Despite the best of intentions, Scotland has been made to look an idiot over the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds. Al-Megrahi arrived back in Libya to a hero's welcome leaving the world asking why
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World News Brief, Tuesday August 25
Voter fraud in Afghanistan; situation in Afghanistan "serious and deteriorating"; North-South Korea meeting; new Pakistani Taliban leader; Netanyahu visits Europe; and more
Read MoreThe Smack is back
Political leaders like John Key and Phil Goff may think the new law on “parental correction” is working, but an overwhelming majority of voters do not. Words of comfort will not make the issue go away.
The Age of Stupid: a film too clever, and not clever enough
The converted will love this docudrama’s preachy tone. They chortle at the green in-jokes, and give it a round of applause. It has a message for New Zealanders, but will it reach a wider audience?
Read MoreWhat price democracy? Ask the brave Afghans
To understand the Aghan election we will need to re-think our idea of success
Read MoreGay adoption. Now that I have your attention ...
As far as I'm concerned, preventing gays from adopting is as morally repugnant as stopping mixed-race couples from marrying. But our adoption laws are a bit more complex, and outdated, than just this one issue
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 21
Afghans vote today; Bill Richardson and the North Koreans; Chinese children suffer lead contamination; bike bomb explodes in Baghdad; Lockerbie bomber released on compassionate grounds; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 20
Violence in Afghanistan ahead of election; North Koreans to attend Yonhap's funeral; China offloads some American debt; China-Australia natural gas deal; Baghdad bombings; and more
Read MoreCompetitive mothering, a non-contact sport
God, save me from the supermums
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 19
Mubarak at White House to discuss Mideast peace (+analysis); Obama speech: Afghanistan "a war of necessity"; UN to investigate Australian aboriginal laws; Thai protests demand Thaksin pardon; and more
Read MoreAfghanistan: What are we fighting for?
As
World News Brief, Tuesday August 18
Abdullah rally shows Afghani race is tightening (+ analysis); Adviser demands more troops in Afghanistan; Japan emerges from recession; Two Koreas agree family reunions; and more
Read MoreJust say no to the Small Poppy Syndrome
The real concern in this country isn't our jealousy of wealth and success, it's our knee-jerk meanness towards those at the bottom of life's heap
Read MoreLatest US mercy dash forgets to get the gal
As the US sweeps in to rescue an American from the clutches of the Burmese military junta, the woman the world really wants to see free, Aung San Suu Kyi, is left behind to her fate
Read MoreCrime and punishment: Jackson James Wood makes a Salient point
Today’s special issue of Salient – Victoria University’s student magazine – critiques the criminal justice system
Read MorePublic health – reality, reason & rhetoric
Telethon: the lessons charities must learn
Judging the KidsCan charity on its administration costs alone misses the point of what charities are created to do... change society for the better
Read More"Overpaid" MPs are the canaries in the coal mine
New Zealand's politicians do get paid a lot—if you are on the average wage. But that's not who they are compared to anymore
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 14
WTO ruling urges China to ease restrictions on DVD and internet sales; Lockerbie bomber may be freed; Taiwan troops help mudslide rescue; Russia commits military support to breakaway republic; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 13
World opinion condemns San Suu Kyi conviction (+analysis); hundreds survive Taiwan mudslides; Kuwait terror plot foiled; charges laid against Musharraf; and more
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