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Kiwibank economists are warning that raising interest rates in the current environment would be “tone deaf” and potentially “reckless,” as New Zealand faces rising costs driven by global instability and energy shocks. In its latest economic commentary, Kiwibank argues the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) should resist calls for rate hikes, citing heightened uncertainty linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict and its impact on fuel prices.…

Court affirms injured patients’ right to access manufacturer data, forcing disclosure. · Jon Fleetwood · In a major procedural victory for vaccine-injured plaintiffs, a German court has ordered BioNTech to turn over internal data on its Comirnaty mRNA COVID-19 vaccine—affirming that individuals claiming harm have the right to access the manufacturer’s own records to challenge its safety claims and pursue damages. · The Regional Court…

The growing Israeli-Turkish rivalry might soon expand to Jordan. · Andrew Korybko · Turkiye, Syria, and Jordan signed a trilateral MoU in early April on transport cooperation that followed their meeting more than half a year prior last September where they first committed to reviving the Hejaz Railway. This late-Ottoman project connected Istanbul with Medina and Mecca but collapsed during World War I. Its restoration in contemporary…

The US wrestles for power in the Hormuz Strait, at least verbally, claiming it's the one who rules the waterway. But the Iranian ambassador to Indonesia says America is just spinning a narrative and its not based in reality. Iranian trains are back on track as the nation has managed to rapidly reconstruct its railway network following US and Israeli attacks. While Israeli and Lebanese leaders are expected to speak this Thursday…

An overnight Ukrainian drone raid killed two minors in the Russian Black Sea port city of Tuapse · FILE PHOTO. © Sputnik / Sergey Bobylev · The Russian armed forces carried out mass strikes on Ukrainian military and energy sites on Thursday in response to a drone attack that killed two children in the country’s Krasnodar Region, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said. · Russian strikes hit facilities involved in the…

Peter Magyar claims his party’s election win has “liberated” the state broadcaster from airing “propaganda” · Tisza party leader Peter Magyar, slated to become the next Hungarian Prime Minister, Budapest, April 13, 2026. ©  Jakub Porzycki / Anadolu via Getty Images · Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has pledged to suspend the news operations of the state broadcaster following two tense interviews he gave on…

Sergey Shoigu has cautioned Finland and the Baltic states against allowing Kiev to use their airspace for attacks on Russia · Russian National Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Moscow, Russia, February 5, 2026. ©  Aleksey Mayshev/RIA Novosti · Russia would have the right to retaliate if Finland and the Baltic states are deliberately allowing Ukrainian drones to pass through their airspace, Security Council…

A ten-day truce will begin at 5 PM EST (22:00 GMT) on Thursday following talks between the sides, the US president has announced · US President Donald Trump ©  Win McNamee / Getty Images · US President Donald Trump has announced that a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been agreed upon following talks in Washington. · In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump stated the truce would begin at 5 PM EST (22:00…

“Same as it ever was” is a phrase that continues to resonate in 2026. · Jamie Fraser/Getty Images - Author Craig Stevens Professor in Ocean Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Earth Sciences New Zealand · The oil shocks of the 1970s, triggered by conflict in the Middle East, sent global energy prices soaring and exposed the vulnerability of modern economies to fuel supply. They also sparked a global surge of interest…

The fallout from war between the United States, Israel and Iran has dominated global oil markets. And not just because the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20% of global oil and gas, remains effectively closed to shipping traffic. · Author Flavio Macau - Associate Dean - School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University · Deep uncertainty about how long the disruption will continue has added a persistent “risk premium” – an…