We may have got rid of Nanny, but someone’s clearly still doing the babysitting
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The Opening Skirmish Ended, Let the Battle Proper Commence
MPs who say things in Parliament are absolutely protected from any legal consequences. The officials who tell them what to say aren't. Who'd be a public servant?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 16
Investors and markets queue up to predict Greece default as bank shares drop; Merkel warns German MPs about predicting Greek collapse while minister explores what would happen if Greece left the eurozone; New Libyan leaders call for democratic state with sharia law; Japan wants better defence relations with China; Religious violence in Nigeria; Republicans reject Obama tax plans; and more
Read MorePalestine goes the whole hog
The Palestinians will seek full statehood at the UN Security Council next week so as to negotiate peace on a state-to-state basis. Why could that possibly send Israel and the US scrambling? Why indeed.
Read MoreScoring political points in the RWC chaos game
The government has been as twinkle-toed as a winger five metres from the try-line in its handling of the opening night chaos down on the Auckland waterfront. Here's the government's playbook laid bare...
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 15
NATO & Afghan forces repel most complex assault on Kabul in decade of war; 11 killed as Taliban strengthens its negotiating hand (+ analysis); China to target domestic growth and buy Euro debt; Moody's cuts ratings of French banks; US tries to block UN vote on Palestine; African Union asks world to seize moment against militant group; and more
Read MoreThe seal basher, and the hang ‘im high club
Twelve months in prison for clubbing to death 23 seals, injuring others, leaves nobody with anything to celebrate.
Read MoreThe powerful Professor Mutu
Margaret Mutu has stirred the pot with comments about restricting white immigration. But the true bite comes in her claim that she can't be racist, a claim that no longer holds water
Read MoreEconomics & asset sales: Why governments get consistently ripped off
Governments are bad negotiators, because democracy demands they tip their hand before going to the bargaining table. That means governments get the short end of asset sale deals
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 13
European stocks drop as fears over Greek debt default increase; three French banks at risk of being downgraded by credit agency Moody's; violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia; China's trade surplus at $17.8 billion for August; South African youth league leader guilty of hate speech; US marks 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks; and more
Read MoreA real reason for road rage - Auckland's trains and no loop
The misuse of Don McKinnon, the road rage of Tau Henare and how the Rugby World Cup train debacle is just a foretaste of things to come for Auckland
Read MoreWho is winning the 9/11 Wars?
Ten years after those terrible attacks, Al-Qaeda has changed the US way of life. At the same time, the US has fragmented the terror group and killed most of its leaders. So who's winning?
Read MoreOMG, that's the cream of the Republican crop?
A God-quoting, science-doubting, swaggering Governor from Texas for President...what could possibly go wrong?
Read MoreOMG that's the cream of the Republican crop?
A God-quoting, science doubting, swaggering former Governor from Texas for President...what could possibly go wrong?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 9
Qaddafi denies fleeing to Niger in audio message; Libyan rebels say they are closing in on Qaddafi; HSBC to cut 3000 jobs in Hong Kong; militant Turkistan Islamic Party has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in China's Xinjiang region; Obama to reveal jobs plan to Congress; Italy's upper house passes austerity plan to save $75 billion; and more
Read MoreAuckland looks great, now let's smile, eh?
The work of many years looks to have paid off in our largest city. New Zealanders seem to be putting the rugby corporate nonsense behind them. But can we all now start acting like good hosts?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 8
Bomb at New Delhi High Court kills at least nine, Islamist extremists claim responsibility (+ analysis); Australia's economy bounces back; German court rules Euro bailouts legal, but imposes restrictions; South Korea to buy missiles for islands bordering North Korea; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 7
Pakistan captures senior al-Qaeda leader who planned attacks on US, Europe and Australia; as 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, experts discuss its impact on civil liberties, homeland security, immigration and more; inflation is China's most urgent economic concern, says World Bank; Turkey has suspended diplomatic ties with Israel; Indian PM visits Bangladesh; 750,000 people at risk of death in Somalia; and more
Read MoreAmerica's 9/11: Ten Years After
As the tenth anniversary of September 11 approaches, Americans are learning what Hope and Change really mean... Is Osama bin Laden still winning?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 2
Libyan Council to address world leaders in Paris on election plans; Claims Qaddafi cornered in desert town (+ analysis); China wants UN-led reconstruction in Libya; Syrian official claims to have seen 70 executions; Three Pakistani soliders die in stand-off with India; Philippines seeks Chinese investment in resource sector; and more
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