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The panellists (L-R): Professor Paul Spoonley, AsiaNZ’s Dr Andrew Butcher, Terence O’Brien and Fran O’Sullivan  focused on what impact Obama’s re-election will have on the US’ relations with Asia, and how that, in turn, will affect New Zealand.  asianz-us-elections.mp3

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 …

Despite having only the 60th largest economy in the world and existing in the relative secludes of the South Pacific, it seems New Zealand has once again found a way to outshine the world – at least according to Forbes. For 2012, New Zealand has done one better on Forbes’ annual list of Best Countries for Business, winning away the …

Businessman Howard Moore  has outed the All Whites for failing to turn-up at a Kea breafast in Shanghai after a night out at the infamous M1nt Club with the local hotties. Moore said on Facebook, that it was “Great to see the All Whites vs China last night here in Shanghai. The All Whites probably deserved to win based on …

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.