet, currently located in Melbourne.

He said that there were a number of outstanding issues in respect of HMNZS Canterbury and the offshore patrol vessels which would now be referred to mediation as provided for in the contract. The mediation is intended to start on 25 May.

"Although we have begun a mediation process, we are still working hard to resolve the outstanding issues through negotiation with the contractor," Dr Mapp said.

Dr Mapp said that it was pleasing that $135.4 million had been spent in New Zealand as part of the contract to build the Project Protector fleet. This is nearly 25% ahead of the contract requirement of $110 million. The four IPVs were completely built and fitted out in Whangarei.