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New Zealand has virtually everything we associate with a functioning democracy: free elections, universal suffrage, MMP, parliamentary debate, select committees, public submissions and even the ability of citizens to force a referendum. Yet a landmark peer-reviewed study of American policymaking raises an uncomfortable question for New Zealand. Having all the machinery of democracy does not necessarily mean ordinary citizens determine what that…

Russia says it will continue retaliating against Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova insisting Moscow does not seek escalation but will respond to threats against civilians and infrastructure. Her warning comes amid another major exchange of long-range drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE. · Moscow Says "Escalation Is Not Our…

Russian researchers have developed an experimental Alzheimer’s treatment that takes a markedly different approach to the disease — filtering potentially harmful inflammation-related material from patients’ blood. A small pilot study reportedly produced improvements in memory, attention and everyday functioning, although researchers stress that larger clinical trials are required before the treatment’s safety and effectiveness can be established.

Russia has issued a stark warning to Britain over its support for Ukrainian long-range drone operations, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying direct British involvement in strikes against Russian territory could be treated as participation in the conflict. The warning follows reports that British-made drones have been used to attack Russian oil refineries and other targets hundreds of kilometres from Ukraine. INR Report: Based on…

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency raids the deputy head of Zelensky’s office, while a major bank chief is also dismissed amid a money-laundering investigation. Iran accuses Washington of “economic warfare” after Donald Trump threatens consequences for countries trading with Tehran. Meanwhile, Israel’s military has reportedly acknowledged its soldiers opened fire in the 2024 incident that killed six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza, whose desperate…

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is facing what several major Western media organisations describe as his most serious domestic political challenge since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. A new corruption investigation inside his presidential office, combined with a former defence minister publicly calling for elections, has intensified scrutiny of Zelensky's leadership and Ukraine's wartime governance. INR Report: Based on…

Vladimir Putin says Moscow’s economy is showing resilience to the wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy and trade infrastructure. More heads roll in Kiev as Ukraine's anti-corruption agency links a high-ranking member of Vladimir Zelensky's own office to the country's largest ongoing corruption case as part of its 'Forrest Gump' operation. The deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office has been sacked. And that's the message a…

Susan reads Canada's rap sheet — transshipment smuggling, forced-labor failures, snow-washing and contrasts Chris Wright's civilizational case for energy with Joly's "geo-industrialization," as a Green Party petition targets Ambassador Hoekstra. President Trump announced a three-day pause on planned 50% tariffs against Canada, citing a pending deal and suggesting Keystone XL could be revived. Susan Kokinda argues the dispute is larger than…

Instead of Japan and the ROK taking the lead in containing China, the US would retain this role while recognizing the DPRK as a nuclear power and approving a Russian-Japanese peace deal, thus simplifying regional security by reducing the number of fault lines that could lead to World War III. Trump confirmed that he’s back in contact with North Korea’s (DPRK) Kim Jong Un one day after scaling back the US’ participation in annual large-scale…

Energy Minister Simeon Brown says there is no single solution to New Zealand's high electricity bills, with the Government now examining whether changes to the regulation of power distribution companies could put downward pressure on prices. Network charges for poles, wires and substations make up around a quarter of household power bills and have accounted for two-thirds of recent increases. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by RNZ's Morning…