LATEST: Solomon Islands goal-scoring machine Benjamin Totori will be a Wellington Phoenix player next A-League season.

The Phoenix confirmed this afternoon they have signed the 26-year-old to a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

Totori is understood to have caught Phoenix and All Whites coach Ricki Herbert's eye with his goalscoring exploits at the recent Oceania Nations Cup in Honiara, securing himself a contract in Australasia's top football league with New Zealand's only club and in the process becoming the second Pacific Islands player to earn an A-League contract.

Totori's former club, Koloale FC in the Solomons, have already farewelled their star striker, who is expected to link up with the Phoenix for their pre-season programme before the end of this month.

Phoenix general manager David Dome told Fairfax Media this morning they were close to finalising a deal and the signing was officially confirmed this afternoon.

Totori said since playing for Waitakere his ambition has been to play for the Phoenix.

"When we (Solomon Islands) were playing New Zealand I knew Ricki would be watching and I hoped I could play well enough for him to notice me.

"Thankfully I did okay and scored three goals in the two games.

"I know what a good coach Ricki is and am looking forward to learning from him.

"I want to score goals for the Phoenix and help them be successful."

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Phoenix close to signing Solomon Islands star

A milestone in re-establishing the whitehead (popokotea) in the Auckland region has been achieved with the release of the protected native bird on two pest-free islands in the heart of Auckland.

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Protected native birds released on Hauraki Gulf Islands

LATEST: Solomon Islands goal-scoring machine Benjamin Totori will be a Wellington Phoenix player next A-League season.

The Phoenix confirmed this afternoon they have signed the 26-year-old to a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

Totori is understood to have caught Phoenix and All Whites coach Ricki Herbert's eye with his goalscoring exploits at the recent Oceania Nations Cup in Honiara, securing himself a contract in Australasia's top football league with New Zealand's only club and in the process becoming the second Pacific Islands player to earn an A-League contract.

Totori's former club, Koloale FC in the Solomons, have already farewelled their star striker, who is expected to link up with the Phoenix for their pre-season programme before the end of this month.

Phoenix general manager David Dome told Fairfax Media this morning they were close to finalising a deal and the signing was officially confirmed this afternoon.

Totori said since playing for Waitakere his ambition has been to play for the Phoenix.

"When we (Solomon Islands) were playing New Zealand I knew Ricki would be watching and I hoped I could play well enough for him to notice me.

"Thankfully I did okay and scored three goals in the two games.

"I know what a good coach Ricki is and am looking forward to learning from him.

"I want to score goals for the Phoenix and help them be successful."

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Phoenix confirm signing of Solomon Islands star

by Srianthi Perera - Jun. 18, 2012 10:13 AM The Republic | azcentral.com

The Islands, which is known for its community Easter-egg hunt and lighted boat parade, is turning its attention to fine art.

The master-planned community in Gilbert will hold its inaugural festival, Islands Art in the Park, Nov. 3 and 4. Organizers are inviting artists to participate in a juried fine-art and -craft show and planning a classic car show titled Islands Cars in the Park.

"It's a vision this community has had for a long time: to bring artists together as well as hold other activities to begin to build an art community in Gilbert," said Michael Fleming, vice president of the Islands Homeowners Association.

The community hopes to attract about 5,000 people for the family-oriented festival. It also hopes to get about 40 artists from across Arizona and beyond, and has registered in ZAPP, a central website that enables artists to apply online to multiple art shows.

"We see this as something we'll be building over the years," Fleming said. "We think, over time, this could become a cornerstone event in Gilbert to bring the community together and to bring people from all over."

Since it's a juried show, not all artists applying may get to show. "It's fine art and fine craft, so no reproductions," said Ginny Gapen, community association manager. "That's one of the differences that separates us from, like, a flea market."

The targets are up-and-coming artists "who really see the future, but have probably not been going for 20 years to all the art festivals in the United States," Fleming said. "A lot of those folks are probably higher-priced and booked for the year. We're looking for people who have very high-quality stuff, but they're just kind of getting going."

Organizers have established a $2,600 budget for the festival, which is non-profit, and are looking for sponsors.

Gapen said the Islands' first venture to attract people outside the community has a two-fold purpose. "It's to establish a signature event for Gilbert, but also to promote the Islands as a wonderful place to live," she said. "We really feel that our area is affluent; they have the taste and the want and the desire for that."

Continued here:

Islands community crafting art festival

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands - Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson says he is reintroducing a flame-red bird to the British Virgin Islands.

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Tycoon Richard Branson says he is reintroducing flame-red bird to the British Virgin Islands

Thirty years after Britain liberated the Falkland Islands from Argentinian occupation, the islanders are keen not to solely be defined by the events of 1982.

On the anniversary of the end of the war, Falklanders stood side by side with the veterans who fought for their freedom and said they wanted to show the loss of 255 British servicemen and three Falklanders were not in vain.

During last week's visit to the islands Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne was shown parts of the island's successful fishing and farming industries, their improved education system and witnessed their passion for self-determination.

But it is the prospect of local oil and gas industries that is potentially the most significant and kicking up a storm in the South Atlantic.

It is one of the reasons Britain believes Argentina has been ratcheting up the rhetoric over the territory it calls Las Malvinas and has been trying to implement an economic blockade on the isolated islands.

Argentina's president Cristina de Kirchner took her country's claim to the Falkland Islands to the United Nations on the 30th anniversary of Britain's ousting of an Argentinian invasion force from the Falklands.

However, Prime Minister David Cameron sent a clear message there would be "no negotiation" on the Falklands and warned that Britain would defend the territory by force again if necessary.

The legacy of the Falklands conflict has been political freedom and physical security, but it is the hard work and ingenuity of the islands people and their fishing industry that has provided an economic boom and prosperity.

The Falklands' economy is "booming with significant government surplus", Governor Nigel Haywood said during his state of the nation annual speech to the Legislative Assembly in May.

This was based on an excellent year for the fishing industry, higher prices for wool and meat plus the Tourism Strategy, aimed at increasing the number of tourists and transforming the industry. But it is the discovery of potentially lucrative oil and gas reserves around the Falklands that could radically transform the country's economy. It would also mean the islands are well-placed to economically withstand pressure placed on them by the G20 country.

Continued here:

Falkland Islands lifted by economy

Mrs Kirchner attempted to persuade the committee that the Argentines and the British should open discussions about the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands with a view to placing the island under Argentinian rule.

But Mr Edwards dismissed the claims as based "myth and rumour".

One of the big problems we face always is that when Argentina goes anywhere in the world they will always finish a meeting with do you support our right to negotiate with the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the Falklands, he told Radio 4s Today programme from New York.

It is a very innocent question. But inside that innocent question is that the sovereignty of our Islands is written into the Argentina constitution, so any negotiations have a pre-determined outcome.

We believe the Argentine claim is based on myth and rumour, which dates back to 1985 when the put the latest case to the United Nations.

Argentina has claimed that Britain is illegally occupying what they call the Islas Malvinas and that the population of 3,000 has been put there by the British.

Mr Edwards had earlier told The Daily Telegraph: "All nations of the world have the right to determine their own future.

That is enshrined in the United Nations charter. It is the cornerstone of the United Nations charter and denying people that basic human right is against the United Nations charter.

"So if Britain and Argentina discuss the sovereignty of the islands without including the Falkland Islands that would be wrong. But the Argentinians believe we are an implanted population and we have no rights."

On Thursday night, Mrs Kirchner addressed a United Nations decolonisation committee over her country's claim to the islands.

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Falklands 30 year anniversary: Argentina's islands claim based on 'myth'

Already faced with foreigners staying away, Greece's sun-kissed islands are now experiencing the final insult: a collapse in domestic tourism.

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Even Greeks shun their islands as crisis bites

GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The impacts of Solvency II and other international regulation on captive insurance companies will be a topic of conversation in the Cayman Islands next week.

Hosted by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), senior members from the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and industry participants will be gathering 18 21 June for the IAIS Global Seminar and Committee Meetings to discuss and exchange ideas on current international regulatory initiatives affecting the insurance industry, including Solvency II Europes latest insurance regulation that introduces tighter capital and corporate governance requirements for commercial re/insurers.

As the Cayman Islands robust and transparent legislative and regulatory platform is already in compliance with international standards, CIMA continues to analyze Solvency IIs potential impact on the captive insurance market before it considers adapting the new equivalency requirements. Approximately 90% of Caymans insurance business is comprised of North American-based captive insurance companies, which are private self-insurance vehicles which do not carry the consumer risk as does a commercial re/insurer, and therefore require a different regulatory model.

Bermuda, which has been pushing ahead to meet the Solvency II requirements, has been told that the Europeans will consider segmented equivalence for Bermuda, which will allow captives to be treated differently, but this exemption has not yet been tested.

Said Clayton Price, Chairman of the Insurance Managers Association of Cayman (IMAC): IMAC stands firmly behind CIMAs balanced and pragmatic approach to Solvency II. The Cayman Islands has a completely transparent regulatory model that has withstood the test of time, and is now the second largest captives domicile, holding more than $11.8 billion in premiums. He went on to say: It is the unintended consequences that need to be carefully considered. Unless captives are carved out of this regulation that has been designed for commercial re/insurers, we believe that Solvency II will needlessly drive up capital costs for our North American clients. As a result of CIMAs considered stance on Solvency II, we are already seeing new captives redomestisticating here.

Key personnel from the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), including Mr. Karel Van Hulle, who is the Head of Unit for Insurance and Pensions, Director General Internal Market and Services for the European Commission, are expected to attend the session along with CIMAs Head of Insurance Gordon Rowell.

The IAIS is the global standard-setting body for regulation of the insurance industry. The Cayman Islands is a founding member of the IAIS Executive Committee and not only adheres to the IAIS Core Principles of Insurance Supervision, but actively assisted in the development of the revised Core Principles.

Insurance Managers Association of Cayman (IMAC) is a non-profit organisation run by the insurance managers of the Cayman Islands. In operation since 1981, IMACs aim is to act as both regulatory liaison with the Cayman Islands Government and to promote the Cayman Islands as a domicile of choice for captive insurance companies.

IMAC hosts the worlds largest captive insurance conference, attracting nearly 1,300 captive managers, service providers and directors annually.

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IAIS Heads To Cayman Islands to Discuss Solvency II and Financial Stability

By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 5:23 AM EDT, Fri June 15, 2012

Taste of UK 7,000 miles from home

Taste of UK 7,000 miles from home

Taste of UK 7,000 miles from home

Taste of UK 7,000 miles from home

Taste of UK 7,000 miles from home

Taste of UK 7,000 miles from home

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

United Nations (CNN) -- Thirty years after hundreds died in a fight over the disputed Falkland Islands, the Argentine president on Thursday urged Britain to once again try to resolve the conflict -- this time, at the negotiating table.

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Argentina's president urges talks with British over Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands Holdings plans to raise up to 10m to prepare for a potential oil boom in the South Atlantic.

The Aim-listed company owns 70 acres of land in the Greater Port Stanley area, which it plans to develop into warehouses or accommodation. The mini-conglomerate already owns logistics, warehouses and retail outlets on the islands. Yesterdays announcement came on the 30th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation.

We are excited by the opportunity to develop the groups existing assets in the Falkland Islands in anticipation of the growth in the economy, which the board believes will follow from recent hydrocarbon discoveries, said Brian Hudd, chairman.

A number of UK-listed oil companies have been exploring the waters around the Falkland Islands, including Falkland Oil & Gas (LSE: FOGL.L - news) , Borders & Southern, Rockhopper, Desire Petroleum (LSE: DES.L - news) and Argos Resources (LSE: ARG.L - news) .

The prospect of a commercial oil business in the region has led to a campaign by Argentine president Cristina Kirchner to try to gain sovereignty over the Falklands, including legal threats to the oil companies currently operating in the region.

The Falkland Islands government will receive a production royalty of 9pc of oil production and corporation tax on profits which together will amount to several billion dollars in respect of the [Rockhopper discovery] Sea Lion project alone, Falkland Islands Holdings said.

Elsewhere in the oil sector, Royal Dutch Shell has extended its offer to buy East African group Cove Energy (Berlin: LPC.BE - news) , but it did not raise its offer to match a competing bid. Cove shareholders now have until June 27 to agree to Shells offer of 220p. Last month Thailands PTT trumped Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) and offered 240p a share for Cove, valuing it at 1.22bn.

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Falkland Islands Holdings to raise £10m to invest in oil boom

LONDON (ShareCast) - Falkland Islands Holdings, the AIM quoted international services group, has raised eight million pounds following a subscription for shares by Blackfish Capital, an investment fund. In addition, the company is making an open offer under which the company's existing shareholder can buy one open offer share for every 15 ordinary shares they own, with the aim of raising a further 2.0m. The open shares will sold at 320p each, the same price as which Black Capital subscribed. All of the company's directors are participating and excess application will be accommodated to maximise participation in the offer. The proceeds will be used to exploit what it believes are "significant opportunities" that exist following recent hydrocarbon discoveries, as well as developing and expanding its existign business interests on the Falkland Islands. Falklands emphasised that Blackfish Capital Management is supportive of providing further project related equity and debt-finance either directly or via its extended client network. Chairman David Hudd said: "We are excited by the opportunity to develop the group's existing assets in the Falkland Islands in anticipation of the growth in the economy, which the board believes will follow from recent hydrocarbon discoveries. Given the company's history in the Falkland Islands and our leading position, we are confident that further investment now, will generate attractive returns. "We are delighted to have a supportive keystone investor in Blackfish Capital and we believe that further investment now in the Falkland Islands is in the best interest of our shareholders to enable the Company to participate in what we believe could be an explosive period of growth." The share price fell 5.59% to 337.50p by 13:13. NR

Originally posted here:

Falkland Islands Holdings raises funds totalling 10m

PORT STANLEY, Falkland Islands, June 14 (UPI) -- The Falklands Islands Thursday celebrated the 30th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina.

A service of thanksgiving marked the occasion, held at Christ Church Cathedral in Port Stanley, followed by a military parade to the Liberation Monument led by veterans of the 1982 conflict, the BBC reported.

Prime Minister David Cameron expressed Britain's support for the islands, which had "not wavered in the last 30 years and it will not in the years ahead."

The Falklands government announced it would hold a referendum on its political status, emphasizing islanders wanted to remain British.

Britain liberated the islands June 14, 1982, after 74 days of Argentine occupation. About 225 British servicemen, three Falklands civilians and 650 Argentines were killed in the armed conflict that ensued after Argentina invaded in an attempt to reclaim the islands.

Despite the defeat, Argentina still claims sovereignty over the islands.

Britain has laid claim to the Falklands since the Royal Navy expelled Argentina in 1833 when it re-established its status as a U.K. territory.

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Falklands Islands: 30th Liberation Day

Britain's premier vowed Thursday to defend the Falklands from Argentinian "aggressive threats" as the 30th anniversary of the end of the war over the islands was marked in London and Port Stanley.

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Falkland Islands mark 30 years since end of war

Cocos Islands locals are concerned about the strain being put on their tiny and remote community after a huge influx of asylum seeker boats landing on their shores.

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Asylum seeker arrivals strain tiny Cocos Islands

Residents of the Cocos Islands, off the north-west coast of Western Australia, are concerned about the increasing number of asylum seeker boats arriving at the islands.

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Another asylum boat arrives at Cocos Islands

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 13, 2012) - Canadian Orebodies Inc. (CO.V) ("Canadian Orebodies" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company's 2012 exploration program has commenced on the Belcher Islands, Nunavut. Drilling has started on the Kihl Bay Anticline target area, which is located to the northeast of Haig Inlet and is comprised of relatively closely spaced north-plunging anticlines and synclines. The Company believes the anticlines may elevate the Kipalu Iron Formation close to surface, thereby giving potential for low strip ratio and open pitable iron mineralization.

The Kihl Bay Anticline is one of three high priority targets to be tested during this summer's exploration program. The company plans to conduct the exploration drilling this season in two phases: wide-spread exploration holes on the Kihl Bay Anticline, Haig West, and the Haig North Extension, followed by infill drilling on the areas which would be most amenable to developing an open-pit mineral resource.

"We are excited to get a head start on this summer's season by flying our first drill into the Belcher Islands in order to capitalize on favourable weather conditions in June, which should allow for better production. Our second drill rig is scheduled to be brought in by barge in mid- July once ice conditions allow." said Gordon McKinnon, President and CEO of Canadian Orebodies. "The Kihl Bay Anticline is the first area selected for drilling of the three very large and highly prospective targets that have never previously been drill tested. We are eager to prove management's belief that the wide spread iron formations on the Belcher Islands have the potential to host significant additional tonnage outside of what the Company has already proven at Haig Inlet."

About Canadian Orebodies Inc.

Canadian Orebodies is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with a portfolio of properties in Nunavut and Ontario. Canadian Orebodies' primary focus is on advancing and developing its Haig Inlet Iron Ore Project, located on the Belcher Islands in Nunavut. The Haig Inlet Iron Ore Project is host to an indicated iron ore resource of 230 million tonnes at 35.17% Fe and an additional inferred resource of 289 million tonnes at 35.47% Fe. Canadian Orebodies trades on the TSXV under the symbol "CO".

This press release has been prepared under the supervision of Mr. George Wahl (P.Geo.), who is an independent consultant to the Company and a "qualified person" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101). Mr. Wahl has verified the technical data disclosed in this press release.

For more information please visit http://www.canadianorebodies.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to mineral resources, potential mineralization, exploration results and the Company's plans with respect to the exploration and development of the Properties) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in commodity prices, changes in equity markets, failure to establish mineral resources, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other ecological data, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

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Canadian Orebodies Commences Drilling Program on the Belcher Islands

By Kyung Lah, CNN

updated 11:12 AM EDT, Wed June 13, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- Japanese national pride has attracted $14 million and counting. That's how much citizens have chipped into a public fund to buy a set of islands the Japanese say is rightfully theirs.

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have been a diplomatic and emotional wedge between the two Asian superpowers, as both countries lay claims to the five uninhabited rocky islets in the East China Sea.

The dispute, which dates back decades, came to a boiling point in 2010 when a Chinese fishing trawler rammed into a Japan Coast Guard vessel on patrol in the island's waters. Japan detained the crew but later released them under Chinese diplomatic and trade pressure.

Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara never got over that dispute and his national government's response, which he characterizes as "weak." Ishihara, an unrepentant nationalist who is loudly anti-China, said when it comes to the islands, China is acting like "a burglar in Japan's house."

"Chinese hegemony is totally intolerable to us," said Ishihara. "We do not want to become a second Tibet and Mongolia. We have no intention of becoming China's annex. We shall stop China, who is coming to steal our land."

Driven by that nationalist fury, Ishihara cooked up a plan with a family, who claims to own four of the five disputed islands. That family, the Kuriharas, says it has documents showing the islands' Japanese ownership dating back to 1890.

Ishihara established a public fund for donors to send in money to the Tokyo metropolitan government. The city of Tokyo would eventually use that money to buy the islands from the Kurihara family, turning them from private Japanese property into government property. Hiroyuki Kurihara said his family would sell the islands to Tokyo's government, calling a sale in his country's "national interest."

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Japan official wants disputed islands

London (dpa) - The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic will hold a referendum next year about their "political status" in the hope of bringing to an end a dispute between Britain and Argentina over the islands sovereignty, the islands government said Tuesday.

Reacting to the announcement in London, British Prime Minister David Cameron said his government would "respect and defend" the outcome of the referendum, to be held in the first half of 2013.

"The voice of the Falkland Islands people should be heard. I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say," said Britains Foreign Secretary, William Hague.

His envoy, Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne, who is currently visiting the islands, said it was a "truly significant moment."

The announcement came amid tension between Britain and Argentina over the disputed islands, over which the two nations went to war in 1982.

Referring to the anniversary, Cameron said Tuesday: "Thirty years ago, they made clear that they wanted to stay British. Thats why British forces bravely liberated the island from Argentine invaders."

The bloody conflict over the islands, with a population of just 3,000 people, claimed the lives of 655 Argentinian soldiers and 255 British servicemen. The 30th anniversary of the end of the conflict is marked on June 14.

Next years referendum would determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands, said Cameron. "We look to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and accept the islanders decision about how they want to live."

The Falkland Islands government said Tuesday that it hoped the referendum would send a firm message to Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that the islanders wanted to remain British.

"We are holding this referendum, not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how certain we are about it," said Gavin Short, chairman of the Legislative Assembly in the Falkland Islands capital, Port Stanley.

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LEAD: Falkland Islands referendum over "political status" announced

--Falkland Islands will hold referendum in first half of 2013

--UK says it will support the choice of Falkland Islanders

LONDON--The Falkland Islands on Tuesday announced plans to hold a referendum on their political status next year, in a bid to end the territorial dispute between Britain and Argentina 30 years after the two countries fought a brief, but bloody war over the oil-rich archipelago.

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would be "resolute" in supporting their choice. Officials from Argentina's foreign ministry couldn't be reached for comment. But Argentina has long rejected self-determination as a answer to the question of sovereignty.

The announcement comes as the South Atlantic archipelago prepares to mark 30 years since British forces wrested back the islands from 74 days of Argentine military occupation. More than 900 Argentine and British military personnel were killed in the conflict.

Jeremy Browne, a U.K. foreign office minister, is currently in the Falklands to commemorate the war's end on June 14, 1982.

Tensions between Argentina and the U.K. have increased in recent months ahead of the anniversary. The prospect of oil and gas finds off the islands has also fueled the dispute.

Gavin Short, chairman of the islands' legislative assembly, said he has no doubt that Falklanders wish to be considered part of the U.K.

"We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views," he said.

"We have thought carefully about how to convey a strong message to the outside world that expresses the views of the Falklands people in a clear, democratic and incontestable way. So we have decided, with the full support of the British government, to hold a referendum on the Falkland Islands to eliminate any possible doubt about our wishes."

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Falkland Islands to Hold Vote on Political Status