New Zealand

EUROPE Presentation Angel Castellanos will discuss European travel skills, including sightseeing strategies, eating like a local and traveling with a smartphone. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Workshop Veteran travelers will offer tips on planning, budgeting, lodging, transportation, packing and other topics for first-time visitors.

Mike Tyson, who had his visa revoked by New Zealand on Wednesday, had hoped to visit the country's Maori people, who inspired his facial tattoo. Instead, the former heavyweight boxing champion turned performer can only wax poetic about his past troubles and what he must deal with in the aftermath. "The people wanted me to come," said Tyson, who was to perform his one-man act in Auckland in November. "I just wanted to go down there and just have a show. "Unfortunately that had to happen.

Mike Tyson was looking forward to meeting the people who inspired his famous facial tattoo. And, presumably, some people in New Zealand and Australia were looking forward to hearing the former boxing great during his speaking tour down under. But it now appears that nobody is going to get their wish. Tyson's visa for New Zealand has been canceled after a charity that would have benefited from a appearance by the one-time heavyweight champ pulled out of the event due to his 1992 rape conviction.

WASHINGTON - When a senior U.S. general met in Beijing recently with Lt. Gen. Cai Yingting, the deputy chief of China's armed forces, Cai forcefully objected to America's expanding military presence in Asia and the Pacific, describing it as an effort to encircle his country. "Why are you containing us?" Cai demanded, according to a U.S. official who was present and described the incident in return for anonymity. The U.S. general denied seeking to contain China, but it's easy to see why officials in Beijing might get that impression.

Air New Zealand marks 30 years of flying from Los Angeles to London with an offer of special airfares in all classes. Prices start at $830 round-trip in coach, a good post-Olympics price for those of us who have watched summer airline ticket prices to England and Europe remain high. The deal is good until Monday, so book quickly if you want to go. The deal: Flights go from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Heathrow Airport in London (LHR) for $830 in economy class, $1,406 in premium economy and $3,030 in business premier.

Just hours after the close of the Olympics, a female shotputter from Belarus was stripped of her gold Monday in the first case of an athlete losing a medal for doping at the London Games. With the disqualification of Nadzeya Ostapchuk, the gold medal was awarded to Valerie Adams of New Zealand - who winds up as Olympic champion for the second time in a row. The International Olympic Committee said Ostapchuk, a former world champion, tested positive for steroids before and after winning the shotput last week for her first Olympic gold.

NEWCASTLE, Britain -- Goals by Abby Wambach and Sydney Leroux rescued a sputtering offense Friday and lifted the U.S. to a surprisingly difficult 2-0 win over New Zealand in the quarterfinals of the women's Olympic soccer tournament before a crowd of 10,441 at St. James' Park. With the victory, the U.S. team moves on to Monday's semifinal at historic Old Trafford in Manchester, where they will meet the winner of Friday's late match between Canada and Britain. The U.S. team, the two-time defending Olympic champions who have never lost a knockout-round game in five Olympic appearances, took a 1-0 first-half lead when Wambach's scored in the 27th minute, set up by a perfect pass from Alex Morgan.

NEWCASTLE, England — Perhaps one reason Hope Solo has had so much time to spend on Twitter during these Olympic Games is because she hasn't had much to keep her busy on the field. "I haven't really been tested," the U.S. goalkeeper complained Friday after posting her third consecutive shutout, this one in a 2-0 victory over New Zealand that sends the Americans on to next week's semifinals. "I'm still waiting. That's what happens when you get to be No. 1 in the world. " It doesn't really matter whether Solo's reference was to the U.S. women's soccer team or just its defense because the adjective works either way. And, frighteningly for opponents, both seem to be getting better.

LONDON — Here's a stat New Zealand might be interested in going into Friday's Olympic soccer quarterfinal against the unbeaten U.S. women's team: The U.S. has lost only two of the 98 games in which Abby Wambach has scored at least one goal. And Wambach has scored in each of the Americans' three games in this tournament. So you can do the math. But New Zealand captain Rebecca Smith, who was born in Los Angeles and attended Chadwick School in Rancho Palos Verdes, figures her team will show up for the game in Newcastle anyway.

LONDON — Let the Games begin. For the U.S. women's soccer team there was little drama in the first week of the Olympic tournament, which concluded Tuesday with a methodical 1-0 win over North Korea at historic Old Trafford in Manchester. The Americans scored a tournament-high eight goals in their three wins, did not allow a score after the 14th minute of their opener and won their group going away. PHOTOS: U.S. women's soccer vs. North Korea Now the real work begins, starting with Friday's quarterfinal against New Zealand, which finished third in its group.