International Affairs

The US is more hands-off than usual in the Middle East. It fears making things worse. This shift in strategy comes after decades of direct involvement, marked by both successes and failures. The region is now a complex web of conflicts, economic challenges, and shifting alliances, making it difficult for …

Separatist rebels release New Zealand pilot after 19 months in Indonesia’s Papua region, marking a significant development in the long-running conflict. The pilot, whose identity remains undisclosed, was captured in 2021 while working for a local aviation company. The Free Papua Movement (OPM), a separatist group fighting for independence from …

NZ pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed by rebels in Papua ‘safe and well’ marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between the Indonesian government and the West Papua National Liberation Army (WPNA). Mehrtens, a pilot for a small Indonesian airline, was captured by the WPNA in February 2023 after his …