The former chief executive of France Telecom, as well as six other executives, will stand trial for the suicides of about 60 workers.

In 2006, France Telecom announced plans to restructure the business in an effort to modernise. Over three years, 22,000 workers would be made redundant and another 14,000 would be moved and retrained.  More ...

The coach of the Spanish football team was dismissed two days before their first World Cup match. Coach Julen Lopetegui had been negotiating with Real Madrid to become their new head coach. The Spanish Royal Football Federation was unaware.

To everyone's surprise, Real Madrid announced Lopetegui would come on board as their new coach after the World Cup. The federation president said Lopetegui only told them he had signed with Real Madrid five minutes before the announcement.

The Spanish Royal Football Federation dismissed Lopetegui within hours. There has been much speculation as to whether dismissing Lopetegui was wise or a knee-jerk reaction to the federation being embarrassed. Spain was one of the favourites to win the World Cup but that may be a more difficult task now their coach has been dismissed.   More ...

The Government announced last week that over 150,000 cattle will be culled to eradicate mycoplasma bovis from New Zealand.

The disease has been called the most severe economic biosecurity issue to hit New Zealand. It is clearly a real threat to dairy which is the backbone of New Zealand's economy.  More ...

Israel Folau certainly created controversy when several weeks ago he answered a query on Instagram about God's plan for homosexuals. Folau commented "HELL … unless they repent of their sins and turn to God".

And what a backlash that brought. More ...

Successful sports coaches have a wonderful job, but woe betide the losing coach. Just look at Silver Ferns coach, Janine Southby. For the first time ever, the Silver Ferns returned from the Commonwealth Games without a medal.

After the loss to Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games, captain Katrina Grant damningly said the team hadn't had the right direction over the last few months. South African shooter Lenize Potgieter poured petrol on the fire when she said she was very confused about decisions that were made by the Silver Ferns during the games.  More ...

Former FBI Director James Comey has published a book titled A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, in which he takes several swings at his former boss, President Trump.

During national interviews, Comey has said Russia may have compromising information on President Trump and there is "some evidence of obstruction of justice" in the president's actions.  More ...

In early March former Russian double-agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, were found by police unconscious and in extremely serious condition on a bench in Salisbury, England.

British officials believe an assassin smeared a Russian-developed nerve agent, Novichok, on the handle of Skripal's front door.

Skripal remains in critical condition and unresponsive but Yulia is now conscious and talking. A police officer who attended the scene also became very ill but was discharged after 18 days in hospital. More ...

Lyttelton Port was shut down much of last week due to 200 workers striking.

New Zealand is a trading nation and our ports are a critical link in the movement of our primary produce overseas and our imports. Port workers have always had a powerful position in the economy. More ...

William Wilberforce abolished slavery in the United Kingdom 150 years ago, yet bonded labour, people trafficking and exploitation persist.

With the industrial revolution in England came inhuman working conditions. Workers were often paid by credit note to the company store and then significant deductions were made from their wages for their lodgings and for buying food from the company store. More ...