Spain's recession deepens as GDP contracts; Burmese president reshuffles cabinet; two Tibetan teenagers set themselves on fire in protest; France will recognise interim Syrian government, says Hollande; Colombia in talks with FARC rebels; and more
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World News Brief, Tuesday August 28
Syrians hold mass burials in Damascus; Syrian opposition forces claim to have shot down military helicopter; South Korea to compensate relatives of alleged communist sympathisers massacred during Korean War; Singapore's PM calls on citizens to be more tolerant of immigrants; US weapons sales triple, worth $66 billion; Nigeria in talks with Boko Haram
Read MoreSolutions to child poverty, easy as 1,2,3
Child poverty will be back on the radar this week, but will anything actually be done? If National's so determined to help the 1 in 6 in the education tail, what about the 1 in 5 without enough to make ends meet?
Read MorePush on or delay? National's defining, high stakes choice
Is National's plan to part-sell assets dead in the water? Or will is push ahead regardless of the Waitangi Tribunal's qualms and the risk of losing a coalition partner? As the Maori Party stakes out its ground, what happens next?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 24
Eurogroup warns Greece it is facing "last chance" to make budget cuts; US planning to expand missile defense systems in Asia to counter threats from North Korea; Australia to increase refugee quota by 45 percent; clashes in Tripoli breach truce; France eases work restrictions for Roma immigrants; and more
Read MoreIs someone trying to game the MMP review?
The Electoral Commission is in the midst of its second round of consultation on how to reform MMP. In recent days, it seems to be getting an oddly uniform message.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 23
Greek PM wants more time to implement austerity measures; Japan's ambassador to return to South Korea two weeks after recalled; North Korea takes major step in efforts to build nuclear reactor; Syria warns US against intervention over "unconventional weapons"; Ethiopia's acting PM to stay in post till 2015; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 22
Obama tells Bashar al-Assad US will intervene if Syria uses stockpiled "unconventional" weapons; South Korea's ruling party nominates first female candidate; divers recover body of Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo after plane crash; Ethiopian leader dies in Brussels; Ecuador warns UK against entering embassy to get Assange; and more
Read MoreLook - rape is rape, OK?
Male politicians, whether of the left or the right, should stop trying to tell women what rape really is.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 21
Gu Kailai gets life in prison, her husband still under investigation; Burma abolishes censorship of local media; UN mission in Syria ends amid violence; Union of South American Nations backs Ecuador's protection of Julian Assange; and more
Read MoreHey, Kim Dotcom! This game is getting serious...
Kim Dotcom’s take on his fight against extradition to the United States makes law enforcement agencies here and there look like the Keystone Cops – but it could become another internet tragedy.
Read MoreWater ownership debate turns to quicksand
If you can't stand in the same river twice, does that mean you can't own it? Might Maori have a special right to water? And could Maori law trump common law? As the Waitangi Tribunal prepares to report back this week, the water rights debate is set to gush again
Read MoreJoining some dots
The good kind of conspiracy theory
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 17
Pakistan says it has reclaimed control of air base after militant attack; Japan-China dispute escalates after 14 Hong Kong citizens try to plant flag on disputed islands; Gulf state countries tell citizens to leave Lebanon; Assam workers flee Bangalore as ethnic tensions rise; and more
Read MoreTED comes to Auckland
Tickets now available for TEDx Auckland, a day of discussions around technology, entertainment and design, in the internationally-famous TED format
Read MoreGently worn laundry
Comes in varying colours, none of them blue.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 15
Syrian rebels claim fighter jet downing; South Koreans organise relay swim to disputed islands; North Korean leader's uncle visiting China in bid to increase economic cooperation; nine killed in South African mine dispute; Merkel heads to Canada for financial help; and more
Read MoreLeftie strategerizing
Political strategy need not be an entirely fact-challenged zone.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 14
Egypt's president forces retirement of defense minister; Japanese economy slows; Julia Gillard backs report recommending asylum seekers heading to Australia be deported to detention centres in the Pacific; mayor-elect and campaign manager murdered in Mexico; Romney's running mate makes first solo campaign appearance; and more
Read MoreShould the government dissolve the people, and appoint another one?
It's the day after the Electoral Commission's preliminary report on reforming MMP. Let's see what the nation's true power brokers and political junkies think of it.
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