Iran sentences 28 year-old American to death; Iran appears to be bracing for war and driving up oil prices; Merkel & Sarkozy have 976th summit to discuss debt limits and tobin tax; IMF leak says Greece still unable to pay debts; EU running out of patience with Greece as Euro slides; Malaysian opposition leader found not guilty of sodomy; Despite global mockery, Arab League plans to grow observer mission in Syria; and more
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New Zealand's new Pacific role, as the US moves in
Amongst the news of crashes and weather, one story of immense significance to New Zealand has been widely ignored... The US has reviewed its defence priorities and is moving back into our neighbourhood big-time. This offers huge risks and opportunities
Read MoreMOM … Show me the money!
John Key’s hottest line from the last election campaign could come back to haunt him as he ploughs ahead with the expansion of the “Mixed Ownership Model” by selling shares in a batch of state-owned assets.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 6
EU agrees in principle to oil embargo that would ban member states from buying Iranian oil; EU move follows US sanctions on Iran's central bank, as Western countries call for Iran to stop work on nuclear programme; North Korea chides Japan for holding a security meeting in the wake of Kim Jong-Il's death; Australia says it will not pay $2 million ransom for Australian man taken hostage in southern Philippines; Taliban say they are responsible for deaths of 15 Pakistani soldiers; Rwandan militia kill 26 civilians in Democratic Republic of Congo; and more
Read MoreIt's always tea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles.
The election may be ancient history by now, but the controversy over the recorded conversation between John Key and John Banks is still brewing away. See what I did there?
Read MoreCri de coeur
On December 30 I wrote a draft of this for myself. I was not going to post it. This changed my mind: The Joy of Quiet, published the same day in the New York Times
Read MoreStratos is dead - who's next?
The death of Stratos Television last week is a sad, bad story – and we have not seen the end of it.
Read MoreThanks for 2011 – my how the world's changing
Wrapping up this year and looking ahead a bit to the next
Read MoreLessons from a recount – where Labour went wrong
Labour failed to learn National's lesson from 2002 and paid the price, so it's now time for the party to get start selling Brand Shearer
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 28
Arab League observers met by protesters in Homs as Syrian peace deal begins; At least 30 killed in clashes the day before (+ analysis); North Korea calls for for economic investment; World leaders label Nigeria Christmas bombings "cowardly" and "senseless"; More Russian protests draw out Putin; Brazil's economy now bigger than Britain's; and more
Read MoreThe Beehive Christmas list 2011 – Ho ho ho!
Lookee here, Santa has come early for all those boys and girls in parliament. So what did he bring the politicians? Did they get what they wanted – and what they deserved? Let's sneak a cheeky peak
Read MoreChange the end of the story for our abused kids - have your say on the Green Paper
How New Zealand is protecting its next generation clearly isn't working. Norm Hewitt, former All Black-turned-children's champion, is urging all New Zealanders to "say something" on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, and change the end of the story for 160,000 at-risk Kiwi kids
Read MoreA farewell to arms
The Occupy Dunedin camp has folded. Now a judge has told Auckland's version to do the same. So it goes.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday December 20
Kim Jong-un announced as North Korea's leader after Jong-Il dies; US and South Korea "monitoring" events (+ analysis); Mass burial for 650 Filipino flood victims, hundreds still missing; Pakistan military tensions prompt Zadari return from Dubai; 13 dead after four days of Cairo crackdown; Playwright and President – Czech leader Havel dies; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 16
US declares Iraq war officially over, prepares to open largest US embassy in world; Over 100,000 Iraqis and 4,5000 US soldiers killed in conflict (+ timeline and analysis); Govt promises "punishment" after revolt in China over land seizures; Mexico tells off US and Europe as it takes over G20 rule; Human Rights Watch says Syrian commanders ordered "shoot to kill"; DRC opposition wants protect to protect election win; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday December 15
US and Russia at odds over ongoing conflict in Syria; more than 30 killed in Syria yesterday; Papua New Guinea has reinstated deposed Prime Minister Michael Somare--but he is not expected to survive a parliamentary vote of confidence; Chinese villagers in southern Guangdong province protest against local government over land grab; Egyptians vote in second stage of parliamentary elections; EU criticises election in Democratic Republic of Congo; and more
Read MoreConservation lands: resources, naturally?
All of the government’s signs are pointing the same way: relocating conservation and the Department of Conservation within the “natural resources” sector, the better to “streamline and simplify” its activities
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 14
US and Iraq negotiate post-war partnership just weeks from withdrawal; Obama warns Iran to respect Iraq's sovereignty; China has been cyber-spying, US intelligence claims; Over 5000 dead in Syria since Assad crackdown; "Holiday Man" working presidential bid in Russia; Canada pulls out of Kyoto after years of complaint; and more
Read MoreDavid Shearer's fresh start – 1) Keep it real
The election is over, so the work begins. Labour has its new face in David Shearer, but now has a mountain to climb to win 5-10% of National's voters over to its side (and a few back from the Greens). So how does it do that?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday December 13
Medvedev submits to formal probe into Russian elections, but rejects new vote; Protesters call for Putin to stand down; India and China to join US in climate treaty; Cameron defends EU veto in parliament, but where's Nick Clegg?; Elections in Syria, but no-one shows up; South Korea starts 'Christmas tree war' against North Korea; and more
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