of new zealand beats france to win the rugby world cup final

All Blacks edge France to claim Rugby World Cup: New Zealand beat France 8-7 to win the Rugby World Cup finals that was held in Auckland. This is the All Blacks second time lifting the William Webb Ellis trophy.


All Blacks captain Richie McCaw holds aloft the William Webb Ellis trophy after their 8-7 win over France

Read more at CNN.

of 9 killed in new zealand skydiving plane crash

9 killed in New Zealand skydiving plane crash

A light aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in flames Saturday near a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps, killing nine people including four foreign tourists, police said.

The plane caught fire after takeoff from an airstrip at Fox Glacier on the country's South Island, said Ian Henderson, a spokesman for local ambulance services. But other locals said the fire erupted when the plane crashed into a fence at the end of the runway after it failed to lift off safely.

The pilot and eight passengers were killed, Greymouth Police Senior Sgt. Allyson Ealam said.

of new zealand earthquake, strong quake shakes christchurch

New Zealand Earthquake 2010, Strong Quake Shakes Christchurch

A strong earthquake rattled New Zealand at 4:35 a.m. local time Saturday morning. The USGS posted a magnitude of 7.2.

The quake epicenter was four miles south-southeast from Christchurch, New Zealand, on the nation's south island. Local media reports there have been strong aftershocks and power outages throughout the city.

of world cup match times (singapore time for first round matches)

First round match times (Singapore time):

Match 1: 11 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), South Africa v Mexico
Match 2: 11 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Uruguay v France
Match 3: 12 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Argentina v Nigeria
Match 4: 12 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), South Korea v Greece
Match 5: 12 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), England v United States
Match 6: 13 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Algeria v Slovenia
Match 7: 13 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Germany v Australia
Match 8: 13 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Serbia v Ghana
Match 9: 14 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Netherlands v Denmark
Match 10: 14 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Japan v Cameroon
Match 11: 14 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Italy v Paraguay
Match 12: 15 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), New Zealand v Slovakia
Match 13: 15 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Ivory Coast v Portugal
Match 14: 15 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Brazil v North Korea
Match 15: 16 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Honduras v Chile
Match 16: 16 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Spain v Switzerland
Match 17: 16 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), South Africa v Uruguay
Match 18: 17 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), France v Mexico
Match 19: 17 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Greece v Nigeria
Match 20: 17 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Argentina v South Korea
Match 21: 18 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Germany v Serbia
Match 22: 18 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Slovenia v United States
Match 23: 18 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), England v Algeria
Match 24: 19 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Ghana v Australia
Match 25: 19 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Netherlands v Japan
Match 26: 19 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Cameroon v Denmark
Match 27: 20 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Slovakia v Paraguay
Match 28: 20 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Italy v New Zealand
Match 29: 20 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Brazil v Ivory Coast
Match 30: 21 June, 1130 GMT (7.30pm Singapore time), Portugal v North Korea
Match 31: 21 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Chile v Switzerland
Match 32: 21 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Spain v Honduras
Match 33: 22 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Mexico v Uruguay
Match 34: 22 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), France v South Africa
Match 35: 22 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Nigeria v South Korea
Match 36: 22 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Greece v Argentina
Match 37: 23 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Slovenia v England
Match 38: 23 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), United States v Algeria
Match 39: 23 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Ghana v Germany
Match 40: 23 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Australia v Serbia
Match 41: 24 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Slovakia v Italy
Match 42: 24 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Paraguay v New Zealand
Match 43: 24 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Denmark v Japan
Match 44: 24 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Cameroon v Netherlands
Match 45: 25 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), Portugal v Brazil
Match 46: 25 June, 1400 GMT (10pm Singapore time), North Korea v Ivory Coast
Match 47: 25 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Chile v Spain
Match 48: 25 June, 1830 GMT (2.30am Singapore time), Switzerland v Honduras

For full listing, go to ST

of 2010 fifa world cup draw results

Draw ignites FIFA World Cup fever: The results for the 2010 FIFA World Cup are out.

The groups are as follows:
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana,
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile


Actress Charlize Theron co-hosting the Final Draw show in Cape Town

The 32 teams participating at next year's FIFA World Cup™ finals discovered their fate this evening when the Final Draw for South Africa 2010 took place in Cape Town.

An estimated global television audience of 200 million joined the 2,000 invited guests in the Draw Hall in watching the colourful and entertaining ceremony unfold. With African sporting stars such as athlete Haile Gebreselassie, rugby player John Smit, cricketer Makhaya Ntini, and footballers Matthew Booth and Simphiwe Dludlu assisting with the draw, along with England icon David Beckham, it was always going to be an exhilarating evening, but the undoubted centrepiece came when the eight groups were revealed.

While South Africans smiled upon learning that the host nation's Opening Match on 11 June would be played against Mexico at Soccer City, it was the outcome of Group D which caused the biggest stir. Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana will battle it out for the two qualifying places for the Round of 16, meaning that two nations with a proud footballing heritage will have to depart the tournament early.

of tsunami warning canceled after new zealand quake

Tsunami warning canceled after New Zealand quake: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami generated after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake off of New Zealand is small and poses no threat.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami generated after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake off of New Zealand is small and poses no threat.

The warning center says no destructive waves are headed for New Zealand's western coastline after a tsunami warning was issued earlier.

The waves generated are less than 8 inches (20 centimeters) in height and the warning was canceled after about an hour.

The quake's epicenter was 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Invercargill, off the west coast of New Zealand's South Island at a depth of 21 miles (33 kilometers). It hit at 0922 GMT on Wednesday, the USGS said.

of air new zealand crew wear nothing but body paint in latest ad

Airline crew wear nothing but body paint in latest ad: The cabin crew for ANZ wore nothing more than body paint in its new media campaign.

The advertisement says

At Air New Zealand our fares have nothing to hide, which is why the price you pay includes everything upfront.

See the ad below.


Click on image to watch the video

The ad is playing "Under My Skin" by Gin Wigmores.

Click here to see the making of the ad.

of mda director says singapore tv licence fee among world's lowest

TV licence fee among world's lowest: Media Development Authority director of Customer & Licensing Services, Ms Pam Hu, replies to an Straits Times letter and said that Singapore's TV License Fee is "lowest in the world, even as the cost of producing Public Service Broadcast (PSB) programmes has risen over the years"

WE REFER to Mr Lee Kwun Lam's letter last Friday, 'Lopsided?'. Mr Lee had compared the costs of property taxes and TV licence fee. Both forms of fees, however, are imposed on separate utilities and are subject to different considerations. Thus, to make a direct comparison between the two would not be meaningful.

The TV licence fee of $110 has remained unchanged since Jan 1, 1994. It is among the lowest in the world, even as the cost of producing Public Service Broadcast (PSB) programmes has risen over the years, and there are more free-to-air (FTA) TV channels today for consumers to enjoy.

Someone in HWZ listed out the countries that has abolished the TV License Fee or had never had a TV License Fee (Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, Hungary, India, New Zealand amongst others).


Ms Pam Hu [photo via. You can also catch her in the MDA rap video]

of singtel plan offers free iphone

Singtel plan offers free iPhone: Eye-catching headlines, but then again nothing comes free.

Singtel is offering customers a free Apple iPhone if they sign-up for a two-year, $205 monthly SingTel subscription plan.

The much sought-after phone will be available in Singapore come Friday August 22. When the new 3G iPhone was released earlier this year in Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand, fans braved the cold weather and queued up for days to ensure they could get their hands on one.

SingTel is the first telco to bring the iPhone into Singpore. Other mobile providers Starhub and MobileOne should be offering the iPhone here by year's end.

Existing SingTel customers can also get the iPhone if they sign up for a 24-month, that will run concurrently with their existing plans.

VR forum has worked out the sums here.
MCF also warned of the iPhone drop call problem.

of stolen gnome travels across the world including singapore (dailymail.co.uk)

Stolen garden elf is returned after a 7-month adventure around the world : Eve and Derrick Stuart-Kelso lost a 10-inch high stone leprechaun which they placed outside their home in Gloucester. 11 months after disappearing, the gnome appeared on the Stuart-Kelso's doorstep last week. Next to the gnome was a photo album containing 48 pictures of the gnome's trip around the globe to places like Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, New Zealand.


On top of the world: The gnome takes a cable car ride in Singapore

The 8lb gnome appeared on the Stuart-Kelso's doorstep on Thursday last week, some 11 months after disappearing.

A little the worse for wear, the traveller was standing next to a mysterious and tightly-wrapped parcel.

Once unwrapped it revealed a leather-bound photo album containing 48 pictures of the gnome's trip around the globe along with a note putting his impromptu world tour down to 'itchy feet'.

The painstakingly compiled album, complete with index, showed their gnome - renamed Barrington by his travel companions - abseiling down a mountain, standing in a shark's mouth, swimming in the sea, and riding a motorbike. Also with him were immigration stamps for all the shores he had been taken to visit - South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Laos.

A witty note, purporting to be from Barrington, referred to his 'travelling companion' only as The Bear, and told the couple how he attracted unwanted attention from customs officials and took up 25 per cent of the party's luggage allocation.

The only clue, however, to the identity of those companions was a photograph of a group of grinning young men.

Stunned: Grandmother Eve Stuart-Kelso found her gnome on her doorstep, with a letter and photo album of his travels

The letter reads:

Hello! First of all I feel I should explain my prolonged absence. A gnome's life is full of time for reflection, and whilst surveying your garden one summer morning, I began to get itchy feet.

I came to the conclusion that the world is a big place and there is more to life than watching the daily commuter traffic, and allowing passing cats to urinate on you.

So I decided to free myself from the doldrums of the Shire and seek adventure. My travels have taken me across three continents, 12 countries and more time zones than I can possibly remember.

Read more at Telegraph ("Gnome returned after worldwide tour").

[via A Welsh View]

of singapore scoops another airline award

Singapore scoops another airline award

Is there any stopping Singapore’s Airlines’ endless parade of accolades? Earlier this year it scooped the Top Worldwide Airline gong at the 2008 Wanderlust Travel Awards. Now it’s been voted the world’s favourite carrier again, this time by 70,000 readers of Which? Air New Zealand, Jet Airways and the tiny Palmair came runners-up.

Under the Top Worldwide Airline category, Singapore Airlines came out tops.

After slipping from top spot for the first time last year (thanks to a now top-ten absent JAL), Singapore Airlines is back on top, leading the pack of largely Asian carriers. The European airlines will have to up their game to challenge for supremacy.

Ranking %
1 Singapore Airlines 93.25
2 Eva Air 88.00
3 Etihad 86.00
4 Emirates 85.26
5 Cathay Pacific 85.22
6 Jet Airways 85.00
7 Malaysia Airlines 84.07
8 Qatar Airways 84.06
9 Thai Airways International 83.04
10 Virgin Atlantic 82.42

of girl geek dinners

Girl Geek Dinners: Leonie Cooper interviews Sarah Blow, the founder of Geek Girl Dinners, an event held all over the world that let women get-together and talk about anything 'geeky'.

In 2005, Sarah Blow attended an event called Geek Dinners, a technology gathering with industry speakers, and found that she was one of only 20 women in a crowd of 150 people. She was perturbed by the reactions to her presence...The reaction to Blow underlines the fact that women are still a significant minority in science, engineering and technology (SET)...On the train home from that event, Blow began work on an idea to turn those figures around. A few months later she held the first London Girl Geek Dinner. The premise is simple: a regular event, with speakers and no barrier to entry - men can attend if they are invited by a woman.

Apart from London, there are many Girl Geek Dinners held around the globe.
- New Zealand GGD [via Blogdini]
- Virginia GGD
- Amsterdam Girl Geek Dinners [via The Next Web]
- Seattle GGD [via dotfiveone]
- Italy GGD [via Ms Adventures in Italy]

Click here for more Girl Geek Dinners information.

[via Social Sim]

of cool gizmo - 23.12.07

• Eco-boat powered by human fat attempts round the world speed record: Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace, attempts to break the round the world speed record on the fastest eco boat on the planet using fuel made from human fat.


• Wi-Fi Detecting Watch: Wi-Fi Signal Status Now On Your Wrist


• Asus Eee Pc with touch screen: [via jkkmobile]


• USB Magic Wand Send Messages Through The Air [via textually]

of sexual metaphors

Sexual Metaphors: Can you find all the sexual metaphors in this commercial for New Zealand's Fresh TV? -



[via The Republic of T.]