Russia and Ukraine face off at European security conference as all sides wait for Trump presidency
Dec 12, 2024 02:46 am UTC| Insights & Views
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation next year. Last week, after months of wrangling, its 57 members meeting in Malta managed to agree on a new...

India is the new China – NZ needs to see the bigger picture in trade negotiations
Dec 10, 2024 05:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Anyone who has followed New Zealands protracted trade negotiations with India will know any new announcement of progress needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters hint last week...
Europe readies for war as Russian rhetoric escalates
Dec 09, 2024 01:46 am UTC| Insights & Views
Sweden is clearly taking Vladimir Putins repeated threats to escalate its current war in Ukraine with deadly seriousness. Households received a booklet recently detailing steps they could take to stay safe in the face of...

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal promises a precarious peace in a region racked by conflict
Dec 02, 2024 05:11 am UTC| Insights & Views
After two months of ground war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, a negotiated ceasefire has been reached which for now should help to relieve civilian suffering. However, much will depend on both local and global...
Will the fragile peace between Hezbollah and Israel hold?
Nov 30, 2024 17:13 pm UTC| Insights & Views
A ceasefire deal came into effect between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah in the early hours of November 26, bringing two months of hostilities in Lebanon to an end. The countrys main roads have since then...

Nov 30, 2024 14:54 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Thanks to US President-elect Donald Trump, the term trade war is back in the headlines. Trump campaigned successfully on a platform of aggressive trade policies, and since being elected, has only doubled down on this...
Amid lull in tit-for-tat missile exchange, Iran and Israel seek to control the online narrative
Nov 28, 2024 00:19 am UTC| Insights & Views
Is Iran poised for a succession in leadership? Well, that depends on what you read. For weeks, rumors have been swirling about the health of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as...