POLITICS & POLICY

New Zealand Celebrities Support Deep Sea Oil Drilling Protests (VIDEO)

New Zealand celebrities joined protests against proposed laws that will remove the requirement of public consultation on applications for deep-sea gas and oil drilling activities. The proposed law will also abolish the right to conduct a protest at sea. Actors and celebrities like Lucy Lawless, Sam Neill, Robyn Malcom and Sir Ted Thomas, a former Supreme Court judge among others, supported the protests by Maori and environmental groups to urge New Zealand's government not to pass the law.
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David Cunliffe Hailed New Zealand Labour Party Leader, PM John Key Has New Opponent

New Zealand's Labour Party has elected David Cunliffe as its new leader to run for the 2014 election and hopefully block Prime Minister John Key's plan to seek a third term in office. Mr Cunliffe won a caucus vote among affiliated unions and party members. The 50-year-old bested Maori Affairs spokesperson Shane Jones and deputy leader Grant Robertson for the position. David Cunliffe replaced David Shearer who left the Labour leadership vacant in August.

The Battles for Energy Supermacy

The story of Tokyo winning the Olympic bid caught everyone's attention this week, but everyone was focusing on the wrong get together involving Japan.

Congo: Thwarted M23 Attack Put Rebels on Back Foot and Paveds Way for Talks

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the National forces (FARDC), with support from the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and its intervention brigade, have averted threat to the city of Goma, nearby refugee camps and U.N. missions by pushing the M23 rebel group back towards the north, in fighting which took place late Aug. This was informed by Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations at a press conference at the U.N. Headquarters.

Barack Obama, Tony Abbott Talk Military and Trade Cooperation

U.S. President Barack Obama called for the full implementation of 2011 plan to station U.S. troops in Australia and backed the ambitious goal of negotiating the free trade Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, when he called up incoming prime minister Tony Abbott, on Wednesday night, to congratulate him.

Bill Shorten Vs. Anthony Albanese: Who Will Be the Next Australian Labor Party Leader? (VIDEO)

Australian Labour Party power broker Bill Shorten announced on Sept 12 that he will seek Labor leadership after the party's stinging loss to the Coalition's Tony Abbott in the recently concluded federal polls. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who lost to Mr Abbott in the elections, kept his Parliament seat but declined to become the party's leader. The Coalition's win marked the end of the Labor party's rule in Australia for six years.

Freedom Flotilla to West Papua Tactically Changes Plan to Dodge Indonesian Navy; Says “Sacred Mission” Accomplished After Symbolic Ceremony at Sea

Evading the Indonesian navy, two boats met near the Australia-Indonesia border, to ceremonially reconnect the indigenous peoples of Australia and West Papua and handover sacred water and ashes carried onboard the Freedom Flotilla, to be presented to West Papuan leaders. This marks the successful completion of the “scared mission” of the Freedom Flotilla, which travelled 5000 km beginning in Lake Eyre, late Aug, a press release issued on Friday said.

Migration Boom: Sharp Increase in Number of Migrants; More People Than Ever Living Aboard – United Nations

Today, more people than ever are living abroad; with Asia seeing the largest increase of international migrants over the past decade, and the United States and Europe remaining the most popular destination. The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) said on Wednesday that today 232 million people or 3.2 per cent of the world’s population live abroad worldwide. This compared to 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990.

Ban Live Imports from Australia; PETA Australia to Israel

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Australia, has called upon Israel to stop importing live animals from Australia. PETA Australia emphasised that live cattle are transported in complete violation of animal rights. The conditions the cattle endure during their travels to Israel are very grim; many collapse or die from dehydration, suffocation, trampling or disease. PETA Australia made this demand in a letter addressed to Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz and...

Hiring Outlook in New Zealand Softens but Spurred by Mining, Construction and Technology is Stronger than International Markets

Employment Outlook Survey of New Zealand reveals a moderate fall, in hiring, in the country for the coming fourth quarter of 2013. This follows, two quarters of marginally more optimistic results, according to, survey data released by, ManpowerGroup. However, the survey finds that the pace of hiring will continue to remain stronger when compared to the international market.

Boost Measures to Protect Children from Violence in Conflict-Ridden Countries: U.N. Official

As millions of children suffer across the world in conflict-ridden countries, unable to go to school, the international community has the responsibility to take up measures to protect them from violence. These thoughts were expressed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, at the 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, which began in Geneva on Monday.

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