Fiji's interim government has accused New Zealand of snubbing it by not attending the Engaging Fiji meeting in Nadi.

"I cannot disclose," says the caterer. "We're not really speaking," says the restaurant manager. "I can't say anything myself," says the bartender.

Wealthy Chinese investors say strict fund transfer policies are preventing them from becoming investor migrants in New Zealand.

The Obama administration wants a review of the decision to release the Libyan convicted in the Lockerbie airliner bombing.

Former dictator Desi Bouterse was elected president by parliament, following weeks of jostling by opponents who sought to stop a convicted drug trafficker and ex-strongman accused of killing political opponents from returning to power.

The strategy sits for now on a table in a locked-down Afghan capital: Hand over security in all 34 provinces to the government by the end of 2014.

The Govt this morning withdrew its proposal to open up more than 7000ha of conservation land to prospecting and mining.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is battling to control his coalition as he heads for a showdown with his hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman.

If there were any doubts about where next month's election will be fought, they were dispelled yesterday.

The Govt will today scrap hugely controversial plans to mine some of the country's most pristine conservation land.