Friday July 23, 2004

Navy Frigate and tanker deploy to Pacific and south east asia The Navy tanker

HMNZS ENDEAVOUR will accompany the frigate, HMNZS TE KAHA on a five-month deployment to Australia and South East Asia departing Devonport Naval Base on Monday July 26, 2004 at 2:00 pm.

The deployment will see the ships represent New Zealand in a variety of operational exercises, activities and Defence Diplomacy visits.

The deployment provides an opportunity for the New Zealand and allied navies to train together to enhance practices experienced during operational missions such as Operation Enduring Freedom.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Martyn Dunne says "the deployment maintains the Defence Force's combat capability in a maritime environment. It demonstrates New Zealand's ability to contribute effectively to Closer Defence Relations and supporting regional aims and objectives of the Government of New Zealand".

Te Kaha and Endeavour will also take part in Exercise BERSAMA LIMA a military exercise in the South China Sea contributing to the security of the Asia Pacific region through the Five Power Defence Arrangement of which New Zealand is a partner.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>