Expedition Earth
(Part I)

New Zealand's agricultural economy depends on an industrial raw material that rarely makes headlines: sulphur. With international supply routes under pressure, questions are emerging about whether the country has sufficient reserves, alternative suppliers and domestic production capacity to withstand a prolonged disruption Report by eLocal | 17 October 2026 · A Warning That Deserves Examination · New Zealand has spent years debating energy…

Ukraine has asked the European Union for another €70 billion in financial and military support, but European leaders left their Brussels summit without an agreement on the additional funding. Behind the diplomatic assurances lies a difficult question for governments already facing competing domestic priorities: how much longer can Europe finance Ukraine's war effort, and under what conditions? INR Report: Based on RT's live coverage of the EU…

Andrew Korybko examines a reported four-part US peace proposal involving Ukraine's reconstruction, security guarantees, European energy integration and a ceasefire. He argues that Moscow might accept a negotiated settlement, particularly if an energy agreement offers economic incentives, while questioning whether Kyiv would agree. It represents a pragmatic balance of interests between all sides. · The Washington Post reported that Trump’s…

Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins both defended their honesty during the latest leaders' debate, yet independent fact-checking exposed inaccurate and misleading claims from both sides. Beyond the political exchanges lies a larger question: after decades of promises, are New Zealanders being offered credible mechanisms for rebuilding national prosperity, or simply competing explanations for why the economy has failed to deliver? Report by…

New Zealand's decision to abandon domestic oil refining deserves scrutiny beyond the price of petrol. The loss of refining capacity also raises questions about industrial by-products, agricultural inputs and whether successive governments have adequately protected the country's productive economy. The Cost of Losing a Strategic Industry · In March 2022, New Zealand's only oil refinery at Marsden Point ceased operations, ending nearly six…