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Labour leader David Shearer is pushing a ‘New Direction’ for New Zealand – with the behind scenes help of broadcasting guru Ian Fraser. His speech at the Labour Party conference was applauded by delegates. Shearer talked of two paths that lie ahead for NZ. “One path leads to disappointment, decline and constant struggle ..That’s our country’s current path, the one …

John Key gives no quarter to The Nation’s Rachel Smalley on Kim Dotcom. Courtesy: Frontpage

Labour Party MP David Cunliffe won’t confirm whether he will support David Shearer when the Labour Party caucus votes on its leadership in February next year. Speaking this weekend on TV3’s “The Nation” Cunliffe said: “I haven’t given it any thought”. “I’m not prepared to discuss individual remits, whatever they are. “I’m a very strong supporter of the organisational review. …

Israeli military says its “Iron Dome” defense system intercepted 13 rockets fired from Gaza on Wednesday in what appears to be retaliation for Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed 10, including the commander of the Hamas military wing. The Israeli military said the some 20 airstrikes were part of a major offensive dubbed “Operation Pillar of Defense,” Reuters reports. “All options …

Israel has chosen to attack Gaza in order to avoid reaching a longer-term peace settlement than was being negotiated with the help of Hamas’ military leader Ahmen Jabari, who was assassinated in an Israeli attack Wednesday, says Israeli activist. Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin spoke to RT confirming that Ahmen Jabari was involved in peace settlement negotiations with Israel and …

US Senator Roy Blunt  weighs in on Fox News.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus stoked the controversy over the Obama administration’s handling of the Libya terror attack, testifying Friday that references to “Al Qaeda involvement” were stripped from his agency’s original talking points — while other intelligence officials were unable to say who changed the memo, according to a top lawmaker who was briefed. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told …

As the world’s most populous nation unveils its new leadership, China’s political masters now face the unenviable task of addressing a slowing economy, rampant corruption, environmental pollution and deteriorating relations with some of its neighbours. The FT’s Beijing correspondents outline some of the challenges faced by China’s new generation of political leaders.

Xi Jinping is to take the reins of China’s all-powerful Communist Party in a leadership transition that will put him in charge of the world’s number-two economy for the next decade. Xi, the current vice president and successor to President Hu Jintao, assumes power at an uncertain time with the party facing urgent calls to clean its ranks of corruption and overhaul …

U2’s Bono sits down with World Bank President Jim Young Kim to talk about what’s needed to end poverty. Bono estimates that the billions of dollars of tax hikes and potential funding cuts in the US could affect  275,000 people and lead to around 65,000 deaths.  The figures come from the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Bono said based on …