Peter Bale

Contributing writer

Peter Bale is a New Zealand-born journalist who’s been back in the country after many years working overseas for Reuters, CNN, and others. He is the author of The Spinoff's members-only Bulletin World Weekly newsletter.

The sun rises above Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 12, 2023 (Photo: Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images)

A brutal 2023: The Bulletin World Weekly year in review

A look back at a tumultuous year in international news.

By Peter Bale | 18th December, 2023

Contributing writer

Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8 (Photo: IBRAHIM HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

The war in Israel has deep roots and may spread

The new conflict in Gaza is part of a much bigger power struggle with a long, complex history.

By Peter Bale | 9th October, 2023

Contributing writer

Wagner Group mercenaries sit on top of a tank in Rostov-on-Don on June 24, 2023 (Photo: Roman ROMOKHOV / AFP via Getty Images)

What does the Wagner mutiny mean for Putin’s regime – and how will he retaliate?

Vladimir Putin's authority remains intact for now, but it's taken a bigger hit than ever before. So what happens next?

By Peter Bale | 26th June, 2023

Contributing writer

A turbulent 2022: The Bulletin World Weekly year in review

A turbulent 2022: The Bulletin World Weekly year in review

A look back at a tumultuous year in international news.

By Peter Bale | 15th December, 2022

Contributing writer

UK prime minister Liz Truss and chancellor of the exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng (Getty Images / Tina Tiller)

Explainer: The ‘inept madness’ crashing Britain’s economy

If Liz Truss was trying to collapse the economy on purpose she could hardly have done a better job.

By Peter Bale | 30th September, 2022

Contributing writer

A protest against Russian aggression in Ukraine, Madrid, Spain. (Photo: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Ukraine in crisis: A short introduction to its long conflict with Russia

By Peter Bale | 24th February, 2022

Contributing writer

Making the news in 2021: Aung San Suu Kyi, Alexei Navalny, ‘QAnon Shaman’ Jake Angeli and Benjamin Netanyahu (Image: Tina Tiller)

A long 2021: The Bulletin World Weekly year in review

A look back at a tumultuous year across the globe.

By Peter Bale | 13th December, 2021

Contributing writer

Displaced Afghan families head into Kabul from the northern provinces desperately leaving their homes behind on August 10, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo: Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

The fall of Afghanistan and what could come next

Today's special edition of our Members newsletter looks at the ghastly inevitability of the Taliban takeover as the US flees

By Peter Bale | 16th August, 2021

Contributing writer

Israeli police officers making an arrest in East Jerusalem on May 10 (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Bulletin World Weekly: The historic tragedy of Jerusalem

The latest edition of the Bulletin World Weekly, a Spinoff newsletter covering the most important stories from around the globe.

By Peter Bale | 14th May, 2021

Contributing writer

Margaret Keenan, 90, is applauded by staff as she returns to her ward after becoming the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital in Coventry in the UK on December 8 (Photo: JACOB KING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Bulletin World Weekly: Making sense of 2020

Every week, Spinoff members receive a piping-hot Bulletin World Weekly in their inbox. As a special festive treat, we're sharing the final one for 2020 with all our readers.

By Peter Bale | 13th December, 2020

Contributing writer