France becomes first Western country to recognise Syria's new opposition coalition; China wraps up National Party Congress; Japanese Prime Minister would hold elections next month if opposition supports electoral reform bill; Sri Lanka denies intimidating UN staff; UN denounces US 50-year embargo on Cuba; and more
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World News Brief, Wednesday November 14
Greece avoids default by selling sort-term treasury bills; Dalai Lama asks Japanese lawmakers to investigate spate of self-immolations; Hillary Clinton in Australia for defense talks; UK wary of giving aid to Rwanda; Angela Merkel visits Portugal, reception cold; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 9
China begins leadership transition; Julia Gillard refuses to meet Iranian leader; UN Secretary General discusses Mali crisis; Greece passes austerity bill; Puerto Rico votes to become an American state; and more
Read MoreUS election 2012: Rise of the nerds
Cue socially awkward victory lap
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 8
Tough hurdles for re-elected Obama; China's Communist Party to work against corruption; cost of cleaning up Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant estimated at $63 billion; Thailand and Burma support Dawei Economic Zone; suicide bomber strikes market in Peshawar; Israel opposes enhanced UN status for Palestine; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 7
Businessman at centre of Bo Xilai scandal had spy links, says Wall Street Journal; US and Japan begin military drill; Putin fires defense minister over corruption allegations; South African police may have tampered with evidence after deadly mining protest; and more
Read MoreThe little fish are swallowed by the sharks and the lambs by the stock exchange wolves
Will a beer owned by any other company taste so sweet?
Read MoreTruth prevails
What is investigative journalism, really, and why is it important? Nicky Hager shares his Bruce Jesson Lecture, presented at Auckland's Maidment Theatre on October 31
World News Brief, Tuesday November 6
G20 officials focus on global economy; Chinese Communist Party investigates Premier Wen Jiabao's personal finances; South Korea shuts down two nuclear reactors; South Sudan expels UN human rights officer; protesters gather over Ukraine election; and more
Read MoreAve atque vale, Greg
Apparently Greg King has passed away. Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui a Tāne.
Read MoreBlogger applies really silly analogy to Red Devils case
Steven Franks thinks Justice Simon France thinks like a terrorist. And not just any terrorist, but an Islamic terrorist ... because we all know that Islamic terrorists are just the worst sort of terrorist to be.
Read MorePoll of Polls update: Volatility masks a slow-moving tide
Our poll of polls continues to show a slow drop in National's fortunes, and an increasingly positive outlook for Labour and the left more broadly.
Read MoreBill the Builder - can he fix it? Let's hope he can!
Bill English has stepped outside his comfort zone in announcing that he intends to fix our broken property market. Can he get builders to build more 'Toyota Corolla' homes? Or will he end up looking like King Canute before the rising tide of house prices?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 26
Benghazi suspect dies in Cairo shootout; Chinese ships seen in disputed territory; new right-wing party mooted for Japan; Greece claims to have been given bailout extension, European Central Bank says it was unaware of move; Sudan blames Israel for factory bombing; and more
Read MoreA mine of misinformation
My response to Straterra's Chris Baker, whose comments framed an earlier piece in the New Zealand Herald. In fact, 69 percent of New Zealanders agree: conservation is at the heart of what it means to be a New Zealander (DOC, 2012).
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 23
Violence flares in Lebanon following assassination of Sunni intelligence chief; Chinese leftists defend Bo Xilai; South Korean police stop North Korean defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border; Fidel Castro makes first appearance for months; Lance Armstrong stripped of Tour de France titles; and more
Read MoreShould iwi become the 'brown welfare'?
Is it the job of iwi to solve Maori problems, or do we all have a stake and a responsibility? And what's the end goal of treaty settlements?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 19
Violence erupts in Greece over austerity measures; China condemns Japan shrine visit; South Korean President Lee Myung-bak makes a surprise visit to site of shelling by North Korea; Russian opposition leader detained; Iran warns Israel to back off over nuclear sites; and more
Read MoreEyes on the prize: Obama's post-Nobel record
Alfred Nobel intended his peace prize to go to those most responsible for creating "fraternity between nations," and the "reduction of standing armies." Yet a brief look at Obama's accomplishments since shows that the further we move from 2009, the further he turns from this legacy
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 17
Hillary Clinton takes blame for US handling of Benghazi attack; China criticises EU sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme; South Korea and US meet to discuss regional security; UN-Arab League envoy urges ceasefire in Syria; Radovan Karadzic denies Bosnia war crimes; and more
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