An 18-year-old New Zealander, Loukas Rainger, remains in custody in Thailand after being arrested for allegedly stealing a watch at an airport in Surat Thani. According to his mother, Natasha, the teenager picked up a watch left on a security tray, leading to an arrest warrant and subsequent detention. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and … Read more
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Secretary-General Ma’ruf Cahyono on Thursday, one year after he was named a suspect in a procurement corruption case. Authorities allege that Cahyono solicited kickbacks totaling approximately Rp 30 billion ($1.7 million) from contractors during his tenure at the MPR Secretariat from 2019 to 2021. … Read more
Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford has been appointed as the new chairman of the Justice Committee. This leadership change follows Bayly’s move to the Petitions Select Committee and his decision not to stand for Parliament at the election. What legislation is currently before the Justice Committee? The committee is currently managing a variety of … Read more
Liquidators are working to dispose of 20,000 cases of wine and 400,000 litres of bulk wine following a group liquidation. While the Te Awanga Estate vineyard has sold unconditionally to new owners, Nacey confirmed a shortfall remains for the secured lender after mortgage considerations are applied to the sale proceeds. How much wine stock is … Read more
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has launched an investigation into Chief Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Stephen Rainbow following concerns regarding his conduct. Kristy McDonald KC has been appointed to lead the inquiry after advice from the Ministry of Justice. The government hasn’t released specific details about the allegations to uphold the principles of fair process and … Read more
A consortium of Vingroup businesses, including VinFast, V-Green, VinEnergo, and Green GSM, has launched a ₱50-million emergency relief program to assist communities in the Southern Philippines following the June 8, 2026, magnitude 7.8 earthquake. The aid targets recovery efforts in the Soccsksargen and Davao regions, where the disaster resulted in at least 45 deaths, hundreds … Read more
The Hurricanes secured a dominant 60-5 victory over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final, a result defined by a standout performance from Jordie Barrett and a masterclass in game management from Ruben Love. According to official match reports, the Hurricanes’ backline efficiency and defensive intensity dismantled a Chiefs side that struggled with unforced … Read more
President Prabowo Subianto bypassed the ASEAN-Russia Summit in Kazan to prioritize domestic policy challenges, delegating representation to Foreign Minister Sugiono. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the decision on Wednesday, citing a need to address internal government matters including economic stability and public service programs, despite previous high-level engagements between the two nations. Why is the … Read more
The Rise of the ‘Co-Ownership Era’: Why Friends are the New Mortgage Partners For decades, the path to homeownership followed a predictable script: marry, settle down and buy a house as a nuclear family. But as global housing markets reach unprecedented levels of inaccessibility, that script is being shredded. We are witnessing the emergence of … Read more
The El Niño Surge: Understanding the Impact of Shifting Pacific Patterns on Water and Weather Climate patterns are never static, but when the Pacific Ocean begins to shift, the ripples are felt far beyond the shoreline. We are currently tracking a significant trend: the intensification of El Niño cycles. While these events are a natural … Read more