BI director James Comey has been removed from his position by US President Donald Trump. "The president has accepted the recommendation of the attorney general and the deputy attorney general regarding the dismissal of the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters. Mr Trump, following a recommendation by the US Justice Department, informed Mr Comey he was “terminated and removed from office” effective immediately.

Read more: https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/trump-fires-fbi-director-comey-ns-202785

The NZX has published its new code of conduct, which issuers must comply with or explain their reasons for not doing so. The corporate governance code, which was approved by the Financial Markets Authority after a lengthy consultation with stakeholders, sets standards for ethical behaviour, board composition, reporting and disclosure, director remuneration, risk management, auditors and shareholder rights.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/comply-or-explain-under-nzxs-new-code-conduct-cs-p-202783

Investment in early-stage Kiwi tech companies jumped last year but a single deal seems to account for most of the increase – and the new boss of the NZ Venture Investment Fund warns there is a “material capital gap.”

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/investment-early-stage-new-zealand-tech-companies-jumps-ck-202769

Investment in early-stage Kiwi tech companies jumped last year but a single deal seems to account for most of the increase – and the new boss of the NZ Venture Investment Fund warns there is a “material capital gap.”

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/investment-early-stage-new-zealand-tech-companies-jumps-ck-202769

Bank lending to the agricultural sector is shrinking as the outlook for the dairy sector improves. A new data series produced by the Reserve Bank shows agricultural credit shrank by $112 million in March from February, although it was still 2.7% higher at $59.2 billion than in March last year. Agricultural credit has shrunk in three of the last four months.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/bank-lending-dairy-farmers-shrinks-jr-p-202771

The University of Otago has criticised the Waikato Times for its coverage of a proposed third medical school. In October, the University of Waikato and the Waikato District Health Board put forward a proposal to set up this country’s third medical school because of a shortage of rural GPs. But the plan has been met strong opposition from the two incumbents, the University of Otago and the University of Auckland.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/otago-university-attacks-waikato-times-med-school-coverage-cg-p-202758

Public opinion polls take thousands of hours to compile and are usually published days or even weeks after the event. But now the mood of the nation can now be measured as it happens, at least in the US. Not surprisingly, the experts have turned to Twitter. The Wall Street Journal’s Social Sentiment Index tracks whether Twitter users are making positive or negative comments on a wide range of issues.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/editors-insight-mood-nation-mainly-negative-measured-twitter

Waste Management has debuted the country’s first electric vehicle to be used exclusively for waste collection. The box-body truck is being operated as part of a partnership with Countdown supermarkets. The truck was converted from diesel to electric by electric-mobility integrator EMOSS in The Netherlands. It will be joined later this year by the first electric side-loader waste collection truck, which will be used for residential kerbside wheelie bin collection in Auckland. Waste Management plans to launch another electric truck in Christchurch this year too.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/car-torque-waste-management-debuts-electric-rubbish-truck

Abano Healthcare is on track to meet its own financial forecasts for the year ending this month but is likely to fall short on the number of dental practices bought. During its failed takeover attempt, Healthcare Partners, which is Abano’s largest shareholder with 19%, said Abano’s target of buying 31 practices this year was unrealistic, particularly in light of the 19 practices bought the previous year. Abano has bought 25 practices so far and says although some expected acquisitions have been delayed beyond the end of the financial year, a number should settle in the upcoming months.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/abano-track-financially-new-dental-practices-fall-short-jr-p-202748

President Donald Trump is preparing for a decision to determine whether the US remains a party to the Paris Agreement on climate change. A final decision is expected as soon as this week. The Trump administration will send a small delegation to a climate meeting in Bonn, Germany. The delegation is "focused on ensuring that decisions are not taken at these meetings that would prejudice our future policy, undermine the competitiveness of US businesses, or hamper our broader objective of advancing US economic growth and prosperity," according to a State Department official.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/trumps-beltway-climate-change-deal-decision-ahead-and-tpp-v2-gets-life-ns-p-202746