International News

Catching up with Australia may be impossible

Achieving its goal of catching up with Australia's wage rate is becoming increasingly difficult for the Government.

Climate change: French-driven boost for Nuclear energy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has urged rich lenders to help pay for a global nuclear expansion in the interests of fighting climate change and feeding the growing world hunger for energy.

Obama appeals for public support on health care

President Barack Obama accused insurance companies of placing profits over people and said Republicans ignored long-festering problems when they held power as he sought to build support for swift passage of legislation stalled in Congress.

Iraqi PM's coalition seen leading vote

Early estimates from a range of Iraqi parties predicted a coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would take the lead in the parliamentary election, though official results were not expected for a few days.

Oldest person in US dies at age 114

Mary Josephine Ray, the New Hampshire woman who was certified as the oldest person living in the United States, has died at age 114 years, 294 days.

Trans-Tasman rower could reach Far North next week

Trans-Tasman rower Shaun Quincey could reach land as early as next week.

Afghan president to host April peace conference

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that an action plan to reintegrate low- to mid-level insurgent fighters into society and negotiate with the Taliban's top echelon will be crafted next month at a peace conference aimed at ending the war.

Pakistan interrogation center bombed, killing 13

A suicide car bomber struck a building where police interrogate high-value suspects in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens including women taking children to school, officials said.

Travellers will foot bill for US tourism campaign

Kiwis travelling to the US are set to be hit with a new $12 fee to fund a tourism campaign.

White House tweeting spreads president's message

If you’re PressSec - White House press secretary Robert Gibbs' username on Twitter - you join the powerful social media platform and push your message across the internet, 140 characters at a time.