By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, June 29 NZPA - United States President Barack Obama faces an uphill battle if he wants to progress a free trade deal including New Zealand, a visiting expert said today.

Wellington, June 2 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says he is disappointed that Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has resigned.

By Mark Geenty of NZPA Tokyo, Oct 30 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key delighted his Japanese counterpart's wife with a gifted All Blacks jersey and emerged positive about gradual progress towards a free trade agreement.

Wellington, Aug 31 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar ended lower today even though the National Bank Business Outlook survey showed a big jump in business confidence.

Finally, the last of the Kennedy brothers, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy has died at the age of 77.

Over the weekend few people may have noticed that the Progressive Party released a statement stating that it would not contest any future elections.

The year 2008 has proven to be a year of great political tests for a whole range of reasons on both the domestic and international fronts.

Auckland, Nov 16 NZPA - New Zealand music icon Don McGlashan has complained to TVNZ after it used one of his songs to accompany a picture montage last weekend marking National's victory.