A short distance is said to be "a hop, skip and a..." what?

A shooting in Morocco sets off a story spanning three continents in which 2006 Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu film? What word for a sandy shore area sounds just like a hardwood tree that may grow near it? What is a short-barreled rifle, originally for cavalry, called? What is a short description accompanying a photograph called? What word names a short, dry cough or a writer for hire who turns out trite work? Which soft drink name could describe a short-lived infatuation between red and yellow? A short necklace of which cultured gems has been a symbol of conservative dress since the 1950s? Which word for a short novel comes from the Italian for "a story" or "news"?